The use of green materials and systems in UAE construction projects – A baseline study, Aly El Gayar, Prof. Salwa Beheiry, Alaa Jabbar and Hamad Al Ansari
Aly El Gayar
University of Ottawa
Canada
Professor Salwa Beheiry
American University of Sharjah
United Arab Emirates
Alaa Jabbar
University of Wollongong
United Arab Emirates
Hamad Al Ansari
Masdar Institute
United Arab Emirates
Purpose: Over the past decade, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) introduced several green regulatory guidelines, federal decrees and a considerable number of environmentally friendly initiatives. Hence, this study was designed to investigate the top green materials and systems used currently in the UAE construction industry as per the new laws dictate as well as see if professionals are switching over to incorporate more green materials,systems and/or designs.
Design/Methodology/Approach: The work involved reviewing internationally popular green materials and systems for construction, developing a questionnaire based on the literature review, surveying professionals in the seven UAE emirates, and ranking the findings based on the Relative Importance Index (RII).
Findings: Findings found the top used green materials and system in the UAE's construction industry. As well as identifi ed that there is a communication gap between the design and implementation phases that is possibly hindering the use of more green materials and systems. Originality/Value: This study sets a baseline to measure the UAE'sprogress over the coming years in terms of integrating more green construction materials, systems, methodologies and trends.procurement.
Keywords: green materials and systems; United Arab Emirates; UAE; construction industry; energy and resource efficiency; sustainability;baseline studies.
Citation:gayar, A. E., Beheiry, S., Jabbar, A. and Ansari, H. A. (2016): The use of green materials and systems in UAE construction projects - A baseline study. In Ahmed, A. (Ed.): Europe at a Crossroads and the Impact of Globalization, Vol. 14, pp. 97-113.
