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Past Offers Vital Lessons on Future Green Buildings, Says ENPARK Chief

Dubai: 01 November, 2009 – There is much for modern society to learn from our heritage when it comes to living in harmony with the environment, pointed out Ali Bin Towaih, Executive Director of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Division (SEED), and ENPARK, the energy and environment park and a member of TECOM Investments .

Bin Towaih’s comments came during his presentation titled ‘TECOM’s Journey to Sustainability’ during the Alter Energy Convention 2009 held from 27-29 October at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Bin Towaih said: “The green buildings concept that is gaining widespread recognition is, in fact, not new to the region. People who have lived in the desert have always found ways to adapt to prevailing environmental conditions. Traditional homes on the Arabia peninsula were suitably developed to harness the power of natural sunlight while the interiors were kept cool with the use of the wind tower mechanism.

“Although modern technological advances have led many people to move away from these traditional techniques, the unfortunate ramification of such advances have also led to a massive increase in energy consumption and a higher carbon footprint. While we must continuously seek to improve our technological capabilities, we must not do so at the expense of our environment and always remember that our past will remain a source of inspiration not only for the present generation but for the future as well.”

Bin Towaih’s presentation also included the path TECOM Investments has chosen over the past three years to becoming an environmentally conscious organization. He traced the organisation’s development from being the first company in the region to adopt a sustainable development policy in 2006 to launching the Sustainable Development Report, the first report of its kind by a Middle Eastern company.

Drawing on TECOM’s experience in transforming its existing buildings into green structures, Bin Towaih said: “We transformed Dubai International Academic City Phase-III Complex into the region’s first and largest LEED-certified education facility. We expect this achievement to save us nearly AED2 million per year in operational costs. It is even more astonishing to learn that this accomplishment is an outcome of a green premium that is as negligible as 0.08 per cent.

“When we turned TECOM Investments’ management office into a LEED Platinum certified commercial interior, the green premium on this was a meagre 0.48 per cent. With these initiatives, we have demonstrated that going green makes strong business and financial sense for any organisation.”

ENPARK was one of the main sponsors of the Alter Energy Convention 2009, a conference-led event held in conjunction with Oil and Gas Show (OGS) 2009, the 16^th edition of the premier oil, gas, renewable energy and automation event. In addition to Bin Towaih, leading industry experts such as Hermann Scheer, former member of the German Parliament, and Paul Dickerson from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, offered presentations on a host of related topics seeking to shed light on issues related to the reduction of carbon and water footprint.

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About TECOM Investments
TECOM Investments , based in Dubai, is a member of Dubai Holding, a global company dedicated to knowledge and life-improving industries. A creator of vibrant knowledge industry clusters, TECOM Investments is currently active in buoyant cutting-edge sectors such as Information Technology, Telecommunications, Media, Education, Life Sciences, Clean Technology, Healthcare and Industrial.

A recognized leader in the global knowledge industry, TECOM Investments manages entities such as Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, Dubai Knowledge Village, Dubai International Academic City, eHosting DataFort, International Media Production Zone, Dubai Outsource Zone, Dubai Studio City, DuBiotech, Enpark, Dubai Healthcare City and Dubai Industrial City.

TECOM Investments’ phenomenal growth also encompasses local and international joint venture interests like Empower, a district cooling service provider established as a joint venture with Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, Emirates International Telecommunications Limited, a joint venture with Dubai Investment Group.

Emirates International Telecommunications Limited holds stakes in Tunisie Telecom and GO, telecommunication carriers in Tunisia and Malta respectively.

SmartCity, an international venture develops knowledge industry townships worldwide and it has already laid the foundations of a global network of knowledge driven clusters through agreements to develop SmartCity Malta and SmartCity Kochi.

TECOM Investments also has interests in Axiom, the largest mobile distributor in the Middle East, and Interoute, the operator of Europe’s most densely connected voice and data network.

TECOM also launched the inaugural Pearl Awards in 2008 to honour and recognize its outstanding business partners. The awards include categories for Corporate Social Responsibility Achievement of the Year, Innovation of the Year, Employer of Choice, Fastest Growing Company of the Year, Customer Service, Globalization and Diversification, Contribution to the UAE Society, HSE Award, Entrepreneur of the Year, Company of the Year, and Award for Maximum Suggestions made through VOICE IT - TECOM Investments ' complaint and feedback management system.

About Enpark
ENPARK, the Energy and Environment Park, a member of TECOM Investments , is a Free Zone spanning over 8 million square feet of office, research centre, residential, educational and leisure facilities located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. ENPARK is a special destination for clean energy and environmental technology companies to operate and a fully-integrated knowledge community that includes programs, services, partnerships and amenities to support the success of environment companies and their employees. Combing the unique assets of being at the heart of the international hub for the Region with the exclusive experience of a sustainable community, ENPARK’s ambition is to offer a world class sustainable lifestyle and build a sustainable culture. For more information, please visit: www.enpark.ae

For more information, please contact:
Salam Kitmitto
JIWIN Public Relations
Tel: +971 4 433 2547
Mob: +971 50 276 9286
Email: Salam.Kitmitto@jiwin.ae

© Press Release 2009