Architects, designers, engineers and contractors must learn to build better and smarter if they want to maintain development at current levels, say experts. 

The amount of energy required to power new and existing buildings is predicted to reach unsustainable levels thanks to over $500 billion worth of new developments planned to reach completion in the Middle East in the next decade. 

This will be one of the key themes of this month’s Middle East Green Buildings 2008 conference, organised by Meed. 

In addition to concerns over meeting increased demand, cost-cutting is also a driving force behind the pressure to go green, despite the recent windfall in petrodollars.

Industry experts predict that the running costs of buildings could be cut by 45 to 60 per cent through the introduction of new technology, design and engineering practices. 

Alternative energy sources such as wind and solar power could prove to be a cost effective remedy to a shortage in energy supply. These solutions are being taken very seriously by developers, particularly following the launches of Estidama Sustainability Guidelines in Abu Dhabi and the Green Building Guidelines in Dubai this year.

Whatever the answer to the region’s power needs, decreasing the running and maintenance costs of new and existing buildings so that they are not a massive drain on resources is a huge challenge for the sector.

Meed’s Middle East Green Buildings 2008 conference will explore the key challenges and highlight the enormous potential for those involved in this innovative area of design and construction. 

The conference will be held from October 27 to 29, 2008 at the Park Hyatt Hotel, Dubai. 

Edmund O’Sullivan, chairman, Meed Events, said: “Building better and more sustainable buildings is clearly an imperative for the region as the Middle East looks at the best way to utilise its resources. The first Middle East Green Buildings Conference is an important event bringing together experts in this technically challenging and fast-moving field.  Those seeking to stay one step ahead on the thinking around such new technologies and those hoping not to get left behind, should beat a path to this new and exciting forum for discussion.” 

Some key experts and practitioners contributing to the Green Buildings 2008 conference include:  Jeffrey Willis, Sustainability Leader (Gulf), Arup; Keith Clarke, chief executive officer, WS Atkins; Dr Sadek Owainati, founder and chairman, Emirates Green Buildings Council; Majid Al-Mansouri, secretary general, Environment Agency Abu Dhabi;    Khaled Awad, director of property development, Masdar; and Frank Khoie, chief executive officer, Khoie. - TradeArabia News Service