Thank you to our Sponsor, Partners, Speakers, Members & Delegates for making the 7th Annual EmiratesGBC Congress a success!

Under the patronage of the UAE Ministry of Climate Change & Environment, the Congress was themed ‘Taregting Zero: a Vision for Future Cities’ and brought together international and regional speakers to discuss Net Zero Buildings and the decarbonisation of cities.

With the IPCC climate change report announced just one day before the Congress and calling for unprecedented changes to keep global temperatures from rising beyond 1.5C, the timely discussion focused on the urgent need for individuals, businesses and government to act now to meet the targets set out by the Paris Agreement.

Welcoming addresses were given by representatives from Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment who outlined the policies and vision for sustainable development in the UAE, while keynote speakers highlighted the importance of collaboration and adopting a net zero approach to meeting the goals of the UAE. Delegates were presented with case studies of sustainable buildings and communities that are adopting a net zero approach and are raising the benchmark for sustainable buildings in the UAE. The Congress also welcomed speakers and delegates from Signify, Integral and Majid Al Futtaim which are the first signatories of the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment. We encourage all members and partners to learn more about the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment and keep the conversation going!

For a full recap of the Congress please review our event brief.

We would like to give special thanks to our Venue Sponsor, Majid Al Futtaim for their support of the Congress and their longstanding commitment to EmiratesGBC and the green building movement.

Click here to view photographs from the Congress and for a summary of the Congress please refer to our press releases.

Next year our Annual Congress will be held in the first of half of the year and we look forward to building on its success and ensuring that the 8^th Annual Congress continues to tackle relevant subjects faced by our industry.

Thank you to all the participating hotels, schools and shopping malls who have contributed to the Building Efficiency Accelerator benchmarking project! We have completed data collection from over 100 buildings and are now completing the data analysis phase.  We look forward to sharing the findings of our study soon.

The Benchmarking Project is being carried out by EmiratesGBC in a partnership with Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and supports the City of Dubai’s participation in the Building Efficiency Accelerator (BEA). Dubai is the only city in the Middle East that has committed to the BEA, a global initiative under the United Nations program Sustainable Energy for All. Learn more about the Benchmarking Project here and in the FAQs.

If you have any questions, please contact the EmiratesGBC office at 04-3468244 or send an email with your interest to BEA@emiratesgbc.org.

BEA Sponsorship opportunities have been updated to accommodate companies interested in supporting this pivotal project.  We invite you to learn more by clicking here or contacting engagement@emiratesgbc.org. Sponsorship will support the analysis and reporting of the project, thus supporting the overall benchmarking program and its influence on building retrofit.

EmiratesGBC hosted a workshop on 2^nd October on the WELL Building Standard at our office in Al Quoz.  Facilitated by Kate Rube, Vice President of Market Solutions at the International WELL Building Institute, the workshop focused on the launch of WELL v2, the latest iteration of the WELL Building Standard, a health-based certification program for the built environment. Kate provided an in-depth overview describing the suite of enhancements in this new system to help optimise WELL whilst also outlining the objectives of the certification in encouraging the design, construction and operation of buildings that enhance the health and wellbeing of the users. In attendance were representatives from organisations whose projects are in the final stages of certification and will soon be the first WELL certified spaces in the UAE.

Earlier this year, Emirates Coalition for Green Schools launched the pioneering white paper, ‘The State of Our Schools‘ which provided a definition for green schools in the UAE and provided an overview of the current state of UAE schools in the context of this definition. The paper set out the Coalition’s vision to ensure that every child in the UAE learns in a green school within this generation.

As a national platform for the advocacy of Green Schools in the UAE, the coalition will once again bring together stakeholders in a Roundtable event to be held on November 28^th focusing on Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) of Schools in the UAE. The roundtable will be followed by a whitepaper which will explore the factors influencing IAQ in schools, the impact on students and potential solutions for improving IAQ. During the Roundtable, we will also be soliciting opinions on the future activities of the Coalition.

To find out more or to register your interest in the roundtable event, please contact events@emiratesgbc.org.  Companies can also contribute through sponsorship, and those interested should email engagement@emiratesgbc.org or find out more here.

It is an exciting time of year with a number of industry events taking place, bringing together experts discussing important industry subject matters and providing an important platform for networking and discussion on sustainability and green practices within the built environment in the UAE and beyond. EmiratesGBC is pleased to announce it is a supporting association for the following select group of events:

EmiratesGBC is pleased to again partner with WFES (World Future Energy Summit) as Knowledge Partner for the 2019 Green Buildings Exhibition and Forum. The event is hosted by Masdar and is part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability week, taking place from the 14 – 17 January 2019 at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC).

We are inviting corporate members to exhibit with us under the EmiratesGBC Pavilion at the Green Buildings Exhibition, co-located with World Future Energy Summit. Members will be able to access discounted rates on exhibiting as well as receive a special package of benefits.

Click here to learn more or contact Reed Exhibitions representative, Carla Fadel on +971 50 653 1940 to book a space under the EmiratesGBC Pavilion.

EmiratesGBC is pleased to support the Big 5 and Big 5 Solar 2018 event as knowledge partner. This is an important event for the solar industry and is held on November 26 – 29, 2018 at the Dubai World Trade Centre to bring together influential decision makers and professionals from local and international brands for four days of business and networking opportunities.

Exhibitors will have an opportunity to showcase technologies to dedicated buyers, generate new leads and meet potential business partners. Attend the 4th edition of the Global Solar Leaders’ Summit for an interactive learning experience on the latest technologies and trends from industry leaders through lively debates and focus groups. Join free-to-attend onsite CPD-Certified workshops to gain insights on the latest updates and trends from honourable speakers from governments and suppliers. Visit the website to learn more.

The 2018 MENA Green Building Awards were held in May 2018 and celebrated achievements, success stories and best practices across the region.  Each month we showcase the winner of one category and this month we look at the Green Building Research Award, which recognises research that establishes dependable data related to green building performance, in an area not previously available.

Winner: Emaar Facilities Management L.L.C: Energy Centered Maintenance/A Green Maintenance System

The overall objective of the research was to develop a new maintenance method that focuses on enhancing the equipment’s energy efficiency and reliability, thus improving performance, reducing the impact of building operations on the environment, and reducing operating costs. The model used energy consumption excess or energy waste as the primary criteria for determining specific maintenance or repair needs.

Congratulations Emaar Facilities Management! Congratulations are also extended to the shortlisted applicants in this category: the American University of Sharjah for research entitled Developing Zero-cement Concrete Using Waste Material and the University of Sharjah, Architectural Engineering Department for their case study on Refurbishment as an alternative to new construction for the functional and energy upgrade of the UAE school sector.

 To find out more about the 2018  awards and category winners, take a look at the awards brief and continue to support the MENA Green Building Awards through social media by using the hashtag #MENAGBAwards

Wednesday, October 24th, Volunteers from Dar Al Handasah have successfully accomplished a Green Apple Day of Service Project at SABIS- International School of Choueifat- Dubai. The event engaged more than 200 students (from grade 5 to grade 12) with a presentation covering the major environmental aspects encountered daily and two hands-on activities; building a solar cooker from a Pizza Box, and planting in old tires. By the end of the day, the school and students received a certificate of participation.

Please click here to view photos of the day.

The Green Apple Day of Service is an initiative which aims to raise awareness of sustainable development and green building to students through an interactive workshop.  We would like to salute the team of volunteers from Dar led by Ibrahim Kronfol who worked with students on hands-on projects helping them improve the environment in their school.

Dar Al Handasah is an active member of the Global Coalition for Green Schools and have been working with schools under the Green Apple Day of Service initiative across the region. Led by Ibrahim Kronfol the project is a first for the UAE and we warmly salute their ongoing efforts to expand on this initiative in the region.

We would like to pay heed to the generous gesture made by Holley Chant, Executive Director of Corporate Sustainability, KEO International Consultants to champion our movement toward sustainable development in the UAE and continues to invite others to do the same.  Holley Chant, in a second consecutive year, has chosen to pay it forward by covering the joining fee of the next individual member to join our Council.  This gesture is indicative of the leadership we have amongst our movement and demonstrates a simple way to encourage individual engagement with EmiratesGBC.  Are you passionate about the built environment and want to contribute to sustainable development in UAE? Join us as an individual member and consider joining Holley’s notion to pay it forward.

Please contact us at membership@emiratesgbc.org for further information.

There is still time to register on the 2018 Building Retrofit Training Courses. The Building Retrofit Program is in partnership with Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and Masdar (Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company) and offers two levels of training course:

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 for your place in the upcoming courses. EmiratesGBC can also schedule in-house training for groups of 10 or more, please contact events@emiratesgbc.org to request a proposal.

Hear what some of our previous participants had to say about the introductory course:

‘The BRT course was perfect for me to further understand retrofitting requirements that are in line with The Emirates Green Building Council guidelines, as I plan to be renovating a hotel in the near future’

‘I have learned about aspects of design and maintenance, that impact efficiency in a positive way, as well as minimize the impact on the environment’

We encourage you to improve your lifestyle, not just for today but for all of 2018, by adopting an EmiratesGBC Green Building Tooltip.  This month’s tip focuses on our offices, now that the summer months are behind us, we should take heed and shift our mindset and behaviour to accommodate this new and welcome change in the weather.  It’s time to consider maintaining our air-conditioner’s temperature at 24 degrees C which helps reduce pressure on cooling units, reduces monthly bills, and in turn reduces carbon emissions in the atmosphere. Set the base temperature to 24-25 deg to reduce the energy consumption for cooling. Raising cooling set point temperature by 1 degree can save up to 4% in cooling energy.

The EmiratesGBC Green Building Tooltips is 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 urge 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.

Our November Technical Workshop will be held on the 13^th of November by Rain Bird International Inc on Highly Efficient and Smart Irrigation Solutions. Looking forward to seeing you there!

Are you an EmiratesGBC member or partner and would like to facilitate a technical workshop? Our calendar is open for 2019; we encourage you to book your space today starting by bringing your suggestions forth.

If you have any suggestions for topics you would like to address, we would like to hear from you.  Email us at technicalworkshops@emiratesgbc.org.

Get inspired by reading our technical briefs from past monthly workshops by visiting the EmiratesGBC website here.

This month we look at the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) latest report on Global Warming of 1.5°C. Published on October 8^th, the report estimates that global warming is likely to reach 1.5°C between 2030 and 2052 if it continues to increase at the current rate. The report advocates that limiting global warming to 1.5°C is projected to reduce risks to marine biodiversity, fisheries, and ecosystems, and their functions and services to humans.

The report serves as a reminder for the urgent need to create transformative change towards a low-carbon based economy.

To read the full report, click here.

The USGBC has announced the launch of their Net-Zero certification program at the Global Climate Action Summit in September, in an aim to give the green building community a new standard to strive for.

USGBC’s new net zero certification is evidence of their commitment to Net Zero and the reach for optimum sustainable development at a tangible level. LEED projects can achieve the USGBC Net Zero certification when they demonstrate any or all of the following: net zero carbon emissions, net-zero energy use, net-zero water use or net zero waste. To achieve the USGBC net zero certification, projects must be LEED-certified and will have to provide 12 months of performance data across any or all of the categories.  More information will be announced at the Greenbuild conference this month in Chicago. Read here or here for more information on the certification.

Green Key is an international eco-label first developed and operated in Denmark in 1994. Since then, Green Key has grown to be operated in over 55 countries and is a leading standard of excellence in environmental responsibility and sustainable operation within the tourism sector. The Green Key programme is managed by the Foundation for Environmental Education globally and is operated by Emirates Green Building Council in the United Arab Emirates.

We invite UAE hotels to join the Green Key programme and showcase their environmentally friendly initiatives and commitment to the UAE’s sustainable tourism agenda.  To find out more about Green Key, please contact us at greenkey@emiratesgbc.org.

Dubai Tourism has launched the 5^th cycle of the Dubai Sustainable Tourism Awards, established to recognise companies within Dubai’s tourism sector that have demonstrated initiative towards reducing the company’s carbon footprint.   A series of awards clinics were offered to hotels last month to support submissions.  Dubai hotels implementing sustainable operations and best practice are encouraged to apply for the awards.

Also recently launched is the Dubai Tourism ’12 Steps Towards Sustainability’ manual, which has been developed to guide Dubai hotels to reduce their environmental footprint and improve energy, water and waste consumption. Emirates Green Building Council is proud to have supported Dubai Tourism in this effort and commend the Dubai Sustainable Tourism initiative, where they are taking a holistic approach to ensure sustainable tourism in the emirate.

The manual is free for download here.

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.

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.

EmiratesGBC also offers a free copy of the Technical Guidelines, as part of your registration and participation in the Building Retrofit Training Workshop. For more details, please click here to complete registration.

Regional and international experts on sustainable built environments came together at the 7th Annual Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC) Congress to discuss best practices and immediate strategies to transition to net zero cities within the coming decade to curb the damaging effects of carbon emissions.

Organised by EmiratesGBC, an independent forum aimed at conserving the environment by strengthening and promoting green building practices, the Congress was held under the theme ‘Targeting Zero: A Vision for Future Cities’. The Congress hosted several regional and international experts who agreed that the world is currently at a point of no return, and that all stakeholders, including the public, have to take bold, immediate steps to avoid the disastrous effects of climate change.

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Expert calls for residential sector to become more involved to meet clean energy targets.

Dubai residents must change their “mindset” and invest in the future of the emirate if clean energy targets are to be met, says an expert.

The city aims for seven per cent of its energy output to be derived from clean energy – renewable, zero-emission sources such as solar, wind and hydropower – by 2020.

It is part of the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy, which has set a goal for the emirate to produce 75 per cent of its energy through clean sources by 2050.

Dr Raed B’Kayrat, managing director of the Clean Energy Business Council, insists that many city residents must change short-termist attitudes towards life in the UAE if the lofty ambitions are to be reached.

Speaking at the annual congress of the Emirates Green Building Council, held at Pullman Dubai Creek City Centre hotel, Dr B’Kayrat called on the public to keep up with the progress being made in the commercial sector.

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The United Arab Emirates is one of the first regions to embrace sustainable design in Green Building implementation, says Chairperson, EmiratesGBC

The theme for the Seventh Annual Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC) Congress, held on October 9, at the Pullman Hotel, in Dubai, is ‘Targeting Zero: A Vision for Future Cities’, said  Habiba Al Marashi, Vice Chair, Treasurer and Co-founder, EmiratesGBC. During the welcome address, she said, “The EmiratesGBC Congress has evolved over the years, while gaining trust and respect from the industry. The more the trust, the greater the responsibility to do our part and work towards sustainability.”

Saeed Al Abbar, Chairperson, EmiratesGBC, said that the United Arab Emirates will reduce energy consumption significantly by the year 2030. “The coming 12 years are critical to reducing energy consumption,” said Al Abbar. The United Arab Emirates, he said, is one of the first regions to embrace sustainable design in Green Buildings and this, he said, was the result of the government’s strong resolve to take up the enormous challenge of working towards energy efficiency. “There is a pressing need to work towards sustainability while omitting carbon emissions by the year 2030,” he added.

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Green certifications for buildings should be provided on rolling basis to ensure built structures meet the same standards as new builds, an environmental design and sustainability expert has argued.

“The real challenge with certification is that it often only deals with new buildings,” said Ed Garrod, principal at London-based Elementa Consulting, a member of Integral Group that specialises in green engineering.

“Also, those certifications don’t expire, so the requirement then to renew that certification – and keep showing that your building is operating in [an environmentally conscious way] – is critical”, he added, speaking on a panel discussing net-zero buildings Emirates Green Building Council’s seventh Annual Congress in Dubai on 9 October.

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Regional and international experts on the sustainable built environment have highlighted the urgent need to take bold, immediate steps to transition to net zero cities within the coming decade in order to curb the damaging effects of carbon emissions.

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In addition to being energy efficient, Al Sheraa to use applications for smooth functioning, DEWA official says.

The Seventh Annual EmiratesGBC Congress witnessed several discussions on meeting the net-zero emission goal in the United Arab Emirates. The Congress also paved the way for innovative ideas, while showcasing new projects in the region. Highlighting one such project was Mohammed Saeed Al Shamsi, Vice President, Civil Projects Engineering and Water Maintenance, DEWA. While describing the Al Sheraa building, which is to be the DEWA Headquarters and the first UAE government Net Zero Energy Building, he said, “The building will be the tallest, largest and smartest nZEB building in the region.” The building, he added, will have a footprint of 200,000 square feet and will be a unique project. Elaborating on the targets to achieving the goal, he said, “Our aim is to reduce energy consumption by 40%, while cutting 30% on maintenance cost and increasing employee productivity by 65%.” Al Shamsi said, 65% of the intended occupants have already agreed on making their workplace eco-friendly.

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The concept of net-zero needs to be made palatable for there to be a demand for it, says Regional Director, C40 cities.

During his session at the Seventh Annual EmiratesGBC Congress, Sanjay Sridhar, Regional Director, South and West Asia, C40 cities, stressed on the need for cities and construction companies to be committed to energy efficiency. Elaborating on the role played by politicians and leaders as catalysts in change, he said, “Politicians and leaders have crucial roles to play in galvanising the building momentum towards a sustainable, net-zero energy environment.” However, referring to this as “no easy task,” he said, “Dubai represents areas from Jordan to Bangladesh and has the scope and ambition to reach its goals.”

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‘There must be an environmental policy, which helps cities advance towards a net-zero goal,’ says Elementa Consulting.

“There is a huge disconnect between policy and action.” This statement was made by Ed Garrod, Principal, Elementa Consulting, Integral Group during the Seventh Annual EmiratesGBC Congress. While speaking on Policy and framework approaches for zero-carbon cities, Garrod said, “It has taken us 23 years to realise that we need to move towards net-zero cities.” Referring to the situation as having a trickledown effect, he insisted that change is imminent, but many new buildings were not acting fast enough with regard to sustainability. “Every city has its own challenge and to deal with these challenges better, there is need for benchmarking. Again, benchmarking will vary, however, there must be an environmental policy, which helps cities advance towards a net-zero goal,” said Garrod.

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Self-financing is crucial to carrying out any changes to energy efficiency, says CEO, DC Pro Engineering.

“It took me three years to author the book Energy Budget and during the time I saw myself as a student,” said George Berbari, CEO, DC Pro Engineering, while speaking at the Seventh Annual EmiratesGBC Congress. The importance of taking an energy budgeting approach to achieve net zero cities and smart buildings was one among the many topics covered at the Congress, where Berbari insisted that no city in the world can achieve carbon neutrality without cutting on emissions. Elaborating on the need to take action, he highlighted that HVAC and cooling aspects of a building contribute to 10% of total energy consumption and when retrofitted, it is important to self-finance. “Self-financing is crucial to carrying out any changes to energy efficiency,” said Berbari. In addition to this, he said that it is necessary to pay for utilities. “Paying for what is used creates a sense of awareness and responsibility towards energy,” Berbari added.

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