UAE | Environment
Green buildings offer clean life
Architect extols benefits of skyscrapers that create low carbon footprint.
- By Emmanuelle Landais, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:32 February 16, 2008
Dubai: Maintaining clean air and lower pollution levels could benefit developers of skyscrapers to attract visitors, investors and residents, a tall buildings design expert has said.
"The tallest building in the world would probably not be able to qualify for the highest rank in sustainable developments, but technology exists now to give skyscrapers as low carbon footprint as possible," said David Scott, chairman of the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat and a principal at Arup, an international engineering design firm.
Environmentally friendly standards in designing tall buildings will contribute to keeping panoramic views visible at staggering heights clear, as a smoggy day can quickly make them worthless, said Scott, who was recently in Dubai ahead of the eighth Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat Congress, Tall and Green: Typology for a Sustainable Urban Future which will be held in early March.
Whilst calling Dubai's skyline 'very exciting', Scott emphasised the value of clean air. "In a city it is very fortunate to have clean air. I've been here several times and I've never seen it so clear," he said last Wednesday.
"A 300-metre tall building could achieve platinum LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) but it needs a lot of hard work. These buildings occupy a lot of valuable real estate space and they need to integrate a transport system," said Scott.
"When developers realise it is in their best interest to create clean air and an environment that promotes it, changes will happen in tall buildings. Large financial institutions will force developers to think about energy use," he said.
"Eventually they will need to know how green a building is and what its energy consumption is and get it audited to see if buildings are using less energy. We need to create that competition. Tenants will create a demand for sustainable buildings that uses less energy," Scott told Gulf News.
"Cities like London and New York have a wide urban fabric with buildings made by architects and materials that went in and out of fashion. In today's environment we have different architects and types of materials that can be used efficiently and in an interesting way," he said.
"Looking at Dubai: there are a lot of cool things going on with shaded spaces. The Dubai Municipality building is a good example of a sustainable development with windows protected from the sun," Scott said.
When: Conference to be held in March
The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat Congress will be held from March 3 to 5 in Dubai. For more information visit www.ctbuh.org
More from UAE Environment
More from UAE
Latest news
- Youngsters dance and raise cash for charity
- Dubai departments upgrade services
- Get yourself a free test for diabetes
- Ensuring a safety net for intellectual property
- Reader's issue addressed
- 5,552 illegals held in Dubai this year
- Man cleared because he took drugs in France
- Man charged with trafficking women
- Auditors to probe Mizin graft case
- Breaking down cultural barriers with photographs
- Abu Dhabi Crown Prince visits Islamic centre
- Police's secret source scheme reaps rewards
- Transfusion centre launches new toll free number
- Mirror, mirror show me the way
- Smart e-Gate system launched
Community Reports
-
Mirror, mirror show me the way
Driver on Salam Street had so many boxes and fruits piled into car, he would not be able to view rear or right side mirrors
-
Parents should be more vigilant
Reader's picture highlights risk of negligence by caretakers
-
Warming up to ‘Mobilise the Earth' theme
Dubai school dedicates a whole week to celebrating Earth Day with can-collection drives, sapling plantation and painting competition among others
-
Drivers using mobiles put others' lives at risk
Speeding is dangerous for the driver and other motorists
