Dear EGBC Members and Industry Supporters,
With the year 2014 coming to an end, I am pleased to say that the Council has made some very important progress to set us on a strong path for 2015. Following the establishment of an MOU with the Ministry of Public Works, a meeting was held between senior representatives of MOPW and the EGBC to discuss the areas of cooperation that can result in the more widespread adoption of sustainable building practices throughout the UAE.
November is traditionally a very busy month of conferences and industry events and during this month I had the pleasure of chairing the real estate summit held at the Global Trade Development Week 2014 as well as the Big 5’s Sustainable Design and Construction conference. It was clear from both these events that there is great progress being made in the sustainable building sphere and the private sector is pushing forward with notable innovations and success stories following the robust regulatory frameworks put in place by the public sector. Rounding up the month, I participated in the UAE Global Green Growth Initiative Workshop held under the Ministry of Environment, which explored best practice approaches to decouple resource depletion and environmental degradation from economic growth in order to set the path for a new, green growth path. It is clear from speaking to key players from government bodies and International institutions that buildings have a vital role to play in this area and a number of parties are depending on the EmiratesGBC for their expertise and role in driving green building practices in the UAE.
EmiratesGBC will host its Annual General Meeting on 9th December wherein the council will reflect on its accomplishments of the year and it is also an opportunity for corporate and individual members to provide input into the future direction of the Council. During the AGM, we will discuss the key programs and projects for 2015 and I encourage all our Members to participate in the AGM and contribute to the future development of the EGBC. Immediately prior to the AGM, we will also host a Networking event to celebrate the success of 2014 EmiratesGBC Award Winners and will also use the platform to launch our awards for 2015 with new categories and other details.
The future certainly looks green for the UAE with sustainability being at the forefront of development. In order to hear more about what is currently happening and details of future initiatives regarding sustainable built environments, get in touch with the EmiratesGBC office and show your support by being a part of several task forces.
Best regards,
Saeed Al Abbar
Chairman
EGBC News and Updates
Join us for the DAFZA Building Tour on 8th December
Following the successful tour last month as part of the Annual EGBC Congress, EmiratesGBC in partnership with Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority will host another building tour for all its members and partners to showcase the best sustainable practices adopted by the DAFZA building. Learn about the impressive energy and water savings achieved at the DAFZA Headquarters and other sustainable building initiatives implemented by the Free Zone Authority.
Date: December 8th
Time: 9:00 a.m to 11:00 a.m
Location: DAFZA Headquarters, Wing 2
Cost: FREE (EmiratesGBC Members & Partners Only)
Registration and confirmation will be on a first come first served basis due to limited seating. Kindly mail us your interest at events@emiratesgbc.org to confirm your presence for the tour.
Join us on 9th December for the Launch of the 2015 EGBC Awards and Showcase of the 2014 Awards Winners
To further celebrate the success of the winners of 2014 EGBC Awards and showcase their exemplary sustainability practices, we are organizing a networking event on December 9th, 2014 at Dusit Thani, Al Wasl A-Ballroom. The event will feature presentations by the winning organizations, and EmiratesGBC will also announce the launch of the EGBC Awards 2015.
The program will be as follows:
8:00am – 8:30am Registration and Welcome Coffee
8:30am – 8:45am Welcome by EGBC chairman and Launch of EGBC Awards 2015
8:45am – 9:45am Presentation by EGBC Award Winners of 2014 (5 winners)
9:45am – 10:00am Wrap up
Should you be interested to attend the event, please send us your interest at events@emiratesgbc.org. The event is free to attend for EGBC Members and 100 AED per person for non members. We look forward to welcome you all at the event!
Have you registered for the joint EmiratesGBC and FBC Networking Event?
EmiratesGBC and the French Business Council in Dubai will jointly host a Green Innovation Event for suppliers in the green building and energy efficiency industry. The purpose of the event is to bring together companies in the green building industry on a common platform to showcase their green innovations. Local industry stakeholders, such as consultants, developers, institutions, government bodies and contractors will be invited to attend and visit the featured innovations.The details of the EGBC and FBC joint networking events are mentioned below:
- Date: 14th December
- Location: Tawasul Ballroom, Pullman Deira, Dubai
- Time: 8:30am to 11:30am
If you are interested to participate in the event as an exhibitor, kindly contact the EGBC office at events@emiratesgbc.org. Please note there is a small fee of AED 500 for exhibiting.
For delegates who wish to attend the event as visitors, the rates are as follows:
- EmiratesGBC and FBC Members – Free of cost
- Non Members – 100 AED per person (payment at the door on day of event) and participation.
EmiratesGBC welcomes its members for the Annual General Meeting
EmiratesGBC Members are invited to attend the Annual General Meeting on 9th December from 10:30am—12:30pm at Dusit Thani Hotel, Dubai. This is an excellent opportunity for EmiratesGBC members to hear the latest accomplishments of the Council and to voice their opinions on the future direction and activities. Should you be able to attend the meeting kindly register at office@emiratesgbc.org. The Annual General Meeting is open to Members Only and is free of cost.
Thank you for joining us at the November Networking Event
EmiratesGBC & MEFMA jointly hosted a networking event on 19th November at Sheraton Hotel, Mall of Emirates from 9:00am to 11:00am. The panel session during the event focused on Sustainable Design & Construction where experts from the field of design, construction & facilities management discussed the sustainable initiatives taking place in the design and construction industry. An overwhelming response was received at the event with participation by over 100 industry professionals. Thank you to all who attended for your contribution to making the event a grand success. Special thanks to UK CARES for sponsorship of the event.
EmiratesGBC contributed to State of Energy Report 2015 and State of Green Economy Report 2015
The team at EmiratesGBC has contributed to the recently published State of Green Economy Report 2015 and UAE State of Energy Report 2015. EmiratesGBC’s contributions feature several articles on Green Buildings and Smart Cities in the UAE; Hospitality Sector and Green Key Program, and the National Coalition for Green Schools.
The State of Energy Report 2015 highlights the best practices and success stories of national activities taking place within the energy sector. The Report has been published under UAE Ministry of Energy and prepared in collaboration with the Dubai Carbon Centre of Excellence and the United Nations Development Programme.
The State of Green Economy Report 2015 has been developed by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and the Dubai Carbon Centre of Excellence in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme. The various chapters included in the report touch on the progress and innovation in green economic development, which includes smart cities, clean energy, sustainable lifestyle and consumer choices, responsible tourism, green industries, and environmental finance and investments.
EmiratesGBC Participates in local Sustainability Exhibitions & Conferences
EmiratesGBC is supporting several upcoming events in the field of sustainability.
In December, under the Patronage of the Dubai Municipality and the Dubai Central Laboratory, the Quality Assurance for Sustainable Construction Materials Conference will be held on 11th-12th December 2014 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. EmiratesGBC proudly supports this important event. To get more details, click here.
In January, EmiratesGBC will be participating in World Future Energy Summit. the world’s foremost annual meeting committed to promoting the advancement of future energy, energy efficiency and clean technologies by engaging political, business, finance, academic and industry leaders to drive innovation, business and investment opportunities in response to the growing need for sustainable energy. The Summit will take place from 19th till 22nd January 2015 at ADNEC, Abu Dhabi along with side events that include International Water Summit and Eco Waste 2015. For more information, click here.
We encourage members to volunteer and represent EmiratesGBC at our exhibition stands. Don’t forget that volunteer hours with EmiratesGBC can also count towards LEED Maintenance Credits! Should you be available to volunteer, please email events@emiratesgbc.org.
EGBC Technical Workshop with ADQCC
EmiratesGBC’s December Technical Workshop will be facilitated in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Quality Conformity Council. The workshop will discuss a future certification scheme for paints and coatings. The workshop will also consider potential testing methods, standards and quality specifications for solar reflective coatings, in context with local regulations and guidelines. Seating is limited so please mark your agenda to attend the session in Dubai on Wednesday December 10th from 2:30pm – 4:30 pm and register by emailing technicalworkshops@emiratesgbc.org no later than 4th December. We look forward to your participation! Please note that participation is exclusive for EGBC members and partners.
Partnership with MOPW
EmiratesGBC, after signing an MOU with the Ministry of Public Works (MOPW), conducted its first meeting wherein it was agreed that EmiratesGBC will facilitate training for MOPW staff, and the two parties will cooperate on building capacity and incorporating sustainability into UAE projects. EmiratesGBC is pleased for such opportunities to work with MOPW and other government bodies to bring about a positive change in the UAE. The partnership with MOPW is a positive step forward for the sustainable development in the country.
Energy Efficiency Program – series of workshops to kick off in December
Previous EmiratesGBC Technical Workshops discussing opportunities for ESCOs and the new RSB regulatory framework for Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) projects were very successful, and in response to the feedback received from member participants, EmiratesGBC is building up its Energy Efficiency Program by offering tailored workshops to local ESCOs, green product and service vendors, and facility managers. These workshops will provide an opportunity for such companies to learn how their participation in the EmiratesGBC Energy Efficiency program can help drive the emerging EPC market. Stay tuned for dates and timings to be announced soon by EmiratesGBC – the workshops will be open to all EPC stakeholders in the UAE.
UN Global Compact meeting
As a new member of the UN Global Compact, EmiratesGBC was pleased to have the opportunity to meet with Mr. Walid Nagi, UN Global Compact Head of Local Networks, during his recent visit to the UAE in November. Hosted by Mrs. Habiba Al Marashi, President of the UNGC Gulf States Network, the meeting was an exclusive session attended by other UNGC Gulf Network members and provided a chance to exchange views and ideas for developing CSR practices and participation in the Global Compact. EmiratesGBC supports the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact with respect to human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption and is committed to engaging our members to help advance these principles with stakeholders and the general public.
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