A green free zone to save energy

Dubai: Property clusters and business hubs are popping up all over the place but what if the two merged to offer residents a solution to parking problems, commuting, and healthy living by doing everything in one place?

Enpark, the acronym for Energy and Environment Park, is the latest free zone to lay its bricks on Dubai soil in hopes of attract renewable energy experts to the country by providing facilities for industries in the field.

Technological progress would take place in the UAE and benefit the region, but primarily its residents.

Ali Bin Towaih, Director of the Energy and Environment Park (Enpark) is working towards a greener and healthier Dubai.

He is also the director of the Renewable Energy Division at TECOM Investments, and a founding member of the Emirates Green Building Council

He spoke to Gulf News about his concept of living close to work, reducing cars on the road and eating healthier food.

Gulf News: Can free zones be environmentally friendly?

Ali Bin Towaih: We are looking at a practical way of applying things and turning good habits into a lifestyle.

Enpark will be a people's project. It will be a new free zone with water and energy conservation programmes.

It will also be for industries to showcase their products and make a difference in people's lives.

Some free zones are either residential or host warehouses. People drive to work.

Emissions and pollution, congestion and traffic jams are problems here so with our project we want to contribute to Dubai's property infrastructure in a holistic way. We are about energy and conservation and we want to make it happen.

What are the sustainable elements of the free zone that will benefit residents?

Enpark is 8 million square feet, it is quite small.

By living in a sustainable development but then travelling 40 minutes in your SUV to the workplace doesn't really achieve anything.

We will take each part of living, working and commuting and make it sustainable.

All the buildings will be certified gold standard in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).

Will you be using solar or wind energy to power the free zone?

Enpark will run on renewable energy, probably solar but it depends on which is most economically viable.

People who work in Enpark will live in Enpark. It's a living and working solution.

If people can walk to work it reduces cars on the roads. It is a holistic approach to sustainable development.

Why has solar power taken so long to be incorporated in architecture in this region?

It's an ironic argument. People often say that it is too expensive but it isn't.

We just need to create a demand for it and the price will drop.

Sustainable development is in everyone's targets for 2015 in all aspects of life. There needs to be time for a shift. If no one is asking for it in the region we cannot say it is too expensive.

How many companies are you planning to have in Enpark working on renewable energy and sustainable development?

Enpark does not invest in the companies, we just provide these options for people and the space for them to come and work here.

If you do not live in a healthy environment you cannot be healthy yourself. We are also interested in organic food and working with farmers to sell their produce in Enpark.

Solar streetlights and a solar tracker are currently in Dubai Internet City and Knowledge Village. Are there plans for more installations like this in Enpark?

Yes we are planning on more solar streetlights.

They are much easier to install than laying down wires and disturbing the environment. Human energy is also wasted by having people working to make those wires and then bury them to power a streetlight.

Do you think renewable energy like solar power will be available all over Dubai?

Yes I'm hopeful renewable energy will connect to the grid in the future.

Will energy bills in Enpark be less than in other neighbourhoods?

The cost of the energy will cost more in the beginning but because people will be living efficiently they will use less energy and their cost will be lower.

What we should really be worried about is how many kilowatts per hour of energy we use and not what we pay. Whatever our resources are, we need to reduce our consumption and link in awareness.

Do you think green buildings in Dubai will take longer to complete and materials harder to come by?

The materials will be the same but of a different origin.

The level of being green will take a surge on the market.

I'm happy and grateful for the green buildings initiative because this is where the market should be going.

Consultants will make it happen with the designers. Different technologies are making their way onto the market now.

We should be thinking about research and development behind it and get such materials created here.

Do you think people are keen to live in a world powered by renewable energy?

We actually have a poll on our website which asks if people would be willing to pay to have renewable energy, and the positive response has been overwhelming.

Once people know that there is a different way to do things I think they are willing to do it.