Jordan Environment Watch : Green buildings LEED eco-construction in the Arab World

Source: AME Info

The emerging concept of green buildings has already attracted some of the biggest developers in the region, particularly in Dubai's booming real estate sector. But will the green concept impress not only conservationists, but also investors and developers who are looking for greener fortunes?

LEEDing the way

Some of the green initiatives in the real estate and construction industry that have sprung up recently have advocated the Leadership in Energy and Energy Design (LEED) rating system.

According to the US Green Building Council, which developed LEED, this rating system 'promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognising performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality. LEED provides a roadmap for measuring and documenting success for every building type and phase of a building lifecycle'.

In the UAE, the Emirates Green Building Council is drafting a document to push the eco-rating system that is region-specific. Currently, some of the region's design consultancies follow the LEED-based system:

• TECOM's ENPARK has launched Sustainable Design Consultants, a green building consultancy dedicated to provide building solutions in the UAE and the region.

• Hyder Consulting, an engineering, environmental, planning and management consultancy in a recent launch also announced its own Regional Sustainable Design Group in the Middle East, which looks into 'how sustainability and value management can save investors small fortunes and significantly increase the value of assets'.

• The Dubai Silicon Oasis, an IT hub community being developed by the Government of Dubai has also announced plans to amend its rules and regulations and give incentives to developers applying green concepts, which will drive the change in market trends.

• Dubai World is not to be left out, with the set up of its own Middle East Centre for Sustainable Development, jointly run with Pacific Control Systems. The centre, based on the LEED system, is designed to be a one stop shop for the design, construction guidelines, technical support, sourcing of material and Green Certification for developers in the region.

• So far, the only building in the Middle East to get LEED certification is Dubai's District Cooling Chiller Plant - DCCP ONE. Managed by Dubai-based Green Technologies, it was awarded LEED Silver Building in 2006. The project is the first phase of a 20,000 ton central chilled water plant serving the whole Wafi City. Trane's EarthWise CenTraVacTM chillers is expected to earn savings in operational cost and power consumption for the building.

Another UAE eco-led project recently proposed by a Japanese led-consortium called Sustainable Urban Development Consortium for Japan and Gulf States Partnership is 'Sustainable City'. Details of when it will be built are not yet known, but the consortium claimed that it will halve energy consumption using cutting-edge technologies already tried and tested in Japan.

In Jordan, the Al-Mushatta Industrial City aims to attract investors by the installation of green and energy efficient architectural engineering. This includes the use of a smart property system to control energy consumption and gas technologies to help industries convert electrical and fuel energy to more efficient gas energy.

Green values

In some Western countries, green buildings are becoming high value properties. A study conducted by the Real Property Association of Canada looked at buildings in North America and the UK showed an emerging link between green features and market value.

The report suggested that 'not only are green buildings good for the environment, provide healthier places to live and more productive places to work, they can command higher rents and prices, attract tenants more quickly, reduce tenant turnover and cost less to operate and maintain'.

The growing interest of Middle East developers in green buildings will have a venue for discussion at Cityscape Dubai.

Whether it is about sustainability and healthier environment, corporate social responsibility image enhancement, or as profitable investment, the level of commitment which developers will show towards green initiatives will clearly define what this booming sector could actually offer.