Building Retrofit Training to upskill professionals, building owners, operators and end-users in strategies to drive sustainable built environments

The Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) Municipality to be part of the Ras Al Khaimah Sustainable Energy Training Program (Upskill) to raise awareness on the viable retrofit methods to make existing buildings sustainable.

Under the terms of the MoU, the two sides will work together to execute EmiratesGBC’s Building Retrofit Training (BRT) program in Ras Al Khaimah to expand capabilities and expertise of professionals and building owners, operators and end-users on the fundamentals of building retrofit and energy efficiency specific to the MENA region. 

The MoU was signed recently in Ras Al Khaimah by H.E. Munther Mohammed bin Shekar Al Zaabi, Director General of Ras Al Khaimah Municipality and H.E. Dr. Ali Aljassim, Chairman of the Emirates Green Building Council.

Tasked with developing and driving the implementation of RAK Energy Efficiency & Renewables Strategy 2040, Ras Al Khaimah Municipality is entering into collaborations with various organisations in the UAE to provide necessary training for stakeholders in the emirate through Upskill. Under the strategy’s Building Retrofits Program, the emirate has set a target of retrofitting 3,000 buildings by 2040. The program, led by RAK Municipality, has already resulted in energy efficiency retrofit of more than 200 buildings by 2021, as presented at RAK Energy Summit last year. The training will support acceleration and private sector participation in the program by addressing knowledge gaps in the field of energy efficiency and renewables to achieve the ambitious targets of the strategy.

Dr. Ali Aljassim, Chairman of EmiratesGBC, added: “As an organisation dedicated to advancing green building principles to drive the long-term strategy of the UAE, EmiratesGBC is committed to strengthening awareness and skillsets of building industry stakeholders to take actionable steps to fulfil the national drive to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. The Building Retrofit Training Programme will support adoption of retrofit projects in Ras Al Khaimah and help building industry stakeholders in the emirate achieve tangible gains to reduce the carbon footprint of buildings.”

Comprehensive technical guidance

Facilitated by leading industry experts, EmiratesGBC’s BRT program will raise awareness and provide technical guidance to industry professionals on the economically viable methods that can be implemented to improve a building’s environmental performance by reducing its use of energy and water and improving the indoor environmental quality. The interactive training program aims to equip participants with a solid foundation of the building retrofit industry and provides knowledge and skills to deliver improved operational efficiency and achieve financial savings.

Covering varied aspects of energy, water, air quality, materials and waste, and innovative management systems, the training program will offer insights into energy auditing, air-conditioning systems, water management and auditing, water-efficient fixtures, and indoor air quality. The program will also explore operational waste management and hazardous building materials to drive tenant education and awareness.