Authorities make pitch for adherence to green building standards
Application of green building procedures in public sector buildings will reduce carbon emissions in the UAE by about 266,000 tonnes, according to an expert at the environment ministry. Ms Marwa Al Awadi, Climate Change Co-ordinator at the MoEW (Ministry of Environment and Water), says that activities related to energy and carbon emissions represent about 83 per cent of the country’s environmental footprint, and activities related to the government sector contribute to 12 per cent of the total eco-footprint in the country. Compared to traditional buildings, the environment-friendly green buildings can save a great amount of energy and water. As the concept of green buildings incorporates reusable or recyclable products and materials, it can help reduce the consumption of energy and water by 20 per cent.