VOLUME V ISSUE 2

February 1, 2015| Newsletter

A Letter from EGBC Family

Dear EGBC Members and Industry Supporters,

Emirates Green Building Council takes great pride in supporting major events in the country that highlight best practices and latest innovations in the field of sustainability. With Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week being a significant event taking place each January, EmiratesGBC was in full support and participated in World Future Energy Summit 19-22 January, alongside other major events that included International Water Summit and Eco Waste 2015.  Participating in such events allows us to not only network with other key stakeholders in the industry, but also helps us share important green building information across the industry.

Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week is a ground-breaking public forum during which political leaders, policy makers and representatives of the industry and the civil society address the major challenges and identify solutions related to the future of clean energy and sustainable development. Many of our Corporate Members were also very active this week, and we strongly commend the individuals, organizations and projects that were awarded during the 2015 Zayed Future Energy Prize.

The various programs of EmiratesGBC align clearly with the UAE Vision to reduce the country’s ecological footprint and achieve the highest green standards. The Annual EGBC Awards  is just one of the many important platforms offered by EmiratesGBC which recognizes contributors sharing such high standards and working towards a sustainable built environment.  As we further develop the 2015 event calendar, many more activities focusing on key green building topics will be offered.

There is a long way to go, but I am confident that our work as a technical knowledge platform and a bridge between authorities, the industry and academia is already making a difference.

Best regards,
Saeed Al Abbar
Chairman




EGBC News and Updates


The compilation of Briefs from the 2014 Technical Workshops is now available!

After a successful year of monthly technical workshops, EmiratesGBC has compiled the 2014 workshop summary briefs covering the following topics: Biomimicry; Building Envelopes and Insulation; Chemicals Management; Passive Measures in Design, ESCO Principles; Responsible Sourcing for Construction Steel; and Solar Reflective Index Specifications and Testing Methods.

Click here to access the 2014 Technical Workshop Brief


2015 EGBC Awards – Application Deadline on 19 February

The deadline to submit your application to the 2015 EGBC Awards is quickly approaching. Do not miss the opportunity to have your organization/project awarded and highlighted during the EGBC Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner that will take place on Wed. 13 May in the Al Murooj Rotana Hotel, Dubai. Save the date! Visit the Awards webpage or contact EGBCawards@emiratesgbc.org for details.



February 2015 EmiratesGBC Technical Workshop

February’s Technical Workshop will look at sustainable community management in the UAE. Learn about how a local residential community has gone beyond solar lighting, fixture refurbishment, and xeriscaping, and has adopted innovative strategies that have improved its air quality, alleviated traffic and enhanced community morale. Seating is limited, so registration is a must. Please mark your calendar to attend the Dubai session on Tuesday 10th February from 8:30am – 10:30am and register by emailing technicalworkshops@emiratesgbc.org. We look forward to your participation! Please note that participation is exclusive for EGBC members and partners.


EmiratesGBC Participates in Local Sustainability Exhibitions & Conferences

EmiratesGBC is endorsing several upcoming events and will also be participating as keynote speaker to demonstrate support and further promote the field of sustainability.

In March, EmiratesGBC Chairman will participate as a speaker at the Retrofit Conference taking place in Dubai. The focus of the RetrofitTech Dubai conference agenda will be on achieving the goals of the Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030 and specifically the Demand Side Management Strategy 2030 through effective building retrofitting and refurbishment strategies. To know more about the conference, click here.

Also in March, EmiratesGBC will be supporting and speaking at the 3-day Building Schools and Education Facilities Conference. The conference will look at all levels of educational institutions and will highlight planning, designing, building and maintaining schools in the region. To know more about the event, click here.

In April, EmiratesGBC is supporting the 3rd Outdoor Design and Build Show from 13-15 April in Dubai. The 2015 edition will feature over 250 brands, showcasing a wide range of innovations in products and services including decking, street furniture, water features, playground equipment, turf care, machinery and tools, outdoor lighting, outdoor furniture, outdoor shading, landscape planning, contracting and design services and much more. To register for the event, click here.

In April, EmiratesGBC will be supporting World Green Economy Summit which will take place on 22nd and 23rd April at Dubai World Trade Centre. Under the patronage of the Dubai Supreme Council for Energy and in partnership with Dubai Energy and Water Authority, the summit is a defined platform for developing a green economy market place with a strategic influence on international, national and regional economic agendas as well as connecting global drivers for green trade and investment. This year, the two-day summit will focus on business solutions for climate change, such as large-scale Public-Private Partnerships, smart grid technologies and innovative financing. The role of business in climate regulation will also be featured in the programme, in light of the upcoming COP in Paris 2015. To know more about the event, click here.


EmiratesGBC 2014 Congress Brief

On 20-21 October 2014, Emirates Green Building Council held its 3rd Annual Congress in Dubai. The Congress was held under the patronage of HE Dr. Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, the UAE Minister of Public Works, and kicked off with a groundbreaking signing of an MOU between the EmiratesGBC and the Ministry. The MOU marked a pivotal step up for EmiratesGBC commencing joint efforts to promote the country’s environmental and sustainable goals.

Leading stakeholders from the region who attended the event included representatives from the government, construction, development and the supply industry. The event was held under the theme “Sustainable Cities for the Future”. Over 130 attendees gathered to discuss the opportunities & challenges related to the role of cities & regions in catalyzing, facilitating & stimulating sustainable innovation, products, services, technologies & new business models.

The success of the event would not have been possible without the generous support received from our partners, sponsors and members. The 2014 Congress Brief is now available on the website for viewing.


Call for LEED Neighborhood Certified Trainers

EmiratesGBC and The British University in Dubai conduct training courses throughout the year for LEED GA and LEED AP (EBOM and BD +C). LEED certified buildings can save money and resources and have a positive impact on the health of occupants, while promoting renewable, clean energy. We are expanding our offerings to include training for LEED Neighborhood Development for which we would like to invite certified trainers to apply and register your qualifications to serve as a LEED trainer. Should you have the requisite experience in the same, please contact the EmiratesGBC office at info@emiratesgbc.org or alternatively call 04-3468244.


Have you taken the EmiratesGBC and BUiD training survey yet?

EmiratesGBC in partnership with British University in Dubai conducts LEED and CEM training throughout the year. With the increasing awareness and demand for green buildings, we will introduce more training courses during the year that will help develop the professional capacity of the industry. We are looking to you to tell us what additional training opportunities you would like to see offered by EmiratesGBC. For this, we have prepared a short survey to gauge your interest in various training courses. Kindly spare a minute to complete the survey below to help us improve our training offerings.

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EmiratesGBC Participates in Global Stakeholder Consultation with UNGC

Hosted by the Dubai Real Estate Institute, the UN Global Compact with RICS conducted its first global stakeholder consultation on Responsible Business Best Practice Toolkit for the Land, Construction & Real Estate Sector. As a member of the UNGC, EmiratesGBC was pleased to participate in the consultation session and provide input into the development and content of this document, which will serve as a tool for influencing responsible business practices in the global construction industry. The MENA Consultation workshop was the first of a series of global consultations. The final toolkit is expected to be released by July 2015.


Sponsorship Opportunities for EmiratesGBC events in 2015!

EmiratesGBC has various events mapped out for the year for which we would like to invite our corporate members to support through sponsorship opportunities. From the 2-hour Networking Events to half day Focus Days, these educational and informative events will provide a platform for various stakeholders to share knowledge and contribute to positive change in the green building industry. Click here to view the EmiratesGBC 2015 events calendar.

Sponsorship packages are also available to help support the EmiratesGBC Technical Guidelines for Retrofitting Existing Buildings [click here to view the package] as well as the Annual EGBC Awards 2015 [click here to view the package].  Should you be interested in the various sponsorship opportunities, contact EmiratesGBC at info@emiratesgbc.org or 04-3468244.


EmiratesGBC is hiring!

Emirates Green Building Council is growing! We are currently recruiting for two positions who can deliver excellence and contribute to the Education and Technical Programs. Visit GreenJobsArabia to view details of the following positions and apply: Technical Officer (Arabic) and Education & Awareness Officer.

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Upcoming Events

10feb
EGBC Technical Workshop
16-17march
Retrofit Tech Conference
17-18march
3rd Annual district Cooling Stakeholder’s Summit
13-15april
The Outdoor Design Supply and Building Show
22-23april
World Green Economy Summit

Due to human impact, the world loses 7% of its topsoil every ten years. It takes 1,000 years to produce one inch of topsoil.