“Masdar City” completes the first “zero energy” office building in the region

Masdar City, a leading sustainable urban community, has announced the completion of the region’s first zero-energy office building, named NZ1.

She added in a statement that the building’s simple design demonstrates that almost any developer can achieve climate neutrality, setting a new standard for architects and city planners around the world.

Masdar City CEO, Ahmed Baqhoum, said: “The completion of NZ1 is a real achievement for Masdar City, especially ahead of the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP28). Our vision has always been to accelerate the UAE’s ambitious endeavors towards achieving climate neutrality, something we are very close to achieving.”

He added: “NZ1 is just the beginning, and through our distinctive approach to achieving sustainability, which focuses on societal needs and financial sustainability, in addition to protecting the environment, we are proving that sustainability is not a luxury limited to the elite of society, but rather a possible option for everyone.”

For his part, Head of Design Department at Masdar City, Lutz Felgen, said: “Masdar City has been keen to push the known limits of sustainable development for more than 15 years, and NZ1 is considered the most efficient building in Masdar’s history in terms of energy consumption, and represents its best experiences.” acquired so far. Its design is also among the simplest in the city, which confirms the ability of all developers to create an environmentally friendly building once they have the right tools and expertise.” NZ1 is designed to consume 53% less energy than a similar conventional building. The photovoltaic panels on the site will generate 101% of the building’s annual energy needs, making it a “zero energy building.” Any excess energy produced will be sent to supply the Abu Dhabi electricity grid.

Masdar City designed NZ1 with a strong focus on “passive design”, an architectural technique that blends in with the local environment and the physical components of the building, to reduce the need for electrical heating or cooling technologies.

For example, NZ1 has a low window-to-façade ratio, and uses window angle and shading to minimize direct sunlight, while maximizing natural light. The building also features airtight envelopes and first-class insulation to retain heat and cool air.

The building was constructed using sustainable and locally sourced materials wherever possible, and approximately 90% of construction waste was recycled and reused. The building also uses low-flow water equipment and fixtures, with gardens and landscaping designed to consume minimal water. The total estimated carbon offsets for the building are about 550 kilograms of carbon dioxide per square metre.

NZ1 is the first of many zero-energy projects being implemented in Masdar City, and it is expected to soon receive the LEED Platinum and LEED Zero-Energy ratings, the two highest international green building ratings awarded by the US Green Building Council.

Two zero energy projects

Masdar City has two other zero-energy projects under construction: the headquarters of the Masdar City Complex project, which is scheduled for completion in 2024, in addition to the co-working and living space CO-LAB located within the “The Link” project, which is scheduled for completion. In 2025.