Environment

Maersk Oil focus on whale shark project at environmental fair

Maersk Oil Qatar entertained and educated visitors at the 2012 QP Environmental Fair, with special emphasis on the whale shark research program it is currently supporting in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment. H.E. Dr. Mohamed bin Saleh al-Sada, Minister of Energy & Industry and chairman and managing director of QP, visited the Maersk Oil stand during the event’s inauguration on Saturday and heard about how the company is engaging with the public on green issues. “The fair provided us with an opportunity to meet with local children and share information about our environmental activities,” said Lewis Affleck, managing director, Maersk Oil Qatar. This year, Maersk Oil developed a special activity book for children. Two characters - Rashid and Ditte - were used to introduce young attendees to the marine environment. Visitors could also watch a video of whale sharks, the world’s biggest species of shark, feeding in the Arabian Gulf. This captured the imagination of visitors, many who were unaware that whale sharks are found in Qatari waters. “In March, the Ministry of Environment and the Maersk Oil Research & Technology Centre signed a memorandum of understanding for a new scientific research project that will explore the diversity and abundance of marine species in Qatari waters, in particular those found in the vicinity of the Al Shaheen field,” recalled Affleck. “The starting point for this program will be whale sharks (Rhincodon typus). We’ll be heading offshore in the coming months to start the scientific survey work for 2012, encouraged by the interest that visitors to the Environment Fair have shown in this important project.” Hamad al-Mansoori, operations manager, Maersk Oil headquarters, narrated the success of an in-house environmental initiative. Given that Maersk Oil Qatar used over half million 300ml bottles of water in 2011, the company launched a ‘USEless bottles’ campaign by installing water dispensers on all floors, provided refillable bottles to employees and ran an awareness campaign. “In the first month alone, we used 30,000 bottles less than the previous month. It just shows that even small initiatives can have a big impact,” he added. Source: Gulf Times

New cooling technology highlighted at seminar

Qatar Cool has made a presentation on ‘District Cooling – Water Resource Management,’ at the 10th Gulf Water Conference, held in partnership with Kahramaa, The Water Science and Technology Association and the office of the GCC Secretary General. The three-day conference is taking place under the theme ‘The Water-Energy-Food Nexus.’ Qatar Cool CEO Fayad al-Khatib explained the company’s support as gold sponsor of the event, saying: “This conference is the ideal platform to encourage dialogue on the issues threatening our sustainability in the region. “District cooling has proven to be the synergistic solution to the challenge of ‘environment, energy and economy,’ leading the way in water resource management. We are focused on creating awareness around this kind of water and power saving technology. “The need for collaborative efforts among district cooling providers, utility agencies, regulatory agencies and lawmakers is necessary for finding long term solutions to today’s challenges.” Qatar Cool project manager Issa Qandeel also spoke at the event, explaining how district cooling has grown since its initial introduction in the Gulf region in the 1960’s. According to Qatar Cool’s research, the total systems capacity in the region amounts to over 3mn tonnes of refrigeration and is expected to reach over 7mn in the next three or four years due to the expected urban growth in the GCC. “District Cooling produces chilled water on a large scale, which is then pumped to its customers to cool the air in their buildings. The technology relies on makeup water for its operations,” said Qandeel, whose presentation highlighted the positive and negative elements of using potable water, sea water, reverse osmosis water and treated sewage effluent. “Our data has shown that our district cooling operations have consistently reduced water requirements by up to 15% below industry standards,” he elaborated. “Combined with these savings, we also ensure the blow down water quality meets the storm water drainage and sewer drainage standards and that this water is treated and able to be used for irrigation purposes, if required.” Source: Gulf Times

GE opens eco-friendly office in Abu Dhabi

GE has opened a new office in Abu Dhabi featuring sustainable design using recycled and renewable materials, as well as its ecomagination-certified products. The new green and contemporary office is located in Sowwah Square, the commercial business district development and a central component of Mubadala Real Estate & Hospitality’s flagship development, Al Maryah Island. The new GE office is spread over 3,800 sq. m across two levels in Sowwah Square, which features an innovative architecture and integrates sustainable design leading to LEED Environmental Pre-certification, a rating that reflects the environment-friendliness of the development. The office has been designed by AK Design, a multi-disciplinary architectural and interior design firm, with a focus on openness and transparency. Nabil Habayeb, GE’s president & chief executive officer for Mena and Turkey, said: “With our new office in Abu Dhabi, we are putting into practice our commitment to sustainable development and partnering in the Emirate’s vision to create sustainable cities of the future. We have a long history of partnership with Abu Dhabi, and have also joined hands with Mubadala Development Company to promote collaborations in commercial finance, clean energy research and development, aviation, and corporate learning. “The new office is a clear testament to our long-term growth outlook for Abu Dhabi and our commitment to support the Emirate’s Economic Vision 2030 with a focus on promoting a sustainable urban development framework.” The new GE office combines four office sites of the company in Abu Dhabi, with total employee strength of nearly 300. Offering a spacious 13 sq. m of office space for every individual staff member, the Sowwah Square office will have the largest contingent of GE Energy and GE Oil & Gas teams – in line with the company’s operations in the Emirate. Nearly 78 percent of the office follows an open plan, aimed at further enhancing employee welfare. The GE office further builds on the LEED Environmental Pre-certification of Sowwah Square by reflecting the same high standards in sustainability in its interiors. With a focus on enhancing energy efficiency, the office is aesthetically designed to roll out one of the best work environments for employees. The design also takes into consideration enhanced light penetration and maximizes external views of Al Maryah Island, a picturesque location, easily accessible from the heart of the city through an advanced network of roads and bridges. All the products used in the design have been chosen for their recycled content, sustainability and minimal impact on climate change. Daylight control sensors as well as motion sensors have been deployed to maximize energy use efficiency. All appliances and lighting are from GE’s own portfolio, and have been selected for their environmental friendliness. GE has a history of over 80 years of presence in the region, and has its regional headquarters in Dubai. Source: TradeArabia News Service

Dubai’s flagship eco-store ‘The Change Initiative’ to carry DuPont ‘sustainable’ products

DuPont, a leading innovation and market-driven science company has announced that its environmentally-friendly and sustainable products will be displayed at the flagship one-stop ‘sustainable’ shop conceptualized by ‘The Change Initiative’ in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The Change Initiative aims to influence a mindset change by allowing people to make more responsible lifestyle choices. The store will carry a comprehensive range of sustainable living solutions covering energy conservation, waste management, organic food and various lifestyle items. At the 4,000-square-metre store, DuPont will showcase DuPont SentryGlas high performance ionomer interlayer for laminated safety glass and DuPont Apollo solar energy products. DuPont will emphasize the role of science and innovation in achieving sustainability at The Change Initiative store, which opened its doors at Sheikh Zayed Road on May 1, 2012 to sell sustainable products and showcase world-class ‘green’ solutions for homes and businesses. The Change Initiative plans to roll out up to 25 showrooms in the Middle East and Asia over the next five years. “Sustainability is at the core of what we do - from reducing our operational footprint, to developing renewable materials and safer products, to collaborating with others to create sustainable solutions. Dubai is playing a vital role in the region with its adoption of ‘green’ standards across its various infrastructural projects. We recognize the value of long-term sustainable solutions to address the challenges. Our presence at The Change Initiative, Dubai store endorses our commitment to sustainable growth and to our region. Hence, we are collaborating with academics, governments, other companies and organizations across Gulf Cooperation Council,” stated Amin Khayyal, General Manager, UAE, DuPont. “While the Middle East has become one of the global leaders in construction and property development, it has also emerged as a hub for sustainability research and an implementer of stringent ‘green construction’ standards. The Change Initiative provides an excellent platform to demonstrate our eco-friendly solutions. With the growing population, we face unprecedented challenges to sustainably address the critical needs of food, energy, and protection. Through our science-driven innovation and local collaborations, we will continue to add other offerings at The Change Initiative to address local demands,” added Khaled El-Dessouky, Middle East Construction Leader, DuPont. DuPont SentryGlas ionoplast interlayers helps create lighter, safer, more structural glass that can bear greater loads and stand up to higher threat levels. Five times stronger and up to 100 times stiffer than conventional laminating materials, SentryGlas retains its clarity even after years of service as it is less vulnerable to moisture exposure or yellowing. As a low-emissivity material, SentryGlas addresses the increasing emphasis on energy efficiency and ‘green building’ technology. Each SentryGlas solution features advanced technology for increasing safety, reducing noise, and saving energy. DuPont Apollo aspires to be ranked among the world’s top three solution providers in the thin film photovoltaic industry by 2015. Its products and services range from thin films and solar electric systems to financing consultation and systems monitoring and maintenance. Its full spectrum of offerings is aimed at promoting solar energy as a means to reduce the world’s dependence on fossil fuels. DuPont was one of the first companies to establish sustainability goals in the 1990s and has consistently surpassed its commitments. About twenty years ago DuPont sustainability goals were focused on footprint reduction. While still a priority, DuPont growth strategy commits to addressing global challenges that require market-facing goals that tie to the delivery of more sustainable solutions. DuPont has been bringing world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials, and services since 1802. The company believes that by collaborating with customers, governments, NGOs, and thought leaders we can help find solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life and the environment. Source: Al Bawaba