This conference, normally held at the UN Headquarters in New York, will be held this year for the very first time outside the US and in Dubai. WEF will play a major role in the global sustainability debate, looking for progress towards cleaner, safer and more sustainable energy. One of the primary objectives will be to chart a roadmap for a sustainable energy mix that can drive global economic and social development.
As one of the largest landlords in Dubai with over 25,000 real estate assets managed on behalf of Dubai Real Estate Corporation and other corporate and individual owners, Wasl is committed to sustainable business practice. Despite being a young company formed in 2008, Wasl has a strong focus on environmental and green initiatives. This is led by the CSR committee reporting to the Executive Board which monitors the success of initiatives and recommends changes.
Wasl’s sustainability strategy is centred around improving social, environmental and economic circumstances in an integrated way. It addresses the environmental impact of its residential and commercial property portfolio as well as the new real estate developments being planned and under construction.
H.E. Hesham Al Qassim, Chief Executive Office, Wasl said:
“Wasl is proud to be part of the World Energy Forum (WEF) 2012. As one of the largest landlords in Dubai, we are committed to enhancing the quality of life across our many communities; supporting initiatives and adopting new environmentally friendly practices and policies. We are keen to engage in the debate and look forward to being part of the forum as leaders and experts look for sustainable energy solutions to positively impact the future of people all around the world.”
Wasl’s new developments incorporate smart planning techniques including building orientation to benefit from prevailing winds to cool the environment and minimise the effects of the sun and humidity during the day. Wasl is also investing in value engineering where simple construction concepts will support the longevity of products and minimise waste. In addition, the Company is also using smart procurement techniques to buy locally sourced materials, reduce the amount of steel used in construction, which has to be shipped in from foreign suppliers. Together these techniques and initiatives exceed the expectation of Dubai Municipality’s green building code.
Across the managed portfolio, Wasl is installing sophisticated building management systems to reduce energy consumption in a number of properties which have heavy air-conditioning loads, in line with practices carried out in developed economies. In addition, Wasl has been rolling out energy efficient lighting in the common areas of its most prominent buildings as well as rolling out energy and water-saving devices.
Ahmed Ali Al Sheryani, General Manager of Marketing & Communications at Wasl and the Chairman of Wasl’s CSR committee commented:
“Wasl takes sustainability seriously. It is part of our CSR strategy and we are committed to conducting business in a way that benefits its customers, employees and the wider community in Dubai. Our support and sponsorship of this flagship event recognises the importance that we attach to playing our part in providing a sustainable future.”
