The Department of Municipal Affairs will showcase twelve projects from Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and the Western Region that focus on energy conservation at the World Future Energy Summit at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre from 18-21 January 2010.
“Following the vision of our great leaders, Abu Dhabi’s Municipal system is ensuring that the culture of an environmentally sustainable living is maintained for generations to come. Working with other government entities, we will lay the foundation for a responsible future by offering the community an efficient urban infrastructure that will support both their and the emirate’s dynamic growth”, says H.E. Rashid Al Hajeri, Chairman of Department of Municipal Affairs.
The emirate’s municipal system is implementing regulations and processes across all its operations to minimise energy and water demand. The new Abu Dhabi Building Codes will regulate energy and water efficiency for all new construction and major renovations. These standards are to world’s best practice and will deliver climate sensitive, durable, high performance ‘green’ buildings.
“Abu Dhabi is considered a world leader in wastewater re-use. It is one of the few places in the world that endeavours to use all wastewater. To optimise this precious resource, the municipal system will be implementing water sensitive landscape design creating more landscaped area with less water”, adds Al Hajeri.
In the infrastructure sector, the Municipal system is developing extensive district cooling systems, which are amongst the largest of their type in the world. These systems will deliver substantial energy savings compared to conventional stand alone systems. A policy for energy efficient light emitting diode (LED) lighting for the majority of roads is also being developed in an effort to further conserve energy.
Leading the energy conservation projects in the Western Region, H.E. Hamoud Humaid Al Mansouri, General Manager, Western Region Municipality, comments “Western Region’s large desert area faces continual shifting of sand dunes which has an impact on the city’s ecological system. To maintain a sustainable living environment across the six cities, we are introducing a system of planted natural windbreaks, which will reduce soil erosion protect wildlife habitats and public parks, while encouraging development of green belts that absorb carbon dioxide and encourage biodiversity.”
Enhancing the landscape in the green oasis, H. E Dr. Mattar Saif Al Nuaimi, Director General of the Al Ain Municipality, adds, “Al Ain’s energy efficient landscaping and increasing number of gardens and public parks are proof of the efforts of Al Ain Municipality to create a sustainable and more aesthetic living environment for the residents of the city. We will continue to provide consistent municipal services that focus on energy conservation and serve the city’s community best.”
Commenting on his role as the Under Secretary of the Department of Municipal Affairs (DMA), the regulatory body of the Abu Dhabi’s Municipal system, Ahmed Shareef says, “The DMA is working towards the emirate's vision of achieving a sustainable living environment by setting global trends and world leading standards of use of alternative energy in the region. We, at the DMA, are proud of the efforts of the Abu Dhabi government in pursuing sustainable growth.”
