Emirates Energy Star aims for 100,000 buildings in 5 years

The UAE's national energy efficiency programme, Emirates Energy Star, or EES, plans to target 100,000 buildings in five years to reduce the carbon footprint of the UAE. The programme, jointly launched by etisalat and Pacific Controls, is receiving positive response as ministries and public and private sector companies are adopting the project. "The EES project's whole objective is to reduce the carbon footprint of the UAE,” Sougata Nandi, chief executive officer of Pacific Controls, told Khaleej Times. Jointly launched in December 2011, the project boasts its presence in key economic sectors and received applause from the Ministry of Social Affairs, which has signed five buildings, and issued a case study. "The Ministry of Social Affairs joined the EES programme in 2012 and declared its commitment to reduce energy usage and carbon footprint in its facilities. The ministry also carried out a green care initiative in its strategy for 2011-13 and this will remain for a third session strategy in 2014-16,” UAE Minster of Social Affairs Mariam Mohammed Khalfan Al Roumi said in the study. The project is also being implemented by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, with six campuses, and the Ministry of Justice. "Currently, we are connected to 79 buildings across the UAE and more are joining as penetration is faster than before. The project has targeted 100,000 buildings in five years, which is endorsed by the Ministry of Environment, and supports the vision of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy to reduce electricity consumption by 30 per cent by 2030, as well as the UAE's Green Economy Programme,” Nandi said. He said the overall goal of the EES programme is to reduce carbon emissions by 20 per cent by 2020. "The EES solution aims to reduce energy consumption in existing facilities and infrastructure across the UAE by monitoring real-time performance data of existing energy consuming equipment on a continuous basis and adopting optimisation measures. As of April 2013, the project has saved energy worth 10,741 of carbon dioxide valued at Dh7.2 million.” From Khaleej Times