I had the opportunity to address one of the green events in Dubai, which offered me a chance to interact with industry players, green consultants, as well as the public. In my speech, I stressed on the green industry's vital role to educate investors as well as the public on the importance of environmentally friendly buildings, as in my opinion "green building" is not a choice or a luxury, but a crucial necessity. This may sound an aggressive statement, but if you are patient enough to follow my logic, I am convinced you will speak my language.
The Government of Dubai has provided a clear direction on sustainable development in its Dubai Strategic Plan 2015. A resolution mandating all real estate developers to comply with green buildings standards has also been introduced. All we need to do is abide by the government's regulations, and confirm to the guidelines established by Dubai Municipality as well as Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) in the first two phases of the green resolution.
One of the points I raised was the public-private partnership (PPP), which we all agree is the modern way for economic development. The government has set the direction and now it is the private sector's role to support this drive. As soon as we opened the floor for the question and answer session, the consultant representative who is closely involved with drafting the green building guidelines for the Government, stood up and invited an open dialogue, eliciting contributions from other consultants and experts.
I was really glad to witness this synergetic participation, and drew my attention to Dubai's leadership, its way of governance and its impact on the industry. I also realised the urgency for all of us to come together to achieve the fruition of Dubai's objectives in its green building programme. I urge all experts in green buildings to be more proactive and join hands with the government through introducing new technologies and products that will pave way for more green solutions to come into the market.
Globally, energy and environment have become key areas of concern. Thus, as responsible global citizens, our thoughts and actions should be directed towards taking care of the existing energy and natural resources.
Green buildings are designed, constructed and maintained to enhance the well-being of their occupants. Sometimes, by not going green, we tend to forget that we construct these buildings for ourselves to live in. Simply said, when most of us spend more than 90 per cent of our time indoors, can we afford to be inside buildings that make us sick?
The benefits of green buildings are numerous. They provide a healthier and more comfortable environment, incorporate energy and water efficient technologies and features, reduce the construction and demolition wastes, improve indoor air quality, bring higher value on investments and drastically reduce operational and maintenance cost. Such benefits offer investors valid reasons to go green. Green buildings can be used for residential purposes, commercial or office spaces, or for schools.
Since as human beings, we occupy, build, operate, maintain and produce green products, we need to be more conscious of our health and the decision we make in choosing where we live or work.
I believe I have established enough ground for all of you to agree that green buildings are no more a luxury but an imperative necessity. But more importantly, it is all the more relevant for us as we live in the UAE, where our top priority remains achieving excellence in sustainable growth.
Ali Bin Towaih is the Executive Director of Energy and Environment Park (ENPARK)
