- Mapping of JAS buildings and shops (January 2024): door to door field mapping conducted, under the supervision of LFD project manager and coordinator, by AUB students volunteers.
- Kick off meeting – 2nd February, 2024: held at AUB – College Hall and attended by AUBNI director, JAS buildings’ representatives and Ms. Yusra Sidani, member of Beirut municipality board, representing the mayor Mr. Abdallah Darwish.
This was an introductory meeting that established the JAS committee that will collaborate throughout 2024 to cover the following areas of interventions:
1- improvement of the street infrastructure (road, pavement, lighting, garbage disposal, sewers, etc.) in close collaboration with Beirut municipality
2- improvement of JAS bldgs and street hygiene (pest control and reduction of solid waste by adopting solid waste sorting at the source, etc.)
3- air pollution reduction and control (regular inspection of generators filters and installation of solar power generation systems where applicable, etc.)
4- inspection and monitoring of water quality (of bldgs wells and trekked water, etc.) - Survey filled by JAS buildings’ representatives provided the baseline data in preparation of the first working session.
- 1st JAS committee members working session – 24th February held at AUB College Hall:
This workshop presented an overview of the JAS committee pilot project’s main areas of intervention that will contribute to the materialisation of the high priority improvements needed in the JAS street and neighbourhood during the year 2024 and covered all JAS committee pot project’s aspects and areas of interventions into details.
Working session program:
– 10:00 am – 10:10 am: Introduction and JAS latest updates
– 10:10 am – 10:20 am: presentation about:
a- air pollution sources, measurements & indicators
b- JAS air pollution level today
c- recommended standards for generators’ filters and inspection frequency to lower air pollution in JAS
– 10:20 am – 10:35 am: presentation about solar power generation and solar systems available with respective cost range, best standards and practises and recommendations
– 10:35 am – 10:50 am: solar system for buildings – showcase of JAS bldgs solar systems in place today and future prospects
– 10:50 am – 11:00 am: Q & A
– 11:00 am – 11:10 am: break
– 11:10 am – 11:20 am: presentation about water quality standards, tests, pollution and available solutions for improved hygiene
– 11:20 am – 11:25 am: Q & A
– 11:25 am – 11:35 am: presentation about solid waste sorting at the source and recycling
– 11:35 am – 11:40 am: Q & A
– 11:40 am – 11:50 am: presentation about potential improvements and landscape options for JAS street
– 11:50 am – 12:00 am: Q & A - Field visit to one of JAS buildings that installed a solar systems for all sections and for common services as well as a show case to inspire other buildings of the street to install such a system.
- Participation in AUB – Faculty of Architecture – Urban Planning and Policy master’s students’ workshop “Towards a Water-Energy Justice in Hamra: a Collaborative Model” – 15th March: this was the starting point of a collaborative relation between AUB research teams and JAS committee to further support the ongoing pilot project in JAS.
- field visit to one of JAS buildings that has put in place a rainwater collection system as a show case to inspire other buildings of the street to install such a system.
- Participation in “Transforming Neighborhoods! Hamra Lebanon” Exhibition at AUB, that explored innovative urban planning initiatives and ideas for Hamra neighborhood – 26th March.
- Working session dedicated to renewable energy with an emphasis on solar energy systems, latest technologies and practical adapted solutions in collaboration with Eng. Walid El Baba founder and member of “Lebanon Solar Energy Society – LSES” – 3rd April.
- Participation in a panel discussion about RE community projects at Project Lebanon, the 25th International Exhibition for Construction & Renewable Energy that took place from 24-26 Apr at Seaside Arena.
- Working session on collaborative community solar energy projects including social gardens/ farms held at AUB College Hall – 30th April
- Working session about air pollution, practical remedial measures applicable to diesel generators emissions, Ministry of Environment – MoE related laws/decrees/regulations – 19th June
- Mid-term review session covered the following: 1- wrap up of the 1st phase of the project that covered mainly awareness raising of JAS bldgs’ representatives about the improvements (installation of: solar power generation system, generator filter for nanoparticles filtration, reverse osmosis systems for clean water and sorting solid waste at the source) that they are encouraged and ought to implement in their respective bldg to transition to a clean energy cost effective and green bldg model and 2- introduce the next phase of the project that will cover the improvement of JAS landscape through joint initiatives and in kind contributions in close collaboration with AUBNI and Beirut municipality – 19th July at AUB College Hall
- Field visits to YallaReturn solid waste recycling center in JAS, to introduce JAS bldgs representatives to a practical, rewarding and sustainable way to dispose of their solid waste recyclables which are to be sorted at the source in their homes/shops/bldgs – 25th and 30th July
This project is in collaboration with the AUB Neighborhood Initiative – AUBNI
Duration: one year from January to December 2024
Status: ongoing
