Etihad Airways has opened its new Etihad Eco Residence project in Abu Dhabi, the world’s first purpose-built, LEED Platinum-rated cabin crew accommodation project, offering . The project, resulting from a partnership with Masdar, provides 500 fully furnished one and two-bedroom flight crew apartments contained in 11 buildings at Masdar City.
“The opening of the landmark Etihad Eco Residence underscores not only the importance we place on providing superior housing to our valued cabin crew, but also our responsibility, as part of the greater Abu Dhabi vision, to play a part in transforming the capital into a global leader in smart urban planning, clean energy and sustainability,” Mana Mohamed Saeed Al Mulla, chief group support services officer at Etihad Aviation Group said at the ribbon-cutting.
The project is part of the airline’s crew accommodation strategy of providing superior, environmentally-friendly and facility-rich homes that are in close proximity to the city’s international airport. The Eco Residence demonstrates Masdar’s commitment to the “triple bottom line” of sensitivity to social, economic and environmental sustainability. The design minimizes use of materials with high-embedded energy ratings, and reduced transport-related carbon emissions (at least 20% of materials were either sourced or manufactured within 800 km of the project) according to a statement.
Each of the Etihad Eco Residence’s buildings has been designed using low environmental impact construction materials, which aid the reduction of strong sunlight yet maximize available natural daylight. Solar hot water systems provide 76 per cent of the community’s water demand and the buildings’ design encourages greater water efficiency and the reduction of potable water usage, as well as smart waste management.
An enhanced micro-climate has been created around each of the buildings using sustainable landscaping methods and massing the shape and size of the buildings, which captures the breeze for natural ventilation while offering protection from wind and dust. These features complement the urban environment and contribute to overall energy saving, while promoting biodiversity.
Masdar is collaborating with local stakeholders to pioneer a ‘greenprint’ for sustainable urban development at Masdar City using a holistic approach focused on integrating sustainable transportation initiatives, optimizing waste management, reducing energy use, water consumption and carbon emissions, and accommodating rapid urbanization.
Mark Scoble, Etihad Airways Head of In-flight Performance and Operations, said, “Our brief to the architects and designers of the Etihad Eco Residence was to create a development that is in line with Etihad’s environmental principles as well as a safe, secure and commercially viable residential precinct that embraces our acclaimed cabin crew community, who hail from over 120 countries around the world.” Etihad employs over 5,800 Abu-Dhabi-based crew.
