Evaluating drivers of water-energy use: Insights from a selected Higher Education University in Abu Dhabi, UAE

The United Arab Emirates faces water scarcity. Managing water-energy consumption behavior is essential to achieving sustainable resources for future generations. Water and energy are intertwined resources. With economic development, a thorough assessment and understanding of actual drivers and motivators of existing social behaviors, relevant to these resources are needed. This understanding becomes even more significant in the light of socio-economic development. Hence, this study focuses on an educational institution, which encompasses a diverse range of academic and alternative activities within a relatively confined area. This paper examines a case study of a university and its dorms, located in Abu Dhabi, UAE, to assess and analyze water and energy consumption. The data have been collected from university campuses and dorms considering various factors such as the number of on-campus students, humidity, temperature, gender, and cost. The ANOVA statistical analysis, employing a multiple regression approach, is used for the analysis. The results highlight that the primary drivers of water-energy usage are the number of students and the cost. The findings provide valuable insights for effectively reducing water-energy consumption on university campuses. Furthermore, some recommendations for socio-economic sustainable development on campus have been provided based on the research outcomes.