Sustainability has become a pressing global issue, and as responsible industry leaders, it is essential for us to address the environmental, social, and economic aspects of our projects. By adopting sustainable practices, we can create lasting positive impacts on the environment, enhance the well-being of communities, and drive long term profitability.

In this special feature, we focus on sustainability in the construction industry in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

KPM Engineering

Project: Mixed-use development, Mecca

This project is a 4.5 million square foot multi-use complex with hotels, serviced apartments and retail spaces. Due to the scale of the project, KPM Engineering (KPM) had several opportunities to implement a number of sustainable engineering strategies, including greywater recycling, condensate recovery, groundwater recharge, and overhang balconies.

Greywater recycling is a sustainable practice that involves treating and reusing water from household appliances, including washing machines, showers, and sinks. Though unsuitable for drinking, this water can be treated and effectively utilised for other purposes, including irrigation, toilet flushing, and even industrial processes. By implementing greywater recycling systems, KPM significantly reduced the strain on freshwater resources and decreased the demand for more energy-intensive water treatment and distribution. This approach not only conserved water but also saved energy by reducing the need for pumping and treating fresh water, making it an essential sustainable engineering strategy for water and energy conservation.

In air conditioning and refrigeration systems, condensate is formed when warm air comes into contact with a cold surface, resulting in moisture condensing. Instead of letting this water go to waste, KPM utilised condensate recovery systems in buildings to capture and collect condensate for reuse. By recycling this water for secondary uses, including landscape irrigation or non-potable water usage, we can effectively conserve water resources. Furthermore, as condensate recovery reduces the need for additional water supply, it also contributes to energy conservation by reducing the energy required for water pumping and treatment processes.

Groundwater recharge aims to replenish existing underground water sources. KPM designed the stormwater systems to capture and direct excess surface water, such as rainwater or stormwater runoff, into the ground to recharge aquifers. By utilising techniques like rainwater harvesting, permeable pavement, and infiltration basins, KPM effectively recharged groundwater reserves. This approach not only helps maintain the water table but also contributes to energy conservation. By replenishing groundwater sources, we can reduce the need for energy-intensive processes, including pumping water from deeper aquifers or distant locations, ultimately leading to substantial water and energy savings.

To reduce incident solar radiation and subsequently decrease air conditioning loads, KPM suggested overhang balconies. By incorporating strategically designed overhangs on buildings, especially those with the most sun exposure, KPM created shading that prevented direct sunlight from entering living spaces during peak heat periods. This helped to reduce the cooling demand and reliance on air conditioning systems, thereby conserving energy. Overhang balconies not only provide passive cooling but also offer additional benefits, such as creating outdoor spaces that can be utilised for recreational purposes and promoting sustainable architecture that harmonises with environments.

In summary, implementing practices such as greywater recycling, condensate recovery, groundwater recharge, and overhang balconies can significantly contribute to water and energy conservation efforts. These approaches not only help preserve precious water resources but also reduce the demand for energy-intensive processes, including water treatment and pumping. Through the implementation of these sustainable strategies on project sites, KPM moves towards a more environmentally conscious future and ensures a better balance between water and energy needs.

Project: Ministry of Culture Parking, Jeddah

The Ministry of Culture project was part of the initiative to upgrade the Allegiance Square area. The plan included the development of two levels of underground parking with access to the Corniche via underground pedestrian tunnels. Considering the location and the number of people expected to use the facility, the client wanted to explore options to make the parking area more suitable for pedestrian use. As the temperatures in summer in the region are high, one of the avenues KPM explored was to look at the possibility of cooling the area with minimum energy costs.

KPM proposed evaporative cooling as an effective and energy-efficient technique to significantly reduce temperatures without relying on traditional air-conditioning systems. This method utilises the natural process of evaporation to cool the surrounding and is particularly suitable for dry and arid climates where humidity levels are low. The outcoming air is cooled down between 10 to 15 degrees Celsius, and unlike traditional air conditioning, evaporative cooling does not recirculate warm, polluted indoor air. Rather, it ventilates 100 per cent fresh, filtered, clean, and cooled air into a room or building. As a result, the indoor air quality substantially improves. We achieved considerable cooling benefits using approximately 10 per cent of the energy required for mechanical cooling.

Introducing skylights in underground parking areas is another innovative method to maximise natural lighting in what are typically dark and enclosed spaces. Underground parking structures rely heavily on artificial lighting, which not only consumes energy but also fails to provide the benefits of natural sunlight. By strategically placing skylights in the roof or walls of the parking structure, we allowed natural light to penetrate into spaces, creating a brighter and more inviting environment. This not only enhanced the visibility for drivers and pedestrians but also reduced the need for artificial lighting during daylight hours, leading to significant energy savings across projects. Furthermore, the introduction of natural light improved the overall aesthetics and user experience, making the underground parking feel more open, safe, and comfortable to walk through.

Project: Double Tree, Jeddah

Commercial construction operations typically yield a solid waste output ranging from 2 to 2.5 pounds per square foot, a significant portion of which can be recycled. The process of salvaging and recycling construction and demolition (C&D) waste can have a substantial impact on diminishing the need for new resources and mitigating associated environmental consequences.

To achieve this, the implementation of a comprehensive construction waste management plan is crucial, which KPM designed and implemented. The primary objective is to minimise the volume of materials destined for landfills during the construction process by facilitating the reuse of construction waste. During this particular project, the generated construction waste was repurposed as backfill material on-site. Furthermore, concrete waste underwent crushing procedures to transform it into fill materials suitable for occupying void spaces within the structure.

By adopting effective construction waste management practices, including the appropriate handling of non-recyclable materials, it is possible to decrease contamination risks and prolong the operational lifespan of existing landfills.