Dubai, UAE: Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC) has said that it will host its 6^th Annual EmiratesGBC Congress on October 17 & 18, 2017, at the Pullman Dubai Creek City Centre hotel, under the theme ‘Urban Energy: Powering Smart, Happy & Efficient Cities.’

According to a press communiqué on its website, the council has said that sustainability experts from across the world will attend the Congress — one of the two flagship events of EmiratesGBC — to discuss, debate and identity actionable solutions to drive sustainable urban built environments that are aligned with the ‘Smart City’ vision that the government aims to achieve. The Congress, the press communiqué said, will be held under the patronage of the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment.

The overarching theme of the Congress, the press communiqué revealed, reflects on the concepts of energy-efficient and energy-centric Green Building design as a facilitator of smart technology, happiness and well-being, which will further be discussed under three sub-themes – Powering Efficient Cities, Powering Smart Cities and Powering Happy Cities.

The communiqué informed that the discussions under Powering Efficient Cities would cover reviews of the energy strategies of the UAE as well as the region, define its future outlook, explore the role of retrofitting and best practices application, such as through the Building Efficiency Accelerator programme supported by EmiratesGBC.

The session on Powering Smart Cities, the council said, will discuss smart Green Building design, construction, maintenance and operations, and focus on the Smart Dubai vision announced by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, and its strategic initiatives.

Commenting about the event, Saeed Al Abbar, Chairman of EmiratesGBC, said: “This year, we are focusing on how energy-efficiency is integral in driving smart city development, a theme that resonates with the extraordinary work that we see in the region in creating smart, sustainable urban environment.”

“There is a direct correlation between smart, intelligent cities and energy-efficiency that calls for the direct and active engagement of the sector. From retrofitting existing buildings to creating energy and water efficient new developments, the building industry can redefine the norms of smart city development, and in turn contribute to people’s well-being and happiness. This is central to the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President & Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and we are confident that the Congress will set a new roadmap for the green building industry,” he added.