EmiratesGBC is proud to announce that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Bionova Ltd, developer of One Click LCA. The partnership is based on raising awareness around embodied carbon with an objective of transforming the market towards low carbon design, construction and manufacturing practices. To facilitate this, Bionova is offering the One Click LCA Planetary free of charge for UAE companies. The software has several capabilities, which includes calculating material and carbon efficiency (A1-A3 stages), providing carbon accounting figures (Global Warming Potential) and comparison between different material options during design for key construction materials.

We invite the industry to explore its capabilities further through their website.

EmiratesGBC signed an MOU with Class of Your Own (Design-Engineer-Construct program) last month. The partnership provides a framework for the organizations to work together on new educational initiatives that are related to climate action, emissions reductions, circular economy, air quality, and outreach. Currently both EmiratesGBC and COYO are collaborating on the Esteem Pavilion Challenge 2020 which is challenging primary and secondary school students to design a pavilion in Dubai, using the Solar Decathlon 2020 as a reference.

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 and as part of EmiratesGBC’s commitment to World Green Building Council’s Advancing Net Zero Project. We invite you to explore our website to see the work we are doing. We have also summarized our objectives and actions in the EmiratesGBC Snapshot.

We have officially launched a webinar series to support the Centre’s objectives as a knowledge sharing platform and forum. In April we successfully hosted two webinars to a combined audience of over 400 people from around the world. See news headline below for more details. There are several more online events coming up, so keep an eye out for the invitations!

Zero buildings have best in class energy efficiency and can improve resilience towards climate-related impacts and risks. The International Living Future Institute’s Zero Carbon and Zero Energy Certifications, which promotes the design of high performance, climate-positive buildings can support the industry to account for their total carbon impacts by reducing and offsetting both operational and embodied carbon.

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 schedule a call to discuss the benefits and process of the certification. The first 10 pilot projects in the UAE that apply to ILFI’s ZE and ZC certifications receive a discounted rate.

WorldGBC’s Commitment now has 82 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: 48 businesses and organizations, 28 cities, and 6 states and regions.

If you would like to join the lines of these pioneering organizations, please contact us at netzero@emiratesgbc.org.

USGBC staff member Emma Hughes will present LEED Zero, USGBC’s newest certification program, and discuss best practices for designing and operating net zero buildings.  The presentation will include an overview of the program criteria, process for pursuing certification, and projects that have achieved this outstanding recognition to date.  This session will also highlight opportunities and challenges for buildings pursuing net zero goals by exploring connections between LEED Zero criteria and the LEED v4.1 rating system update.   There will be time for questions and answers following the presentation.

Attendees will develop an understanding of USGBC’s continued work to advance high-performing buildings and learn how to certify buildings operating at net zero carbon, net zero energy, net zero water and net zero waste under LEED Zero. Click here to register.

On 18th May, EmiratesGBC and WorldGBC will co-host an educational webinar on air quality in the built environment in the MENA Region and the air quality monitoring campaign, Plant a Sensor. Expert speakers will share content around air quality in the Middle East, the role of the building and construction sector, and the specific contributions and impacts from the MENA region. The webinar will conclude with a moderated panel discussion led by Catriona Brady, Head of the Better Places for People Campaign, WorldGBC.

The webinar will provide a MENA specific perspective on both ambient and indoor air quality, the impact on health, and showcase solutions and projects within the region aimed at monitoring and improving air quality. Click here to register.

The webinar is part of a series being hosted by WorldGBC on Air Quality throughout the month of May to celebrate 50 years of Earth Day. The first webinar will be hosted on 7th May with the title: Indoor air quality: lessons for the future of public health. Click here to find out more about the series and to register to attend.

EmiratesGBC launched a series of live webinars by the Net Zero Centre of Excellence to explore and educate on topics relating to Net Zero in the UAE and beyond. The series was kicked off with a knowledge sharing webinar focusing on WorldGBC’s Net Zero Carbon Building Commitment and organizations in the region who are using the pledge to support their net zero journeys.

WorldGBC Advancing Net Zero Project Director, Victoria Burrows and EmiratesGBC Technical Manager, Majd Fayyad provided an overview of the commitment and the importance of net zero carbon buildings in the region. The webinar then heard from three signatory organizations; Majid Al Futtaim, Cundall and AESG about their net zero commitments and the progress and challenges they have faced in the region. The webinar was concluded with a lively audience Q&A session.

If you missed the opportunity to watch the webinar you can catch up using the following link and watch at your leisure.

Make sure you follow us on social media for further announcements of webinars as part of this series – our next webinar will be on May 5^th on the topic of Energy Modelling and will be facilitated by Buro Happold.

Given the current circumstances and public health situation, EmiratesGBC has temporarily suspended all in-person events, workshops and trainings in line with advice from the UAE government. In the coming weeks, we will be offering online opportunities to our members and partners to continue to raise awareness and build capacity in the form of online seminars. As with all our events, we will be drawing on the expertise of our member network to deliver the most engaging and up to date information and cases studies relevant to the industry in the UAE.

If you are a member interested in getting involved and want to facilitate a webinar or would like to share ideas, please contact us at events@emiratesgbc.org with details of the topic and nominated speaker.

In addition to our flagship events we offer members the chance to get involved in other events and education opportunities throughout the year – with topics ranging from net zero, building retrofit, circular economy, health and wellness and the green supply chain and delivered through webinars, publications, seminars and networking events there are several opportunities to suit your organization’s expertise and target markets. To find our more and start the conversation contact us at events@emiratesgbc.org.

EmiratesGBC is pleased to invite members and partners to support the 2020 Annual EmiratesGBC Congress and MENA Green Building Awards through sponsorship. Starting at 10,000 AED our packages allow organizations to partner with us on these prestigious events and showcase their commitment to sustainability whilst enabling us to provide an important platform for discussion and collaboration. This year our annual congress will explore how we build a sustainable future during these uncertain times. With a program of both in-person and online sessions we hope to increase our reach and spark conversation across the region whilst offering long term brand exposure to our partners. To find out more and review our partnership proposal please contact us at: events@emiratesgbc.org.

In addition to our flagship events we offer members the chance to get involved in other events and education opportunities throughout the year – with topics ranging from net zero, building retrofit, circular economy, health and wellness and the green supply chain and delivered through webinars, publications, seminars and networking events there are several opportunities to suit your organization’s expertise and target markets. To find out more and start the conversation contact us at events@emiratesgbc.org.

On the occasion of Earth Day 2020, EmiratesGBC proudly relaunched the Green Building Tooltips with the new and renewed partnerships of Rain Bird and BASF, as well as the support of Taqati. EmiratesGBC will utilize the tooltips to further educate the industry and community on the best practices they can follow in achieving higher levels of energy and water use efficiency as well as promote a sustainable lifestyle. Drawing on their expert guidance, EmiratesGBC has made updates to the Green Building Tooltips, particularly in the areas of efficient landscaping through drought resistance and water management best practices as well as the application of sandwich elements, insulating boards and spray foam, to improve energy-efficiency.

“In addition to installing efficient fixtures, building owners can take a step further by installing a water management system, which can potentially save significant water as usage is linked directly to its source, which helps target reduction where needed and troubleshoots leakage. Water management system uses metering and submetering.”

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

EmiratesGBC is very pleased to offer it’s members an exclusive 50% discount to attend the Global Green Building programme developed and offered by the UK Green Building Council – this online course is designed to connect built environment professionals virtually and globally to share examples, and best practices on green building. The focus that runs throughout the programme is ‘how to deliver net zero’ in your respective projects, buildings and businesses.
The programme runs for the whole month on the Moodle Online Learning platform and entails guided learning throughout, facilitated by Green Building Council (UK, World and other European GBCs) experts.
A range of activities, seminars, readings and case examples are provided throughout with forum discussions and debates to explore the key challenges to achieving sustainable buildings and net zero. It has been specifically designed to run virtually at this time of remote working.
To find out more contact training@emiratesgbc.org

We were proud to launch our first online webinar on April 14^th, which was facilitated by EmiratesGBC Secretary to the Board, Huda Shaka from ARUP. The webinar focused on City Resilience and gave an overview of its definition and how to measure it. You can view the webinar recording here.

On May 5^th, we will be continuing our Net Zero series with a webinar facilitated by EmiratesGBC Corporate Member, Buro Happold. The webinar will focus on the Energy Modelling of Net Zero Buildings. Viewers will learn about industry best practices on energy modelling and discuss key lessons learnt to minimize the performance gaps between energy models and real operation of buildings. Registration links are provided in the invitations.

If you are interested in facilitating a workshop/webinar in 2020, please email us at technicalworkshops@emiratesgbc.org.

EmiratesGBC is pleased to be a supporting association for the 10^th edition of the upcoming MEFMA CONFEX which has been rescheduled to take place from November 8 – 11^th , 2020 in Dubai under the theme of ‘Facility Management Transformation towards Sustainable Development’. For further information visit the event website.

EmiratesGBC is pleased to support the 6th Annual Retrofit Tech MENA which will now take place from 7-8 September 2020 in Roda Al Bustan Hotel, Dubai, UAE, to address the latest retrofit innovations to accelerate the growth of the retrofit sector in the UAE and MENA region.

This prestigious annual gathering of high-level decision makers and industry trailblazers presents an ideal platform for energy efficiency management services companies and solution providers to showcase their innovative technologies and solutions, and learn more about the upcoming projects in the UAE and the MENA region as a whole.

EmiratesGBC will be participating in the conference and sharing insights around the energy efficiency and benchmarking in the UAE. EmiratesGBC members are eligible for a discount upon registering for more details contact opportunities@acm-events.com.

For more information, visit: http://bit.ly/2VhOaFS.

Despite the challenging market situation due to the coronavirus, the hospitality industry has shown its commitment to the green movement in the UAE, with properties still applying for Green Key certifications and recertifications. We applaud these hotels for maintaining their commitment and we look forward to supporting you through this process.

Given that physical visits are not permitted during this period, EmiratesGBC successfully conducted its first virtual Green Key audit, reinforcing the need for organizations and companies to acclimate to unforeseen stressors, causing as little disturbance to their operations as possible.

Taking place on May 7 -8, the Living Future 2020 Online Conference is the event of our partner ILFI. Normally held in person, this year the organization is asking people to come together online. The event’s theme is titled “Sustaining Hope Within Crisis”. Originally intended to reflect our climate emergency, it is even more relevant in light of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Coming together as a community is paramount to creating a collective message of hope

The #LF20 is offering EmiratesGBC members a special discount of 200 USD to attend too. Contact us on netzero@emiratesgbc.org to receive your coupon!

Click here to learn more and register.

EmiratesGBC Members are invited to join a RSB webinar/workshop on 11 May which will discuss how to improve the energy performance of buildings by raising the standard of operation and maintenance practices.

Dubai’s Demand Side Management (DSM) Strategy targets cooling as part of its objective to save 30% of energy demand against a business as usual forecast by 2030.  As part of an efficient cooling programme,  the strategy aims for efficient operation and maintenance of cooling systems in buildings.  The RSB – Dubai’s lead authority for that programme  – has carried out some initial stakeholder research into the role facility managers could play in this initiative.  They will be sharing their findings and canvas the views of the wider energy sector, focusing on the design of a potential accreditation scheme, building on the success of our existing schemes for ESCOs and energy auditors.

The webinar will be held for Monday, 11th May from 1130 to 1230 via zoom.   To register your interest to attend for the webinar, please contact RSB.

The Building Retrofit Training Program 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 introductory course is a great opportunity for those looking for an overview of the topic while the advanced course gives technical experts the opportunity to highlight their knowledge with certification.

The Building Retrofit Training Program runs throughout the year – register today to secure your place on an upcoming course.

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.’

Several research results and studies prove that current CO2 emissions must be urgently stemmed if extreme climate changes are to be reversed. This month, we look at the latest publication by German Sustainable Building Society (DGNB), Climate Positive Now. The report is intended to motivate actors to actively contribute to designing the necessary transformation of the building and real estate sector and provides assistance in enabling a pragmatic and practice-orientated implementation of climate action in the building industry.

To read the report, click here.

UAE-based Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC) has announced that it is strengthening the provision of its proprietary Green Building Tooltips.

It stated that it is doing this with added help from California-headquartered Rain Bird, a global manufacturer and provider of irrigation products and services, and builds on the continued sponsorship extended by BASF, the world’s largest chemical company. [Read More].