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The Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC) today opened its Estidama villa experience to Cityscape visitors, giving them the chance to explore some of the innovative features designed to save energy and enhance residents’ quality of life.
The interactive Estidama villa highlights some of the energy-saving and resource efficiency benefits of new homes that comply with the Estidama Pearl Rating System. These include water-saving taps, insulated walls and windows that keep out more heat, and an advanced, energy-saving air conditioning system.
Visitors to the UPC stand at Cityscape – the region’s largest annual real estate event – can inspect cross-sections of the Estidama walls, and try out the low-flow taps and AC unit for themselves. Samples of the lead and non-cancerous (asbestos-free) paint used in Estidama villas are on display at the stand, along with a scale-model of an Estidama villa and a video explaining the environmental and lifestyle benefits.
The Estidama villa experience aims to show Cityscape delegates the different ways in which the requirements of the Pearl Rating System (PRS) can maximise resource efficiency and quality of life in urban developments. It emphasises how relatively small changes in residential design can play an important role in supporting Abu Dhabi’s sustainable future.
HE Falah Al Ahbabi, the UPC’s General Manager, said: “Sustainable development is at the core of Abu Dhabi’s growth under Vision 2030. The Urban Planning Council’s Estidama programme is a key part of achieving a sustainable way of living, based on four equal pillars of sustainability: environmental, economic, social and cultural.”
“Recent announcements by the Abu Dhabi Government stated that 17.5 bn AED has been reserved for utilities subsidies. Estidama will support a reduction in the size of the subsidies required, as a result of the tangible water and electricity savings the PRS delivers. By reducing water and energy consumption, not only do we protect our natural resources, but a greater proportion of Government spending can be used for social infrastructure projects such as schools and hospitals.” Al Ahbabi added.
Designed with the UAE’s minimal rainfall and high summer temperatures in mind, benefits of the Estidama villa include:
-Made from 0% hazardous materials,
-100% Steel sourced locally
-Windows let 40% less heat in
-Insulated walls allow 85% less heat in
-Villa is 64% more airtight than a non-Estidama home, keeping cool air in, and dust out
-Reflective roof allows 33% less heat from the sun through
- A single solar hot water generator on the roof replaces multiple water heaters
- 83% of hot water is provided from renewable energy
- The advanced air-conditioner uses 37% less energy than a conventional unit
Overall, an Estidama villa provides a total energy saving of 36% compared with a non-Estidama villa, by saving 43% on energy required for cooling and 35% on water consumption.
The Estidama Pearl Villa Rating System is currently voluntary for singularly owned Emirati villas, However the UPC strongly encourages sustainable design and construction practices to create healthier, more energy and water efficient homes.
The Estidama villa experience is one of several interactive components making the UPC’s stand one of the highlights of this year’s Cityscape, which runs from April 22 to 24, 2014, at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.
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