LEED ranks may extend to government infrastructure

Mirdif City Centre mall achieved Gold LEED status. Local utility companies may soon be able to follow suit.

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LEED rankings could be extended to include local government infrastructural projects, leading to competition between local authorities over which implements the best environmental policies and procedures.

The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) system rankings are awarded to buildings based on their environmental ratings. The system is largely voluntary but an increasing number of government projects throughout the UAE and GCC are insisting that greener building methods and sustainable sources of materials be used.

Extending the program to include water, gas and other local authority services was a reasonably simple concept, said California-based consultant Jon Boggiano – whose company BlueEnergy conducts LEED training in the UAE.

“Of course, LEED ratings are open to interpretation – but we liken the system to the changing attitudes we’ve seen with car buying: people are now starting to take more notice of gas mileages and CO2 levels,” Boggiano said.

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“In the last two years, the world’s dynamics have changed. The economic slowdown has helped LEED to differentiate itself and show just how important it can be. We’re starting to see a lot of government mandates stipulating greener policies. In China, for example, the government wants its power stations and water treatment plants to be more eco-friendly.”

In April this year, the US Green Building Council launched LEED for Neighborhood Development, which uses a rating system to encourage smart urban growth and best practices and, more importantly for the Middle East, promote more efficient energy and water use—especially important in urban areas where infrastructure is often overtaxed.

Boggiano says the system is so new that it hasn’t really taken hold in the US yet, but he sees it particularly beneficial in the Middle East with power and water utilities companies – especially during the summer months when both electricity suppliers and water authorities are pushed to meet demand.

"It's even more relevant in regions like the Middle East where water and power are at a premium during the summer. Any savings you can make in the consumption of precious commodities like water have got to be beneficial. It’s not about expense – it’s about making more effort to find solutions that give a longer term benefit,” he said.

"We're also seeing a change in the way projects are owned and managed. Big international firms who want a long-term, permanent base in the UAE want an efficient building - and it's the same with government offices. If you're going to be based in an office for 20-30 years with no intention of moving, you're going to want to look at your operational costs and see what can be done to keep them as low as possible."