Building for a green future

The formation of groups and market pressures are also helping to lead the way. Around the world there are a number of ratings tools which help ensure green building practices. The American Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is one of the best known ratings tools but as Stephen Oehme, regional director, value management and sustainability at Hyder Consulting, points out, these are not necessarily effective in resulting in best green practices. "LEED covers a lot of areas and it can be very successful but having the tools by themselves doesn't necessarily guarantee results. The UAE is currently at the bad end of the graph for sustainability but next to it is the US and they have LEED. It is, however, very different for this region because we are right at the bad end of the spectrum so migrating up won't be something that takes too much time, just as building the world's tallest building didn't."

A local version of LEED is currently being developed through a collaboration between Hyder Consulting and the Emirates Green Building Council. The environment agency in Abu Dhabi is also looking at its options for a similar tool.

Other than forming action groups though, what can be done on the practical side? In addition to the introduction of its Sustainable Design Group, Hyder is ensuring its designs remain green through the use of a number of practices incorporated at the early stages. While many consider the use of solar panels and other futuristic technologies as the future in green design, Hyder focuses on building mass, concrete mixes and building orientation.

Getting in at the start of a project is the key to a more sustainable design. While many would not consider the direction a structure is facing to be important, the correct orientation can result in the building making the most of natural sunlight and shading. The correct building massing can reduce building and material costs, and mixed-use developments with nearby amenities can reduce road traffic. "With building massing generally there are amazing things which can be done," says Oehme. "You can reduce the amount of materials, and make the building more functional as well reduce building costs. If you were to ask what doesn't sustainability touch in building design, the answer would be nothing - it really does cover every aspect."

Contrary to popular belief, incorporating sustainable designs into a building does not cost any more, and in both the long and short-term companies could even see themselves saving money through the use of simple but effective measures.

"A lot of people think of sustainability as something you bolt on or off as that is how it is practised internationally, but those people are really missing the point. We think that the number one thing that has to change is the process of building and that includes management. If you only employ one particular method or process, it's simply not going to be cost-effective," explains Oehme.

According to Oheme if the design process is well-thought out before building commences, a developer not only saves money but also time. "If you make better informed decisions early on you don't need to go backwards and forwards, which is often done and wastes a lot of time and money. It is more intense, and requires slightly more resourcing, but the time period should not be extended. It has the potential to save you money, certainly not cost you more."

Hyder is not the only developer in the region to employ green building practices. The Burj Dubai developed by Emaar uses a number of green practices. The world's tallest building will be cooled using melted water from ice-making plants, and around 15 gallons of condensation a year will be drawn off and used to irrigate the surrounding landscape.

On the Palm Jumeirah, Nakheel has also implemented a similar water recycling system. It is used for a variety of purposes including in the Palm's district cooling system, in its sewage treatment plant and for the island's many landscaping and irrigation needs.

So what about the future of green design? With backing from the top, market pressure and ground-breaking ideas being utilised on a daily basis, Hayward doesn't think it will be long until we see Dubai's very own Sustainable City spring up from the desert.

"It will be like Media City or Motor City but for best green practices," Hayward explains. "The city will have areas dedicated to recycling and research as well as incorporate other sustainable initiatives. That's the future."

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