Buildings shape way we will live

ABU DHABI - 'We shape buildings that in turn shape our lives': the observation comes from David Crawhurst who has been working in the area of sustainable construction, at a seminar and networking event held in the capital on Monday, organised by the British Embassy under the patronage of Shaikh Diab bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA).

By N. Srinivasan

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Published: Thu 2 Jun 2005, 12:03 AM

Last updated: Thu 2 Apr 2015, 7:56 PM

Key speakers from a number of UK companies involved in green building design and technology, presented papers at the event, that focused on areas of concepts of greening building.

British Ambassador Richard Makepeace in his address made a pointed reference to the 'turnaround phase' at which environment stands today. There is need for new strategies of development, keeping in mind the sensitivity with which environmental protection has all along been managed, particularly in the oil sector, he said, paying tributes to the vision of the late President, Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who championed the cause of environment.

The rapid pace of industrialisation, growth of population and diversification of economy are all factors that impinge on the environment, management of which calls for marriage of ideas and strategies, imported as well as those indigenous, he said.

Abdulla Ali Al Ahbabi, Director of Business Support at ADWEA, said that in the contemporary state of affairs, and in the developmental process, new concepts of development will allow people to participate in programmes that are viable, socially just and environmentally safe, with the use of available resources to achieve the objectives.

"This conference, Green Buildings, is tackling an important environmental issue considering the rapidly changing standards across countries on how to adopt new energy-efficient programmes to enable choices that are safer for a better future for the next generation," he remarked.

"In the UAE, we must benefit from these new programmes, yet adapting them to suit the country's own culture and heritage," he said.

A networking event will be held today that will offer the public an opportunity to meet the speakers in addition to a number of UK companies and organisations engaged in green building design and technology.

The event showcases new and innovative smart building technologies and products, and highlights the way they can be incorporated into building designs including tap units that save up to 50 per cent of water consumption, non-chemical products that can be used in water treatment and products that focus on thermal and renewable power generation.


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