Guide for making UAE’s buildings ‘greener’ launched

Emirates Green Building Council seeks to help improve operational efficiency and longevity of existing structures.

The guidelines were compiled to make existing buildings more environmentally friendly. Silvia Razgova / The National

ABU DHABI // Guidelines to assist builders in making the UAE’s structures more environmentally friendly were launched by the Emirates Green Building Council on Tuesday.

The “Technical Guidelines for Retrofitting Existing Buildings” covers current processes and technologies to successfully and efficiently retrofit existing buildings across the country.

The guidelines are a part of National Agenda 2021 and in line with local sustainable strategies such as Abu Dhabi Vision 2030 and the Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy. They are endorsed by the Ministry of Public Works and the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy.

Saeed Al Abbar, chairman of EmiratesGBC said: “The UAE has a great potential for shifting towards a greener future. In Dubai alone, it is estimated that 30,000 of the 120,000

existing buildings have a high energy-saving potential.”

He said the guidelines had been compiled to realise this potential by making existing buildings more sustainable.

“A fundamental aspect of this document is that it has been compiled by industry experts in the UAE, which ensures that the guidelines are specific to the UAE’s climatic and economic context,” Mr Al Abbar said.

The guidelines will equip building owners with economically viable methods in waste management, improvements in indoor air quality, long-term reductions in energy and water use with subsequent lowering of utility and labour costs for contractors.

In the guidelines, Ahmed Al Muhairbi, secretary general of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, said: “Buildings account for a considerable part of energy consumption, and since many were designed and built before ‘green building’ regulations were implemented, they also consume energy that otherwise could be saved.

“One of the core objectives of Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy is to reduce energy demand by 30 per cent by 2030. While there is a tremendous focus today on designing new buildings per ‘green standards’, we can achieve and even surpass our goals, only if we take tangible steps to make existing buildings more efficient,” he said.

According to the guidelines: “The UAE has one of the highest ecological footprints in the world. One of the conducive elements to such a high footprint has been widely sourced as the extensive demand for resources by the country’s built environment, which includes the amount of energy and water produced and delivered to end-users within the country.

“A significant number of occupied buildings in the country alter the environment by subjecting it to unfavourable pollution and greenhouse-gas emissions. These buildings directly affect the economy and occupant productivity and health.”

The publication hopes to aid stakeholders to improve operational efficiency and longevity of existing buildings, generate savings and enhance indoor environmental conditions for the better health of owners and occupants.

Mr Khaled Bushnaq, vice chairman of EmiratesGBC, said in his note that promoting green building practices was pivotal to achieving a greener UAE. “Even buildings that are designed well need to uphold high levels of operation and maintenance practices to ensure they operate efficiently,” he said.

EmiratesGBC has been promoting green issues since its establishment in 2006 by strengthening and promoting green building practices.