The retrofitting of existing buildings to greener standards is widely recognised as a key step in the sustainable development of a nation’s economy. Energy usage in buildings accounts for almost 40% of global consumption, thus mechanisms installed to reduce electricity and water usage are integral to reducing a country's energy output.
The Dubai Government - through the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy - has a stated goal to reduce energy demand by 30% by 2030, and in 2014 finalised plans for its new Demand Side Management Strategy (DSM). This long term, multi-faceted initiative aims to position Dubai as a model for safe and effective energy use.
The initiative outlines the retrofitting of existing buildings as one of its key strategies and plans to start work on 100,000 buildings are set to commence at the end of 2014.
During the first phase of the project, 30,000 buildings will be retrofitted with green technologies at a cost of 2 billion dirhams ($544.5 million), to be funded in partnership with the private sector.
The RetrofitTech Dubai conference will focus on different aspects of the retrofitting and fine tuning buildings, including:
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