The Abu Dhabi facility of The Total Office, a specialist in office furniture solutions, has won the LEED Certificate for Commercial Interiors.

The certification, the first in the UAE capital, was facilitated by Energy Management Services International (EMS), the first company in the Middle East to provide energy management solutions, said a statement.

The certification, developed by the US Green Building Council, follows a rating system for the design, construction, layout and furnishing of office interiors.

Tenants who lease offices in commercial, retail or institutional buildings can certify their units as a green interior fit out with LEED, it said.

Khaled Bushnaq, chief executive officer of EMS, said: “Being in the business of providing top notch office solutions, The Total Office has set an example and gone the extra mile by greening its own office. EMS has been proud to associate as consultants and commissioning agents to this landmark project, which, we trust will encourage other offices too to take this vital green step that reduces costs, offers a healthier working ambience, and is considerate of the environment.” 

Siddharth Peters, managing director of The Total Office, said: “We are very excited to be awarded the LEED Certification by USGBC for our Abu Dhabi facility. The Total Office has always been a huge supporter of sustainability and green initiatives. It was important to express our commitment to the cause not only by promoting products that excel in green attributes but by going through the process ourselves. The results in terms of conserving of energy and water for the first year are so heartening that we are looking to pursue the LEED certification for our Dubai facility as well.”

The Total Office followed the guidelines set forth in LEED CI version 2.0 (Commercial Interiors). Credits were earned for optimising energy performance, use of low-emitting materials including systems furniture and seating that have been Greenguard Certified for indoor air quality, providing views for 90 percent of seated users, incorporating strong recycled content and use of regional materials.

Established in 1991, EMS has continually expanded and led the region in defining, promoting and implementing sustainability projects and energy efficiency solutions.
–TradeArabia News Service