Reducing emissions from air conditioning through district cooling and efficient energy use will be discussed at an upcoming district cooling event in Doha.

The International District Energy Association (IDEA) will hold its fifth Middle Eastern conference “Greener Buildings, Smarter Grid” for the first time in Doha on November 8 and 9, with Qatar District Cooling (Qatar Cool) as the main host.

Qatar Cool’s general manager Fayad Al Khatib said his company was proud to be the principal sponsor of the conference and looked forward to hosting the 150–plus international delegates.

“At Qatar Cool we are aligning ourselves with international best practices and striving to bring that knowledge to Qatar and the region,’’ said Khatib.

The Middle East is heavily dependent on air conditioning systems and experts believe that at certain times of the year up to 70 per cent of the power used during peak times can be attributed to air conditioning systems.

Khatib said: “District cooling systems have become the preferred infrastructure solution, especially now that most government leaders and developers are advocating more sustainable energy techniques to optimise energy efficiency and conserve natural resources.”

“Through the IDEA conference, industry professionals will be able to learn valuable and practical information directly related to building, owning and operating highly reliable district cooling systems that set the stage for a more sustainable city,’’ he added.

Expert speakers will discuss a range of topics about the importance of robust energy infrastructure, sustainable development and strategies for district energy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the risks of climate change.

Speakers include Juan Ontiveros, University of Texas at Austin; IDEA president Robert Thornton; Adib Moubadder, MD of Emicool; Clay Nessler, Johnson Controls and Fayad Al Khatib, general mnager of Qatar Cool.

The conference will culminate in the official inauguration of Qatar Cool’s integrated district cooling plant (IDCP) on The Pearl-Qatar. The IDCP will be the largest district cooling plant in the world, servicing some 41,000 residents on the island with a capacity of 130,000 tons of refrigeration, a statement said.

The IDEA will honour key players who participated in the IDEA District Energy Space Awards, with the US Ambassador to Qatar presenting the US Department of Commerce Export Achievement Award at the conference. – TradeArabia News Service