Gulf Construction Online - Congress to discuss building sustainability

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Congress to discuss building sustainability

01 January 2008

The eighth congress of the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) titled “Tall & Green: Typology for a Sustainable Urban Future”, to be held in Dubai from March 3 to 5 will attract more than 600 building professionals from around the world, who will discuss the sustainable design of tall buildings and technologies concerned with energy use reduction and energy generation, says a spokesman for the organiser.

“In addition, the congress will also discuss the role of concentrated mega-projects and ‘new’ cities in future urban developments and the new generation of skyscraper form: tall, articulated towers.”
Given the tremendous volume of construction projects in Dubai, the emirate has only recently begun to consider the impact on the environment and think how to counteract this with a sustainable vision. This is absolutely vital for the long-term vitality of the emirate, according to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH).
“Many people think that adoption of the green building specifications can cost more, but this is not totally true. Green materials can contribute to the reduction of operational cost of buildings through reducing electricity and water bills. Green buildings also promote indirect benefits, such as improved worker performance and productivity. If more developers are willing to make the investment, Dubai skylines may be set to get a whole lot greener soon,” says CTBUH executive director Antony Wood.
“Following the vision of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai encouraging buildings in Dubai to be constructed with green building standards, many real estate companies and developers have started to implement green building principles across the full spectrum of their property portfolios. These initiatives will tremendously improve the quality of the emirate’s environment and establish Dubai as a leader in the emerging green business sector,” says Wood.
In October 2007, Sheikh Mohammed issued a directive mandating builders and developers in Dubai to comply with green building standards to ensure a healthy and environment-friendly city. This decision positioned Dubai as the first city in the Middle East and among few cities in the world to adopt a large-scale, ‘joined up thinking’ green building strategy.
“We are in a critical stage in the development of human culture, as the realities of climate change begin to impact human behaviour,” says Wood. “On the one hand we are trying to build new cities as quickly and efficiently as we can to accommodate an overwhelming population increase, and on the other hand we are trying to preserve natural environments and integrate them with urban living.”
According to Wood, the public’s increasing concern for the environment is raising expectations and driving demand for new buildings that are more sustainable, energy-efficient and green. The first reason for this increasing concern is climate change and global warning, while the second is that we are running out of natural resources, specifically, petroleum and coal.
“The definition of a sustainable tall building is one which emits no pollution to air, land and water, and can be economically occupied throughout its design life, whilst contributing positively to the local community. The current challenge, however, is how to achieve sustainability and build high-rise buildings. The answer is in design, through attention to detail in all parts of the design process buildings can move towards sustainability. Sustainability at the end has always been about an investment in the present for the benefit of the future. All these challenges will be discussed in detail in the upcoming CTBUH eighth congress,” he concludes.