Dubai - MENA Herald: Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority (DSOA), today announced its achievements in the promotion of energy efficiency, in line with the Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030 and Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, becoming the first free zone to realize the ambitious goals stipulated.
DSOA has succeeded in reducing cumulative energy consumption by 31 percent while the Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030 has set a target of 30 percent. Additionally, the park is currently implementing a number of key initiatives, in line with the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 that aims to promote energy efficiency while reducing operational costs, contributing to the ambitions of Dubai and the wider UAE of achieving a reduced carbon footprint.
Speaking on the achievements, Dr Mohammed Alzarooni, Vice Chairman and CEO of DSOA, said: “We are proud of the success we have achieved to date and will continue our efforts to further contribute to a field we are all completely invested in. We strongly believe that achievements must be followed with greater goals that will lead to greater achievements.”
He added: “In line with both the Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030 and the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 that have been announced lately by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, we are further developing our smart and environmental friendly initiatives to reduce operational costs and increase clean energy usage within DSO premises. Through effectively contributing to these public initiatives, we demonstrate our commitment to establishing a sustainable model of energy conservation that offers an environment-friendly location for business partners, residents and visitors.”
Power Consumption of Lights
DSOA’s switch-over of approximately 8,000 traditional lights to LED lighting has contributed to reducing power consumption by 1,178 megawatts, amounting to 23 percent of the total consumption.
DSOA will develop an energy management centre to better implement energy management practices and step-up efficiency to ensure a cumulative power saving greater than 28 percent by the end of 2016. Furthermore, DSOA is working on increasing the number of LED lights to 10,000 bulbs within the same timeframe.
Three Charging Stations for Electric Vehicles
In April 2015, DSOA installed its first charging station for electric vehicles at its headquarters in collaboration with the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA). In addition, DSOA has recently installed a second charging station at one of its residential buildings, while a third station is currently under installation at the Ceder Community Centre at DSO.
DSOA’s efforts articulate DEWA’s goals outlined at the inauguration of the first charging station at DEWA headquarters - as part of phase one - to install 16 charging stations for public use. The charging stations encourage people to purchase or rent zero emission electric cars. The stations will also be used to power electric vehicles used by on-ground security patrols and facilities management units within DSO.
Until the end of October 2015, the park had reduced CO2 emissions by 60,000 tons based on utility savings and reduction of trips taken by security patrols, facilities management fleet and garbage collection vehicles. Through the use of electric cars, DSOA aims to further reduce CO2 gas emissions by an additional 20 percent to reach a total of 72,000 tons by the end of 2020.
Smart Street Lights
In October 2015, DSOA, in collaboration with du, installed smart street lights on its roads, becoming the first entity across the UAE to implement smart technology in such scale. Using motion sensors, the smart street lights provide 25 percent visibility until triggered to full power by approaching vehicles and pedestrians, allowing for less energy consumption. This is expected to prolong the life of electric bulbs and reduce the operational costs and carbon impact. Additional sensors can be added to the street lights to collect and share information and data on the surrounding environment, such as pollution and weather conditions – or even relay CCTV footage, advertising messages and/or safety warnings.
Smart Building Technologies
The collaboration with du also extends to the implementation of smart building technologies across buildings within DSO. Smart building technologies, which work through the Internet of Things (IOT), included installing high-tech sensors within the building to enable energy and cost savings through managing electricity consumption and allowing automatic regulation of temperature throughout each building. The sensors also allow everyday objects to interact with their surroundings by sending real-time data to ensure comfort and safety at all times.
Smart Lamp Posts
In line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to transform the emirate into a smart city and reinforce its global status, DSOA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Dubai Civil Defence to exchange expertise and apply best practices in the field of smart cities.
Based on the agreement that was signed on the side-lines of Intersec Dubai 2015, intelligent systems will be installed within the buildings and townhouses in DSO, as well as 24x7 alert systems, smart self-inspection systems and console applications for smart lighting. The smart lamp post that was fully manufactured and assembled at DSO has also been installed at the park. The smart lamp post differentiates itself through the technology it implements, allowing it to interact with smart phone apps in addition to allowing the public to report emergencies with the click of a button. Users can connect to the police control room directly to provide 24-hour live audio and video footage to the operation room they are linked to.
Sewage Water Treatment
DSOA generates more than three billion gallons of treated water from the current sewage treatment plant that has reduced operational costs by 70 percent.
Smart Weather Pole
DSOA has implemented the smart weather pole around the park and integrated it with the sub-surface irrigation system. By measuring the temperature and humidity, the smart weather pole is able to work with the irrigation system to supply the area with the most efficient and accurate amount of water - reducing around 55 percent of the irrigation water used in different areas of the premises. By the end of 2016, DSOA aims to install five additional poles within the hi-tech park.
Sub-surface Irrigation System
DSOA announced the implementation of the region’s first water saving sub-surface irrigation system, in line with its tri-pillar CSR strategy. The initiative, launched in collaboration with Rain Bird, the leading manufacturer and provider of irrigation products and services, is the first of its kind in the UAE and is expected to reduce current irrigation water consumption levels and related operational costs at DSO by almost 55 percent.
The newly introduced system currently waters more than 3,000 palm trees. DSOA aims to further implement this system to drip into more than 50,000 square metres by the end of 2017 and across all green areas, amounting to 950,000 square meters, by end 2020.
Smart Waste Management System
DSOA has also installed 95 smart waste bins in line with its smart waste management system that works through the Internet of Things technology and alerts the operations and services team when refuse bins are filled and need to be emptied. This smart technology helps decrease the number of trips taken by garbage collection vehicles, thereby contributing to lowering operating costs by 65 percent. The adoption of a smart waste management system is anticipated to significantly reduce the tech-park’s overall environmental footprint. By the end of 2016, DSOA aims to increase the number of smart waste bins to 120.
LEED Platinum Certification
The pilot green building project wholly owned by DSOA, TechnoPoint, has been awarded the distinctive Leadership in the Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance (EBOM) Platinum rating - achieving a total of 85 points out of a possible 110, the highest score in the Middle East and North Africa region. Spanning 117,600 square feet, the commercial facility is the first of its kind under the Dubai government to win the certification.
Notably, the Techno-Point building earned points on the LEED EBOM Platinum rating scale for achieving over 66 percent reduction in single occupant vehicles through offering shuttle services, as well as encouraging car-pooling and the wider use of public transport. Furthermore, the use of low flush and low flow fixtures has helped the facility notch up water savings of up to 82 percent.
Techno-Point has also registered an exemplary energy performance score of 86 on the Energy Star portfolio manager based on electricity consumption records at the building. In addition, the use of 100 percent sustainable material and resources ensure optimum indoor environmental quality for the occupants of the building.
By end 2016, DSOA aims to expand the implementation of the platinum LEED certification program to include the headquarters building as well.
ISO Energy and Environment Certifications
DSOA recently achieved the ISO 50001:2011 certification for meeting required standards in establishing, implementing, maintaining and improving its energy management system and performance. DSOA also acquired the ISO 14001 certification for environmental management system.
DSOA’s latest achievements complement its earlier success in gaining the ISO 9001:2008 for quality management systems and ISO 27001:2005 for implementing global standards in Information Security Management Systems at the high-tech park.
The ISO certifications are another milestone in Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority’s efforts to integrate innovative and sustainable solutions in shaping an environment in the free zone that is conducive to best international practices. Such certifications also position DSOA as a global pioneer of energy/environment efficiency and sustainability. DSOA has put in place a specific timeline to transform all the buildings under its ownership into ISO 50001:2011 certified buildings by the end of 2017.
Green Rooftops and Walls
Reflecting DSOA’s attention to environmental issues, the number of green rooftops at the premises has increased by 30 percent compared to 2014, when the roof areas covered in greenery already amounted to a total of 1,700 square meters. Additionally, the park has begun implementing a new project in which more than 180 square metres of walls of the buildings have been landscaped and covered with greenery. With these new initiatives, the total green space within DSO amounts to 950,000 square meters, which constitutes 14 percent of the total area of the 7.2 square kilometres tech-park.
By the end of 2016, DSOA aims to increase green rooftops and green walls to a staggering 2,800 square meters and 350 square meters respectively.
A wholly-owned entity of the government of Dubai, DSO operates as a free zone technology park for large enterprises, medium and small companies looking to set up their offices in Dubai.