Construction companies in the Middle East are slow to adopt best practice green building standards because they perceive no immediate economic benefits but will put themselves at risk by not doing so, an industry expert has said.

Talik Chalabi, co-principal of Chalabi Architekten & Partner in Austria, said that one of the challenges facing the building industry in the region is to recognise the long term benefits of adopting sustainable green building practices. Minimum efficiency ratings set by governments mean construction companies bear the responsibility to adhere to modern building standards that render a building passable by law. 

“Any cost benefit calculation speaks against green building construction in today’s market,” said Chalabi. “New niches, however, are being created at the expense of otherwise outdated products which positions the ‘green approach’ as the conduit to rejuvenate and reshape the building industry.”

“I believe the majority of construction companies perceive the change to green methods currently as a nuisance but they must adapt on the long term or perish. Green building practices serve a function to improve industry standards, raise the bar in terms of quality and above all, protect the community and public interests at large,” he added.

Chalabi’s comments came ahead of his participation in World EcoConstruct, a pioneering industry event set to take place from April 22 to 25 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. 

His presentation on April 23 will examine the first buildings to achieve five pearl ratings in the new Estidama Pearl Rating System (PRS) and will highlight the new Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre in Al Ain as an example of maximising economic, social and environmental benefits of complying with green building regulations.

“The Estidama PRS will cause a relatively expensive building standard per sq m but a relatively high sustainability standard of one or two pearls can be achieved through best practice design without exceeding the standard building cost,” Chalabi said. 

Wissam Yassine, senior sustainability engineer and UAE national coordinator at the Carbon Initiative, said: “No longer is it the norm to construct buildings that are inefficient, endurable and built with unsustainable material. Achieving minimum sustainability standards is an absolute must and there are definitely cost-effective measures that have a very small payback period.’’

Yassine will also address delegates at the summit on April 22 with his presentation, ‘Greening our buildings: an ongoing sustainable transformation’ and will also take part in a panel discussion looking at viability and profitability of sustainable building.

“Many professionals are yet to understand that green buildings don’t involve huge costs.  But this is starting to change as regulators include requirements for minimum sustainability standards,” he said.

Estidama, the Arabic word for sustainability, is an initiative developed by the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC) in 2008 with the goal of preserving the Emirate’s physical and cultural identity, while improving the quality of life for its residents on four equal pillars of sustainability such as environmental, economic, social, and cultural.

An essential tool to advance Estidama is the PRS which was launched in 2010. It is a point-based system that awards construction projects credit points that are grouped under seven sustainable criteria categories. Credits are added up to a final rating which ranges from one pearl to five pearls.

Currently all new construction projects must achieve a minimum one pearl rating to receive approval from the Abu Dhabi UPC, while government funded buildings must achieve a minimum two pearl rating.

“The building sector in the region has undergone a significant transformation in the last couple of years – in part driven by government initiatives such as Estidama.  This has challenged the perception of architects, engineers and contractors involved in such projects.” Yassine said.

World ecoConstruct, a collaboration between Abu Dhabi’s two leading building and construction events, CityBuild and Arabian Construction Week, is the region’s only dedicated exhibition focusing on sustainable design and construction for the built environment.

Co-located with the 6th edition of Cityscape Abu Dhabi, the summit provides a crucial sourcing and knowledge platform for the billions of dollars committed to major projects within Abu Dhabi and the surrounding region. Together the events attract more than 30,000 visitors. – TradeArabia News Service