VOLUME VII ISSUE 09

September 3, 2017| Newsletter

A Letter from EGBC Family

Dear Members and Industry Supporters,

Last month highlighted the Council’s capacity building initiatives with a successful first session of the Building Retrofit Training (BRT) Programme, held in Masdar’s Knowledge Center in Abu Dhabi.  A first of its kind in the region, the BRT Programme is being delivered by the EmiratesGBC in partnership with the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and Masdar of Abu Dhabi in order to build knowledge in the region in sustainable retrofit practices. We have received excellent feedback from the first students who have taken part, and I encourage you to register for the next scheduled training session taking place in Dubai at the EmiratesGBC office on September 13th.

September will also bring with it another Certified Energy Auditor course (26-28 September) as well as the second instalment of the WELL Building workshop (11 September), this time offering an overview of the WELL Building Standard’s development structure and certification system.

Not to be forgotten, the month of September also marks World Green Building Week taking place from 25 September to 1 October 2017.   Organised by the WorldGBC and led by Green Building Councils, the week is an annual event created to empower the green building community. This year’s theme is #OurHeroIsZero, highlighting the need for net zero buildings globally in tackling climate change.    We are very pleased to be publishing an analytical report that will support a definition of nearly zero energy buildings in the UAE; the report will be launched during World Green Building Week (27 September).   I would like to invite all EmiratesGBC members and partners to promote this week in an aim to empower our industry and highlight the importance of green buildings in the fight against climate change.

As we continue to work towards our second flagship event of the year, the 6thAnnual EmiratesGBC Congress, held under the patronage of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment will focus on the theme ‘Urban Energy: Powering Smart, Happy & Efficient Cities’.  We would like to take this opportunity to invite you to sponsor the Congress taking place on October 17-18, by joining EmiratesGBC Corporate Members Majid Al Futtaim and Akzo Nobel who have already committed their support of the Congress.

Last but not least, I urge you to please take the time to visit the EmiratesGBC website for more details on our programs and events in order to find out how you can become actively engaged in driving the green building movement in the UAE.

Sincerely,

Saeed Al Abbar




EmiratesGBC News and Updates


Intro to WELL Training: Creating Healthy Buildings and Places

After the standing room only success of our first WELL Training last May, we are pleased to announce our upcoming Intro to WELL Training: Creating Healthy Buildings and Places taking place in collaboration with International Well Building Institute (IWBI) on Monday September 11th, 2017 from 3:30-5:30pm at TIME OAK Hotel and Suites, Barsha Heights Dubai. The cost to attend is AED 50 for EmiratesGBC Members and Strategic Partners / AED 150 for Non-Members. Click here to register.


Exclusive Roundtable for members of the EmiratesGBC Developers Forum

Under the theme “A Business Case for Green Buildings in the UAE”, EmiratesGBC is hosting its first of a series of bespoke events catered exclusively to members of the EmiratesGBC Developers Forum.  The Roundtable will be hosted at the Sheraton Dubai Mall of the EmiratesFocusing on the UAE green building market with a spotlight on new and existing buildings, the event will look closely at the shared vision of sustainable development and advancing green building principles in the UAE, thus furthering the country’s agenda in achieving the UAE Vision 2021.

The EmiratesGBC Developers Forum aims to increase the engagement of local UAE developers on the topic of sustainable development and best practice.  UAE Developers are invited to contact EmiratesGBC to get involved in the Forum and Roundtable.


Nearly Zero Energy Buildings in the UAE Focus Day

As part of our World Green Building Week celebrations, EmiratesGBC invites you to attend a Focus Day on Nearly Zero Energy Buildings in the UAE: Report Launch and Stakeholder Discussion. Hosted graciously by Dubai Chamber of Commerce, the event will be held on Wednesday 27 September at 8:30 am.

EmiratesGBC Members & partners AED 50 / Non-members AED 150. Advanced registration is a must. Click here to register.


EmiratesGBC Building Retrofit Training

In partnership with the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and Masdar (Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company), the Building Retrofit Training Programme was launched on 16 August 2017 at Masdar City in Abu Dhabi. The first Building Retrofit Training workshop was well received by participants representing both government and private sector, turning the workshop into an insightful interactive session on different Building Retrofit methods and industry best practices applicable in the MENA region.

We would like to thank Masdar for their support in co-hosting the first Building Retrofit Training.

With the successful launch now behind us, EmiratesGBC is pleased to announce the next building retrofit training Level 1 Beginner course scheduled for 13th September 2017 taking place in Dubai at the EmiratesGBC office.

The course is aimed at strengthening the efficiency of buildings in the UAE and bridging the knowledge-gap regarding best practices for retrofitting.  The programme has been structured based on the EmiratesGBC Technical Guidelines for Retrofitting Existing Buildings, of which a free copy is offered with each course registration.

Please visit our website for further information on the BRT Programme and to register your participation in the upcoming courses.


EmiratesGBC Congress 2017: Registration is Now Open

Held under the theme “Urban Energy: Powering Smart, Happy and Efficient Cities”, the 6th Annual EmiratesGBC Congress is taking place on October 17th and 18th at the Pullman Dubai Creek City Centre.  We are eagerly awaiting the arrival of our flagship event and we are pleased to announce that registration for the 6th Annual EmiratesGBC Congress is now open and with new prices. We are expecting a sold out Congress for 2017, so we urge you to register early to avoid disappointment.


Announcing our Supporting Associations

We are pleased to announce the support of four of UAE’s leading industry associations for the upcoming 6th Annual EmiratesGBC Congress. We welcome on board EWS-WWFMEFMAEEG and CEBC as fellow industry leaders. Their valued support will further extend the reach of EmiratesGBC’s flagship event and the important industry dialogue that develops.

A Call to Sponsors

Held under the theme “Urban Energy: Powering Smart, Happy and Efficient Cities”, the 6th Annual EmiratesGBC Congress is on the horizon and invites your active involvement through sponsorship.  There are still opportunities to sponsor, and we encourage you to consider the available Congress sponsorship packages.  For more information on how to support this important flagship event, please contact us at engagement@emiratesgbc.org.

Thank you to our Principal Sponsor AkzoNobel and Venue Sponsor Majid Al Futtaim for their early support of this pivotal event.  The 6th Annual EmiratesGBC Congress will be taking place on October 17 & 18 in Dubai at Pullman Dubai Creek City Center on Day 1 and City Center Me’aisem on Day 2.


That’s a Wrap: Taqati Workshop

On August 28th, EmiratesGBC’s Energy Efficiency Program (EEP) members were invited to join an exclusive workshop on Dubai’s Demand Side Management (DSM) Strategy. The workshop, held at Sheraton Dubai Mall of the Emirates, discussed the role of Taqati in supporting the implementation of the eight DSM Strategy programmes, energy and water reduction targets, financial benefits and schemes, and the challenges and barriers of the DSM Strategy.


Your Green Building Tooltips for September 2017!

This month we would like to urge you to improve your lifestyle by adopting an EmiratesGBC Green Building Tooltip – “save glass jars and use them instead of plastic containers.”  They even look nicer on your shelves; be responsible and stylish for the month of September.

The EmiratesGBC Green Building Tooltips is a rich online platform serving to further educate the industry and community on simple green building practices.   The interactive designs cover three different building typologies, showcasing a home, school and office building.  The initiative is powered by BASF and Legrand, EmiratesGBC board members underlining their commitment to promoting sustainability.

We strongly urge you to visit the Green Building Tooltips on our website to test out this valuable online tool and fulfil your goal of pursuing a greener lifestyle whether it be at home, school or at the office.


World Green Building Week is on the Horizon

World Green Building Week is on the horizon. Led by the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC), World Green Building Week is an  annual global event that empowers the green building community to deliver green buildings for everyone.  This year, the week takes place in the last week of September (25th September to 1st October) and  Emirates Green Building Council would like to encourage you to support the week by marking your calendars, spreading the word and potentially hosting your own event to celebrate this pivotal week. Marketing resources are available on the WorldGBC website for your perusal.

This year’s theme is #OurHeroIsZero, which puts focus on net zero buildings.  The theme is in line with the Advancing Net Zero WorldGBC project which highlights the need for all buildings to be net zero by 2050.  The theme also perfectly aligns with EmiratesGBC’s Nearly Zero Energy Buildings study.

Emirates Green Building Council will be supporting World Green Building Week 2017 by marking a new milestone for the Council and releasing the first of its kind report on Nearly Zero Energy Buildings in UAE at a Focus Day on 27th September.

Do not forget #OurHeroIsZero



EmiratesGBC Supports Upcoming Industry Exhibitions & Conferences


Energy Efficiency Expo 2018

EmiratesGBC is proud to announce our support as a Knowledge Partner of the upcoming Energy Efficiency Expo at World Future Energy Summit from 15- 18 January 2018 in Abu Dhabi under the theme “Sustaining the Clean Energy Consensus; Empowering new players’. As with last year, we are offering our members the opportunity to join the Emirates Green Building Council’s pavilion in a key location on the show floor. Stay tuned for more details over the coming months. If you are interested to secure your space under the EmiratesGBC Pavilion, please contact us.


Cityscape Global

Cityscape Global 2017 is the largest and most influential real estate investment and development event for emerging markets globally. Bringing together investors, developers, government officials and real estate professionals, there is no better place to find investment opportunities and new business partners.

Cityscape Global is taking place on 11 – 13 September 2017 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, UAE.

To find out how you can get involved please contact the Cityscape Global team at info@cityscapeglobal.com or click here for further information.


Facades Design & Engineering Middle East Forum & Awards

The advancement of façade design and development is crucial to unlocking the safer, greener, and more comfortable and more visually impressive buildings of the next generation.

With this in mind, we are proud to announce the return of the Façade Design & Engineering Forum and Awards. Now in its 10th edition, the conference has become a specialised forum discussing how to overcome design and engineering façade challenges as well as demonstrating innovative technologies to create the most iconic façades. Taking place on September 18th 2017 at The Address Hotel – Dubai Mall, Dubai, UAE, click here for more details.


The Waste Management Middle East Forum

The Waste Management Middle East Forum (10 – 11 October 2017) will establish an in depth understanding of the current scenario and the challenges related to the waste management sectors in the middle east. The event will bring together industry leaders & subject experts who will shed light on the various approaches that can be adopted to tackle the issue of waste management faced by the region. Click here to learn more and register.


EmiratesGBC Technical Workshops

There are lots in store for the third and fourth quarter this year, with September and October centred around the theme of Smart Buildings, Sustainable Construction and Energy Efficiency.

On 18th September, the EmiratesGBC Technical Workshop will address how green buildings contribute to smart cities.

On 10th October, EmiratesGBC will host a contractors workshop on sustainable construction practices at the TIME Oak Ruby Hotel. The workshop is open to all contractors and sub-contractors.

On 31st October, the Technical Workshop will highlight the benefits of electronically commutated motors which are ideal for ventilation and refrigeration industries.

Each technical workshop is followed up with a technical brief summarizing the workshop discussions.  To view the briefs from previous technical workshops, please click here.


Academy Feature of the Month

This month we take a look at Climate Benefits, Tenure Costs: The Economic Case for Securing Land Rights in the Amazon, which discusses the benefit-cost analysis of securing indigenous forestland tenure. The findings show that securing indigenous forestland tenure is a low-cost, high-benefit investment and, from a financial perspective, is also a relatively cost-effective measure for climate change mitigation when compared with other carbon capture and storage measures —the costs of securing tenure are 5 to 29 times lower than the estimated costs for coal-fired power plants and 7 to 42 times lower than for natural gas-fired power plants.

These findings make a strong economic case for governments, climate change funding agencies, and other partners to invest in securing indigenous forestland tenure in Latin America, and, more broadly, community land rights around the world.

Click here to download and read more.



Green Key Spotlight

The Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, a Hotel Chain Partner of Green Key International, has launched the Box Appeal initiative for its 10th year.  As part of Rezidor’s Responsible Business Action Month and running from 15 September to 15 October 2017, the charity initiative aims to give essential items to everyday workers.  Box Appeal is inviting the public to get involved by collecting a box from participating Radisson Blu and Park Inn hotels and returning it filled with essential goods.  The boxes will then be distributed to labour camps across the UAE.

A record target of 24,000 boxes has been set for 2017.  Click here to learn more about how to get involved and what items to include in the Box.  Please support this initiative on social media by using the hashtag #BoxAppeal.


Upcoming Exam Preparation Training

In collaboration with British University in Dubai, we offer a series of trainings that prepare attendees for examinations including LEED and AEE courses. Please contact us for more details.

  • Certified Energy Auditor September 26-28, 2017. Click here to access the flyer.
  • Certified Energy Manager October 15-18, 2017. Click here to access the flyer.
  • LEED GA October 13-14, 2017. Click here to access the flyer.
  • LEED AP (BD+C) November 9-11, 2017. Click here to access the flyer.

 


BEA Benchmarking Project – Call for Participation and Call for Sponsors

We are pleased to invite Dubai Hotels, Shopping Malls and Schools to participate in a Benchmarking Project carried out in partnership with Dubai’s commitment to the Building Efficiency Accelerator, a global initiative under the United Nations program “Sustainable Energy for All”, in which EmiratesGBC is collaborating with the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy.  To participate in this project, contact the EmiratesGBC office at  04-3468244 or send an email with your interest to BEA@emiratesgbc.org.

Under this initiative, we will benchmark at least 100 buildings in three focus groups (hotels, schools and shopping malls). To learn more about the Benchmarking Project, click here.

BEA Sponsorship opportunities are also open, and we invite you to learn more by clicking here.  For more information on how to support this important project as a sponsor, please contact engagement@emiratesgbc.org.


EmiratesGBC Technical Guidelines for Retrofitting Existing Buildings

Click here to learn more about how the Technical Guidelines for Retrofitting Existing Buildings can potentially save your facility and/or home millions in utility bills and reduced operational costs.  Copies are available in both English and Arabic for purchase at the EmiratesGBC office.

EmiratesGBC also offers a free copy of the Technical Guidelines, as part of your registration and participation in the Building Retrofit Training Workshop. For more details, please click here to complete registration.



EmiratesGBC in the News


Masdar and BMS sign MoU to build sustainability projects

Masdar and MDC Business Management Services (BMS) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in the aim of delivering more energy and water efficiency projects in the UAE.  Masdar recently announced a partnership with Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC) and the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy to deliver a Building Retrofit Training (BRT) Programme, a series of workshops to bridge the knowledge-gap in building efficiency among all stakeholders in the industry. Read more…


The Green Guidebooks

Saeed Al Abbar, Chairman of Emirates Green Building Council in talks with Technical Review Middle East about the UAE’s sustainable construction practices and the Council’s role in fulfilling the criteria.  Read more …


Time Hotels receives top environmental accolade

Time Hotels Management, has achieved Green Key status for all of its hotels and hotel apartments across the hospitality groups’ entire portfolio.  A leading international standard of excellence in the field of environmental responsibility and sustainable operation within the tourism industry, the Green Key award is a voluntary eco-label that represents a commitment by hospitality and tourism establishments to adhere to the strict criteria as stipulated by the Emirates Green Building Council (EGBC).  Read more…

Local News

Regional News

International News

Upcoming EmiratesGBC Events

11sep
Intro to WELL Training
13sep
Building Retrofit Training (Dubai)
17sep
Developers Forum Roundtable
18sep
EmiratesGBC Technical Workshop – Members Only
26-28sep
CEA Exam Prep Training
27sep
nZEB Report Launch

Upcoming Industry Events

11-13sep
Cityscape Global
18sep
Façade Design and Engineering ME Forum & Awards
25sep
World Green Building Week

Although deforestation is still a problem for the world, humans have stepped up to try and offset the issue. Approximately 52,000 square kilometers of forests are developed every year. Source