The first building in the Middle East to achieve the Platinum rating under the US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) awards system is scheduled to be inaugurated within the next month.
The Pacific Control Systems headquarters sited in Techno Park, Dubai is only the 16
th
building worldwide to be awarded the maximum rating under the LEED system. It is also reportedly the first building in the world to use solar thermal energy to provide 90 tonnes of air conditioning.
Two types of solar powered technologies are being utilised for the building’s MEP services. Rooftop-mounted photovoltaic panels are providing 50kW of electricity for the building’s lighting. The system is connected in parallel with the main Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) grid; the DEWA grid provides backup supply at night.
A solar thermal system feeds 300 gallons/minute of hot water to an absorption chiller, which subsequently provides 90 tonnes of air conditioning to the building. The panels have a capacity of 720kW thermal energy; a diesel-powered cogeneration plant provides backup to the air conditioning system when there is insufficient sunlight.
The LEED rating system is a recognised means of establishing the sustainability of a building. It accounts for all aspects of a building and its construction, including the methods of providing services; sourcing of materials and types of materials and products used.
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