With the goal of promoting the transition toward decarbonisation of the built environment in the UAE, Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC), in partnership with International Living Future Institute (ILFI), an environmental non-governmental, invites stakeholders to submit their building projects to become Zero Energy (ZE) and/or Zero Carbon (ZC) certified. EmiratesGBC and ILFI have launched the ZE and ZC certifications as a prelude to the 10th Annual World Green Building Week.
The 10th Annual World Green Building Week, which is held under the theme #Building Life this year, aims to highlight the importance of reducing the carbon emissions from all stages of a building’s lifecycle. The campaign highlights the role of green buildings as one of the most effective means to achieving a range of global goals, such as addressing climate change, creating sustainable and thriving communities, and driving economic growth.
With this year’s Annual World Green Building Week focusing on encourage new practices and new ways of thinking to work towards reducing carbon emissions from buildings, the new initiative by EmiratesGBC underlines the significant role that the UAE’s stakeholders can play in supporting the global campaign for a greener future.
The ZE and ZC certifications aim to transform the way real estate developers, contractors and other industry stakeholders look at building projects from start to finish. They gain several benefits from the certifications in addition to contributing to a more sustainable future. They will receive third-party verification of actual net zero performance of the building, as well as help inform, inspire and accelerate other zero energy initiatives through their projects. The certifications will also differentiate their buildings as well as reiterate the commitment of the building owners to support decarbonisation efforts in the UAE and the region.
Saeed Al Abbar, Chairman of EmiratesGBC, said: “Adopting net zero principles is a crucial imperative for the building sector to meet global environmental and climate targets and is a transition we must be on course to achieve in 2030. As part of the Emirates Green Building Council’s Net Zero Centre of Excellence, we conduct research, promote dialogue, build capacity and provide third party certification of Zero Energy and Zero Carbon buildings in the UAE. We urge building developers to be pioneers in the climate change movement and challenge themselves to achieve Zero Energy or Zero Carbon certifications on their projects.”
Amanda Sturgeon, CEO of the International Living Future Institute, said: “We are thrilled to see the growing demand for zero energy and zero carbon buildings in the UAE and around the world. Through our partnership with EmiratesGBC, we are able to provide a clear pathway for project teams, and the support needed to develop zero energy and zero carbon buildings. Each new project creates a ripple of change, showing others what’s possible and helping to create a world full of buildings designed to fight climate change.”
The ZE certification requires projects to generate all energy on site without combustion, which allows projects to demonstrate zero energy performance and certify that the building is operating at zero energy by harnessing renewable sources to produce net annual energy demand. The ZC certification necessitates that all the operational energy use associated with the project must be offset by new on or off-site renewable energy. In addition, all carbon emissions impacts associated with the construction and materials of the project must be disclosed and offset.
EmiratesGBC will offer net zero training to assist in capacity building of the industry stakeholders towards achieving net zero. The first ten pilot projects in the UAE that apply for certifications will receive 50 per cent deduction on the registration and the certifications fees.
EmiratesGBC regularly hosts and participates in multinational events, conferences and forums. It has also developed a suite of activities, inclusive of networking events, technical workshops, focus days and facilitated training based around specific issues related to the built-environment that meet the needs of its members, of the UAE community and the wider Middle East.