Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa)’s Distribution Power Division Complex in Al Ruwayyah has received the Platinum Rating for green buildings from Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED v4).
The rating was awarded by the US Green Building Council (USGBC), with the division achieving 86 points. This is a new global recognition of Dewa’s success in implementing the highest international standards in green buildings.
Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dewa noted that Dewa promotes the concept of Net Zero Energy Buildings to support sustainable development strategies. This is part of a framework that promotes economic growth without harming the environment and its resources.
Al Tayer noted that in 2019, Dewa achieved a global milestone with Dubai getting the Platinum Rating in the LEED for Cities certification awarded by USGBC. Dubai is the first city in the Arab World and the MENA region to receive this prestigious certification.
Abdullah Obaidullah, Executive Vice President of Water and Civil at Dewa said that the Complex adds to Dewa’s growing list of green buildings. These include the Sustainable Building in Al Quoz, the first sustainable government building in the UAE and the largest government building in the world to receive the Platinum Rating for green buildings by the USGBC, the Innovation Centre, the R&D Centre, the Smart Grid Station, and Data Hub Integrated Solutions (Moro).
He added that the Distribution Power Division Complex saves nearly 30% of energy, 51.46% of indoor water, and 60% of outdoor water compared to conventional buildings. 41% of the building materials have an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) and 26% of the building material have Cradle to Cradle/Health Product Declaration certificates. The Complex features a 663KW solar photovoltaic system.
Rashid Bin Humaidan, Executive Vice President of Distribution Power at Dewa, said that the Distribution Power Division Complex underlines Dewa’s commitment to providing a convenient environment for employee happiness, spreading positive energy among them. This increases individual and organisational competency according to the best international practices.
The building provides a healthy work environment to enhance the happiness of employees through several features. These include maintaining the highest indoor air quality through a high-efficiency air filtering system, and periodic CO2 measurement and monitoring.
The building includes parking for 1,335 vehicles, three happiness lounges, a nursery, and a library. It also includes 36,754 sq ft of green areas on its rooftop that are easily accessible by employees, in addition to facilities that support Dewa’s value-added services to its employees. The building achieves significant savings on the long-term in electricity and water consumption compared to conventional buildings.
