Sustainable developments wait to spread across UAE cityscape

Dubai: Sustainable development across the country is advancing rapidly as the UAE now ranks as the number one country outside the United States to have the highest number of existing buildings seeking green certification based on the Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) standards.

Iconic green buildings coming up across Dubai include the Lighthouse Building in DIFC which has managed to reduce the 66-storey building's energy requirements by 65 per cent. More buildings are following suit with the Sky Tower and Dubai Pearl minimising energy consumption as well.

Buildings in the UAE are being rated for energy efficiency according to several bodies including LEED, Estidama, Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) Gulf, and ISO.

Estidama which was launched in May 2008 and is Arabic for "sustainability", is Abu Dhabi's sustainable buildings and communities programme that aims to ensure sustainable design, operation and maintenance of all types of buildings and communities in Abu Dhabi.

According to Ali Bin Towaih, chairman of the Emirates Green Building Council, executive director of Enpark in Dubai and director of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Division (SEED) at TECOM Investments, more than 17 buildings are waiting certification at TECOM. According to Bin Towaih green, or energy efficient, buildings are economically viable. "Which is why we are doing it," he said.

Dan Savage, Atkins designer speaking on light saving technologies used on the Lighthouse Tower said savings of 65 per cent were achieved by using some new, but mainly old technologies efficiently.

The tower will have 4000 photovoltaic panels on its south facing side.