We are proud to announce the application period is open for the 2019 MENA Green Building Awards. The Annual MENA Green Building Awards Program celebrates achievements, success stories and best practices across the region by honouring companies and projects that demonstrate a clear implementation of sustainable design, construction and operation of buildings and support the industry’s rapid transition to a net zero future. 

The number of professional categories has grown to 20 and includes for the first time in the region an award for ‘Zero Building/Zero Building Design of the Year’. This a reflection of the growth in sustainable development and green building practice within the MENA region.

Sponsorship opportunities for the Awards are available with an early bird discount offer until August 1, 2019.   This year we have introduced the option of Category Sponsor which offers you the opportunity to represent one of the 20 categories being celebrated this year.

The Awards are open to projects and companies in the MENA region and are again endorsed by the World Green Building Council and supported by regional Green Building Councils: Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Kuwait, Morocco and Palestine.

Applicants have until the 27^th July to submit their applications. Shortlisted applicants will be notified by the end of September with the winners announced at the 7^th Annual MENA Green Building Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner in October.

To find out more about the categories and application process, please visit the MENA Green Building Council Awards website and download the applicant guidelines.

If you are interested in sponsoring the MENA Green Building Awards please take a look at our sponsorship packages or contact engagement@emiratesgbc.org.

Calling all students and recent graduates! The application window is now open for the 2019 cycle of the Dr. Owainati Student Excellence Award.

The Dr. Owainati Student Excellence Award, sponsored by EmiratesGBC Co-Founder Dr. Sadek Owainati, specifically rewards a student from a recognised university in the UAE who has conducted exceptional research work in a subject related to green buildings in the Middle East. The Dr. Owainati Student Excellence Award is open to an academically accepted thesis and/or research paper submitted for a post-graduate degree or final year undergraduate university research project or dissertation in the United Arab Emirates.

The deadline for submission is 27^th July and Shortlisted applicants will be notified by the end of September with the winners announced at the Annual MENA Green Building Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner later in October. To find out more about the categories and application process please visit the MENA Green Building Council Awards website and download the applicant guidelines.

Sponsorship of 8 student memberships is now available with the EmiratesGBC, and the first 8 students to apply for student membership will have their 2019 membership fees waived.  Interested students should submit their membership application form to the EmiratesGBC office and show proof of full-time enrollment with a university in the UAE. Student membership offers the chance to network with industry professionals, attend industry events and trainings, and get insight into the local green building job market.

This student sponsorship is thanks to the generosity of EmiratesGBC member Holley Chant – thank you, Holley!

We are proud to announce that we have launched the website for the Net Zero Centre of Excellence. We invite you to explore the website to learn more about the Centre’s objectives, our research, Zero building certifications and the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment.

Our latest works 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. We have included more information in the Academy Feature, so be sure to read more about it!

As part of our partnership with the International Living Future Institute (ILFI), EmiratesGBC provided feedback to ILFI addressing the Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy and Embodied Carbon requirements of the ZE and ZC certifications, on the specific requirements which would act as barriers to the successful uptake of the certifications in the UAE market. We are proud to announce that ILFI has updated the requirements based on the feedback we provided, and we encourage you to see the updates here.

If you are working on a net-zero energy project,  please email us at netzero@emiratesgbc.org, the first 10 pilot projects in the UAE that apply to ILFI’s ZE and ZC certifications will receive a 50% discount.

We are delighted to welcome our Board Member, AESG, as the second signatory to the Net Zero Carbon Building Commitment in the MENA region. Congratulations AESG!

The Commitment has received over 50 signatories, and you can find the full list of current signatories here.

We encourage our members and partners to join AESG and Majid Al Futtaim by joining the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment in 2019. EmiratesGBC will continue to advocate for regional players to join this highly effective mission toward worldwide decarbonisation. If interested, please email us at netzero@emiratesgbc.org.

We are pleased to announce that we have finished the updates for the City Briefs.

EmiratesGBC annually publishes the Green Building Market City Briefs for Abu Dhabi and Dubai in partnership with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The briefs highlight the green building policies in both Emirates and show evidence of the great progress and achievements from the implemented initiatives that promote sustainable development in the country.

To read the updated City Briefs, click here.

World Environment Day is celebrated June 5^th annually to create awareness and action on protecting our environment.  This year’s theme is Air Quality – which happens to perfectly align with the ‘Air Quality in Built Environment’ campaign by WorldGBC Better Places for People project, a global project that EmiratesGBC sits on the steering committee.

On the occasion of World Environment Day, the WorldGBC BPFP Program Manager will be moderating a joint UN Environment & WorldGBC webinar on how retrofitting NYC buildings can reduce air pollution and slow the rate of climate change. Registration is open and anyone interested in learning more about how Building retrofit can improve air quality is welcome to attend this informative webinar.  Click here to register.

To help us celebrate World Environment Day and support the Better Places for People Campaign, use and follow the hashtags: #breathelife #airquality #cleanair #beatairpollution. Make a pledge of action to do your part in combating air pollution. Learn more about what you can do to mitigate by visiting the Better Place for People campaign. Some tips include:

• Materials: Promote importance of sustainable, non-toxic and air-purifying building materials to limit off-gassing of pollutants within buildings
• Building fabric: Develop awareness of importance of building fabric and construction quality, as well as the role of retrofitting existing stock, to lower risk of damp and mould
• Ventilation: Champion appropriate ventilation strategies to achieve energy efficiency and health priorities for efficient indoor air management

Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC) launched the Building Efficiency Accelerator (BEA) Project Report on January 10^th .  In partnership with Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, EmiratesGBC carried the study as the selected demonstration project, benchmarking the energy and water performance of Dubai hotels, schools, and malls, as part of Dubai’s commitment to the BEA.

As this month’s technical workshop looked at the Indoor Air Quality and Acoustics in schools, we would also like to highlight the BEA Report energy and water benchmarking results for private schools in Dubai. The results showed that:

• A median school in Dubai consumes 134 kWh/m²/year of energy and 852 litres/m²/year of water.
• The best performing schools consume 61% less energy and 84% less water compared to the worst performers
• New schools are likely to consume more energy and water per unit area.

EmiratesGBC’s BEA project team assessed the energy and water performance of existing buildings against similar buildings within the same typology as part of the study. A total of 121 properties, including 85 hotels, 27 schools, and 9 malls, submitted data on their energy and water use.

As a sign of commitment and appreciation, EmiratesGBC has sent out tailored scorecards to the schools, hotels, and malls that participated in the BEA Benchmarking Report. The scorecards highlight the performance of the properties and support them in deciding where urgent action is needed to increase efficiency and building performance.

Click here to read the BEA Benchmarking Report and download the fact sheets

With the 2019 MENA Green Building Awards application window open we will be taking a look back at last year’s winners to inspire our next round of applications. This month we look at green building product of the year which is divided into three sub-categories: Energy Management, Indoor Air Quality, and Conventional Construction Materials. Our first Green Building Product/Material of the year category is Energy Management.

The 2018 winner of this category was Carrier Aquaforce® 30KAV & 30XV Chillers by Carrier Middle East Limited. The product which was built on Willis Carrier’s invention of modern air conditioning in 1902, Carrier brings over 115 years of innovation by introducing Variable Speed Drive Carrier AquaForce® 30 KAV and 30XV Series from the USA contributing to the future of air-conditioning in the region.

Congratulations Carrier Middle East!

A special mention to the shortlisted entrants in this category: Premium Efficiency EWAD-MZ Series – Single Screw Inverter Air Cooled Chiller by DAIKIN Middle East & Africa

To find out more about the 2018  awards and category winners, take a look at the awards brief and continue to support the MENA Green Building Awards through social media by using the hashtag #MENAGBAwards. If you are interested in getting involved in the awards through sponsorship, then please get in contact via engagement@emiratesgbc.org

According to the 2019 Sustainable Travel Report done by Booking.com, over half (55%) of global travelers report being more determined to make sustainable travel choices than they were a year ago. In light of this, we encourage hoteliers to look at Green Key, which is a standard of excellence in the field of environmental responsibility and sustainable operation within the tourism industry.

The Green Key programme is managed by the Foundation for Environmental Education with Emirates Green Building Council serving as the UAE National Operator since 2013.

If interested in applying for the Green Key Certification, email us at greenkey@emiratesgbc.org.

Earlier this month EmiratesGBC hosted our annual corporate Iftar in partnership with Trane at the Anantara Eastern Mangroves Hotel and Spa in Abu Dhabi. A big thank you to all those members and partners who joined us to break the fast and network, and a special mention to longterm members and partners Trane for their support in hosting this event.

We wish you an Eid Mubarak and many happy returns.

This month marked a milestone for Majid Al Futtaim and the region’s sustainability journey; as they were the first to list the world’s first benchmark corporate Green Sukuk and the first Green Sukuk in the region. Valued at USD 600 million, the Sukuk is testament to the company’s long term commitment to environmental responsibility, as they make further progress towards a net positive commitment across their operations in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. The proceeds will be allocated to Majid Al Futtaim’s existing and future green projects, including green buildings, renewable energy, sustainable water management, and energy efficiency.

A warm congratulations to Majid Al Futtaim for this milestone.

Read more here

During the recent “Annual fire safety forum” held in Dubai, Pearl Covestro presented their (PIR) systems as the highest insulation performing materials.

These PIR systems are particularly suitable for use in sandwich panels for pre-engineered buildings, as their flame-retardant properties are superior to those of formerly used polyurethane systems.

Thus it is with good reasons that they achieve good fire ratings, such as the FM approval.

PIR systems contribute significantly to achieving the ambitious energy-saving targets of the UAE,”

At the same time, these FM-approved products offer maximum safety.

Sandwich panels made of PIR are used in all regions of the World. Their insulation properties are superior to all other insulation materials, including mineral wool.

Over many years, polyurethane rigid foam has proven to be the most efficient material for the insulation of buildings.

Beyond its exceptional thermal properties, it also provides good fire protection. Besides being mechanically durable, moisture-and temperature-resistant and chemically stable, PIR displays high aging resistance, typically extending beyond a building’s usual lifecycle.

Read more here

We are proud to announce that AESG, EmiratesGBC Board Member, led by our Chairman, Saeed Al Abbar, has joined an elite group of signatories to the World Green Building Council’s ‘Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment’ initiative. AESG has joined 23 cities, 6 states and regions, and 19 businesses that are committed to advancing net-zero buildings. Under the commitment, AESG shall take active steps to decarbonise its business by 2021 as well as provide a pathway to #netzero on all of its projects.

Read the full story here

EmiratesGBC is pleased to support the Solar Decathlon Middle East Competition which has opened requests for proposals for the 2020 cycle of the competition.

After the success of the first edition of the Solar Decathlon Middle East, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), is inviting university teams from around the world to participate in the ultimate sustainable built environment competition, the Solar Decathlon Middle East 2020 that will be held in conjunction with the World Expo 2020 Dubai.

To find out more about the competition and how organisations can get involved or to support a university team visit the competition website.

Registration is open for our summer courses of the Building Retrofit Training Program.

The training program teaches the fundamentals of Building Retrofit specific for the Middle East region and offers the opportunity to become an EmiratesGBC certified Building Retrofit Specialist after successful completion of the Advanced course and examination.

EmiratesGBC members and partners will receive a 20% discount on the registration fees.

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

• 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 website.  We invite you to visit the Building Retrofit Training webpage to register. EmiratesGBC can also schedule in-house training for groups of 10 or more, please contact events@emiratesgbc.org to request a proposal.

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.’

We encourage you to improve your lifestyle, not just for today but for all of 2019, by adopting an EmiratesGBC Green Building Tooltip.  This month we urge you to investigate local produce and what you can grow in your home under the Home Green Building Tooltips –  There are several options to growing vegetables and fruits locally within the house’s premises. Examples of climate resilient vegetables are tomatoes, zucchini, basil, and spinach (sabanek).

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 home, school, and office buildings.  The initiative is powered by BASF and Legrand, EmiratesGBC board members underlining their commitment to promoting sustainability, and is supported by Taqati whose mission is tied to achieving Dubai’s sustainability goals.

We urge you to visit the Green Building Tooltips on our website to test out this valuable tool and pursue a greener lifestyle whether it be at home, school or the office.

Our upcoming June Technical workshop will look at balancing the need for improved indoor air quality and energy savings. On June 25^th, EmiratesGBC Member, Camfil Middle East, will facilitate a technical workshop on the new global air filter classification system as per ISO 16890 and provide clear information on the effectiveness of specific filters with energy saving options.

Are you an EmiratesGBC member or partner and would like to facilitate a technical workshop? Our calendar is open for October 2019 onwards; if you have any suggestions for topics you would like to address, we would like to hear from you.  Email us at technicalworkshops@emiratesgbc.org.

This month we look at the World Green Building Council’s Advancing Net Zero Status Report 2019, which showcases action from the Green Building Council (GBC) network including the 24 GBCs participating in WorldGBC’s global Advancing Net Zero project, as well as signatories to the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment (the Commitment). EmiratesGBC’s work and achievements under the Net Zero Centre of Excellence is also mentioned throughout the report.

We encourage you to read the full report here.

We also look at another report done by Sustainable Square and EmiratesNBD, the 2018 State of Sustainability and CSR in the MENA region, which looks at main challenges in the MENA region preventing the evolution of sustainability and CSR is a lack of comprehensive data regarding practices among the organisations. The report presents findings obtained 638 respondents from 18 different countries across the MENA Region.

To read the full report, click here.

If you are interested in using EmiratesGBC office space for a workshop or meeting, please get in touch with us at 04-3468244 or send us an email to office@emiratesgbc.org. The room is fully equipped with AV and provides a nice environment for focused meetings or training workshops.

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.

DUBAI, 22^nd May, 2019 (WAM) – Emirates Green Building Council, EmiratesGBC, an independent forum aimed at conserving the environment by strengthening and promoting green building practices, has launched submissions for its MENA Green Building Awards 2019.

The council also revealed an additional category for Zero Building or Zero Building Design of Year to integrate regional and global priorities in advancing net zero in the built environment.

The Annual MENA Green Building Awards identify, recognise, and highlight organisations for innovative and outstanding sustainable building principles and practices. They are designed to facilitate a greater understanding of the contributions from the construction sector to sustainable development and lead to the exchange of ideas and good practice in sustainability in the MENA region.

Speaking on the occasion, Saeed Al Abbar, Chairman of EmiratesGBC, said, “Each year we aim to reflect the changes and trends in the sustainable built environment within the MENA Green Building Awards. Including the Zero Building and Zero Building Design of the Year awards category is evidence of the progression the industry is making toward a net zero future and creates a push toward accelerating the implementation of net zero principles in the industry.

Read more