According to Ingersoll Rand, its Center for Energy Efficiency and Sustainability, which selected the airport for the award, comprises international experts, who integrate the best practices for the long-term use of energy and other resources. They also develop solutions which advocate green policies, standards and education in the communities in which Ingersoll Rand operates and serves. The consortium was avowedly created by the company as part of its commitment to responsibility towards the environment.

(From left to right) Leszek Drogosz, Director, Infrastructure Department, city of Warsaw; Wiktor Zieminski, Technical Bureau Director, Warsaw Chopin Airport and Pawel Markiton, General Manager, Trane Poland

Qatar ’s infrastructure sector to grow , fuelled by IMF forecast of real GDP rise by 7% this year.

Khaldoun Tabari

Drake & Scull International, Qatar LLC (DSQ), a Qatar based, Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing (MEP) company, recently acquired by Drake & Scull International PJSC (DSI), announced its first contract win – worth Dh140.2 million (QR139 million) – since DSI acquired it in April 2010. The contract is for a mixed used project located in the Al Sadd district of Doha.

DSI acquired DSQ with the intent of gaining greater access to the construction market in Qatar, which is currently being fuelled by substantial government investment into infrastructure projects, and also to diversify its backlog across its network of regional offices.

“We acquired DSQ in expectation of tapping into the liquid markets of Qatar, so we are very pleased to see rapid progress in Qatar, in line with our horizontal growth strategy,” said Khaldoun Tabari, CEO, DSI.

“This new contract strengthens our position as a regional leader in the MEP contracting industry, while enhancing our access to a broader range of construction opportunities, adding manifold value to our portfolio for the benefit of all our stakeholders,” Tabari added.

According to IMF forecasts, Qatar’s real GDP growth is projected to rise by seven per cent in this year alone, which will result in greater government expenditure on construction and infrastructure

The world ’s largest LEED Platinum project has integrated sustainable measures from planning to operations ’ stage

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and its Committee on the Environment (COTE) have selected King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) as one of the top 10 examples of sustainable architecture and green design solutions that protect and enhance the environment. The project will be honoured at the AIA 2010 National Convention and Design Exposition in Miami. The new campus of KAUST, located in Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is an upcoming international, graduate-level research university. It has integrated sustainable measures into the site planning, the community, the building design and the campus operations, thus becoming the country’s first LEED certified project and the world’s largest LEED Platinum project.

Logistical operation included transporting specialised equipment from Dubai to Doha.

The UAE-based Manlift Power, dealing in temporary power projects, has announced its largest power supply so far – the delivery of 27MW (Prime) of temporary power – to the Gulf Cement Company (GCC), Qatar, within 10 days.

Manlift installed 27 Cummins 1250kVA Powerbox units, synchronised into a central power package, producing 27MW of power, running at 6.6kV. The award of this contract is an extension of the 17MW temporary power project that Manlift Power had been operating since May 30, 2009, for the GCC in Qatar.

According to Manlift, the first tranche of power was fully operational on April 2. The logistical operation included transporting specialised equipment from Manlift’s head office in Dubai, to Doha, while ensuring that the tight timeframes and specific production requirements requested by the client were met.

Manlift reported that it is the sole power supplier to the GCC plant, which reportedly has a capacity of producing in excess of 6000 tonnes of cement every day.

David King, General Manager, Manlift Power, Qatar, said: “This project is a true example of the high levels of professionalism and knowledge that we offer our clients. The GCC project highlights our tremendous capabilities for delivering multi-megawatt international power projects, under tight time and logistic constraints. I’m very proud of the Manlift Power team, both here in Qatar, and in Dubai, and we look forward to a fantastic extended relationship with the GCC.”

Adam Ashcroft, Regional Director, Manlift Power, added: “Building upon our previous successful performance in Qatar for GCC, we are delighted to have successfully undertaken this extended contract. Manlift has an impressive proven track record of supplying turnkey temporary power solutions, and is fast becoming the chosen supplier in the region for both single unit and multi-megawatt rental projects.”

Manlift Power, Manlift Group, supplier of access platforms and power generators for sales and rentals, is a joint venture between local shareholders and a European rentals company. It operates alongside Manlift Middle East.

QSC 2010 helps place Qatar favourably on the international sustainability map

Launched under the theme of ‘Energy and Water Efficiency’, the Qatar Sustainability Conference 2010 was held from April 13 to 15, with the avowed objective of fostering sustainable policies, products and services and best green practices in building and technologies.

Held at the Doha Exhibitions Center, the conference was inaugurated on April 12, in the presence of sustainability experts, speakers and key stakeholders in the construction industry, such as architects, civil engineers, landscapers, mechanical engineers, agents, manufacturers and suppliers.

Organised by IFP-Qatar, the conference was concurrently held with Project Qatar 2010 – the 7th International Trade Exhibition for Construction Technology and Building Materials.

The second edition of the three-day event aimed at closely examining options for alternative energy sources, particularly water and solar power. It also acted as a platform for experts from the construction industry to address green-sensitive issues through learning, engaging, exchanging and partnering to find solutions for the sustainability of the planet.

One of the major aims of the conference was to encourage fruitful collaboration between the government, NGOs and private entities to prioritise on the use of sustainable building technologies that are designed to minimise environmental damage, despite the high cost and long return on investment of sustainable solutions.

As a part of the exercise to demonstrate the efficiency of solar and water energies via already implemented projects in Doha and worldwide, local, regional and international case studies of scale were closely examined.

The first session of the conference welcomed Mohamed Jaber, Chair of the Education Committee in the Qatar Green Building Council (QGBC), whose mission is to increase awareness among people by developing a set of environmental and green building best practice guidelines through research and development. Jaber shared with the attendees his views on ‘Holistic Approach to Green Building Design’.

The conclusion of day one also saw distribution of trophies to the speakers by IFP-Qatar, in recognition of their efforts and inputs.

Concludes that simple met hods can provide long-term energy saving and reduce installation costs

The recently held seminar organised by Tour & Andersson in Abu Dhabi, titled, ‘Investment and Energy Saving Opportunities in Variable Flow Systems’, addressed the key issues surrounding variable flow and looked various ways in which temperature fluctuations and inadequately sized variable speed pumps (VSPs) can create a negative effect on the efficiency of the entire system.

Considering the need to reduce energy use, the seminar discussed how the correct placement and sizing of a variable speed pump can help minimise the energy used in the system, whilst still operating to the same high level.

The seminar, attended by 134 delegates, was well received. Sabah N Mohammed, MEP Manager from Al Bayaty Architects, said, “The seminar was informative and increased our knowledge related to energy consumption”.

Bassam Al-Awar, General Manager, Tour & Andersson Middle East & Africa, said: “This seminar supports UAE’s Green Building initiatives on energy savings. By looking at the key issues surrounding variable flow, and more specifically how to reduce cost and energy use, we can help delegates to understand how VSPs can be used to achieve such savings, simply by fitting them in the correct place within the system.”

By guiding professionals from the early design stages through to long-term maintenance, we are able to suggest the best ways in which to utilise the technology to create ongoing savings, both financially and environmentally,” he added.

Sheikh Ebrahim gives his nod of approval to green building technologies

Sheikh Ebrahim Bin Khalifa Al Khalifa

Bahrain’s Minister of Housing, His Excellency Sheikh Ebrahim Bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, heading a panel of experts recently discussed green buildingrelated topics under the theme of ‘Innovating to Protect the Environment’, at the Green Building Forum. The event ran concurrently with the gulfBID and gulfINTERIORS exhibitions, held from May 4 to 6 at the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre (BIEC).

“The Green Building Forum in the Kingdom symbolises a ‘coming of age’ for the construction sector in Bahrain and the region,” said Sheikh Ebrahim. “The Forum reflects a ‘paradigm shift’ from energy-intensive buildings to a future of low impact, environmentally sensitive projects.”

He further added, “The Ministry wholeheartedly supports the Green Building Forum’s objectives to educate and inform the industry, businesses and the public to the opportunities, benefits and challenges of embracing green building technologies.”

As Forum patron, Sheikh Ebrahim delivered the keynote opening speech on May 5, where he highlighted the concept of environmental sustainability as a crucial element of Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030.

The Green Building Forum is also being launched as an online platform with articles and updates on issues relevant to the region. www. thegreenbuildingforum will mirror the level of interaction at the actual Forum.

Company says move fulfils strategic objective to increase presence in the region

Drake & Scull International PJSC (DSI) has recently announced the establishment of its newest subsidiary, Drake & Scull International Oman (DSO), specialising in Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP) contracting. The move, DSI claims, will not only allow the company to further strengthen its presence across the Middle East and North Africa but will also result in a greater flexibility to diversify its operations and backlog.

“Our focus over the last year has been to expand our business geographically and vertically, and the decision to diversify into Oman follows this very philosophy,” said Khaldoun Tabari, CEO of DSI. “In today’s challenging global economic environment, a well-planned expansion strategy can help us reduce costs, gain access to new markets and talent pools, and most importantly, can provide a healthy pipeline to fuel our company’s growth and shareholders’ return,” Tabari elaborated.

“The value of projects in Oman that are set to go ahead in 2010 – at the prequalification, bid or engineering, procurement and construction stage – are estimated at $22 billion, highlighting the wealth of potential that the country has to offer,” concluded Tabari.

According to DSI, since the formation of DSO, the company has already been awarded its first contracts for two government projects, worth a combined value of Dh44.2 million (OMR 4.6 million). DSO will undertake the complete MEP works for the Sohar Court Complex (SCC) located in Sohar and the Oman National Museum (ONM), located at the footsteps of the Hajar Mountains in Muscat.

DSO will begin work immediately on SCC, which will include six court halls, staff and judges’ offices, a cafeteria, guard house and an external plant room, and is estimated to be completed within 13 months. DSI reports that the company will simultaneously commence with the ONM project, which upon completion, will display over 6,000 years of the country’s history and culture, and will feature 10 galleries, classrooms and studios and an indoor café. The ONM project completion handover date is slated to be September 27, 2011 and the museum is scheduled to open to the public on November 11, 2011. DSI has earlier worked with the Oman government on the development of the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque.

In a recent anti-piracy raid, police and government officials in Dubai, reportedly recently seized more than 10,000 fake Danfoss products. It is claimed to be one of the biggest hauls of pirated Danfoss products in the company’s history.

The products were seized from 20 different Dubai companies, which were trying to sell them at the same price as the original Danfoss products.

Danfoss’ Intellectual Property department, which cooperated with the Dubai authorities during the investigation leading up to the raid, does not believe that the size of the catch is a coincidence. “Due to the economic crisis, more and more manufacturers and trading companies try to survive by producing or selling 10,000 fake Danfoss products seized in Dubai Economic crisis cited as reason for counterfeit products flooding the market pirated products. It is bad for Danfoss’ reputation and endangers our sales,” said Li Zhu, Global Anti-counterfeiting Coordinator, Danfoss, China.

All the seized products are now stored in a government warehouse in Dubai, and will be destroyed. The products include 7,800 filter driers, 1,565 expansion valves, 1,575 orifices, 212 compressors, and 1,625 product labels.

Danfoss Property investigates and files lawsuits against businesses that sell fake Danfoss products. The department expects to file lawsuits against the companies in Dubai and conduct major anti-counterfeiting investigations and raids in other countries soon.

Industry expert stresses use of TSE and seawater during DC Summit

Don Eppelheimer makes a presentation

Don Eppelheimer, Global Chiller Systems Manager, Trane, attended the Second Annual District Cooling Summit held in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on April 19 and 20, and shared his expertise with participants.

Speaking during the preview of the event about multiple heat rejections systems, Eppelheimer compared and contrasted the characteristics of large aircooled, water-cooled and dry cooler radiator systems that are commonly used today.

Observing that water and power supplies are short everywhere, and Saudi Arabia is no exception, he said: “Today, there are solutions to makeup water loss, using reverse osmosis plants, condensate collection, eliminate evaporation or even better use of Treated Sewage Effluents. Chilled water systems can also be made to operate using seawater, when the installation is in proximity to the sea, as is the case in the eastern and western provinces of Saudi Arabia.”

During his visit to the region, Eppelheimer toured Egypt, Lebanon, Kuwait and Dubai, where Trane customers could benefit from an interactive session held exclusively for them, between April 15 and 22.

In a seminar titled, Chiller Plant Design – An Exclusive Session With Don, he addressed gatherings of consultants, designers, specifiers and district coolinh service providers in these countries. The topics under discussion were: ‘Variable Primary Systems (a detailed coverage)’; ‘Earthwise Design (an overview)’ and ‘Refrigerant Update’.

Eppelheimer, who has been involved in the development and support of HVAC systems for Trane since 1972, and a recognised expert within the industry, reportedly garnered positive response for his presentation. According to the customer feedback received, the presentation was well structured and provided detailed and objective analysis of the topic, Trane said. It gave in-depth information about chiller operations methodology, backed by convincing documentary evidence. The interactive session on Chiller Plant Design was found to be refreshing.

As senior principal applications engineer, Eppelheimer’s areas of expertise are Variable Air Volume systems and comfort cooling, direct expansion systems piping and controls, chilmetrics, personal comfort, indoor air quality and cold air distribution. He is a member of ASHRAE and graduated from the Michigan State University in 1972, with a degree in Chemical Engineering