09/12/2014
Another Artifact of Green Living in Dubai…
The Khalifa Al Tajer Mosque is being developed as the Islamic World’s First Eco-Friendly Mosque. The 105,000 sq.ft. mosque at the Port Saeed area in Dubai can accommodate 3,500 worshippers in a built-up area of 45,000 sq.ft. The Dh20 million Eco-mosque, donated by Emirati philanthropist Khalifa Al Tajer, integrates cutting-edge green technologies, including:
1. Simple Bedouin Emirati architecture instead of Othmani-Turkish design cut costs by Dh40 million
2. Green building standards are met in the two-floor mosque that houses a 600-worshipper women hall, the houses of the imam, Muazen and cleaning worker, the 25m long minaret, and the ablution area
3. Smart water consumption- Sensor-operated water mixers regulate & reduce water consumption
4. 100% Water Recycling- Carefully picked local plants in the mosque’s landscape fully consume the 200-gallon ablution water
5. Renewable Energy- The exterior lighting poles are fitted with solar panels and green battery storage system that power mosque’s water heating
6. Sensor-based electricity control system (with daylight sensors and smart climate control) automatically turns the lights and AC on and even increases or decreases intensity to correspond with prayer times and the number of worshippers. There is no single electric switch in the mosque for lights or air conditioners
7. Energy-saving- LED lights are used and the big part of the two-section mosque is closed through the week, opening only during the Friday sermon, Taraweeh prayers, and other special occasions
8. Thermal insulation construction materials in roofs and exterior walls, big three-layer, double-glazing, metal-coated windows and technologically advanced equipment for improving indoor air quality
The mosque shall soon be certified internationally as the first green mosque in the world. Eco-mosques, such as this, can save water consumption by 20 per cent and electricity by 25 per cent. All mosques to be built in Dubai in the future will be environment friendly.
