The regional headquarters of Grundfos in Dubai has been awarded LEED Platinum Certification for Operations and Maintenance – an internationally recognised mark of excellence for Green Buildings.
LEED is the most widely used certification programme in the world, with more than 94,000 projects in over 165 countries and territories. Certification shows clients, customers, partners, and the community at large that you are committed to decarbonising your building through increased energy efficiency and sustainability practices. In the UAE, Grundfos has joined the ranks of the few buildings and that have secured LEED Platinum certifications for Operations and Maintenance.
The Grundfos facility is one of just 11 in Dubai to be awarded this prestigious certification under operations and maintenance category. The 4,456m2 Grundfos multi-purpose complex hosts a factory, service centre, warehouse and an office which serves the region with sustainable water solutions.
In addition to being a regional base, the complex also serves as a training centre where hundreds of engineers, consultants and customers receive hands-on training and interact with the most advanced cloud-based water solutions in the region.
Kostas Poulopoulos, Area Managing Director of Grundos, said that earning the accreditation is a moment of pride for everyone in the company. It took time, team effort, and a genuine zeal for sustainability to achieve it. “We’re proud to be one of the very few facilities in the UAE to achieve this recognition, and this truly reflects our purpose of driving sustainability not only through our solutions but also in how we operate as a business. We looked into how we can be more sustainable through our entire business operations and did not leave any stone unturned along the way.”
Climate Positive by 2030
The certification process took around a year to complete, but Grundfos has been working tirelessly for some time in order to become climate positive.
“Several years ago, we switched to using LED lights and upgraded our chiller management system, which resulted in at least 70% reduced associated electricity consumption. We have also taken steps to substantially save water in our facility and operations,” Poulopoulos explained.
The result of all of this effort is that water consumption has decreased by 54%, while electricity consumption has decreased by 90% since 2017. These are extraordinary figures, yet they only inspire Grundfos to do more. Indeed, by the end of March 2020, the company had also activated solar panels on its facility, which now provide at least 60% of its energy requirements. These newly installed solar panels yield 310,000kW of energy per year and allow the company to avoid at least 210,000kg of CO2 emissions annually. Grundfos is committed to becoming climate positive by 2030.
It is undeniable that the world has achieved rapid technological development at the expense of the planet. But Grundfos shows that it is possible to harness innovation and technology for sustainable development. It is possible to grow as a company without harming the world; all it takes is to have a genuine care for the planet, and the rest will follow. “Being a water and climate company, we are obliged to pioneer solutions to address the world’s most pressing water and climate challenges and adopt these practices in how we operate also,” Poulopoulos said.
Walking the Talk
Grundfos has stated that it will halve its own water consumption by 2025, and by 2030 will have contributed to providing safely-managed drinking water to 300 million people in need. Also, through water efficiency and water treatment, the company will have saved 50 billion m3 of freshwater. Moreover, it will reduce its own CO2 emissions by 50% by 2025.
Going above and beyond to raise awareness and make a difference, Grundfos undertakes a variety of sustainability and climate action activities. To raise awareness and foster a sustainable lifestyle for its employees, for instance, the company holds Sustainability Workshops. Another excellent case-in-point regarding Grundfos’ determination to ‘walk the talk’ is its ‘Walk for Water’ initiative, an employee-driven programme that works to bring clean water to communities in need wherever they may be in the world.
Grundfos also took part in the UAE’s ‘Shred-it’ programme, which, through shredding and recycling between January and October 2019, for which it was awarded a Certificate of Environmental Accomplishment.
Celebrating 75 Years
From the very first pump in 1945 to today’s digital solutions, Grundfos has been synonymous with a pioneering spirit, social awareness and innovative solutions. Its 75th anniversary in May 2020 was a reminder of the company’s commitment to bring not only the ultimate in pump systems and water technology to the world but safe drinking water for everyone.
Kostas Poulopoulos, Area Managing Director, Gulf, Levant and Pakistan, concludes: “We celebrate the pioneering, collaborative and socially responsible spirit that has driven Grundfos since the beginning and continues to drive us today. We carry that mindset forward with a profound commitment to fight the imminent water and climate challenges affecting all of us through our sustainable solutions, partners and colleagues.”