As world leaders gathered in the UAE in December to tackle climate change at COP28, the decisions and commitments made at this landmark global event are likely to have an impact on various sectors across the country.
Facilities management plays a crucial role in ensuring energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions in buildings and other infrastructure and is, therefore, likely to be one of the main industries under the spotlight.
Markus Oberlin, CEO of UAE-based Farnek, who ranked third in FM Middle East’s 2023 FM Power 50 shares his predictions for the top industry trends for 2024 following COP28.
1. Stricter Environmental Regulations
If COP28 results in the introduction of stricter environmental regulations, FM will have to adjust its practices to comply with these new standards. Changes may involve adopting a greater variety of energy-efficient measures, such as reducing waste, using sustainable materials, and transitioning to renewable energy sources. Additionally, FM will need to invest in new technologies and equipment to help monitor and manage energy consumption more accurately and efficiently.
2. Increased Demand for Green Buildings
To promote sustainable building practices, there will be a more concerted effort to encourage the adoption of green building certifications such as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and the implementation of sustainable hospitality operational practices and standards such as Green Globe. These certifications and practices can help reduce the environmental impact of buildings and promote the use of renewable energy sources, energy efficiency, and sustainable materials. By prioritising these initiatives, the industry can work towards a more sustainable future for our built environment.
3. Focus on Renewable Energy
During the final week of COP28, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, inaugurated the world’s largest solar project in Dubai. Following this development, it is expected that there will be an increased focus on the adoption of solar and other renewable energy technologies in building operations and maintenance nationwide. This shift towards renewable energy sources will undoubtedly impact the FM industry, with more emphasis placed on incorporating these technologies into building operations and maintenance.
4. Enhanced Reporting Requirements
Accountability will play a crucial role, and COP28 might result in more comprehensive reporting requirements for energy usage, carbon footprint, and sustainability efforts. FM will have to meticulously track and report these metrics using systems like POWERTEK, which is our in-house comprehensive solution for monitoring energy consumption and trends, as well as flagging any irregularities. Similarly, our state-of-the-art online carbon footprint calculation tool, CARBONTEK, measures and analyses carbon emissions, identifying specific hotspots, and supporting businesses on their journey towards achieving net zero.
5. Technological Innovations
The conference will undoubtedly encourage more widespread use of new technologies for energy management, building automation, and efficient resource use. FM professionals will need to stay abreast of these technologies and integrate them effectively. In addition to POWERTEK and CARBONTEK, our BMSTEK building management solution, focuses on intelligent, energy-centric maintenance for smart buildings and provides a flexible, scalable platform that can seamlessly connect to any asset or branded Building Management System (BMS). Moreover, IoT is among the many technologies that are transforming the way in which facilities are now managed.
6. Training and Skill Development
As the world is constantly evolving and new standards and technologies are being introduced, it is imperative for FM practitioners to keep themselves updated with the latest advancements. This is where the need for enhanced training and skill development comes in. The FM industry will require its workforce to have in-depth knowledge of new energy-efficient technologies, and the ability to implement sustainable practices that are in line with the latest industry standards. To stay ahead of the curve, ongoing training and skill development will become increasingly important, as it will not only ensure that facilities are managed efficiently but also help organisations achieve their sustainability goals.
7. Financial Incentives and Support
Governments may offer financial incentives, such as tax benefits, for companies that adopt sustainable practices in FM. By reducing their carbon footprint, minimising waste, and conserving energy and resources, businesses can not only contribute to a healthier and cleaner environment but also benefit from significant cost savings in the long run. Therefore, it is a win-win situation for both businesses and the environment
8. Public Perception and Corporate Responsibility
As public awareness of climate issues grows, there is a greater expectation for corporations to play their part in protecting the environment. This will require companies to adopt new strategies and technologies that prioritise environmental responsibility, reduce waste, and minimise their carbon footprint. As we head into 2024, the growing conversation around climate change demands a proactive and holistic approach from corporations, urging them to not only comply with existing environmental regulations but to actively seek out and implement novel solutions that contribute positively to the wider environment.
Farnek, a leader in sustainable facilities management and environmental solutions, has signed a groundbreaking initiative with the UAE Alliance for Climate Action (UACA) to accelerate the transition to green transportation alternatives and reduce transport emissions in the country. The UACA’s Road2.0 initiative aims to implement and validate science-based carbon emissions reduction targets in the near-term and long-term to achieve the UAE’s “Net-Zero North Star” goal.
As an initial signatory, Farnek will deploy commercial Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) into business operations to reduce emissions in the short and medium term. Over time, the UAE ecology will benefit from the integration of Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEVs) within commercial fleets, which will play an essential role in reducing emissions associated with the transport sector.
Currently, commercial road transport accounts for more than 10% of the UAE’s overall emissions, and Road2.0 aims to unite stakeholders to support the Net Zero Strategic Initiative 2050 and Demand Side Management Strategy 2050 (Green Mobility Programme) by accelerating the decarbonization of road transport. Markus Oberlin, Farnek CEO, emphasized the importance of promoting sustainable practices and environmental responsibility within the business community.
Other distinguished signatories of the Road2.0 initiative include Talabat and Unilever Gulf FZE, two industry giants that are committed to promoting sustainable and environmentally-friendly business practices. The signing ceremony, held at expocity Green Zone, was attended by 15 signatories at the forefront of transport in the UAE and represents an important step towards realizing the decarbonized society envisioned by the Paris Agreement and the UAE Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative.
Farnek’s commitment to reducing emissions and promoting sustainable practices highlights its leadership in sustainable facilities management and environmental solutions. The signing of this groundbreaking programme represents the latest step in Farnek’s commitment to net zero by 2050.
Caption: Markus Oberlin with Laila Abdullatif, Director General of Emirates Nature-WWF after the signing ceremony.
Mohamed Zayan, an intern at smart and green total facilities management company Farnek, has unveiled an innovative project that involved retrofitting a buggy, with photovoltaic panels that harness solar energy, to charge the buggy’s battery.
This solar-powered buggy will be operated in Expo City Dubai, showcasing Farnek’s commitment and alignment with Expo City Dubai’s sustainability goals, as well as COP28 ‘energy transition’ objectives.
According to Zayan, who is currently studying for his Master’s in Energy & Sustainable development from a UK-based De Montfort University in Dubai, “Quite apart from the energy savings, the project will encourage other students to embrace projects related to renewable energy.”
Farnek has estimated that the solar panels will produce around 735 kWh/year which helps to offset approximately 18% of the energy required to charge the buggy’s batteries at charging stations and should reduce around 330kg CO2e carbon emissions per annum.
Stress analysis of the structure was carried out using SAP2000 software to check the integrity of the buggy’s roof and supporting struts, considering design parameters such as speed as well as static and dynamic loads. PV Panels are not directly fixed to the buggy structure but rather are integrated into a dedicated, custom-made, light-weight frame to improve strength without adding any noteworthy load to the buggy.
Safety has been considered in the design, through a solar charge controller, integrated into the solar circuitry, which prevents any over or undercharging of the battery. The electrical and structural design of this project is flexible enough to add more PV modules in the future to increase solar production and hence offset even more fossil-based energy.
Photo caption: (L-R) Mohamed Zayan, Ahmed Ali Agha, Farnek’s Senior Manager for Net Zero at Expo City, and Derek Ford, General Manager, Farnek Expo City FM, present the solar buggy during COP28.
About Farnek:
Farnek is the leading provider of sustainable and technology-driven Facilities Management in the United Arab Emirates. Established in the UAE since 1980, Farnek Services LLC is a Swiss-owned independent total facilities management company.
With a skilled workforce of more than 8,000 employees, Farnek delivers professional Facilities Management and security services across several sectors; Aviation, Hospitality, Banking, Retail, Shopping Malls, Telecom, Residential, Commercial, Infrastructure, Government, Education, Leisure and Entertainment.
ESCO scheme recognises companies which have qualified personnel, robust financial status & a successful track record of delivering energy saving projects in Dubai – Farnek welcomes timely achievement.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 27 November 2023: Leading UAE-based smart and green facilities management company Farnek has been granted full accreditation as an Energy Services Company (ESCO) from Dubai’s Regulatory & Supervisory Bureau (RSB).
The RSB was established in 2010 and works under the auspices of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, developing and administering frameworks to encourage greater energy efficiency in buildings. The ESCO accreditation scheme is designed to build trust and make the process smoother for accredited entities and their clients.
Previously an accredited energy auditor with RSB, Farnek was given full ESCO accreditation due to its proven track record of Energy Performance Contract (EPC) projects in the UAE.
“This is a very timely achievement, with COP28 almost upon us. Our accreditation is a result of the successful implementation of various ESCO projects, which have so far generated millions of kWh savings in electricity consumption.
“Obtaining full accreditation serves as a testament to our commitment to continuous improvement and alignment with evolving international standards and best practices and our ethical conduct, delivering high-quality energy efficiency solutions.” said Muna Al Nahdi, Head of Sustainability & Consultancy, Farnek.
ESCOs differ from other companies that offer energy-efficiency improvements in that they use a performance-based contracting methodology. When an ESCO is engaged for a project, financial compensation is directly linked to the actual energy and cost savings achieved.
ESCOs help building owners identify how they can improve energy use and deliver the savings identified. Energy efficiency can only be improved if there is information available on the performance of buildings and they are audited for ways to improve energy use.
The RSB has designed two standard contracts which cater for the two main approaches to energy performance contracting: Shared savings, where the ESCO provides the financing, and Guaranteed savings, where the client provides financing.
“We embrace the shared savings model and invest in projects to alleviate the financial burden for our clients.
“Energy is also the primary contributor to carbon emissions and reducing consumption is one of the most effective steps towards decarbonisation and ultimately a net-zero future, particularly for existing built environments.
“Our solutions are distinctive, characterised by a commitment to challenging norms, innovating, implementing best engineering practices, and integrating technology—all while prioritising value and our clients’ best interests. We anticipate that this accreditation will foster trust and positive relationships with our clients and the broader business community,” commented Al Nahdi.
For more than two decades, Farnek has been at the forefront of providing energy management services, with a cost-efficient, integrated and data-driven approach. And in line with the UAE’s net-zero commitment, Farnek is also committed to promoting, investing and implementing sustainable solutions throughout its own operations
Farnek is the leading provider of sustainable and technology-driven Facilities Management in the United Arab Emirates. Established in the UAE since 1980, Farnek Services LLC is a Swiss-owned independent total facilities management company.
With a skilled workforce of more than 8,000 employees, Farnek delivers professional Facilities Management and security services across several sectors; Aviation, Hospitality, Banking, Retail, Shopping Malls, Telecom, Residential, Commercial, Infrastructure, Government, Education, Leisure and Entertainment
UAE-based smart & green total FM
company recognises Schindler & Enviroserve for their commitment to a
cleaner environment during annual green supplier awards
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 9
November 2023:
Leading UAE-based smart and green facilities management (FM) company Farnek, has acknowledged its two top suppliers
for their commitment to sustainability and a cleaner environment.
Dubai-headquartered,
Schindler MENA which manufactures, installs,
maintains and modernises mobility solutions for buildings throughout the region
and UAE-based Enviroserve, the only integrated waste recycling hub in the Middle
East & Africa, each received 2023 sustainability awards from Markus
Oberlin, CEO of Farnek, Muna Al Nahdi, Head of Sustainability
& Consultancy and Mira Hachem,
Director of Procurement, during a ceremony held at Farnek’s offices.
“If Farnek is going to realise its own net zero ambitions,
then it is essential that we reduce our Scope 3 emissions, those generated through
our procurement process. Suppliers can contribute up to 65% of any
organisation’s carbon footprint, so we must encourage, recognise and reward our
suppliers through programmes such as our green awards, which is now in its
third year,’ said Oberlin.
Farnek’s initiative integrates
environmental and social considerations into its procurement process, to bring about
a more positive environmental impact, by appreciating and prioritising its suppliers
that were exhibiting a similar green commitment.
To achieve this, Farnek began by introducing
green principles within its supply chain process, supporting its customers’
eco-consciousness, to create long term valued partnerships, which drive supply
chain sustainability.
Farnek then went through a process to
determine a sustainable procurement policy, which included evaluation through
certain criteria such as:
Environmental commitment
Carbon reduction commitment
Net zero strategy and projects
Green products
Integrated waste management
Health & safety
Social commitment & employee welfare
Sound governance practices
Suppliers were evaluated throughout a
five-stage process, which started with questionnaires being sent to key
partners. Once these were completed and returned with supporting documentation,
companies were scored, weighting their responses for each criteria. By adopting
a progressive rating system, Schindler and Enviroserve both stood out as clear
winners, scoring 93 and 85 respectively, ranking them in the highest range,
between 75-100.
-Ends-
Photo
caption 1 (L-R): Mira
Hachem & Markus Oberlin with Hugo Miguel Ramos – CEO Middle East
and North Africa – Schindler Group.
Photo caption 2 (L-R): Markus Oberlin with Stuart Fleming – Managing Partner – Enviroserve Services LLC
About Farnek:
Farnek is the
leading provider of sustainable and technology-driven Facilities Management in
the United Arab Emirates. Established in the UAE since 1980, Farnek Services
LLC is a Swiss-owned independent total facilities management company.
With a skilled workforce of more than 8,000 employees, Farnek
delivers professional Facilities Management and security services across
several sectors; Aviation, Hospitality, Banking, Retail, Shopping Malls,
Telecom, Residential, Commercial, Infrastructure, Government, Education,
Leisure and Entertainment.
COP28 (Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) is a crucial international event that gathers countries, governments, scientists, activists, and stakeholders from around the world to address pressing environmental challenges. Its significance, particularly in the context of sustainability and climate action, cannot be overstated.
Farnek is providing its green FM services for the Expo City Dubai, where COP28 will be held
Markus Oberlin, CEO at Farnek, says that the event comes at a pivotal moment for climate action around the globe. He says: “Through international media reports, most of us are well aware of record global temperatures, as well as unprecedented wildfires, floods, storms and droughts worldwide.”
Markus Oberlin, the CEO of Farnek.
According to experts, such as Chatham House, the UN’s Global Stocktake synthesis report states much more must be done to meet the goals of the landmark Paris Agreement. COP28 presents a critical opportunity for governments to put the world on a more sustainable path. Oberlin adds: “Vital issues facing negotiators will include implementing the loss and damage fund (established at COP27) and establishing a framework for the Paris Agreement’s global goal on adaptation (GGA). Other issues under the spotlight will include energy transition and food systems transformation, as well as climate finance.”
He says that COP28 is expected to have a significant influence on the UAE and Middle East FM industry. “As previously mentioned, COP28 will lead to increased global efforts to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate climate change. This will put pressure on facility managers to adopt sustainable practices within their buildings such as energy-efficient lighting, HVAC systems, and renewable energy sources.
“COP28 discussions often result in promoting green building standards and regulations such as LEED and Green Globe. Facility managers will need to be aware of these updated standards, to ensure that their buildings and processes are compliant. This may include retrofitting older structures to meet new sustainability requirements.
“It is also highly likely that the UAE will review its own net zero strategy still further, with new targets on an accelerated timeline. Facility managers will play a crucial role in helping organisations meet these revised targets by optimising their facilities for energy efficiency and reduced emissions.”
Oberlin believes that COP28 will focus on transitioning to cleaner energy sources, and facility managers may find themselves exploring opportunities for onsite renewable energy generation, such as solar panels. Facility managers will also need to implement effective waste management programs and encourage recycling within their facilities.
To that end, facility management is increasingly relying on data and technology to optimise building operations. “COP28’s influence may encourage the adoption of more advanced technologies for energy management, predictive maintenance, and sustainability monitoring.” Farnek claims to be one of the first FM companies in the Middle East to unveil its roadmap to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, supporting the UAE’s strategic initiative.
Using 2021 as a brline, Farnek consultants identified the scope and boundaries, to accurately measure its carbon footprint. Apart from building performance such as energy and water consumption, Farnek also took into account, employee travel, logistics, purchased good and services, waste disposal, as well as focusing on recycling, renewables and other lower carbon alternatives.
L to R: Javeria Aijaz, Senior Director – Technology & Innovations ICT, Derek Ford, General Manager – Expo City & Business Development, and Muna Alnahdi, Head of Consultancy & Sustainability at Farnek, standing at Expo City Dubai
Emission targets were set for each category and applied an initial five-year reduction goal, which is reviewed annually to gauge progress, make adjustments if necessary and disclose the results to be transparent.
Oberlin says: “By the end of 2026, Farnek aims to reduce its electricity, water, refrigerants and fuel consumption by 30%. It will cut its waste by 10% and lower emissions associated with purchased good and services by 5%.”
By 2031, Farnek’s objective is to decrease its emissions in these categories by up to 50% and by 2048 its carbon footprint will have been cut by up to 90% overall.
Oberlin says: “Of course, it is impossible to become carbon neutral by reduction methods alone, so the remaining 10% will be offset by supporting certified carbon offset projects, thereby achieving its net zero target by 2050.”
Talking about Farnek’s energy management solutions, Oberlin says that the firm’s online remote digital platform PowerTEK, was developed by inhouse experts, at Farnek’s innovative digital solutions sister company HITEK.
Farnek’s PowerTEK is an AI and ML-brd intelligent energy analytical platform
PowerTEK is an AI and ML-brd intelligent energy analytical platform brd on energy, waste, carbon statistics and KPIs, fed by live and historical data from IoT, BMS and even manual upload. PowerTEK supports building owners and managers, through efficient measuring, tracking, monitoring and benchmarking of energy and water consumption as well as waste management. It analyses consumption and waste, with respect to multiple variables that can influence a building’s environmental metrics, which helps to maintain higher operational efficiency and lowering costs. Moreover, the analysis helps to reduce carbon emissions, which are key to navigating any roadmap towards net zero.
Additionally, CarbonTek is a dedicated online carbon footprint calculation tool, which can measure and analyse carbon emissions and identify carbon emission hotspots. The online tool caters to any type of business and has the flexibility to adapt to any operational activity. Developed by Farnek’s inhouse carbon management experts, with support from software developers from sister company HITEK, the digital tool calculates carbon emissions across all three scopes of emissions (Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions in accordance with Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG) – a widely used greenhouse gas accounting and reporting standard). The online solution can also be customised to generate carbon emission reports for industry sectors such as hospitality, manufacturing, commercial offices and logistics, according to the type and scope of business operations, accommodating access from multiple users in multiple locations.
Farnek provides a five-step approach from assessment-to-communication throughout the whole process of the net zero journey – training about the net zero concept and climate change; carbon footprint calculation; identifying emissions hotspots and setting reduction targets; preparing a plan for decarbonisation; and finally, monitoring and communicating milestone achievements. Talking about the challenges towards achieving net zero, Oberlin admits: “No one has truly cracked the code for achieving net-zero emissions. It’s a complex journey that demands a holistic approach, involving various aspects of an organisation and engaging multiple stakeholders. To tackle this challenge, we’ve developed an integrated approach that emphasises strategic planning, operational excellence, and collaboration. While setting targets is a crucial first step, the real challenge lies in turning those targets into concrete actions.”
He lists down the challenges:
Understanding and managing emissions At the core of Farnek’s journey lies the need for accurate emissions accounting and monitoring. Oberlin says: “Establishing the boundaries for our emissions footprint, acquiring reliable data, and employing the right calculation tools, which is why we developed our proprietary tool, Carbontek.”
Prioritisation amidst business growth Maintaining a delicate equilibrium between Farnek’s carbon reduction efforts and its business growth remains an enduring challenge. He says: “Presently, we encounter a market that is not fully prepared, marked by constraints in standards, policies, and technology. Nevertheless, we persistently seek innovative solutions that advance our climate objectives without hindrance. “To address existing gaps in the market, we’ve taken the initiative to develop our own in-house technological solutions such as Powertek, which enables monitoring key carbon emissions on real time and monthly basis.”
Tailored client engagement Clients vary in their understanding and priorities related to net-zero emissions. Some have no targets, while others require support in implementing carbon abatement projects. Farnek adapts its solutions to their needs, offering consultancy, guidance, and project implementation support. Giving an example, Oberlin says: “We’ve been providing energy auditing and saving solutions to our clients. This year, we’ve even considered investing in a number of projects through a shared energy saving ESCO contract to facilitate the energy and emissions reduction for our clients. We see our clients as partners and work together to find the best model.”
Supplier engagement A significant number of Farnek’s suppliers are currently unfamiliar with the concept of net zero emissions. To address this gap in awareness, the firm has launched the Green Supplier Award to motivate its suppliers towards adopting sustainable practices, with a particular focus on net zero commitments and emissions reduction. In the future, Farnek plans to advance its green procurement criteria.
Staff education Farnek’s staff play a very important role in achieving its net zero targets. The firm has made substantial investment in training and educating its staff, motivating them to embrace sustainable practices.
Community involvement Oberlin says: “Acknowledging that the journey to net zero requires collective effort, we are deeply involved in climate dialogue, research, and advocacy. We collaborate with organisations such as the UN Global Compact Network, the UAE Alliance for Climate Action, Emirates Green Building Council, and Emirates Environmental Group. Our commitment extends to knowledge sharing, as we host webinars, events, and actively participate in summits and panel discussions to disseminate expertise and promote sustainability.”
Sharing success stories of projects where Farnek’s smart and green FM service has delivered outstanding results, Oberlin says: “Over 15 years ago, we established our sustainability division with a primary mission to assist our clients in achieving their own sustainability objectives. Initially focused on making our FM practices more sustainable, we later expanded our services to encompass sustainability consultancy and solutions. This includes energy management, carbon management, waste management, and green certifications like LEED and Green Globe. Our innovative solutions such as Hotel Optimizer, have benefited over 100 hotels across the Middle East and beyond.”
A standout example of Farnek’s work is the Burj Khalifa, where it has managed for the past decade, contributing to an annual energy reduction of 5% through energy focused operational approach. Despite the intricacies of this iconic building, Farnek also played a pivotal role as the primary LEED consultant, instrumental in Burj Khalifa’s LEED certification journey. Farnek is also providing its green FM services for the Expo City and is supporting the client in achieving their sustainability and net zero goals while adhering to the international standards and the COP28 sustainability guidelines.
Talking about the future trends or innovations in the field of facilities management, Oberlin says that IoT will continue to play a significant role in facilities management. IoT sensors will monitor various aspects of building operations in real-time, including temperature, lighting, occupancy, and equipment status. This data will be used to optimise energy consumption, improve maintenance schedules, and enhance overall building performance.
Additionally, he says that AI and ML algorithms will be used to analyse data from IoT sensors and other sources to make predictive maintenance more efficient, optimise energy usage, and enhance security. AI-driven chatbots and virtual assistants may also help with occupant requests and building management.
Facility managers will also leverage data analytics to track and report on sustainability metrics. This will enable organisations to set and meet ambitious sustainability goals, reduce waste, and minimise carbon footprints.
Oberlin adds: “Predictive maintenance will become more precise through the use of AI and ML. Facility managers can predict equipment failures and conduct maintenance just in time, reducing downtime and repair costs.”
He also believes that organisations will increasingly seek sustainability certifications such as LEED to demonstrate their commitment to sustainable and healthy building practices. Facility managers will also work to reduce waste and extend the life of building components through practices like recycling, refurbishing, and repurposing materials.
The other trends Oberlin says are Advanced Security Systems and Blockchain for Transparency. He elaborates: “Integrated security systems will continue to advance, incorporating biometrics, AI-driven surveillance, and access control to ensure both physical and data security, whereas blockchain technology may be used to increase transparency in procurement and supply chain management, ensuring the use of sustainable and ethical materials and services.”
In addition to these trends, including LEED, Farnek along with sister group company HITEK, is already working on AI, IoT, and blockchain to integrate further into its smart solutions.
Ryan Mitchell head of
QHSEW at UAE-based total FM company unveils company’s new SAFETEK solution to
industry peers at HSE forum in Dubai
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday 1st
November 2023: Ryan Mitchell, head of Quality, Health, Safety, Excellence
and Wellbeing (QHSEW), at leading UAE-based smart and green facilities
management (FM) company Farnek
underscored the importance of digitalisation at the two-day HSE Forum, which
opened today (Wednesday 1st) at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Dubai.
Entitled – ‘Revolutionising Health and Safety
Auditing through Digitalisation’, the aim of the forum, is to pilot a new era
of auditing, leveraging the power of digitalisation, bringing innovative
solutions and transformative tools to health and safety auditors. With global
trends shifting towards digitalization, the forum is showcasing cutting-edge
tools and mobile apps that are set to revolutionise how auditors traditionally
operate, as well as exploring the significant benefits that this transformation
brings to the HSE auditing community.
Mitchell, along with other panelists, stressed the
benefits of digitalisation in HSE and the core areas that a digital mindset
could be applied to improve HSE, as well as the issues facing implementation,
while examining the solutions to overcome those challenges.
“SAFETEK which was developed in-house by Farnek
group company HITEK is a digital
safety management tool with the power of automation, which supports
organisations that are trying to move from reactive to a more predictive
approach.
“Our cloud and mobility-based solution was built
specifically to digitalise the auditing process, including reporting, to work
towards a safer workplace. SAFETEK includes reporting times and data analysis
to provide insights for preventative action,” said Ryan Mitchell, Head of QHSEW
at Farnek.
The high profile event attracted speakers
representing UAE regulatory bodies such as Engr. Raed Al Marzooqui, Manager of
Studies & Systems at Dubai Municipality, Dr. Waddah Ghanem Al Hashmi,
Chairman of the Federal Committee for Occupational Safety & Health Fellow
& UAE Chapter Advisory, Suzan Al Ghanem, Section Head Organisational
Resilience & Business Continuity at the Environmental Agency of Abu Dhabi
and Binu Kalarickan, Director of Health, Safety and Environment at Ras Al
Khaimah Economic Zone Authority – Government of Ras Al Khaimah.
Other eminent speakers representing ADNOC, DP
World, Emirates, Emirates Global Aluminum, DAMAC and Dubai Holding were also
present.
SAFETEK’s features include a safety KPI dashboard,
which allows users to capture reports in the field, tracks follow up actions, can
check the health status of employees, accommodates customised forms and
checklists, schedules inspections and audits with notifications, as well as
white labelling options and third-party integration.
“SAFETEK reduces downtime and ensures business
continuity, which can lead to cost savings for organisations through reduced
accidents, better resource allocation, and improved efficiency – not to mention
a safer workplace,” added Mitchell.
At Expo 2020, Mitchell ensured the well-being of
Farnek’s onsite workforce, operating within the guidelines set by the Expo
committee and several internationally renowned bodies, including the UK’s
Health & Safety Executive. He was also part of the team awarded the Gold
Card Award at the Taqdeer Awards last year, recognising excellence in worker
welfare and HSE.
He holds a Bachelor of Science honours degree from
Florida A&M University and is an OSHA certified health & safety
inspector. He is also skilled in ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001 auditing and a
member of CIWFM, MIFMA, and FEMA. He also holds NEBOSH H&S Certification.
Photo
caption: Ryan Mitchell, Head of QHSEW at
Farnek.
About HITEK
HITEK
Services is a part of Farnek Group, a leading industry expert with over 40
years of technical expertise and operational experience in Facilities
Management, Hospitality, and Technology Infrastructure. Our broad range of
intelligent applications is a result of people, processes, and technology
empowering our customers with digital, business, and technological transformation.
Our solutions are aimed at complementing leaner and more sustainable
operational processes that increase productivity and reduce energy consumption.
Farnek’s
head of sustainability to support strategic objectives, organisational risk
management, recruitment, and growth of the network
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 25
September 2023: Muna Al Nahdi, Head of Sustainability &
Consultancy at leading UAE-based, smart and green
Facilities Management (FM) company Farnek, has been appointed as a board member
of the official Local Network of the UN Global Compact in the UAE.
“We are delighted to welcome Muna as a member of our board and we
are looking forward to her involvement and insightful contribution, as we
navigate the way forward to a more sustainable future,” commented Joëlle Jammal, Executive Director, Global Compact
Network UAE.
As a new board member, Al Nahdi will act as an ambassador for the UAE Local Network of the UN Global Compact and her key responsibilities
include, supporting strategic objectives, organisational risk management, recruitment
and growth of the network, contributing to its strategic objectives.
Al Nahdi said: “Together with my fellow board members, I am eager
to engage with our participants at all levels, to help achieve the UN Sustainable
Development Goals and support the ten principles
of the UN Global Compact.”
New board members are elected by the General Assembly which
constitutes the 200+ participating companies of the UAE network, to represent
them through until the end of the board’s tenure. Headed by Chairman Eng.
Waleed Salman, who is EVP, Business Development & Excellence, DEWA, the UAE
board is comprised of members from a cross-section of the UAE’s business
community.
The GCN-UAE is one of 69 Local Networks around the world that
operates through a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the UNGC HQ.
Each network is self-managed and follows the UN Global Compact mandate, while localising
it in the UAE.
Hosted by the World Green Economy Organization and established in
2015, the GCN-UAE works closely with the UNGC HQ to provide opportunities for
learning, policy dialogue, and partnerships on the Ten Principles of
responsible conduct and the UN 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The
UNGC’s Ten Principles and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are
all-encompassing frameworks designed to achieve a future with social justice at
its core, which helps to create dynamic partnerships specifically within the
business community to mobilise the required resources and investments, vital to
realising the aspirations of the organisation.
The GCN-UAE supports businesses to align their strategies and
operations with the Ten Principles and the SDGs. And by ensuring sustained actions on the ground, the GCN-UAE aims to
widen the role and the scope of the private sector’s participation, by urging
more active incorporation of environmental, social and governance factors into
contemporary business processes.
Farnek is the leading provider of
sustainable and technology-driven Facilities Management in the United Arab
Emirates. Established in the UAE since 1980, Farnek Services LLC is a
Swiss-owned independent total facilities management company.
With a skilled workforce of more
than 8,000 employees, Farnek delivers professional Facilities Management and
security services across several sectors, such as Aviation, Hospitality,
Banking, Retail, Shopping Malls, Telecom, Residential, Commercial,
Infrastructure, Government, Education, Leisure and Entertainment.
Leading
UAE-based smart and green facilities management (FM) company Farnek, has signed a partnership
agreement with Dubai headquartered Neutral Fuels to reduce the amount of carbon
emissions generated by its transport fleet.
Farnek has made a commitment to
transition to Neutral Fuels’ B7 blend biodiesel which saves 6.14% of carbon
emissions in comparison to using regular diesel. So, for every 100,000 litres
of B7 biodiesel used there is a saving of 21,170 kilograms of CO2e.
“To put that into perspective it is
equivalent to the amount of carbon that would be removed from the environment by
planting 350 saplings and grown for over a decade,” said Markus Oberlin, CEO,
Farnek.
“It is not feasible
for many companies with hundreds of vehicles, travelling thousands of
kilometres a day, to replace their transport fleet with electric vehicles.
Biofuel is a cost-effective and sustainable alternative,” he added.
Neutral
Fuels, which is the largest producer of biofuel in the Gulf region, collects
waste cooking oil from local restaurants and kitchens and chemically transforms
it into Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (commonly called biodiesel), a commercially
viable drop-in replacement for the high carbon footprint fossil fuel normally used
in diesel engines.
Neutral
Fuels biodiesel is a clean, green renewable
fuel which immediately and
significantly reduces transport carbon emissions without any engine
modifications enabling organisations to reduce their contribution to climate
change.
“Our partnership reflects the commitment
of both Neutral Fuels and Farnek towards sustainable business practices. It promotes
the use of biodiesel, as a clean-burning and renewable substitute for petroleum
diesel, is an excellent example of Circular Economy within the UAE, and significantly
reduces environmental impact and enhances energy security.
“Together this partnership will further the widespread
adoption of biofuels by increasing awareness and encouraging other corporate
sustainability initiatives throughout the region,” said Karl
W. Feilder, Founder and CTO of Neutral Fuels.
Farnek will use Neutral Fuel’s B7 biofuel which
fully complies with the UAE diesel standard UAE S. 477: 2021 in conjunction with its innovative FLEETEK solution,
which digitalises the entire fleet management process. It identifies both fleet
and driver productivity in real time, using a system-based inventory and
digital schedule, which is powered by IoT sensors fitted to the vehicles and
connected with Google Maps to enable tracking and navigation for route optimisation.
“This saves fuel, cuts
carbon emissions still further, as well as reducing wear and tear on the fleet,
prolonging the time between servicing and ultimately its operational life,
which all benefit the environment,” added Oberlin.
The
agreement also complements Farnek’s net-zero roadmap, which aims to reduce the
company’s transportation emissions by up to 50% by 2031.
“To
realise our net-zero strategy, we are committed to making responsible decisions,
such as implementing low-carbon technologies and resources. This will help to transform
our business into a progressive and sustainable model,” commented Muna Al Nahdi,
Head of Sustainability & Consultancy at Farnek.
Photo caption (Hand Shake – from L-R): Markus Oberlin, CEO, Farnek and Karl W. Feilder, Founder and CTO, Neutral Fuels.
About
Farnek:
Farnek is the leading provider of
sustainable and technology-driven Facilities Management in the United Arab
Emirates. Established in the UAE since 1980, Farnek Services LLC is a
Swiss-owned independent total facilities management company.
With
a skilled workforce of more than 8,000 employees, Farnek delivers professional
Facilities Management and security services across several sectors; Aviation,
Hospitality, Banking, Retail, Shopping Malls, Telecom, Residential, Commercial,
Infrastructure, Government, Education, Leisure and Entertainment.
About
Neutral Fuels:
Neutral
Fuels was founded by cleantech entrepreneur Karl W. Feilder in 2011. The
company collects waste cooking oiland transforms it into biofuel,
a commercially viable drop-in replacement for the harmful fossil fuel used in
diesel engines. Neutral Fuels biodieselis
a clean, green renewable fuel which immediately reduces transport carbon
emissions, enabling organisations to reduce their contribution to climate
change.
From inception to Q2, 2023, the direct actions of Neutral Fuels have resulted
in a reduction of more than 54 million kgCO₂e* for its customers,
including restaurant chains, truck and bus transportation fleets, hotels, the
construction industry, the oil and gas industries, and maritime shipping.
Neutral Fuels is the largest producer of biofuel in the Gulf region.
HITEK – a leading UAE-based provider of smart facilities management (FM) solutions, which is part of Farnek group of companies – has added a new ‘snagging’ module to its innovative CAFMTEK platform, which has been designed to make property inspections and handovers more efficient.
“An inspector evaluating the condition of a property, can operate the application from a handheld PC, take a picture and describe the full details of any issue. The reports can be downloaded in pdf & excel format and are designed to pinpoint all snags within a particular area, in the shortest time possible.
“The ability to upload images, asset data and
geographic information as part of snagging tasks, enables users to improve intra-team
coordination significantly, avoid duplicating effort and optimise service
delivery, benefiting all stakeholders,” said Javeria Aijaz, Managing Director of
HITEK.
The innovative tool also enables
frontline users to raise snagging tasks remotely, with the ability to tag both
asset-related and locational information. Multiple images, including ‘before’
and ‘after’ shots, can be added to each task, as well as detailed descriptions
of issues that still need to be rectified.
In addition, there is also an option
to close snagging tasks with completion comments. All tasks and their
respective status can be tracked and monitored via the CAFMTEK web portal, which
is capable of generating multimedia snagging reports to cover any time period,
making comparison tasks easier, more flexible and more accountable.
“Typically, a snagging or ‘punch’ list
will be prepared and issued by the appropriate certifying authority, such as
the architect, contract administrator or managing agent. The faults highlighted
in the report should be rectified before any certificate of practical completion
can be issued. In most cases, that will involve the main building contractor handing
over to the owner, sales managers to the landlord or between outgoing and
incoming facilities managers.
“Our snagging module can identify
major as well as minor or even hidden issues quickly, saving time and money by boosting efficiency, increasing productivity and monitoring
frontline performance more effectively.
“During our
market research we experienced strong demand from developers, landlords, sales
& leasing agents, property management & short lets such as holiday home
managers.
“We are already working on enhancements to this
module, by adding a technical library and an asset condition feature,” added
Aijaz.
CAFMTEK is a mobile-enabled, computer-aided
facility management (CAFM) platform that provides FM professionals with greater
control over managed assets, locations and resources. This innovative software
solution delivers real-time information that can be used to streamline
maintenance, cleaning, security and a host of other operations.
Built using advanced Software as a Service (SaaS)
technology, CAFMTEK provides intuitive business intelligence as well as location,
service-level agreement (SLA) and asset management information. Its functionality
leverages cloud technology, the Internet of Things (IoT) and mobile devices,
including smart watches, to facilitate inventory monitoring, asset management,
and now, snagging.
HITEK’s analysis shows that the platform has succeeded
in reducing manpower costs by up to 17% and utility costs by up to 30%. It has
also proven effective in extending asset lifecycles through the digitalisation of
service delivery.
If you’d like to learn more about CAFMTEK or arrange a consultation with a HITEK representative, visit www.hitek.ai/cafm-software/
Photo
caption:Javeria Aijaz, managing director of HITEK.
About HITEK
HITEK Services is a part of Farnek Group, a leading industry
expert with over 40 years of technical expertise and operational experience in
Facilities Management, Hospitality, and Technology Infrastructure. Our broad
range of intelligent applications is a result of people, processes, and technology
empowering our customers with digital, business, and technological
transformation. Our solutions are aimed at complementing leaner and more
sustainable operational processes that increase productivity and reduce energy
consumption.
Any FM Company would like to adapt the power of digitalisation, can contact HITEK Services on info@hitek.ai
Five-star 7132 Hotel in Vals signs agreement with Dubai-based
HITEK to enhance guest experience and improve operational efficiency
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 26 July 2023: Innovative digital solutions company HITEK,
part of leading UAE-based smart and green facilities management (FM) group Farnek, has signed an agreement with the Swiss
five-star luxury 7132 Hotel in Vals, Switzerland, to employ its ground-breaking
hospitality solution.
FLEXIGUEST Property Management System (PMS), with
its state-of-the-art mobility app, which was developed in-house by HITEK’s
award-winning solutions architects, will not only digitalise the hotel’s guest
journey from the initial reservation through to check out, but it can also interface
with the hotel’s property management system (PMS). This offers guests a whole
suite of services, from uploading travel documents to ordering limousines,
housekeeping, room, and concierge services.
The hospitality platform can also send automated
electronic updates and alerts to guests, as well as e-registration documents, e-invoices
and e-receipts, all in one convenient space.
“Being a luxury Swiss hotel, we are not only
focused on offering our guests an outstanding experience, but we are also focused
on sustainability. One notable aspect of FLEXIGUEST is a unique feature that
can estimate the carbon emissions generated by any guest during their stay and
provide them with a cost, should they wish to offset their carbon footprint,”
commented Remo Stoffel, the owner of 7132 Hotel, Vals.
The 7132 (which was inspired by the town’s postcode)
is close to the Alpine hamlet of Vals, in the Canton of Grisons and comprises three
properties, the 7132 Hotel, the House of Architects by 7132 and 7132 Glenner.
The 7132 Hotel includes three spa suites and twelve spa deluxe rooms with
en-suite steam rooms and deluxe double and single rooms.
Each room comes with unobstructed and stunning
views of the Swiss Alps. The top floor is taken up by three penthouse suites measuring
90 square metres each, designed by the celebrated Japanese architect Kengo
Kuma.
The hotel also offers two in-house restaurants, the
7132 Blue Bar, two boardrooms and two meeting rooms for incentives and events.
The associated and celebrated 7132 Thermal Baths are accessible directly from
the hotel’s spa area.
The House of Architects by 7132 offers guest rooms designed by internationally
renowned architects such as Peter Zumthor, Tadao Ando and Thom Mayne. The 7132
Glenner, located just one kilometre from the Vals Ski Lift, features a ski
school, a restaurant and bar, a hot spring bath, and a spa centre.
Javeria Aijaz, Managing Director of HITEK, added: “The benefits
of FLEXIGUEST to the 7132 Hotel are clear. It will help improve guest satisfaction
by providing a seamless pre-arrival and check-in procedure, which will appeal
to their high-profile guests.
“In addition, during their stay, they can make any
housekeeping, concierge, F&B or spa requests via the app, and because FLEXIGUEST
manages secure online payments, guests can settle bills without needing to visit
reception to check out, enhancing their comfort, convenience and privacy.
“Moreover, FLEXIGUEST will support a more cost-efficient
and sustainable operation,”
The 7132 Hotel is also looking at other
sustainability solutions in HITEK’s portfolio, such as PowerTek, a comprehensive
and data-driven energy performance monitoring tool that can support hotels with
efficient measuring, tracking, monitoring and benchmarking of energy and water
consumption and waste management.
PowerTek analyses consumption and waste for multiple
variables influencing a hotel’s environmental metrics, such as occupancy,
guest nights, number of guest rooms, F&B covers, guest profiles, staff hours,
and general weather conditions. This helps hotels to maintain higher
operational efficiency, lower costs and the associated carbon emissions.
“Analysing these statistics regularly helps hotels to
reduce their carbon emissions, which are key to fulfilling any net zero
ambitions, which is integral to our business strategy,” added Stoffel.
Rounding out its impressive green credentials, sister company Farnek is also a preferred partner and auditor for Green Globe, the worldwide sustainability accreditation system based on internationally accepted criteria for sustainable operation and management of travel and tourism businesses.
HITEK
Services is a part of Farnek Group, a leading industry expert with over 40
years of technical expertise and operational experience in Facilities Management,
Hospitality, and Technology Infrastructure. Our broad range of intelligent
applications is a result of people, processes, and technology empowering our customers
with digital, business, and technological transformation. Our solutions are
aimed at complementing leaner and more sustainable operational processes that
increase productivity and reduce energy consumption.
Company underscores market-leading position with a range of new and retained
facilities management contracts in sectors such as energy, aviation, hospitality,
retail & residential real estate
Over 1,450 staff to be mobilised throughout Dubai, Abu Dhabi &
the Northern Emirates
Dubai,
United Arab Emirates, Thursday 6 July 2023: Leading UAE-based smart and green facilities
management (FM) company Farnek has secured
a host of new and retained contracts, valued at more than AED 356 million during
the first six months of 2023.
In total Farnek has been awarded 69 contracts, an
average of eleven every month and overall, more than 1,450 members of staff will
be mobilised to sites across the UAE, with 65% of projects located in Dubai,
18% in Abu Dhabi and 17% in the Northern Emirates.
Farnek also services a wide range of industry sectors
such as energy, security, aviation, hospitality, retail and residential
property. The scope of work includes a considerable number of contracts for
total facilities management (TFM) as well as dedicated hard and soft services
such as MEP, cleaning, maintenance, security and housekeeping appointments,
amongst others.
The company has been particularly successful in the
hospitality sector, winning contracts for housekeeping, maintenance and
security from SLS Residences in Dubai’s Business Bay, the five-star Sofitel The
Palm and the luxury Anantara properties on the Palm Jumeirah and the World Islands.
In terms of manpower, Farnek has grown its hospitality business by 55% since
the start of the year.
Other notable contract wins include cleaning and maintenance at Expo City as well as TFM for Dubai-based aviation services company Execujet as well as the Dubai Police.
However, the most prestigious contract awarded to
Farnek has to be the renewal of their three-year MEP hard services contract for
the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest tower, which it has held since 2010.
Markus Oberlin, the CEO of Farnek,
said: “Farnek has always focused on innovative, technology-driven and
sustainable FM solutions. This strategy has supported our business growth and maintained
our competitive edge in the market, culminating in these substantial contract
wins.”
Muna AlNahdi to direct sustainability
strategy at leading UAE-based total FM company, including carbon, water energy &
waste management as well as net zero initiatives
With over 14 years’ experience
in the UAE, AlNahdi will lead a multi award-winning team of energy efficiency
engineers, auditors and sustainability consultants, who currently work across a
number of industry sectors in the UAE including hotels and hospitality, retail,
commercial offices and residential properties.
Markus Oberlin, CEO, Farnek, said: “Muna
has a strong technical background and has successfully delivered a variety of
sustainability solutions, particularly energy-efficient retrofit projects.
“Her commercial experience
will be invaluable as well. An integral part of her responsibilities will be to
present the benefits of our innovative technology
solutions which support building managers and owners, to become more operationally
and cost efficient, thereby reducing carbon emissions.
“Muna
will also direct our own net zero programme. We have already identified the
scope and boundaries, to accurately measure our carbon footprint and set emission
targets. By 2026 we aim to reduce our electricity, water, refrigerants and fuel
consumption by 30% and reduce our emissions in these categories by 50% in 2031.”
Prior to her appointment,
AlNahdi held technical positions at the Dubai Carbon Centre of Excellence, Al
Futtaim Technologies and Quantum Eurostar. Most recently she was heading the
energy management department at South Energy, an organisation which was set up
to act as a key driver for sustainable development, with the main mission of
providing a full spectrum of energy-related services to Dubai South and its
customers.
During her tenure, AlNahdi
managed to achieve a 25% reduction in energy savings by retrofitting buildings,
streetlighting and district cooling plants, over a three-year period. She also
generated AED 25 million in project fees.
Commenting on her
appointment, AlNahdi said: “Farnek has an unrivalled reputation in the FM
market when it comes to sustainability, one of reasons I was so keen to join
their consultancy team.
“I was very impressed with
the wide range of innovative digital solutions that they have developed
in-house, through sister company HITEK, which can measure, monitor, record and
benchmark a building’s energy performance, as well as calculating carbon
emissions, which is crucial to mitigate climate warming.”
“What also impressed me was
Farnek’s own plans to achieve net zero, an organisation leading by example and
one I am now proud to be associated with,” she added.
AlNahdi holds a Bachelor of
Science in Electrical Engineering and a Master of Mechanical Engineering,
Renewable Energy & Sustainability. She is a Certified Energy Manager (CEM),
a Certified Measurement & Verification Professional (CMVP) and a LEED Green
Associate. As a student in 2015, AlNahdi was the recipient of the prestigious
Dr. Sadek Owainati Special Student Award, from the UAE’s Rochester Institute of
Technology.
Leading UAE-based smart and green facilities
management (FM) company Farnek, has launched
its latest in-house innovation, a mobile app with smart AI Chatbot, appropriately
named ‘Farnek Buddy’ which supports staff and raises awareness of welfare
initiatives, project communication,online learning and improves
interaction with human resources (HR) for daily processes.
The bespoke app, which was developed by Farnek’s
in-house experts, at innovative digital solutions sister company HITEK, allows the company to connect employees from
multiple sites so they can be centrally supported for logistics and training
needs, giving project managers a centralised communication platform, that connects
them with every employee.
It also includes features
such as a daily happiness survey, periodic health checks, an integrated VOIP
calling facility and salary credit notifications. Doctor’s appointments can also
be made, employees can join interactive training videos and access digital
records to support career development, as well as notes, memos and documents,
covering general HR issues.
The app even has a multilingual AI ChatBot, so that
employees can air any grievance or put forward ideas and suggestions to Farnek
management. Another feature is that the app will integrate with a digital
payroll system, to help employees send remittances seamlessly to their families
abroad.
Commenting on the custom-built application Markus
Oberlin, CEO, Farnek said: “Communicating effectively with 8,000 employees deployed
over many sites, throughout the UAE, at any given time, can be challenging. Individuals
can sometimes feel isolated, especially if they are working in remote locations
during unsocial hours.
“The Farnek Buddy platform keeps them in touch with
their colleagues and with their supervisors as well as HR and senior management.
Any issues can be dealt with through the chat box function, improving response
times and efficiency.
“Project managers can also create working groups,
specific to certain sites, with updates on shifts, transportation, health &
safety and other notices relevant to that team.”
Indeed, Farnek has seen the commercial
value of the versatile app, as a white label product. It can be adapted to suit
any organisation with a large workforce and branded appropriately. The app is
currently being used at Dubai airport, Expo City and Du.
Additionally, the app comes complete
with a wake-up alarm to notify staff of upcoming shifts and through a video
screen in Farnek Village, Farnek’s AED 200 million state-of-the-art staff
accommodation complex, employees are directed to the correct bus, which will
take them to their assignment.
“On a daily basis, there are dozens of
buses waiting to pick up staff and finding the right one can be confusing,
especially for new employees. Everybody needs a friend from time to time, and
with ‘Farnek Buddy,’ no employee should feel alone or detached from the Farnek family,”
added Oberlin.
Farnek’s innovative carbon calculation tool CarbonTek, is now available on EEG’s website where organisations can apply to have their own carbon footprint measured
Photo caption: Habiba Al Mar’ashi, signing the partnership agreement with Markus Oberlin.
Dubai,
United Arab Emirates, 29 May 2023:Emirates Environmental Group (EEG), has
partnered with leading UAE-based smart and green facilities management (FM)
company Farnek, to
offer organisations an opportunity to have their own carbon footprint assessed.
With both
parties having the same common commitment to sustainability as well as supporting
other organisations, Farnek has made its innovative calculation tool CarbonTek,
which was developed by in-house experts, at Farnek’s digital solutions, sister
company HITEK, available on the EEG website, allowing third-party organisations
to apply for a calculation of their own carbon footprint.
Farnek’s
carbon team will develop a dedicated activity-based report, specific to each
customer, following the standardised protocols to measure Scope 1, (direct
emissions), Scope 2 (indirect emissions) and Scope 3 (all other indirect
emissions).
“The
notion of a partnership came about after Farnek had recently completed a carbon
footprint assessment for the EEG, to align our commitment to the UAE’s Net Zero
2050 strategic target and broader global climate protection,” said Habiba Al
Mar’ashi, Co-Founder & Chairperson for the Emirates Environmental Group.
“Offering
carbon assessment on our website, will not only generate awareness, it will
also make calculation more accessible, especially for organisations that are
eager to reduce their impact on the environment, but may not understand where
and how to begin their journey towards carbon neutrality,” she added.
Using CarbonTek,
Farnek was able to calculate EEG’s CO2e emissions using consumption data and recognised
scientific databases for measuring emission factors, in accordance with
Greenhouse Gas Protocol, Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) and ISO 14064
standards.
“Measuring
the EEG’s CO2e emissions was the initial phase of the project that involved
comprehensive data mapping and categorisation for all of its business
operations. These included electricity and fuel consumption, refrigerant
emissions, purchased materials, business travel and employee commuting,
upstream and downstream transportation as well as the waste generated during their
business operations,” commented Nadia Ibrahim, Director – Consultancy &
Sustainability at Farnek.
Conducting
an operational control approach, Farnek calculated the carbon footprint for all
of EEG’s business activities in Dubai, for the January to December 2022 reporting
period, which measured a total of 486.54 tonnes of CO2e, with Scope 1
accounting for 70.4% of the total, Scope 2 – 4.9% and Scope 3 – 24.7%.
“The
completion of the carbon footprint assessment is the first step towards
achieving net zero emissions by 2050. Through this comprehensive assessment,
the major emission hotspots have been identified and we can now focus our decarbonisation
efforts in these areas.
“This
will also enable EEG to better understand their carbon emissions and identify
opportunities to reduce their environmental impact supporting their
sustainability efforts,” said Markus Oberlin, CEO, Farnek.
Emirates Environmental Group (EEG) is a
professional working group established in 1991 in the United Arab Emirates. It
is devoted to protecting the environment through the means of education, action
programmes and community involvement. EEG is actively encouraged and supported
by concerned local and federal government agencies. It is the first
environmental NGO in the world to be ISO 14001 certified and the only
organisation of its kind in the UAE with accredited status to the United
Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the UN Environment
Programme (UNEP).
EEG is a member of the UN Global Compact, the
Global Urban Development (GUD) and the Global Investors for Sustainable
Alliance (GISD). It is also a member of the One Planet Network under the
programme of Sustainable Food Systems (SFS) and its Multi-Stakeholder Advisory
Committee (MAC) and Global Partnership on Marine Litter (GPML), EEG is a full
Member (voting) of World Packaging Organisation (WPO).
For more information, contact us: email:
eeg@emirates.net.ae; Tel: 04-3448622; Fax: 04-3448677 and please visit our
bi-lingual website: www.eeg-uae.org; Follow us on LinkedIn, FB; Twitter &
Instagram: @eegemirates.
About
CarbonTek.
Responding to
market demand and developed by Farnek’s in-house carbon management experts, with
support from software developers from sister company HITEK, this digital tool
calculates carbon emissions across all three scopes of emissions – Scope 1, 2
and 3 emissions in accordance with Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG) – a widely
used greenhouse gas accounting and reporting standard.
The online
solution can also be customized to generate carbon emission reports for various
industry sectors such as hospitality, manufacturing, commercial offices and
logistics, according to the type and scope of business operations,
accommodating access to multiple users in multiple locations.
Farnek has appointed Tamer Bishay as its new head of business development.
Reporting directly to CEO, Markus Oberlin, Bishay,
an Egyptian national, has been given the responsibility of supporting Farnek’s corporate
plan, with a structured and targeted business growth strategy.
His day-to-day responsibilities include developing,
directing and motivating Farnek’s sales team, as well as building and
maintaining key client relationships, generating increased revenue and driving
profitability, across all of Farnek’s businesses including HITEK and Hitches
& Glitches.
“Tamer has
a wealth of experience in the UAE’s property and FM sectors, stretching back
over two decades, having held multiple senior roles with
some of the largest companies in the region including government-owned organisations
as well as local private entities.
“He has a strong technical background and a highly successful
track record, securing a raft of significant contracts throughout his career.
“He will be an integral part of our senior management
team and I am looking forward to working closely with him, promoting our unique
market proposition and boosting our competitive edge, both here in the UAE and
regionally,” said Markus
Oberlin, CEO, Farnek.
After graduating from Misr International University
in Cairo, Bishay arrived in the UAE in 2006 having been appointed operations manager
for real estate consultancy ERA. In 2009 he joined the H Hotel as commercial
manager, before taking up an offer from DuServe FM the following year, as
senior BD and marketing manager.
Here Bishay excelled increasing market share and
expanding its services across all seven emirates, over the following four years.
For the past five years, he was head of business development and marketing for
Concordia and managed to extend their services, covering over 220,000 square feet
of residential community space throughout Dubai.
Bishay commented: “Farnek has invested
heavily in sustainability, innovation, and technology, which are key elements
of the Farnek brand, supporting a more cost-efficient proposition and providing
a distinct competitive advantage. Naturally, when the opportunity arose for me
to join their team, I did not hesitate.”
“I will focus
on driving profitable growth for the company with a strategic approach to identifying
and pursuing new business opportunities.”
Bishay
also holds an MBA from Edinburgh Business School and is a certified Property Manager.
Hitches
& Glitches says move comes after increased enquiries for more sustainable &
modern bathrooms from Dubai homeowners
Dubai,
United Arab Emirates, May 11, 2023: Dubai-based innovative and technology-driven home
maintenance specialist Hitches
& Glitches (H&G), part of the Farnek Group, has launched a dedicated service to
renovate bathrooms, as more homeowners in Dubai’s freehold areas start to
upgrade their properties.
Hitches
& Glitches has teamed up with Dubai based Fischer & Meyerhans
Architects who will take care of the interior design and CasaMia to supply
quality European sanitary wear products and accessories.
“Over the
past 12 months, we have witnessed a marked increase in the number of enquiries
that we are receiving from homeowners across Dubai, who want to upgrade their
bathrooms.
“Therefore, we decided to initiate a dedicated renovation service for bathrooms, with design and build turnkey packages that make it more convenient for homeowners,” said Zohaib Azhar, head of operations at Hitches & Glitches.
Bathroom
renovations usually take between 3-5 months, depending on the size and extent of
work required and to help homeowners budget appropriately, Hitches &
Glitches has come up with an all-inclusive cost for a turnkey bathroom project,
with pricing based on square metres, facilities, products and scope.
For
example, a master bathroom with two sinks, a toilet, a shower, bathtub
measuring approximately 15sqm will cost around AED 59,000. Alternatively, a
maid’s bathroom of 4sqm would cost AED 23,000.
According
to Azhar, there are a number of reasons why homeowners are investing in their
properties. The first and perhaps most obvious is that the first swathe of freehold
houses in Dubai were built and handed over around 2004/5, so they are looking
dated and clearly showing signs of wear and tear by now.
Another
reason was that many investors have witnessed exponential growth in the value
of their properties over the recent past and now is a good time to spend some
of that untapped equity on home improvements, whether that is to generate
higher rental income or increase the value of the property, or both.
Thirdly,
the number of real estate transactions in Dubai exceeded 122,000 in 2022, an
increase of 44.7 percent from 2021, and apart from off plan purchases, many new
homeowners simply want to renovate because of personal taste.
“Sustainability
and efficient modern accessories are another reason homeowners choose to renovate.
On average most homeowners undertake some sort of refurbishment after five
years, with major renovation work generally carried out after ten years,” said
Azhar.
“Initially
we have launched this service for residents of the Arabian Ranches, but we are
planning to expand across the UAE,” he added.
Hitches
& Glitches is a technology-led office and home maintenance business, and
its vision statement is to become the ultimate provider of sustainable and
technology-driven home maintenance services throughout the UAE. It strives to
deliver excellence in home maintenance services with a focus on quality, value
and sustainable best practice while being led by innovative technology, which
exceeds the expectations of our customers.
Nadia Ibrahim explains why they must view sustainability as a long-term investment rather than a short-term cost
Rather than cost, the Middle East’s luxury travel sector should focus on the long-term gains offered by decarbonisation, waste reduction and community initiatives. That was the assessment of experts speaking on the opening day of Arabian Travel Market 2023.
The conference session entitled, ‘Sustainable Luxury: At What Cost?’ included a range of insights into how luxury travel is leading the tourism industry’s sustainable charge in the Middle East.
Commenting on growing demand for sustainable offerings among consumers, Nadia said: “Luxury and sustainability have not always gone hand in hand, but this is changing. We are encountering a new generation of travellers that want high-end experiences that do not compromise sustainability. This is why airlines, hotels, travel agencies and tourist destinations are thinking about how sustainability can be integrated into their existing services, and how it can be used to attract more customers.”
Also speaking on the panel alongside Nadia were Amir Golbarg, Senior Vice President Operations – Middle East & Africa at Minor Hotels; Candice D’Cruz, VP Luxury Brands at Marriott International; and William Harley-Fleming, Vice President of Operations for JA The Resort and Indian Ocean.
Climate action is a business-critical issue that needs to be addressed. If the UAE is to achieve its Net Zero ambitions, the private sector must support the government, and with COP 28 being held in Dubai in November, it is vital that organisations start to plan their environmental strategy now. Moreover, an inclusive sustainability strategy affords operational savings, competitive advantage and strengthens relationships with stakeholders. Creating a roadmap to reduce scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions can only be achieved by measuring a company’s baseline carbon footprint and then consistently monitoring how the Net Zero strategy is achieving set targets, to reduce emissions.
Farnek’s online remote digital platform called PowerTEK is a complete solution for energy, waste and carbon monitoring. It supports business to get visibility on consumption and its performance from various sources. It shows energy utilisation and baseline comparison in portfolio, building, location and asset level, making it effective for businesses to identify energy leakages and improvements. PowerTEK provides consumption breakdown into utilities including electricity, chilled water, heat/ fuel, kitchen gas, domestic water, solar and TSE. It facilitates digital dashboards for each utility with monthly and yearly performance benchmarking.
Javeria Aijaz, managing director, HITEK, Farnek’s sister company that developed PowerTEK, says: “With regional governments committing to Net Zero by 2050, combined with the high cost of energy, monitoring and its management has been one of the key factors for businesses and industries to formulate comprehensive operational strategies with a vision for smart, energy efficient and sustainable cities and buildings. PowerTEK has been designed to cater the need of various industries including hospitality, retail malls, commercial real estate, residential buildings, and many others. PowerTEK provides data-visualisation in terms of dynamic column, line graphs.” PowerTEK provides data-visualisation in terms of dynamic column, line graphs and pie charts. “We can also easily analyse the KPI measures through them which is user friendly,” she adds.
While presenting energy consumption, PowerTEK has the capability of bringing transparency of carbon emissions while showcasing building energy performance. It also shows carbon emissions per utility and waste with monthly/yearly benchmarking. Having this visibility, businesses feel responsible while able to see the breakdown on the highest source of carbon emission so a strategy could be formalised to reduce it.
On how PowerTEK collects and analyses data from IoT and BMS systems, Aijaz reveals that BMS and IOT sensors are the digital data-sources for PowerTEK that supports businesses by providing one of the main factor to achieve a complete FM & energy digital journey strategy. It captures information at utility and assets levels from the field devices and metres installed in building zones and locations. IoT sensors are monitoring and measuring the temperature, humidity and other parameters. PowerTEK is integrated with DEWA for monthly water and electricity consumption for both commercial and residential buildings.
However, Aijaz says that the market is still in adoption stage of energy management “as of most of the customers are unable to visualise the long-term benefits of having energy transparency”. She adds: “The customers are looking for short time ROI, with limited investment which is making it challenging for adoption.”
Energy and water consumption PowerTek digitises energy and waste consumption along with benchmarking, with respect to multiple variables that can influence a building’s environmental metrics such as occupancy, number of rooms, F&B covers, employee profiles, staff hours, air-conditioned areas as well as general weather conditions. This helps the buildings to maintain higher operational efficiency, lower costs and the associated carbon emissions.
One of the important modules in PowerTEK is waste module where data can be captured through sensor and manual entry. The waste may be general waste, food waste, cardboard waste, plastic waste, metal waste, cooking oil waste, paper waste, etc. It also clearly captures how much was donated, composted, or recycled, and how much was converted to energy.
Aijaz adds: “From these we again categorise how much is landfill waste and how much is non-landfill waste. Also, we calculate waste diversion (in percentages) and depict all these details in PowerTEK as graphical representation. In addition, this module is capable of calculating how much carbon is generated from waste.
PowerTEK has a wide range of ML and AI powered dashboards that can help the business make data-driven informed decisions and few of the important ones are total consumption of the selected period (daily, monthly, yearly), current consumption vs previous consumption. The platform also provides the cost analysis that gives the overview of the cost charged for utilities such as electricity and domestic water and it also it provides the utility cost break down graph of the selected building.
Additionally, the platform provides energy breakdowns that drills down the consumption of each Main Distribution Board (MDB) installed in the buildings. It can define various KPIs in terms of energy reference area and occupancy, by calculating carbon emissions for each utility which is a great initiative toward net-zero strategy.
Apart from this, the platform provides asset availability, asset performance power consumption (graphical representation for each hour/day), CO2 level temperature profile (return air temperature & supply air temperature), fresh air temp and dew point temp and humidity.
Aijaz concludes: “PowerTEK is an environmental performance tool, which supports businesses’ operational efficiency, by identifying potential savings through continuous monitoring, analysing and benchmarking energy and water consumption as well as waste generation.
“This digital solution manages all kinds of data complexities, providing full transparency about operational activities and can aggregate data seamlessly across multiple sites and locations in real-time and perform complex calculations, providing a more accurate picture and ongoing analysis of progress, towards achieving net zero.”
In the future, PowerTEK will enable ESCO contracts to be more result oriented in terms of costs and savings. In addition, integration with other energy resources like solar panels will make it robust and stand out from its competition.
Students at ADU can now
arrange & pay for a flexible cleaning service digitally, with hourly, weekly
& monthly packages
Leading UAE-based IT smart Facilities Management (FM) solutions company HITEK, part of the Farnek group of companies, has launched a creative and innovative, cleaning on demand mobile application at Abu Dhabi University.
Through the mobile
application, both students and staff can now organise cleaning schedules for
their dormitories and staff accommodation.
“Abu Dhabi University
(ADU) is at the forefront of technological innovation, leveraging
state-of-the-art technology to automate and enhance the services provided to
our students.
“We have 447
students accommodated in over 330 rooms who now have the flexibility to organise
their own cleaning at a time that suits them. Being digital natives, students
prefer using technology to organise this service.
“Having a single
trusted partner to access the dormitories, carry out the cleaning and directly
charge the students is beneficial for the university,” said Dr. Hamad Odhabi, Abu
Dhabi University Vice Chancellor.
The app, which
caters to the needs of consumers as well as businesses, is designed for those finding
it difficult to arrange a convenient time or particular day to schedule regular
cleaning, or indeed those who want an instant ad hoc or more flexible schedule.
“After downloading
the app, customers can choose from an hourly, weekly or monthly package. Then
they are redirected to a registration page, where personal details are verified
with an OTP which is sent to their registered email address. Customers can manage
their account from here and add additional addresses,” commented Javeria Aijaz,
Managing Director, HITEK.
After successfully
registering, users are taken to the booking screen, where they will be able to
select the required date and time slots and the number of hours, they require a
cleaning service. To complete the booking process users are taken to a payment
page, which has a simple and secure integrated online
payment facility.
“Once the booking is
received and approved by one of our cleaning supervisors, a team is assigned for
the job and customers are sent an email notification. Users can track their cleaning team in
real-time, through a link to Google Maps, so they will know their location and
their exact arrival time,” said Osama Hussein, Director
Soft Services & Security at Farnek.
Another practical feature of the app is that customers can check the details
of their current booking schedule as well as reviewing other pending or completed
tasks.
“This is particularly helpful for users with multiple properties, such
as holiday lets for example. They can track their cleaning schedules remotely, especially if guests have
just moved out and or before new guests arrive,” added Aijaz.
Once cleaning has been
completed, customers can rate the performance and quality of the service they
have received and make other general comments or suggestions.
HITEK Services is a part of Farnek Group, a leading industry
expert with over 40 years of technical expertise and operational experience in
Facilities Management, Hospitality, and Technology Infrastructure. Our broad range
of intelligent applications is a result of people, processes, and technology
empowering our customers with digital, business, and technological
transformation. Our solutions are aimed at complementing leaner and more
sustainable operational processes that increase productivity and reduce energy
consumption.
Any FM Company would like to adapt the power of digitalization, can contact HITEK Services on info@hitek.ai
UAE-based HITEK, to start initial pilot
programme in Bank of Khartoum branches in Khartoum East Sector, with a view to
providing digital FM support for 140 branches throughout Sudan
Leading UAE-based IT smart Facilities Management (FM) solutions company HITEK Services, which is part of the Farnek group of companies, is to start a pilot project with the Bank of Khartoum (BOK) to digitalise it’s facilities operations.
Working with HITEK’s Khartoum-based
partner, TAD FM, the pilot will start at BOK’s branches in Khartoum East Sector.
Initially, to complete the
pilot project BOK has ordered five CAFMTek licences and will install eight
IOTek sensors to monitor footfall, temperature, vibration and voltage, amongst
others. Once the pilot is completed and
if successful, it will be rolled out across BOK’s 140 branches to help
digitalise and integrate all of their facility operations.
These state-of-the-art connected,
automated and intelligent FM solutions complement a leaner and more sustainable
operational process, improving productivity, lowering costs and reducing energy
consumption. The solution digitalises, connects and automates facilities management, using
innovative technologies that integrate people, process, assets and facilities
logically and seamlessly.
One unique feature
is HITEK’s WhatsApp AI Chatbot, which provides connectivity to onsite project
teams wherever they are, through an integrated mobile CAFM, streamlining
service requests and once complete an automated closure notification. This
provides real-time visibility across various services and can also monitor,
escalate and report dynamically through mobility, web portal and automated
email reports.
Commenting about the project, Javeria
Aijaz, MD – HITEK Services, said: “This landmark project will digitalise BOK’s
conventional FM, into smart, sustainable and secure digital facility
operations, monitoring and controlling their
assets as well the performance of their FM teams.
“With a centralised and dynamic AI
dashboard, our cloud-based solution will provide continuous management and
transparency for BOK’s operations, across all 140 sites.”
Headquartered in Khartoum, BOK is the
largest and oldest bank in Sudan managing assets worth USD 2 billion. It was
established in 1913 and by 1954 it was rebranded as Barclay’s Bank. Almost
fifty years later, after the bank had been nationalised by the Sudanese
government, in 2001 the bank was privatised, with UAE-based Dubai Islamic Bank,
taking a 60% share.
Across the group it has almost 3,000
employees with 150 branches and cash offices and over 325 ATM /CDMs, the
largest branch and ATM network in Sudan, offering services to corporate,
retail, microfinance and investment business sectors.
HITEK signed an agency agreement with
Khartoum-based TAD FM in July 2022. It is one of largest FM companies in Sudan
and has a workforce of over 1,500 employees spread across Sudan, Egypt and the
wider North and East African regions.
Also headquartered in Khartoum,
award-winning TAD, which focuses on delivering a both hard and soft FM services,
has grown five-fold over the last five years to become one of the most
prominent facilities management companies in the region.
“Given Sudan’s geography, HITEK’s mobility solution will make BOK’s operations more cost-efficient and sustainable. Their unique WhatsApp Chatbot will make it simple to submit and automate support requests. Whether it’s service requests, audits, or management reporting, the mobile solution ensures technicians and supervisors can communicate with each other in real time, efficiently and effectively,” said Mohamed Abdelhamied – CEO TAD.
-Ends-
About HITEK
HITEK Services is a part of Farnek Group, a leading industry
expert with over 40 years of technical expertise and operational experience in
Facilities Management, Hospitality, and Technology Infrastructure. Our broad
range of intelligent applications is a result of people, processes, and
technology empowering our customers with digital, business, and technological
transformation. Our solutions are aimed at complementing leaner and more
sustainable operational processes that increase productivity and reduce energy
consumption.
Any FM Company would like to adapt the power of digitalization, can contact HITEK Services on info@hitek.ai
About TADFM
Award-winning TAD facilities management (FM) was established
in 2015, which focuses on delivering a complete suite of both hard and soft FM offerings
to companies across North and East Africa. Headquartered in Khartoum, Sudan, TAD
has grown five-fold over the last five years to become one of the most
distinguished facilities management companies across the entire region.
Boasting a team of more than one thousand five hundred
full-time employees, the firm has worked alongside some of the biggest national
and international companies that operate in the region, including Ericsson, Zain,
UN, Huawei, NGO’s and national embassies. Using the latest computer-aided
facilities management (CADFM) software, TAD can develop and deliver customised
service level agreements (SLAs) that exceed client expectations for both hard
and soft services.
TAD has been awarded the internationally recognised ISO
41001: 2018 certification in International FM and is the first ISO 41001 FM
company in Sudan. Unquestionably, one of TAD’s crowning achievements is their state-of-the-art
in-house training centre. A one-of-a-kind facility within the East and North
Africa region, the centre is the firm’s way of delivering on their corporate
and social responsibility to help the local community.
Trainees can learn new skills completely free of charge, whilst
also receiving daily allowances for meals, and a certified qualification at the
end. Graduates can then choose to either stay with the company, if there are
positions available, or seek other jobs in the market with their newfound
accreditation.
Farnek, has signed a three-year energy performance contract (EPC) with Sonder Holiday Homes, to implement energy efficiency measures to facilitate major energy-saving measures across Sonder’s properties in Business Bay and Jumeriah Beach Walk (JBR) in Dubai.
Under the terms of the agreement, Farnek will take responsibility for the design, installation, financing and maintenance of the energy conservation measures. The registered Energy Service Company (ESCO) will closely monitor the performance and savings attained on the utility costs of both of the SONDER properties.
“We have offered our services and expertise for installing energy-efficient equipment, in addition to providing ongoing monitoring and maintenance services,” said Nadia Ibrahim, Associate Director – Consultancy & Sustainabiity at Farnek.
The EPC project will offer SONDER annual savings of up to 1.5 million kWh in electricity consumption close to a 30% saving. The buildings were carefully studied using advanced energy profiling tools to accurately calculate and forecast verifiable utility cost savings, compliant with rigorous international standards.
“We will be using an advanced asset-based monitoring system to continuously measure energy consumption and the performance of the contract. We will achieve this with a product developed by our own in-house technology team known as POWERTEK, a powerful comprehensive, centralised platform for monitoring and analysing energy usage and costs. We aim to reduce around 664 tonnes of CO2 annually,” added Ibrahim.
The collaborative project between the two organisations is one of the key pilot initiatives to align SONDER with Dubai Government’s Department of Economy & Tourism (DET) which has nineteen sustainability requirements incorporating waste management, water management, resource efficient transportation and energy conservation.
The two properties covered under the agreement include Sonder Downtown Towers, a 31-floor luxury holiday home development, featuring over 300 rooms in three towers, comprising of studio, one, two and three-bedroom apartments. The complex also includes a state-of-the-art fitness centre, a rooftop pool and lounge, and a conference room. The second is the 32-floor Sonder JBR The Walk residential tower featuring 164
luxurious short term holiday homes, complemented by a range of luxury lounges and restaurants.
The project has been carefully designed and modelled to achieve the maximum savings while still maintaining optimum comfort levels for guests and without creating any disruption to the day-to-day operation.
“The collaborative approach with Sonder will not only help their properties achieve sustainability objectives, but to also create a more sustainable future for the hospitality sector in the UAE and we are looking forward to seeing the positive impact of our efforts,” said Markus Oberlin, CEO, Farnek.
In line with the UAE’s Year of Sustainability 2023 objectives, which aims to promote sustainable practices and environmental conservation, Farnek is committed to promoting, investing and implementing sustainable solutions throughout its operations.
Furthermore, Farnek is also committed to working closely with its clients and partners to develop and implement sustainable solutions that align with the UAE’s goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, to lower energy consumption and thus carbon emissions.
UAE-based total FM
company has promoted Ryan Mitchell to Head of QHSEW
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 05 April 2023: Leading
UAE-based smart and green facilities management (FM) company Farnek has promoted Trinidad and Tobago National
Ryan Mitchell to Head of Quality, Health, Safety, Environment and Wellbeing
(QHSEW).
Mitchell joined Farnek in 2019 as manager of worker
welfare and quality and was directing Farnek’s worker welfare policies and
activities. At Expo 2020, he ensured the well-being of its onsite workforce, operating
within the guidelines set by the Expo committee and several internationally
renowned bodies, including the UK’s Health & Safety Executive.
Mitchell was also part of the team awarded the Gold
Card Award at the Taqdeer Awards last year, recognising excellence in worker
welfare and HSE.
Markus
Oberlin, CEO, Farnek, commented, “Ryan is the ideal candidate to head up
our QHSEW division and fully deserves this promotion, epitomising our ‘Farnek First’
policy of promoting from within. He will be tasked with facilitating excellence
in performance throughout our service delivery across all aspects of our
business by developing, implementing and managing international best practice.
“By providing professional QHSEW leadership, he
will support and advise Farnek’s project teams, employees and, wherever appropriate,
Farnek’s contractors and create and maintain the metrics to improve and
automate data-driven decisions, using Farnek’s in-house technology solutions,
while aligning with our net zero roadmap.”
Before joining Farnek, Mitchell held a number of senior
positions working on high-profile projects in the US, Caribbean and Saudi
Arabia.
In 2006, Mitchell was appointed Assistant Senior
Science Advisor at the US Environmental Protection Agency and a year later was
appointed Environmental Specialist at Florida A&M University. Within
a few short years, he was promoted
to Director of Health & Safety. During his tenure, Mitchell led a
dedicated team covering HSE, environmental monitoring and emergency response, as
well as crisis management planning for 132 buildings across a 1.7 million
square metre site, with 9,600 students and 630 members of staff. He was also a
Board Director of Sustainable Tallahassee during this time.
In
2014, Mitchell joined TMCL, a major construction and industrial services contractor
in Trinidad and Tobago, as Director of Operations. He managed various projects,
where he initiated and facilitated HSE best practice and acted as the company
HSE subject matter expert for all occupational, construction and industrial
activities.
A year
later, Mitchell was offered the position of Vice Chair Operations Committee
& Vice Chair Tenders Committee for Lake Asphalt Trinidad Ltd, a state-owned
energy company. He led an engineering and development team to research and
develop a new plant design to produce a new form of petroleum derivative
products for the Ministry of Energy in Trinidad and Tobago.
Mitchell arrived in Saudi Arabia in 2017 to manage
the QHSEW team’s programmes at the Princess Nora University in Riyadh.
This complex site comprised over 600 buildings accommodating
more than 50,000 students and 6,000 staff. Mitchell conducted site-wide risk
assessments and implemented strategic improvements, streamlining the working
activities and conducting training sessions for some of the 6,200 workers onsite
from multiple MEP contractors.
“I am looking forward to my new responsibilities
and providing strategic leadership for the QHSEW department. After our outstanding
performance at Expo 2020 and the subsequent awards, it is gratifying to be
given this opportunity,” said Mitchell.
Mitchell holds a Bachelor of Science honours degree
from Florida A&M University and is an OSHA certified health & safety
inspector. He is also skilled in ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001 auditing and a
member of CIWFM, MIFMA, and FEMA. He also holds NEBOSH H&S Certification.
Mitchell co-authored a book for MIT Press about
sustainability and has written research papers on climate change. Currently, he
is pursuing a Master of Laws in International Commercial Law at the University
of Salford in the UK.
Leading UAE smart & green total FM company underscores the need for comprehensive cleaning and disinfection of A/C units and ventilation systems, as outdoor temperatures and humidity begin to rise
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 30 March 2023: UAE-based smart and green total facilities management (FM) company Farnek, is starting a campaign to remind healthcare facility managers, about the importance of indoor air quality, particularly as the UAE approaches summer and outdoor temperatures and humidity begin to rise.
“A clean air supply is essential to patient safety, particularly those with reduced immunity. Maintaining and cleaning A/C ducts ensures clean air, as well as controlling the spread of germs. With the summer approaching, the UAE is beginning to experience higher temperatures and levels of humidity, which increases the risk of bacterial contamination,” said Zohaib Azhar, Head of Operations at Farnek.
Ventilation systems in hospitals and clinics draw in outside air, which is then circulated within the building. Therefore, the HVAC system including ductwork is liable to become polluted with dust and other contaminants. This may be due to filtration equipment underperforming, or due to leaks within the system.
The presence of excessive dust accumulating within a HVAC system can lead to the development of biological contamination. A HVAC system can act as a source for bioaerosols, which are tiny airborne particles that originate biologically and can contain living organisms. This provides a conducive environment for the growth of fungi and bacteria. If not addressed, this biologically contaminated air is then distributed within the facility.
Poor indoor air quality can be significantly improved. HVAC systems can be cleaned, ventilation rates increased, biological contaminants controlled, and filtration systems upgraded. Other steps can also be taken to ensure that furnishings brought into the indoor environment do not release noxious gases.
“Humidity is often a major factor in selecting cleaning methods because of the types of contaminants generally found in areas with differing levels of moisture in the air. Higher humidity levels often witness greater levels of microbial contamination, including mould, mildew, yeasts and bacteria. Such contaminants, as opposed to common nuisance dust, require more aggressive cleaning techniques, especially when addressing the HVAC unit itself,” said Azhar.
According to the National Air Duct Cleaners Association Standards, HVAC duct cleaning in hospitals should be carried out annually. In addition, HVAC system cleaning must be performed when any of the following conditions are found in the cleanliness inspection.
Significant accumulations of contaminants or debris are visually observed within the HVAC system, and/or evidence of microbial growth is visually observed or confirmed by analytical methods.
The HVAC system discharges visible particulate into the occupied space, or a significant contribution of airborne particles from the HVAC system into the indoor ambient air is confirmed.
Heat exchange coils, cooling coils, air flow control devices, filtration devices, and air-handling equipment are determined to have restrictions, or contaminated deposits that may cause inefficiencies in system performance, or air flow degradation.
In accordance with Al Sa’fat – Dubai Green Building System, only specialised maintenance companies, approved by Dubai Municipality can carry out this inspection and cleaning. It can also be carried out by the building operator, but only if they can provide sufficient evidence about their qualifications and competence.
“One misconception we come across is that onsite maintenance teams consider the supply of air to be clean because HEPA filters are used in a fan coil unit (FCU), ignoring just how important it is to regularly check air duct systems. This misunderstanding can result in mould and microbial formation, that could cause harm to staff and patients.
“It is also well worth pointing out that these issues also apply to general working environments, not just healthcare facilities. The economic benefits of HVAC duct cleaning can be significant, by reducing worker absenteeism and increasing productivity,” added Azhar.
The U.S. Government estimates that absenteeism costs more than $100 billion a year in lost productivity and medical costs, and medical researchers in the U.S. have found that 50% of employee absenteeism is due to upper respiratory problems – common symptoms of working in ‘sick’ buildings.
Leading UAE-based smart FM solutions company
HITEK Services, which is part of the Farnek group of companies, has initiated an
agreement to supply more than 40 licences for its CAFMTEK solution, for Abu Dhabi Motor
Sports Management (ADMM), which manages the Yas
Marina Circuit, the home of the Formula 1® Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
CAFMTEK is mobile-enabled,
computer-aided facility management (CAFM) software solution that supports
facility managers by affording improved control over the assets, locations and
resources in their facility. The solution provides real-time information,
streamlining operations such as maintenance, cleaning and security.
“The technology team at HITEK used Cloud & Mobility technology to develop the advanced and intuitive CAFM software, enabling Yas Marina-based facility managers to operate more effectively by automating many of their physical duties,” said Javeria Aijaz, Managing Director, HITEK Services.
In
summary, the SAAS-based solution connects people, assets and spaces from multiple
remote sites, using flexible, scalable and analytical platforms, for cleaning,
security, maintenance and sustainability, so they could be centrally managed and
monitored by utilising the Internet of Things (IoT), Building Management Systems
(BMS), Cloud, Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) based
technologies.
“CAFMTEK
reduces manpower costs by up to 17%, utility costs by 30% and enhances asset
life cycle by digitalising FM service delivery,” added Osama Hussein, Director of
Soft Services and Security at Farnek.
A unique feature of the CAFMTEK
solution, is its WhatsApp chatbot which allows technicians across the Yas
Marina complex to raise service requests more efficiently. These service
requests are also stored in the customer mobility app. The chatbot enables
facility managers to effectively monitor the status of work orders and issue notifications
when the job is complete.
In addition to recording WhatsApp
status requests, the CAFMTEK customer mobility app empowers users to simultaneously
open new tasks, track the status of their orders, with access to relevant
real-time information to improve productivity. Additionally, the app features an
online digital dashboard that provides a quick overview showing how well a
specific project is performing.
Sustainability is also a critical
feature of CAFMTEK empowering facility managers to adopt sustainable FM practices
by providing a paperless solution. The CAFM software integrates IoT in building
management systems, enabling facility managers to easily collect and process
critical data, including CO2 emissions.
Interfaced with a 24/7 command and
control room, the solution provides round the clock technical support, tracking
and managing assets remotely, facilitating real-time monitoring and accommodating
virtual visits, presenting a holistic overview of all vital facility systems.
Farnek was awarded the FM
contract, to provide smart CAFM services at the Yas Marina Circuit. The contract
covers Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP), cleaning, landscaping, pest
control, waste management, specialist services, logistics and additional civil
works, with up to 160 Farnek staff onsite at any given time.
The
circuit has five grandstand areas, with a total seating capacity of more than
40,000 and to highlight the complex nature of its design, part of its pit lane
exit runs underneath the track and one of the run-off areas runs underneath the
West grandstand.
The versatile 160-hectare facility, which is one of the biggest sites
in the Middle East, was inaugurated on 30th October 2009.
Besides the annual Formula 1® Grand Prix, ADMM also hosts a portfolio
of up to 400 events annually. Quite apart from an array of top-class motor
sports, this includes business events and gala dinners at the Yas Conference
Centre.
UAE-based Farnek launches PowerTek a digital
solution to support the Middle East hospitality industry’s efforts to achieve
critical milestones towards net zero
Hotels can reduce their carbon emissions by up to 700
tonnes annually,saving as much as AED 384,000 and AED 133,000 on energy and water
consumption
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 16 March 2023: UAE-based
smart and green facilities management company Farnek
has launched a new state-of-the-art online remote digital platform called
PowerTek, which was
developed by in-house experts, at Farnek’s innovative digital solutions, sister
company HITEK.
The comprehensive and data-driven energy
performance monitoring tool supports hotels and the wider business community, through
efficient measuring, tracking, monitoring and benchmarking of energy and water
consumption as well as waste management.
“This analysis helps to reduce carbon emissions, which
are key to fulfilling any roadmap towards net zero,” said Nadia Ibrahim, Director
– Consultancy & Sustainability at Farnek.
PowerTek analyses consumption and waste, with
respect to multiple variables that can influence a hotel’s
environmental metrics such as occupancy, guest nights, number of guest
rooms, F&B covers, guest profiles, staff hours, air-conditioned areas as
well as general weather conditions. This helps hotels to maintain higher
operational efficiency, lower costs and the associated carbon emissions.
“Following the science, to prevent irreversible
climate change, we must restrict the global increase in temperature to 1.5°C.
To achieve this, the net emissions of greenhouse gases (CO2e) will need to be
reduced by up to 50% by 2030 and reach net zero levels by around 2050.
“Putting that into perspective, according to an international
study by Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, the hospitality industry needs to
reduce its carbon emissions by 66% per room by 2030, and by 90% per room by
2050. Currently the hospitality industry is responsible for 8% of global greenhouse
gas emissions.
“These statistics clearly underscore the urgency of
combatting climate change. Hotels have just seven years to reduce their
emissions by nearly two thirds,” added Ibrahim.
According to Farnek’s analysis, which uses data from
its own hotel clients as well as comparing EGBC & Cornell Hotel
benchmarking studies, four and five-star hotels have the potential to save up
to 10% annually on their utility consumption.
The
launch of PowerTek coincides with a recent announcement by Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), to reintroduce
a Carbon Calculator tool that measures the carbon
footprint within Dubai’s hospitality sector. Every month, hotels are now
mandated to submit their consumption of nine carbon emission sources:
electricity, water, district cooling, liquefied petroleum gas, landfill waste,
recycled waste, petrol, diesel and refrigerants. This information is collated
and analysed by the DET to provide industry insights on the sector’s collective
carbon footprint.
“PowerTek is an upgraded replacement for Hotel
Optimizer a digital tool that has been supporting hotels throughout the Middle
East for the past 20 years. A key part of the upgrade is that this new platform
now has a greater flexibility to be integrated with any energy meter, existing
BMS systems, connected IoT sensors, CAFM as well as analysing data entered manually,
such as updated and ongoing consumption data from utility providers,” commented
Javeria Aijaz, managing director of HITEK.
The digital tool can also benchmark a hotel’s performance
against its own historical data, making relevant comparisons with its peers based
on an energy utilisation index EUI (kWh/m2/year), water utilisation index WUI
(litres/guest nights), waste generation (kg/guest night), waste diversion, carbon
emissions as well as other operational costs.
“Decarbonisation has become a commercial imperative,
not only for the hospitality industry, but for all business sectors. It not
only plays a crucial role in limiting global warming, but hotels in particular can
reduce up to 60% of their total emissions by adopting energy efficient measures
alone,” said Ibrahim.
by By Zohaib Azhar, head of operations at smart & green home maintenance specialist, Hitches & Glitches
It is almost 21 years since foreign nationals were allowed to buy properties in the UAE and as such many properties during the initial wave of handovers are now reaching the ripe old age of twenty years.
Upgrades, renovations and retrofitting if carried out by professionals, will undoubtedly increase the value and marketability of a property. Moreover, in many cases, house prices in Dubai for example have risen by over 400% over the past 20 years.
The smallest houses in the Springs development were initially launched at around AED 500,000, the same properties today, improved and well presented, would be on the market for up to two million dirhams. Proving that investing in a well maintained and upgraded property is a sound long term investment strategy.
Furthermore, retrofitting the UAE’s housing stock will be an integral part of the UAE government’s efforts to achieve net zero by 2050. Dubai alone will retrofit 30,000 public buildings by 2030, which will save 1.4 Terawatt hours of electricity, 4.9 billion imperial gallons of water and reduce carbon emissions by one million tonnes.
With many homeowners and tenants now aware of the impact their lifestyle is having on the environment the trending growth in retrofitting older houses will continue unabated, especially as savvy consumers realise that reduced energy and water consumption means lower utility bills as well.
Estimates vary, but in a 2022 UK survey, 39% of homebuyers considered energy efficiency as an important factor in their decision to purchase a particular property. In my own experience, a similar figure would be recorded in the UAE, especially when buyers consider A/C bills over the long hot summer months. On average most homeowners should achieve a return on investment, within 7-8 years.
Exterior
Cracks to exterior coatings, faded paintwork, worn roof tiles and ill-fitting window and door frames, hinges and locks, are some of the more common signs of wear and tear to the exterior of a house.
These issues can be addressed by applying heat reflecting paint, which can reduce indoor temperatures by up to ten degrees Celsius in the summer in addition to protecting the exterior of your home. Windows too can be replaced with low emissivity glass windows that works by reflecting the sun’s rays, or by fitting heat reflective film to your existing windows. Window and door joints and seals can easily be refitted or replaced.
Interior
Indoor air quality became a massive issue during lockdown. By simply addressing ventilation and ensuring that doors and windows are airtight, indoor air quality will be improved and should also eliminate any signs of condensation.
Trends in home décor and layout, particularly in kitchens and bathrooms is a major consideration for homeowners too. The latest eco-friendly white goods have become so advanced that older kitchens often struggle to accommodate them seamlessly, which will invariably necessitate an upgrade, of some description.
Technology
Smart home technology has advanced rapidly over the over the past 20 years in particular and take-up has accelerated in the wake of the pandemic. Today we have a plethora of smart home products, that can be operated through a smartphone such as smart switches and NEST thermostats. Remote controlled RING video doorbells and security cameras are another great way to improve security, especially when you are away from home.
The latest IOT smart valves can identify excess consumption, leaks and breakages and allow the control of water and airflow remotely, as and when needed, without having to physically access them. This also prevents further damage to property, especially if it is left vacant for any length of time.
Investing in a deep renovation or a more substantial energy-efficient retrofit, is money well spent. Not only in terms of direct ROI, increased resale value or rental income, but also in respect of lower ongoing utility costs, a better quality of life and a reduced carbon footprint.
There
are many thousands of residential properties on the UAE rental market that are
not covered by Annual Maintenance Contracts (AMCs).
Some
landlords consider AMCs purely as a business expense, but as Zohaib Azhar, Head
of Operations, at leading home maintenance specialist Hitches & Glitches explains, this can prove
to be a false economy, in more ways than one.
Here’s
five reasons why.
1.
Enhancing the value of an investment property
Let’s
start with an obvious benefit. Regular preventative maintenance will enhance
the value of a property. If left unattended, A/C problems, water leaks, blocked
drains and electrical outages can overtime damage and or stain, flooring,
walls, doorframes, sockets, as well as creating mildew and unpleasant odours.
According
to international research data, a well-maintained property can be worth up to
20% more than a property that has been poorly maintained and presented. Taking
an average three-bed home in New Dubai, valued at say three million dirhams, that
could potentially reduce its value by up to AED 600,000.
2.
Maximising rental income &
reputation as a ‘responsible’ landlord
Tenants, as with potential buyers,
will be more readily prepared to pay the market rate or above, for a home they
consider to be in good order. Whatever the asking price, if tenants believe a
property has been neglected it can often result in a discounted offer or
request for more generous rental payment terms. It may also take longer to find
a tenant and every month the property is vacant, landlords are losing the
equivalent of over 8% of annual rental value.
And it’s not only money, but this
can also affect a landlord’s reputation. Tenants often use social media
platforms to share experiences with their friends and followers. Being rated a
good landlord will be reflected in the demand for your properties and the rent
tenants are willing to pay.
3. Avoiding trivial complaints and
DIY ‘enthusiasts’
If
minor but consistent maintenance issues prevail, tenants will get increasingly
frustrated and complain at each and every problem they face. This can be very
time consuming for landlords or their agents. Even if they don’t complain, if neighbouring
residents are affected by leaks and or odours for example, the problem could
escalate, with community management involvement.
Worse
still, there is the ‘have a go’ DIY enthusiast that believes he or she can fix
the problem themselves. This can not only be dangerous, but it can create even
bigger issues further down the line which might require significant and more
expensive repairs.
4.
Deferring maintenance can lead to
expensive repairs in the long run
Regular
servicing and preventative maintenance checks can not only avert failure and or
breakdown, but it will also extend the lifespan of components and other
essential parts. This is particularly true for air conditioning units,
electrical wiring and outlets and plumbing.
Although
this is probably a little extreme, I think it is worth mentioning. The wiring
in neglected A/C units can work loose and become frayed over time, which can in
isolated cases cause friction, burnout and even fire. The consequences for that
could be devastating for the tenants as well as the landlord.
If
landlords cannot provide any regular service history, A/C warranty and property
insurance may well become invalid. This could leave landlords picking up the
bill for a new A/C unit, the repair costs of any fire damage and compensation
to your tenants for the loss or damage to their furniture and personal
belongings – notwithstanding any damage to neighbouring properties.
5.
Peace of mind and ROI
Finally, AMCs offer landlords peace
of mind. They can rest assured that their properties are being maintained by a
trusted partner, proactively and professionally with the added bonus that
emergency calls are taken care of within hours, 24/7, 365 days a year,
empowering tenants.
This is especially beneficial if
landlords live abroad or travel frequently. And for landlords with multiple
properties, it is also more cost-efficient to use one maintenance company,
providing consistent service quality and online invoicing.
It’s also an efficient way to budget
maintenance expenses, with few surprises. This also provides landlords with a
permanent record of maintenance carried out on their property, which is useful
should they consider selling, in a similar fashion to somebody selling a car
with the full service history.
Last
but not least, happy tenants are more likely to renew their leases minimising
vacancy periods and agency fees – maximising return on investment.
With
a standard maintenance contract from H&G starting from just AED 2,500
per annum, is it really worth taking the risk?
Hitches & Glitches is a
technology-led office and home maintenance business, and its vision statement
is to become the ultimate provider of sustainable and technology-driven home
maintenance services throughout the UAE. It strives to deliver excellence in
home maintenance services with a focus on quality, value and sustainable best
practice while being led by innovative technology, which exceeds the
expectations of our customers.
Farnek expands its presence in key sector with a bundle of new FM contracts
Leading FM company mobilises 72 staff across the seven Emirates
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 15 December 2022: Leading UAE-based smart and green facilities management (FM) company Farnek has expanded its reach in the key banking sector, with a host of new and retained contract wins, throughout the UAE, valued at more than AED 12 million annually.
The company has mobilised 72 members of staff stationed in locations across all seven of the Emirates, with the majority deployed in banks in Dubai, to carry out general cleaning, A/C duct cleaning, administrative assistance, data centre cleaning, security and other specialised FM services.
Farnek’s portfolio of clients in the banking sector now include Mashreq, United Arab Bank, Commercial Bank International, Bank of Singapore, Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait, and ING Bank, to name a few.
Markus Oberlin, the CEO of Farnek, said: “We have increased our market share significantly this year in the banking sector. There are two main reasons for this. Firstly, we operate in all seven emirates so that banks with branches throughout the UAE can be covered under one contract.
“Secondly FM operations in banks are far more complex than one might imagine. Quite apart from rigorous security, data centres, ATM rooms, uninterrupted power supply (UPS) rooms and A/C ducts require specialist cleaning and maintenance. Our staff are fully trained and certified to carry out this work.”
Farnek’s service teams are divided into cluster groups for a quick and smart response, which reduces downtime and adheres with key performance indicators (KPIs). Their entire scope of work is managed by CAFMTEK a mobile-enabled, computer-aided facility management (CAFM) software solution, that provides their technical teams with a holistic view of their operations.
“There is special training required for each service carried out for our banking clients. Naturally the security in the banks is very strict and multiple security systems are interconnected, with a direct alarm to the police. Therefore, our technical staff must have a detailed understanding of how the system works, in case of failure or false alarm.
“Sensitive spaces such as ATM rooms and treasury lockers or vaults, are areas that require specialist maintenance and cleaning at specific times, under close observation,” added Zohaib Azhar, head of operations at Farnek.
Physical security is still an integral part of FM for the banking sector and in this respect Farnek’s trade references are impeccable. Dubai Police commended the company for its security-related practice, Abu Dhabi Police General Command recognised Farnek for its efforts and outstanding cooperation and finally, at the FM Middle East Awards, earlier this year, Farnek was named Security Company of the Year 2022.
FLEETEK a custom-built fleet management solution developed by HITEK, to provide transport fleet managers with an innovative, sustainable and cost-effective way to address logistical issues
Leading UAE-based IT smart Facilities Management (FM) solutions company HITEK Services, which is part of the Farnek group of companies, has launched an innovative in-house digital solution, that can optimise the performance of company transport fleets.
The smart fleet solution, appropriately called FLEETEK, was developed by HITEK’s in-house technology team and has been launched in the wake of November’s 9% rise in the cost of petrol announced by the UAE’s fuel price committee, which links domestic petrol prices to movements in global oil prices.
“The price of Brent Crude has risen by over 10% this year, from $77 a barrel in January to $85 yesterday (23 November), with an average year-to-date price of $103. However, according to Reuters, a survey of 42 economists and analysts on 31 October 2022, forecast benchmark Brent Crude would average $95 in 2023.
“This will offer some respite for fleet managers, but with hundreds of vehicles, travelling thousands of kilometres a day, fuel remains a major expense and that is on top of rising interest rates and other inflationary pressures on leasing costs, maintenance and salaries.
“So, the current focus for many fleet managers will be on cost-saving and of course sustainability,” said Javeria Aijaz, Managing Director of HITEK.
FLEETEK digitalises the entire fleet management process. It identifies both fleet and driver productivity in real time, using a system-based inventory and digital schedule, which is powered by IoT sensors fitted to the vehicles and connected with Google Maps to enable tracking and navigation for route optimisation.
“This digital process supports operational efficiency and transparency. CAPEX and OPEX data is automatically recorded and communicated through monthly financial reports,” added Aijaz.
Using FLEETEK’s live administrative portal, operational staff at its control and command centre can compare vehicle inventory with the current and scheduled demand and issue instructions to drivers (each vehicle is fitted with a dedicated smart phone loaded with an app).
The drivers log in, accept the notification based on a QR code sent to the smart phone in the vehicle and start their journey. The solution calculates and compares the estimated and actual journey times and presents the driver with Google Maps-based navigation, to show the most time-efficient route to take.
Vehicles are integrated with an IoT sensor that essentially tracks the vehicle and monitors ignition status, sends idling notifications and speeding alerts, all in real time, to operatives in the control and command centre.
“Overall, this saves fuel, cuts carbon emissions as well as reducing wear and tear on the fleet, prolonging the time between servicing and ultimately its operational life.
The operational dashboard on FLEETEK can also generate incident reports, organise new transport schedules, search for the nearest and most relevant available vehicle, corelating with demand.
Standalone and integrated reports can be generated such as vehicle assignment and utilisation to monthly comparative expense reports. There’s also a feature that can hold the driver’s essential driving documents and records of any previous incidents or violations. Maintenance records for individual vehicles can also be stored.
“These reports can be cross-referenced to compare fuel efficiency, driver behaviour, average journey times, adherence to routes highlighted on Google Maps, idling times, even wear and tear on tyres,” added Aijaz.
UAE-based smart & green total FM
company Farnek recognises Dulsco & Kone for their impressive ongoing commitment
to sustainability
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Thursday
17 November 2022:
Leading UAE-based smart and green facilities management (FM) company Farnek, has recognised its two top suppliers
for their commitment to the environment.
UAE-based Dulsco, a leading provider
of integrated people and environmental solutions and Kone Middle East, a global
leader in the elevator and escalator industry, received sustainability awards
from Markus Oberlin, CEO of Farnek, during a ceremony held at Farnek’s offices
yesterday (Wednesday 16 November 2022).
“Suppliers can contribute up to two thirds of any
organisation’s carbon footprint, so it is imperative for our own net zero
journey that we evaluate what sustainable initiatives our suppliers are
undertaking and reward them through initiatives like this,’ said Oberlin.
Now in its second year, the awards
programme integrates environmental and social considerations into its procurement
process, to bring about a more positive environmental impact, by appreciating
and prioritising its suppliers that were exhibiting a similar green commitment.
To achieve this, Farnek initiated sustainability
principles within its supply chain process, supporting its customers’
eco-consciousness, to create long term valuable partnerships.
Farnek then went through a process to
determine a sustainable procurement policy, which included evaluation through
certain criteria such as:
A commitment to net zero and the use of low carbon products
Environmental & Social – ISO
14001, 9001 certification
Hazardous chemical management
Biodegradable, recycled,
environmentally friendly, eco-label certification for cleaning chemicals and
consumables
Sustainable transportation
Minimal packaging policy
Electronic Product Environmental
Assessment Tool (EPEAT) rating or Energy star rating equipment
Low Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)
products
By adding a loaded rating system, Kone
and Dulsco stood out as clear winners, each scoring 62 and 57 respectively, placing
them in the highest category.
-Ends-
Photo caption:
Image 1 (L-R) Nadia Ibrahim, Associate Director – Consultancy
& Sustainability, Farnek; Markus Oberlin, CEO, Farnek, Azzam
Messaykeh, Managing Director – UAE & Oman, Kone
Middle East, Mira Hachem, Director of
Procurement, Farnek and Hany
Bayour, Key Accounts Manager- Service Sales, Kone Middle East.
Image 2 (L-R)
Nadia Ibrahim, Associate Director – Consultancy
& Sustainability, Farnek; Markus Oberlin, CEO, Farnek, David
Stockton, CEO & MD, Dulsco, Mira Hachem, Director
of Procurement, Farnek and Kalpana
Rawat – Key Accounts Manager, Dulsco.
Leading UAE-based smart property management solutions company HITEK Services, which is part of the Farnek group of companies, has signed an exclusive five-year partnership agreement with Riyadh-based Safari Holding.
The contract which was signed at the Safari Group’s head office in Riyadh, allows the Saudi company to offer a suite of smart technology solutions including CAFM, IoT, BMS, energy, and carbon management solutions, all developed by HITEK’s in-house technology team, exclusively to building owners and property managers, as well as other FM service providers and consultants, throughout the Kingdom.
In May 2021, the Middle East FM Association (MEFMA) estimated that the Saudi FM market was worth approximately $20 billion, roughly 55% of the total GCC FM spend. However, according to a recent report by Fortune Business Insights, the value of the Saudi FM market will grow to $34.86 billion by 2028 and Safari executives reckon that PropTech’s market share will be worth over $1.7 billion.
Commenting at the signing ceremony, Eng. Salim Al-Aydh, Group CEO at Safari Group said. “Residential, commercial and industrial real estate development in the Kingdom is expanding at a phenomenal rate and we have identified three specific issues, which need to be addressed when delivering optimal IFM solutions.
“Firstly, the expanding geographical spread of real estate across Saudi Arabia, secondly the fact that hundreds of new, smarter buildings will be coming to market over a relatively short period of time and thirdly, supporting the government’s commitment to net zero.
“This in our view requires advanced methods of FM which we believe can only be driven by the best technological solutions which our partner HITEK has afforded us.”
Established in 1984, the Safari Group which employs over 12,000 people, owns 16 businesses, with FM and construction at its core, operating out of offices in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam, as well as other locations throughout Saudi Arabia.
Safari has an impressive portfolio of FM clients including, Saudi Aramco, King Abdullah Medical City – Riyadh & Jeddah, the Ministry of Interior Riyadh, the Kingdom Tower as well as Riyadh airports and King Abdulaziz International Airport Jeddah.
“Advanced digital solutions can now integrate with any existing technologies such as BMS and can activate a variety of bespoke solutions remotely, linking smart and sustainable buildings with a digitally connected workforce. So, it is essential that we adopt technological solutions such as HITEK to capitalise on these opportunities.
“The services that we will be providing will benefit both owners and tenants in large buildings, complexes and compounds. Through digitalisation they will be able to create efficiencies and reduce costs. We believe this is the future of technology driven IFM and we are excited to roll this out,” added Ali Saleh Al Sagri, Commercial COO at Safari Group.
HITEK is a home-grown PropTech company, part of the Farnek group, which was founded in the UAE in 1980. Farnek was an early adopter and has consistently invested in technology, focusing on digitalising its operational and supporting business functions.
SAAS-based HITEK solutions connect people, assets and spaces from multiple remote sites, using flexible, scalable and analytical platforms, for cleaning, security, maintenance and sustainability, so they could be centrally managed and monitored by utilising the Internet of Things (IoT), Building Management Systems (BMS), Cloud, Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) based technologies.
It also supports operational efficiencies, staff welfare, and sustainability while saving clients significant amounts of money by reducing manpower costs by up to 17%, utility cost by 30% and enhancing asset life cycle by transferring from traditional FM operational management to HITEK’s smart management.
“Safari Holding is a leading Saudi conglomerate, focused on FM and construction. It is well-established and highly respected, with expertise in robotics, AI and advanced automation. There is significant potential for PropTech in the Kingdom and Safari provides us with an ideal partner.
“Our strategy is for HITEK to become the undisputed market leader in the PropTech space and to extend our reach across the GCC countries and further into the Levant and Africa,” said Markus Oberlin, Group CEO, Farnek.
HITEK’s 24/7 command and control room or ‘nerve centre’, is located at Farnek’s state-of-the-art centre in Dubai. Being 5G and Wi-Fi 6 enabled, HITEK can take advantage of increased bandwidth, ultra-low latency and enhanced security.
“This will allow us to rollout digital, connected and unified transformative applications of technology that not only uplift the face of FM digitalisation, but also offer enhanced efficiency, as technology advances, interfacing with all aspects of FM,” said Javeria Aijaz, Managing Director of HITEK.
Photo caption: (R-L) Ali Saleh Al Sagri, Commercial COO, Safari Group; Saud Saleh Al Sagri, General Manager Supply Chain, Safari Group; Eng. Salim Al-Aydh, Group CEO, Safari Group; Javeria Aijaz, Managing Director, HITEK; Markus Oberlin, Group CEO, Farnek and Peter Roddam, General Manager, Facilities Management, Safari Group.
About Safari Holding
Safari Group is a leading Saudi conglomerate specialised in Facility Management, Construction, AI and Robotics and many other businesses. With around 40 years of experience, Safari Group has been a lead player in the Saudi market. Safari is a Tier 1 FM and Construction company with a presence throughout the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Any company that would like to adopt the power of digitalisation in Facility Management should contact Safari Group at info@safari.com.sa
About HITEK
HITEK Services is a part of Farnek Group, a leading industry expert with over 40 years of technical expertise and operational experience in Facilities Management, Hospitality, and Technology Infrastructure. Our broad range of intelligent applications is a result of people, processes, and technology empowering our customers with digital, business, and technological transformation. Our solutions are aimed at complementing leaner and more sustainable operational processes that increase productivity and reduce energy consumption.
Any FM Company would like to adapt the power of digitalization, can contact HITEK Services on info@hitekservices.com
About Farnek:
Farnek is the leading provider of sustainable and technology-driven Facilities Management in the United Arab Emirates. Established in the UAE since 1980, Farnek Services LLC is a Swiss-owned independent total facilities management company. With a skilled workforce of more than 8,000 employees, Farnek delivers professional Facilities Management services across several sectors: Aviation, Hospitality, Banking, Retail, Telecom, Residential, Commercial, Infrastructure, Government, Education, Leisure, and Entertainment.
