United Arab Emirates 'aims to establish LEED system'

Office design news from Morgan Lovell

Published on 25-09-2007

Some 25 buildings in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are being sought after by the Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC) for a pilot energy-efficiency and environmental-awareness scheme, it has been reported.

The scheme will demand the buildings reach a number of standards that are based on the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) system, according to Gulf News.

Chairman of the EmiratesGBC Dr Sadek Owainati told the publication that emphasis was being placed on the conservation of water due to the scarcity of the resource in the region as part of alterations to make the scheme more suited to the UAE.

"We have enhanced the system to suit the region ... the sustainability parameters need to be adapted to give better solutions for the future," he added.

According to the publication, the EmiratesGBC aims to have the LEED Emirates rating system sanctioned by this time next year.

Formed in July 2006, the EmiratesGBC aims to promote green building principles to protect the environment and adopt a positive attitude towards sustainability in the UAE.