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Building a greener Dubai

Buildings consume a large percentage of the world’s energy supplies and, as home to the tallest tower in the world, the UAE is taking steps to try and embrace a more environmental approach to construction

Dubai is currently building the world’s tallest - the Burj Dubai - while Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar are considering building rival towers over the coming decade.

Although attention-grabbing, these devel-opments also have potentially enormous environmental impacts.

It is estimated that buildings worldwide use 42 per cent of the world’s energy and are responsible for around 40 per cent of green-house gas emissions. ?
Despite the current economic slowturn, countries around the world, including in the Gulf, are embracing green building design to help address environmental concerns.

Many Middle East countries are introducing green building regulations and guidelines that govern the design and operation of all new buildings.

Dubai World, the investment arm of the Dubai government, has recently adopted the US LEED Green Building Certification scheme as a requirement for its projects.

Additionally, the Emirates Green Building Council will soon be developing a specific UAE LEED version to guide future develop-ments in the emirates.
Bahrain, Qatar and Oman are all moving towards green building design as well.

These green initiatives have been triggered by numerous international organisations with Middle East operations bringing their environmental policies and standards in the region.

International businesses that have adopted green initiatives include Grand Hyatt and HSBC.

UAE companies following their example include TECOM Invest-ments and Zabeel Properties with other local and international organisations likely to follow in the near future.

Given the harsh desert climate of the Arabian Peninsula, some have questioned whether buildings in the Middle East can really go green.

Nonetheless, green investing is growing in the region.

Currently under-construction, Masdar City in Abu Dhabi plans to be the world's first zero-waste and carbon-neutral city, utilising green and alternative energy sources not only in the buildings but in the city’s infrastructure.

While green buildings are becoming the norm in new Gulf construction, converting older buildings to green technology presents daunting challenges.
While elsewhere, many old architectural symbols such as New York’s Empire State Building are going green, it is yet to be witnessed whether the Middle East would take on the significant task of converting its old buildings to green.

While installing energy efficient and renew-able technologies in old buildings presents developers technical challenges and extra expense, the long-term advantages often outweigh the initial costs. ?

In the current economic environment, owners and developers are realising that green buildings offer a good investment.

Green buildings have higher market values because they are cheaper and more efficient to maintain. Also, by going green owners can expect an increase in their occupancy.

Given the growing demand for green building space in both the public and private sectors in the Middle East, owners and landlords are coming under increasing pressure to think green when selling or leasing their properties.

The green initiatives mean more opportunities for businesses to sell green building products, technologies and consultancy services in the region.

Masdar City, for example, presents an attractive free zone for companies spec-ialising in green technology to set up their businesses and bring their expertise to the Middle East.

For existing businesses, adopting green building initiatives can enhance their corporate branding. ?

“While obvious challenges exist, the future of green initiatives in the Middle East remains promising. An improving economic climate will offer new opportunities to set up green technology businesses and develop green buildings in the Middle East,” said Arti Sangar, a senior associate at the Dubai office of the Diaz Reus and Targ law firm.

Categorized | Business News

Tags : bahrain, buildings, city, current, dubai, environmental, investment, middle, middle-east, the-world

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Building a greener Dubai

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