By Joey Aguilar
A number of malls in Qatar are considering investing more in new and sustainable technology to further reduce energy and water use, it is learnt.
The move, according to senior mall officials, is part of their efforts to support Tarsheed, the national campaign for the conservation and efficient use of water and electricity in Qatar.
Speaking to Gulf Times, Dar Al Salam Mall operations manager Zahid Iqbal said they are looking at the adiabatic cooling system, which can help save 10-15% of energy during the peak period in summer.
The system works by significantly improving the efficiency of chillers for minimal power wastage. It also lessens the use of water, it is learnt.
“We are specifically working with chillers, two to three companies have given us proposals and we are now studying them,” he said.
A mall that pays around QR400,000 a month for electricity and water for example can save around QR60,000 or more, according to Iqbal.
He said they also signed a contract with a company to install solar panels to power the lights located in the mall’s outdoor and parking areas.
“We are studying this case; it is not final yet but we are expected to convert it before the summer starts,” Iqbal added.
While the cost of (one-time) installation can be steep, he believes they can recover in five-six years.
For indoor lighting, the mall has signed a contract with a leading company to convert existing bulbs and lamps into LED lights starting January next year.
Like Dar Al Salam, Al Khor Mall is also mulling to convert its current cooling system into adiabatic. This technology is currently used abroad at some of the shopping complexes run by the company that operates Al Khor Mall.
“It is something that we are looking at because AC and lighting are the two highest consumers of energy,” mall manager Navaneeth Sudhakaran told Gulf Times. “We are in the analysis stage to see its impact, if it is sustainable and profitable.”
Besides considering an efficient cooling system for the mall, he said they are also considering installing solar panels to power their street lamps. Some of the company’s properties in the Middle East are now using solar panels.
Sudhakaran added they are also studying how to recycle wastewater at the mall and make it useful.
Besides using sensors, Al Khor Mall is also looking at installing “a sort of a filter” in each faucet at washrooms to reduce water flow. “We try to reduce water wastage as much as possible,” the official stressed.
© Gulf Times 2016
