Armed with a LEED certificate, DIAC – Phase III is now prepared to tackle new heights
It does not really matter which rating system to use in delivering a certified green building. The decision to use LEED, or the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, for phase three of the Dubai International Academic City (DIAC) was more of being consistent with what was already a common practice in the region.
“LEED was already in use in the region when we embarked on this journey, and our professional colleagues from the Sustainable Energy and Environment Division [SEED] were already available as LEEDAccredited Professionals [APs] to help guide the process,” says Dr Ayoub Kazim, Executive Director of DIAC and Dubai Knowledge Village.
He stresses this when asked about the other rating tools during an interview with CPI Industry, wherein he reveals that 61% of the project’s additional net capex went to administrative costs and energy modelling fees for the LEED certification. The rest was spent on soil additive, which reduces water requirements for the project by 16 million gallons per year.
There were other costs not considered additional spending for going green, however, as these are mandated by local authorities. Consider, for instance, variable frequency drives (VFD) and waste-heat recovery, which were already incorporated into the original design of DIAC – Phase III, the first academic facility in the Middle East to receive the LEED certification. These standard design features in HVAC – heating, ventilation and air-conditioning – together with insulation standards, are requirements imposed by the Dubai Municipality.
As a result, the project’s green premium turned out 0.08%, or almost $60,000 (Dh220,000), of the total cost, with the anticipated savings of $653,452 (Dh2.4m) per year. This translates to a payback period of 1.2 months, Kazim explains, as the additional capex was not strictly linked to the energy-saving measures.
“These real numbers from our project definitely act as a myth-buster and should encourage all projects to pursue their individual green goals,” says Kazim, who has more than 15 years of experience in renewable energy, fuel cells and hydrogen energy.
The baseline and savings calculations for all LEED projects are done through energy modelling software being recommended by the US Green Building Council (US-GBC). For its part, DIAC, a member of TECOM Investments, used the Visual DOE 2.2, to simulate the base case, as defined by ASHRAE (90.1-2004) and the design case according to the actual design of the complex.
This simulation programme said the DIAC – Phase III would be over 21% more energyefficient than the ASHRAE standard. This reflects savings in monetary value, owing to the project’s eco-friendly design and energy-efficient systems. And this is audited and approved by the US-GBC as part of its certification process, Kazim says.
A fuel cell, hydrogen side
The requirement by ASHRAE, or the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air- Conditioning Engineers, relates to gross wall area. ASHRAE develops standards for its members and other professionals in the HVAC and refrigeration (HVAC&R) industry.
Here are some excerpts from the interview:
Considering that you were embarking on a pioneering project, what were the key challenges in working on it?
Based on our initial analysis, we already knew what was possible and what would require additional time, effort and money. We were also aware of what would negatively impact our project timelines.
We realised that LEED Silver was an achievable target and decided to pursue this goal with total commitment, while retaining our primary focus on energy efficiency, water conservation and indoor environmental quality.
What about the challenges in terms of financing?
Our project needed a green premium of only 0.08% which, in the larger scheme of things, was miniscule. Indeed, this additional capex was largely required in LEED certification and energy-modelling costs, rather than for equipment or construction materials.
What were the criteria that you established in selecting green building products?
These are clearly laid down in the LEED requirements. Depending on the credits, we followed the relevant standards or codes as required by the LEED process. And interestingly, most of the requirements, including washbasin taps… could be easily met through our vendors.
Did you lean on Arabian architectural heritage in your quest for green, in terms of the orientation of buildings, how buildings are used to shade one another, etc?
The architecture at DIAC is an enhancement of the design theme of Dubai Knowledge Village. While DIAC – Phase III is very modern in design, it does have a couple of features that are unique, such as the reduced windowto- wall ratio (very unlike modern buildings in Dubai) and the mutual shading of various blocks.
When you are developing projects within a masterplanned community, it can be very challenging to decide on appropriate building orientation at an individual project level. One has to pursue green goals within the pre-defined parameters, and make the best of the available opportunities.
PEM fuel cells
What is the extent of renewable energy use in the project? How much of the project’s energy needs are met with the different forms of renewable energy?
Our project does not utilise any renewable energy at all, although we are now actively trying to commission a 5kW solar photovoltaic tracker system on a stand-alone mechanism. This project is, however, not linked to the LEED certification exercise.
What innovations would you like to see in this region, and how effective is solar energy here? Do you foresee the vast, open desert as a valuable resource for this?
Using the hydrogen-fuelled Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cells technology for stationary and automotive applications is one area that is of great interest to us. The UAE and the region have great potential for solar energy that could be exploited thermally or through photovoltaic cells. However, photovoltaic’s limited efficiency, especially under intense heat as we experience in this region, would be a major drawback that needs to be looked into.
Do you see the PEM technology as a viable option for the Gulf Co-operation Council? What is the scope for hydrogen energy in the region?
Yes. We have carried out numerous studies on the feasibility of utilisation of PEM fuel cells in various applications (ie, transportation, commercial buildings) in the country and the region. These have demonstrated the importance of this cuttingedge technology to our key economic sectors, as well as mitigations of environmental emissions.
Finally, where do you see the Academic City going from here?
Our vision is to make DIAC a regional destination for higher education, with multi-tiered institutions offering quality programmes, and conducting R&D projects and initiatives that are vital to our national and regional economy and development.
