Building achieves LEED status at no extra cost

This building achieved LEED Silver status at a cost premium of just 0.11%, according to the developer.

RELATED ARTICLES: IN PICTURES: How to achieve LEED Platinum; Dubai Chamber bags LEED certification

The Sustainable Energy and Environment Division (SEED) at TECOM Investments has handed over its third LEED certified building.

According to the executive director of SEED, Ali Bin Towaih, the project’s projects green credentials have been achieved at no additional cost.

“TECOM Investments has once again aligned its goals with Dubai’s vision to transform the emirate into a sustainable business hub. We have also demonstrated that going green has no costs,” he said in a statement. “From our own experience in creating LEED compliant office space, we are confident Omnicom Media Group’s employees will benefit from the improved workplace conditions within the green building.”

SEED has stated that the cost premium in achieving LEED’s silver status was only 0.11%.

Story continues below

Advertisement

FEATURED COMMENT Please click here to comment on this article

The silver certified building is also the first LEED project in Dubai Media City, part of TECOM. It is also the first LEED certified project delivered by TECOM Investments to a single business partner, and the seventh LEED certified project in the GCC.

According to a statement from the developer, the building is expected to reduce energy consumption by 11.4%, or about 151,787 kWh per year. The developer also expects that domestic water consumption will be reduced by around 50% each year, something in the region of 546,000 gallons.

Further water savings, for irrigation purposes, will also be achieved through using the water generated from the air-conditioning system. A similar system is already in operation at Burj Khalifa, where condensate from air conditioning is used for irrigation.

“We are dedicated to spreading greater awareness among companies operating out of TECOM’s business parks on the economic benefits of LEED-certified buildings,” said Mohammad Abdullah, executive director, Dubai Media City, in a statement. “We have empirical evidence demonstrating that by adopting certain simple measures, companies can reap significant savings in their operating expenses. Our success has now prompted us to join hands with our business partners to help them realize similar savings.”