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‘Awareness is the first step towards sustainability’ Taqeef CEO Tariq Al Ghussein in conversation with Rhonita Patnaik about why achieving a zero carbon environment is not the responsibility of the UAE government alone.
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Taqeef CEO Tariq Al Ghussein.
clean sources by 2050 and to make Dubai a global centre of clean energy and a green economy. Following this, Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology (ESMA) recently announced that the UAE is currently developing a regional regulation for AC systems focused on energy consumption in GCC countries.
“Technology advancements mean there are cheaper and more efficient ways to keep our buildings comfortable and humidity-free throughout the summer. We need to change our habits and look at smarter, more thoughtful ways to control our energy usage.” Technical Review Middle East - Issue Two 2019
Photo Credit: Taqeef/Kange Studio
AST SUMMER, CLIMATE change was on everyone’s mind when a new record for the hottest overnight temperature of 42.6ºC was recorded in Oman. While that might seem like good news to an air‐conditioning (AC) supplier – the predicted two to five degree Celsius global temperature rise by the end of the century is a worrying statistic. In our region, comfort cooling is a necessity and not just a luxury. Extreme heat will become more prevalent in many parts of the world due to the effects of global warming as well as the rising global population. However, HVAC systems can account for up to 70 per cent of electricity consumption during peak loads, which presents the AC industry with a big challenge. Can we provide advanced cooling solutions that are less harmful to the environment? The UAE has always recognised the significant role played by standards and the importance of setting them, especially as it establishes itself as a global trade hub across multiple sectors. And it comes as no surprise that ‘sustainability’ is a sub‐theme for Dubai’s Expo 2020. The nation’s determination to achieve efficiency and create a happy environment has never been stronger. We welcomed the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy, which was launched by the Government in 2015, aiming to produce 75 per cent of its energy requirements from
We also saw efforts from DEWA last year when the company invested US$114.3mn in electricity projects to support Expo 2020 Dubai, with a considerable portion of that to reduce HVAC’s energy consumption. As a result, we expect a heightened awareness with an increase in investment in renewable technologies as well as sustainable practices in the coming years. As HVAC represents the majority of a building’s energy consumption, enhancing the design and efficiency of future systems is crucial in increasing building sustainability and reducing environmental impact. That’s why sustainability legislation plays a vital role in motivating businesses in the HVAC industry to align their own strategies with green initiatives and meet required specifications to reach the standards set. Concept designs should address the issue of HVAC from the outset to ensure the most efficient and effective solutions are put www.technicalreview.me