Ras Al Khaimah Municipality has partnered with Masdar to promote energy efficiency and the construction of more sustainable residential villas in the northern emirate. The ‘Model Villa Initiative’ is said to be part of a wider collaboration between the two entities to study and improve the energy and water efficiency of villas in Ras Al Khaimah.
The initiative is part of the municipality’s building retrofit programme, which is said to complement the Ras Al Khaimah Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Strategy 2040, and the UAE’s plan to improve energy efficiency by 40% by 2050.
“The RAK government is engaged in a long-term strategy for sustainability. We welcome the collaboration with Masdar and the launch of this initiative to support the adoption of new technologies and practices, which will reduce the energy intensity of our economy and increase the share of renewable energy. The model villa initiative is the first, concrete example of our collaboration,” said Munther Mohammed bin Shekar, director general of RAK Municipality.
According to the statement, a local villa will be chosen and retrofitted to showcase how energy savings can be achieved in existing buildings. The results will then be analysed and made public for the benefit of other villa owners undertaking similar retrofits, Masdar said in its statement.
The selection process for the villa will be through an open-call for applications – booths will be set up at RAK Municipality and shopping malls around the emirate, including Manar Mall, Al Naeem Mall and Al Hamra Mall, to raise awareness and drive submissions.
Commenting on the partnership, Yousef Ahmed Baselaib, executive director of Sustainable Real Estate, Masdar, said the initiative aims to demonstrate the economic feasibility and commercial benefits of retrofitting homes with the latest sustainable technology.
“Our expertise in energy, waste and water conservation will be a valuable addition to this project, hopefully delivering substantial savings to property owners and residents in the long term,” Baselaib commented.