Monday, Jun 24, 2013
Dubai: The civic body’s first commercial green building - Al Fahidi Market - which is expected to open its doors to the public in the next few months, will save a total of 45 per cent of energy per day due to its policy of power saving and re-use of energy sources.
The green building code as set by Dubai Municipality has 79 regulations, out of which Al Fahidi Market has adopted 67 and applies each of them to their full capacity.
Eng Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director General of Dubai Municipality, announced that 210 shops have already been leased out at a cost of over Dh100 million.
The market was built at a cost of Dh50.5 million across an area of 27,000 square metres, and is located at Al Souk Al Kabeer area in Bur Dubai. Officials noted that it resembles Souq Naif in Deira in terms of its traditional architecture, with a combination of the traditional and modern.
“What is left is one supermarket and restaurant on the top floor, and the car parking having the capacity to accommodate 309 cars. We have received bids for these from investors and our contracts department will examine these at the end of this month,” said Lootah.
The building consists of a basement, ground floor and first floor and is expected to cater to 232 shops, 15 cafeterias and 32 kiosks, in addition to other public services such as toilets, children’s play areas and prayer rooms.
An official at the General Projects Department of Dubai Municipality told Gulf News yesterday that out of the 309 parking spaces, five per cent will be allocated solely to hybrid cars.
“As part of our initiative to promote sustainability, we are not only promoting the use of bicycles but hybrid cars as well. Once visitors see the allocated parking spaces, it will spark their interest in learning more about the energy-saving cars and encourage them to use these,” said the municipal official.
The structure of Al Fahidi Market conforms to Dubai’s Green Building Regulation and was framed to save water and energy resources.
By setting up solar panels on its roof and using solar water heating systems, the building is able to save as much as 45 per cent in energy and 20 per cent of water on a daily basis.
“The glass façade has been used to a minimum and only for aesthetic purposes but that in turn will be used as a skylight so that natural light will be used throughout the day,” said the official.
Water heaters will not be used, the official said, as hot and cold water can be accessed through the 33 solar water heaters that can reach temperatures between 70 and 90 degrees Celsius, and keep the water hot overnight, particularly during the summer.
Each solar water heater has a total capacity of 300 litres, with each saving 256 kilowatts - an equivalent of saving 72 per cent of total energy per day.
During winter, the solar water heating system will heat the water during the day. It is also equipped with electrical heating elements, a backup system, to heat water during the night.
Although the building does not recycle water, it uses a system to reuse the collected condensate water from air-conditioning units that is connected to a holding tank, and then to a booster pump, in order to use the water supply for toilets’ flushes.
One of the market’s unique functions is its Fresh Air Handling Unit (FAHU) and Air Handling Unit (AHU), which recovers between 30 and 40 per cent of energy through its speed motors and heat wheel energy recovery system.
“Through using this technology, we were able to bring fresh air throughout the parking lot and the market itself without consuming a lot of energy,” he added.
By Mariam M. Al Serkal Senior Reporter
Gulf News 2013. All rights reserved.
