Dubai Government to introduce new Green Building Code
Phased introduction of Dubai’s sustainability guidelines expected to begin next year
Dubai’s new Green Building Code, which has taken two years for the municipality to finalise, will be introduced from in 2011.
The code targets the use of environmentally aware design, energy-efficient materials, methods and “behavioural changes”.
The regulations were approved by the Dubai Executive Council last week and announced during a press conference last month.
The phased approach is to educate the construction industry and public, rather than impose compulsory regulations, according to the municipality.
It follows a directive from 2007 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, that all buildings that are constructed in Dubai from 2008 should meet the green building standards.
It was also reported that the government is currently exploring the option of offering incentives for developers as implementation is said to require “huge investments”.
“If you have a 100% green building and if you have a poor management team internally, you cannot achieve the goal,” said Hussain Nasser Lootah, director general of the Municipality.
“Our aim is not to increase the cost. We want to cooperate in [designing] the building, in the selection of the materials and — most importantly — in the management of these buildings,” he added.
