The increasing emphasis by the UAE government on green building regulations has boosted demand for facilities management (FM) services, according to a top official of Sungwon, a leading FM company.

The increase in demand will be seen in buildings under construction as well as existing buildings, noted Eric Raes, CEO of Sungwon OBO, a member of Makateb Holding, the first office building operator company in the world.

Raes pointed out that while Sungwon OBO will primarily focus on providing facilities management services to buildings - in various stages of construction – that are committed to adopting new green building regulations, it is also expecting a heightened demand for its consultancy services from owners of existing buildings who wish to reap the benefits of a sustainable facility.

“With the UAE government’s growing focus on green buildings and sustainability, both developers, and in several cases, owners of existing buildings, are keen to improve day-to-day operations in energy consumption, water use, indoor environment, and waste management,” said Raes.

“Incorporating sustainable practices in existing facilities will result in significant financial benefits on the long run, and building owners will not be burdened by the costs involved in replacing existing building systems if the improvements are made one step at a time.”

“Sungwon OBO intends to complement government initiatives to promote sustainability by offering our expertise to developers in designing and constructing facilities that truly adhere to internationally accepted green building standards," he added.

Sungwon OBO highlighted that in the case of new buildings, the development of truly sustainable facilities must start at the drawing board to ensure that buildings are designed to match their intended purpose, which will ultimately help cut down maintenance costs, improve building efficiency and ensure sustainability.

Sungwon OBO noted that the success of this process to a large extent depends on the expertise of architects and building designers to effectively integrate green building concepts in the design.

A green building is an outcome of a design which focuses on increasing the efficiency of resource use — energy, water, and materials — while reducing building impacts on human health and the environment during the building's lifecycle.

This is achieved by efficiently using energy, water, and other resources; protecting occupant health and improving employee productivity; and reducing waste, pollution and environmental degradation.

Aside from a comprehensive range of FM services, which include maintenance, cleaning and security, Sungwon OBO also provides consultancy service during the design and construction of building developments to help improve the building's lifecycle.

The expanded line-up of services is part of Sungwon OBO's growth initiatives in the UAE's FM market, where the company aims to grow between 15 to 20 per cent within the next three years. – TradeArabia News Service