Congratulations to Brookfield Multiplex for winning the Sustainable Construction Project of the Year at the 2015 BGreen Awards for the design and build work on the new IRENA Headquarters and fit-out works for IRENA’s offices in Masdar City!

To further strengthen the participation of various industry stakeholders in driving sustainable development across the UAE, EmiratesGBC is offering a discounted corporate membership package for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). SME companies are invited to join EmiratesGBC as corporate member with a 50% discount on the first year membership fee and 25% discount on the second year of membership. Applicable companies should be less than 3 years in business and have less than 50 employees.

For more information on the SME membership package, contact EmiratesGBC office on membership@emiratesgbc.org.

EmiratesGBC has moved into the next phase of completing the Technical Guidelines for Retrofitting Existing Buildings. This important publication is scheduled for release in Q2 of 2015 and is now undergoing an official third-party technical review. We are pleased to announce that WSP ME is working with EmiratesGBC as the third-party technical reviewer. This final task will mark another step in the enhancement of this important publication, where implementation of technical content aims to improve the energy and water efficiency, longevity, and livability of buildings throughout the UAE.

Sponsorship opportunities with the Technical Guidelines are still available. For more information, please click here.

After the EEP’s successful launch in December 2014, the EEP database is growing effectively with Corporate Members submitting their ESCO, Vendor, or Consultant qualifications. As a collaborative platform, the program is set to begin a new series of workshops and networking events which will further develop beneficial networks in the private sector among EmiratesGBC Corporate Members who provide services and materials related to energy efficiency. Stay tuned for further notifications – the next networking event will be scheduled soon.

The database is accessible to all industry stakeholders. To request information, please complete and submit the Service Request Form.

Have you already submitted your application for the 2015 EGBC Awards? If not, you have two more weeks to proceed, as the deadline has been extended to 5 March COB. Do not miss this last opportunity to nominate your organization or project for one of the six professional Award Categories. No further extensions will be granted so don’t delay.

To get more details and access the online form, refer to the Awards webpage or contact EGBCawards@emiratesgbc.org.

We also look forward to welcoming you to the EGBC Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner that will take place on Wed. 13 May at the Al Murooj Rotana Hotel, Dubai. The registration form to reserve your seats is now available online.

To learn more about sponsorship of the 2015 EGBC Awards, please click here.

EmiratesGBC is coordinating with the Green Key National Jury to review the recommendations of Green Key auditors and validate the certification renewal of over 20 hotels in the UAE.  To be re-certified, these hotels must demonstrate not only that they still comply with the Green Key baseline criteria, but also that they continuously work to improve their green operations and communications to staff and guests.

As of the end of 2014, 24 hotels were Green Key certified in the country. EmiratesGBC is pleased to say that this number will grow in 2015 with a stronger demand from the Hospitality sector to get eco-certified.

To learn more on the Green Key Program and hospitality best practices, or if you wish you support the program and become a Green Key auditor, contact Marie by sending a mail to greenkey@emiratesgbc.org.

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

In March, EmiratesGBC will hold a 2-hour Networking Event that supports the activities of the EmiratesGBC Energy Efficiency Program. The event will aim at building on the dialogue that has been started on retrofit projects of existing buildings, and engaging existing stakeholders on the opportunities available in the market.  The networking event will be moderated by EmiratesGBC which will provide an introduction on the energy efficiency theme and moderate a panel session to facilitate dialogue on the subject from various perspectives.

You can contact EmiratesGBC on events@emiratesgbc.org if you are interested to sponsor the March Networking Event or other future EmiratesGBC events.

As a member-driven organization, Emirates Green Building Council is proud of what its members achieve in the green building sector and sustainable development. We invite you to share with us your success stories, case studies, awards and prizes, and we’ll be happy to place a mention in our monthly newsletter or on our website. By sharing your achievements and best practices, you will be contributing to the industry’s knowledge pool and thereby helping further the green building concept. Contact office@emiratesgbc.org to share your successes.

As strong interest remains in the market for certifications and accreditations in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), EmiratesGBC and The British University in Dubai regularly facilitate LEED training courses for industry professionals. We invite certified trainers to apply and register your qualifications with EmiratesGBC to serve as a LEED trainer. Should you have the requisite experience in the same, please contact the EmiratesGBC office and submit your CV and training experience to events@emiratesgbc.org.

On the occasion of a UAE visit by the Belgian Economic Mission headed by HRH Princess Astrid of Belgium representative of his Majesty the King, a lunch seminar on “sustainable building” will be held on 26 March at the World Trade Club Dubai. This lunch seminar will provide insight on innovations and international partnerships to achieve targets concerning energy demand reduction, water savings, CO2 emissions reduction, resource recovery.
The event is free of charge but open for EGBC Corporate Members only on a first come first served basis. Pre-register here until 9th March 2015 or email vb@vlakwa.be for more details.

Thank you to the participants who attended the February Technical Workshop discussing green facility management for villas and residences. Greening horizontal communities have been identified as a new priority, and EmiratesGBC is glad to be the platform where technical knowledge and practical suggestions to achieve positive results can be shared.

On March 17^th, EmiratesGBC Technical Workshop participants will analyze Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) systems. In recent years, Photovoltaic (PV) technology has gained a noticeable and much needed foothold in the UAE construction market. A combination of federal support and industry innovation is bringing out new and innovative solar systems into the market, such as BIPV, which are designed to enhance existing onsite renewable energy options.

But how effective is BIPV? To learn more or to have your existing questions answered, please mark your calendar to attend the Dubai session on March 17th from 8:30am – 10:30am and register by emailing technicalworkshops@emiratesgbc.org. Seating is limited, so registration is a must. We look forward to your participation! Please note that participation is exclusive for EmiratesGBC members and partners.

There are a number of upcoming conferences and exhibitions in the UAE that offer an opportunity to create awareness on sustainable building practices, and EmiratesGBC is pleased to support them.

EmiratesGBC Chairman will participate as a speaker in the RetrofitTech Dubai Conference taking place 16-17 March. The conference, supported by EmiratesGBC, will focus on different aspects of building refurbishments and will explore Dubai’s retrofit market, important for achieving greater sustainability of Dubai’s built environment. As the official Green Building Partner for the 3^rd Annual District Cooling Stakeholders Summit taking place 17-18 March in Dubai, EmiratesGBC also looks forward to being a part of this event program, which aims to address the challenges and opportunities of the utilities and government bodies through a forum of experts.

Later in March, EmiratesGBC will be supporting and speaking at the Building Future Learning Spaces Conference. The conference will look at all levels of educational institutions and will highlight planning, designing, building and maintaining schools in the region, taking into consideration the importance of sustainability.

The Middle East Investment Summit taking place in Abu Dhabi 30-31 March will focus on the development of the alternative energy sector and sustainable real estate. Also taking place 30-31 March is the 3^rd Annual ME VRF conference in Dubai. Highlights of this year’s VRF conference will include the presentation of operational data, a first-of-its-kind exercise for the region, and a special presentation on Dubai Municipality’s Desert Rose Smart Sustainable City Project.

In April, EmiratesGBC is supporting the 3^rd Outdoor Design and Build Show in Dubai on the 13-15^th, an event for outdoor design, construction and landscaping, catering to the entire spectrum of hard and soft landscape products and services. To register for a free pass to the event, click here.

The World Green Economy Summit taking place in Dubai alongside WETEX on 22-23 April is also supported by EmiratesGBC. 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.

Emirates Green Building Council’s presence in trade magazine and national newspapers is continuously growing – see below the latest articles with inputs from EmiratesGBC Chairman Saeed Al Abbar.

 The huge challenge of improving sustainability in the UAE

The phrase ”going green” is the new buzzword among builders and developers in Dubai, thanks to the new Green Building Code introduced by the Dubai Municipality. Saeed Al Abbar, Chairman of the Emirates Green Building Council, shares his viewpoints about the new green code and what more can be done to improve sustainability. Click here to read more.

Towards a greener UAE

The UAE is at the forefront of creating sustainable cities for the future, with several world leading government programmes to drive sustainable development. Click here to read more.