The results are in! The shortlisted applicants have been informed and we are making the final preparations for the MENA Green Building Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner. This year we received a large number of high quality awards, and competition has been very close across all categories. However our esteemed panel of independent judges have made their decision and the results have been verified by the official auditor KPMG to ensure transparency and fairness.  Join us on the 16th October at The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina where we will be announcing the winners. Register to attend and enjoy an evening of celebration and networking complete with 3 course dinner and exclusive entertainment.

The awards are endorsed by the World Green Building Council and supported by regional Green Building Councils: Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Kuwait, Morocco and Palestine. Majid Al Futtaim is the Platinum Partner for the awards for the second consecutive year; demonstrating their continuous commitment to sustainable built environments in the MENA region.  Multiplex Middle East are also supporting the Awards through category sponsorship.

There is still time to sponsor the awards, which is an opportunity to partner with us on this prestigious program. If you are interested in sponsoring the MENA Green Building Awards please take a look at our sponsorship packages or contact engagement@emiratesgbc.org.

We will also be announcing the winner of the Dr. Owainati Student Excellence Award, which 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. We look forward to celecbrating with all our shortlisted applciants and valaued members and partners on the 16^th October.

EmiratesGBC launched the Net Zero Centre of Excellence 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. We invite you to explore our Net Zero Centre of Excellence program by visiting our website and explore the program’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 encourage you to read more in the report.

Zero Carbon Certification

Did you know that existing buildings applying for the Zero Carbon in the UAE may use the efficiency targets based EmiratesGBC Building Efficiency Accelerator Benchmarking Report? According to the Global Status Report 2018, the embodied carbon of buildings accounts for 11% of energy-related global CO₂ emissions.  Certifying gives your project a stamp of approval from one of the world’s most prestigious sustainability organisations, the International Living Future Institute (ILFI), and highlights projects which fully account for their carbon emissions impacts.

So do not wait! If you are working on a net-zero project,  please email us at netzero@emiratesgbc.org. We are happy to meet and discuss the benefits and process of ILFI’s zero building certifications.  And remember, the first 10 pilot projects in the UAE that apply to ILFI’s ZE and ZC certifications will receive a 50% discount.

World Green Building Council’s Bringing Embodied Carbon Upfront Report

WorldGBC publish a new ‘call to action report’ on embodied carbon emissions, under the global Advancing Net Zero (ANZ) project: “Bringing embodied carbon upfront”. The report is critical to create a conversation around the value and importance of embodied carbon, with the aim of creating and stimulating market demand for transparency, improvements, and verification of embodied carbon reductions.

As part of the Embodied Carbon report Taskforce and the ANZ Steering Committee, EmiratesGBC is hopeful that this report will stimulate the market into the required actions needed to reach the goals and targets as defined by the report. We would also like to highlight our numerous members who have endorsed the vision and ambition of the report, recognising the need for coordinated action across the whole value chain to achieve this. Their endorsement is a call to others to join them and work together to fully decarbonise buildings and infrastructure by 2050.

The report is featured in the Academy section below.

Net Zero Buildings Commitment

We would like to congratulate Multiplex as the latest member of EmiratesGBC to join the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment! As part of their commitment, they have recently released a white paper on achieving a nearly zero energy target on temporary contruction site offices. The paper is featured in the Academy Section below.

The Commitment now has 63 signatories, you can find the full list of current signatories here. We encourage our members and partners to join AESG, Majid Al Futtaim and Multiplex 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.

EmiratesGBC has a number of exciting events being hosted before the end of 2019 and are offering members and industry partners the opportunity to partner with on these through sponsorship. Event sponsorship provides its sponsors with great exposure to all stakeholders of the green building industry in the UAE whilst demonstrating your commitment and leadership in the field of sustainability. Click here to learn more about available sponsorship opportunities or contact engagement@emiratesgbc.org.

Between 23rd and 27th September we celebrated the World Green Building Week 2019!
This year’s campaign #BuildingLife aimed to raise greater awareness of the carbon emissions from all stages of a building’s lifecycle, and therefore encourage new practices and new ways of thinking to work towards reducing carbon emissions from buildings and construction. Click here to find out more. EmiratesGBC hosted a technical workshop facilitated by Multiplex on reducing carbon emissions in construction and the role of Science Based Targets.

On 25^th September, EmiratesGBC hosted a workshop in the Green Key certified property, Time Oak Hotel & Suites in Dubai.  Facilitated by International WELL Building Institute, the workshop provided an introduction to the WELL Building Standard and recently launched WELL Portfolio. The presetation provided insights into the benefits of incorporating health and wellbeing into the design and operation of buildings for the benefit of occupants. This was followed by an insightful panel discussion looking at the built environment in the UAE and the opportunities and challenges to ensuing it has a positive impact on occupants. We were joined by Farah Yassine, Principle Sustainability Consultant at WSP, Mahesh Kamath, Operations Manager from Xworks Interiors and Katherine Bruce, Sustainability Consultant at AESG.

We extend a special thank you to EmiratesGBC member WSP who partnered with us for this event and whose generous support allowed us to provide a forum to raise awareness and discuss this important topic.

On 12^th November 2019 we will be hosting a focus day in partnership with Dubai Chamber of Commerce with the theme: Improving Building Performance through and Deep Retrofitting. The focus day will discuss the importance of retrofitting existing building stock in the UAE to address the climate change emergency and meet national and global carbon emission targets.

The focus day will bring together speakers and panelist from across the industry to discuss what Deep Retrofits are and how they go beyond current renovation programs, explore the innovations & technology available in the region and how the industry can go beyond current practices to achieve both greater energy and financial savings. The focus day will also look to regional case studies and discuss the opportunities and barriers to implementing deep retrofits in the Middle East.

We are pleased to announce Danfoss as partners for the event and thank them for their support in raising awareness on the important topic. If you are interest partnering on the event through sponsorship please click here or contact engagement@emiratesgbc.org.

Register to attend the focus day at the following link or for further information contact events@emiratesgbc.org. A discounted rate is available for EmiratesGBC members and partners.

There are still spaces left on the Living Building Challenge Training Workshop to be held in the region for the first time on 4th November. Hosted by EmiratesGBC in partnership with International Living Future Insititute (ILFI) and facilitated by ILFI ambassador Amira Ayoub.

The Living Building Challenge (LBC) workshop will provide an in-depth overview of the Living Building Challenge – a philosophy, advocacy tool, and certification program that addresses development at all scales. LBC 4.0 is a holistic approach to high-performance building that aims to address health, community, equity, energy, water, and beyond.

The training course is an important contribution for those pursuing the Living Future Accreditation and all participants will receive a certificate of attendance to support CPD requirements.

This full day training will take place in the Time Oak Hotel, Barsha Heights, Dubai. Delegate fee is 2000 AED per participant (including 5% VAT). Discounted rates are available for EmiratesGBC members & partners and students. Register online today to secure your space on the course or for further information contact training@emiratesgbc.org

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

To read the updated City Briefs, and receive all the relevant facts of our growing green building industry in the UAE in a digestible and easy to read format, all you have to do click here.

With the 2019 MENA Green Building Awards Ceremony just round the corner this month we take our final look back at the 2018 winners and take the opportunity to salute all the shortlisted and winning applicantions for previous years!

We invite you to take a look at the 2018 awards brief and continue to support the MENA Green Building Awards through social media by using the hashtag #MENAGBAwards.

We would like to congratulate Raffles Dubai in obtaining the prestigious Green Key Certification, which recognizes its commitment to sustainable operations and activities. Ayman Gharib, managing director of Raffles Dubai, commented: “The hospitality industry plays a key role in the UAE and it is important that the sector recognizes its responsibility towards sustainability. I’m proud of the achievements made by a fantastic hotel team who carefully planned and executed a great number of environmental initiatives and are continually committed to engaging in Accor’s Planet 21 sustainable programme.”

Two new properties have been audited during Q3 and their submissions have been delivered to the National Jury. We would like to congratulate the two properties for their efforts and will be sure announce them as soon as they have been awarded the Green Key certification.

Given the increase in environmental awareness and the shift in business models to accommodate that increase, Emirates Green Building Council invites hotels, restaurants, and cafés to apply for the Green Key Certification. Properties holding the certification prove that sustainability is embedded in their operations and that they employ strict environmental practices.

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

This month the MENA Green Building Council Regional Network launched it’s first newsletter to coincide with World Green Building Week. This quarterly newsletter will put a spotlight on the collaborative initiatives being implemented across the region in pursuit of our shared sustainability goals. To read the first edition click here and we encourage you all to sign up to receive the newsletters directly going forward.

WorldGBC is making a call to leading green building case studies to feature in a new interactive digital map-based case study library. A joint initiative between Advancing Net Zero (ANZ) and Better Places for People (BPFP), two of WorldGBC’s global projects, this resource will be hosted on WorldGBC’s website and launched in late 2019.

As a global network committed to achieving a sustainable built environment, WorldGBC recognises the continued market demand to share case studies of buildings that excel in key areas of sustainability and the role of green building certification schemes to provide third party assurance of this level of performance.

We invite interested members and partners to submit case studies, with additional input for those participating in WorldGBC’s global projects Advancing Net Zero and Better Places for People . This unique global platform was created in collaboration with Delos, Integral Group and Saint-Gobain for supporting WorldGBC in developing this resource.

The first round of case study submissions can be made through the interactive form here until 30 September 2019. Following the launch at the end of 2019, applications for further case studies will re-open.

For more information about the case study library, click here.

Not only is Building Retrofitting an important method for improving energy efficiency of existing buildings and is being given strategic priority in the UAE as demonstrated by targets and commitments set by Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and DEWA (read more here).

Get ahead of the game and future proof your career by attending the Building Retrofit Training which 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 Building Retrofit Training Program runs throughout the year – register today to secure your place on an upcoming course.

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 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. 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.’

EmiratesGBC is pleased to announced we will once again be participating in the World Future Emergy Summit on the 12^th – 19^th January 2020.

The Smart Cities Expo & Forum is where the city of the future comes to life, bringing forward-thinking governments and municipalities together with pioneers in smart infrastructure, future transportation and next-generation building technology to develop the potential of connected communities – from sustainable planning to smart mobility.

As a key part of the World Future Energy Summit, the global hub for business, innovation and knowledge exchange, the Smart Cities Expo & Forum forges new relationships between buyers and suppliers, drives exposure by showcasing the latest smart technologies and enables urban leaders to share new learnings to improve quality of life.

EmiratesGBC will receive an exclusive package for exhibiting with discounted rates. If you are interested in exhibiting please contact Miraz Saleh on +971-2-4090364 or miraz.saleh@reedexpo.ae and mention that you are an EmiratesGBC member.

EmiratesGBC is pleased to partner with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Development as a supporting organisation for the Forum on Housing and Urban Development.

Hosted in Al Habtoor City, Dubai from 7 to 8 October and organized by the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and the Sheikh Zayed Housing Program, in collaboration with the Council of Arab Ministers of Housing and Reconstruction from the Arab League and the Regional Bureau for Arab States of the United Nations Organization for Human Settlements (UN-HABITAT), the ministerial forum will culminate in a declaration endorsed by 22 ministers of housing and infrastructure development who will pledge in making sustainable, high quality and safe housing in order to bolster regional economic integration and ensure a good quality of life for Arab citizens.

Over the course of three days, ministers of housing and infrastructure development and their technical committees will engage in high level discussions and networking sessions with the full spectrum of industry stakeholders including developers, architects, contractors and suppliers to tackle some of the most pressing challenges in the region; including urgent requirements for the $150 billion USD of housing projects to be delivered by 2030 across 22 countries, sustainable development standards for large scale housing developments and innovations to ensure safe and happy communities that withstand the needs future needs of our citizens.

Click here to find out more.

We spend most of our day at the office, so it is really important to be aware of the many opportunities available there to reduce energy consumption.

A useful Office Tooltip is to incorporate sensor/motion-lighting in all office areas where occupancy is variable such as hallways, eating areas, printer rooms, and restrooms. This ensures that the light is turned off at no occupancy, thus reducing energy wastage.

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 encourage 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.

This September we had two Technical Workshops. The first September Technical Workshop on the Digitalisation of buildings was delivered by EmiratesGBC Member, Siemens, under the hospitality of Adeeb Group, who hosted the workshop at their office in Abu Dhabi. The workshop provided an introduction the concept of Digital Twin for Facilities Management and other digitalisation trends affecting the building industry to operate buildings in new, more efficient ways.

The second September Technical Workshop on Low Carbon Construction was delivered by EmiratesGBC Member, Multiplex, which primarily focused on identifying GHG emission within the construction sector; and their approach adopted to record, monitor and establish targets to align with limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, to create a positive impact on the environment and communities where they operate.

To view the workshop presentations, please click here.

Are you an EmiratesGBC member or partner and would like to facilitate a technical workshop? The Technical workshop calendar for 2019 is fully booked! To view our upcoming workshops, please click here.

If you have any suggestions for topics you would like to see addressed in 2020, we want to hear from you.  Email us at technicalworkshops@emiratesgbc.org.

This month we look at the two key publications that look at decarbonization of buildings. The first feature is the latest publication by the World Green Building Council, Bringing Embodied Carbon upfront, which looks at carbon emissions that are released not only during operational life but also during the manufacturing, transportation, construction and end of life phases of all built assets – buildings and infrastructure. These emissions, commonly referred to as embodied carbon, have largely been overlooked historically but contribute around 11% of all global carbon emissions. The report also set timeframes for the vision in response to global climate goals and demonstrating the level of ambition needed from each representative sector, namely: NGOs and researchers, policymakers, investors, developers, designers and material manufacturers.

To read the full report, click here.

The second publication we look at is Nearly Zero Energy – Construction Site Temporary Office Buildings by EmiratesGBC members, Multiplex and AESG, which identifies a temporary typical site office building in Dubai and analyses its consumption to achieve a near zero energy building target. The paper also shows that investments into energy conservation measures translate to a cumulative simple payback period of 9-10 months (assuming a 2-year programme for the site office).

To read the full paper, 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.

Multiplex Middle East has submitted its commitment letter to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). This initiative is a collaboration between the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), World Resources Institute (WRI), World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and forms one of the commitments of We Mean Business, a global non-profit coalition working with the world’s most influential business to take action on climate change.

To achieve the target, Multiplex’s energy use and greenhouse gas emissions will be scientifically measured to certify they are in line with the latest climate science threshold.Multiplex Middle East is the first construction company in the region and the second organization in the UAE to make such a commitment through the Science Based Targets initiative. It is one of 600+ global businesses which have confirmed their commitment to bold action against global warming.

James Grljusich, General Manager for Multiplex Middle East said “The Science-based Targets initiative sets a new standard and corresponds with our goal to align our sustainability management practices with climate science.  Developing a science-based target will not only future-proof our operations against climate change regulations but will also drive efficiencies, strengthen our relationships with key stakeholders and supply chain and support carbon reduction strategies in a region of major construction.”

To know more about the initiative, please click here.

General Manager for corporate development and engineering at MAHY Khoory &Co and Emirates Green Building Council board secretary Sarfraz Dairkee, says the attitudes towards indoor air quality will only change when the sector can more clearly identify gains.

Without proper monitoring and case-by-case evaluation, indoor air quality (IAQ) technology will, sadly, gather dust across the region.

That’s the opinion of Sarfraz Dairkee who, speaking to MEP Middle East, said in no uncertain terms that until innovators start talking in a language the industry can understand – that of money – then huge swathes of the population will continue to suffer from the unseen dangers of poor indoor air quality.

Read more.

About 148 countries have signed and ratified the Paris Climate Agreement and the UAE was the first to make its mark.

But last year, when the United Nations Framework of Climate control released a report stating that only 16 countries make the cut, UAE is nowhere to be seen on the list. Rather, it was far from it. The Paris Agreement requires each country to submit its own Nationally Determined Contribution, as the targets it wants to achieve, which can be a bit vague. Climate Action Tracker, the media watchdog for greenhouse gas emissions and carbon footprint ranks the UAE places the UAE as highly inefficient in meeting its targets. UAE’s climate commitment in 2021 is not consistent with holding warming to below 2°C, let alone limiting it to 1.5°C. If the world follows the UAE’s approach, we may be heating the planet by 3°C and 4°C, rather than cooling down.

Watch more.