Sustainable Building Technologies in the Middle East

Sustainable development is a relatively new trend within the construction industry in the UAE which seeks to boost economic development and approaches that benefit the local environment and improve the quality of life.

The increase in sustainable development further boosted Green building technology making it a hot trend. The benefits of green technology applications especially in the construction industry are far-reaching and comprehensive, offering superior solutions to old problems that afflicted the industry earlier. Green technology has the potential to make buildings more energy-efficient with a lower carbon footprint and reduced impact on the environment at large.

In the recent past, construction specialists, architects, designers, builders, building owners, and tenants are comprehending the considerable benefits of the application of green construction technology. The core of green construction is energy efficiency. Should one look at newer constructions, the essential components, and elements of the building structure which includes the exterior and interior design, the raw materials and the operations are now slowly on the road to 100% sustainability. And while this could take a while, the fact that the industry has already begun taking the step forward is good news in itself.

In the Middle East as opposed to other countries across the world, sustainable construction does not end with energy efficiency. It seeks to make one more component more worthy and that is water efficiency. The dearth of water for this otherwise arid region makes it imperative that construction experts look at this aspect of sustainability too while working. As industry expert Khyati Mitra highlighted in her interview with us, the whole idea of whether a building will be sustainable or not is discussed at the design stage. Hence, it is quintessential that while fostering to newer consumer needs one does not lose sight of the goalpost: To Build a Sustainable World.

According to Advanced Control Corporation, on an average, approximately thirty to forty percent of a commercial building is typically unoccupied at any given time. Green building technology ensures that with the use of motion detectors, RFID scanners, access card readers, and other sensors it is able to monitor the occupancy status of building sectors.

Whenever a portion of a structure is left vacant, green technology automatically shuts off lights and adjusts HVAC, cooling, heating, and ventilation options. This means that residential and commercial premises owners can look at 30% savings in their energy expenses by eliminating unnecessary energy use.

PBC Today talks about the “sick building syndrome” that ushers in an unhealthy environment in commercial buildings, particularly older buildings and also the ones located in hotter climate zones where ventilation issues are a concern. The National Library of Medicine notes, That sick building syndrome (SBS) is used to describe a situation in which the occupants of a building experience acute health- or comfort-related effects that seem to be linked directly to the time spent in the building. No specific illness or cause can be identified. The complainants may be localized in a particular room or zone or may be widespread throughout the building.

The Middle East is one of the fastest developing areas of the world which makes sustainable construction paramount to the developers while they make their investments in their buildings so that they stand the test of climate change, economic turbulence, and energy source changes.

The following technologies have been developed and used extensively in the Middle East;

Green insulation plays a key role in allowing a building to stay cool in hot weather with the help of insulation alternatives which are effective and inexpensive with less to source as they are made from natural materials or reused materials like animal wool, scrap fabric and cotton from clothes production, cellulose (recycled paper), etc. The key is to use dense building materials with a high thermal mass. Mr. Hamad Al Ghurair, Chairman of Middle East Insulation, says, “Changing to the green building measurements and reducing the CO2 emission is one of our commitments to our beloved city and planet.”

Knauf, a big name in the construction industry also specialises in insulation especially in countries like Kuwait. Knauf Insulation’s green roof system Urbanscape has already been impressing developers in Kuwait with a project to bring greenery to barren areas of desert. But perhaps more importantly in a city where water is precious, Middle East test cases have revealed that Urbanscape with polymers can contain up to 122% more water than sites without the material. They are confident that the solution will be a major success in Dubai. 

Rammed earth has recently become popular again for its high thermal mass, and ability to be sourced locally. According to ArchDaily,  Typically, the rammed earth technique works best in climates with high humidity and relatively moderate temperatures. These bricks are made from recycled earth materials that are further mixed with concrete (typically 5-10%) making them highly sustainable. They also manage to keep buildings cool in summer, and alternatively warm in winter.

And this brings us to the next technology which is widely used across the MENA region given its suitability to heat, and solar power. Solar power has been exploited as a sustainable construction technology for a long time now in the form of active solar power and passive solar power. Active solar power is the use of functional solar systems that absorb the sun’s radiation to cater for heating and electricity provision. It reduces the need for the use of electricity or gas. While expensive in terms of installation, it helps curb rising energy bills and carbon emissions.

Passive solar power conversely is design oriented. It is a design in which the sun’s rays warm homes through the strategic placement of windows and the use of heat-absorbing surfaces. The windows allow for a sizable amount of energy and the heat absorbed reduces the need for warming the house during cold periods such as winter.

In terms of statistics, apart from the key players like Saudi Arabia and the UAE, it is interesting to note that in Morocco, renewable energy makes up almost two-fifths of the total electricity generation. The country boasts about some of the largest clean energy projects are being constructed in the country. Morocco has since pledged to increase the renewables in its electricity mix to 52% by 2030 with solar making 20 % of the total capacity. With the increasing numbers in terms of solar-enabled technology, green construction stands to benefit.

The next important technology in green construction involves water supply systems built on the idea of minimising water usage and recycling water to create a building management system that is conducive. Water efficient technologies such as dual plumbing split potable water (clean for drinking) from reclaimed water (which is treated greywater). The reclaimed water is further used for landscape irrigation and flushing toilets while potable water can be recycled for drinking and cleaning. Dual plumbing systems can be more expensive to install than traditional plumbing. However, given the long-term investment much like its solar counterpart, these dual plumbing systems technologies are becoming a viable option. In fact, it is claimed that, cities that use these technologies are ahead of the curve and are more likely to become the most successful cities of the future. This is because as the effects of climate change increase, cities with dual plumbing will have more fresh water readily available. According to Claudia Sadoff and Anders Jagerskog of the World Bank, “Jordan’s success in harnessing private sector technological innovation and financing to recycle wastewater offers an especially instructive case. Such technologies, reinforced by new policies, could help put MENA on course toward water security.”

Biodegradable materials are a salient feature of sustainable building construction. While most traditional construction methods are guilty of accumulating waste products and toxic chemicals, the majority take hundreds of years to degrade. The sad part is that even as it degenerates it ends up contaminating and harming the environment. Biodegradable materials are different since they are sourced organically, like organic paints, which limit the negative impacts on the environment as they easily decay without the release of toxic substances. The use of biodegradable materials for building foundations, walls and insulators are also part of sustainable construction technologies. While soy bioplastics are a relatively new phenomenon, it is stated that soy bioplastics have been limited to disposable food containers and bin bags, [but] with more research, there is certainly potential for biodegradable plastics to be seen in the future of construction.

Earlier in the article, I mentioned sick building syndrome. A building is not just the construction of four solid walls and a roof. The whole idea of sustainability is that it concentrates on the health and safety of the building occupants as a fundamental that must be guaranteed during the construction of any building or home. Sandy Wiggins, Chair of the US Building council was right when she said, “Green buildings are not about buildings, it is about people.” Hence sustainable indoor technologies are almost a mandate for sustainable construction. The materials used have to ensure green safety standards which include hazardous free elements, non-toxic materials, low volatile emissions, and moisture resistance. Enova, the regional leader in integrated energy and multi-technical services, is keeping the Middle East’s top leisure and entertainment attractions chilled and cost-effective as temperatures soar. Anne Le Guennec while talking about Enova’s commitment stated: “Enova has more than 10 years of experience in cooling and maintaining indoor leisure attractions, and is focusing on optimizing the region’s growing number of indoor theme parks through innovation and expertise. We agree with the industry’s thought leaders that safety and sustainability are vital to long-term success, and continue to share our know-how with the Middle East’s leisure & entertainment vision.”

Constructing self-powered buildings is an art within the field of sustainable construction technology. It is the realization of zero-energy construction. These buildings are built such that they are able to generate sufficient power to support their own energy needs and can redirect all the surplus energy back into the power grid. In most cases, wind power technology is being used and it is highly common in skyscrapers whereby wind turbines are mounted on the rooftops. The constant and heavy air currents at higher altitudes propel the turbine blades which generate the power requirements for the building.

All in all a thoughtfully created design and construction has the ability to be a legacy for future generations. We must acknowledge that what we build today must endure and enhance the quality of life now and in the future. The application of the best available technology, the development of strong environmental institutions that are sturdy both externally and internally, and advocacy campaigns for behavioural change are all just the beginning.

It is rightly said, “Great design and construction shouldn’t come at an environmental cost, but rather work in a sustainable relationship with the environment and make minimal impact.”