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On 28th January, Ras Al Khaimah Municipality launched new green building regulations called Barjeel under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah. Barjeel is set to reduce 30% of energy and water consumption of new buildings in Ras Al Khaimah and will be mandatory to comply from Jan 2020 for all new construction in the emirate.
In his opening speech H.E. Munther Mohammed Bin Shaker, Director General of RAK Municipality introduced Barjeel, the new green buildings regulations. He mentioned, ‘Market is ready for the implementation of Barjeel, given the experience accumulated in other emirates. Required materials are available in Ras Al Khaimah and UAE. Barjeel contains easy guidelines for design and the consultancies registered in RAK have already received the training of Barjeel.’
The study shows that buildings account for 50% of electricity in RAK, so the savings Barjeel will bring is significant for the emirate. Barjeel compliance is expected to bring a minimal increase in construction cost, resulting in short payback times, typically within 5 years. In his technical presentation, Anwar Hadi Faraj, project manager of Barjeel program explained how Barjeel will bring economic benefits over the life cycle of the building. When Barjeel is applied to a small investment villa, a net increase in cost will be around 30,000 AED whereas the net economic benefits over the building life because of Barjeel compliance will be 123,000 AED.
Barjeel green building regulation is consist of 5 main categories; energy efficiency, water efficiency, renewable energy, material & resources, and comfort & well-being. The minimum requirement for the operational stage of the building focusing waste management is the newest requirement in the region. The Barjeel submission to authority will take place during the design and construction stages.
Barjeel regulation will be applicable to all new buildings with a few exceptions of temporary or heritage buildings. Barjeel is also applicable to entire Ras Al Khaimah including the economic and free zones. Barjeel also can be applicable to the extension of the existing green building.
The regulations are categorized into two groups, Fundamental Green Building regulations, and Comprehensives green building regulations. Barjeel sets minimum requirements for different building types, basic requirements for simple buildings, a broader one for more complex buildings. Building with more than 1000 square meter of the built-up area is considered as a complex building for Barjeel and private villa is considered as the simple building. The private villa has lesser requirements than investment villa like 30% PV ready zone for future PV installation is required for investment villa. Residential and office buildings have comprehensive requirements under Barjeel. The requirements for hotel buildings are more stringent than residential and commercial buildings.
You can download Barjeel green building regulations here.
Barjeel is now ready to implement on any project in Ras Al Khaimah. The first year is the pilot phase when compliance of Barjeel will be voluntary. From 29 January 2020, Barjeel will be mandatory for all new construction in Ras Al Khaimah and it will be associated with building permit process. The Barjeel certified professional will be requires in a project team when the mandatory period starts.
Though the good news is, RAK Municipality announced incentives for developers for applying Barjeel on their projects. Early Barjeel adopters will get a 100% discount on final building permit fees for the first 5 applications. This incentive is applicable for developers who submit a building permit application in line with Barjeel during the voluntary period.
Barjeel team with the Rule of Ras Al Khaimah
Andrea Di Gregorio, Director of Energy Efficiency and Renewable office, RAK Municipality presented Ras Al Khaimah’s Energy Strategy 2040.
The Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Strategy of Ras Al Khaimah aim to reduce energy consumption by 30 percent, water consumption by 20 percent, and generate 20 percent of energy through renewable energy sources by 2040.
Barjeel green building regulations are one of the 9 programs under RAK energy strategy 2040. The program which was launched last year was Retrofitting. RAK Municipality is also offering intensives for ESCOs to establish offices in Ras Al Khaimah.
Here is the RAK energy strategy 2040 in nutshell. The other programs in the Strategy include Energy Management, ongoing Efficient street lighting. In Energy from the waste program, 40-megawatt energy is already being generated by burning waste like tires. Under efficient appliance program which is in line with ESMA, FEWA has plans to install water efficient fixtures in 13,000 homes. In the solar program, RAK has plans to install 600 mwp on rooftops by 2040. Under efficient vehicles program, Ras Al Khaimah is offering incentives for purchasing electric vehicles, from October 2018 Electric Vehicles (EVs) are exempted from fees for registration, renewal and ownership transfer for the next three years. RAK municipality has plans to offer free charging to EV by 2020.
RAK Municipality’s energy efficiency and renewable energy strategy 2040 will have a direct net benefit of 90 billion to RAK economy.
After Abu Dhabi’s Estidama Green Building Rating system and Dubai’s DGBR regulations and Al Safat system, Ras Al Khaimah will be the third emirate in UAE to include Green Building regulations in building permitting process.
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Amruta Kshemkalyani, an expert sustainability professional turned social entrepreneur, is the founder of the Sustainability Tribe, AK Sustainability
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