B Surendar

Against the baseline level of 1998, the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry building has been able to achieve a 77% reduction in water and a 47% reduction in electrical consumption. The 15-year-old building, along the creek in the historical Deira part of Dubai, is the first LEED EB in the Arab world. Jagath Gunawardena, its Manager (Projects and Building Development), says that the building has been able to achieve an 8-9% reduction in operating cost, a 7.5% increase in building value and an accumulated savings of Dh7.1 million since 1998.

The Chamber building is an example of a client showing faith in facilities management to achieve power efficiency and water efficiency. According to industry figures, facilities management has a 70% impact on the efficient running of a building and even its aspiration for green building status. Gunawardena vouches for that by saying that in an EB certification process the role of a facilities manager is crucial.

Generally, he says, the onus is on the facilities manager to regularly re-commission and retrofit the building, to regularly analyse data and to switch off equipment when not necessary. Switching off, he says, is not something that can be flippantly dismissed as a minor exercise in savings. His words resonate with what another building in Dubai achieved through switching off its chillers and FAHUs in the night – a savings of 15% every year. The fact that the owner of the building achieved this without investing anything and by merely operating the facility the way it should be operated is noteworthy.

In that context, building owners, consultants and contractors would probably do well to consider involving an FM specialist from the design stage of a building through to its hand over, a practice that is “more honour’d in the breach than the observance”, to quote Shakespeare. Other less-than-ideal situations include the overdesign of MEP (usually 200% of HVAC), lack of MEP knowledge in BMS design personnel and the fact that designers of a building never return to evaluate its performance and negative features and, worse, go on to replicate the design, replete with mistakes.

Thrift, planning, history and collaboration are mind-entities worth their weight in gold.

The Güntner Group, with its headquarters in Fürstenfeldbruck, Germany, is a global leader for the production of refrigeration and air conditioning components. Operators include, among others, the international automotive, food, pharmaceutical and computer industries as well as a large number of public facilities. Founded in Germany in 1931, the Güntner Group is present for its customers and partners today with nine production sites as well as 40 sales offices and subsidiaries, worldwide. To support our Güntner Middle East Team, we are looking for an experienced and qualified SALES MANAGER, reporting directly to the Managing Director Middle East

• 2 – 3 years experience in refrigeration
• Familiarity with the Middle East market, and based in Dubai
• Regular travels required
• Fluency in English is a must
• Knowledge of spoken Arabic will be an advantage
• UAE driving license required
• Joining date: as soon as possible

Please send your application to Svenja Konken <s.konken@guentner.de> and visit our website <www.guentner.de> for more information.

Move is mandated to maximise the growth potential of the company’s Room Comfort Division

SAS International, manufacturer of interior building solutions, which supplies projects worldwide and has offices in Europe and the Middle East, has announced that David Leatherbarrow, the former Managing Director of Trox UK, has joined its Board in a non-executive capacity.

According to the announcement, Leatherbarrow has worked for more than 35 years in the global building services industry, with significant experience in managing and developing businesses in the UK, Europe, US, Middle East and Asia. He will bring to the company his construction and manufacturing industry knowledge, together with his strategic skills, and will work with the existing team to maximise the growth potential of its Room Comfort Division.

The division specialises in convective and radiant heating solutions, and is claimed to be the largest manufacturer and installer of trench, perimeter and radiant heating systems in the UK. Chilled ceilings and beams also feature in its range, along with integrated service modules, which can be designed and tailored according to specific project demands.

Business Development Manager (HVAC) — Dubai (Western Educated)

Business Development Manager (HVAC) — Abu Dhabi (Arab National)

Attractive Package

Econosto Group, whose head office is in Capelle aan den IJssel, the Netherlands, operates worldwide in the manufacturing, development, marketing, distribution and service of a full range of high-quality valves, pipes and related equipment for various industries including Oil and Gas, HVAC and Marine. These roles will be reporting to the Regional Manager for HVAC activities in and around the region. Key responsibilities would include researching on the company’s existing and potential customers and identifying new opportunities, securing industry approvals with developers and consultants for the products we carry, developing and maintaining relationships with key industry people, maintaining regular contact with the sales and marketing teams functions.

You will be responsible for promoting and representing the company in local and GCC trade exhibitions, conducting presentations, seminars and trainings in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and showcasing Econosto’s facilities and capabilities. To be considered for this role, you must have a Degree in Mechanical Engineering and at least 5 years experience in sales/marketing and market research in the UAE/ME. Existing relationship and good rapport with MEP contractors / consultants are required. Thorough knowledge of valves and piping products related to the HVAC industry and a valid UAE driver’s license are essential.

Email CV to: hrd@econosto.ae

Team of engineers invents low-cost solar energy/natural gas-powered DEVap cooling system.

The US Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has announced that it has invented a new air conditioning process with the potential of using 50% to 90% less energy than today’s top-of-the-line units.

The DEVap, which stands for desiccant-enhanced evaporative air conditioner, uses membrane technology to combine the efficiency of evaporative cooling and the drying potential of liquid desiccant salt solutions. 

According to the announcement, the idea is to revolutionise cooling, while removing millions of metric tonnes of carbon from the air. Engineers from NREL, who have been working with membranes, evaporative coolers, and desiccants, reportedly observed an opportunity to combine them into a single device for a product with unique capabilities. 

The press release further elucidated the process: Evaporative coolers are a low-cost alternative to air conditioners in places with dry climates (for example, Rustaq and Nizwa). But in humid climates (for example, Muscat, Salalh, Sohar and Sur), adding water to the air creates a hot and sticky building environment. Furthermore, the air cannot absorb enough water to become cold. Therefore, evaporative cooling or desert cooling is not useful. So, refrigeration-based air conditioning is the preferred way of keeping cool and it consumes significant amount of energy. The DEVap solves this problem by relying on the desiccants’ capacity to create dry air using heat and evaporative coolers’ capacity to take dry air and make cold air. 

According to HVAC news, the kind of desiccants that NREL uses are syrupy liquids – highly concentrated aqueous salt solutions of lithium chloride or calcium chloride. They have a high affinity for water vapour, and can thus create very dry air. Because of the complexity of desiccant cooling systems, they have traditionally only been used in industrial drying processes.

To solve the problem of easy installation and maintenance, the NREL device uses thin membranes that simplify the process of integrating airflow, desiccants, and evaporative cooling. These result in an air conditioning system that is said to provide superior comfort and humidity control. 

The membranes in the DEVap air conditioner are hydrophobic, which means water tends to bead up rather than soak through the membranes. This property, reportedly, allows the membranes to control the liquid flows within the cooling core and keeps the water and the desiccant separated from the air stream. In this technology, water and liquid desiccant are brought into DEVap’s heat-mass exchanger core. The desiccant and evaporative cooling effect work together to create cold-dry air. The air is cooled and dried from a hot-humid condition, to a cold and dry condition, all in one step. It is claimed that this happens in a fraction of a second, as air flows through the DEVap air conditioner. The result, evidently, is an air conditioner that controls both thermal and humidity loads.

Because the DEVap uses salt solutions rather than refrigerants, it eliminates greenhouse gas concerns. Also, traditional air conditioners use a significant amount of electricity to run the refrigeration cycle, but DEVap is said to replace the refrigeration cycle with an absorption cycle that is thermally activated. It can be powered by natural gas or solar energy and uses very little electricity. 

NREL has patented the DEVap concept and engineers from the organisation expect that over the next couple of years, they will be working on making the device smaller and simpler and perfecting the heat transfer to make DEVap more cost-effective. NREL will eventually license the technology to industry.

Will facilitate company’s expansion of operations and manufacturing capabilities.

Victaulic, the US-based manufacturers of mechanical pipe joining systems, has appointed Mark Gilbert as Vice President and General Manager for Europe, Middle East, Africa and India. Gilbert was most recently the Regional Director for the Middle East, and has more than 15 years’ experience working for Victaulic. In his new role, he will oversee the development of long-term sales and operational strategies for the company.

According to the announcement, Gilbert brings with him a wealth of sales and strategic knowledge with which to further the company’s business. His focus will be to facilitate the expansion of operations and the company’s manufacturing capabilities to support future growth.

Commenting on his transfer, Gilbert called it an honour and said: “Being able to put in place structures that will facilitate the growth of the company in this fast-moving environment will be both exciting and challenging, and I am looking forward to developing and strengthening the company.”

Appointment will support the institute’s mandate of transforming Abu Dhabi into a hub of advanced technology and skilled human capital

Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, claimed to be the world’s first graduate research institution dedicated to alternative energy, environmental technologies and sustainability, has announced the appointment of Dr Fred Moavenzadeh, as its President. Dr Moavenzadeh, who was James Mason Crafts Professor of Engineering and Director of the Technology and Development programme at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), took up his position at Masdar Institute on July 1. His appointment comes at the completion of the institute’s inaugural academic year. His brief is to support Masdar’s mandate of transforming the emirate into a source of advanced technologies and skilled human capital. MIT is Masdar’s collaborating partner.

According to Masdar Institute, Dr Moavenzadeh is widely recognised for his innovative role in building global institutions and developing new models of teaching and research through international initiatives in education, science and technology. He received his Masters degree from Cornell University, New York, and his PhD from Purdue University, Indiana. He also has a long and distinguished career at MIT. As the Director of the Technology and Development Programme, a position he held for the past 39 years, he led and facilitated the establishment of a research-based science and technology infrastructure, now regarded as a critical component in the economic development of any nation.

General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Masdar Institute, which is an initiative of the Abu Dhabi Government, and a subsidiary of the Mubadala Development Company, Mubadala. HRH Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is its patron.

The institute, avowedly owes its founding to the vision of Abu Dhabi’s leadership to establish a sustainable knowledge-based economy, and serves as the nucleus of an interdisciplinary, collaborative, high-technology research and development infrastructure.

Commenting on Dr Moavenzadeh’s appointment, Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, CEO of Masdar, and the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustee of Masdar Institute, said: “In a short period of time, Masdar Institute has made significant progress towards supporting Abu Dhabi’s goal of cultivating the necessary human capital required to build a knowledge-led and technology exporting economy. I am confident that by bringing Dr Moavenzadeh and his wealth of experience to Abu Dhabi, another important stride has been taken towards our goal.”

In this context, Dr Moavenzadeh said: “In responding to the defining challenge of our time, climate change and energy security, Masdar Institute of Science and Technology is embarking on an exciting and vital journey, with a comprehensive approach to education and research. I am delighted to be appointed as its President.”

Continuing on the same theme he added: “My mission as President will be to advance the long-term sustaining development of Abu Dhabi by providing a highly trained calibre of people equal to the task and working with other academic institutions in the region, with government officials, and with industry, to insure free flow of information and coordination of effort across platforms that will provide answer to complex questions and needs.”

Regarded as one of the pioneers of district cooling in the UAE

Ahmad Bin Shafar, Chairman, Elips, recently announced the appointment of Jamal Al Jarwan as the General Manager, of Elips, a joint venture between Empower and Logstor, to manufacture insulated pipes.

According to Elips, Al Jarwan, who will be based in the company’s head office in Jebel Ali, has over 15 years of relevant experience and has held senior managerial positions and has served as a board member in district cooling affiliated bodies. Apart from district cooling, his experience encompasses sectors like real estate investment and project management. He is an active member of IDEA. Al Jarwan holds an MBA and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from the United States. According to Elips, he is regarded as one of the pioneers in introducing the concept of district cooling to the UAE and GCC markets.   

Al Jarwan was a board member and CEO at United Cool, Abu Dhabi. There his responsibilities involved start up of the company, development of new business, overseeing day-to-day operations and setting the company’s strategy and vision. Earlier, he was the Area Manager for Dubai  and Northern Emirates, and Business Development Director for National Central Cooling Co (Tabreed).

Commenting on Al Jarwan’s appointment, Bin Shafar said that Al Jarwan brings with him a depth of industrial knowledge that would ensure continued growth for Elips operations in the Gulf and beyond.

In this context, Al Jarwan said: “I am delighted to take up this position at Elips. I am excited to start planning the way forward with the management. We have a lot to do in terms of catering to the needs of district cooling services and oil and gas across the Middle East.”

Targets district cooling and oil and gas industry

Elips, a joint venture between Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower) and Logstor, manufacturer of insulated pipes, recently announced starting its operations. The pipes are designed to build district cooling networks and for use in the oil and gas industry.

In this context, Ahmad Bin Shafar, Chairman, Elips, said, “The largest manufacturer of pre-insulated pipes in the UAE provides a golden opportunity for district cooling and oil and gas companies to acquire fair-priced pre-insulated pipes that are on par with international standards.”

He added, “Benefiting from its location in Jebel Ali Industrial area, Elips provides easy access to both Dubai and Abu Dhabi markets, which are one of the biggest markets for district cooling and oil and gas sectors in the region.”

Elips is one of 10 factories worldwide partially owned by Logstor.

Claims 240 million-worth contracts will leverage its market share in Abu Dhabi

According to a statement by Drake & Scull International, it has recently won the contract for the complete mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) works for two major projects in Abu Dhabi – Saadiyat Beach Apartments project and a government building project – worth a combined value of Dh240 million.

Commenting on this, Khaldoun Tabari, CEO, DSI, said, “We are very pleased to continuously work on domestic projects in a city that has contributed so greatly to the 40 years of experience which we have gathered in the MEP field. We have always seen Abu Dhabi as a lucrative market, and our expectations of projects in the pipeline have indeed been fulfilled.”

DSI reports that it will begin work immediately on the Saadiyat Beach Apartments Plot SB19 project located on Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi. The series of beachside apartments, which are being developed by the Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC), will provide living spaces in private gated communities, with options ranging from studios to multiple bedroom apartments.

The project is scheduled for completion in December 2011. The scope of work for DSI will include supply, installation, testing and commissioning of the entire electro-mechanical works.

According to DSI, it will simultaneously start the MEP works for the government building project, which will be completed by June 2012, and will include a total built-up area of 106, 670 square metres.

“These two recent project wins bring the total value of contracts awarded to us this year to Dh1.4 billion,” said Tabari, and added, “Aside from this being a marked accomplishment for the company, we expect that this will also aid in boosting our returns towards the end of the financial year.”