TECOM Investments launches Energy and Environment Park (ENPARK)

The initiative will create a comprehensive eco-friendly community while ensuring a high level of welfare and quality of living for residents and workers.

Abdullatif Almulla, CEO of TECOM Investments, said: "The new initiative is in line with TECOM Investments' proven track record of continuous excellence, innovation and commitment to international standards. It also reflects our continuous support for the directive of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, on sustainable development.

"ENPARK, the Energy and Environment Park will seek to create a comprehensive, environmentally sound and sustainable community."

The project will be developed on an eight million square foot area and will offer a business environment to foster sustainable development and clean energy.

The park will consist of several components. The commercial components will include green commercial office space, retail and boutique manufacturing facilities as well as showrooms for energy saving technologies. It will also house energy efficient residential units as well as green hotel and conference areas.

The energy efficient residential area will offer several real estate options for a sustainable community and lifestyle.

The green hotel and convention areas will be a cluster development, centred on renewable energy with conference facilities. This will include state-of-the-art arrangements to facilitate symposiums, meetings and exhibitions.

An academic component at ENPARK will offer renewable energy and environment related education programmes. It will also have a sustainable development research centre to demonstrate the latest renewable energy and sustainable technology applications.

ENPARK will have renewable and efficient water utilities, as well as clean and efficient transportation facilities as part of its infrastructure.

Intelligent building systems, including energy management control, renewable energy production monitoring, fire alarm monitoring and security systems, will be a feature of the park.

Ali bin Towaih, Director of the Energy and Environment Park, (ENPARK), said: "ENPARK will host a model community with a significantly reduced ecological footprint demonstrating that it is possible to have lower overall lifecycle costs and increased energy savings by adopting a sustainable culture.

"Offering a healthier environment for people to live, work and learn as well as for leisure, ENPARK will conform to sustainability standards by utilizing the available natural resources."

The park has been launched at a time when the global renewable energy market is forecast to exceed US$220 billion annually over the next five years, according to the World Energy Congress.

ENPARK will work with leading energy and environment companies to ensure best practices and policies are implemented in every element in the design and construction of the park.

Phase I of the ENPARK project is set to be completed by 2010.

TECOM Investments last year launched the 'Sustainable Development Policy'. According to this policy, TECOM Investments and all its entities would apply world-class environmental standards to both the organisation's activities and its buildings.

Under this initiative the new IMPZ, DuBiotech, Dubai Studio City and SmartCity, have been designed in accordance with the 'Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design' (LEED®) guidelines.

"TECOM Investments has been working on green building, as well as energy and water conservation programmes throughout 2006-2007 for optimizing resource usage. We are sure this will empower TECOM members to actively contribute to the greater sustainability life style in Dubai," Ali bin Towaih added.