UAE promotes environmental construction

The UAE on Monday launched a green building rating system in an effort to increase environmental awareness within the construction industry.

The initiative is based on the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (Leed) Green Building Rating System developed in the US, which provides standards for environmentally sustainable construction.

The Emirates Green Building Council (Emirates GBC) said the system, provisionally known as Leed Emirates, has been adapted to suit the region’s unique requirements, such as more emphasis being placed on water efficiency.

The rating system has been developed to enable buyers, leasers and renters to know whether a building meets certain standards of efficiency and sustainability, the council said.

A nine-month pilot of the system is scheduled to begin next month and will include 25 buildings under construction from around the UAE.

The council called for new developments to be put forward for consideration.

"This is just the beginning. We would really like to see the industry actively getting involved. It is a movement that we hope will spread throughout the Middle East," said Sadek Owainati, Chairman of Emirates GBC.

Leed recognises performance in five key areas; sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.

Although versions of Leed vary from country to country, buildings can generally qualify for four levels of certification - Certified, Silver, Gold or Platinum - depending how environmentally sustainable the structure is.

Emirates GBC will host three workshops about the new system on October 21 and 22 in Dubai and on October 23 in Abu Dhabi.

The Emirates GBC was formed last year with the support of 39 founding member corporations to promote environmental sustainability in the UAE.

The next issue of Facilities Management Middle East is dedicated to green buildings and will be out at the beginning of October.