UAE seeing the world through green eyes

While the affects of global warming have been an issue of increasing concern for countries around the world for some time now, it's only recently that people and businesses in the UAE have begun to see the world through green eyes. Environmental awareness in this part of the world is most definitely on the increase and with the Dubai Government making sustainable development a priority, real estate developers are becoming more and more eco aware.

As consumers, we are becoming increasingly aware of the impact we are having on climate change and have to a certain degree, accepted responsibility and acknowledged the need for change. Since the beginning of this year, all planned buildings in Dubai have had to conform to eco-aware building principles and now need to be certified by the Middle East Centre for Sustainable Development (MESCD). The centre was established in line with Dubai Strategic Plan 2015 and is intended to help developers obtain green building certification in line with the US Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (Leed) rating system.

The basic objectives of sustainable development are to reduce consumption of non-renewable resources, minimise waste and create healthy and productive environments. Dubai is developing at such a fast pace that without action, we run the risk of a resource crisis in the future.

Sustainable buildings are less dependant on fossil fuels and are designed to meet certain objectives including; using energy and other resources more efficiently, protecting health, and reducing impact on the environment.

In recognition of the need for the UAE to be more environmentally conscious, His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, took the initiative to instill international green building principles in the UAE; forming the Emirates Green Building Council (EGBC) in the process in order to promote these principles. EGBC will replicate the Leed rating system and will provide standards for developing green buildings.

As a result of this initiative, we are already seeing a shift in developer attitudes to sustainability and environmental awareness and a growing number of purpose-built green projects are being announced. Such projects include; the use of natural light, energy-efficient mechanical systems, recycled materials and other resource-saving devices.

Projects

Two large scale projects that spring to mind are Mohammad Bin Rashid Gardens and Masdar City. Mohammad Bin Rashid Gardens is an environmentally friendly real estate project consisting of four main clusters with 73 per cent covered in greenery. Masdar City in Abu Dhabi will be the world's first zero-carbon, zero-waste and car-free city. It will be generated by photovoltaic panels, while cooling will be provided via concentrated solar power. Water will be provided through a solar-powered desalination plant and landscaping within the city as well as crops grown outside the city, will be irrigated with grey water and treated waste water produced by the city's water treatment plant.

In addition to the new projects, old buildings in the UAE are being given an internal facelift to make them more efficient in conserving water and energy.

We are also seeing an emerging global trend for socially responsible retailing and sustainable green stores and malls, so . in the city of shopping, watch this space!!

In general, developers are now recognising the importance of being more environmentally aware not only for ethical reasons, but for the fact that an energy efficient building has obvious attractions to potential end users and from a marketing point of view, EGBC or Leed certification, creates an opportunity to tap into the current trends and attract a growing number of eco conscious investors.

The writer is managing director of Better Homes.