MEDIA RELEASE PR37925
Abu Dhabi's Municipal System Leads Responsible Growth
ABU DHABI, Jan 18/PRNewswireAsiaNet/ --
- Energy Efficient Projects to be Showcased at World Future Energy Summit
in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is to host the
World Future Energy Summit (WFES), between 18-21 January, bringing together
international experts examining sustainable solutions to the challenges posed
by a world ever more dependent on carbon based energy. But Abu Dhabi itself
is more than just a convenient cross roads venue for east and west to meet.
It exemplifies many of the issues that WFES is set up to address.
Commodity rich, expanding rapidly, a significant contributor to the world's
oil based economy, the emirate also faces the challenge of its desert
location where water is scarce and the summer's scorching heat puts huge
demands on electricity to power air-conditioning.
Keenly aware of the need to address these problems, city and municipal
authorities have spearheaded a number of initiatives aimed at enhancing the
Abu Dhabi's sustainability credentials while making it a regional leader in
ensuring the sustainability of its rapid development.
Primary among these is the introduction of world-leading building codes.
Developed in tandem with International Code Council, the codes will oblige
contractors to construct buildings with specific regard to energy and water
efficiency in addition to easy accessibility, seismic parameters, improved
fire safety among other features. The codes demand that materials and
insulation make best use of the desert's fluctuating temperatures to reduce
energy hungry dependence on air conditioning.
Experts at the city's Department of Municipal Affairs
calculate that the Abu Dhabi Energy Conservation Code will enable buildings
to fall within the tough energy consumption limits laid out by the UN for
extremely hot climates, which include 96 kWh/m2/pa for office buildings[1].
"Abu Dhabi is set to expand rapidly in the next decade, we need to manage
that with due regard not only to our own efficient use of energy but what
that means to the wider environment. These codes are a real acknowledgement
of that," says H.E. Rashid Al Hajeri, Chairman of Department of Municipal
Affairs.
Builders will also have to pay increasing regard to proper disposal of
waste while ensuring that as much as construction material as possible is
recyclable or based on materials already recycled.
Effective water management is another area of focus for the municipal
system. The emirate is dependent on desalinated water and its effective use
is key to Abu Dhabi's sustainability aims.
Some 90 per cent of waste water is recycled, particularly into irrigating
various green projects such as parks and open spaces which not only enhance
city quality of life but add to biodiversity as well as carbon absorption.
Central to the water saving effort in the capital itself, is a fully
controllable master irrigation system - SCADA (supervisory control and data
acquisition) - which ensures even distribution, minimal waste and optimum
use. Supporting surface drainage works decrease groundwater and direct
rainwater run-off to where it's most needed.
"Abu Dhabi has always been very aware of the precious nature of water as
a resource. This kind of investment means that as little as possible goes to
waste while giving us the great benefits of greenery," adds Al Hajeri.
At Al Ain, the emirate's second city and an oasis resort, the
sustainability effort hinges on EHSMS or Environment, Health and Safety
Management System. The EHSMS is an integrated cross-municipal plan for safety
of the construction workforce in addition to minimising pollution, waste and
the environmental impact of the Abu Dhabi's building and construction sector.
Mirroring the emirate wide efforts on improving building practice, Ail
Ain will oblige contractors to introduce their own EHSMS by 2012.
In Abu Dhabi's Western Region, a desert area, high temperatures and
continual shifting of sand dunes have adverse environmental effects from
desert encroachment to destruction of plants and buildings by scouring winds.
The Western Region Municipality plans to solve the problems with a system
of planted natural windbreaks.
The environmental and economic benefits are significant including the
reduction of soil erosion and the encouragement of green belts, absorbing
carbon dioxide, encouraging biodiversity, acting as a water filter and
reducing climate fluctuation with its knock-on effect on energy use.
"Abu Dhabi's municipal system has taken a co-ordinated and ambitious
approach to the challenges of sustainable development. World Future Energy
Summit puts a spotlight firmly on our efforts and I am confident that Abu
Dhabi will have much to showcase," concludes Al Hajeri.
About Department of Municipal Affairs:
The Department of Municipal Affairs (DMA) commenced operations in May
2007, following the Abu Dhabi Executive Council's decision to integrate the
Emirate's municipal system. As a new government entity, the Department of
Municipal Affairs was created to lead, coordinate and oversee three
municipalities in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and the Western Region. The DMA has a
regulatory role while the service delivery and operations are at the
municipality level.
On the 5th of May 2008, the Department of Municipal Affairs
along with the Abu Dhabi Municipality, Al Ain Municipality and Western Region
Municipality embarked upon a new municipal services journey, with the signing
of the historic Municipal Charter which aligns the DMA and three
municipalities towards greater collaboration and cooperation.
[1] UNEP, Building Energy Conservation Guidelines, Draft April 14, 2009
For further information, please contact:
- Department of Municipal Affairs
Mrs. Amal Al Jarwan
Tel:+971-2-4030311
Email: media@dma.abudhabi.ae
- Impact Porter Novelli
Sarika Aidasani
Mobile:+971-50-612-7765
Email: s.aidasani@ipn.ae
Source: Department of Municipal Affairs
NEWS 
