UAE | Environment

Dubai campus cluster attains global energy efficiency standards

Walking into a green building might not be immediately obvious - however, over time, it will impact your life starting with your physical health, increasing your overall wellbeing and comfort, as well as the planet's.

  • By Emmanuelle Landais, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 23:04 July 10, 2009
  • Gulf News

  • The facade of the Dubai International Academic City complex which earned a Green Building rating of Silver from the US Green Building Council. The facility was cited for its energy and water conservation features.
  • Image Credit: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/Gulf News

Dubai: Walking into a green building might not be immediately obvious - however, over time, it will impact your life starting with your physical health, increasing your overall wellbeing and comfort, as well as the planet's.

According to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (Leed) standards rating scheme, buildings built in a sound ecological manner, including schools and hospitals, can reduce absenteeism, sickness and even improve one's hearing.

Elements such as classroom acoustics, air flow and drafts, heating and cooling, and making sure ample natural right is available are all carefully planned to make schools healthy for students, teachers and the environment.

Phase III Complex of the Dubai International Academic City (DIAC) has achieved Silver Leed status, becoming the first and the largest certified academic facility in the Middle East.

DIAC's Silver Leed certification was achieved in collaboration with TECOM Investments' Sustainable Energy and Environment Division (Seed). TECOM Investments has a total of 46 projects seeking Leed certification.

Buildings produce around 40 per cent of carbon dioxide emission that harms our atmosphere.

But under more stringent eco building rules, a green academic building can dramatically reduce operations and maintenance costs.

According to the US Green Buildings Council, a green school in the US can save $100,000 (Dh367,300) a year - enough to hire two new teachers, buy 150 new computers, or purchase 5,000 new textbooks.

The DIAC cluster earned Silver Leed certification and is expected to save approximately Dh2.3 million per year from reduced energy costs, cooling demand, irrigation water costs, sewage tanker and domestic water costs.

Dr Ayoub Kazim, Executive Director for DIAC said the Silver LEED certification reflects their dedication to reducing carbon emissions. "We are committed to providing our students and faculty a healthy and productive learning environment. And we hope to spread the message not only through demonstration, but also by encouraging our students to engage in green building assessment projects," he said.

DIAC is located within the Dubai Academic City and spread across an area of 25 million square feet.

Some of the green building's components of DIAC include heat recovery wheels, enhanced levels of insulation, optimisation of fresh air through variable speed drives on air handling units.

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