Nakheel, Dubai’s master-developer, has won the 'Minor Energy Project Award' at the second Emirates Energy Awards (EEA) for its pilot energy conservation projects at The Gardens Furnished Apartments.

The EEA Awards recognise projects and activities that promote energy conservation and management, and showcases innovative, cost effective and replicable energy efficiency measures.

Nakheel, which is developing a number of iconic communities, picked up the award for ‘The EDGE’. The project executed by Nakheel Asset Management (NAM) has seen a series of energy saving measures introduced at two of 'The Gardens' blocks.

Mohamed PA, manager - facility management, Nakheel, won the 'Energy Engineer award' for his contribution in developing the exceptional achievement for energy conservation.

Focusing on the common areas of these apartment blocks, the NAM team worked closely with energy analysts EP&T Global to install a system that would analyse and offer solutions to reduce energy consumption – and has led to a 27.4 per cent reduction in electricity use since its inception.

David McKenna, environmental operations manager, NAM, pointed out that effective energy conservation was not a one-off initiative but an ongoing process that ensured a building operates at maximum levels of efficiency.

"With the help of “Smart-metering” technology, we looked at all energy consuming devices in the common areas of The Gardens Furnished Apartments, such as lighting, ventilation and lifts, and analysed the best possible design solutions to meet demand, as well as ways to reduce consumption," he noted.

"The ongoing efforts of ‘The Edge Pilot project’ at selected buildings of The Gardens Furnished Apartments resulted in savings of 27.4 per cent in common area electrical consumption in the project’s first year alone, a cost saving of Dh142,816."

"We expect the savings in the second year to be even greater due to increased tariffs. We have also introduced recycling facilities and water saving devices throughout the community – further initiatives which show our commitment to this project,” Mckenna observed.

The EEA, a sustainable energy-focused awards programme designed by the Dubai Quality Group, was set up by the Department of Economic Development to help improve and develop standards of business in the region.

Kevin Dickinson, general manager infrastructure and facilities management department of NAM formally accepted the award at the ceremony held at the Grand Hyatt.

"It is a great pleasure to accept this award on behalf of all those involved with the continued development of The Gardens, who have worked with great effort and determination," he said.

"The recognition is also significant for Nakheel, as a whole. Nakheel is not only developing some of the world’s most visionary projects, but continues to lead the way in terms of designing and implementing health, safety and environment policies," he added.

Nakheel’s flagship rental development, The Gardens, has established itself as one of Dubai’s most attractive and popular rental communities in Dubai.-TradeArabia News Service