EmiratesGBC elected its new board officers (management committee) during its recent board meeting on 16 December 2019, with His Excellency Ali Al Jassim, CEO of Etihad Energy Services, as the new Chair. He succeeds Saeed Al Abbar who served as Chair for six years (2014-2019).

The new five-member management committee includes: Ali Al Jassim (Chair), Afra Al Owais and Farah Yassine (Vice Chairs), Habiba Al Marashi (Treasurer) and Huda Shaka (Secretary).

Elections were also held for board seats for the 2020-2021 term, and the elected board members now make up the EmiratesGBC Board of Directos that is comprised of a total of 35 directors comprised of corporate members and individuals. The 11 added board members, some re-elected, include: AESG Project Development Consultant, Buro Happold Consulting Engineering Ltd, Cundall Johnston & Partners LLP, Enova Facilities Management Services LLC, KEO International Consultant, Knauf LLC, Multiplex Middle East, Ramboll Middle East Limited – Dubai Branch, Saint-Gobain, Siemens and WSP.

Congratulations to all the newly elected board officers and board directors!

EmiratesGBC held its 2019 Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 16 December 2019, with many of its corporate and individual members in attendance. The event was an opportunity for members and staff together to look back at the Council’s recent achievements and inititaives and to share thoughts for opportunities as we move into 2020. The outgoing Chair Saeed Al Abbar welcomed members and delivered introductions, which was followed by EmiratesGBC Director Lora Shrake, Education Officer Lynsey Crerar, and Technical Manager Majd Fayyad who provided updates on the EmiratesGBC membership and programs. The AGM concluded with members being invited to offer feedback and suggestions to support the Council’s progress and membership offerings.  The discussions provided a lot of food for thought as we move into 2020 and develop longer term strategic plans.

We thank all the members who attended for their valuable participation and extend a special thanks to those who contributed to our events and programmes throughout 2019. The involvement and support of members is central to the Council’s activites, and we look forward to continuing our work for a sustainable built environment hand in hand with members.

Our Net Zero Centre of Excellence was launched in 2018 as a think tank and accelerator to advance net zero carbon buildings in the UAE as part of its commitment to World Green Building Council’s Advancing Net Zero Project. Through our website, you can explore the program’s objectives as well as view the research we conducted to highlight the challenges and opportunities for net zero buildings in the UAE. You can also take a look at the Zero building certifications we offer and read some more into WorldGBC’s Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment.

Our latest works and achievements for the Net Zero Centre of Excellence are included in the latest publication by the World Green Building Council, the Advancing Net Zero Status Report 2019.

Snapshot

We are proud to announce that our work through the Net Zero Centre of Excellence to advance the net zero movement in the UAE is summarised through the launch of EmiratesGBC Snapshot. The Snapshot is published through the World Green Building Council’s global Advancing Net Zero project and defines how Net Zero Centre of Excellence adheres to each of the four key principles which support the transition towards net zero carbon buildings.

To read the Snapshot click here.

Zero Energy Certification

Carbon emissions hit a record high in 2019, with an increase of 0.6% increase compared to 2018. As one of the biggest contributors to carbon emissions, buildings play a key role in addressing climate change, and thus we must reduce the operating emissions from buildings. By applying to the Zero Energy Certification, you can highlight your commitment to sustainability and showcase your leadership in the built industry.

If you are working on a net-zero project and would like to learn more about the certification, email us at netzero@emiratesgbc.org and we will be happy to set a meeting to discuss the benefits of the certification as well as process the certification for you. The first 10 pilot projects in the UAE that apply to ILFI’s ZE and ZC certifications will receive a 50% discount.

Case Study Library

The World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) has launched a new digital case study library showcasing examples of the world’s most cutting-edge sustainable buildings. The case study library is a centralised forum to showcase the ‘best in class’ buildings that demonstrate enhanced performance in relation to health benefits or achieve net zero operational carbon, as verified by established GBC and other market certification schemes, rating tools or other third-party verification.

Click here to access the library.

Net Zero Buildings Commitment

WorldGBC’s Commitment now has 79 signatories, and you can find the full list of current signatories here. The case study library also showcases industry leaders who have signed the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment: 45 businesses and organisations, 28 cities, and 6 states and regions.

EmiratesGBC is proud to announce that several members have signed up to the Commitment such as AESG, Cundall, Majid Al Futtaim, Multiplex and Shaw Contract. If you would like to join the lines of these pioneering organizations, please contact us at netzero@emiratesgbc.org.

We are busy planning a schedule of events, trainings and seminars that will continue to educate and raise awareness of the latest Green Building developments within the region for the duration of 2020. This will include our flagship events: The 9^th EmiratesGBC Congress and the Annual MENA Green Building Awards. We invite all members to support these important platforms through partnership and showcase their commitment to the sector.

Click here to view our sponsorship packages for the 2020 Annual Congress and 2020 Annual Awards. In addition, sponsorship oppoprtunties for our other events are available starting at 15k AED and bespoke partnership opportunities for our technical programs and publications.

If you are interested in discussing further please contact engagement@emiratesgbc.org.

Emirates Green Building Council is cooperating with TPG Media to offer our members a special discounted advertising opportunity in Emirates Projects, a leading print and digital platform that reaches out to 166,000 companies including Developers, Architects, Consultants and Contractors.

With a focus on EmiratesGBC and our vision for 2020, we will be featured in Emirates Projects and would like our members to be showcased alongside this feature. 2020 is being heralded as the start of the decade for climate action, and media campaigns such as this will support focusing attention on action to accelerate solutions.

Two advertising options are available with TPG Media for EmiratesGBC Corporate members, offering 50% discount or more off the standard rates. For more information on the packages and special rates, please contact Jane Muff at TPG at Jane@tpg-media.com.

EmiratesGBC would like to congratulate Ramada Amsterdam Airport Schiphol for being the first hotel of the German HR Group, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, to receive the Green Key certification in the Netherlands. The Ramada Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is a is 27 years old building and retrofitting it to meet the Green Key criteria was a challenge. However, it was a big success and the hotel staff are still working toward improving the hotel’s eco-friendly technical facilities.

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: WH) is the world’s largest hotel franchising company, with approximately 9,200 hotels across more than 80 countries on six continents.

EmiratesGBC is the national operator of Green Key in the UAE and we are taking this chance to invite all hotels in the UAE that operate under the Wyndham franchise to apply for the certification. For more information, please contact us at greenkey@emiratesgbc.org.

The second edition of the is out now! We encourage you to take a look and find out more about the activites of Green Building Councils and the industry within the MENA region for the last quarter of 2019. to receive future editions direct to your inbox.

Get ahead of the game and future proof your career by attending the Building Retrofit Training in 2020. The Training teaches the fundamentals of Building Retrofit and Energy Efficiency and equips professionals and students with the skills and knowledge to implement retrofit projects in the region.

The program is in partnership with Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and Masdar (Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company) and offers two levels of training:

• 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 Building Retrofit Training webpage. EmiratesGBC can also schedule in-house training for groups of 10 or more, please contact training@emiratesgbc.org to request a proposal. EmiratesGBC members and partners will receive a 20% discount off the registration fees.

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

‘I took BRT because I am a non-technical professional entering the retrofit sector in Dubai, working on demand side management. This course gave me a solid overview and understanding of building/villa/structure from a retrofit perspective and the current legislation and trends in Dubai.’

‘I would like to personally thank EGBC for introducing the BRT as it became really a good reinforcement to tackle the issues concerning the built environment especially the existing buildings. Truly, if majority of the building professionals, owners and the building occupants are aware of the impact of buildings, EGBC’s launching of the certification for Building Retrofit specialists will paved the way to transforming buildings and the built environment in general as high performing and low to zero carbon places on earth.’

EmiratesGBC is pleased to announced we will once again be Knowledge Partners to the World Future Emergy Summit on the 13^th – 16^th January 2020.

The Smart Cities Expo & Forum is where the city of the future comes to life, bringing forward-thinking governments and municipalities together with pioneers in smart infrastructure, future transportation and next-generation building technology to develop the potential of connected communities – from sustainable planning to smart mobility.

As a key part of the World Future Energy Summit, the global hub for business, innovation and knowledge exchange, the Smart Cities Expo & Forum forges new relationships between buyers and suppliers, drives exposure by showcasing the latest smart technologies and enables urban leaders to share new learnings to improve quality of life.

EmiratesGBC team will be at the event the whole week, visit us at our stand to discuss our current programs and upcoming activities. Be sure to attend the Smart Cities Forum where outgoing chairman Saeed Al Abbar will be speaking alongside many of our members and partners.

There is still time to exhibit and EmiratesGBC members can receive an exclusive package for exhibiting with discounted rates. If you are interested in exhibiting alongside EmiratesGBC, please contact Miraz Saleh on +971-2-4090364 or miraz.saleh@reedexpo.ae and mention that you are an EmiratesGBC member.

Schools can have design features that utilize natural ventilation: The Estidama rating system recommends the base minimum standards for natural ventilation strategies to be derived from CIBSE AM10:2005. Features such as operable windows, general window distribution – windows located in adjacent walls with a horizontal shift to allow for cross ventilation – and a reasonable increase in window size also provide protection from direct solar gain and enhance natural ventilation.

The above is just one of the many useful tips available through the EmiratesGBC Green Building Tooltips, 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 and is supported by Taqati.

We concluded 2019 with a workshop facilitated by AESG on health and wellbeing in buildings. This topic is gaining traction in the industry and we are hoping to see it continue to grow and expand in the coming years.

If you are interested in facilitating a workshop in 2020, please be aware that we have started to schedule the workshops for the first quarter of the year. If you have a topic in mind, you can email us at technicalworkshops@emiratesgbc.org.

The year 2020 marks an important period for civilization as the upcoming 10 years will influence climate change for future generations. To begin the new year, this month we look at the Global Carbon Budget 2019 from the Global Carbon Project, which highlights that emissions grew another 0.6% in 2019. The report also shows that while coal-related emissions are declining, it still accounts for over 42% of the global total and transport related emissions now represent over a third of global fossil fuel emissions. The report helps a more thorough understanding of the global carbon cycle as we move to the critical years.

To read the full report, click here.

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.

Another way to get your copy of the Technical Guidelines is to register and participate in a Building Retrofit Training course – a complimentary copy is included with every course registration. For more details, please click here.

The Board of Directors of Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC), an independent forum aimed at conserving the environment by strengthening and promoting green building practices, elected its new management committee for 2020-21, with His Excellency Ali Al Jassim, CEO of Etihad Energy Services, as the new Chairman.

HE Ali Al Jassim succeeds Saeed Al Abbar, Managing Director at AESG, who served as EmiratesGBC Chair for the past six years. Saeed has played a significant role in the organisation and will continue to serve as an active Board member.

The new five-member management committee includes: Afra Al Owais and Farah Yassine (Vice Chairs), Habiba Al Marashi (Treasurer) and Huda Shaka (Secretary). Afra Al Owais, Chief Efficienology Officer at Sharjah Electricity & Water Authority, and Farah Yassine, Associate Consultant – Sustainable Resource Management at WSP, takes office from Khaled Bushnaq, CEO of Energy Management Services (EMS).

Read more here.