Sabban Property Investments (SPI) has been awarded the top prize in the ‘Green Roof & Green Building Design’ category at the recently concluded ‘Qatar Today Green Awards 2008’, the country’s first environmental awards.

The developer is the only company to win two titles at the prestigious event, as it was also named as runner-up in the ‘Environmental Leadership’ category.

SPI excelled in reducing carbon emissions from the construction of its iconic ‘Sabban Towers’ project to net zero, making it the first carbon neutral development in the region.

It has invested considerable resources and undertaken pioneering methods in measuring, reducing and offsetting baseline emissions - making the developer a strong contender for the ‘Green Roof & Green Building Design’ award.

This groundbreaking contribution to the environmental sustainability of Qatar, led to the company being named as one of the top environmental leaders through this award.

“We are honored to be the only company to receive two awards at the ‘Qatar Today Green Awards 2008’, and we are very proud that as a result of our initiative Qatar can claim the status of having the Middle East’s first ever carbon neutral development within its borders,” said John Browne MBE, managing director, SPI.

The ‘Qatar Today Green Awards 2008’ was created to awaken the eco-consciousness of Qatari citizens and residents and catalysing behavioural change in relation to the protection and preservation of the environment, amidst reports that the Arab world is the producer of about 44 per cent of the world’s wastes.

“With Qatar ranked as fourth among the world’s top 10 offenders in term of it’s ecological footprint - preceded only by the UAE, USA and Kuwait - a large-scale transformation is needed if we are to live within the means of our planet and not deplete or pollute natural resources,' concluded Nicola Clarke, environmental advisor.-TradeArabia News Service