Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council, Estidama launch sustainability awareness drive for stand alone villa owners

The move appeals to existing or potential home owners who are willing to participate in Abu Dhabi's sustainability drive, a core theme of the visionary Plan Abu Dhabi 2030.

It includes the unveiling of a list of cost-efficient and easy-to-adopt recommendations that can be implemented during the design and construction phases of villas and townhouses or as part of refurbishment programmes after completion of the properties.

The list, contained in a brochure and also available on Estidama's website, comprises the five key focus areas of insulation, frames, air conditioning and air quality, energy efficiency and landscaping.

H.E. Falah Mohammed Al Ahbabi, General Manager, Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council, said:

"This framework provides a step-by-step guide of how residential sustainability best practices can be employed prior, during and after completion of stand alone villas and townhouses developed by individual owners."

Al Ahbabi added, "Homeowners have a choice of location, orientation, design and construction material for their residences and it is really up to them to actually contribute to Abu Dhabi's sustainability commitment to the Emirate's residents and the rest of the world."

"With Abu Dhabi rapidly growing, there will be more demand on energy and water resources. We are addressing this issue and we rely, among other things, on Estidama initiatives to help reduce overall consumption. Building sustainable homes is a healthier, more comfortable and environmentally friendly choice which also makes sound financial sense in terms of return of investment," said Al Ahbabi.

In developing these recommendations, Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council and Estidama relied on experts, traditional building practices and lessons learned from across the globe to compile a framework of environmentally-friendly villa building practices.

These include industry acknowledged best practices for construction material selection, unit insulation for interior roofs and walls as well as for door and window frames, cooling techniques and equipment, shading, landscaping and irrigation tips, energy and water saving methods.

"A much neglected aspect of comfortable living in a desert climate is the right insulation and keeping the sun out before it heats up. Our recommendations can help reduce strain on air conditioning, reduce energy bills and provide a healthier and cooler indoors environment," said Saood Al Junaibi, Director Development Review and Urban Design, Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council.

Al Junaibi added, "Similarly, a lot of energy can be saved by a simple investment in solar hot water panels in the roof and photovoltaic panels and smart irrigation techniques and even through simpler initiatives such as regulating showerhead water flow."

"Villa owners can opt between choosing to implement the full spectrum of Estidama's recommendations knowing that they will heavily contribute towards the common good of the Emirate and the planet or select a few initiatives they deem more relevant and appropriate to their property, which would also bring about significant benefits to the ecosystem," said Al Junaibi.