Dubai International Academic City (DIAC) is an 18 million square foot campus located in Dubai that is home to 27 academic institutions and over 20,000 students. It aims to develop talent and transform Dubai's economy. DIAC has partnerships with institutions in 11 countries. It offers over 300 higher education programs and was the first Silver LEED certified academic cluster in the Middle East. DIAC has implemented various sustainability initiatives to reduce its environmental impact, including utilizing district cooling, sustainable landscaping, renewable energy, and promoting alternative fuel vehicles.

1. Dubai International Academic City
Ayoub Kazim

2. Overview
• Dubai International Academic City (DIAC) is the world’s
only Free Zone dedicated to Higher Education.
• Launched in April 2007.
• DIAC aims to develop the regions’ talent pool and
transform Dubai to a Knowledge based economy.
• DIAC has 27 Academic institutions and more than
20,000 students in 2010/11 Academic Year.
• Spread across an 18 million sq. ft. campus.
• Academic partners from 11 countries, including the U.S,
Australia, India, Pakistan, Canada, Iran, France, Russia
and the U.K.
• Over 300 Higher education programmes including
Diplomas, Undergraduate Degrees and Post Graduate
Degrees.
• First Silver LEED™ Academic Cluster in the Middle East
certified by the US Green Building Council.

3. Our Partners
DIAC has partnered with some of the most prestigious Higher Education institutions from
around the world including:
• University of Wollongong
• Middlesex University
• Michigan State University
• Hult International Business School
• British University in Dubai
• Manipal University
• Heriot Watt University
• Manchester Business School
• Murdoch University
• University of Bradford
• University of Phoenix
• SAE Institute
• BITS-Pilani

4. What is a Green Building ?
A green building has a design which focuses on:
• Increasing efficiency of resource use – energy,
water, & materials.
• Reducing building impacts on human health and
the environment during the building's lifecycle.
Source: USGBC

5. Why build green?
Green buildings can reduce Perceived business benefits of green
Energy Use
by
24%* - 50%**
3.5% occupancy
value increases
6.6% return on
ratio increases
Water Use
7.5% building
3% rent ratio
by
investment
increases
improves
40%**
CO2 Emissions
by
33%*** - 39%**
decreases
operating cost
8 – 9%
Solid Waste
by
70%**
LEED Certified project case studies
illustrate 2 – 16%
increased
worker and student productivity ****
* Turner, C. & Frankel, M. (2008). Energy performance of LEED for New Construction buildings: Final
report.
* Source: McGraw Hill Construction, Key Trends in the European and U.S. Construction Marketplace
** Kats. G (2003). The Costs and Financial Benefits of Green Building. A Report to California’s Smart Market Report 2008.
Sustainable Building Task Force. ** Source: McGraw Hill Construction, Greening of Corporate America Smart Market Report, 2007.
*** GSA Public Buildings Service (2008). Assessing Green Building Performance. A post occupancy
evaluation of 12 GSA buildings.
**** LEED project data, USGBC.

6. Area Statement for Phases 1, 2 and 3 of DIAC
Phase No. of buildings Built up Area
(SQFT)
Total Area for Phase I 5 140,000
Total Area for Phase II 4 312,800
Total Area for Phase III 5 596,950
Basement Area Phase 2 1 158,000
Basement Area Phase 3 1 158,000
Total 1,365,750

7. View of Phase 1 Development (Buildings 1 ,2, 3 &4)

8. View of Phase 2 Development (Buildings 5 ,6, 7 &8)

9. View of DIAC Phase 3 (Buildings 9 ,10, 11 &12)
Awaiting LEED Certification

10. Existing Green and EHS Compliant features of DIAC
• District Cooling
• Landscaping and water features
• Non-smoking buildings
• Water conservation efforts
• Recycling efforts
• Usage of solar energy
• Energy management initiatives (BMS
system)
• Energy Efficient lighting

11. Green Feature: Water Efficient Landscaping
Intent: Limit or eliminate the use of potable water or other natural surface or subsurface water resources available on or near the project
site, for landscape irrigation (Source: USGBC)
Ghaf and Cactii as well as Drip and timer controlled Usage of soil additives to
other adapted and low irrigation network reduce irrigation water
water consuming plants requirements and NPK
used in landscaping Fertilizer usage.
16 million • Reduction in landscape water
gallons requirement per year

12. Automatic Timers and Drip System Used in Irrigation

13. Water Conservation Measures Moisture
Retaining Additives in Soil
Save 50 % irrigation water usage because,
– Ties up a high amount of irrigation
– Reduces the usage of NPK fertilizers drastically by prevention of
leaching out
– Improves the soil structure
– Reduces the percolation rate of the irrigation water in the soil
– No pollution to environment

14. Water Conservation Measures
Water cost savings of
32 %
achieved by
Installation or
Retrofitting
of
Ultra Low (0.5 GPM)
Flow Restrictors
on 800 faucets

15. Water Conservation Measures
Installation of
bags inside the
950 WC flush tanks
Displacement = Savings
20 % savings per flush
Savings of 6,000 Litres
(1,600 gallons) day
Less load on sewage network
Total Savings of AED 92,000 per year
(Including DEWA and sewage bills)

16. Water Conservation by on Site Sewage
Treatment Plants
Existing sewage holding
tanks 6,800 m3 capacity
are converted into STP’s
with SBR technology.

17. Energy Conservation Measures District Cooling
• District Cooling services Proposed Permanent
using 0.9-1.0 kW/ton District Cooling Plant
• DIAC phases 1 to 3 with
a capacity of 5100 RT
saves 2,550 KW

18. Energy Conservation Measures De-lamping in Offices
RESULTS
• 4 Lamps (4 x 18W) per fitting
reduced to 2 lamps .
• Saved kW without compromising on
lighting quality.
• Lighting Energy index reduced from
21 W/ m2 to 10 W/ m2.
• 52% savings in lighting power.
• Reduced heat load from lighting.
• Reduced energy and C02 emissions.
• Improved in comfort / indoor
climate

19. Energy Conservation Measures
• Use of LED Lights for
pavement lighting.
• Phasing out of Halogen
lighting
Results
• Huge savings in lighting power.
• Reduced energy and C02
emissions.

20. Potential of Major Renewable Energy in UAE
• Wind Energy:
- Production of Electricity.
- Pumping Water.
• Solar Energy:
- PV Cells and Solar Collectors.
• Biomass Energy:
- Solid and liquid waste
• Geothermal Energy

21. Solar Tracker
- 2.9 kW of connected load to power 129 lamps.
- 6 tons of CO2 saving per year.

22. Green Feature: Alternative Fuel Vehicles
Intent: Reduce pollution and land development impacts from automobile use. (Source: USGBC)
Dubai International Academic City (DIAC) is committed to reducing carbon emissions and
as part of this DIAC would like to provide preferred parking next to the building
entrances in the basement for DIAC community using low‐emitting, fuel‐efficient vehicles
and hybrid cars.
Selection Criteria
• All models of year 2000 ‐ 2009 vehicles that meet the U.S. Green Building Council's
LEED criteria by scoring a rating > 40 and listed in the excel sheet provided and can be
downloaded at http://www.greenercars.org/news.htm
• The first phase of 10 car slots is open for faculty and staff only.
• Preference will be given to community member currently not holding an access card.
• Applicants are requested to provide relevant details of the cars to prove compliance
with the LEED requirements along with the copy of the Car Registration documents to
email: prm@diacedu.ae
DIAC Phase 3 is one of the first educational
organizations in the Region to implement this
Credit.

23. Green Feature: Indoor Air Quality
Strategies:
• All 5 buildings at DIAC Phase 3 have a ‘NO SMOKING’ policy. In
fact, smoking is also not allowed within 25 feet of building entrances.
• These facilities enjoy 30% more fresh air compared to ANSI/ASHRAE 62.1-
2004: Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality standard
requirements, making the buildings very healthy for its occupants.
• During construction, an air quality management plan was implemented
which ensured dust and particulate matter due to construction did not
continue to reside in the air-conditioning ducts.
• The HVAC systems comply with ANSI/ ASHRAE 55-2004: Thermal
Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy standard, and thus
provides a comfortable thermal environment for building occupants

24. Green Feature: Construction Pollution Management
Intent: Reduce pollution from construction activities by controlling soil erosion,
waterway sedimentation and airborne dust generation (source: USGBC)
Dust Control: Construction activities such as land clearance, earth movement, off-
road vehicular traffic etc. generate a lot dust which is harmful. This project
employed various measures such as wetting of loose soil, in order to mitigate this
impact.
HVAC Protection: HVAC equipment such as Fresh Air Handling units & Fan Coil
Units were kept sealed during construction and till before use.
Source Control: Fans were used to ventilate enclosed spaces with no natural
ventilation
Pathway Interruption: During construction, site facilities such as offices, canteens
& rest areas were segregated from site work area. Perimeter fences were set up to
segregate the site from surroundings.
Scheduling: Activities such as painting were scheduled at times that minimized
exposure of sink materials such as furnishings & false ceilings.

25. Baseline vs Design Utility Cost Summary
Utility Cost Comparison
(All figures in AED/ year)
4,418,731
Total annual savings =
4,500,000
AED 2,376,763/- per year.
4,000,000 3,461,747
3,500,000
3,000,000
2,325,000
2,500,000
1,627,500
2,000,000
1,443,105
1,500,000
866,437
1,000,000
189,163 129,595 273,235 187,192
500,000
-
Domestic Water Sewage Tanker Cost Irrigation Water Energy Cost District Cooling
Cost (temp) Cost Demand Charge
Conventional LEED Silver
(if LEED was not pursued)

26. DIAC’s CSR Initiatives and activities
• Participation in Earth Hour
• Participation in Clean the World
• Sponsorship of Emirates Environment Group key activities
• Participation in seminars/workshops conducted by DIAC’s
Academic Partners
• Publications in refereed journals