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Pearl rating of existing buildings

The Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC) plans to introduce the Estidama (sustainability) rating system for existing buildings across the emirate

ABU DHABI - The Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC) plans to introduce the Estidama (sustainability) rating system for existing buildings across the emirate also with a strong focus on reducing energy and water usage.

This was announced during a Press briefing about the ‘E-Villa Configurator’, which was unveiled on Sunday. Initially, it will commence with an audit of existing government buildings and will be extended to other buildings in the future.

No particular dates were announced for enforcing the planned rating system for existing buildings.

Private buildings will also be audited later to identify deficiencies and chalk out appropriate action plans. — KT file photo

This complements the Executive Affairs Authority’s policy to reduce energy and water use, which Estidama is trying to achieve by providing extensive support with its operational building rating system.

This is the third stage in the overall Pearl Rating System, which assesses projects at the design, construction and operation stages.

The operational building rating system will ensure that Pearl-rated buildings continue to operate as they were designed and constructed on three Pearl Villa examples.

The Estidama team at the UPC is working with developers to build villas that meet the requirements for a three Pearl rating, with a focus on energy and water savings, including landscape efficiencies.

A key element of the projects across Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Gharbia is the building of a number of model villas which will be allowed to be visited by the people to get an idea of the requirements and the benefits of achieving three Pearls.

E-Villa Configurator

As part of its commitment to providing information to the community and parties concerned in an accessible, user-friendly and interactive manner, the UPC on Sunday unveiled the ‘E-Villa Configurator’, a new awareness tool for villa owners and developers. It aims to educate them to comply with Estidama’s requirements to get one Pearl, the mandatory rating for all private villa developments in the emirate.

The interactive tool will show hands-on implementation, compliance and key benefits of mandatory framework for private villas.

By clicking on any of the categories, users will be able to see how its effect will be reflected on the final look and feel of the villa and what benefits will be gained, especially with regards to water and energy.

It is configured to operate across multiple platforms and applications such as the iPad, Internet and also on DVDs. The e-villa configurator encompasses the six categories of the Estidama one Pearl rating system — integrated design process (IDP), natural systems, livable villas, precious water, resourceful energy and stewarding materials.

Nader Al Awlaqi, Director of Estidama and Developments, UPC, said, “Building on the success of the villa manual launched by the council last year, which highlights in detailed steps what villa owners need to do in order to achieve the mandatory one Pearl, we wanted to go the extra mile and provide owners with an interactive tool that visually demonstrates the requirements and benefits”

“We are confident that current and potential villa owners and developers will highly appreciate this new tool. The e-villa configurator will be available on the UPC website and also on a special DVD free of charge along with the villa manual,” Al Awlaqi said. Last year, the UPC together with the Municipal System of Abu Dhabi (DMA) unveiled the Estidama Pearl Villa Manual with detailed guidelines to assist villa owners, design consultants, contractors and suppliers in maintaining Estidama standards during the villa construction process. For more information, people can long on to the website of the UPC at www.upc.gov.ae and visit the e-villa configurator.

New Sowwah Island

Demonstrating the effectiveness of the UOC’s Development Review Process with regards to implementing Estidama Pearl Rating System requirements, the council is currently working with Mubadala Real Estate and Hospitality on the development of Sowwah Island.

The development is envisioned as an internationally acknowledged central business district for Abu Dhabi with world-class infrastructure and facilities located on Sowwah Island off the Eastern Coast of Abu Dhabi Island.

The following key principles have been applied in the design of the island’s development, which are in line with Estidama principles: mixed-use integrated business environment, emphasis on sustainable modes of transport and the idea of a walkable city and fostering a sense of community in the new Central Business District.

Urban heat island effect

Materials have been selected to reduce the Urban Heat Island effect, through the use of materials with high Solar Reflective Index (SRI).

Whereas the outdoor thermal comfort strategy include shading pedestrian connections through the provision of climate, controlled conditioned corridors, colonnades and the use of shading devices for the primary pedestrian routes, shading priority areas in the public realm including open spaces (public plazas), community parks, entrances to community facilities (including schools) and transit stops and reducing urban heat island effect through the use of high albedo (the fraction of Sun’s radiation reflected from a surface) surfaces and a cool material palette.

Construction audit

To verify compliance with the requirements of the Construction Rating, the UPC in collaboration with the DMA and the municipalities commenced a construction audit process.

It is the development team’s responsibility to prove technical compliance with the rating system. These audits are conducted at key stages during the construction period and have been developed to identify deficiencies and appropriate action plans that minimise construction compliance risk.

Currently, over 20 audits have been carried out to assist teams with construction rating compliance and the process is adding great value to developments currently under construction.