GCC countries can save a whopping $3.5 billion with energy-efficient buildings, said industry experts ahead of the International Design Exhibition (Index) in Dubai, UAE.

A major trade exhibition for the textile, furniture and interior design and manufacturing industries, Index will run from May 23 to the 26 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

With energy and facilities management combining for 90 per cent of a building’s operating costs, energy-efficient buildings can drive $2 billion in savings across the UAE, according to a recent report by the Middle East Facility Management Association (Mefma).

“Middle East architects and building owners are increasingly demanding global best practices energy efficiency, in line with national sustainability programmes in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar,” said Santhosh Vallil, the sales manager, Hunter Douglas Middle East, the Dutch architecture consultancy with numerous Middle East projects.

“With the abundance of glass in the Middle East’s modern architecture, proper shading and privacy are important to create internal comfort, save on energy costs, and deliver an aesthetically-pleasing design,” noted Vallil.

Anticipating the growing demand for energy-efficient solutions in the Middle East, Hunter Douglas has launched the next-generation flat bar sliding shutter, with excellent design, functionality, and comfort, including “green” characteristics that decrease energy consumption, said Vallil.

The minimalist flat bar sliding shutter can reduce the amount of solar heat indoors by up to 90 per cent, thanks to overlapping fins, and a sliding shutter of only 5 mm thickness, which is half the thickness of comparable shutter systems, and a nearly-invisible aluminium frame.

Delivering pleasing aesthetics, the flat bar can block the window entirely, leaving users living on the ground or first floors undisturbed by passers-by, a key component of Middle East buildings, and is especially useful for lower-budget projects, he added.

The flat bar sliding shutter system was recently applied in a housing complex in Brescia, Italy, where the sliding shutters fit in perfectly thanks to their slim construction.

Fabio Brivio, the unit manager, Hunter Douglas Italy, said minimising the environmental impact and waste is a vital part of the development, production, distribution, servicing and reuse of each product.

"It looks as though the sliding shutters were separately installed on the façade, rather than being integrated. The architect likes to combine different materials and techniques, for instance, glued tiles, wooden façade and painted wall," he added.-TradeArabia News Service