Dubai's Supreme Council of Energy is planning to implement new regulations and standards for green buildings, the rehabilitation of existing buildings, energy efficiency and reuse of wastewater for use in irrigation and technology as part of its new strategy to organise the emirate's district-cooling sector.

The council is working towards the implementation of the energy Demand Side Management strategy, which features nine programmes that contribute to the sustainable development of Dubai.

These include the rules and regulations for green buildings, the rehabilitation of existing buildings, district cooling, regulations and standards for energy efficiency, reuse of wastewater for use in irrigation and technology to raise the efficiency of street lighting, said senior officials at a recent council meeting held under the leadership of Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the council chairman.

Several senior council members including Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, the vice chairman, and Ahmed Buti Al Muhairbi, the secretary general, attended the meeting.

Speaking at the meeting, Al Tayer said the council was working towards the implementation of the energy Demand Side Management strategy, which features nine programmes that contribute to the sustainable development of Dubai in support of the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, to transform the emirate into an international hub for clean energy and green economy.

"During the meeting, we developed a strategy to organise Dubai’s district-cooling sector. This aims to improve the performance of operations, and enhance the amount of investments in this promising market from 20 to 40  per cent by 2030," he added.

Board members including Abdullah bin Kalban, the chief executive of Emirates Global Aluminium, Saif Humaid Al Falasi, chief executive of Emirates National Oil Company (Enoc), Abdallah Abdul Karim, the director general of the Department of Oil Affairs, Salem bin Mesmar, assistant director general for environment, health and safety at Dubai Municipality, Waleed Salman, vice chairman of the Dubai Nuclear Energy Committee, Nasir Abu Shehab, executive director of strategy and corporate governance at the Roads and Transport Authority, Keiron Ferguson, the general manager of the Dubai Supply Authority and Frederick Chemin, general manager of Dubai Petroleum also took part.

"The meeting highlighted Dubai’s Energy Intensity Mapping project, which focuses on making use of the city’s building and energy consumption data to find methods of analysing consumption levels, limiting its overall energy consumption, and finding solutions to limit high consumption," remarked Al Muhairbi.

"This supports the demand side management strategy to reduce overall demand by 30 per cent by 2030," he added.

The meeting also addressed the implementation of detailed studies to save water through the re-use of water for irrigation, as well as defining potential opportunities, and developing an integrated strategy for Dubai’s water supply.

Abu Shehab discussed the RTA’s plan to convert 50 per cent of Dubai Taxi fleet to hybrid cabs by 2021, to support the emirate’s plan to reduce energy consumption.

Dewa’s Health and Safety department too presented guidelines and samples, setting a benchmark for organisations who work in cooperation with the council.-TradeArabia News Service