The Middle East region’s construction sector must adopt more efficient HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning) systems and zero-energy innovations in buildings to meet the global warming challenges, said an expert at the ongoing Big 5 expo in Dubai, UAE.

With more than 114 countries having ratified the Paris Climate Change Agreement, mitigating climate change is now a global priority with everyone, including industries and business leaders having a crucial role to play in the race for a cleaner, greener Earth, remarked George Berbari, the chief executive of DC PRO Engineering, a district cooling company based in the UAE.

He was delivering his keynote address at The Big 5 to mark the ‘Special HVAC Day’ which brought together thousands of construction professionals at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).

Berbari highlighted the need for more energy-efficient construction systems and called upon construction and engineering firms to embrace more efficient HVAC systems to help cut industry carbon dioxide emission levels and play their part in reversing climate change.

"Better construction of homes, including improved walls and roof insulations, minimal glass-to-wall ratio of less than 25 per cent, combined with motorised and insulated rolling shutters, will all boost energy efficiency," he added.

Berbari, a district cooling and MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) expert and author of ‘The Energy Budget’, outlined his vision for reduced energy consumption and accountability of all involved in municipal energy consumption.

“Better and more efficient systems that can make a difference include geothermal water-cooled chillers, independent radiant cooling with phase-changing energy storage material, independent fresh air dehumidification chilled water systems with double heat recovery, swimming pool heating and cooling systems using waste heat recovery and a geothermal/cooling tower combined with industrial controls and home automations,” he added.

Addressing delegates at The Big 5 conference, Berbari explained how DC PRO had successfully designed a ‘zero-energy’ villa with minimal solar panel areas.

"We are blessed in the Gulf region, as well as in the Red Sea coastal areas, with high water tables that are a few meters deep (2 to 7 m). This, in itself, is a key enabler for geothermal air-conditioning," he explained.

"It’s imperative that the industry invests time in studying hydro-geological research data and thermal testing data to ensure energy efficiency becomes as a priority," he added.

Berbari also pointed out that zero-energy designs have an important role to play in the future of construction.

A zero-energy building produces enough renewable energy to meet its own annual energy consumption requirements, thereby reducing the use of non-renewable energy in the construction sector, he stated.

"Zero-energy buildings have already been implemented and have proved to be huge a success,” Berbari told the conference," he added.-TradeArabia News Service