CEO_Ahmed

Increase in hotel consumption due to boom in hospitality industry and increasing adoption of this technology says Empower Chief

Dubai, UAE, 7th June, 2011: Emirates Central Cooling Corporation (Empower), the largest district cooling service provider in the region, has announced that it supplied district cooling to 20 hotels in Dubai, which constitute of 10% of its total business for the first half of 2011.

Ahmad Bin Shafar, CEO of Empower said that the increase in hotel consumption was due to boom in hospitality industry and increasing adoption of this technology.

He added: “The operational percentage saving in a hotel unit using district cooling compared with conventional AC technologies ranges between 40 and 45 per cent. The hotel industry in Dubai has started preferring this technology because of its features in conserving the environment, financial savings and better services to guests.”

Empower’s district cooling systems (DCS) provide effective and efficient means of air conditioning. Bin Shafar emphasised: “Water is cooled in central plants and distributed through a network of piping systems to individual customer buildings.”

Empower, a joint venture between Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) and TECOM Investments, has world-class stations being built at various locations in the Emirate of Dubai.

Empower has developed a world class district cooling infrastructure and network. Apart from the latest equipment and solutions, the company has worked hard to raise public the awareness on how this technology saves the operating and maintenance costs and conserves the environment.

The increase in the consumption of district cooling shows that Dubai is becoming increasingly aware of the importance of using district cooling system as an alternative to the conventional AC systems, leading to energy saving and environment conservation, as well as lower operations and maintenance costs.

Company’s billing is based on actual metered consumption of cooling service

Dubai, UAE, 22nd May, 2011: Emirates Central Cooling Corporation (Empower) has launched an awareness campaign on the billing of its services in an attempt to increase transparency and loyalty among its rapidly increasing customer base in Dubai.

Ahmed Bin Shafar, CEO, Empower, said: “We were the first district cooling (DC) company in the UAE to introduce metering in 2007. We consider customers as the backbone of our operations and raising customer awareness of our services and billing systems is the key to winning their loyalty.”

As and when customers of Empower use the air-conditioning, the meter will run at the rate of 0.568 fils per RT per hour. It is billed in arrears at the end of each month. On the other hand, there is the demand charge, which is a recurring annual fee, levied by Empower for providing District Cooling Service at AED 750 per Refrigeration Ton (RT) per annum, billed and paid quarterly in advance.

Bin Shafar emphasized that Empower bills its customers based on the actual metered consumption of cooling services. The RT of the customer’s unit is pre-determined by the developer depending on its unit area and premise type.

Forming part of the bill is the Meter Maintenance which is charged quarterly at Dhs 50 per quarter  to cover the testing and maintenance of each meter installed in the apartment. It is billed in arrears in the last month of each quarter, while the connection charge is a one-off fee to be paid by the owner for the connection, which is different from the Refundable Security Deposit that is paid at the time of registration.

Bin Shafar said that like any other utilities, Empower charges are linked to the cost of inputs and general inflation index and are subject to revision, and, as such, tariffs are subject to change.

To save energy, customers must control their consumption by optimizing the setting of their thermostat or reducing cooling losses through their windows and doors.

Bin Shafar added: “Empower’s District Cooling system is underpinned by a skilled round-the-clock service team and a comprehensive set of emergency back-up systems that ensure complete reliability.”

District cooling is measured in refrigeration ton which is equivalent to 12000 BTU’s per hour. Refrigeration Ton is the unit measure for the amount of heat removed. Refrigeration Ton is defined as the heat absorbed by one ton of ice (2000 pounds) causing it to melt completely by the end of one day (24 hours).

District cooling systems can replace any type of air conditioning system, but primarily compete with air-cooled reciprocating chiller systems serving large buildings which consume large amounts of electricity.

Bin Shafar added: “This air-conditioning system is subject to a difficult operating environment, including extreme heat, saline humidity and windborne sand. Over time, performance, efficiency and reliability suffer, leading to significant maintenance costs and ultimately to equipment replacement.”

This awareness campaign reflects the core values of Empower and it reinforces its position on the global front as an organization that delivers efficient service with transparent billing system.

Bin Shafar: “District cooling can save natural resources and conserve environment”

Abu Dhabi, UAE, 17th April, 2011: Emirates Central Cooling Corporation (Empower), the largest district cooling service provider in the region, has urged real estate developers participating at Cityscape Abu Dhabi 2011 to switch from conventional cooling systems to district cooling, in order to save natural resources and environment and decrease maintenance and operating costs.

Ahmad Bin Shafar, CEO of Empower, said: “We look at Cityscape Abu Dhabi as a platform to stress the importance of district cooling in real estate projects so that we enhance the quality of life of the people. This environmentally friendly technology is an ideal solution to be used in residential, commercial units and hotels in the region.”

He added: “We seek to reduce the use of conventional air conditioning solutions in favor of district cooling systems. This is very challenging, but we are determined to raise awareness about this technology especially in new projects.”

Empower’s district cooling systems provide effective and efficient means of air conditioning. Water is cooled in central plants and distributed through a network of piping systems to individual customer buildings. Empower is providing district cooling service to a range of projects in Dubai, including Dubai International Financial Center, Dubai Healthcare City, Jumeirah Beach Residence, Business Bay, Mirdif and City Of Arabia.

Going into its fifth consecutive year, Cityscape Abu Dhabi offer developers an opportunity to connect with the investors and end users. Understanding the need for a steady stream of up to date information for property professionals, the exhibition introduces local, regional and international projects to a global audience.

Bin Shafar added: “Leveraging on its leading role in the real estate industry in the region, we anticipate that this show will lead to a better understanding of the importance of district cooling for the benefit of all parties concerned”.

Empower firmly believes that district cooling has huge potential in the region as an alternative to conventional AC systems.

Empower was established to provide energy-efficient district cooling services to large-scale real estate developments. District cooling service achieves economies of scale by using centralized plants instead of individual cooling units in each building. The centralized system results in lower capital and operating costs, thus reducing air-conditioning set-up and energy costs per building.

Bin Shafar: “District cooling is the most eco-friendly air-conditioning technology in meeting the world’s CO2 reduction targets”

Dubai, UAE, 6th March, 2011: Emirates Central Cooling Corporation (Empower), the largest district cooling service provider in the region, will showcase its latest district cooling solutions at the 13th Water Technology, Energy and Environment Exhibition (WETEX 2011) which will be held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance, at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre from March 8 to 10, 2011. 

Ahmad Bin Shafar, CEO of Empower said: “WETEX has achieved remarkable success in its goal of saving energy and preserving natural resources. We will use our participation to discuss latest advancements in the district cooling side with international companies participating in the show. Dubai has made rapid strides in preserving water and energy resources through the use of district cooling technologies, which are very environmentally friendly.”

He added: “We anticipate a dramatic increase in demand for district cooling in the coming years. This adds more weight to our participation in the show which has successfully positioned itself as an important platform for showcasing new technologies for the region.”

SmarTech is introduced at WETEX 2011 to give the green and energy-efficient technology a platform to showcase their expertise. This is where district cooling plays a crucial role as well as it is considered a significant technology in preserving natural resources in the world.

In line with the Exhibition’s aim of spreading awareness of rational consumption oriented towards environmentally-friendly water and energy consumption, Empower will highlight that

District cooling is 50% more efficient than conventional air conditioning solutions.

Bin Shafar added: “By the farsighted vision of the Emirate, district cooling technology managed to ease the load off the electricity grid. This cooling technology is the most eco-friendly air-conditioning solution to meet the world’s CO2 reduction targets. We urge GCC countries to take UAE’s efforts into DCS as a model. The regional growth in district cooling systems will be huge in the years to come.”

WETEX not only represents technologies, but also adopts and supports the issues and topics in the field of sustainable development and conservation of the environment.

Empower is providing district cooling service to a wide array of projects in Dubai, including Dubai International Financial Center, Dubai Healthcare City, Jumeirah Beach Residence, Business Bay and City Of Arabia.

Dubai, UAE, 26th September, 2010: Emirates Central Cooling Corporation (Empower), the largest district cooling service provider in the region, has said that consumption of district cooling provided by the company rose by 45 percent in July 2010, compared to same period last year. Also, the total square footage committed to district cooling provided by the company has achieved a remarkable increase. 

Ahmad Bin Shafar, CEO of Empower, said that the increase reflected higher occupancy in areas like Jumeirah Beach Residence, Dubai Healthcare City, Dubai World Trade Center and Al Khail Gate.

Shafar added: “New Buildings like Dubai international Financial Center and Tecom which have been added to our portfolio have fuelled this increase, in addition to Business Bay Executive Towers and Mirdif plants. These two areas are among the most vibrant in the emirate of Dubai.”

The increase in the consumption of district cooling shows that Dubai is becoming increasingly aware of the importance of using district cooling system as an alternative to the conventional AC systems, leading to energy saving and environment conservation, as well as lower operations and maintenance costs.

Empower tops the list of companies providing district cooling service in the region. The company adopts a clear strategy to preserve environment through aggressively disseminating this technology and conducting campaigns to highlight its strategic value in the short and long run to the people and the society in general. 

Clients of Empower have increased prominently in the last period which is an indication of Dubai’s economic rebound, and reflection of heightened awareness of district cooling advantages.

Empower’s district cooling systems (DCS) provide effective and efficient means of air conditioning. Water is cooled in central plants and distributed through a network of piping systems to individual customer buildings. Empower which is a joint venture between Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) and TECOM Investments has world class work stations being built on various locations in the Emirate of Dubai.

Empower topping the list have developed a world class district cooling infrastructure and network. Against the latest equipments and solutions, the company has worked on enhancing the awareness of society to the importance of this technology in saving the operating and maintenance costs and its user friendliness and high level of conserving the environment.

The operational saving percentage in a residential unit using district cooling compared with conventional AC technologies ranges between 40 and 45 per cent

At the suhoor

Dubai, UAE, 28th August, 2010: Emirates Central Cooling Corporation (Empower), the largest district cooling service provider in the region, hosted a media Suhour recently at Atlantis hotel on the Palm Island. The gathering was attended by the elite of UAE media.
 
The Suhour was hosted by Mr. Ahmad Bin Shafar, CEO of Empower, and senior officials from the company.
 
Bin Shafar added: “This Suhour is an opportunity to interact with the media and show our appreciation for their crucial role in raising awareness of district cooling system as an alternative to the conventional AC systems, leading to energy saving and environment conservation, as well as lower operational and maintenance costs.”
 
“We top the list of companies providing district cooling service in the region. We adopt a clear strategy to preserve environment through aggressively disseminating this technology and conducting campaigns to highlight its strategic value in the short and long run to the people and the society in general,” he said.
 
The low awareness of the importance of district cooling in other parts of the Middle East is a golden opportunity to enter these markets emphasized Bin Shafar.
 
Empower has succeeded in organizing the production and distribution of its services in keeping with the demand for district cooling services. The company adopted a world class innovative system in water recycling to re-use the chilled water several times.

Bin Shafar added: “We succeeded in widening our clients’ portfolios and adopting a strategy for attracting finest minds in the district cooling industry. We fully switched to recycled water in four of the stations of Empower in Dubai Healthcare City, Jumeirah Beach Residence, DIFC and Business Bay.

Bin Shafar said that the company will save costs in the coming fiscal year through its investments in ELIPS factory in JAFZA where it owns 51 percent stake, which will reduce the cost between 15 to 25 percent because of the production of insulated pipes in house instead of importing them