EmiratesGBC Energy Efficiency Program (EEP) has officially launched its online database. The EEP is a market and capacity building program created to facilitate reduction of the UAE’s carbon footprint through energy efficiency retrofits of existing buildings in the UAE and region.

The program features extensive seminars, networking events, and training programs on energy efficiency, and EmiratesGBC is proud to present the program’s latest component: the EEP database, which is a publicly available directory featuring reputable ESCOs, Suppliers, Consultants and FMCs serving the retrofit market in the UAE.

EmiratesGBC encourages its Corporate Members to avail the opportunity for market visibility, access to competitive pricing, and priority market requests by registering for the Program and submitting their company qualifications.

In the opening ceremony of the 4^th Annual EGBC Congress on 20^th October, delegates witnessed the official launch of the Arabic version of the ‘EmiratesGBC Technical Guidelines for Retrofitting Existing Buildings,’ “المبادئ التوجيهية التقنية لتحديث الأبنية الخضراء”, a set of instructions which highlights 31 retrofit methods that a building owner, operator, end-user can use to increase energy and water savings, improve occupant comfort and well-being and also facilitate operational efficiency and the longevity of the existing building stock.

The publication is available for purchase at the EmiratesGBC Office. Visit the EmiratesGBC website for more information on the pricing and content of the Technical Guidelines.

The fourth Annual EGBC Congress, held under the patronage of His Excellency Dr. Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, UAE Minister of Public Works, was held in Dubai on 20-21 October with delegates from all sectors of the building and construction industry in attendance. Organized as a carbon-neutral event, the Congress served as an engaging platform for information exchange and benchmarking industry best practices.

Over the two days of the EGBC Congress, international and regional experts delivered keynote speeches, presented case studies and took part in panel discussions covering Climate, Well-being, Economy, Innovation and Policy within the green building sector.

Revealed at the Congress by Nabil Siyam, the Principal Building Studies Specialist at Dubai Municipality, energy efficiency regulations for buildings are expected to be introduced in January next year.

On the second and final day of the EGBC Congress, delegates toured ‘The Sustainable City’. A five million square feet project, it is envisaged to be a world-class example of what can be achieved through a commitment to sustainability.

In October, EmiratesGBC members and partners attending the monthly technical workshop learned about the genesis of the Cradle to Cradle design philosophy and were educated on various applications in business with case studies exemplifying the long-standing benefits of the C2C method.

This month, the Technical Workshop aims to promote a good understanding of established tools and methodologies in the industry which help achieve stellar Indoor Air Quality (IAQ). Participants will be provided a platform to share their own experiences and knowledge on the subject for an all-round presentation of regional IAQ best-practices.

The Technical Workshop will be held at EmiratesGBC on November 10^th from 2:30-4:30pm. To mark your seat, please email technicalworkshops@emiratesgbc.org.

Technical Workshops are open to EmiratesGBC members and partners only and subject to limited seating. Please be sure to register your participation early.

The Estidama Villa Products Database (EVPD) is being transferred from Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC) to Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council (ADQCC). From now until the end of 2015, all applicable products currently on the EVPD will need to reapply to ADQCC following the requirements of the new schemes. On 2nd and 3rd November, ADQCC will hold a set of workshop sessions in Abu Dhabi where the certification requirements and process will be explained.

The four workshops will be held specifically for product certification of Water Fixtures, Unitary Air Conditioning, Insulation material and Window/Door Glazing systems.

For more information and to register, please contact conformity@qcc.abudhabi.ae.

Majid Al Futtaim, a top shopping mall, retail and leisure group in the Middle East, has achieved the ‘Green Star’ status, for the second year in a row from the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB), for the implementation of international best practices in sustainability throughout the company’s real estate portfolio. Read more.

The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations developed a set of educational videos addressing the full economic, environmental and social costs of food loss and waste. Click here to see the latest one on Food Wastage Footprint.

Throughout 2015, Green Key has reinforced its presence in the country thanks to a growing understanding of eco-certifications in the UAE hospitality sector and an even stronger commitment of the governmental authorities to ensure that tourism infrastructures fulfill the highest green standards. Over the past few weeks, EmiratesGBC has been pleased to meet with various local tourism authorities to discuss how Green Key can inspire the regulatory bodies to integrate more stringent environmental requirements within their respective hotel classifications and standards.

The 2016 Green Key re-certification process has now started, and we invite all UAE hotel properties to contact greenkey@emiratesgbc.org should they want to receive more information on how to get certified and the criteria to comply with.

EmiratesGBC offers a series of professional training programs in partnership with British University in Dubai (BUiD). The following courses are scheduled to take place in Dubai during the last months of 2015.

On November 13-14, the two-day LEED Green Associate course will equip participants with an up-to-date understanding of the most current green building principles and practices. Also on the calendar is the Certified Energy Manager training, which will be held November 8-11. The CEM qualification is aimed toward engineers and architects working in the areas of energy engineering or energy management. For more information and to register your intent for upcoming courses, please contact our education partner BUiD.

EmiratesGBC is pleased to serve as an Association Partner to the Leaders in Design MENA taking place on 15-16 November in Dubai, where EmiratesGBC Chairman Saeed Al Abbar will participate in a panel session on Sustainable Design. Get inspired by the innovative practices for cutting edge sustainable design by exploring the most talked about international projects. Learn more here.

On 23-26 November 2015, 11:00 – 19:00 Daily, The Big 5 will again take place in Dubai. For over 35 years, The Big 5 has been home to the largest gathering of construction professionals in the Middle East. With exhibitors showcasing thousands of certified and innovative products from across the globe, free CPD certified workshops on offer and live product demonstrations, there is a wealth of information for professionals from any discipline of the construction industry. Register here.

This year the EmiratesGBC will facilitate one of The Big 5 workshops on November 23^rd from 2-4pm on Sustainable and Affordable Housing at Al Ain D Room. While a common definition of affordable housing throughout the GCC region is challenging to set, the increase in green building regulations, rating systems and awareness raises questions about the opportunities to make this new market segment socially, economically and environmentally sustainable. The MENA GBCs Network’s Sustainable Affordable Housing Coalition will address these questions during the workshop. Register here.

Our 4th Annual EGBC Congress on October 20-21 received favourable press coverage, including The National , Alkhaleej.ae, Zawya, Gulf News 24/7 and many more. The Council’s vision for a greener nation was also covered recently by GN Property.