A two-day conference on the major sectors of the 'Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design' (LEED) requirements, solutions and rating system began in the American University in Dubai (AUD) on Wednesday.

Organised by AUD and Sesam Business Consultants, the conference was officially inaugurated by Johann-Adolf Cohausz, German Consul General in Dubai and the Northern Emirates.

The event is a sequel to the 'Dubai Green' seminar of February 2008 that was held following the directives of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE prime minister and vice-president, and Dubai ruler, to adopt the 'Green Building' model in Dubai, said an AUD official.

It introduced the concept of being “C02-Neutral” to the UAE by offsetting the carbon dioxide emissions of the event through supporting carbon offset projects in developing and emerging countries, in Africa, Latin America and Asia, in the fields of renewable energies and energy efficiency projects.

In addition, AUD calculated the C02 emissions caused by the energy needed to conduct the conference, including the commute of the delegates and the catering trucks.

The key speakers at the event include Mario Seneviratne from Green Technologies, Rudiger Burkat from Redo Water Systems, Vicente Raurich from Siemens, and Murat Aydemir from Viessmann Middle East.

An in-depth analysis of the latest “Green Buildings” trends will be the highlight of the conference, the official added.

Several top architects, consultants and representatives of construction companies from all over the UAE, the region and Europe are taking part.

There will be keynote addresses by Parasuraman, founding vice-chair of the World Green Building Council, Jeff Willis, director of Arup Middle East and co-ordinator of the Technical Committee of the Emirates Green Building Council and Sathiaram Ram, partner of En3 Consulting.

Dr Linda Nubani, assistant professor of interior design at the AUD, commented, “ We are trying to offer a continuous learning environment for architects, interior designers, landscape architects, consultants, engineers, and other industry professionals, in a ‘how-to’ format within the two-day workshop.'

'We are hoping that the booming construction in the UAE will accommodate eco-friendly buildings in order to improve the quality of life, reduce energy consumption and operating cost and ultimately offer a better environment for all!,' Nubani said 

'The UAE is on the map in various areas, I won't be surprised to see it topping the world in offering and maintaining high quality environmental standards for the well-being of all,' she remarked.

Commenting on the importance of this two-day workshop, Boris Ritter, general manager of Sesam Business Consultants, said, “The great demand for a Leed workshop that we received during our first Dubai Green Conference last February led us to put together this initiative.'

'Hence, we organized three dedicated workshops focusing on the relevant requirements, as well as solutions, offered by industry leaders, Ritter noted.

The workshops conducted highlight the subjects of 'Water Efficiency and Indoor Environmental Quality,' as well as 'Room Control and Indoor Air Quality.' In addition, they stressed the performance requirements and standards for a successful 'External Insulation and Finish System' (EIFS) and the applications required for the 'Building Envelope and Solar Thermal Systems.'

The “Green Building” architecture and construction were also among the matters emphasized on the first day.

The second day of the conference will address property developers and building owners and the costs of conducting the “Green Building” projects as opposed to their ensued benefits.

This conference was supported by industry leaders in the field of “Green Building,” such as Siemens, Grohe, Henkel, Schott, Viessmann, Wacker and Architerior