Three60 Communities, a subsidiary of Eltizam Asset Management Group and a leading regional provider of management services to premium residential and commercial communities, has announced year on year energy & water savings exceeding AED 4.75 million between January and September 2019, through the implementation of initiatives to reduce consumption. Driven by a dual strategy to drive cost savings and minimalize environmental impact, the coordinated effort has produced extremely positive results across the entire portfolio of communities during 2019.

Utility consumption represents the most significant single component of property operating and maintenance costs in the GCC region, often reaching 30-40% of the total cost budget. In line with this, Three60 Communities worked with its FM partners to implement innovative solutions that have led to water, chilled water and electricity usage decrease across more than 20 different communities in the UAE. In total, 10 locations recorded electricity reduction, 9 achieved water consumption reduction and a further four saw a decrease in chilled water usage for a combined savings of AED 4.75 million. The single biggest impact was on an iconic multi-use high rise community in DIFC where a total of AED 2.4 million was saved as a result of an extensive retrofit project that included the installation of multiple energy and water efficiency measures.

Mohammed Alsharaf, COO of parent company Eltizam Asset Management Group, added: “In 2019, Three60 Communities have set the standard for all companies under the umbrella of Eltizam Asset Management Group with regards to energy savings and giving back to society by reducing negative environmental impact. Ultimately, we want to make a strong contribution to the UAE Energy Strategy 2050. The strategy aims to increase the contribution of clean energy in the total energy mix from 25 per cent to 50 per cent by 2050 and reduce carbon footprint of power generation by 70 percent by the same year. Through the foundations that continue to be laid, Eltizam and our subsidiaries will be heavily involved in the national effort and I am proud of the efforts being demonstrated by everyone in all departments.”

Alan Rowlands, General Manager, Three60 Group, said: “We are very proud to have achieved these energy savings and are even more delighted when considering the figures recorded exceeded our set annual targets. Lower energy use not only helps reduce our communities’ environmental footprint (by way of reducing burning of fossil fuels and resulting CO2 emissions), but directly contributes to lowering the operating costs of the communities which we manage. This allows owners associations to invest in community improvements and ensure continuity of services within their communities.”

Alan continued, “As one of the region’s largest, most reputable and highly qualified owner’s association management (OAM) companies, we strive to build sustainable communities and benchmark ourselves against the best in the business while maintaining the highest international standards. In managing every aspect of a real estate development, we provide clients and residents with a happy community in which they can live, work and play. We look forward to retaining the high levels of their satisfaction and enhancing our services even further in the coming years.”

In terms of electricity, a set of energy conservation measures was implemented by the Three60 Communities team working with each community’s facilities management partner. These measures include: monitoring and controlling lighting use in parking and common areas with only essential lighting at night; Optimizing HVAC operating parameters to maintain desired air temperature, by switching off fresh air handling (FAHU) units after the office hours in commercial buildings; Changing the day/night temperature settings of FAHU per ambient temperature; Controlling the chilled water flow by adjusting the variable-frequency drive (VFD) parameters, etc.

As one of the region’s largest and highest qualified OAM companies, Three60 Communities are responsible for running over 115 premium communities across the UAE and Sultanate of Oman; provide comprehensive owner association management services to master communities, residential and commercial towers, mixed use developments and villa communities.