FEATURES
generation and industry. A range of instruments are used to make the initiatives work, including subsidies, incentives, regulatory instruments, voluntary agreements, policy processes, fiscal arrangements, tradeable permits and public investment. Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Qatar are implementing green building standards. While World Green Building Council member organisations have been established in the UAE and are under certification in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Syria and Palestine. Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait and Oman also have associated or emerging councils. Dubai led the way, launching green building regulations in 2010 for all new buildings. These include: •
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Additional external lighting load must be powered through renewable electricity sources such as PV systems A solar water heating system must also be installed to provide 75 percent of the domestic hot water requirements All residential, commercial and industrial elevators and escalators to be fitted with controls to reduce speed or to stop when no traffic is detected Light controls to allow lighting to be switched off when daylight levels are adequate or when spaces are unoccupied and to allow occupants control over lighting levels Controls will be required for all buildings’ heating ventilation and air-conditioning systems New hotels to incorporate control systems able to turn off the lighting, AC and power when the room is not occupied Guest rooms to incorporate control system to enable turning off the AC when the balcony door or window is kept open New district cooling plants must incorporate a thermal energy storage facility with a capacity of at least 20 percent of the design capacity of the plant
“Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Qatar are implementing green building standards. While World Green Building Council member organisations have been established in the UAE and are under certification in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Syria and Palestine”
The luxury modern malls of the Middle East are taking a lead in sustainability standards. For example, Msheireb Properties, a subsidiary of Qatar foundation has a regeneration project in
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