Phillipa Grant

DUBAI, UAE, 18 December 2019: As signatories to the World Green Building Council’s ‘Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment’ and to further the net-zero agenda under this commitment, consulting, engineering and advisory firm, AESG on December 16 unveiled its new ‘Pathway to Net Zero’ tool. Designed to determine and evaluate the options available for reducing the embodied and operational carbon footprint of buildings, the tool conveniently provides AESG’s clients with an optional pathway to achieving net-zero-carbon buildings, the firm said through a Press release.

According to the release, with buildings contributing upwards of 40% of global CO₂ emissions, the widescale adoption of net-zero principles by the sector has the potential to reduce worldwide emission by up to 43% within the next decade[1]. However, perceived costs, extreme climatic conditions and a general lack of expertise in design and implementation are currently key factors incumbering net zero projects in the Middle East, AESG said. By applying its new Pathway to Net Zero tool free of charge to all its design projects from 2020 onwards, AESG said it hopes to address most misconceptions around the concept and thereby incentivize its clients.

“Much of the resistance to change can be eliminated by providing developers with a clear picture of their journey to net zero, the short-term investments it will entail, and the many long-term operational and commercial benefits they’re likely to enjoy,” said Phillipa Grant – Head of Energy & Sustainable Development, AESG. “As industry leaders within sustainable development, and a signatory to the WorldGBC’s Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment, AESG acknowledges its responsibility to facilitating a more sustainable future. We hope that by providing a convenient and well-defined pathway to net zero on all our projects, we will be able to stimulate the transition to decarbonising the construction sector.”

According to the release, AESG has meticulously followed key industry standards in the development of its tool. These include EN standards for the embodied carbon assessment, as well as the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) standards for the operational carbon assessment, AESG said. The tool assesses buildings based on a myriad of factors, such as the typology and planned usage, and location and size, along with any additional project requirements specified during the briefing stage, AESG added.

AESG said it has successfully provided construction support for the Sustainability Pavilion at Expo 2020, which will be a net-zero building, and enabled Multiplex, a premier global construction company, to achieve nearly zero-energy consumption at its construction site offices. Based on this proven track record, AESG said it is confident of its Pathway to Net Zero tool’s applicability to all design projects that it provides services for.

[1] https://www.worldgbc.org/advancing-net-zero