Sharjah Sustainable City, a fully sustainable community by the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), teamed up with the American University of Sharjah (AUS) to host a series of webinar discussions for academics to discuss energy and climate change, smarter mobility, eco districts and sustainable materials.

Over 370 students, faculty and staff from AUS along with industry practitioners from Sharjah Sustainable City attended the different webinars, held throughout the recently concluded spring semester, to learn about the practical implementations of sustainable development theories on housing communities, and their effectiveness on ground in the new Sharjah development.  Professors in the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Engineering, and the College of Architecture, Art and Design were able to incorporate the webinars into their classroom learning.

Yousif Ahmed Al-Mutawa, Chief Executive Officer of Sharjah Sustainable City, said: “As a Sharjah-based project, it is important to us that we engage with the local Sharjah community and find areas of synergy where we can add value. The American University of Sharjah is one of the leading educational institutions in the region and home to many respected academics along with some of the brightest young minds, so this series of discussions has been a fantastic opportunity to share our expertise with the next generation of sustainability professionals.”

Rose Armour, Head of Sustainability at the American University of Sharjah, said: “The collaboration allowed students to learn first-hand what it takes to incorporate sustainability principles into a project like Sharjah Sustainable City and the impact it can have on our individual and community carbon footprint. This is invaluable insight for students. It brings all of the knowledge gained in the classroom to life.”

As a direct result of the webinars, a team of students will be measuring and evaluating the thermal insulation of one villa while another team will share information on their 3D concrete printing project, and its potential applications on ground. The upcoming Fall semester will see the start of research projects with the College of Engineering and potential co-authoring of a research paper on urban planning, among other planned collaborations between the two entities.

Dr. Adil Tamimi, Professor of Civil Engineering at AUS, said: “The webinars provided a great window for our students and faculty alike to interact with prominent professionals who are working on the development of SSC. For my classes, it has substituted the face-to face site visits that have been limited by COVID-19 and has enriched the students’ knowledge and supported the delivery in my courses.”

Sharjah Sustainable City is the first fully integrated residential sustainable city in Sharjah, aiming to create a net zero energy, vibrant community offering a unique and sustainable lifestyle.The AED 2 billion project, spread out over a total plot size of 7.2 million sq.ft. of land in Sharjah’s Al Rahmaniya Area, is a joint venture between Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) and Diamond Developers to meet the highest sustainability standards and lead the global movement towards sustainable living.

Designed with a net-zero approach to community planning, the city is 100% solar powered, recycles 100% of water and waste, cultivates vegetables and leafy greens on site, and is designed to encourage walkability and the use of clean mobility. Using thermal insulating construction materials and windows, smart home automation, water-saving appliances, energy-saving electrical fittings and rooftop solar PVC installations, the residential properties of Sharjah Sustainable City are projected to deliver savings of up to 50% on electricity and water bills for residents.