Volume VI Issue 8

July 31, 2016| Newsletter

A Letter from EGBC Family

Dear Members and Industry Supporters,

While the temperatures outside have been heating up, the team at EmiratesGBC has been preparing for an exciting new season of activity in the building sustainability scene.

We are proud to announce the EmiratesGBC Awards 2016 Winners Showcase event to be held on August 24th. Join us for a chance to network with the reputable sustainability leaders in the MENA region who took home the EmiratesGBC awards back in May. Be inspired as you listen and learn about the innovative methods, products, and research that are driving visible change in the region.

This month we will also host our second Energy Efficiency Program Technical Workshop discussing the new Dubai Municipality Al Sa’faat rating system. If you are an EmiratesGBC member and not a member of the EEP, please join the program by filling out the registration form.

Looking to September, our 10th Anniversary Celebration will be held on September 21st. Along with our long term advocates, we will commemorate the groundbreaking achievements that have taken place in the past decade in the green building industry through the Council’s work.  September is also World Green Building Week, running from September 26 to October 2. This World Green Building Council organized event offers an excellent opportunity for our member organizations to highlight their commitment to the sustainable building movement.

As a reminder, our members-only, monthly Technical Workshop program, is continuing throughout the summer months.  They offer an ideal opportunity to deepen your technical knowledge while gaining CPD hours.

 

Best Regards,

Saeed Al Abbar




EmiratesGBC News and Updates


EmiratesGBC Awards Winners Showcase: Leaders in the MENA Region

Don’t miss the chance to meet the 2016 EmiratesGBC Awards winners and ask them questions on their success stories on 24th August 2016 from 8:30-11:30am during the showcase event EmiratesGBC Awards Winners: Leaders in the MENA Region.  Six out of our eight winners will be presenting. Attendance is free of cost to members of the green building industry with  advanced registration. The event will take place at TIME Oak Hotel and Suites, Barsha Heights, Dubai.


Celebrating 10 Years!

We are thrilled to announce that Emirates Green Building Council is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. The anniversary festivities will include an invitation-only, VIP anniversary celebration event on September 21st where we will glance back at the accomplishments of the last 10 years and acknowledge those who have contributed to the Council’s success. In order to give the celebration the recognition it deserves, we are opening a special sponsorship package for this high profile event. Click here to learn more about sponsorship packages. A special thanks to our sponsors: Jotun, Legrand and Majid Al Futtaim.


EEP Members Only: Town Hall Meeting & Workshop Al Sa’fat Rating System

Emirates Green Building Council welcomes Dubai Municipality’s move to introduce a new green rating system in the Emirate, called Al Sa’fat.
The system is a significant initiative that will strengthen sustainable built environments in Dubai, while also supporting the goal of the Dubai Plan 2020 in creating a smart and a sustainable city.
The EEP Town Hall workshop will take place on August 10th where EEP members discuss the development of the Al Sa’fat program and how it sets various building efficiency parameters, and how it will likely impact the local building industry.

If you are an EmiratesGBC member and not a member of the EEP, please join the program by filling out the registration form.



Members Only: EmiratesGBC Technical Workshops

On July 19th, EmiratesGBC members and partners gathered at our headquarters in Dubai to discuss the basic sustainability considerations for commonly used building materials in the UAE, and the difficulties in procuring sustainable building materials in the Gulf region.  Discussions centered around market supply, LCAs, certification schemes and cost implications of building materials which sustain less environmental damage.

This month, EmiratesGBC is hosting another workshop which will provide an overview of the ETICS system; its challenges and opportunities found in the market place and will especially address governmental support and new regulations initiated especially those related to fire safety.

If your company has a sustainable specialty/technology which can be introduced to other industry members in an interactive and educational workshop format, please let us know! In the past, our topics have run the gamut of the sustainability spectrum, and we welcome the diverse expertise among our members.

Email your topic suggestions to: 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.


EmiratesGBC submits its first Communication on Engagement to UN Global Compact

Having been a participant to the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) since July 2014, EmiratesGBC has submitted its first Communication on Engagement.  The report not only fulfills a commitment to the UNGC but also provides a clear line of communication on progress to all the Council’s stakeholders.



Academy Feature of the Month

This study is carried out in the ongoing project ZEBRA2020 to monitor the current market activities towards nearly zero energy buildings in Europe. It also identifies the gaps that curtails the progress towards nZEBs. To read more click here



Green Key Spotlight


Three TIME Hotel Properties Receive Green Key Award

The sustainable minded hotel chain has worked with EmiratesGBC’s Hospitality Program lead to ensure the 12 Green Key criteria are achieved across all six properties with the plan to have all of them Green Key certified by the end of 2016. TIME Hotels CEO Mohamed Awadella said, “This Green Key award is further endorsement of this commitment, and provides further motivation for us to maintain our corporate policy of putting the environment at the top of our agenda for positive change.” Read more about TIME Hotel’s accomplishment here and learn more about Green Key certification here.


Hospitality Program Update

Our Hospitality Program is reaching great milestones. We have now completed the first draft of its  energy and water benchmarking report. The report aims at helping hotels reduce their carbon footprint by improving water and energy performances, waste management, education and awareness. The EmiratesGBC Benchmarking program is open to all UAE properties (hotel, resort, apartment/serviced hotels) which are willing to provide their data consumption, irrespective of their location, size, star rating, or hotel group. Stay tuned to check the findings of the Benchmarking Report!


EmiratesGBC Technical Guidelines for Retrofitting Existing Buildings

If you are a building owner, operator, manager, or tenant, there are several verified methods you can implement to improve your building’s energy and water efficiency; strengthen its longevity, and also improve occupant comfort and safety. The EmiratesGBC Technical Guidelines provide a comprehensive overview of 32 retrofit methods written by local experts for the GCC market.

Click here to learn more about how the Technical Guidelines can potentially save your facility or home millions in utility bills and reduced operational costs.



EmiratesGBC Trainings

The summer is a great time to think about upgrading your green building industry credentials! EmiratesGBC offers a series of professional training programs in partnership with British University in Dubai (BUiD). For more information and to register your intent for any of our upcoming courses, please contact our education partner BUiD.

  • LEED Green Associate: September 2-3 and November 11-12
  • LEED Accredited Professional Neighbourhood Development (ND): October 7-8
  • Certified Energy Manager (CEM): November 6-9/Exam November 19
  • Certified Energy Auditor (CEA): September 18-20/Exam September 22 & October 17-19 / Exam October 20 (Abu Dhabi)

Well Done Members! Announcing the Diamond Developers Doctoral Fellowship Program in Sustainability Studies at the University of California, Davis

The fellowship program will provide promising young researchers from the Arab region the opportunity to undertake doctoral graduate studies and research at the University of California, Davis, one of the leading research universities in the world.  The fellowships, which are based on merit, will be made available to selected students from the Arab region. tudents will also have the option to carry out part of their research at The Sustainable City in Dubai.

Click here to learn more.


EmiratesGBC Office Room M-21 is now available for meetings and workshops!

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.



EmiratesGBC in the News


EmiratesGBC marks stronger participatory role in World Green Building Council

Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC), an independent forum aimed at conserving the environment by strengthening and promoting green building practices, has further strengthened its participatory role in setting the global agenda for sustainable built environments. Read more…

Local News

Regional News

International News

Upcoming EmiratesGBC Events

16aug
Members Only Technical Workshop
24aug
Awards Winners Showcase
2-3sep
LEED GA Training
18-20sep
CEA Training
20sep
Contractors Technical Workshop

Upcoming Events

6-8sep
Cityscape Global
24sep
Green Apple Day of Service
26sep
World Green Building Week
5-6oct
World Green Economy Summit

Animal agriculture is responsible for 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, more than the combined exhaust from all transportation. Moreoever, 2,500 gallons of water are needed to produce 1 pound of beef.