MoPW is adopting best eco-practices in federal projects: Hamdan

Abu Dhabi, April 2, 2012 (WAM) - Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Public Works, said his ministry is currently implementing modern designs of environmentally-friendly educational buildings in consistence with the highest international environmental standards through using energy-efficient lights, lighting sensors for indoor lighting control, and solar energy for outdoor lamp posts. Speaking on the occasion of the Earth Hour, Sheikh Hamdan said all these systems aim at reducing the carbon fingerprint of buildings. Earth Hour is a global event held on the last Saturday of March annually, where lights are symbolically turned off from 8:30 to 9:30 pm worldwide to highlight the need to deal with the environmental issues in a bid to confront the climate change phenomenon. Spelling out his ministry's efforts towards introducing international environmental specifications on designing and execution of construction projects in line with the federal government strategy towards sustainable development and conservation of environmental resources, the minister affirmed his ministry's commitment to adopting requirements of green buildings in all its projects. He indicated that commitment to environmental considerations and standards in projects has been deeply incorporated in the ministry's strategic plan as one of the key performance indicators (KPI). He also referred to the Green Building Guide to fit with the UAE special weather conditions which was endorsed by Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum as a reference for federal projects. - Emirates News Agency, WAM