Dubai Chamber LEEDs the way in Sri Lanka

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The Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s achievement of LEED certification for the first existing commercial building in the region has been lauded by the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority (SLSEA).

Dubai Chamber manager: projects and building development Jagath Gunawardena’s presentation, entitled ‘Greening an Existing Building’, proved highly popular and topical among the 70-member Sri Lankan and Japanese delegation attending the Vidulka Energy Week organised by the SLSEA.

The 18-storey Dubai Chamber joins the ranks of 204 buildings in Canada and the US, and only three others in other areas, namely India and Sri Lanka, in achieving LEED certification for an existing building.

“The enthusiasm of the delegation in knowing more about Dubai Chamber’s sustainability programme was very encouraging, as most of the delegates kept asking questions about the innovative approach to the greening of an existing building, the energy- and water-saving initiatives, as well as the cost of carrying out such a project in an old structure,” said Gunawardena.

“What impressed them most was the Chamber’s example of enhancing the green business message to all its stakeholders, including the business community and suppliers of green products and services,” said Gunawardena.

Delegates were informed about the prevailing misperception that it costs a fortune to go green, highlighting that Dubai Chamber did not require any special budget, and has actually reduced costs substantially by enhancing its environment performance.

Gunawardena pointed out that Dubai Chamber embarked upon its green drive over a decade ago when environmental responsibility was not fashionable, led by an engineering team that pioneered various energy- and water-saving initiatives in the region.

Dubai Chamber has succeeded in reducing its water and energy consumption by about 77% and 47% respectively between 1998 and 2008, resulting in significant carbon-emission reductions and accumulated power savings of about AED7.1 million.

Initiatives include capturing humidity through the air-con system as condensate water for use in the fountain and toilets, saving 0.85 million litres a year; adjusting lift weighting loads to cut energy use by 20%; reusing grey water for landscaping and toilets; and providing VIP parking for staff and free valet parking for visitors using fuel-efficient vehicles.