Property investors in Jordan and UAE have expressed their satisfaction concerning the implementation of energy-efficient solutions in buildings and various premises which drastically reduce energy costs, especially following the real estate boom in the region. One of the major challenges investors were facing was the increased cost of energy. The solutions provided by Energy Management Services (EMS), the leading energy service company (ESCO) in the Middle East, have largely contributed to the reduction of these energy costs.
The availability of advanced energy-efficient solutions has attracted investors in the property and real estate sector to invest in Jordan and U.A.E, at a time when the two countries were witnessing an escalation of energy costs. Meanwhile, new investment laws have helped attract several hundred million dollars of investment in the real estate, maintenance and property development sectors, resulting in the construction of new towers and luxurious residential complexes.
Engineer Nedal Zatari, General Manager of EMS (Jordan) said, “Studies have shown that energy consumption in Jordan during the year 2004 was approximately JD 1.153 Billion, and Jordon’s energy demands during the next decade is expected to be about 2399 mega watts, costing approximately USD 3.1 billion. These figures underline the importance of increasing public-private partnerships to formulate a national strategy to reduce energy consumption.”
“To maximise the energy efficiency of buildings, we offer our consultancy services from the design stage of the project itself. We send a team of experienced engineers who are experts in the field of energy management, to assist the architects in the design of the project. Our team will suggest the most suitable energy management system for the building and will be fully involved in the implementation of the system,” Zatari added.
Zatari highlighted that the implementation of energy efficient systems reduces the overhead costs of the project and uses natural resources to reduce energy consumption. The advanced systems that the company offers are capable of saving energy even in existing buildings. He added that the systems not only reduce the operating costs of the project but also significantly reduces the capital cost of the project.
Engineer Zatari also pointed out that the company is cooperating with the Jordanian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources by organising various activities and conferences to raise awareness and train Engineers in the field of energy saving. The company has also signed a contract with the Ministry of Water and Irrigation and the Ministry of Public Works and Housing, according to which the company has conducted studies on the buildings of the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, and implemented energy and water management systems.
Dr. Yasin Al Hisban, from the Department of Building Studies in the Ministry of Public Works and Housing, has stressed on the importance of adopting energy saving systems in buildings which are currently being developed in Jordan. Al Hisban also affirmed that the studies conducted by the Ministry in cooperation with EMS have proved that energy saving systems are capable of saving millions of dollars in energy bills in government departments and buildings.
Al Hisban also called upon increasing public-private partnership to widen the adoption of energy efficient systems and make these systems part of the building codes requirements and specifications for commercial complexes and residential buildings.
EMS has won a number of major contracts in the country and around the region, including implementation of energy-efficient systems in the tallest building in the world, currently being built in Dubai - Burj Dubai. The company has also conducted more than 200 energy management projects in the Arab world.
