Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC), an independent forum aimed at conserving the environment by promoting green building practices, hosted a Tech Talk on its Building Retrofit Training Programme at the Energy Efficiency Expo 2017, organised by Masdar as part of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.

The introductory workshop covered two hours of instructional exercises that cover viable building retrofit and sustainability methods that are tried and tested in the UAE, which help bring in reductions in energy and water use.

The sessions also guided participants through various methods that improve indoor air and environmental quality and improve operational efficiency in new and existing buildings, said the organisers.

The Energy Efficiency Expo is a World Future Energy Summit event. As its founding knowledge partner, EmiratesGBC is showcasing a range of green, sustainable and energy-efficient solutions for members, at their dedicated pavilion.

Following the Tech Talk, EmiratesGBC will formally launch the Building Retrofit Programme later this year, said its top official.

"With the launch of the UAE Energy Plan for 2050, the nation has set a clear roadmap for all energy sector stakeholders to focus on enhancing energy use efficiency and promoting clean energy sources," remarked Saeed Al Abbar, the chairman of EmiratesGBC.

"Building retrofitting is an integral part of the UAE’s commitment to managing energy use efficiency, and conserving our resources. Through the Tech Talk, we are putting the spotlight on our training programme, which aims to support federal and local government mandates with regards to improved energy efficiency in existing as well as new buildings in the UAE. It will present 32 methods of building retrofits that have been proven to achieve the desired goals," he noted.

The programme is based on the EmiratesGBC Technical Guidelines for Retrofitting Existing Buildings publication, which has been officially endorsed by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Development and the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy.

Through this, EmiratesGBC aims to bridge the knowledge and communication gap between all levels of stakeholders in the UAE building industry, and through concerted effort, drive the demand for implementing building efficiency.-TradeArabia News Service