Sustainability (1)

1. Sustainable development

A development which meets the requirements of present without compromising ability of future
generations to meet their own needs. Four main aspects are,

• Protection of environment.

• Prudent use of scare resources.

• Promotion of access to services for the benefit of all.

• Production of a healthy local economy including high levels of employment.

2. Principles of sustainability
• Social (The development should respond to the needs of the wider community)

• Economic (Efficient use of resources considering labour, material cost)

• Environmental (Prevent harmful impacts on environment)

3. Kyoto Protocol

Its objective is the reduction of reliance on non renewable fossil fuels and the corresponding reduction
of the emission of ‘green house’ gases into the atmosphere that are considered causing global warming.

4. Low and zero carbon technologies for sustainable developments

Biomass boilers, Ground source heat pump, Solar thermal power, Photovoltaic cells, Wind turbines,
Rainwater harvesting

5. Techniques to be adopted in buildings for sustainable development –

Building orientation, Building geometry and layout, solar shading, low emissive shading, thermal
performance, maximising daylight, natural ventilation etc.

6. Compare steel and concrete based on BRE “ecopoints”

• Without considering operational energy saving :

Structural steel – 15 ecopoints / tonne,

Concrete –12.57 ecopoints / tonne . Means steel is eco friendly. (30 % difference approx.)

• By considering operational energy – Then Concrete will be 6% more preferred than steel.
 7. What is Life Cycle Cost –
It is the total discounted cost of owning, operating, maintaining, and disposing of a building. The
discounted Cash Flow method is used to find out the life cycle cost of a project.

8. Why carryout lifecycle costing

• As part of business case evaluation to work out if you can afford the building structure

• To work out if you can afford to run it.

• As part of optional appraisal exercise to decide on the most economically advantage solution.

• To control the design development within running cost and capital cost budget.

• To provide a set of instructions and a budget for the facilities manager.

9. Sustainability measuring systems –

LEED, BREEAM, Estidama (Pearl rating system)

10. Why do you think that commercial waste to be recycled?

Over 70 million tonnes of construction waste are generated each year. 60-80% of builder’s on site
materials are re-usable (Eg. Wood, aggregate, glass, plastic, tiles, cardboard, furniture etc.). Over 80%
of construction materials use natural resources.

It is calculated that by Reducing, Reusing, Recycling and Reclaiming at least 5% of building waste, we
can save 1,000 – 12,000 Pounds. (UK Study)

11. What you can do to recycle waste? (RICS) –

• Minimize the waste generated.

• Setting up networks to exchange unwanted materials with other contractors.

• Substituting new and primary materials with re-cycled materials.

• Carrying balance material of a project to next project .

• Encourage ‘conserve’ attitude and discourage ‘throw away’ culture.

• Minimising the waste going to landfill sites

• Promoting sustainable concepts in projects

12. How you will calculate Life Cycle Cost? –

Consider the capital cost for the building and maintenance cost for a period, say 100 years). Consider
inflation (say 2.5% as recommended by UK Treasury Green Book 2003). Then rate in Dhs. / m2 / Year
is calculated.
 13. What are the items included in the WLC
Planning cost, Design, Construction, Operation, Maintenance, Renewal / rehabilitation, Financial
(depreciation and cost of finance), disposal.

14. What is meant by Salvage value

Is the value of a facility at the end of the analysis period. This could be resultant of the component
having a remaining life, which could be used or sold. It is calculated as the difference in the resale value
of the facility and disposal cost, if any

303. Would life cycle cost be of interest to the employer?

15. What are the typical environmental issues that you are facing on site?
Dust, sound pollution, Use of chemicals, Use of asbestos, disposal of waste, sewage treatment etc.

16. What is LEED? Different types of Certifications?

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. (This is a rating system created by USGBC- United
States Green Building Council). Different certifications are – Bronze, Silver, Gold & Platinum.

LEED certification in Middle East (2009 April) – Pacific Control Systems Building (Platinum grade)
and Dubai District Cooling Plant (Gold grade). LEED consists of more than 2,000 accredited buildings,
69,000 LEED accredited professional

Light House of DIFC (Dubai) is trying to get platinum certification and it will be world’s first skyscraper
in the world. Also, Mirdif City Centre (Shopping Mall) & Dubai Pearl trying for Gold rating.

For LEED certification, we have to consider How much energy we save, How much water we recycle,
How sustainable you are.

17. What is meant by Estidama –

Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC) has created Estidama (meaning Sustainability in Arabic) for
sustainability initiatives in Abu Dhabi. They have started a new rating system for buildings known as
Pearl rating System. Meanwhile Environmental Agency – Abu Dhabi (EA) has started a new initiative
known as Heroes of U.A.E.” campaign to promote energy efficiency and reduce consumption across
U.A.E.

U.A.E. Federal government is working (proposing) on a Green Building Code that will regulate the
green building codes created by different emirates of U.A.E. (April -2009)

18. 309. Pearl Design System (PDS) used in Abu Dhabi

Four Pillars are Environmental, economic, social and cultural. Six categories are (1) Living systems
(12%), (2) Livable communities/ buildings (30%), (3) Precious water (22%), (4) Resourceful energy
(22%), (5) Stewarding materials (12%), (6) Innovative practice (2%)
 19. 311. What is meant by Ecological Foot Print –
The ecological footprint is a measure of human demand on the Earth's ecosystems. It compares human
demand with planet Earth's ecological capacity to regenerate.

20. 321. Masdar City

It will be the world's first zero-carbon, zero-waste city fully powered by renewable energy.

21. 323. Discounted Cash Flow

A method of investment appraisal which takes into account the time preference for money. It discounts
all future cash flow of a particular investment back to their present value. (Internal rate of return)

324. Environmental Statement – Document or a series of documents which have to be submitted

with a planning application. It should mention the significant effect on environment due to the
development.

325. Sinking Fund- A notional (imaginary) income put aside in order to assure replacement of capital
over the life of a leasehold interest or an amount invested in a secure account for future expenditure.

326. BREEAM – Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method. A method

of assessing the “green-ness” of a building, BREEAM assessments should be undertaken when planning
all new and substantially refurbished premises.

327. Brownfield site – A area of unused or under used urban land with redevelopment potential.
These sites are targeted for development to encourage urban regeneration following government led
discouragement of development on green field sites. (Also known as ballpark by some people)

22. 328. Top LEED certified buildings in Gulf

• Pacific Control head quarters, Techno park (Platinum)

• ABN Amro Bank Interior Works Project , Dubai Outsource Zone (Gold)

• Metito Head Quarters, Techno park (Gold)

• District Coolomg Chiller Plant of Wafi City (Gold)

• Dubai International Academic City Phase 3 (Silver)

23. 329. Give examples of sustainability from your own projects

Design for minimum waste, reuse existing assets, / refurbishment, , recycle waste construction
materials, encourage innovation in techniques, use natural energy without going for artificial energy,
minimise energy consumption, maximise value for money, conserve water resources, follow ISO 14001
guidelines.

24. 331. How sustainability is possible in a society

Implement community living concepts, central facilities for all living in a society, good waste
management, using public transport system, etc.