Property developers in the UAE and throughout the Middle East now have a greater understanding of green building and energy management principles, and are seeking expert advice on how to save energy over a building's life-cycle, said a Dubai-based energy management company. Energy Management Services (EMS) has witnessed a huge shift in mindset in the last two years, as property developers learn more about the benefits of energy management, including the huge cost savings that can be achieved. “There has been a big move towards green building in the UAE and throughout the region,” said Khaled Bushnaq, CEO of EMS, ahead of FM Expo and the ‘Property and FM' conference in Dubai . “Two years ago we had to convince property developers to go green and think about efficient energy. The majority didn't know what ‘green' meant and assumed there was an extra cost attached. “Now developers want to go green and some are achieving LEED (Leadership of Energy and Environmental Design) certification, an internationally recognized green building rating system. Many large developers are creating their own green design guidelines to be followed by smaller developers building on their plot of land,” said Bushnaq. As an expert in the energy management field, Khaled Bushnaq will outline challenges related to the preservation of essential resources and how to create customizsed water, energy and environmental programs that can deliver major savings at the brand new “Property and FM” conference, which runs alongside the well established FM Expo. “Property developers can save millions if energy efficient technology is incorporated in the design stage, before the property is built. Some high-end developers are using the money saved to invest in solar and LEED certification,” Bushnaq said. EMS is currently managing 60 developments throughout the Middle East including high profile projects, such as the Yiti Resort in Oman developed by Sama Dubai, Up Town Motor City and the Green Community by Union Properties, Connection Towers by Danat Abudhabi, and Streams, Deewan, in addition to numerous EMAAR and Nakheel properties. EMS will join a wide range of companies at FM Expo from 8-10 June at Zabeel Hall, Dubai International Exhibition Centre, the region's only exhibition dedicated to facilities management. Organized by Streamline Marketing Group, the exhibition attracts companies from property and facilities management, energy management, environment, maintenance, IT and security in the Middle East, Europe and worldwide. The “Property and FM Conference” takes place at the Dusit Hotel Dubai. Khaled Bushnaq will be joined by industry experts Markus Oberlin from Farnek Avireal, Dr. Sadek Owainati, chairman, Emirates Green Buildings Council and Jim Whittaker, president of Facility Engineering Associates from the US in a panel session on achieving property sustainability through energy savings, on day two of the conference. __
