Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC) an independent forum aimed at conserving the environment by strengthening and promoting green building practices, is set to launch the country’s first ‘Nearly Zero Energy Buildings’ (nZEBs) report, followed by a discussion on its key findings on September 27, at the Dubai Chamber of Commerce.

This comes as part of celebrations to mark World Green Building Week 2017, a global event to achieve the goal of making all buildings net zero by 2050, in a bid to win the fight against climate change.

Accordingly, the event will define the concept of nZEBs and serve as a referral point to support the strategy for developing the buildings in the UAE, said a statement from EmiratesGBC.

The new report will further complement the global trends in transitioning towards a low-carbon, low-energy economy and developing nZEBs.

The UAE’s ongoing strategies, initiatives, building codes and rating systems that highlight the role nZEBs can play in achieving the UAE’s green vision are documented in the report.

It also highlights the findings of a survey commissioned by EmiratesGBC to examine industry recommendations to achieve nZEBs and highlight the challenges in their development.

Saeed Al Abbar, the chairman of EmiratesGBC, said: "Our report on defining nZEBs is a pioneering initiative that supports the UAE’s pledge to combat global warming at COP 21 and the nation’s ratification of the Paris Agreement in 2016."

"It also complements the sustainable development goals outlined by UAE Vision 2021, Abu Dhabi Plan 2030 and Dubai Plan 2021 – all of which are focused on optimising energy use and promoting sustainable-built environments," noted Al Abbar.

"The adoption of best practices in nZEBs can lead to considerable improvements in the energy performance of buildings by reducing energy demand, improving energy efficiency and enhancing renewable energy generation and utilisation," he added.-TradeArabia News Service