New sustainable theatre to open in Dubai

Dubai - The building will capture solar energy and use it to meet energy needs at the city.

The Sustainable City on Dubai's Al Qudra Road will soon start constructing an innovation centre, which is set to become the first positive energy building in the region.
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The Diamond Innovation Centre, set to open in the spring of 2019, will produce 140 per cent of its energy requirements from solar rooftop panels and solar car parks.
Karim El-Jisr, the director of the centre, said being off-grid, the building will not only capture solar energy and use it to meet energy needs at the city, but will also export 40 per cent of its surplus.
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"It will be a new thing for the region, which we are doing to test solutions and boundaries. Sustainability isn't a choice, but we have to think about it and practise it economically and socially," said El-Jisr on the sidelines of the Future Cities Show.
He noted that construction will begin in October.
Located just off Al Qudra Road at the Sustainable City, the 10,000-square metre innovation centre will include an amphitheatre for 800 people, an atrium for exhibitors and shared spaces for universities and academics.
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"We have been receiving educators and professors from around the world who are interested in exploring sustainability. We want to attract like-minded organisations and experts in a knowledge platform for sustainability development and research," said El-Jisr.
A string of training programmes will also be launched to teach the public about urban farming and provide solar energy education. "Training programmes related to life-cycle assessments, mobility, food waste and hospitality will also be conducted," said El-Jisr.
About 350 families currently reside in the Sustainability City that hosts 500 villas. The second phase that will host a resort, country club, a solar school and the innovation centre is set to be ready by mid-2019.
El- Jisr said public buses from the Road and Transport Authority (RTA) are provided to ease commute, noting that the city is looking at promoting smart mobility and connectivity with the public entity.
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He added that using clean energy might be expensive, but it is an investment for the future. "If your home is well-designed, well-insulated and has green features, your energy intensity drops and so does your cooling requirements. It is an investment that will change your life and energy bills," he said.
The Sustainability City for greener living
Located in Dubailand on Al Qudra Road, next to Arabian Ranches 2, the Sustainability City is Dubai's first net zero energy city, known for its environmental friendliness in terms of solar energy use, greenery and bio-domes.
Established in 2003 by Diamond Developers, the move-in ready city has finished its first phase of 500 villas, offering studios and up to 4-bedroom villas for rent with prices ranging between Dh200,000-300,000. The city is built to promote sustainable living through energy efficient housing, no service or maintenance fees, green education and health care, eco-attractions and a range of indoor and outdoor leisure activities. Its second phase, scheduled to be completed mid-2019, includes an eco-resort, a country club, a green school, a science museum and the Diamond Innovation Center.
sherouk@khaleejtimes.com  
 

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