As part of RAK Integrated Sustainability (RIS) Strategy 2050, the Buildings Retrofits Initiative under the Sustainable Communities programme aims to improve the energy and water efficiency of existing government, commercial and residential buildings. In 2017, residential energy consumption accounted for 32% of total energy use in Ras Al Khaimah. With population growth and increasing comfort expectations in the Emirate, this share is expected to rise significantly in the coming years unless decisive action is taken to address this issue.
The Model Villa Initiative was launched to raise awareness and demonstrate through a real life case study, how a properly done executed retrofit can significantly reduce energy consumption in a typical local villa in Ras Al Khaimah. A public raffle was held, open to all local residents, and the selected villa received a complete retrofit free of charge. In return, the villa served as a live demonstration of the retrofit process, showcasing the specific measures implemented and the energy and water savings achieved compared to its previous consumption. The initiative successfully provided a tangible example of the benefits of residential retrofits, increasing public understanding, and encouraged other villa owners to pursue similar projects in their own homes.
The selected villa owner received a full energy retrofit free of charge. This resulted in energy savings and reduction in thier FEWA bill. Additional benefits included improved comfort and sustainability of the villa, extended equipment life and reduced maintenance needs and an opportunity to contribute directly to Ras Al Khaimah’s Energy Efficiency and Renewables Strategy 2040.
