Incorporating shading, improving ventilation and taking other actions to reduce the warming effect of the UAE’s hot climate can cut air conditioning demand in buildings by 40 per cent or more, a new study has found.
The research highlights the importance of passive cooling measures, which can keep temperatures down without using electricity.
Air conditioning accounts for as much as 70 per cent of the UAE’s electricity consumption, so reductions in usage could have a significant effect on the country’s power demand and carbon emissions.
The new study looked at the energy consumption of a two-storey villa with three bedrooms, plus living areas, with space for eight people.
Cooling designs
“By adding some passive design strategies like thermal insulation material (including green roofing), shading devices, and ventilation, we could minimise the demand for energy load cooling,” researchers from the University of Sharjah wrote in the study.
“[The UAE] should always consider passive cooling design in all residential, commercial and industrial buildings as a developing country.”
A green roof is one covered with vegetation to reduce heat in urban areas.
The General Services Administration, a US government agency, says green roofing can cut the amount of heat transferred to a building from the roof by up to 72 per cent.
Shading devices, meanwhile, refer to physical shades - either horizontal or vertical - that are attached to a building or put near to it to block out the sun.
The new study, Applying Passive Cooling Strategies to Improve Energy Consumption of Governmental Housing in the UAE, was presented at a conference in Iraq and published online by the American Institute of Physics Publishing last month.
In a separate study released in Cleaner Energy Systems last year, scientists in Qatar and Canada wrote that the growth in energy demand in buildings because of “excessive use of air conditioning” was an “alarming concern in hot and humid climates”.
Analysts have previously said that the low price of electricity in the UAE means that relying on air conditioning is often the default approach when buildings are designed.
The villa at the centre of the new study was chosen as an example of the type of housing provided by the UAE government, although the outcomes apply equally to private sector properties.
Without passive cooling features, the building’s energy demand was estimated to be about 8,000 kilowatt hours in January and 11,000 kilowatt hours in August, when energy demand increased due to higher temperatures.
Using computer modelling techniques that have been shown to give similar results to real-world studies, the researchers looked at what effect adding insulation to the walls, windows and roof could have.
They found a marked reduction in the electricity demand, with a fall to 4,200 kilowatt hours in January and 8,300 kilowatt hours in August. This represents a reduction in electricity consumption of 47.5 per cent in January and about 25 per cent in August.
Simple solutions
While its effects were smaller, shading also resulted in a fall in electricity consumption, to 7,000 kilowatt hours in January and 11,000 kilowatt hours in August.
A traditional way to achieve passive cooling in the UAE has been to incorporate a wind tower into a building, as this promotes airflow. Researchers found that adding one to their villa cut electricity use to 6,000 kilowatt hours and 8,000 kilowatt hours in January and August.
Ensuring that the building and its openings, such as windows, were orientated also helped to reduce heating cut demand.
If all measures were used together, consumption was 4,000 kilowatt hours in January – about half what it was with no passive cooling features – and 7,000 kilowatt hours in August, a reduction of about 42 per cent compared to the original villa.
“Overall, there is a possibility of reducing the cooling load by more than 40 per cent after applying these passive cooling strategies and saving up to 10 metric tonnes [of carbon dioxide] per year, which helps reduce global warming,” the researchers wrote.
Prof Emad Mushtaha, who chairs the Architectural Engineering Department at the University of Sharjah, said all the measures outlined in the study could be incorporated into buildings in the UAE, either at the design stage or after construction.
“All the proposed strategies are doable and can be implemented in the new design and retrofitted,” he said.
He said that while passive cooling measures could reduce the demand for air conditioning, they do not eliminate the need for it.
“The issue here is that in the UAE, passive design can only reduce a certain amount of energy consumption, but cannot achieve thermal comfort alone due to extreme temperatures. So the active system is important to achieve thermal comfort,” he said.
Globally, the number of air conditioning units is expected to triple by 2050, according to World Bank figures, as countries develop and demand increases amid rising average temperatures.
Over time, air conditioning units are likely to become more efficient, so the expected tripling in the number of installations is expected to result in a doubling of electricity consumption for air conditioning by the middle of the century.
The UAE is heavily involved in efforts to reduce electricity consumption by air conditioning units. In 2022, Strata, the aerospace unit of Mubadala, Abu Dhabi’s sovereign investor, signed a partnership with an AI company and an industrial 3D printing firm to develop an air conditioner 10 times as efficient as current models.
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)
Power: 141bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh64,500
On sale: Now
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
500 People from Gaza enter France
115 Special programme for artists
25 Evacuation of injured and sick
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
PROFILE OF SWVL
Started: April 2017
Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport
Size: 450 employees
Investment: approximately $80 million
Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Power: 110 horsepower
Torque: 147Nm
Price: From Dh59,700
On sale: now
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
The years Ramadan fell in May
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
'The Lost Daughter'
Director: Maggie Gyllenhaal
Starring: Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, Dakota Johnson
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
The Specs
Engine 3.8-litre, twin-turbo V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 582bhp (542bhp in GTS model)
Torque: 730Nm
Price: Dh649,000 (Dh549,000 for GTS)
Henrik Stenson's finishes at Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship:
2006 - 2
2007 - 8
2008 - 2
2009 - MC
2010 - 21
2011 - 42
2012 - MC
2013 - 23
2014 - MC
2015 - MC
2016 - 3
2017 - 8
Abramovich London
A Kensington Palace Gardens house with 15 bedrooms is valued at more than £150 million.
A three-storey penthouse at Chelsea Waterfront bought for £22 million.
Steel company Evraz drops more than 10 per cent in trading after UK officials said it was potentially supplying the Russian military.
Sale of Chelsea Football Club is now impossible.
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Getting there
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Tbilisi from Dh1,025 return including taxes
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
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Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
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On sale: Now
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
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Globalization and its Discontents Revisited
Joseph E. Stiglitz
W. W. Norton & Company
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Sheer grandeur
The Owo building is 14 storeys high, seven of which are below ground, with the 30,000 square feet of amenities located subterranean, including a 16-seat private cinema, seven lounges, a gym, games room, treatment suites and bicycle storage.
A clear distinction between the residences and the Raffles hotel with the amenities operated separately.
Profile
Co-founders of the company: Vilhelm Hedberg and Ravi Bhusari
Launch year: In 2016 ekar launched and signed an agreement with Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. In January 2017 ekar launched in Dubai in a partnership with the RTA.
Number of employees: Over 50
Financing stage: Series B currently being finalised
Investors: Series A - Audacia Capital
Sector of operation: Transport
BACK%20TO%20ALEXANDRIA
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
The specs
Engine: 4 liquid-cooled permanent magnet synchronous electric motors placed at each wheel
Battery: Rimac 120kWh Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (LiNiMnCoO2) chemistry
Power: 1877bhp
Torque: 2300Nm
Price: Dh7,500,00
On sale: Now
RESULTS
Lightweight (female)
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Welterweight
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Featherweight
Mohammed Al Katheeri bt Abrorbek Madaminbekov
Super featherweight
Ibrahem Bilal bt Emad Arafa
Middleweight
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Bantamweight (female)
Ilham Bourakkadi bt Milena Martinou
Welterweight
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Welterweight
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