Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA) | The Launch of The Green Building Regulations - Stage II

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), announced the launch of the Green Building Regulations – Stage II, comprising of a new set of guidelines and specifications, to regulate building standards for achieving efficiency in the use of electricity, water and renewable energy, as part of the Green Buildings Project. The new regulations, jointly developed with Dubai Municipality, will be launched during the Water, Energy Technology, and Environment Exhibition (WETEX 2010), which will be held from 9th of March to the 11th at Zabeel Hall in the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Center. H.E. Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), said, The Authority plans to issue the Green Building power and water regulations in April, 2010, for ensuring the efficient use of electricity, water and renewable energy in Dubai, within the green buildings framework. In the initial stage, all new buildings will be required to comply with the codes and regulations and incorporate them in their construction designs. Mr. Al Tayer confirmed that the implementation of green building regulations in Dubai comes in line with the launch of Green Building Project by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai with initiatives and vision that aim at providing for a sustainable urban development. He added, Dubai will be the first city in the Middle East that officially applies the green buildings standards on its residential and commercial buildings. DEWA and Dubai Municipality specified both optional and mandatory regulations in order to make buildings in Dubai compatible with the environmental requirements, which include a set of factors such as; site selection, efficient use of energy and water, quality of materials used in construction, indoor environmental quality, and waste management. These standards and procedures of green buildings will ensure that Dubai will remain a healthy and environmental-friendly city. Green Buildings Regulations aims generally at reducing electrical energy consumption, especially the energy used for cooling, lighting, water heating, etc. In addition, the initiative aims at rationalizing water consumption and the optimum use of renewable energy as well. All these factors will contribute effectively in reducing gas emissions, improving internal environment quality, and will reflect positively on public health. Such factors will increase the life span of buildings and will contribute in the preservation of the ecosystem that will invariably lead to increased productivity and will boost Dubai’s economic development. Mr.Al Tayer further added, …. by applying the new regulations, we will be able to reduce energy usage upto about 40%, and the Infrastructure, Land and Environment Committee has approved the launch of the Green Building Regulations - Stage II.. Mr. Al Tayer clarified that in coordination and consultation with Dubai Municipality, and through a series of subsequent meetings to determine the role of each in applying green building standards in the Emirate, both DEWA and Dubai Municipality agreed upon the specifications that will be applied into the buildings’ designs. He added From DEWA’s part, the Authority will ensure the application of energy, water and renewable energy efficiencies. On the other hand Dubai Municipality's will supervise and regulate the application of other major standards that fall under its jurisdiction. Besides other implications of adhering to green building standards, the outcome will also facilitate for the reduction in utility bills. The amount that can be saved from the facilities’ bills alone can cover in the long run, more, than the cost of installation and maintenance. Dubai Electricity and Water Authority has finished its preparations for opening WETEX 2010 Exhibition, held in accordance with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Minister of Finance, Chairman of the Authority. Mr. Al Tayer concluded, The Authority took the lead in taking serious steps to reduce emissions of green house gases into our atmosphere, where the climate studies indicated that the situation in the middle east is worse than what was expected, the ‘Green’ technologies that we all have today, can immensely help in the mitigation of global warming and climate change.