Dubai’s Bid to Become a Greener City
Known for its innovative and ambitious construction projects and developments, in recent years Dubai has also become a leader in sustainability. In 2015, the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy was launched by the government, aiming to make the city one of the most sustainable in the world by 2050.
Building Techniques
By ensuring best-practice building techniques are adopted, developers in Dubai can have a significant impact on global warming by taking into account both downstream operation and upstream construction. Sustainable design can reduce a building’s impact on both the environment and human health. For example, a well-insulated building can minimize heating and cooling costs, reducing the residents’ carbon footprint.
The Sustainable City
The Sustainable City in Dubai is a 500-unit community that includes a school, recreation facilities, and an autism rehabilitation center. Solar panels top most of the compound’s car parking spaces and buildings, and all surfaces are light in color to reduce air conditioning loads and reflect the sun.
The green spine that runs down the center of the Sustainable City provides a lush landscape and space for the biodomes that house sustainable kitchen garden vegetables and plants for local consumption. Residents are encouraged to use organic practices to grow their own food in the allotments adjacent to their properties.
Green Rating System
The Al Sa’fat green rating system was adopted by Dubai in 2016. This means that structures that don’t meet the minimum bronze rating are not awarded permits. Higher ratings, however, are optional in both standards and systems across the UAE. To boost emissions reduction still further in the construction sector, regulators and governments may introduce incentives to encourage builders and developers to adopt lower carbon construction methods and materials.
The Role of Sustainable Tourism
In recognition of the importance of sustainable tourism, the Dubai Sustainable Tourism initiative has been launched with the remit of supporting the sustainable development and clean energy goals of the city. Property experts in the city — such as Ryan Mahoney of Dubai, UAE — know that this private-public partnership is built on three pillars: social sustainability, environmental sustainability, and economic sustainability.
The initiative’s mission is to reduce tourism’s environmental impact in Dubai, support the local economy, and promote cultural awareness and social inclusivity.
For more information about how residents of Dubai can contribute to their city becoming greener, take a look at the embedded PDF.
