DUBAI Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) has inaugurated a record-breaking Leed Platinum-rated building as part of its green building initiatives.

The Dewa Sustainable Building, located in Al Quoz in Dubai, was opened by Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, deputy ruler of Dubai, minister of finance, and president of Dewa.

“It is now the largest government building in the world with a Platinum rating for green buildings from the US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (Leed). The Dewa Sustainable Building achieved 98 out of 110 points,” said Matar Humaid Al Tayer, chairman of the board of directors of Dewa.

The new building accommodates 1,000 Dewa employees, and provides high-quality benchmarked services. Occupying an area of 340,000 sq ft, it has been built with recycled materials accounting for 36 per cent of the total construction materials used. It has a fully automated control panel to control the cooling, and air-conditioning systems, and a number of ventilation units, to reduce energy consumption. The new project will achieve an energy performance efficiency level of more than 66 per cent by providing additional insulation in its walls and roof. Special glass has been installed to reduce heat transfer into the building, while highly-efficient water-cooled chillers cut down energy consumption. The building uses low powered LED lights and automatic lighting control systems with occupancy sensors.

Special regulators, sensor taps, low-flow fixtures and waterless urinals help reduce water consumption by 48 per cent, while a stormwater management plan ensures the recycling of water for irrigation.

Green Technologies was the sustainability consultant, who worked with Dewa to develop the building and to get it certified as a Leed Platinum building.

 “It is the fourth highest Platinum (rated) building in the world; the second highest in terms of new construction and the highest in the region. And it will be the highest (in the region) for many years to come,” said Mario Seneviratne, director of Green Technologies. “Normally Leed Platinums (buildings) in this region barely get over 83. This is 98 points.”