Dubai can do it!
Target of reducing hotel CO2 emissions by 20% in two years
‘ambitious but achievable’, building management conference hears
A target of reducing the high levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from Dubai’s hotels by 20% by 2011 is “ambitious but achievable,” according to a leading energy saving expert.
The target was set last year by Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) which has adopted the strengthening of Dubai’s economy through the development of sustainable tourism as part of its mission statement, said Marcus Oberlin, General Manager of Farnek Avireal.
He was speaking during a session on sustainability and energy savings at the Property and Facilities Management Conference in Dubai. The conference ran in conjunction with FM Expo, the Middle East’s leading facilities management event, which closes today (Tuesday 26 May 2009).
A number of prominent hotel properties in Dubai have enrolled in the DTCM’s CO2 reduction initiative including Emirates Towers, Madinat Jumeirah, Mövenpick and The One & Only Royal Mirage.
“Dubai hotels lag behind their European counterparts, where an average hotel produces 3,000 tonnes of CO2 per annum,” said Oberlin. “In Dubai it is around 6,500 tonnes and the carbon footprint of 300 hotels in Dubai is around 500 million kilos a year – equivalent to 60,000 round trip air flights between Dubai and London.”
Farnek Avireal, a leading facilities management services company in the UAE, is working with the DTCM on implementing the CO2 reduction initiative. The company advises hotels, building owners and major companies on how they can dramatically cut their utility bills and at the same time reduce their impact on the environment.
“We believe Dubai’s target of a 20% reduction in CO2 from hotels is ambitious but achievable,” said Oberlin. “We have already shown that hotels implementing our programme can reduce their carbon footprint by anything from 20% to 30% with a considerable saving in energy costs,” he added.
Giving examples, Oberlin said one hotel had produced energy savings of 22% worth over AED1.6 million in one year for an investment of AED2.1 million – a payback period of only 1.3 years. In a second hotel, the savings were even more dramatic at 32%, worth nearly AED2.3 million over a year for an investment of just over AED1 million – a payback period of only six months.
“Sustainability and energy management have become increasingly important for the regional facilities management industry as property owners become more aware of not only new regulations being introduced but the positive impact it can have on their bottomline,” said Louisa Theobald, Group Exhibitions Director of Streamline Marketing Group, organisers of FM Expo and the Property and Facilities Management Conference.
Platinum sponsor for FM Expo 2009 was Etisalat Facilities Management, which also supported the conference.
For more on FM Expo, please visit www.fm-expo.com
