BIG 5: DM pushes back green regulations

Michael Nates

Dubai Municipality’s (DM) green building regulations will not become effective on January 1 as originally planned.

DM senior environmental planner Adi Afaneh said he was unable to give a date as to when the regulations would come into power.

The technicalities of the regulations were due to be unveiled at this year’s Big 5 Technical Conference but were delayed.

Afaneh told the technical conference during a presentation, “We are hoping to submit the regulations to the executive council by the start of next year. The council will decide when the regulations are to come into force.”

Talking to Construction Week following the presentation, Afaneh said that he was not prepared to give a date as to when this would happen. No reason was given for the delay.

The regulations will be introduced in four tiers, becoming more stringent as each additional tier is introduced. Afaneh said the second tier would be introduced as planned in 2011.

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FEATURED COMMENT It is not very clear which Green Building Council Mr Nates is refering to, is it emirates green building(EGBC) council,   1 Comments Read more comments »

Developers have been waiting for the unveiling of the regulations to find out how their projects will be affected in future.

Some developers have expressed concern over the additional costs involved, particularly in the midst of a financial slowdown.

Nakheel senior general manager for sustainability, health & safety and environment Michael Nates presented figures relating to the cost of building a Platinum Leed building – the highest rating available under the existing Leed system.

“I have been told by a cost manager that to build a Leed platinum building involves additional cost of 9 – 12%, while the Green Building Council states 6 – 8%,” he said.

Nates also said that Nakheel’s giant Waterfront development will include some of the first Gold Leed buildings to be built in the UAE.

Nakheel has also put in place a series of deign control regulations. “All the regulations can be related back to Leed in one form or another,” Nates said. 

Green building regulations are also set to be introduced in Abu Dhabi under the Estidama initiative.

Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council planning manager in charge of Estidama Holley Chant said, “Seeing as the UAE is a small country all eyes are on the Emirates right now.

“Developers want to be seen as innovators who have social responsibility in mind.”