Taking sustainability and energy efficiency standards to greater heights in the country, the Gulf Organisation for Research and Development (Gord) is set to launch EcoLab – an energy efficiency and star rating testing facility for electrical appliances, Gulf Times has learnt.
“The EcoLab is a state-of-the-art testing facility to examine the performance and star rating of the air-conditioning (AC) units imported to Qatar. It is the first such testing facility in Qatar and one of the most advanced in the region,” disclosed Dr Yousef Alhorr, founding chairman, Gord.
Dr Alhorr said that the testing facility will start operations immediately after the Qatar Sustainability Summit (QSS) taking place on October 27 and 28 and more details will be announced during the summit.
“We will provide the testing certificate to ensure the quality and performance of the AC units. The dealers have to bring the samples to the testing centre as they have to be certified by a third party,” explained Dr Alhorr.
The EcoLab is located at the Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP) and will be run by Gord with the testing conducted by experts and staff.
“In addition to all types of AC units, there will also be testing for home appliances. In the initial stage, we will do it for limited number of appliances and will be expanded later. We will begin with steam iron, hair dryers among others and will include more appliances later,” continued the  Gord chairman.
The official also said that the EcoLab has achieved ISO 17025, the certification needed for testing laboratories.
“The testing will help the customers in a big way. It will bring confidence to the consumers as it is certified by non-profit agency. We will collect samples from each batch of air-conditioners and home appliances that arrive in the country,” he described.
“The testing will be completed in a single day and there will not be any delay in completing the testing. In case of any necessity, we will work in two shifts to avoid any delay. The laboratory will simulate very high temperature and humidity levels to test the ACs,” noted the official. 
Dr Alhorr maintained that QSS has become a major national and regional sustainability event with the participation of major stakeholders in the country and multinational companies as well as international speakers.
“We have for the first time, the Ministry of Municipality and Environment as the co-sponsor of the summit while Qatar Foundation supports the event as Green Transformation Leader. Qatar National research Fund, QSTP, General Organisation for standardisation and Metrology, Shell  Qatar, Qapco among others are major sponsors of the summit,” he said.
“Researchers, experts and academics from the United Nations Environment, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, International Civil Aviation Organisation, experts and academics from research institutes related to sustainability will speak at the event. The agenda is very diverse and will cover the built environment and sustainability, energy sector and carbon reduction, green transportation among others under the overarching themes related to sustainability policies,” added Dr Alhorr.