Aldar Properties PJSC has announced the launch of a ‘Cooling as a Service’ (“CaaS”) project which will reduce the annual carbon footprint of the cooling baseline at Al Rayyana Complex and Eastern Mangroves in Abu Dhabi by up to 30% over a 10 year period.
The project, managed by Johnson Controls, will utilise energy-saving measures and advanced technologies to cut approximately 26,880 tonnes of CO2 emissions from the two Aldar assets. This initiative will support Aldar to deliver its Net Zero Plan, which includes a science-aligned target of being Net Zero in Scopes 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030. Purchased cooling is included within Scope 2 GHG emissions.
Johnson Controls’ CaaS solution is set to transform the built environment, reducing a building’s carbon footprint related to cooling by as much as 30%. CaaS is an innovative business-model that aims to make energy-efficient cooling more affordable and accessible, representing a shift from traditional product-centric business models to a service-oriented approach, while also achieving sustainable results. The solution will enable Aldar to outsource the cooling services in its assets, with end-users paying for the cooling they receive, and in turn reducing spend on utility bills and energy use; taking advantage of a solution without risk and upfront capital requirements.
The key components of the project include upgrading cooling equipment with energy conservation measures (ECMs), providing premium maintenance coverage, and ensuring fair and accurate billing to tenants of both iconic developments. The CaaS model, implemented by Johnson Controls, places a strong focus on delivering effective outcomes to buildings, representing a departure from traditional product-centric business models in favour of a service-oriented approach.
Both the Al Rayyana Complex and Eastern Mangroves are mixed use developments owned and managed by Aldar. Al Rayana Complex features a three-level shopping mall within the residential destination comprising of 1,500 homes. Eastern Mangroves includes an array of restaurants, leisure outlets, a supermarket and the 5-star Eastern Mangroves Hotel and Spa by Anantara.
Since early 2022, Aldar has invested AED 140 million in various energy retrofit projects, at 61 owned and managed assets. Implemented across five different asset classes, the retrofit projects target 20% energy savings in electricity, water, and chilled water consumption. These projects aim to offset 55,315 tCO2 per year and reduce yearly utility consumption by a total of AED 40 million. Johnson Controls was one of the four Energy Services companies (ESCO) that Aldar has awarded five-year Energy Performance Contracts to support with this project.
