On 16^th October we celebrated our region’s industry achievements and announced the winners of the 2019 MENA Green Building Awards. We extend our congralutions to all the winners and shortlisted organisations.

We were joined by members, partners, applicants and stakeholders to celebrate success and best practice within the industry. The quality of the applications was exceptionally high this year and all the shortlisted applicants should be applauded.

The regional significance of the event was highlighted through the partnership with six Green Building Councils (Palestine, Morocco, Kuwait, Jordon, Lebanon and Egypt) and the endorsement of the World Green Building Council. The Awards Ceremony opened with welcoming addresses from Saeed Al Abbar, EmiratesGBC Chair and H.H. Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nayhan, who highlighted the importance of the awards as a platform to raise awareness and promote excellence in the industry and recongnised the contribution of applicant organistations.

This year’s awards were with the support of Platinum Partner Majid Al Futtaim and Category Sponsors Multiplex and Knauf. We extend our thanks these organsiations for their demonstrated leadership and support in making the awards ceremony possible.

Emirates GBC would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the judges, whose time and efforts are instrumental in the Awards’ success. The judges were selected based on their industry experience within the region and come from government, academic and private sectors and are considered experts within the industry.

For a recap of the awards and details of the winners, shortlisted and industry judges please take a look at the Awards Brief or click here to see all the photos from the Awards Ceremony & Gala Dinner.

Emirates Green Building Council has opened nominations to fill open seats on its Board of Directors for the upcoming 2-year term (2020-2021). Accordingly, we are inviting applications from Corporate Members who would like to nominate themselves to serve a board position. Those interested to apply should submit their nomination to the EmiratesGBC office by noon on Tuesday 5 November 2019 with the following information (we recommend you be as detailed as possible):

• Your company’s tenure with EmiratesGBC
• Past contribution to EmiratesGBC
• Future commitment to EmiratesGBC
• Statement on how your company will add value to the EmiratesGBC Board
• Profile of company representative and his/her endorsement from company

Corporate members in good standing who meet the following criteria are eligible to apply to serve a 2-year term on the Board. Eligibility criteria includes:

• Organization must have been a corporate member of EmiratesGBC for at least 1 year
• The member is in good financial standing with the Council  (no invoices should be pending)
• The member has demonstrated clear commitment to the Council through active participation and support
• The member agrees to commit to the above Board Member Responsibilities

Nominations should be submitted to engagement@emiratesgbc.org no later than 5 November 2019.

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.

Net Zero Buildings Commitment

The UAE is among the first national governments globally to have announced its commitment to the “Zero Carbon Buildings for All” initiative, a multi-partner global initiative led by the World Resources Institute and endorsed by the UN secretary-general. The WorldGBC Net Zero Carbon Building Commitment will act as a pathway for this initiative.

The Commitment now has 63 signatories, and you can find the full list of current signatories here. We encourage our members and partners to join the growing list of organizations who have signed the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment, such as AESG, Majid Al Futtaim and Multiplex, to name a few. EmiratesGBC will continue to advocate for regional players to join this highly effective mission toward worldwide decarbonization, and we encourage you to contact us at netzero@emiratesgbc.org if you are interested.

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.

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 Deep Retrofitting.

Bringing together speakers from across the industry, the Focus Day will explore solutions and approaches to retrofitting buildings that go beyond current renovation programs to achieve greater energy and financial savings and decarbonise the existing UAE building stock. Through regional case studies we will discuss the opportunities and barriers to implementing deep retrofits in the Middle East and how the market can be incentivised to deliver deeper retrofits and support the UAE’s vision of a net zero carbon future.

The event is sponsored by Danfoss and we thank them for their support in raising awareness on this 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.

The upcoming Living Building Challenge Training Workshop has been rescheduled to January 2020 (Date and Venue to be announced).

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. To become Living Future Accredited, one must complete (in addition to 16 LFA general CE credits) the LFA Foundational Curriculum, which includes the LBC 4 hour Workshop. Taking this Workshop and signing ILFI’s volunteer agreement allows you to become an Ambassador and access to the latest version of the slide deck on the Living Building Challenge, which will help you speak to your clients, owners about the Challenge, as well as register projects.

If you are interested to attend the newly scheduled date or would like 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.

We are proud to announce that La Ville Hotel & Suites City Walk Dubai and Pullman Jumeirah Lakes Towers have been awarded the Green Key certification. Congratulations to both properties!

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 demonstrate 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

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.

Air leakage is the most common cause of increased energy consumption in air conditioning  as well as occupant discomfort. Through the use of simple air tightness tests such as blower door fan and thermal imaging, areas of air leakage can be easily detected. Using weather-strips along the windows and doors can help in sealing and air tightness.

The above is just one of the many useful tips available through the EmiratesGBC Green Building Tooltips, 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.

The October Technical Workshop on Room Acoustics in Green Buildings was delivered on 29 October by EmiratesGBC Member, BASF. The workshop introduced the importance of designing a building for acoustic comfort and the materials that have a vital role in achieving this. The workshop also highlighted key factors and strategies for blocking or minimizing unwanted noise and thus supporting the productivity, happiness, and health of the building occupants.

To view the workshop presentations, please click here.

We have two upcoming workshops in November: Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) by Saint Gobain; and exciting results from the House of Sustainable Solutions project by Wacker Chemicals. Registration details to follow in our upcoming emailers.

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.

To support the UAE’s commitment to the Zero Carbon Buildings for All initiative, this month we look at a publication by the World Resources Institute (WRI), Accelerating Building Decarbonization: Eight Attainable Policy Pathways to Net Zero Carbon Buildings For All. The report highlights policy pathways to reach zero carbon buildings regardless of location or development status and identifies eight pathways countries can take to reach zero carbon buildings by reducing energy demand and cleaning energy supply.

To read the full report, click here.

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.

Another way to get your copy of the Technical Guidelines is to register and participate in a Building Retrofit Training course – a complimentary copy is included with every course registration. For more details, please click here.

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EmiratesGBC is pleased to introduce you to Ms Anfal Al-Abdullah who recently joined the office team at Emirates Green Building Council as our new Communications Officer.  Anfal has an undergraduate degree in Sustainable and Renewable Energy Engineering and an MSc in Mechanical Engineering and brings with her a passion for creativity and art.  She is eager to bridge her education and creative passion through her communications role, and we are confident she will bring a lot of fresh ideas and value to the team.

We are excited to have her as part of our EmiratesGBC family and hope you have the chance to meet her and talk green buildings at one of our upcoming events.  Welcome, Anfal!

Emirates Green Building Council, an independent forum aimed at conserving the environment by strengthening and promoting green building practices, has honoured the winners of the 2019 MENA Green Building Awards.

The annual awards recognises the sustainability champions in the Middle East and North Africa region, said a press release issued by EmiratesGBS on Thursday. Announcing the awards, Saeed Al Abbar, Chairman of EmiratesGBC, said, “This year’s awards have set another benchmark in the remarkable strides that the Middle East and North Africa region has made in promoting sustainable built environments. The innovative approaches, new products and above all, a clear commitment to making a difference shines through in the initiatives that the winners – as well as nominations we received – have rolled out.

Read more here.

During the third Arab Ministerial Forum on Housing and Urban Development, chairman of the Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC), Saeed Al Abbar said that the UAE – boosted by its green building approach and push towards sustainable development – is on a firm footing to reach its net-zero carbon buildings targets.

The construction industry is responsible for 40% of global carbon emissions. New buildings in the UAE should meet net-zero carbon structures by 2030, and existing buildings should reach that level by 2050.

More here.