Cooling has always been a key consideration for construction in the Gulf region. Even before the advent of central and window air-conditioning units, cooling was always given priority, with the traditional wind-tower a familiar sight in any town or village

In the latter half of the 20th century, the wind tower was replaced by technically advanced air-conditioning systems. However, as populations increase, reliance on electrically-generated cooling is becoming an issue both environmentally and economically for Gulf countries.

Recent surveys have shown that at least 70 per cent of all power generated in the UAE - the second largest market for air conditioners in the Gulf after Saudi Arabia - is used for air-conditioning during peak times. It is clear that an alternative, energy-efficient cooling solution, to reduce the economic and environmental burden on the country, is a must.

With a heritage spanning back to Roman times, district cooling is the perfect solution to energy-efficient cooling. With chilled water supplied from a central plant through a network of pipes to multiple buildings, suppliers estimate an energy saving of up to 70 per cent compared to traditional air-conditioning.

Tabreed pioneered the delivery of energy efficient gas-fired and electric-powered district cooling services in the Gulf more than five years ago. Since then, the concept of this hassle-free, risk-free, environmentally-friendly, maintenance-free and energy-efficient cooling solution has proven extremely popular.

"District cooling is the ideal solution to cooling requirements for landlords and tenants alike," says Dany Safi, managing director, of Tabreed. "The economic rewards for owners are substantial due to the lack of maintenance costs, and tenants' quality of life is greatly improved as district cooling provides superior temperature control whilst significantly reducing the amount of harmful gases and noise pollution generated by traditional air-conditioning units."

With more than 130,000 refrigeration tonnes currently under contract for a diverse range of military, commercial and residential properties in the UAE, as well as plans to expand its operation to other Gulf countries this year, Tabreed's cooling solution has captured the imaginations of property developers across the region.

Tabreed has set up a number of schemes spanning the UAE. The company's district cooling facility on the Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai works round the clock to provide cooling for customers such as the Shangri-la and Rotana Hotels, the Tower Number One Suites and the Noor Al Maarif School, the first school in the UAE to utilise the Tabreed cooling system.

Tabreed recently signed a 20-year contract with the Union Water and Electricity Company to provide cooling services for the Fujairah water and power plant. This scheme will be Tabreed's first in the UAE to utilise the naturally abundant resource of sea-water to regulate the temperature of the facility. The 656 MW power plant and 100 million gallon per day water plant will require an uninterrupted cooling service, which will be provided round the clock by a committed Tabreed team.

Tabreed also services a number of military developments across the UAE, including Zayed Military City in Abu Dhabi, which is home to the largest district cooling development ever undertaken in the world, comprising seven schemes in total to provide a contracted 90,000 tonnes of cooling across the military complex. This network of schemes results in an 83 per cent reduction of power, which equals around 100 MW less power generation required - more than a small power station would produce!

The scale and cost-efficiency of a centralised cooling system such as Tabreed's, coupled with the reductions in maintenance and installation outlays, make district cooling an extremely attractive option for property developers and owners alike.

Consultants in the construction industry are increasingly taking note of the advantages of district cooling, which will doubtless result in more schemes being installed across the region. Employing the latest eco-friendly technologies and backed by a sound business model, Tabreed is tomorrow's cooling solution, today.