• First Focus Day of the year was organised in partnership with Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry
• Experts discuss opportunities and challenges in retrofitting existing buildings to make them energy efficient

Dubai, UAE; June 5, 2014: Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC), an independent forum aimed at conserving the environment by strengthening and promoting green building practices, highlighted best practices in retrofitting existing buildings to make them more energy efficient at the first Focus Day of the year organised in partnership with the Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry (Dubai Chamber).

Attended by more than 90 representatives from across the building industry supply chain, the Focus Day discussed at length the challenges and opportunities in retrofitting buildings. Experts from the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, Dubai Municipality, Etihad ESCO and Etisalat Facilities Management shared best practices in refurbishing buildings to promote the rational use of energy and water.

Addressing the participants, Essa Al Zaabi, Senior Vice President – Institutional Support Sector, Dubai Chamber, said that Dubai Chamber is instrumental in leading the business community in the area of greening existing buildings in the region. “This initiative is in line with the Dubai government’s directives to promote the sustainability of buildings and safety in the workplace which have become a priority for successful corporate strategies.”
He added: “Dubai Chamber has shown the way for the private sector by securing the basic level LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) as the 1st existing building in the region in 2009, and now receiving LEED Platinum – the highest possible rating and another first in the Arab world. This was achieved at no extra cost and effort but through simple initiatives, which contributed to tremendous electricity and water savings, besides conserving the environment and promoting the health of the employees.”
Jeffrey Willis, Vice Chairman of EmiratesGBC, said the emphasis on retrofitting green buildings at the Focus Day underlined the strong need to promote public private partnerships to drive built environment sustainability. “The UAE has set impressive milestones in built environment sustainability, and Dubai Chamber’s LEED Platinum certification is a strong example of how this can be achieved cost-effectively. While new developments in the city are placing emphasis on green features, it is important that we also focus on retrofitting existing buildings to accelerate our goal of achieving the ‘green economy for sustainable development’ vision announced by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.”

At the Focus Day, Abdullah Rafia, Assistant Director General for Engineering and Planning Sector, and Head of the Sustainability Committee in Dubai Municipality, explained how new green building guidelines apply to existing buildings, while Katarina Hasbani, Sr. Analyst, Demand Management at Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, presented Dubai’s strategy for building regulations and retrofits.

Stephane LeGentill, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad ESCO, presented the ESCO guidelines for energy efficiency improvement, while Waleed J Khoury, Chief Operating Officer, EMS, and  Antoine Massad- Senior Manager-Strategy and Business Development, Etisalat FM, shared the experience of Etisalat in promoting green buildings.

Jagatha Gunawardena, Senior Manager Projects & Building Development, Dubai Chamber, presented a case study on Dubai Chamber’s experience in securing the LEED Platinum certification.  He also joined a panel discussion on the ‘challenges and barriers to greening the existing buildings,’ along with Simon Roopchand, General Manager – Energy Services of Emrill Services, Abdullah Rafia, and Stephane LeGentill.

Saeed Al Abbar, Chairman of EmiratesGBC, concluded: “The strong participation at the Focus Day, by experts from both the public and private sector, is a strong demonstration of the concerted efforts being undertaken in Dubai to promote green built environments. We will continue to develop industry events that promote dialogue on the challenges and opportunities in built environment sustainability.”

EmiratesGBC regularly hosts and participates in multinational events, conferences and forums. EmiratesGBC has also developed a suite of activities, inclusive of networking events, technical workshops, focus days and facilitated training based around specific issues related to the built-environment that meet the needs of its members, of the UAE community, and the wider Middle East.

-ends-

Note to Editors

About Emirates Green Building Council:

The Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC) was founded in June 2006, and became the 8th full member of the World Green Building Council in September 2006. EmiratesGBC is an organization that promotes and educates on green issues in the built environment and is the official body for the UAE endorsed by the World Green Building Council. EmiratesGBC currently has around 260 members in the UAE which represents 1000s of individuals interested and involved in Green Building in the UAE and the region. In addition, EmiratesGBC members receive discounts on a number of programmes such as those related to conferences, seminars, training and green building events.

For further information, please contact:

Kelly Home / Mohammed Al Tawil

ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller

+9714 4507600

kelly.home@bm.com / mohammed.altawil@bm.com