VOLUME IV ISSUE 11

October 30, 2014| Newsletter

A Letter from EGBC Family

Dear EGBC Members and Industry Supporters,

The 3rd Annual EmiratesGBC Congress, held under the patronage of UAE Minister of Public Works H.E. Dr Abdullah Belhaif al Nuaimi on the 20th and 21st October was a tremendous success. I am sure that those who attended will agree that the dialogue fostered at the Congress between various UAE government organisations, International Agencies as well as key stakeholders in the private sector created a strong platform for the advancement of sustainable urban development in the region. My sincere thanks to all the sponsors, speakers, and the delegates without whom the event would not have been possible. This milestone fills us all with pride and demonstrates the tremendous strides taken not only by the Council but also the green building movement since the inception of the EGBC in 2006.

During the opening ceremony of the Congress, the UAE Ministry of Public Works and the EmiratesGBC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote green building concepts and sustainable environments. This partnership marks an important development for the EGBC and I call upon all our Members and Partners to actively support the Council’s joint initiatives and programs with the Ministry of Public Works.

During this month, the World Green Building Council MENA Network meeting took place in Amaan, Jordan alongside the Eco-Cities of the Mediterranean Conference.  I was joined at the meeting by representatives from a number of GBC’s in the region and we discussed a number of avenues for collaboration and joint programs.  One of the key areas we agreed to collaborate on is the promotion of sustainable housing in the region, which is a common challenge faced throughout the MENA.  During the event, we also held meetings with representatives from UNEP wherein GBC’s were encouraged to take an active role in UNEP’s Sustainable Buildings and Construction Programme (SBC) under the 10 Year Framework of Programmes, a global framework of action to enhance international cooperation to accelerate the shift towards Sustainable Consumption and Production. It is a great opportunity for regional GBC’s to be a part of this Program which will contribute to shaping the national programme in each country to promote and implement sustainable building and construction policies.

It is clear from events this month that there is a significant burden of responsibility on the Emirates Green Building Council to assist in the delivery of programs on the ground in the UAE to promote sustainable development.  We cannot do this without the expertise and contributions of our Members and Partners and I call on you all to contact the EGBC Office to enquire of how you can get involved in shaping the future of sustainable buildings in the UAE.

Best regards,
Saeed Al Abbar
Chairman




EGBC News and Updates


Thank you for attending the 3rd Annual EmiratesGBC Congress!

After two consecutive successful EmiratesGBC Congress events held in 2012 and 2013, the 3rd Annual EmiratesGBC Congress was held under the patronage of H.E. Dr Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Minister of Public Works with the theme “Sustainable Cities for the Future”.

150 delegates participated in the 2-day event which included Conference, Workshops and Building Tour. Several government dignitaries from Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, Dubai Municipality, RSB for Water & Electricity, Trakhees-EHS, and Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council delivered presentations at the Congress, drawing attention to the current economy of the region and plans for the way forward for the country. The Congress was also host to renowned guest speakers from across the globe such as UNEP, C40 Sustainable Cities, and City of Los Angeles, all of whom brought with them interesting discussions and presentations demonstrating the relevance of international progress to the UAE. Renowned organizations making a mark in the sustainability movement like UNDP, HOK, EEG and Masdar, also participated actively in the Congress. Case studies from 2014 EGBC Award Winners The Change Initiative and Emaar Community Management shared examples of sustainable building practices and sustainable FM initiatives.

For more details on the Congress proceedings, please visit the EmiratesGBC Congress website. In the coming weeks, EmiratesGBC will release a detailed brief on the Congress proceedings and critical discussion points.

The Congress would not have been possible without the three Sponsors listed below and we extend our sincere appreciation:

Platinum SponsorSiemensGold SponsorBASF – The Chemical CompanySilver SponsorNational Paints LLC


EmiratesGBC signs MOU with UAE Ministry of Public Works

EmiratesGBC and the UAE Ministry of Public Works signed a Memorandum of Understanding during a signing ceremony at the opening of the 3rd Annual EGBC Congress on 20th October, which was held under the patronage of the Minister of Public Works HE Dr. Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi. The MOU outlines the commitment of both parties to work together in order to promote green building concepts across the industry supply chain and to promote sustainable built environments nation-wide. In support of the partnership, His Excellency Dr. Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi said that through its projects across the country, the Ministry is taking a lead in enforcing green building best practices and ensuring that sustainability standards are followed during the design, implementation and commissioning phases.

As per the MoU, EmiratesGBC and the Ministry of Public Works will also partner to host informative events on green buildings and establish a joint working committee to research and prepare case studies on the UAE’s green building sector. Both organisations will also exchange best practices and share knowledge in the domain for the benefit of the entire building industry.


Green Key Hotels preparing for 2015 certification renewal – Call for Auditors!

EmiratesGBC in its capacity as the national operator for Green Key, an eco-label for hotels and accommodations, is preparing for another round of sustainability audits for hotels undergoing their certification renewal process. 24 hotels are currently certified in the UAE with the Green Key label, and several others are in the process of application. As a result of the growing number of hotels applying and renewing their certifications, EmiratesGBC is calling to its corporate members to register auditors for the program. For more information on Green Key and how to register as an auditor, please visit the EmiratesGBC Green Key webpage or contact greenkey@emiratesgbc.org.


Register for the November Networking Event

EmiratesGBC & MEFMA will jointly host a networking event on 19th November at Sheraton Hotel, Mall of Emirates from 9:00am to 11:00am. The panel session during the event will focus on Sustainable Design & Construction where experts from the field of design, construction & facilities management will discuss the sustainability and green initiatives in the design and construction industry.

We invite you to register for this interesting and educational event by emailing events@emiratesgbc.org. The rate for EmiratesGBC & MEFMA members is 50 AED and 150 AED for Non Members.


EmiratesGBC participates in Local Sustainability Exhibitions & Conferences

With an extensive number of exhibitions and conferences taking place in the region, EmiratesGBC is supporting several events making their mark in the field of sustainability. The exhibitions provide a common platform for organizations and professionals in the field of energy, waste, water and environmental management to share their ideas and discuss the latest technologies initiated in the environmental field. Make sure to visit us at the below exhibitions and conferences

From November 17th to 20th, The Big 5 will take place in Dubai as the largest construction exhibition in the Middle East, serving as a networking platform for construction product suppliers and buyers since 1979. Be sure to look for the EmiratesGBC stand in the exhibition! To know more, click here.

In December, under the Patronage of the Dubai Municipality and the Dubai Central Laboratory (DCL), the Quality Assurance for Sustainable Construction Materials Conference will be held from the 11th-12th December at the Palace Hotel, Downtown Dubai. The two-day event will highlight the Dubai Municipality’s approach to testing and quality control, as well as specifications requirements to further improve the sustainability and safety standards in the buildings and roads sector. To get more details, kindly click here.

We encourage members to volunteer and represent EmiratesGBC at our exhibition stands. Don’t forget volunteer hours with EmiratesGBC can also count towards LEED Maintenance Credits! Should you be available to volunteer, please email events@emiratesgbc.org.



EmiratesGBC Technical Workshops

EmiratesGBC’s October Technical Workshop delved into ESCO Principles and Mechanisms again. Representatives from Dubai RSB were special guests at the workshop and provided invaluable information to participating EmiratesGBC members and partners, unfolding the accreditation scheme and fielding queries regarding on-the-ground challenges that pertain to EPC projects. Discussion topics also included an ideal governance framework for ESCOs; their market potential, challenges and solutions to financing EPC projects and the introduction of an EmiratesGBC administered Energy Efficiency Data Bank.

Stay tuned for December’s Technical Workshop taking place in Abu Dhabi facilitated by the Abu Dhabi Quality Conformity Council (QCC) which will discuss a future certification scheme for paints and coatings. The workshop will discuss potential testing methods, standards and quality specifications, in the context of local regulations and guidelines.

Local News

Regional News

International News

Upcoming Events

19nov
EGBC and MEFMA Networking Event
25-28nov
The Big 5
30nov
LEED GA Training

For each kilometer you ride your bike instead of driving, you are saving approximately 0.3 kg of CO2. This is equivalent to the energy from running a 60 watt incandescent light globe for close to five hours.