DUBAI, UAE, 8 June 2021: A panel of energy industry representatives underscored the importance of green buildings and smart cities in reducing energy consumption during the Middle East Energy’s (MEE) Energy Consumption & Management sector focus week.

According to the organisers of the event, the line-up of representatives included Benoit Lebot, a senior policy adviser in the French government’s Ministry for the Energy Transition; Amr Salah, Senior Director – Head of Utilities, Emaar – The Economic City; and Ahmed Samer Elbermbali, Managing Director, MENA Clean Energy Business Council.

They were participating in the opening session, titled ‘Reducing consumption through green buildings and smart cities’, by addressing important topics within the industry, including managing energy demand and carbon emissions, developing renewables in buildings and infrastructure, and integrating sustainable planning and technology to deliver smart cities, the organisers said.

Lebot said the challenges within the energy sector can be overcome by adopting a series of initiatives related to decoupling, decarbonising, decentralising, digitalisation, disruption through innovation and desirability to achieve the end goal. “Frankly, I couldn’t dream of a better illustration than King Abdullah Economic City,” he said. “It has demonstrated decoupling, decentralisation of energy, has digitalisation at the very heart of the design, it is innovative, and there is clearly a desire to achieve this beautiful case study.”

He also highlighted the four steps of a decarbonised economy, including energy efficiency, net-zero-energy solution, lifestyle and behavioural changes, motivation and education, while underscoring governments’ role in the process. Elsewhere on the agenda on the opening day were presentations by Andrea Di Gregorio, Executive Director, Energy Efficiency and Renewables Office (Reem), Ras Al Khaimah Municipality, who discussed the Emirate’s energy management programme.

An important debate during the event came courtesy Stephane Le Gentil, COO, Abu Dhabi Energy Services (ADES); Vikas Kanungo, Senior Consultant, The World Bank; Aleksandar Dukovski, Energy Expert & Consultant, UNECE; and Akin Adamson, Director – Middle East, Ricardo Energy & Environment, who all provided insights into reducing energy consumption of buildings in the region.