Honeywell has signed a strategic collaboration agreement with Saudi Arabia’s Alfaisal University, with the aim of driving greater sustainability in buildings and supporting the kingdom’s ambition of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2060.
Under the terms of the agreement, Honeywell Building Technologies and Alfaisal University’s College of Engineering will design and deploy joint research programs to enhance the sustainability of buildings through advanced energy projects.
Dr Maha Al Saud, vice president for external relations of Alfaisal University said: “We’re proud to be collaborating with Honeywell to support the kingdom’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) and net-zero goals. This agreement will help us enhance our position as a leading research institute that supports knowledge exchange and improves the opportunities available for our graduates in their chosen professions.”
Meanwhile, Abdullah Al-juffali, president, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, Honeywell said: “We look forward to working with Saudi Arabia’s Alfaisal University to develop local talent and enhance the knowledge and skills for executing energy projects in our efforts to advance the industry’s capabilities and understanding of ready-now technologies.”
Honeywell launches Sustainable Energy Training Program
Honeywell noted that it will also launch the Sustainable Energy Training Program, which will provide a sustainable source of qualified energy professionals and auditors to help support Honeywell’s energy projects in the region. The training program augments the company’s expanding capabilities in creating solutions to increase the sustainability of buildings.
Alfaisal University will work with Honeywell as the first education partner for this unique program, and the two entities will jointly create the Honeywell Sustainability and Energy Training Program to support learners and enhance local capabilities.
The program will engage participants in the principles of energy and sustainability, as well as how to effectively evaluate energy problems, assess the cost and benefits of various sources of renewable energy and calculate consumption. They will also be involved in understanding building materials, systems, and methods of construction, recommend best strategies to achieve sustainable, energy-efficient and healthier buildings and eventually perform actual audits of energy use in building structures.
According to Honeywell research conducted in 2021 by YouGov among business leaders and decision-makers covering different sectors of industry across three markets: UAE, KSA and Egypt, energy management tops the list of priorities, with almost 90% of respondents saying that ESG considerations are important to their organisation’s strategy. The top reason among respondents in the kingdom was cost reduction.
“The launch of the Sustainable Energy Training Program is a testament to our commitment to the Kingdom in supporting localisation and initiatives such as in-Kingdom Total Value Add Program (IKTVA) and net-zero by 2060, whilst expanding our cooperation with the private sector. It will help develop local talent and grow capabilities for the implementation of sustainable energy projects in the country,” concluded Al-juffali.
Honeywell’s investment in local talent will support Saudi Aramco’s IKTVA Program by growing local industries and providing upskill training and jobs to Saudi Arabian citizens.
Additionally, Honeywell noted that strategic plans in Saudi Arabia are closely aligned with the kingdom’s 2030 vision and the IKTVA program, which aims to achieve 70% localisation of production and jobs.
Active in Saudi Arabia for more than 70 years, Honeywell also pointed out that it has led a vital role in supporting and advancing the kingdom’s industries through the local development and manufacturing of technologies.
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