Green Building News | Green Building Magazine for Middle East Countries.

Dubai Radio Mauls Gulf’s Un-green Malls

Radio station Dubai Eye 103.8 FM (which not long ago featured Green Prophet here) recently broadcast an interview with Buro Happold’s expert in sustainability and alternative technologies, Robert Cooke. Cooke, who is also Technical Committee Coordinator of Emirates Green Building Council, begins by saying malls in the United Arab Emirates are getting greener, then serves up a proper tongue-lashing on their environmental shortcomings. Click below to give a listen and to hear some straight talk about un-green retail; and then learn about the newest sustainability rating system coming online. Joining old school systems such as America’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and Britain’s BRE

Posted on May17, 2012

Sudden death for thousands of trees in New Dubai

Emaar chopping down trees in New Dubai because they are damaging property, but not all residents are happy Dubai: Thousands of damas trees lining the streets and villas of Emaar's master-planned communities in New Dubai are being felled to prevent damage to underground piping systems, pools, drains and boundary walls. A spokesperson for Emaar Properties told XPRESS: Emaar is in the process of replacing the damas or conocarpus lancifolious trees from our communities, depending on their location and proximity to homes. "We are discouraging our community residents from planting the trees due to the potential damage it can cause and the repair costs

Posted on May17, 2012

Dow targets ME solar market at expo

Dow Heat Transfer Fluids, a global business unit of The Dow Chemical Company, is seeking to target the growing market for solar power in the Middle East at a major event in Abu Dhabi. The company is showcasing its innovative range of solutions at Menasol 2012, the 4th North Africa & Middle East Solar Conference and Expo. The two-day event opened today (May 16). “The Middle East is seeing significant investment in solar power as the region seeks to adopt sustainable sources of energy, a fact that is emphasized by recent announcements and ongoing initiatives,” said Carolina Barrios, market development manager for

Posted on May17, 2012

Retailers in Dubai malls opt for eco-friendly solutions

Energy-efficient items being used to achieve sustainability Dubai: Retailers are adopting eco-friendly measures in their mall fit-outs across Dubai to reduce the impact of doing business on the environment, says a major retailing firm. Nicholas Mulders, director of the Retail Design and Deliver of Majid Al Futtaim Properties, said it is doing its part to encourage retailers to do everything in their power to meet sustainable environmental solutions across the board. In a presentation to the Emirates Green Building Council on Sunday at the Pullman Hotel, Mulders said interest by retailing firms is high in the Green Star system that rates design and

Posted on May16, 2012

UDC wins top construction industry award

United Development Company (UDC), master developer of The Pearl-Qatar, received Qatar’s ‘most innovative project of the year’ award at the second annual MEP summit and awards. Image Courtesy: www.gulf-times.com Bangura receives the award The two-day summit recognized outstanding achievements, contributions and innovations in the construction industry. A number of topics presented by local and international speakers in the mechanical, electrical and the plumbing aspects of the construction industry were discussed. The conference provided an opportunity for participants to listen to a variety of forums on sustainable regulations, energy conservation and MEP design models, and also a networking opportunity with leading experts in the field. Alfred

Posted on May16, 2012

Saudi Arabia Green Building Council SAUDI GREEN BUILDING FORUM

Saudi Arabia Green Building Council SAUDI GREEN BUILDING FORUM MENA SAUDI ARABIA From: 2012-10-13 | 8:00 AM Until: 2012-10-15 | 8:00 PM Event Detail Event Title SAUDI GREEN BUILDING FORUM GBC Saudia Arabia Green Building Council Country SAUDI ARABIA Region MENA Location Event Type Annual Conference Target Audience Government Date 2012-10-13 - 2012-10-15 Time 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM Description About SAUDI GREEN BUILDING FORUM The SGB FORUM is a Nonprofit Initiative Under the appointment of King Abdullah bin Abdullaziz of Saudi Arabia number 7095/MB dated 5/10/1431H, officially patronage by HRH Prince Dr. Mansour Bin Miteb Bin Abdulaziz, Ministry of Municipality and Rural Affair. The FORUM’s Conference, Exhibition and Workshop emergence from the leadership of faisa alfadl PARTNERS and the private sector permitted

Posted on May15, 2012

Emirates Green Building Council EGBC Networking Event

Emirates Green Building Council EGBC Networking Event MENA UNITED ARAB EMIRATES From: 2012-05-13 | 6:30 PM Until: 2012-05-13 | 8:30 PM Image Courtesy: www.worldgbc.org Event Detail Event Title EGBC Networking Event GBC Emirates Green Building Council Country UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Region MENA Location Event Type Networking Event Target Audience Building product manufactures and distributors Developers, builders Construction, contractors NGO, academic, industry organizations Professional firms (architects, real estate, etc.) Date 2012-05-13 - 2012-05-13 Time 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM Description EmiratesGBC will welcome guest speaker Mr. Nicholas Mulders, Director, Retail Design & Delivery, Majid Al Futtaim Properties, who will present on “Majid Al Futtaim Properties Sustainable Fit Out Guide – Star Rating System”. More Information click here Contact EGBC office The source of this article is: www.worldgbc.org. Please click here to read our

Posted on May15, 2012

Green Building Design and Interiors Arabia 2012

Green Building Design and Interiors Arabia 2012 |13 - 16 May 2012 Category: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Description Venue: Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center Riyadh Saudi Arabia Date: 13 - 16 May 2012 Website: http://www.bdi-arabia.com/ The source of this article is: www.technicalreviewmiddleeast.com. Please click here to read our disclaimer

Posted on May15, 2012

Abu Dhabi considers ways of building 'greener' roads

Recycled gravel will be used as raw material for paving roads, Municipality of Abu Dhabi City said Abu Dhabi Recycled gravel left from demolition and construction works at the capital’s Bani Yas area will be used as raw material for paving roads, the Municipality of Abu Dhabi City announced in a statement sent Monday. The pilot project, which is part of the municipal Green Roads Classification System, aims to reduce the amount of construction waste dumped at landfills, the statement added. Abdullah Saeed Al Shamsi, acting executive director of infrastructure and municipal assets at the municipality, said the project also aims to improve

Posted on May15, 2012

Qatar, Albania sign MoU on environment protection

Qatar’s ministry of Environment and Albania’s Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Water Management, yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding in the field of environment protection. The memorandum was signed by HE the Minister of Environment Abdullah bin Mubarak bin Aaboud al-Midhadi and Albanian Minister of Environment, Forestry and Water Management Fatmir Mediu. The MoU reflects the two countries’ awareness of the responsibility of ensuring environmental integrity of present and future generations and the respect and appreciation of international environmental protocols and agreements signed by the two countries. The MoU stated that the two parties will co-operate with each other in environmental issues on

Posted on May15, 2012

Polysilicon plant to fuel Qatar’s solar power drive

Qatar could eventually generate over 6.5 gigawatt (GW) or 6,500 megawatt of electricity from the sun if all the raw material produced at the $1bn high-quality solar grade polysilicon plant, being set up by Qatar Solar Technologies, is converted into solar panels. Dr al-Hajri: QSTec chairman and CEO “If the initial production of 8,000 metric tonnes per annum (MTPA) can give 1.2GW when used to make solar modules, the plant’s maximum capacity of 45,000 MTPA will generate over 6.5GW,” Qatar Solar Technologies (QSTec) chairman and CEO Dr Khalid K al-Hajri told Gulf Times. The plant, coming up on a 1.2mn sqm plot in

Posted on May14, 2012

Green by design

The trend towards sustainability has resulted in architects and engineers looking to steel-frame design as a major part of green building Image Courtesy: www.constructionweekonline.com Steel framework has a range of applications, from residential to commercial. The development of steel-frame construction made it possible to build tall, leading to the skyscraper boom, while light-steel framing is being touted as the sustainable answer for residential and commercial construction. Steel-frame construction refers to a technique whereby a building, usually a tall tower, is built by means of a skeleton frame comprising vertical steel columns and horizontal I-beams in a rectangular grid to support the floors, roof and

Posted on May14, 2012

Middle East green economy, sustainable energy should mean opportunities not sacrifices

Misconceptions surrounding sustainable energy and consequential inaction will lead to a 'train wreck' - and greater efforts are needed to transition towards a Middle East green economy, according to experts from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), ahead of the UN's Rio+20 sustainable development conference in June. Sustainable Arabia: Clean Energy, held in Dubai, provided a platform for UNDP representatives and regional experts to discuss ideas and encourage policy dialogue. Amidst a series of sessions on green developments and energy challenges in the Arab region, a rousing call to action was heralded from several corners. UN Resident Coordinator Robert D. Watkins told

Posted on May14, 2012

Qatar construction set to tower above top markets

Qatar’s construction market is expected to outperform many developed economies by averaging a growth rate of 12.5% a year in this decade, a Commercialbank Capital report shows. Image Courtesy: www.gulf-times.com Qatar’s construction market is expected to average a growth rate of 12.5% a year in this decade In comparison, the construction market growth in the European countries will average just 1.7% to 2020, it said. The number of projects planned or underway in Qatar stood at $214bn in October 2011, Commercialbank Capital said. The value of projects has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 40% between 2005 and 2011, it said. And

Posted on May13, 2012

World’s Largest (Gargantuan) Solar Thermal Plant Opens in Saudi Arabia

The world’s largest solar thermal plant – nearly double the size of the original largest in Denmark – is now online in Saudi Arabia, reinforcing the notion that this Gulf country has the potential to maintain its current oil wealth by exporting solar power for the next twenty centuries. Originally awarded to Jordan’s Millennium Energy Industries in 2010, the $14 million project in Riyadh is the size of 5 football pitches and produces enough energy to heat water for 40,000 students at the Princess Noura bint AbdulRahman University campus in Riyadh. The largest women-only university in the world, the campus has 15

Posted on May13, 2012

World’s largest composting plant in Mesaieed

Written by admin on February 23, 2012 · Leave a Comment

The Anaerobic & Aerobic Digestion plant of the Domestic Solid Waste Management Centre at Mesaieed has produced approximately 1,000 tonnes of Grade A compost until date.

Wyndham Grand Regency new hospitality partner of QGBC

Written by admin on February 23, 2012 · Leave a Comment

Wyndham Grand Regency Doha Hotel is the new hospitality partner of Qatar Green Building Council, a non-profit organization leading and promoting environmentally sustainable practices.

Green Is Gold For State Builders

Written by admin on February 22, 2012 · Leave a Comment

Tamil Nadu Developers Grab Business Opportunity As Eco Buildings Get Popular; Clients Save On Energy, Water Bills Today’s monoliths of concrete, glass and steel will soon be replaced by green, selfsufficient buildings and towns. Eco-friendly blueprints are off the drawing board, hauled onward by energy-saving rafters and photovoltaic louvres on gigantic cranes, as the cities of the future rise from the grime of urban sprawl.

With 42 green buildings, city leads the pack

Written by admin on February 22, 2012 · 1 Comment

CHENNAI: The state may be hobbled by a severe power shortage, but its capital is home to more green buildings than any other city in the country. Chennai is home to 42 of the 212 structures in India that are certified as eco-friendly by the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC).

Cinema firm to operate new 12-screen multiplex

Written by admin on February 12, 2012 · Leave a Comment

The Qatar Cinema & Film Distribution Company (QCFDC) signed an agreement yesterday (Feb.11, 2012) with Doha’s Pin Point Holdings to operate the 12-screen multiplex at Tawar Mall in Duhail area. Tawar Mall is being built over 242,000 sq m along Markhiya Street and is expected to be ready in the last quarter of 2014.

Green building technology gains ground in Kingdom

Written by admin on February 8, 2012 · Leave a Comment

As the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia undergoes a construction boom, building services experts have said that they can see a noticeable shift towards green building technology, despite the high costs associated with it.

Emirates Green Building Council puts spotlight on energy-efficient built environments at Middle East Electricity exhibition

Written by admin on February 8, 2012 · Leave a Comment

Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC) highlights the importance of promoting energy efficient and sustainable built environments and its role in supporting the UAE’s vision of a ‘Green Economy for Sustainable Development,’ at the Middle East Electricity from February 7 to 9, 2012 at the Dubai International Convention Centre.

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