DM applies 'Green Roofs' initiative on its buildings

The concept will be applied on the roofs of the Municipality buildings to gauge its positive impacts on them.

Eng. Hussain Nasser Lootah, Acting Director General of Dubai Municipality, said the Municipality has launched the initiative in line with the law on the application of green building specifications in Dubai, which will be officially issued in mid-December under the directives of the UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

He said the Green Roofs project aims at transforming the roofs of all buildings and houses in Dubai to cultivated space, where the water dropped out of air-conditioners should be used for irrigation of plants.

Lootah said:

"This project comes as an implementation and follow up of the Green Buildings project. It also caters to the huge urban expansion witnessed by the city of Dubai, which enhancing the heat level of the region. Green roofs are considered to be one of the environment friendly solutions taken up by Dubai Municipality to face the project expansions."

He said the Municipality has conducted a vast study that confirmed the success of this project in other countries. Hence, the Municipality decided to apply this excellent concept in protecting the environment and reducing the heat level and cleansing the air from other pollutants.

The Municipality has chosen suitable plants for this project in addition to beautiful designs in coordination with the Public Parks and Horticulture Department.

Lootah said the Municipality will soon issue a special booklet on how to implement this concept so that it helps a bigger number of residents to apply the project, adding that the Municipality was keen to launch the project by applying it on the roof of the Municipality building.

As regards the Green Buildings law Lootah said the Municipality's consultative study has defined the per capita electricity and water consumption. The study saw that these figures should be applied as a criterion for the success of the project in Dubai.

It is considered that the buildings would not become "green" unless the residents are educated on the importance of economic consumption of electricity and water. The Municipality has also directed the building consultants working in the emirate to take into consideration these aspects while designing their buildings.

It is worth mentioning that Dubai Municipality has applied certain green building criteria related to rationalized use of power, enhancing the indoor atmosphere of the building, defining the level of lighting, in addition to providing the building with remote control equipments.

In the coming phases, international specifications suitable for Dubai city's local environment will be applied. In the second phase, it will be applied in a streamlined way that does not contradict with the urban development witnessed by the city or badly affecting it.

The Green Buildings project will be implemented in three short-term (2008), mid-term (2009-2012) and long-term phases.

The Green Buildings project becomes important as it reduces carbon emission and enhances indoor environment and air. It also enhanced the health of the society and increases life expectancy of the buildings as well as protects the eco system. In the end, all these things lead to increased productivity and economic support in different sectors.