DUBAI: The GCC real estate industry can transform itself by adopting the energy efficient green building principles to deal with the current market conditions, says Iain A. Campbell, vice president and general manager, Global Energy & WorkPlace Solutions, Johnson Controls Inc.
Addressing a press conference at Monarch Hotel in Dubai on Tuesday, he said Metasys building management system that embodies its core competencies and high standards of technical innovation can provide customers in the UAE and across the region with a set of comprehensive tools to improve building efficiency, maximize cost savings, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
According to a report published by the US Green Buildings Council, a green building on an average saves 70 percent electricity, 50 to 60 percent of water and 36 percent of energy in the US as compared to standard buildings. With the recent economic downturn, building owners are more interested in making their facilities more energy-efficient to save money and decrease operating costs.
"We can help businesses reduce energy and utility consumption and the associated costs between 15 percent and 50 percent. With the help of Johnson Controls technology -- developers and other organizations in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the GCC in general, can get a clear and accurate picture of their facilities that are running over or under budget whether it is for a new or an existing building. End users can identify energy intensive applications and the amounts being spent on repairs and maintenance building by building on a real time basis. They can also see where they have opportunities to reduce costs and be more profitable," said Campbell.
"Although concerns are sometimes voiced about the initial cost of green projects, the financial benefits are remarkable in the long run. We've learned the best practices for developing and managing green projects. We are sharing these lessons with our partners and our customers globally helping them benefit from the experience that we have gathered over years," added Campbell.
"The integration of the building systems and the information technology infrastructure into one intelligent network is an important part of our strategy for sustainability," said Magdy Mekky, vice president and managing director, Middle East for Johnson Controls.
Founded in 1885, Johnson Controls is ranked 58th on the Fortune 500 list. The company has grown exponentially, achieving over $38 billion revenue in 2008. It has over 140,000 employees serving customers in over 170 countries.
