Developer’s warning spells good news for chemicals sector

by CW Staff on Saturday, 25 April 2009

Sanaya Amman, being developed by Limitless in Jordan, is aiming to be the country’s first Leed certified building.

Sustainability must remain high on the agenda for developers during the global downturn, a top Dubai-based master developer has said.

The comments were made last week by Limitless executive director of design and planning Doug Kelbaugh.

This spells good news for the construction chemicals field, which is at the forefront of sustainability efforts in the building materials and coatings sectors.

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Chemically-hardened concrete and specific coatings can cut down on long-term repair work and increase the life-span of a building, reducing the need for maintenance-related resources.

Kelbaugh warned that developers could find themselves lagging behind once markets begin to improve if they lost focus on the issue of sustainability.

"Those who stay eco-conscious now are more likely to emerge stronger than those who don't," Kelbaugh said, "because the new, post-oil-peak economy will expect - and may legally require - more energy efficiency and greater use of renewable energy sources."

A fortnight ago the partnership behind Qatar's green regulations revealed that the system will be enforced by law when it is introduced in the coming weeks.

The government of Abu Dhabi is also considering whether to legally enforce a version of its Pearl rating system under its wide ranging Estidama initiative. The Pearl rating sytem is a voluntary initiative at present.

"Global warming is a long term threat to us all, a multi-generational problem that needs intense public education, regulation and incentives to guide us towards greener living," Kelbaugh said.

"Developers can play their part with innovative, sustainable projects that incorporate alternative energy, recycling initiatives and environmentally-friendly transport."

Limitless is aiming to produce the first LEED-certified building in Jordan with Sanaya Amman, a 200m residential twin tower project.

In the UAE, its Downtown Jebel Ali project, currently under construction, will feature district cooling and eco-friendly transport alternatives to the car, among other green initiatives.