On February 19th, EmiratesGBC Chairman, His Excellency Dr. Ali Al Jasim and Founding Member and Treasurer Habiba Al Marashi were invited to participate in the second annual session of the Permanent Committee for Economic Development of the Executive Council in Ajman. The meeting was chaired by H.E. Abdullah Al Muwaiji and was held at the Expo 2020 headquarters in Dubai, based on the invitation of the Executive Office of Expo 2020. The purpose of the meeting was to enhance cooperation in promoting the extraordinary event and support existing efforts in preparing for the World Expo.

During the meeting, HE Ali Al Jasim briefed the attendees about the Council, which was established in 2006 with the aim of promoting green building principles to protect the environment and ensure sustainability in the country. HE Jasim also spoke about the Council’s support of environmental issues related to sustainable buildings, its partners among the federal and local government agencies, the private sector and academic bodies, as well as the Council’s various programs, training services, and research efforts in developing strategic plans for green buildings, sustainability and the green economy. EmiratesGBC is the official green building council in the UAE under the umbrella of the WorldGBC.

Further strengthening commitment to a sustainable campus environment, American University of Sharjah and Emirates Green Building Council renewed their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at a ceremony held on AUS campus on February 11th. The MoU was signed by HE Dr. Ali Al Jassim, Chairman of EmiratesGBC and Professor Kevin Mitchell, Chancellor of AUS. The agreement renews the cooperation and partnership between AUS and EmiratesGBC and will see both organizations increase collaboration in several areas of mutual interest. Some of these areas include internship opportunities for AUS students, the development of competitions and seminars, and the availability of AUS faculty to provide expertise in areas of green buildings and sustainability practice, among others.

Speaking on the occasion, HE Dr Ali remarked: “through our partnership, we aim to create stronger awareness about sustainable built environments, promote innovation and research in this field, and prepare the talented students at AUS to be ambassadors of a greener UAE.”

Our Net Zero Centre of Excellence was launched in 2018 as a think tank and accelerator to advance net zero carbon buildings in the UAE as part of its commitment to World Green Building Council’s Advancing Net Zero Project. Through our website and Snapshot, you can explore the centre’s objectives as well as view the research we conducted to highlight the challenges and opportunities for net zero buildings in the UAE. Click on the links to learn more about Zero building certifications as well as read more details about the WorldGBC’s Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment.

Zero Energy Certification

Did you know that Zero Energy buildings have best in class energy efficiency improvements of 60-90% over baseline buildings? Certifying gives your project a stamp of approval from one of the world’s most top sustainability organizations, the International Living Future Institute (ILFI), and helps maintain integrity of the zero-energy ideal.

If you are working on a net-zero project and would like to learn more about the certification, email us at netzero@emiratesgbc.org and we will be happy to set a meeting to discuss the benefits of the certification as well as the certification process. The first 10 pilot projects in the UAE that apply to ILFI’s ZE and ZC certifications receive a discounted rate.

Net Zero Buildings Commitment

WorldGBC’s Commitment now has 79 signatories, and you can find the full list of current signatories here. The case study library also showcases industry leaders who have signed the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment: 45 businesses and organizations, 28 cities, and 6 states and regions.

EmiratesGBC is proud to announce that several members have signed up to the Commitment such as AESG, BuroHappold Engineering, Cundall, Majid Al Futtaim, Multiplex and Shaw Contract. If you would like to hear about how and why these members signed the commitment as well as the challenges and opportunities of signing the commitment, EmiratesGBC will be hosting an event where these members will be sharing their experiences. Be sure to keep an eye out as we announce more details!

If you would like to join the lines of these pioneering organizations, please contact us at netzero@emiratesgbc.org.

On 20^th February EmiratesGBC members joined us for our first Green Building Tour of the year. Members were provided a tour of Masdar City in Abu Dhabi and were given insights into the sustainable architecture and innovative building features of the development. Gaurish Wagle, Manager of Plot Development and Sustainability at Masdar, provided an overview of the evolution of the planning and development and discussed the future stages of Masdar City including the sustainable transport systems.  The tour was extended to include the Siemens MENA regional headquarters, which has achieved LEED platinum and Estidama pearl-3 rating. Our Siemens guides provided an in-depth look into the Building Management System which optimizes the efficiency of the building.

Many thanks to Masdar and Siemens for hosting us and all our members who joined this engaging and insightful tour.

Building Tours are a great opportunity to raise awareness of green building best practice and raise awareness of the innovative work happening in the UAE – if you have an innovative building or project and would like to host a tour for EmiratesGBC members then please contact us on events@emiratesgbc.org.

Date: 2^nd March. EmiratesGBC invites members and partners to an industry networking event where a panel of experts will discuss the opportunities and challenges facing the UAE as it transitions to a circular economy. The event will be hosted by Shaw Contract at their office in D3, Dubai.

With the building and construction sector estimated to be using two-fifths of the world’s energy and material flow and contributing between 13 – 30% of its waste, there is a growing awareness within the government and private sectors that industries need to move further into sustainable development from the norm established today. The case for the global adoption of a circular economy has become an important consequence of BAU development standards and their impact on the environment. To achieve this goal, the focus is increasingly turning towards a building’s life cycle and through a cradle to cradle approach in the manufacturing process and supply chain.

This event is hosted by EmiratesGBC corporate member, Shaw Contract, who will be joining the panel to share their experiences and insights to adopting a cradle to cradle approach in their manufacturing and supply processes.

Open to EmiratesGBC members and partners, join us to learn more about the latest developments on this topic and network with industry professionals and peers. Click here to register to attend.

Date: 15^th – 18^th March. The World Green Building Council will be holding the 2^nd Annual MENA Green Building Congress in Dubai. The MENA Congress will incorporate the World Green Building Council board and corporate advisory board meetings alongside an invitation only business forum which will bring together international and regional experts to discuss innovations and progress in the Advancing Net Zero Movement, Better Places for People and Sustainable Reconstruction in the region.

The Congress is organized by the World Green Building Council in collaboration with Emirates Green Building Council under the patronage of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and in partnership with Majid Al Futtaim.

We look forward to networking with other Green Building Councils within the region and share knowledge and experience with international experts.

Date:18^th March. As part of the MENA Regional Green Building Congress, EmiratesGBC in collaboration with World Green Building Council will be hosting an expert roundtable to discuss air quality in the built environment.

During this invitation-only event, expert international and national speakers will share content around the global air quality crisis, the role of the building and construction sector and the specific contributions and impacts from the MENA region. Through a series of mediated discussions, the roundtable participants will be invited to draw up an action plan for cities in the MENA region around how to reduce the contribution of the built environment sector on the regional and global air quality crisis, and the value and contribution of air quality monitoring through the Plant a Sensor programme.

The outcomes form the roundtable are expected to help support and guide the wider work that EmiratesGBC is undertaking on indoor environmental quality in the UAE.

EmiratesGBC is busy planning an exciting calendar of events throughout 2020, from workshops and focus days on our priority areas such as Net Zero Carbon Buildings, Energy Efficiency and Building Retrofit to our flagship Annual Congress and Annual MENA Green Building Awards. We have a range of partnership opportunities for members, which is a great opportunity to get involved and showcase your organization’s leadership and commitment to sustainability. To find our more, please contact engagement@emiratesgbc.org.

Emirates Green Building Council is pleased to be a supporting association for the Dubai Investments Green Run on Friday 27th March 2020. As the first Green Run in Dubai, it will offer a 3 km & 5 km walk, jog or run for all ages and all abilities in Dubai Investments Park.

Dubai Investments Green Run is fully inclusive, offering people of all abilities the opportunity to take part. It is a ‘run-by-any-means’ event, to attract families, students, environment advocates and running enthusiasts, all for fun and the environment. Participants can run, walk, push strollers or use wheelchairs towards the finished line.

Dubai Investments Green Run will offer a different experience that will help participants run a greener race. It will limit its environmental impact by adopting practices that educate the community and lessons the burden on the planet.

The whole event will be a smarter, greener, happier race adopting green practices throughout the organisation and event logistics.

• Running Smarter – Dubai Investments Green Run will adopt smart practices including paperless communications, paperless registration and virtual goodie bags.
• Running Greener – Dubai Investments Green Run will adopt green practices including; no single use plastics, providing sustainable run t-shirts, and using recycled materials. There will be recycling bins along at the start/ finish areas, along the route and in the run village. If plastic bottles and items are brought, they can be recycled.
• Running Happier – Dubai Investments Green Run will showcase the environmentally friendly initiatives and offer awards in recognition of participants, sponsors and vendors who contribute to event sustainability. There will also be awards for the best ‘Green Message’. There will be used clothing and shoe collection bins in the run village. Participants are encouraged to collect and donate items before and after the run.

To register to attend click here and join EmiratesGBC in supporting the first Green Run in Dubai whilst having fun and getting active!

EmiratesGBC is pleased to be a supporting association for the 10^th edition of the upcoming MEFMA CONFEX taking place on April 5 & 6, 2020 in Dubai under the theme of ‘Facility Management Transformation towards Sustainable Development’.

• April 5, 2020: 6pm to 10pm – Opening of CONFEX & Exhibition and Gala Dinner (Address Hotel – Dubai Marina)
• April 6, 2020: 9am to 5pm – Conference & Exhibition (Address Hotel – Dubai Marina)

For further information visit the event website.

6^th Annual Retrofit Tech MENA

EmiratesGBC is pleased to support the 6th Annual Retrofit Tech MENA taking place from 6-7 April 2020 in Roda Al Bustan Hotel, Dubai, UAE, to address the latest retrofit innovations to accelerate the growth of the retrofit sector in the UAE and MENA region.

This prestigious annual gathering of high-level decision makers and industry trailblazers presents an ideal platform for energy efficiency management services companies and solution providers to showcase their innovative technologies and solutions, and learn more about the upcoming projects in the UAE and the MENA region as a whole.

EmiratesGBC will be participating in the conference and sharing insights around the energy efficiency and benchmarking in the UAE. EmiratesGBC members are eligible for a discount upon registering for more details contact opportunities@acm-events.com.

For more information, visit: http://bit.ly/2VhOaFS.

EmiratesGBC would like to showcase the Green Building Products Lab of its longstanding partner, Dubai Central Laboratory (DCL). The products lab uses the latest advanced and sophisticated equipment to assess the characteristics of green products and systems as per the approved standard specifications/test methods of reputable international organizations such as ASTM, BS, BSEN, and ISO. The DCL team consists of highly qualified specialists and engineers who perform the testing and evaluation of the products. The tests carried out in this laboratory are accredited as per ISO 17025 and the type of testing includes Physical, Chemical, Mechanical, Thermal, Fire, Solar & light properties on different type of Products:

The laboratory is also able to conduct fire tests on different type of Insulation materials. Apart from the testing services, the green lab is also carrying out research studies related to the products or systems behavior as per Dubai environmental conditions, which is helpful for the product development, R&D and for the regional specification development of different type of Green Building Products.

For further information for the testing and research – studies please contact Engr. Fahad Saleh Amer Al Mahri, Head of green building products unit on 04-3027003 or Email: FSAMER@dm.gov.ae.

List of test and their details available in the following link.

HSBC, who have been running the Living Business Programme in Asia for 16 years, are bringing the Programme to the UAE for the first time in 2020. The Programme is for UAE businesses who want to profit from sustainability. It includes coaching, workshops and networking all designed with a focus on successfully implementing initiatives that have bottom line and environmental or social benefits. The Programme will conclude in November with a graduation ceremony and high energy Get In The Ring pitching event, which will showcase the achievements of the participants. There is no fee to join the Programme but places are limited. Registration is open now and will close on 31st March. If you know of companies who are taking positive steps to make their business more sustainable and who might appreciate expert support or would like the opportunity to showcase what they are doing, please ask them to visit www.livingbusiness.me or contact, Floor van der Noodaa: floor@globally.ae.

The Building Retrofit Training Program teaches the fundamentals of Building Retrofit and Energy Efficiency and equips professionals and students with the skills and knowledge to implement retrofit projects in the region. The introductory course is a great opportunity for those looking for an overview of the topic while the advanced course gives technical experts the opportunity to highlight their knowledge with certification.

The Building Retrofit Training Program runs throughout the year – register today to secure your place on an upcoming course.   The next introductory course will take place on the 1^st of March in Dubai and the advanced course is scheduled for the 4-5th March.

The program is in partnership with Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and Masdar (Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company) and offers two levels of training:

• Advanced Building Retrofit Training Course: This two-day course is perfect for engineers and technical experts with prior experience or currently undertaking retrofit projects who wish to enhance and streamline their knowledge of retrofit principles and methods. Participants of the course will undertake an examination which will allow them to become an EmiratesGBC certified Building Retrofit Specialist.
• Introductory Building Retrofit Training: For non-technical professionals looking for an overview of Building Retrofit methods. Led by expert facilitators, this one-day course provides knowledge of sustainability to industry professionals looking to understand the fundamentals of building retrofit.

Further information about the courses and eligibility guidelines can be found on the Building Retrofit Training webpage. EmiratesGBC can also schedule in-house training for groups of 10 or more, please contact training@emiratesgbc.org to request a proposal. EmiratesGBC members and partners will receive a 20% discount off the registration fees.

Hear what some of our previous participants had to say about the course:

‘I took BRT because I am a non-technical professional entering the retrofit sector in Dubai, working on demand side management. This course gave me a solid overview and understanding of building/villa/structure from a retrofit perspective and the current legislation and trends in Dubai.’

 ‘I would like to personally thank EGBC for introducing the BRT as it became really a good reinforcement to tackle the issues concerning the built environment especially the existing buildings. Truly, if majority of the building professionals, owners and the building occupants are aware of the impact of buildings, EGBC’s launching of the certification for Building Retrofit specialists will paved the way to transforming buildings and the built environment in general as high performing and low to zero carbon places on earth.’

There were two technical workshops in the month of February, with the first workshop facilitated by Danfoss on Delta T problems in chilled water systems. This workshop provided an introduction to the delta T syndrome as well as possible solutions. The workshop also focused on actuation systems on chilled water pressure independent balancing & control valves as one of the main components that can contribute to energy savings.

The second technical workshop was facilitated by FARNEK and looked at the sustainable management of healthcare waste. The workshop, which also included a highly engaging discussion, explored sustainable options for managing healthcare waste other than incineration or other disposal systems with the 3 R’s approach.

Our next upcoming workshop on March 10^th will be facilitated by Corporate Member CEC and will discuss optimizing load and ventilation rates for office buildings. Register early by clicking here.

If you are interested in facilitating a workshop in 2020, please be aware that we have started to schedule the workshops for the second quarter of the year. If you have a topic in mind, you can email us at technicalworkshops@emiratesgbc.org.

Consumption and use of natural resources has generally followed a linear approach. Materials are sourced, used and finally disposed of as waste. Known as the take-make-use dispose model, this produces negative externalities that include rising carbon emissions, increased pressures on landfill, unsustainable levels of water extraction and widespread ecosystem pollution.

The systemic nature of the circular economy requires both the ecosystem and its individual components to change. Therefore, this month we look at a report by ARUP, The Circular Economy in the Built Environment, which explores the meaning and application of circular economy within the built environment. The report is intended to raise awareness of circular approaches and to identify challenges, enablers and opportunities in application.

To read the full report, click here.