On January 5th, 2020, we were honored to welcome Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan as Honorary President of the Emirates Green Building Council. Sheikha Shamma is a strong supporter of environmental sustainability and a champion for sustainable development in the UAE, sharing the vision established by her beloved great-grandfather and the UAE’s founding ruler, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. As a respected leader and industry expert on sustainability, Sheikha Shamma has come on board to support the common goals shared with EmiratesGBC.
On January 28th, Sheikha Shamma hosted a meeting with the EmiratesGBC management committee to discuss collaboration, raising awareness and strengthening sustainability initiatives that will help to further promote the sustainable goals of the UAE. EmiratesGBC is honoured to have Sheikha Shamma serve as Honorary President and we look forward to increasing our impact for sustainable development.

On January 9th, Technical Manager Majd Fayyad served on the jury panel for the Sharjah Excellence Awards organized by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He served alongside HH Dr. Abdul Aziz Ali Al Nuaimi (the Green Sheikh) and Dr. Abduallah Al Shanableh.

The Sharjah Excellence Awards have been launched as one of the many initiatives of Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) in the United Arab Emirates. The awards focus on the growth and development of organizational excellence across all business sectors and organizations within the Sharjah Emirate. By recognizing quality and innovation, the SCCI aim to establish a culture of positive competition that is based on a foundation of sustainable economic growth and investment.

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. This initiative was inspired by the Councils’ commitment to the World Green Building Council’s Advancing Net Zero Project. Through our website, you can explore the program’s objectives as well as view the research we have conducted to highlight the challenges and opportunities for net zero buildings in the UAE. For more in depth knowledge, you can also view the Zero Building Certifications we offer and the WorldGBC’s Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment.

Our latest work and achievements for the Net Zero Centre of Excellence are included in the latest publication by the World Green Building Council, the Advancing Net Zero Status Report 2019.

Snapshot

We are proud to announce that our work through the Net Zero Centre of Excellence to advance the net zero movement in the UAE is summarized through the launch of the EmiratesGBC Snapshot. The Snapshot is published through the World Green Building Council’s global Advancing Net Zero project and defines how Net Zero Centre of Excellence adheres to each of the four key principles which support the transition towards net zero carbon buildings.
To read more about the Snapshot, click here.

Zero Carbon Certification

A report by World Green Building Council, Bringing Embodied Carbon Upfront, shows that 11% of the global energy demand is related to building materials and construction, and that addressing upfront carbon is a critical and urgent focus. Moreover, applying for a Zero Carbon Certification shows your intent in reducing embodied carbon emissions, and also highlights your commitment to sustainability.
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 process the certification for you. 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 join the lines of these pioneering organizations, please contact us at netzero@emiratesgbc.org.

EmiratesGBC was actively involved in this year’s 10^th Annual World Future Energy Summit. Held in Abu Dhabi, the Summit is a leading global industry hub for business, innovation and knowledge exchange, and provides a necessary platform for gamechangers in the energy efficiency and sustainability industries. EmiratesGBC proudly participated as a knowledge partner for the Smart Cities Expo & Forum, and presented extensively to a wide ranging audience from all over the world.

Representation at the Smart Cities Forum included Secretary to the Board, Huda Shaka redefining sustainable urban planning for the region, and Vice Chair Eng. Afra Al Owais presenting her vision for a sustainable Sharjah where she will focus on implementing efficient and innovative technology. EmiratesGBC Technical Manager Majd Fayyad cited local building guidelines, as he presented potential embodied carbon targets for the industry to focus on as they considered the lifecycle of their facilities.

On 21^st & 22^nd January, EmiratesGBC participated in the second annual Sharjah Engineering Forum hosted by Sharjah Municipality. This was a great opportunity to learn more about the strategic activities in the Emirate, including the launch of the Sharjah Green Building Guidelines, and also meet the innovative engineers and organizations undertaking projects. We look forward to next year’s forum and watching the exciting developments and progress which will be happening in Sharjah over the coming months!

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 view our sponsorship packages or contact engagement@emiratesgbc.org.

We would like to congratulate La Ville Hotel & Suites, City Walk on achieving the Green Key certifications. For 2020, the hotel will see more eco-friendly practices that support sustainability and connect guests to the local culture. As part of Marriott, they are also following the Serve 360 initiative and plan to reduce the negative impacts of carbon emissions by committing to carbon intensity reduction by 2025.  You can read more about their initiatives here.

EmiratesGBC is the national operator of Green Key in the UAE and we are taking this chance to invite all hotels in the UAE to apply for the certification. For more information, please contact us at greenkey@emiratesgbc.org.

Cundall to ‘revolutionise’ the industry with global net-zero pledge

 International consultancy firm Cundall has pledged to become a net-zero business across its global operations by the middle of 2020 to align with the United Nation’s (UN) 2030 Sustainable Development targets.

Describing 2020 as a “defining year” for the industry, Cundall revealed that it is taking an ambitious approach to drive the Net Zero Carbon agenda across the UAE and worldwide… Read more.

AESG launches design tool to achieve net-zero carbon buildings

UAE-based construction consultancy, engineering, and advisory firm AESG, which is a signatory to the World Green Building Council’s ‘Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment’, has launched a ‘Pathway to Net Zero’ design tool to provide its clients an optional pathway to achieving net zero carbon buildings.

The tool is designed to determine and evaluate the options available for reducing both the embodied and operational carbon footprint of buildings… Read more.

The new year is a great time to take stock and commit to your professional development and training! 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.’

Emirates Green Building Council is cooperating with TPG Media to offer our members a special discounted advertising opportunity in Emirates Projects, a leading print and digital platform that reaches out to 166,000 companies including Developers, Architects, Consultants and Contractors.

With a focus on EmiratesGBC and our vision for 2020, we will be featured in Emirates Projects and would like our members to be showcased alongside this feature. 2020 is being heralded as the start of the decade for climate action, and media campaigns such as this will support focusing attention on action to accelerate solutions.

Two advertising options are available with TPG Media for EmiratesGBC Corporate members, offering 50% discount or more off the standard rates. For more information on the packages and special rates, please contact Jane Muff at TPG at Jane@tpg-media.com.

“In addition to installing efficient fixtures, building owners can take a step further by installing a water management system, which can potentially save significant water as usage is linked directly to its source, which helps target reduction where needed and troubleshoots leakage. Water management system uses metering and submetering.”

The above is one of many useful tips available through the EmiratesGBC Green Building Tooltips. The Tooltips is an online platform serving to further educate the industry and community on simple green building practices. The interactive designs cover three different building typologies, showcasing home, school and office buildings.  The initiative is powered by BASF and Legrand and is supported by Taqati.

The first Technical Workshop of 2020 was facilitated by Wacker on Sustainable Weather Seal Solutions for Construction. This workshop looked at the different types of sealant technology and the standards for testing (ASTM C920/ISO11600) available in the market. The workshop also provided an overview on how to choose the appropriate sealant for various applications.

We have two exciting workshops in February! Our next upcoming workshop on February 5^th, will focus on the delta T issues in chilled water systems and offer insight into some of the solutions that can prevent this. Make sure to register here. The second workshop is on the 25^th and will focus on Sustainable Waste Management. More details to follow, so keep an eye out!

If you are interested in facilitating a workshop in 2020, please note 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.

As climate action becomes more urgent, there is a growing focus on embodied carbon within the built environment. An increasing amount of architects, engineers, and researchers are collaborating to establish common practices around the definition and reduction of embodied carbon in order to produce fully decarbonized, or true Zero Carbon projects.

This month we look at the International Living Future Institute’s recently released Embodied Carbon Guidance Document which provides guidance to help project teams quantify the reductions made within their projects and empower them to create measurable change in order to meet their climate action goals.

To read the full report, click here.