Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower) has said that it has started supplying the ‘Uptown Tower’ in Dubai with its environmentally friendly district cooling services, with a capacity of 3,850 Refrigeration tons (RT).

Located opposite Jumeirah Lakes Towers district, the Uptown skyscraper is the first high-rise tower in Uptown Dubai district, which is being developed by Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), a Dubai Government entity.

In a statement, Empower said that the Uptown project, which DMCC was keen to build according to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) gold standards, is supplied with environmentally friendly cooling services of sustainable global standards that are consistent and complementary to its smart and sustainable construction strategy.

Created by Adrian Smith & Gordon Gill Architecture, the design of the tower imitates the diamond glaze. Through its front glass façade, natural light travels to the interior spaces while the heat of the sun is prevented from entering.

“Empower’s state-of–the-art district cooling plants and widely spread cooling networks are built on advanced infrastructure as well as smart operating and production systems”, Ahmad Bin Shafar, Empower’s CEO, said.

“The company is always ready to supply any project in Dubai, no matter how large it is or how diverse its uses are. This indeed explains the growing confidence of investors and developers in our highly efficient and environmentally friendly services”, he added.

According to Empower, the increasing demand for the energy efficient district cooling services is attributed to the growing awareness about the economic and environmental benefits of district cooling solutions among the real estate developers. District cooling saves energy reduces maintenance and capital expenses, and curbs greenhouse gas emissions, it added.

Bin Shafar also pointed to the importance of the Uptown project for Dubai in general and for Empower’s portfolio in particular.

“Uptown is an 81-floor architectural icon that is 340 meters high. It comprises 188 luxurious rooms and suites, exclusive restaurants, health centres, comprehensive conference facilities, first-class offices with highly efficient spaces and 229 uniquely designed housing units.

“The project is also to house a state-of-the-art business hub for Dubai Multi Commodities Centre. Recently, International Interiors was awarded the contract for the branded hotel and residential units fit out”, Bin Shafar explained.

“Empower supports all mega projects in Dubai, especially in the domains of residential, hospitality, commercial and others, by providing them with environmentally-friendly and highly efficient district cooling solutions,” he added.

He added that the company seeks to raise awareness about the energy efficient district cooling services, in order to support the vision of the UAE, which aims to embrace sustainability and the need to meet the challenges posed by climate change that forms a real obstacle to achieving growth and prosperity.

The Uptown Tower will enhance the world-class business hub in the JLT district and will also be a significant addition to Empower’s diversified portfolio. It will be served through one of the company’s advanced District Cooling plants in JLT.