6th Annual EmiratesGBC Congress

“Urban Energy: Powering Smart, Happy &

Efficient Cities”

EVENT BRIEF

Under the patronage of

6th Annual EmiratesGBC Congress Day 1: October 17th, 2017

Introduction

On October 17th & 18th, 2017 Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC) held the 6th

Annual EmiratesGBC Congress, a carbon neutral event, under the theme ‘Urban Energy:

Powering Smart, Happy & Efficient Cities’ at Pullman Dubai Creek City Centre.

Held under the patronage of the Ministry of Climate Change & Environment, the two-day event

opened with two key government remarks, an opening address by Shaima Alaydarous, Head of

International Climate Change Policy, Ministry of Climate Change & Environment and a keynote

address by Samira Al Rais, Director of Policy and Strategy Sustainable Development, The

General Secretariat of the Executive Council, both whom presented compelling sketches on the

UAE’s experience in driving built environment sustainability and the future vision of Dubai to build

a smart and sustainable city.

With experts from the region and across the world attending the Congress, it served as a referral

point in the global discussions on promoting sustainable built environments. The Congress hosted

panel discussions and keynote speeches addressed by experts in the field and centred on three

sub-themes: Powering Efficient Cities, Powering Smart Cities and Powering Happy Cities. The

second day of the Congress was dedicated to a field visit to City Center Me'aisem where a

workshop and a Green Building Tour of the LEED Platinum Core and Shell property took place.

AkzoNobel acted as the Principal Sponsor of the Congress, Majid Al Futtaim as the Venue

Sponsor and Clean Energy Business Council, Emirates Environmental Group, EWS-WWF and

Middle East Facility Management Association as supporting Associations.

Welcome Addresses

Congress Moderator: Holley Chant, Executive

Director – Corporate Sustainability, KEO

Holley Chant warmly welcomed all guests and provided

an overview of the 6th Annual EmiratesGBC Congress,

it’s theme: “Urban Energy: Powering Smart, Happy &

Efficient Cities” and the goal of the Congress for the

green building industry.

Moderating and facilitating discussions throughout the

Congress, Ms. Chant also highlighted special contributions, acknowledging the Council’s

academic partners, stating: “A special thank you goes out to EmiratesGBC Academic Partners

for their continued support and today’s attendance. The Council’s goals are based on capacity

building and raising awareness on issues, challenges and successes facing the green building

movement in the UAE. The Council’s Academic Partners are essential in helping us achieve our

vision and pass our message along to the upcoming generation.”

Saeed Al Abbar, Chairperson of EmiratesGBC,

welcomed the distinguished speakers, panelists,

sponsors, and experts across the supply chain

from the building industry. He also acknowledged

the Ministry of Climate Change & Environment’s

patronage of the Congress and its continuous

support.

Al Abbar said: “Now in its sixth year, the Annual

EmiratesGBC Congress has evolved as a

definitive voice that presents actionable and real-

world studies on how urban environments can be made more energy-efficient. This year, with a

larger remit, we have focused on smart cities, complementing the vision of our leadership in

promoting intelligent and energy-efficient environments. The deliberations of the Congress serve

as guidelines on how various stakeholders across the construction industry and the community

can come together to develop sustainable built environments that promote human well-being. The

transformational steps that we take today is our investment in a greener future for our coming

generations.”

Shaima Alaydarous, Head of International Climate Change

Policy, Ministry of Climate Change & Environment, delivered an

opening and insightful welcome address about the Ministry’s role in

keeping pace with the strategic direction of the country by supporting

a green economy and infrastructure, attracting brilliant minds and

applying best practices throughout the building industry.

Rajiv Rajgopal, Regional Director, AkzoNobel Middle

East & Africa, delivered a welcome address and

described AkzoNobel’s history within the sustainability

realm and the importance of the private sector’s role in

advancing green building principles in the UAE.

Rajgopal also reiterated AkzoNobel’s Principal

Sponsorship of the Congress and their support of

EmiratesGBC’s efforts in the green building industry.

Rajgopol said: “The sixth Annual EmiratesGBC

Congress serves as an important platform to discuss built environment sustainability, covering all

aspects that drive energy efficiency. Through our support to the event, we are highlighting our

three equity drivers – Sustainability, Innovation and Human Cities. Through our innovative range

of environment-friendly and aesthetic coating solutions, we are partnering in the concerted efforts

to secure a greener and more energy-efficient built environment.”

Keynote Address

Samira Al Rais, Director of Policy and Strategy

Sustainable Development, The General Secretariat

of the Executive Council, delivered a comprehensive

presentation with statistics and facts underlining the

UAE’s commitment to the fight against climate

change. Al Rais evidenced this by acknowledging the

UAE as the first country in the region to ratify the Paris

Agreement to limit global temperature rise to below 1.5

degrees Celsius.

Keynote Presentation | Powering Efficient Cities: Carbon Emissions in the Middle East

Karim Elgendy, Founder and Coordinator, Carboun

The first session of the Congress “Powering Efficient

Cities” was introduced by Karim Elgendy, Founder of

Carboun. His presentation addressed aspects of

GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions across the MENA

region. Karim identified patterns of GHGs across

history and compared it against present times. His

approach to this was to consider the future of

emissions by looking at different scenarios. He

proposed that solutions should include densifications

of cities, compact planning of the urban fabric, human

centered transportation, and resiliency. Karim further emphasized on the importance to look

outside the energy scope and understand the energy-water-food-waste nexus, which is an

inevitable risk for regions like the Middle East and North Africa.

Panel Discussion | Powering Efficient Cities: Clean Energy Strategies

Moderator: Karim Elgendy, Founder and Coordinator, Carboun; Panelists: Meshayel Omran

Essa Lehsooni, Director of Clean Energy, Clean Energy Department, UAE Ministry of Energy;

Faisal Ali Hassan Rashid, Director Demand Side Management, Supreme Council of Energy

Following his keynote presentation, Elgendy

initiated a panel session by questioning the type

and span of policies required to expedite the GHG

reductions. The panel noted that technology

readiness and knowledge capacity is available, but

a policy mechanism to drive change is also

essential in moving technology utilization forward.

The goals and roadmap to 2050 was also

discussed, elaborating on the importance of cross-sector collaboration along with partnerships in

the industry and academia to ensure that the 2050 goals become attainable. Fundamental

changes in our social mindset and behaviour will be necessary to reach such milestones.

A question was asked about whether the UAE should claim its carbon emission rights to reach

the economic and industrial development levels previously reached by first world countries. Faisal

Rashid firstly responded that the UAE’s specific circumstance and environment impose different

challenges in policy making compared to those in North America and Europe, and therefore, the

approach to development, whether it be infrastructural or economic, is unique for the UAE.

Meshayel Lehsooni added that the UAE is still at its early stages, in terms of age, and that

challenges do lie ahead; however, drivers and opportunities are available for the UAE to become

a world leader in technology and GHG abatement.

Keynote Presentation | Powering Efficient Cities: Accelerating Building Efficiency

Saeed Al Abbar, Chairperson, Emirates Green Building Council

Saeed Al Abbar, Chairperson of Emirates Green

Building Council, led the second part of the

“Powering Efficient Cities” session. Saeed started

by addressing the UAE’s commitment to the Paris

Agreement, the federal and local targets of demand

side management and increasing the share of clean

energy in the country. He recognised EmiratesGBC

as an advocator of supporting these goals through

its various capacity building programmes and also

highlighted two EmiratesGBC leading initiatives:

the BEA Benchmarking Program and the recent

Defining Nearly Zero Energy Buildings (nZEB) in the UAE report. Al Abbar concluded the keynote

by underlining the importance of stakeholder engagement in our united goal of Accelerating

Building Efficiency in the UAE.

Panel Discussion | Powering Efficient Cities: Accelerating Building Efficiency

Moderator: Saeed Al Abbar, Chairperson, Emirates Green Building Council; Panelists: Christos

Mimikopoulos, Executive Director – Solar, Etihad Energy Services Company; Michel Abi Saab,

Manager of Sustainability, Masdar; Charles Blashke, Founder and Managing Director, Taka

Solutions; Maria Malo, Business Development Manager MEA, AkzoNobel

Led by Al Abbar, the panel discussion started

with an introduction of how the UAE has

developed several policies, either through local

or national agendas such as the UAE National

Vision 2021, UAE Energy Strategy 2050, Dubai

Plan 2021 and Abu Dhabi’s Vision 2030, with a

clear vision of becoming a leader in

sustainability. This panel aimed to address how

Accelerating Building Efficiency can be targeted

from a policy level, the reality of the current state

of building efficiency and eventual scale-up.

The panellists responded to a question about the risks and challenges of Accelerating Building

Efficiency by highlighting the need for better awareness and maturity of the UAE market to energy

efficiency measures, new technology and risk/reward profiles. Christos and Charles, representing

Etihad Esco and Taka Solutions respectively, both stressed the importance of client contracts;

they should be transparent, accessible and should convey the full implications of the project

(whether it is retrofit or solar fit-out). Charles also added that finding people with market and

technical experience is also quite challenging as there currently are not enough qualified

professionals in the UAE. Michel’s input also commented that the operation of the building is very

important to achieving energy efficiency and savings. He spoke about the need to continually

implement energy efficiency practices. Maria, representing AkzoNobel, also responded by adding

that there already exist sizable investments by other countries in research and development and

emphasized that there is vital need of raising the awareness of the MENA market on the new

technologies and research already available in backing up these new technologies for eventual

implementation.

Al Abbar succinctly shifted the panel discussion towards energy targets for buildings in the UAE

and how they can also act as Accelerators for Building Efficiency. Panellists agreed that an

energy target is not as important as an energy reduction target. Michel, representing Masdar, and

Charles agreed that current building energy consumption should first be understood and that

targets can then be defined to have a percentage reduction of current energy consumption levels.

However, they also both stated the energy target for Nearly Zero Energy Buildings in the UAE (90

kWh/m2/year), while ambitious, is not impossible in the UAE.

Keynote Presentation | Powering Smart Cities: The Autonomous House

Shaika Ahmad Al Falasi, Engineer – Sustainable Energy Programmes, Mohammed Bin

Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC)

Al Falasi launched her presentation through a video which

introduced the journey of developing the Autonomous

House under Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al

Maktoum’s vision of Dubai as a global model for

combining economic growth, energy sustainability, and a

clean, safe environment. To realize this, the engineers of

MBRSC set out on constructing a house that is completely

off-grid and can withstand the harsh climate of UAE.

They faced challenges of high energy consumption, high

carbon emissions and poor air quality in buildings and

tackled these issues using technology and innovation. As

buildings in the UAE use about 70% of its total energy

consumption for air-conditioning, they realised the

importance of insulating the house to keep the hot air out

whilst keeping the cool air inside. They engineered multi-

layered walls made primarily of wood and rock-wool,

triple-glazed windows filled with krypton and utilized a water-cooled HVAC system. Thermal

comfort of the occupants is closely monitored using over 200 sensors, which is connected to the

Central Control System (CCS) and reacts accordingly to keep optimal indoor environmental

conditions.

Throughout the presentation, Al Falasi highlighted the importance of making sustainability a life-

long path and not just a one stop solution. The Autonomous House is expected to last about 50

years and it undergoes closely led monitoring through the use of sensors in case of any damage

to its insulation. Initially designed to be residential, it is currently being used as an office for

Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre.

Virtual Presentation | Powering Happy Cities: Wellbeing

John Alker, Campaign and Policy Director; Steering Committee Better Places for People,

UK Green Building Council; World Green Building Council

John Alker gave a keynote presentation via video on

well-being. Alker shared the learnings from the first-of-

a-kind ‘Wellbeing Lab’ that was launched by UKGBC in

September 2016, which highlighted the need for

happiness & well-being in the built environment as

findings showed that people spend over 90% of their

lives indoors. The presentation also added that the

business model for health and well-being should be

considered across the entire value chain.

Alker noted that improving factors related to the indoor environmental quality such as the thermal

environment and indoor air quality, as well as incorporating Circadian lighting, is beneficial to the

overall well-being of occupants. The key element of incorporating health and well-being into

buildings is about identifying and working in synergy with the sustainability features in green

buildings.

Visual Presentations | Powering Smart Cities

Gus Schellekens, Clean & Energy Sustainability Services, Ernst & Young

Schellekens started his presentation by introducing

the trend of growing populations and rapid

urbanisation, which is a global challenge for cities.

Real time data and communication play a pivotal role

in managing such challenges. Schellekens explained

Ernst & Young’s (EY) approach and proposition for

improvement; smart cities technology and Information

and Communication Technologies (ICT) to tackle the

issues related to urbanisation, traffic congestion,

mobility, resources use/supply optimisation, and

others.

Other suggestions for improvement included emphasising sustainability and smart lifestyle in

school curriculums to help limit the new generation from falling into the same cultural and

technological gap that is common nowadays.

WELL Certified Office Case Study | Powering Happy Cities

Sreya Vempatti, Environmental Coordinator, AESG

The WELL certification is a recognised standard by the

International WELL Building Institute that addresses the

proposed metrics of Happiness and Wellbeing. The

certification can be applied to both new and existing

buildings and is reviewed by a third-party assessor.

Sreya Vempatti from AESG delved into the WELL

standards by presenting a case study of a WELL

certified office; X-works Case Study – designed by

Danish interior design seeking WELL Gold level certification.

Vempatti explained, that to create an energy efficient and comfortable work environment, focus

was placed on prominent design features including furniture selection such as standing desks or

a well-ventilated stairway system to inspire physical movement amongst employees during a long

work day. Another example is better lighting choices which can mimic natural light and invite

employee productivity.

WELL is increasingly relevant, with several developers and architects looking towards solutions

that integrate design and human health. Currently there are 9 registered projects in the UAE.

Panel Discussion | Powering Happy Cities: Wellbeing in Buildings

Moderator: Holley Chant, Chairperson, Executive Director of Corporate Sustainability, KEO

International Consultants; Panelists: Richard Fenne, Principal & Studio Chair, Woods Bagot;

Sreya Vempatti, Environmental Coordinator, AESG; Hrovje Cindrić, Associate, Middle East

Urbanism Leader, Arup Associates

Following Vempatti’s presentation, the panel was

introduced and asked to tackle a common query: Do the

WELL standards overlap with existing building

sustainability standards? WELL and LEED standards,

for example, share common principles within the Indoor

Air Quality criteria.

Hrovje Cindrić, Arup representative, challenged the

notion of quantifying happiness, a question from the audience, by highlighting the presence of a

psychological element that makes it subjective and varying from person to person.

The panellists gave palpable examples of health and wellbeing standards which have been

successfully utilised in existing spaces and have had a vital influence on environment-behaviour

in terms of promoting communication, encouraging movement, lifting the spirit, aiding

orientation, changing perception, enhancing social experience, increasing pleasure, supporting

the sense of community, and dissolving social boundaries.

Closing Remarks

Holley Chant, Executive Director Corporate Sustainability, KEO

Holley Chant closed the first day of the EmiratesGBC Congress by

thanking sponsors, supporting associations, speakers and

participants for making the event a successful platform to think

ahead and implement innovation and solutions that will help us build

a sustainable urban world. Holley also closed the Congress by

joining Emirates Green Building Council as an Individual Member as

a means to display a well-rounded commitment to the UAE

sustainability journey. She also graciously asked the crowd to pay

it forward and join us in the fight against climate change.

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6th Annual EmiratesGBC Congress Day 2: October 18th, 2017

City Centre Me’aisem

Workshop + Green Building Tour of the LEED Platinum Core and Shell Property

On the second day of the 6th Annual EmiratesGBC Congress, attendees joined the building tour

of City Centre Me’aisem, which is the first LEED Platinum (Core & Shell Property) mall in the

region as well as the recipient of the 2016 EmiratesGBC Commercial Building of the Year Award.

The mall is comprised of different passive and active features that enabled Majid Al Futaim;

Congress Venue Sponsor, and ENOVA, both EmiratesGBC corporate members, to obtain

certification of the building during construction as well as to continuously manage the facility

during operations. The mall’s first unique passive feature is the well-insulated building envelope

on building walls and EIFS (Exterior Insulated Finishing System) on the roof, which both in tandem

reflect the strong solar radiation and heat from the environment. This helps lower the energy

consumption in the mall during operations by maintaining cool indoor temperatures. The mall also

consists of shading elements across the perimeter for outdoor seating comfort and indoor sunlight

reduction. In order to increase the overall visitor experience as well as to lower indoor light energy

consumption, the mall has 66% of the common area served by daylight access from the roof.

On the active side, City Centre Me’aisem has a highly efficient HVAC system which is controlled

by a feedback from CO2 sensors. This allows just the right amount of cooling depending on visitor

number and also increases the indoor air quality by adjusting the amount of fresh air during peak

occupancy. The mall utilises highly efficient LED lighting and is served by district cooling energy,

which eliminates the use of on-site chillers. With regards to water management, the blackwater

of the mall undergoes on-site treatment via the STP (Sewage Treatment Plant). Treated water

serves the landscape area, which also consists of locally adaptive and native plantations that

require less amount of water.

The mall produces 8% of its energy requirement via on-site Solar PV system that is installed on

parking canopies. The system offsets a portion of the energy requirements and carbon emissions

while providing parking shading.

Thank you

EmiratesGBC would like to thank all its members and strategic partners for joining us during this

pivotal event. We are also thankful for the brilliant speakers who took the time to share their

expertise and assist in creating meaningful debates and discussion about the future of the green

building industry.

Lastly, but certainly not least, Emirates Green Building Council would like to extend special thanks

to the dedicated sponsors of the 6th Annual EmiratesGBC Congress for their ongoing support

and dedication to the Council’s efforts and the green building movement.

Principal Sponsor Venue Sponsor

Supporting Associations

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