Habtoor Island Resort & Spa to meet LEED Gold Standard

This will be one of the region's most environmentally friendly projects, having been designed to meet the demanding criteria required to obtain LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold standard.

The LEED green building rating system was originally developed by the U.S. Green Building Council to provide a recognised standard for the construction industry to assess the environmental sustainability of building designs. A point-based rating system, LEED points are earned for building attributes considered environmentally beneficial.

The LEED system covers six key topic areas, each of which has a set of associated goals:

Site Development: minimise storm water run-off, encourage car pooling and bicycling, increase urban density and green space. Water Efficiency: eliminate site irrigation, reduce water consumption, minimise or treat wastewater. Energy Efficiency: reduce building energy consumption, use renewable energy, eliminate ozone-depleting chemicals, commission building systems. Material Selection: minimise construction waste, use recycled and salvaged materials, use renewable construction materials and design and build more durable buildings. Indoor Environmental Quality: incorporate day lighting, use low off-emitting materials, provide operable windows and occupant control of work space, improve delivery of ventilation air. Innovation in Design: use a LEED Accredited Professional, greatly exceed the requirements of a credit, incorporate innovative environmental features not covered in other areas.

"The LEED credit system is a systematic way of ensuring that the most important environmental issues are considered during the design of a building," said Khalaf Al Habtoor, Chairman of The Al Habtoor Group. "Certification provides increased market exposure and places the building in elite company among the most green buildings in the world."

LEED is the world's most recognised green building rating system. Given that conventional new buildings would likely score only a few LEED points, achievement of the LEED Gold Standard represents a significant reduction in building environmental impact and improvement of the indoor environment. "As part of our commitment to the environment, 70% of the Habtoor Island Resort & Spa has been allocated for beautiful gardens and water features, so there's a real feeling of space," added Khalaf Al Habtoor.

Surrounded by the stunning crystal waters of the Arabian Gulf, the Habtoor Island Resort & Spa will boast inspirational views of two of the world's major landmarks - The Burj Al Arab and The Palm Jumeirah, and will deliver an exceptional living experience that has been created with care, thought and an appreciation of the very finest things in life. The resort will provide a complete lifestyle experience, offering guests and residents options ranging from the serenity of its spa, health club, beach and gardens to the activity of the gym, swimming pools, tennis and squash courts. The natural beauty of the ocean is a recurring theme throughout the project, and this has been translated into a tasteful, soothing environment that will both calm and stir the senses.

A show apartment which gives a taste of the innovative excellence of the project (due for completion in 2011) is available for viewing, and initial interest from potential buyers is proving to be intense, given the project's positioning as one of the world's most exclusive addresses.