Dubai Chamber goes green

Posted on Monday, 11 February 2008

Industry Sector Government
Country United Arab Emirates

Dubai Chamber has demonstrated that organisations don't need to wait to build new offices before making their premises green. According to the Centre for Responsible Business's CSR Al Youm released today, existing work environments can be greened, which benefits the bottom-line by reducing input costs like staff and electricity, mobilises staff and addresses the UAE's critical energy, water and waste challenges.

Jagath Gunawardena, Chief Engineer at Dubai Chamber, explains: "The Chamber began working on saving energy and water for its 18-storey building a decade ago. Between 1997 and 2003, the Chamber was able to reduce energy consumption by 33% and water consumption by 60%".

These reductions come in spite of an increase in the buildings use which now hosts more than 600 events a year, as well as the Chamber's University of Dubai, and other regular office space. Those who have seen the Dubai Chamber building at night would realise that it's one of the few buildings with its light offs after-hours. In fact the energy consumption of the building is now about 6.5 kWh/m2/year, which is a minute fraction of the UAE average (250 kWh/m2/year as reported in MEP Middle East) and makes this building a model for others in Dubai. Still, Dubai Chamber acknowledges that more can and will be done: "Following a recent environmental audit of the Chamber's building, more improvements will be made including optimizing lift use, lighting sensors in toilets and stairways, and the use of outdoor air during winter months for cooling. We are also looking to apply for LEED or Greenstar certification as well as implement ISO 14001" said Gunawardena.

But the green initiatives at Dubai Chamber don't stop with water and energy efficiency. The recently formed environmental committee has launched a recycling initiative thanks to the efforts of our 3Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle) team. Although in early stages, this initiatives has built relations between departments, facilitated communication and teamwork, and been very positively received all round. Thanks to the enthusiasm of employees and support from management, more environmental initiatives are also likely to follow soon.

The example of the Dubai Chamber's green initiative is one of many in the latest CSR Al Youm special on greening workplaces. This topic is increasingly important to businesses in Dubai, following last year's announcement of a new law on green construction, the formation of the Emirates Green Building Council, the certification of the first Platinum LEED building in the Middle East in Dubai, Dubai World's rules on green building, and the creation of the Masdar initiative in Abu Dhabi.

According to the CSR newsletter, green or sustainable buildings are constructed in a way that minimises their environmental impact, using less environmentally damaging materials and technologies. In addition, the ongoing use of such buildings is more environmentally sound too because they are more energy and water efficient. They tend also to be healthier and more pleasurable working or living environments.

Studies show that employee productivity rises significantly and absenteeism reduces markedly in eco-friendly buildings due to the creation of more natural surroundings (using natural light, outside air ventilation and natural furnishings), allowing employees to feel healthier and have higher energy levels too. Beyond increased employee productivity, greener workplaces help companies to substantially reduce costs through water and energy savings. Statistics from the Dubai Ministry of Economic and Commercial Affairs indicate that buildings consume 70% of Dubai's energy, well above the OECD average of 40% even in countries where air-conditioning is required for much of the year, indicating that buildings in the UAE could be much more efficient. Not only would the increased efficiency allow businesses to assist the UAE to respond to its energy and water challenges, but it would also assist their bottom line in more ways than one too.

The costs of constructing greener buildings are usually grossly overestimated. An international study by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development indicates that on average people believe that green buildings cost an extra 17% to build, but in fact it costs less than 5%. Furthermore, the lower ongoing usage costs of such buildings due to lower energy and water consumption ensures that these extra costs are paid off thereby saving users thousands of dirhams each year.

However greening workplaces does not begin and end with the construction and renovation of buildings. Businesses can also create green workplaces through employee training, recycling, carpooling, home-work flexibility, environmental policies and other means. Awareness raising, incentives and management support are fundamental to the success of such initiatives.

This edition of ‘CSR Al Youm' includes other topics such as the Win-Win of Carpooling, How to be a Green Office Champion, Sustainability Reporting, an Energy Efficient Mapping Resource, the DFSA Hedge Fund Code of Practice and a tool to help companies move take greening their office to the next level. A free copy can be downloaded at: downloading a free copy of ‘CSR Al Youm' newsletter is available on http://www.dubai-ethics.ae/derc/Compass.aspx.

Dubai Chamber established the Centre for Responsible Business, formally known as the Dubai Ethics Resource Centre, in 2004 to foster corporate integrity, and to assist organisations in applying responsible business practices that enhance performance and competitive edge.