The Change Initiative in Dubai becomes world's highest scoring LEED-CI Platinum project
The Change Initiative, a 4,000m2 retail store in Dubai, secured LEED-CI Platinum certification post renovation, scoring 107 points from a maximum possible 110 points, which is a world record.
Designed by HOK, it is Dubai's first retail store to sell sustainable products and services and is said to be highest-scoring LEED for Commercial Interiors Platinum project in the world.
The renovated two-storey sustainable store features a water filtration system that uses a vacuum membrane filtration system to purify water.
Its roof features a solar array with 120 solar panels to generate 50,000 kWh per year, or about 15% of the building's total electricity needs.
The renovation has used materials that are already present in the property like the wooden flooring which is reused as wall panels.
The store is divided into four core zones like Energy, Water, Waste and Household.
The Energy zone deals with laundry, living room and outdoors; Water zone deals with kitchen, bathroom and laundry; Waste zone deals with kitchen; and Lifestyle zone deals with living room and kitchen.
Besides these learning lounges, the space also integrates training areas and model mock-up home and office facilities.
The store sells products related to energy conservation, waste management, organic food and various lifestyle items.
Some of the best-selling environment-friendly consumer products are Ecover and Bokashi compost bins. It also stocks sustainable brands and multinational firms like Phillips, Schneider, Vitra, Ecover, Siematic, Volkswagen and IBM.
The ground floor of the store serves residential consumers while the above floor accommodates commercial and institutional organisations.
"The Change Initiative efficiently uses our natural resources to make an immediate, positive impact on our planet, which will tremendously benefit future generations to come," said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council.
The Change Initiative opened in October 2012.
This store in Dubai is a prototype developed as the first of 25 retail shops to be rolled out across the Middle East, Europe, Asia and the US.
