Last week EmiratesGBC held it’s 8^th Annual Congress and were joined by experts and stakeholders from across the industry to discuss the latest trends and challenges for the green building industry sector.

For the third consecutive year, the Congress was held under the patronage of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment with the theme ‘Circling in on Zero: Circular Economy in the Built Environment’.  The Congress brought together regional and international speakers to explore the adoption of a circular economic model in the building industry and construction sector in a bid to advance the UAE’s sustainable development goals of Vision 2021. The presentations and discussions covered circular economy principles and the need for collaboration across industries, sustainable materials and reducing embodied carbon and concluded with innovative industry and project case studies from the UAE showcasing how the circular economy can be implemented.

Day 1 of the Congress was opening by EmiratesGBC Chairman, Saeed Al Abbar, who reflected on the crucial role of a circular economy approach and shift from the current way of thinking in the sector. Saeed announced the launch of the Zero Energy (ZE) and Zero Carbon (ZC) Certifications that have been adapted for the UAE market in partnership with International Living Future Institute (ILFI).  We were honoured to be joined by  Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, CEO for Alliances for Global Sustainability who highlighted the need for the UAE to led by example to bring sustainable change to the region. The opening speeches were followed by a day of presentations and discussion and we thank all our speakers and audience for their lively discussion!

On Day 2 of the Congress, delegates were invited to VOX Cinemas for a screening of the documentary ‘Closing the Loop’ on circular economy and waste management. Whilst the documentary highlights the urgent need for change globally, it provided an optimistic and inspiring message that change is possible and can be achieved through the actions of both organisations and individuals. If you missed the filming we encourage you to visit the documentary website where it is now available to stream for free.

We are grateful to our Platinum Partners, Majid Al Futtaim and Gold Sponsor, Jotun, for their demonstrated leadership and support which made it possible to deliver this important industry platform.

Thank you also to our government partners; Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, DEWA and Ras Al Khaimah Municipality and Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology ; and supporting associations: The Clean Energy Business Council, Emirates Environmental Group, Emirates Nature-WWF, GBCI, Middle East Facility Management Association (MEFMA), and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

The feedback has been overwhelming with full attendance on Day one of the Congress – it was great to see many of our members joining us to take part in this important conversation. We are already looking forward to an even bigger Congress next year! To find out more please take a look at the Congress press release and photos from the day by clicking here.

On the 1st May we announced the launch of the 2019 Annual MENA Green Building Awards which marks the seventh annual cycle of the awards.

The Annual MENA Green Building Awards Program honours companies that demonstrate clear implementation of sustainable design, construction and/or operation of buildings and structures. Its ultimate goal is to help establish a regional model for the sustainable built environment that is world class and replicable.

The Annual MENA Green Building Awards identify, recognise and highlight organisations for innovative and outstanding sustainable building principles and practices. They are designed to facilitate greater understanding of the contributions from the construction sector to sustainable development and lead to the exchange of ideas and good practice in sustainability in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

The number of professional categories has this year been increased to 20 and includes for the first time in the region an award for the  ‘Zero Building/Zero Building Design of the Year’. This a reflection of the growth in sustainable development and green building practice within the MENA region.

The Awards are once again endorsed by the World Green Building Council and supported by regional Green Building Council’s: Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Kuwait, Morocco and Palestine.

The application window is now open and applicants have until the 27^th July to submit their applications. Shortlisted applicants will be notified by the end of September with the winners announced at the Annual MENA Green Building Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner later in October. This not to be missed event is an opportunity to celebrate success in the industry and network with industry peers.

To find out more about the categories and application process please visit the MENA Green Building Council Awards website and download the applicant guidelines.

If you are interested in sponsoring the MENA Green Building Awards please take a look at our sponsorship packages or contact engagement@emiratesgbc.org.

Calling all students and recent graduates! The application window is now open for the 2019 cycle of the Dr. Owainati Student Excellence Award.

The Dr. Owainati Student Excellence Award, sponsored by EmiratesGBC Co-Founder Dr. Sadek Owainati, specifically rewards a student from a recognised university in the UAE who has conducted exceptional research work in a subject related to green buildings in the Middle East. The Dr. Owainati Student Excellence Award is open to an academically accepted thesis and/or research paper submitted for a post-graduate degree or final year undergraduate university research project or dissertation in the United Arab Emirates.

The deadline for submission is 27^th July and Shortlisted applicants will be notified by the end of September with the winners announced at the Annual MENA Green Building Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner later in October. To find out more about the categories and application process please visit the MENA Green Building Council Awards website and download the applicant guidelines.

On April 2nd, Emirates Green Building Council was presented as the winner in the Representative Entity category of the Dubai Quality Appreciation Award at the 25^th Business Excellence Awards ceremony held under the Patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. These prestigious Awards are hosted annually by the Dubai Economic Department (DED), and the Awards honour and recognise the sustained high-quality performance, achievements and excellence of various businesses and entities.

EmiratesGBC was recognized for its noteworthy role in engaging, offering benefits and creating value for its members.  As we look ahead, we are driven to create further impact on the UAE’s built environment with your support and leadership.

We would like to take this as an opportunity to extend our sincere appreciation to our members and partners for playing an instrumental role in this recent recognition – EmiratesGBC could not have achieved this success without your support.

The EmiratesGBC Net Zero Centre of Excellence was established as a think-tank and accelerator to provide an important platform for government, academia and the private sector to learn and share knowledge on how to advance net zero carbon buildings in the UAE.

This year, we are focusing on market transition and leadership under the Net Zero Centre of Excellence programme.  Our recently launched partnership with the International Living Future Institute (ILFI), EmiratesGBC ILFI will work toward the development of ILFI’s Zero Energy (ZE) and Zero Carbon (ZC) Certifications that will be adapted for the UAE market with the Council acting as the exclusive auditor of the two certifications in UAE. The partnership with ILFI delivers on the objectives of the Centre of Excellence to engage as many entities as possible in this global movement toward net zero.

EmiratesGBC has provided feedback to ILFI addressing the Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy and Embodied Carbon requirements of the ZE and ZC certifications, on the specific requirements which would act as barriers to the successful uptake of the certifications in the market.

Thank you to all the respondents who filled out the surveys we created! Your participation is greatly appreciated and supported us in identifying market readiness for these certifications.

If you are working on a net-zero energy project,  please email us at netzero@emiratesgbc.org, the first 10 pilot projects in the UAE that apply to ILFI’s ZE and ZC certifications will receive a 50% discount.

We encourage our members and partners to join the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment in 2019 as we continue to advocate for regional players to join this highly effective mission toward worldwide decarbonisation. If interested, please email us at netzero@emiratesgbc.org.

We are pleased to announce that we have finished the updates for the City Briefs.

EmiratesGBC annually publishes the Green Building Market City Briefs for Abu Dhabi and Dubai in partnership with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The briefs highlight the green building policies in both Emirates and show evidence of the great progress and achievements from the implemented initiatives that promote sustainable development in the country.

To read the updated City Briefs, click here.

WorldGBC launched its ‘Air Quality in Built Environment’ campaign on 24 April with the support of its partners and GBC members. The campaign is part of the Better Places for People project and is targeting the specific impacts of the built environment on the crisis of air pollution across the world, in order to reduce the impacts on human health and our natural environment. Alongside WorldGBC, we hope to bring awareness and understanding of this critical topic and inspire action.

Help us spread the message and join the campaign.  Social media resources are available here and we encourage your support. Don’t forget to tag @EmiratesGBC and @WorldGBC and use some of the suggested hashtags: #greenbuildings #breathelife #airquality  #cleanair

Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC) launched the Building Efficiency Accelerator (BEA) Project Report on January 10^th .  In partnership with Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, EmiratesGBC carried the study as the selected demonstration project, benchmarking the energy and water performance of Dubai hotels, schools, and malls, as part of Dubai’s commitment to the BEA.

As this month’s technical workshop looked at the Indoor Air Quality and Acoustics in schools, we would also like to highlight the BEA Report energy and water benchmarking results for private schools in Dubai. The results showed that:

• A median school in Dubai consumes 134 kWh/m²/year of energy and 852 litres/m²/year of water.
• The best performing schools consume 61% less energy and 84% less water compared to the worst performers
• New schools are likely to consume more energy and water per unit area.

EmiratesGBC’s BEA project team assessed the energy and water performance of existing buildings against similar buildings within the same typology as part of the study. A total of 121 properties, including 85 hotels, 27 schools, and 9 malls, submitted data on their energy and water use.

As a sign of commitment and appreciation, EmiratesGBC has sent out tailored scorecards to the schools, hotels, and malls that participated in the BEA Benchmarking Report. The scorecards highlight the performance of the properties and support them in deciding where urgent action is needed to increase efficiency and building performance.

Click here to read the BEA Benchmarking Report and download the fact sheets.

Sponsorship of 8 student memberships is now available with the EmiratesGBC, and the first 8 students to apply for student membership will have their 2019 membership fees waived.  Interested students should submit their membership application form to the EmiratesGBC office and show proof of full time enrollment with a university in the UAE. Student membership offers the chance to network with industry professionals, attend industry events and training, and get insight into the local green building job market.

This student sponsorship is thanks to the generosity of EmiratesGBC member Holley Chant – thank you, Holley!

The month of April marked the 4^th Annual Green Building Student Forum, hosted by Heriot-Watt University, students had the opportunity to hear from EGBC members & industry experts on the latest green building trends and career advice. Panelists and speakers included: Farah Yassine WSP, Dr. Michael Schmidt – BASF, Yohaan Cama – Multiplex, Abdalla Ghoneim -Cundall and Trevor Stotts-Briggs – Energy Institute. It was a great day of discussions with our experts sharing their advice on entering the job market, continuing professional development and the current development and trends in the Green Building industry. If you are a student and would like to learn how you can incorporate sustainability into your career we encourage you to sign up for student membership with EmiratesGBC. Please contact engagement@emiratesgbc.org for more information.

Once again EmiratesGBC will be hosting it’s annual corporate Iftar in partnership with EmiratesGBC members Trane. The Iftar will be held on 14^th May at the Anantara Eastern Mangroves Hotel and Spa in Abu Dhabi and is open to EmiratesGBC members and partners. We look forward to welcoming you for an evening of networking.

We wish you a Ramadan Kareem and we wish those observing Ramadan, a rewarding month.

Last month EmiratesGBC members attended a workshop hosted in partnership with Ras Al Khaimah Municipality on the recently launched Barjeel Green Building Regulations and the Retrofit Program Framework. Both initiatives are part of the RAK Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Strategy 2040 that targets 30% energy savings, 20% water savings, and 20% share from renewable energy by 2040. Find out more about the initiatives here.

With the 2019 MENA Green Building Awards application window open we will be taking a look back at last year’s winners to inspire our next round of applications. This month we look at Developer of the Year, which recognized which recognizes the achievements of a MENA-based developer towards improving the sustainability of the built environment.

Winner: EQUATE Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority for Binghatti Developers

Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority is managing state of the Art Urbanization & Processes that supports sustainable practices, international construction quality and premium affordable building, ensuring that Green building best practice and regulations are delivered in all developments in Dubai Silicon Oasis.

Congratulations to Binghatti Developers!

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. If you are interested in getting involved in the awards through sponsorship, then please get in contact via engagement@emiratesgbc.org

We are pleased to announce that the 2019 Q1 Green Key Renewal submission has now been completed with the National Jury validating the submitted properties to be certified. This included five new properties: Address Dubai Mall, Vida Downtown, Palace Downtown, Address Boulevard, and Arabian Ranches Golf Club. Congratulations to both new and re-certified properties!

We now have 37 properties certified in the UAE, with more new properties expected to be certified by the end of the year! To see all the certified properties in the UAE, click here.

Green Key, a standard of excellence in the field of environmental responsibility and sustainable operation within the tourism industry, was launched by the Danish Hotel & Restaurant Association (HORESTA) in collaboration with other partners in 1994, today around 3,000 establishments in almost 60 countries worldwide carry the awarded label, making Green Key the global leading eco-label for hotels and other tourism facilities.

The Green Key programme is managed by the Foundation for Environmental Education with the Emirates Green Building Council serving as National Operators since 2013.  If interested in applying for the Green Key Certification, email us at greenkey@emiratesgbc.org.

This month EmiratesGBC Board Members held the UAE National Stage of the MULTI COMFORT STUDENT CONTEST EDITION 2019 in collaboration with Dubai Municipality. The competition brings together engineering and architectural students from across the world and challenges them to design a project that addresses sustainable design, energy efficiency and Multi-Comfort.

The challenge this year is to present a vision for the Rejuvenation and Urban Reconnection of Crescenzago metro station area in line with Milan2030 vision. There are 29 UAE teams competing in front of a renowned jury and the winner of this stage will have the opportunity to present their designs in the final in Milan later this year.

Well done to all the students participating and we commend Saint-Gobain on this initiative to inspire and engage our future green building leaders! Looking forward to hearing the results from the final.   To find out more visit the competition webpage.

This month, EmiratesGBC participated in a roundtable hosted by Cundall that brought together Middle East construction industry professionals to discuss single-use plastics and our responsibility to make a change. The impact of single-use plastic on our environment is gaining increasing awareness yet there is still much to be done to tackle this issue. The discussion was lively and participants were challenged to reduce their personal single-use plastic use as well as advocating for change within their organisations.

For a recap of the roundtable take a look at the video here.

We look forward to hearing more from Cundall and supporting the dialogue on this important topic.

Registration is open for our summer courses of the Building Retrofit Training Program.

The training program teaches the fundamentals of Building Retrofit specific for the Middle East region and offers the opportunity to become an EmiratesGBC certified Building Retrofit Specialist after successful completion of the Advanced course and examination.

EmiratesGBC members and partners will receive a 20% discount on the registration fees.

The 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. 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 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.’

We encourage you to improve your lifestyle, not just for today but for all of 2019, by adopting an EmiratesGBC Green Building Tooltip.  As the temperatures rise our need for water to drink increases, this month we urge you to avoid purchasing plastic bottled water and instead invest in a good quality stainless steel container.

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.

The 2019 April Technical Workshop on The Importance of Acoustics & IAQ in Schools was delivered by EmiratesGBC Member, Saint-Gobain, and gave an overview of the adverse effects on cognitive abilities and health implication in school-age children and the considerations that must be taken for when designing for schools and children.

To view the workshop presentation, please click here.

We will be continuing the Technical Workshops after the holy month of Ramadan and have some exciting workshops planned which includes 3D printing in the built environment, health and wellbeing and finding the nexus of IAQ and energy savings!

Stay tuned as we will be sending more details of the sessions along with the invitations.

Are you an EmiratesGBC member or partner and would like to facilitate a technical workshop?

Our calendar is open for October 2019 onwards; 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.

Following from our 8^th Annual Congress and its theme of a Circular Economy in the Built Environment, this month we look at IEA’s Material efficiency in clean energy transitions, which examines the potential for material efficiency and the resulting energy and emissions impact for key energy-intensive materials: steel, cement, and aluminium. It includes deep dives on the buildings construction and vehicles value chains and outlines key policy and stakeholder actions to improve material efficiency.

The report reveals that at the current Reference Technology Scenario material demand increases to over 30% by 2060 above 2017 levels for both steel and cement. However, in the Clean Technology Scenario, material demand reductions can lower CO₂ emissions from buildings steel and cement use by 10% (10 gigatonnes [Gt]) cumulatively from 2017 to 2060.

To read the full report, click 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.

In its eighth annual edition, the Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC) Congress gathered regional and international experts to discuss for the first time the adoption of a circular economic model in the building industry and construction sector in a bid to advance the United Arab Emirate’s sustainable development goals of Vision 2021.

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 ‘Circling in on Zero: Circular Economy in the Built Environment,’ on 1 and 2 May at the Pullman Dubai Creek City Centre hotel.

On the opening day, Saeed Al Abbar, Chairman of EmiratesGBC gave the welcome address, followed by Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, CEO of Alliances for Global Sustainability, who delivered the Congress’ opening address.

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President Sheikh Khalifa’s granddaughter is calling on all people to tackle climate change, cut pollution and reduce single-use plastics.

In an exclusive interview with The National, Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan also reflected on the environmental legacy of her great-grandfather, Sheikh Zayed, the ingenuity of the people who lived here before the oil boom and the UAE’s responsibility as a fossil-fuel-producing nation.

First turning to UAE efforts to tackle climate change, Sheikha Shamma said even a slight increase in temperatures could have both a psychological and physical effect on people.

“Climate change is a very serious global issue that needs to be addressed. [At least] 143 million people are at risk of becoming climate migrants,” she said, referring to recent World Bank figures outlining the threats by 2050.

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Along with honouring the winners of the 2018 cycle of Business Excellence Awards, the 25th edition was also a moment to look back at past milestones, gather inspiration from them and firmly resolve to move forward in the continued pursuit of excellence.

Instituted by Dubai Economy, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai to consolidate the concepts of quality and excellence among businesses, the awards attracted 2,005 applications in the 2018 cycle. A 10 per cent year-on-year increase in the number of applicants showcased Dubai Economy’s success in promoting quality and excellence as drivers of sustainable economic growth.

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At the MEP UAE Conference 2019, Majd Fayyad, technical manager, Emirates Green Building Council, spoke about the work that EGBC is doing to advance net-zero buildings in the UAE.

EmiratesGBC was formed in 2006, with the goal of advancing green building principles for protecting the environment and ensuring sustainability in the UAE. Majd Fayyad, technical manager, Emirates Green Building Council, told the audience at the MEP UAE Conference about the new building regulations in the region, which are the Estidama Pearl Rating system applied in Abu Dhabi; the Dubai Green Building Regulations and Specifications (DGBRS); Al Sa’fat green building rating system that was introduced in 2016; and Ras Al Khaimah recently introduced its green building regulations Barjeel

He said that the existing building programs in the UAE included Dubai Demand Side Management Program 2030 (retrofit program) and Abu Dhabi Tarsheed Program (reduce consumption of energy and water by 20% by 2030).

Fayyad added: “Dubai government is developing an Energy Performance Label to evaluate the energy performance of existing buildings.”

EmiratesGBC launched the BEA Energy and Water Benchmarking Report to support the labelling scheme, evaluate the performance of hotels, schools and malls, and support the retrofit market.

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Under the theme, ‘Circling in on Zero: Circular Economy in the Built Environment’, the Congress will focus on a holistic approach to driving sustainability in the construction sector

Dubai: Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC), an independent forum aimed at conserving the environment by strengthening and promoting green building practices, has gained industry-wide and governmental support for its upcoming 8^th Annual EmiratesGBC Congress.

The Congress will be held under the theme ‘Circling in on Zero: Circular Economy in the Built Environment’ on May 1-2, 2019 at the Pullman Dubai Creek City Centre hotel. It will focus on how a shift to a circular economy is integral to a net zero carbon future.

The opening address will be delivered by Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, CEO of Alliances for Global Sustainability …

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MEP Middle East will host its fifth annual MEP UAE Conference on 24 April 2019 at the Grosvenor House Dubai.

The MEP UAE Conference 2019 is just a couple of days away, with a large list of confirmed speakers.

MEP Middle East will host its fifth annual MEP UAE Conference on 24 April 2019  at the Grosvenor House Dubai. The MEP UAE Conference brings together the cream of the region’s MEP and HVAC community. Attendance is by invitation only and will represent the decision makers across the industry.

Below is a list of confirmed speakers so far …

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