Leading construction and design experts discussed a wide range of topics related to technologies and mechanisms to retrofit existing buildings at a two-day conference held in Dubai, UAE.

The second RetrofitTech Conference was inaugurated by Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, the managing director and chief executive of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) at Park Hyatt hotel in Dubai on Monday (March 14).

In his keynote speech, Al Tayer emphasised the importance of the conference in encouraging more energy service companies to take part in this promising market.

This, he stated, will support the Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030 to reduce energy demand by 30 per cent by 2030, and the Carbon Abatement Strategy to reduce carbon emissions by 16 per cent over the next five years.

During the event, experts in sustainability and green buildings, and representatives from energy service companies, developers, and district cooling discussed the challenges and opportunities in the UAE’s retrofit market to achieve greater energy efficiency and sustainability.

It was attended by Dr Matar Al Neyadi, the undersecretary of the UAE Ministry of Energy, Ahmed Buti Al Muhairbi, secretary general of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, Holley Chant, the executive director of Sustainability at KEO International Consultants, Stephane Le Gentil, the chief executive of Etihad Esco, and officials from the government sector and some of the biggest local and international companies.