Power crisis: how to stop the lights going out?

The amount of energy required to power new and existing buildings is predicted to reach unsustainable levels thanks to over $ 500bn worth of new developments planned to reach completion in the Middle East in the next decade. Preventing a power crisis will be one of the key themes of this month's Middle East Green Buildings 2008 conference, organised by MEED.

The challenge for the sector is to decrease both the running and the maintenance costs of new and existing buildings. Industry experts predict that the running costs of buildings could be cut by 45 to 60% through the introduction of new technology, design and engineering practices. Alternative energy sources such as wind and solar power could also 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 the Green Building Guidelines in Dubai this year and Estidama Sustainability Guidelines in Abu Dhabi.

Are greener buildings a decisive answer to the region's prospective power problem? Influential speakers at 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. Supported by Gold sponsors Pacific Controls, the two-day conference will be held on October 28 to 29, 2008 at the Park Hyatt Hotel, Dubai.

Essa AlHaj AlMaidoor, Assistant Director General for Planning & Building Affairs and Chairman of the Green Building Committee, Dubai Municipality, says:

"Through the Green Building Regulations, the future real estate market in Dubai will be in line with global and local sustainable practices, ensuring that Dubai's resources are conserved, and offering future residents of Dubai the highest quality of life."

"A synergistic effort between the public and private sector is needed for the success of this new initiative."

Edmund O'Sullivan, Chairman, MEED Events comments:

"Building better and more sustainable buildings is clearly an imperative for the region as the Middle East looks at the best way to utilize its resources. The first Middle East Green Buildings Conference is an important event bringing together experts in this technically challenging and constantly evolving field."