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DUBAI — Reducing the environmental footprint caused by the UAE’s booming real estate market will be on focus at the 31st General Assembly of the International Standards Organisation (ISO) taking place in Dubai from October 12 to October 17.

The ISO General Assembly will examine global standardisation to support the incorporation of new technologies for sustainable buildings of the future.

It will discuss intelligent buildings, earthquake-resistant buildings, security in high-rise properties, and standards for accessibility of buildings and public places.

The Open Session International Standards Organisation Dubai 2008 will discuss the principles for sustainability and how they can be translated into buildings to optimise energy efficiency, safety, security, communication and sheer comfort and convenience as well as being as accessible as possible to people regardless of age or capacities, a feature that may increasingly be required of the construction industry as a component of social responsibility.

Dubai is already implementing mandatory requirements for all new buildings to abide to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System, the internationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high-performance green buildings.

Abu Dhabi is in the process of setting up a green buildings code in response to the multiplicity of demands imposed on new commercial, government, or residential buildings to be resistant to fire and flood, natural disasters, and terrorist attacks, as well being energy efficient.

“International standards, supporting energy efficiency, environmental performance, environmental impact of building products, and accounting and verification of greenhouse gas emissions provide a firm foundation for designers, architects, engineers, owners, facility managers and government authorities to develop and operate sustainable buildings,” said Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, UAE Minister of Economy.

“The ultimate goal is to convert the UAE from a technology-importer to a technology-exporter,” he added.

The UAE is already leading the way to environmental efficiency with several ground-breaking projects. Masdar City will be the world’s first carbon-neutral city when completed in 2013, housing 50,000 people in close vicinity to their workplaces, educational facilities and light industries.

preeti@khaleejtimes.com