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There’s a new green building code on the table says Dubai Municipality. Alice Tapfield, Bridge Media, looks at what it means for FMs and their owners associations, and gives you top energy saving tips along the way…

Yes, Dubai Municipality is serious about green building legislation. As part of its Strategic Plan 2015, and following a review of over 250 international rating systems, including US-based LEED, UK BREEAM and Australian Green Star, Dubai Municipality (DM) will shortly be issuing a new green code. This will cover all aspects of building design, construction and operation, and they will be mandatory.

Kamal Azayem, Mechanical Engineering Expert at Dubai Municipality, is the co-ordinator of the green building committee, and says of the impending legislation: “The green building regulations we are developing will be instrumental in helping to save energy and water throughout the emirate. The collaboration between Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) and DM will result in the world’s first comprehensive system of green building regulations.”

Owners associations and FM toolkits

The legislation, which will be implemented in four tiers and apply to both new and existing buildings, will undoubtedly accelerate adherence to efficiencies. Add to this strata law ratification and the impending empowerment of home owners associations in appointing facilities managers means now, more than ever, that energy and cost saving measurables are key to the FM toolkit.

Fergus Appleton, GM, Towers and New Business, Concordia Community Management says one of the most important FM roles is to improve building energy efficiency and pass those cost savings on to the end-user.

“Approximately 45 to 55 percent of a building’s budget is swallowed by utilities.

“Facilities managers must focus on increasing efficiencies, live and breath energy management on behalf of their clients and pay attention to the detail behind the strategies they adopt and the systems they put in place.”
 

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Knowledge is power

A certain lack of awareness still exists in the emirates about why and how to conserve energy resources.

This has been recognised by DM, which has begun a co-ordinated effort to educate the public in this matter - with DEWA running a series of initiatives aimed at demonstrating how energy efficiencies helps to protect the environment, as well as leading to substantial cost savings.

The statistics reveal the programmes are already making an impact in residential facilities. According to DEWA, electricity consumption decreased by six per cent and water use dropped by 37 per cent among those who participated in the DEWA ‘Your Decision’ campaign, 2008.

Amal Koshak, senior manager, Demand and Tariff  Management, DEWA, explains the philosophy behind the programmes. “Our society is an amalgamation of all our diverse needs and desires. Creating sustainable communities is not really an ‘environmental’ movement, rather a ‘peoples’’ movement as a community. It is a concept that underscores our role in the ecosystem.

“These are some of the messages we aim to disseminate in our endeavour to raise awareness on green inititaives ensuring a sustainable tomorrow for our future generations.”

Air conditioning

Heating and cooling are the biggest culprits of energy wastage. To reduce consumption, room temperature should be kept only as cool as necessary by setting the thermostat to an appropriate level (around 22 degrees), and separate switches should be installed in each room. Heat generating devices should be kept away from the thermostat and doors and windows must remain shut (and windows shaded) for air conditioning to work effectively. Fans can lower the air temperature by around five percent and consume far less electricity, so use these instead, or as well, whenever possible.

Regular cleaning of the system is essential for optimum performance, and it is important to turn off air conditioning whenever rooms are vacant for long periods.  Although perhaps too obvious to highlight, wearing appropriate clothing indoors also reduces the need for excessive cooling.

Water, Water everywhere...

In the UAE alone desalination capacity will have to double to over 5,000 million gallons a day to meet projected demand by 2015. As this is an extremely energy intensive and costly process, so cutting down on water usage directly helps to save energy.

“We have achieved some fantastic results from implementing practical energy mangement strategies - we reduced chilled water consumption by over 40 percent on one contract - at little extra cost,” explains Concordia’s Appleton

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority advises fitting inexpensive water flow devices to taps, shower heads and cisterns, which restrict the volume without affecting pressure, and can save consumers between 50 – 70 percent of water. Other ways to cut back include taking showers rather than baths, only running washing machines and dishwashers when full, and always using grey water for irrigation.

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