Emirates Green Building Council marks ‘World Green Building Week' from Sept. 21 under the theme ‘Get Up Green Up'

•    Student photography competition, Cultural Heritage Walk, and environmental film screenings among during five days of celebration 
•    Underlines commitment of EmiratesGBC to strengthen awareness of sustainable lifestyles among the community 

Dubai, UAE; September 2, 2014: Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC), an independent forum aimed at conserving the environment by strengthening and promoting green building practices, will mark World Green Building Week in the UAE from September 21 to 25, 2014, under the theme ‘Get Up Green Up.’

First organised by the World Green Building Council in 2009, World Green Building Week is the largest annual opportunity to shine the spotlight on the mission of Green Building Councils to create sustainable built environments. Since its inception, the event has connected industry stakeholders and the community, and created public conversation on the role that buildings play in creating a sustainable future. 

Featuring an array of activities including a student photography competition, Cultural Heritage Walk and environmental film screenings, among others, the five-day activities by EmiratesGBC in the UAE are aimed at strengthening awareness on sustainable built environments and environmental protection among all segments of the community. 

Saeed Al Abbar, Chairman of EmiratesGBC, said: “World Green Building Week offers a strong platform for all stakeholders in the building industry supply chain as well as the community to join hands for conserving natural resources and promoting environmental conservation. The activities this year, spread over five days, will appeal to all segments of the community, and are tailored to promote hands-on participation in environmental awareness. 

“The ‘Get Up Green Up’ theme is intended to raise awareness amongst all members of society to be ambassadors of ‘green lifestyles.’ The activities highlight the fact that every individual act of environmental conservation matters and can make a positive difference to the world we live in.”

The student photography competition, in partnership with Canon Middle East, is open for all students who are enrolled with a university in the UAE. As a leader in imaging solutions, Canon is providing the latest DSLR camera for the winning photograph, with four additional products from Canon to be presented for highly commendable entries.  

To enrol in the competition students are invited to submit a photograph under the theme ‘Get Up Green Up’ by the deadline of Sept. 15, when entries will be judged by a panel including a technical expert from Canon. The winner will be announced and presented a prize during ‘World Green Building Week’ on Sept. 21 and receive a complimentary pass to attend the 3rd Annual EmiratesGBC Congress in October. Contact events@emiratesgbc.org for the submission criteria or visit www.emiratesgbc.org.

EmiratesGBC will organise a Cultural Heritage Walk of the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood (formerly Al Bastakiya) in Bur Dubai on Sept. 22, which will be followed by a short talk on the importance of conserving heritage. The event will be hosted at Heritage House, Building No 13, and is organised in partnership with Al Serkal Foundation Group. 

On Sept. 23, participants can join on a Masdar tour in Abu Dhabi to understand more about one of the most sustainable communities on the planet. Masdar City is an emerging hub for renewable energy and clean technologies, providing a cleantech cluster with a creative and entrepreneurial atmosphere.

EmiratesGBC is joining hands with EWS-WWF and Vox Cinemas to host a movie screening of ‘Turtle: The Incredible Journey’ for the community on Sept. 24, at Vox Cinemas in the Mall of the Emirates at 8pm. The event is open to all. 

Those who are interested in taking part in any of the activities can register by sending an email to events@emiratesgbc.org. 

EmiratesGBC regularly hosts and participates in multinational events, conferences and forums. EmiratesGBC has also developed a suite of activities, inclusive of networking events, technical workshops, focus days and facilitated training based around specific issues related to the built-environment that meet the needs of its members, of the UAE community, and the wider Middle East.