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Qatar Green Building Conference 2015 - The Vision
- Conference date: 27-28 Apr 2015
- Location: Doha, Qatar
- Volume number: 2015
- Published: 22 April 2015
42 results
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Measuring the health of a city
More LessAs more cities are built and existing cities and their populations become larger and older, they will become more vulnerable to climate change, infrastructure failure, pollution, overcrowding, and the associated health problems. The challenge for future cities is to gain all the benefits that urban environments offer while reducing and managing potential health and safety problems. For successful cities of the future, one of the major current gaps in knowledge relates to understanding the factors that impact communities in terms of health and well being. Other attempts have been made to promote the development of healthy cities, and indeed the World Health Organisation has dedicated a programme to this very heading. But there is currently no way of benchmarking, measuring and comparing healthy cities. This presentation will report on progress with a BRE Trust funded research project that sets out to develop a Healthy Cities Index, which will measure cities against 8 indicators of environmental health and produce an overall score on a scale of 1-100 (with 1 being the worst and 100 being the best). The 8 indicators are: housing and neighbourhood; infrastructure; transport; open space/access to leisure; noise; air quality; safety/security; educational facilities; access to nutrition and clean water; and access to medical support. The housing indicator has been created using existing data sources and mapped against English cities, to prove the concept. The remaining indicators are in the process of being developed for England, before getting adapted to other world cities.
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Energy audit and energy conservation procedures which can be used in retrofitting of buildings
By Saira MuneerThis presentation will include energy audit and energy conservation steps and methods. Energy audit presentation will include step by step energy conservation process. Details on retrofitting (energy saving methods and procedures will be included) which can be implemented to achieve the target energy saving and target reduction in carbon emission.The presentation will include following steps in detail.· Energy consumption will be measured in Electrical (KWH), HVAC (BTU), mechanical (m3) and landscape (m3) fields for specific facility.· After careful analysis of these readings in audit report, site visits will be performed to investigate where energy saving procedures can be implemented.· After implementation of energy saving procedures, monitoring will be done to check all the equipments are working properly.· Energy consumption will be measured again in Electrical (KWH), HVAC (BTU), mechanical (m3) and landscape (m3) and compared to the report developed initially. This report will provide saving achieved by implementing energy saving techniques.
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Setting sustainable development strategy with HQE planning certification
More LessThe contribution focuses on an original project and an innovative approach in coastal environment: integrated tourist resort of Taghazout, both in urban and coastal areas in a context of strong water constraints.
An exemplary development and planning project that promotes a reasonable tourism development model towards socio-economic development strategy which is paying heed to preserving the environmental amenities of the area. A concerted and comprehensive approach to sustainable development is given credibility and catalyzed by the HQETM certification for sustainable planning.
HQETM certification is the only certification scheme in the world with such a wide and flexible field of application. It makes a link between a project and the communities expectations, while taking upstream phases into account and highlighting the link between area planning and urban resource allocation/design.
Economic, leisure and tourism aspects:
Given its strong appeal and its potential for development, the Taghazout Bay Resort and its 615 hectare site are designated as a Tourist Development Zone in Agadir's Coastal Urban Development Plan. Located within the rural municipalities of Taghazout and Aourir, it comprises a bay with 6 km of coastline and a beach free of facilities. The program includes tourist establishments, two golf courses, a medina, various sports academies, public and private facilities, and cooperative and residential housing.Setting sustainable development at the heart of its priorities, the resort design and development take into account the preservation of natural resources and the respect of the socio-cultural authenticity of host communities.
Social aspects, collaborations, governance:
The program, the ground-plan and the design are fully consistent with environmental and socio-economic objectives, as well as the site and area’s challenges. This project embodies the search for a new tourist development model and is part of a national and regional tourist and socio-economic development strategy. It is one of six tourist resorts planned under the Azur Plan, the Moroccan tourism strategy to 2020.This project serves as evidence of the overall management of an area development plan. SAPST (project developer) implemented the national policy and presented local stakeholders with a choice of resource allocation, design and concerted development. As a developer of a large-scale tourist destination, SAPST is committed to proactively address sustainable development concerns to ensure environmental protection, viable economic growth and equitable social progress.
Urban design, landscape, infrastructure:· Preservation of coastal area and environmental design: extremely low plot ratio (9.6%), absence of structures on the coastal strip & low building heights.· Urban design: a central Medina creating polarity for users of the resort and inhabitants of Agadir urban area designed to valorize local craftsmanship.· Creation of a bypass allowing a harmless servicing of coastal strip while preserving the structural features of regional transport.· Qualitative, non-aggressive and multi-modal process of highways and various networks.Through this case study, the paper proposes to highlight the advantages and limitations of international deployment of management system and certification of development projects, in connection with the contents and requirements of these systems in terms of governance and cross-thematic approach to social, environmental and economic issues.
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Retrofitting traditional neighborhoods in Doha
More LessRapid urbanization in Doha during the past few decades has resulted in the disappearance of traditional neighborhoods that were replaced by modern mega real-estate developments, public buildings and projects. More traditional neighborhoods are threatened to be demolished to allow the construction of new real estate projects due to their land value and strategic locations. The most threatened areas are the ones located in the old city center adjacent to historical sites. There is a need to preserve these environments as they represent stages of Doha’s urban development and history. This paper presents strategies and proposals to preserve and improve one of Doha’s unique traditionally built environments. A group of graduate students from the Masters of Urban Planning and Design program at Qatar University carried out an in-depth study of one of the threatened traditionally built environments in Doha as part of Urban Planning Legislation course requirements. The area, known as Old-Mushaireb, located near the under-construction Msheireb, Downtown Doha and the renovated touristic attraction Souq Waqif, was the residence of many old Qatari families. It has a strategic location in the heart of Doha surrounded by main roads, namely; the A-Ring Road, Wadi Musheireb Street and Abdul Aziz Bin Ahmed Street. It contains large number of traditional houses, and historical and modern buildings. The perimeter of the area is occupied by mixed-use buildings constructed after the discovery of oil. The heart of the area contains a large number of traditional houses occupied by low income migrant workers. Each house is occupied by a large number of individuals with no adequate hygienic nor living conditions. The narrow streets and old fareejs are in a deteriorated condition lacking proper pavement and sewage system. Many buildings are either abandoned, deteriorated or neglected with no proper maintenance. The condition is not acceptable neither for the poor workers nor for the unique traditionally built environment and houses that are deteriorating rapidly and are on the verge of collapsing. The aim of this project was to study the area and introduce legislation to preserve and enhance the quality of the built environment that would consequently enhance the human experience and use of space. The goal was to make the area a national and tourist attraction representing a stage in the physical evolution of the built environment in Doha. Another objective was to ensure a quality experience in an attractive heritage place that would respect all age groups using a sustainable approach. The area was surveyed and documented applying urban planning and design methods and practices. The team members analyzed the area and proposed a preservation and improvement strategy that addresses the following components: 1) historical preservation, 2) safety and security, 3) children, 4) territoriality, 5) senior citizens, 6) walkability and 7) streets and parking. The study provides a model for a comprehensive strategy to retrofit, improve and preserve traditionally built environments that represent important stages of Doha’s urban development.
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Environmental benefits from Green Guildings - A case study of RasGas Headquarters building Doha, Qatar
Authors: Mathew Elias, Bader Al Maseeh and Jose PhilipThis paper presents environmental benefits from green buildings based on a case study from the RasGas Headquarters building which is a LEED certified building under the Commercial Interiors Category. A comparison was made between utility costs of a typical commercial office building in Doha and the RasGas Headquarters building. The comparison shows substantial savings in utility costs for the green building. The authors encourage building owners and design consultants to be aware of the environmental and economic benefits from Green Buildings and include green features in the design of buildings. The authors believe that a good design is in fact a green design.
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The efficacy of built morphology to create comfortable microclimates in a hot arid region
More LessSustainable city energy modelling for extreme climate areas such as hot arid climate zones require the knowledge of and the interaction with the territory in order to create a sustainable living for all inhabitants. To achieve this goal in an arid, dry area, we propose to modify buildings and microenvironment to affect, for example, temperatures and air humidity. To reduce energy costs and hence pollution, we need to find solutions that are more natural and capable of reducing energy costs and CO2 emissions, such as 1) the choice of an improved orientation of buildings and of the new urban area in order to reduce solar irradiation and facilitate cooling of buildings through convective air flows, 2) the implementation of green space in order to reduce CO2 emission, regulate air humidity and temperature, and to create a pleasant place to live.The method used is the study of alternative scenarios for settlement principles and built morphology as well as the assessment of energy costs and emissions.The first point that we must take in account for increasing the energy savings is the built morphology: examples are buildings shaped as inverted pyramids with few floors and therefore reducing energy costs and cost of vertical mobility. The shape acts like an umbrella to produce a shadow and allows the creation of green spaces and a pleasant movement through pedestrian focused facilities. The roof can host green spaces for the thermal insulation of the building and solar panels for environmentally friendly production of energy and reflection of solar rays.Floor orientation: the rotation of the various layers/floors allows to distribute the solar irradiation and facilitate the cooling (air-conditioning) of the buildings.Services and facilities for entertainment and recreation are integrated in the buildings. Interstices and green terraces in the building will help the natural air ventilation and create a perfect machine for living.The aggregation of inverted pyramid building types create a more interesting and enjoyable pedestrian and peaceful pathway in the building shadow to reach all available services and facilities housed in the various buildings and in the open space. Finally, the green space on the ground and roof will be useful to reduce the CO2 pollution through photosynthesis providing inhabitants with a high quality of life in a green microclimate.In addition to settlement principles, the built morphology creates comfortable microclimates for the human life.The objective of this research project is to identify a built typology able to define an urban model capable of improving the life of people living under extreme environmental conditions.
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Bioclimatic principles towards sustainable, comfortable and energy efficient societies
Authors: Diaa El-Masry, Eman Farag, Lamya Salem and Martha KatafygiotouBioclimatic architecture has developed over many years to address the problems inherent in buildings. Through a process of trial and error our ancestors have found effective ways to handle the different climatic conditions. All through history, people were trying to adapt their buildings with the environment in order to create better living conditions. Traditionally, dwellings and other buildings have been constructed with full respect to the characteristics of a particular geographical location in order to control its local climatic conditions. Consequently, different types of architecture have arisen to adapt different climatic and cultural conditions, which vary from region to region. Traditional and vernacular buildings showed real sustainability through employing native construction materials and techniques, which efficiently enabled them to minimize their negative environmental impacts, reduce the energy required to supply different climatic controllers and provide indoor thermal comfort.Nowadays, the trend towards an internationalized style of building could result in a reduction in the traditional solutions, which have served several cultures well for many centuries. Of course, people quite rightly demand new architectural designs and high standards of comfort in buildings. These demands are also achievable through the careful combination of traditional and modern bioclimatic principles. The advantages of this option are clear; there is a dramatic reduction of energy needs and an increased use of the architectural style with which people feel at ease. Green buildings and bioclimatic architecture may also promote the preservation of heritage and cultural identity which is a very important matter for the evolving societies. Furthermore while the preservation of natural resources is a universal issue, the specific importance of sustainability and passive design is an up to date topic. Therefore this review paper examines the integration of bioclimatic strategies and passive techniques in modern architecture towards a sustainable, comfortable and energy efficient built environment focusing on the warm climatic regions of the world.
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State of the art on indoor comfort and occupants behavior in warm climatic regions
Authors: Diaa El-Masry, Eman Farag, Lamya Salem and Martha KatafygiotouIndoor thermal comfort is essential for occupants well-being, productivity and efficiency. Comfort standards state criteria in order to create adequate thermal comfort conditions in buildings. Early on, humans tended to create a thermally neutral environment in which they can feel comfortable to spend the most creative hours of their life. One of the greatest challenges of modern architecture is to create a thermally comfortable environment inside buildings, studying in detail all the factors that contribute to it. Nowadays the aim is also to achieve the preeminent indoor air quality and specifically thermal comfort with the minimum possible energy cost and environmental impact.This paper is a literature review of the thermal comfort requirements based on international standards and occupants behavioral trends with their effect especially on the energy consumption. The study focuses in the warm humid climatic regions particularly the Gulf area where comfort preservation and sustainability of a building could be very challenging. Extremely high temperatures and intense solar radiation are on the rise in this era of climate change and global warming. Thus achieving indoor thermal comfort and reducing energy usage in buildings is becoming increasingly difficult. Passive strategies and bioclimatic techniques may serve well and in combination with the growing environmental awareness of occupants may conclude to a more comfortable and sustainable built environment.
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Cemfree: The development of non-Portland cement based concretes
Authors: Martin Liska and Deirdra BartholomewThis paper outlines the development of a cement-free structural concrete known as Cemfree. From concept through to laboratory testing and large-scale field trials, this paper focusses on the scale-up of the technology and the advances in sustainable and durable construction that this innovative material allows.Such concretes are produced using conventional materials, equipment and practices, except that it is now possible to produce structural-grade concrete using a highly sustainable, highly durable alternative binder in place of conventional Portland cement - this binder is known as Cemfree Binder.This paper details the results and data recorded during our internal lab investigations and subsequent field trials; as well as the results and findings of other parties who have had access to the material for independent testing and evaluation.The Cemfree concept has been recognised by Shell in their Springboard Awards 2013, and by Crossrail as Innovation #001 in their Innov18 programme. Cemfree is set to radically change our approach to sustainable construction without the need to change or modify any of our fundamental working practices.
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Renewable algal bricks
More LessThe construction material industry is responsible for approximately 25% of global CO2 emissions associated with material manufacturing in addition to consumption of significant non-renewable natural resources. Leading environmental and energy guidelines and certification bodies therefore promote the reduction of carbon footprint of the building and the use of a high recycling content in the construction materials.The aim of this research is to tackle the issues of natural resources conservation, carbon footprint of construction materials and waste management by producing a renewable construction brick made from micro algae, with almost 100% renewable and recycled content using a very low energy process.Micro-Algae has a higher yield of oil production than terrestrial crops whilst providing no competition for agricultural land and water. It could be cultivated using seawater and solar heat, the most abundant resources on the planet. This research paper will present a holistic approach (patent pending) to produce the algal bricks which comprise of:· The most suitable microalgae species as precursors for the brick manufacturing; · Associated oil yields and characteristics; and · A novel low energy polymerisation process to produce an engineered brick with variable properties depending on the intended use. Compressive Strengths that could be achieved exceed those of conventional Portland cement concrete.The engineered brick is characterised by a negative carbon footprint, and is manufactured from renewable and recycled feedstock.
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Evaluating thermal performance in residential buildings: Examination of conventional wall materials in the regional climates of Egypt
More LessThis paper is the first part of a sequenced simulation analysis which aims at improving the thermal performance of Residential buildings through variations of external walls in Egypt. The findings of this paper present preliminary thermal analysis done for an air conditioned standard office building. The study focused on the thermal performance assessment of the building’s local construction wall materials and the analysis has been carried out using dynamic thermal simulations using the hourly weather data of Alexandria, Cairo and Aswan. A typical open residential space was selected for assessment, wall construction materials were selected according to a survey done for façade materials of office buildings in a smart village and fifth’s settlements in Cairo. The simulations in this paper were carried out in two consecutive stages: the first stage addressed the air temperature and energy usage on a year-round basis to define the peak day and the worst orientation among the four main orientations. The second stage results focused on the peak day occupancy time and the worst orientation performance of the building. Peak day results were analyzed and compared in the three studied cities. The thermal performance of the conventional wall materials showed that the predicted percentage of dissatisfied people was (21%) and (27.5%) in Alexandria, a Mediterranean coastal region, and Cairo, a semi desert region, respectively. While the higher predicted percentage of dissatisfied people (34%) was attained in the extreme dry desert region of Aswan.
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The role of rating systems in the development of sustainable urban environments
More LessCreating sustainable urban environments is one of the biggest challenges that the Middle East will be facing over the coming years. Fueled by an economic boom that adds pressure on available resources, Qatar, like other countries in the region, is at a crossroads to rethink its approach to urban planning and design to create more sustainable built environments on a macro level and redefine the impact of its future cities. First steps have already been taken as part of the country’s ongoing efforts to realize the goals of the Qatar National Vision 2030.This presentation highlights sustainability rating systems as tools that enable planners and designers to redefine their approach to creating neighborhoods and cities in the Middle East. It examines LEED Neighborhoods and GSAS Districts as two rating systems that are currently applied in Qatar and sheds some light on their structure, scope and application to projects. Comparing both systems reveals unique aspects for each but most importantly highlights important similarities when it comes to defining sustainability on an urban scale. Analyzing both shows the importance of considering a number of key factors that make cities more resilient: buildings, infrastructure, transportation, social and cultural factors, security, the use of natural resources and other important factors. These tools can also provide insight into how well new urban environments would perform, revealing valuable lessons for everyone to learn from.
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Existing buildings; Energy auditing and assessment
Authors: Fedaa Ali and Mohamed RadyIn order to develop a platform to assess building operational energy performance and identify energy conservation measures in existing buildings, Qatar Energy and Environment Research Institute (QEERI) has released a proposal to conduct a survey to benchmark existing building performance and to identify the energy conservation measures needed in order to reduce energy consumption. Qatar Green Building Council (QGBC) and QEERI agreed to take the Clubhouse as a first model for this endeavor, as it is a QF public facility. This paper summarizes the work conducted during energy auditing of the Clubhouse through analysis and assessment. It also recommends the potential changes that can be made to the architectural design, operation and maintenance of the existing system in order to reduce energy consumption and prioritize each opportunity in terms of the cost and potential benefit. An energy saving of approximately 55% of the current energy usage (from 1,379,090 kWh/year to 758499 kWh/year) was found possible by applying the recommended energy conservation measures.
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Towards a more sustainable Qatar; retrofitting mindsets, one by one
More LessHistorically the peoples of Arabia have had a strong affinity with and respect to nature, recognizing that their life depended on a mutually supportive relationship. These intertwined connections between people and nature included a reverence for the camels that provided a dependable mode of transport across the harsh desert landscape; a deep affection for the majestic falcons that soared high above vast sand dunes in search of prey; and a great pride in the saluki dog breed as a loyal and skillful hunting companion. Through the generations, nomadic and static tribes in the Gulf have learned how to coexist with their hostile desert environment, following nature’s path to water and fertile plains. And, while this bond endures, with the advent of oil wealth, which has brought with it unprecedented rates of development, it is a connection which at best is under strain and at worst on a catastrophic path as much desired rapid development brings with it demands on the environment and incursions into the landscape as never before; dredging destroying sea grass plains and their associated weird and wonderful wildlife; agriculture requiring ever more water, irreparably depleting natural aquifers and necessitating higher levels of energy draining desalination; and skyscraper cities demanding more electricity to light, keep cool and give residents the comforts they need. Add to this an ever growing mound of waste generated by a swelling population and the picture does not look favorable for Arabia and her peoples.What will it take to restore the human-environment balance? What needs to be retrofitted? Is it simply a matter of technical fixes, add-ons or replacements? Or is there a need for a more fundamental change? Do we need to retrofit mindsets, both individual and organizational, with a new set of overarching socially and environmentally driven principles that allow Qatar to continue along its developmental path while enhancing its historical ties with the environment? In short, is it possible to design or retrofit our way towards a sustainable Qatar? It will be argued in this paper that no amount of technological retrofits or prestigious sustainable planned communities, such as those of Lusail, The Pearl and Msheihreb, will in and of themselves solve the problems faced by Qatar unless there is an associated fundamental change in mindsets at all levels and in all communities, underpinned by a deeply held responsibility for our own impacts on the environment around us and a desire to minimize them. Drawing on examples from individual, organizational and community driven initiatives in solid waste management in Qatar, this paper will illustrate the complexity of the task ahead, how retrofitting mindsets might be achieved and the obstacles faced.
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Technology and performance contracting to retrofit Doha
Authors: Charles Blaschke, Mohammed Mahboob and Chris BurkhardtInsight and live case studies to show performance and actual uses in the field, along with an outline how energy performance contracting, technology and engineering is being applied in the UAE to help the country retrofit 30,000 buildings by 2020 and reduce the countrywide power demand by 30% over the period; and how Doha can reap large energy capacity, generation, distribution and cost savings by implementing policy with targeted goals and enforcement. Insight into how BIM is being used for a variety of energy efficiency, performance contracting and energy management projects to help the energy consumption and demand of the building sector to be reduced by up to 50% shared savings retrofit models that require no capital cost to the owner. It will offer an opportunity to see how building information is helping to streamline work during planning, implementation, documentation and operation of Energy Performance Contracting, commissioning and energy management projects. This includes energy modeling and analysis, visualization, energy reporting, measurement and verification through BIM, while organizing building data of existing buildings. A brief discussion about how building data from existing buildings (drawings, O&M manuals, maintenance logs) can be organized using BIM to better suit facilities managers, owners and operators of buildings.
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Neighbourhood Sustainable assessment tools analytical overview
More LessWorldwide recession, rapid increase in energy cost, inefficient use of nonrenewable resources, global climatic changes and pollution are all indicators of a deteriorating built environment. Improving the living conditions in the built environment became essential. To obtain living conditions improvement there has to be balance between the triple bottom lines of sustainability i.e environmental, social & economic bases. . The aim of this paper is to determine sustainability goals and objectives that are needed to be achieved on the neighborhood scale through discussing the benchmarks set by different sustainability oriented rating systems. There is a number of rating systems in the world for sustainable buildings, but a few have dealt with neighborhood assessment. Neighborhood sustainable assessment tools measure the success in approaching sustainable goals. In this study, five tools from the Gulf region, Europe, Japan, and the United States (Estidama, GSAS, CASBEE, BREEAM and LEED) are selected and analyzed to provide insights on the current situation; highlight the strengths, weaknesses, successes, and failures; and make recommendations for future improvements for the development of local adaptable assessment tools. Using a content analysis, sustainability issues including coverage, pre-requisites, local adaptability, participation, scoring and weighting, reporting, and applicability are discussed in this paper. The results of this study indicate that most of the tools do not cover social and economic aspects, as well as the main sustainable pillars. There are ambiguities and shortcomings in the weighting, scoring and rating. In most cases, there is no mechanism for local adaptability and participation; only those tools which are embedded within the broader planning framework are doing well with regard to applicability.
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How to improve sustainability inside higher educational institutions: A strategic plan for Qatar University
Authors: Simona Azzali and Eman Abdel SabourDesigning and implementing sustainable solutions means to take responsibility for the welfare of future generations as well as for our environment and planet. Positive approach towards sustainability should be an essential part of the ethical base of our lifestyle and actions. Moreover, sustainable development is a vital aspect of the educational agenda at all levels. Universities and higher education institutions have a great responsibility in promoting sustainable development, not only through the educational programs they offer, but also through the involvement of students and staff in the sustainability issues, by encouraging interaction with them. Universities should implement sustainable solutions and adopt sustainability in their future plans, and ultimatel they should have an impact on the society and lead the way by offering knowledge, solutions through influential individuals. Indeed, most universities understood the responsibility and the extreme importance of shifting to more sustainable policies and plans, and most of them have started investing in green buildings future that includes, green building, greener practices and green products along with less environmental impact, and ways of engaging its faculty and students.In the last few years the need for sustainable solutions for universities has rapidly increased. Many efforts have been dedicated to this issue, and now many universities have realized and implemented different plans that suit their needs and nature. These plans have achieved sustainable transport, energy, procurement, food services and many other issues.In this research, a review of other universities’ sustainability plans is used to derive a strategy aimed to improve sustainability inside Qatar University by introducing new solutions, evaluating current implemented methods, and assessing or promoting the use of services already in place. The sustainability plan is designed to deliver a strategic blue print to meet the future development at Qatar University campus via converting its operations, education and research activities towards more sustainable practices. The proposed plan is designed based on the collaboration of three university bodies (students, academics and administrative staff), and it is outlined in three main branches: operational; planning and administration; education and research. The plan identifies and maps the required action to build the initiative to achieve sustainable goals at QU, and proposes new ways to face the challenge of sustainability in academic campuses. The plan also helps in offering a benchmark model for peer higher education organizations inside Qatar, and for other institutions outside Qatar with similar conditions.
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Design as tactic: A proposal for Doha’s neighborhoods and their public realm
Authors: Dena Qaddumi and Ameena AhmadiAs the capital of Qatar, Doha is undeniably in a state of profound change. The aspiration to complete significant additions to the built environment in time for the FIFA World Cup in 2022 coupled with the ambitious goals of the Qatar National Vision 2030 promise to continue this state of flux for the better part of the coming decade. Urban practice and research in Doha have been preoccupied with the master planning of new developments, often at the expense of existing neighborhoods and their inherent sustainable elements and character. Even in cases where efforts have been made to emulate ‘traditional’ forms of urbanism it remains to be resolved as to how this relates to traditional ways of living. At the local scale the public realm has often been neglected due to the rapid pace of development and a general prioritization of creating notable architectural objects over the generation of a cohesive and shared space between buildings. As a result, reliance on the automobile increases, personal health decreases, and the quality of social interaction deteriorates. Given this context, this paper proposes the development of an alternative to master planning; one that addresses different scales and is entrepreneurial in nature. The objective is to investigate and demonstrate – through the use of design tactics – a multidisciplinary approach to maximize the potential of Doha neighborhoods potential to become vibrant places with an active public realm that serves the community. With the vision of evolving into integrated sustainable neighborhoods, the focus becomes about creating an appropriate, inclusive, and tangible public realm rather than merely planning it. In this way, design is not just a solution to urban challenges but also a means to identify them, becoming inherent to both research and practice methodologies. The framework to test such an approach would involve identifying a relevant neighborhood, conducting localized spatial analysis; considering stakeholders and actors including governmental, private and community-based ones in all their diversity; designing tactics for developing the public realm and establishing a public platform to participate in such proposals. Ultimately, design tactics should be applied to examine their potential for broader implementation at the level of the city and to evaluate the efficacy of such a methodology.
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Towards an innovative design approach: Palm tree biomimicry between form and content
Authors: Nader Mohamed Gharib and Eiman Mohamed EliskandaraniBiomimicry is considered to be a new approach for achieving sustainable architecture, and accordingly smarter futuristic cities. It provides humans with aspiration to view nature as our mentor. Meanwhile, architecture has long drawn from nature as a source of inspiration. The integration between biomimicry and architecture leads to innovative designs inspired by Mother Nature.The palm tree is considered to be one of the most popular native and local plants in the MENA region. It has been studied by architects and planners and applied in the architectural designs in one-way or another. However, a thorough investigation of that valuable plant has to be carried out for a better understanding of its capabilities. This paper explains how biomimicry can enroll have a role in architecture, and its applications gradual levels. This paper also studies the palm tree by means of form, content and mechanism of the palm tree; in order to recognize its most suitable applications on buildings, which affects the architectural aesthetic and functional values. The results should indicate how positively the palm tree whole system could benefits the architectural environment.
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Future cities – Qatar economic zones by MANATEQ
More LessMANATEQ is Qatar’s largest master developer of economic zones and is tasked with spending over QAR 20 Billion for the development of three new projects that will collectively cover an area greater than 70 square kilometers (twice the size of Lusail City). These Qatar Economic Zone (QEZ) projects are strategically located to compliment and link with Qatar’s rapidly developing transportation networks and international hubs for air, sea, rail and road. Refer to http://www.manateq.qa for further details.This paper explores the approach taken by ASTAD and MANATEQ to adopt sustainability principles from the outset of the planning and design stages of these projects up until their present construction stages. The economic zone projects are each following the ‘GSAS Districts’. This paper also outlines some of the challenges and opportunities from our experience of implementing this sustainability rating system. The GSAS Districts system has had a major influence on key decisions during the masterplanning and engineering design stage. In particular, it helped focus and challenge our discipline engineers to deliver the most appropriate technology. It is our aim that during operational stages sub-developers will benefit from these decisions due to greater efficiency in the zones from a facilities and operational perspective, as well as reduced carbon emissions. The QEZ projects goal is to provide a globally competitive and environmentally sustainable business environment, which delivers competitive advantage through the most modern infrastructure, most efficient utilities, most advanced communications and most effective transportation infrastructure. This paper will discuss our approach and challenges for achieving this goal while complying with GSAS Districts, as well covering the main sustainability strategies to be implemented:Planning & Design· Urban morphology · Landscape and public spaces· District cooling · Smart grid power distribution· Wet utilities· Solid waste management· Public transport · Adopting ‘Eco-Industrial Park’ principles in the planning stages· Construction·Construction materials consolidation centres· Recycled concrete and aggregate· Workers welfare· Development phasing· Operational · ‘One-stop-shop’ approvals centres· Efficient public transportation vehicles· Community ManagementWhile the projects are pursuing 3 Stars GSAS Districts Certification, our design teams have been keen to introduce the best practice from other established rating systems, especially LEED Neighborhood. Specialist consultants were also engaged to prepare “Strategic Environmental Assessments” in order to ensure the cumulative environmental impacts of adjacent projects were predicted and proportionate mitigation measures introduced. High levels of stakeholder engagement during the design stages ensured that the projects are integrated with their surrounding districts and available utilities, many of which are also currently under development. In addition to incorporating modern design standards, high levels of open space and amenities, the QEZ projects are strategically investing in sustainable infrastructure ( power, water, transport, etc.) for the benefit of their future investors (i.e. sub-developers). This paper outlines how sustainability rating systems were used as a key tool for selecting the most sustainable solutions for the development of their economic zones, which will offer unrivalled opportunities to meet the needs of Qatar’s future business leaders.
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Efficency, safety and healthy materials in sustainabile interior design
Authors: Islam M Obeidat and Manar ObeidatIntroduction
Most of the life span costs of a building can be saved on the interior materials. Interior materials must be developed to incorporate efficacy, safety and health including custodial, maintenance, repair and replacement so that better informed decisions can be made about appropriate sustainable materials.Research PurposesThe purpose of this study is to explore interior materials in sustainable design process, and how designers specify sustainable interior materials in the built environment.The Objectives of the StudyThe objective of this study is to find a participating process in developing a decision-making tool to specify sustainable interior materials for interior environment.Research QuestionsHow can interior design materials impact the health, safety, and well-being of occupants in the built environment? And how and interior designers integrate goals of sustainable materials into the design process?MethodologyA review of literature relating to interior materials and sustainability was conducted, and a model was developed to quantify the relationships between sustainable materials and the impact of the physical environment on the health, safety, and well-being of occupants in the built environment based on the prior studies.FindingsInterior designers should integrate goals of sustainability into the building design process. Theyshould:- Use new materials with low environmental impact.- use low service life cost as well as qualitative criteria when selecting interior materials.- Select materials with a low life cycle cost; those which show little cost impact after the initial purchase and that support sustainable design.- Select materials with low maintenance and long replacement cycles to reduce environmental impact, as continuing costs associated with operations and maintenance are very large and often outweigh the low initial material cost.- Consider environmental impact (recyclable and biodegradable) and life cycle costs of interior materials when specifying products.- Consider how recycling programs (back-of-the-house paper, kitchen waste, etc.) will impact facilities design and layout when planning the facility.- Install compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) in interior facilities to inexpensively yet effectively decrease energy and water consumption.- Understand that including sustainable design features (e.g., daylighting, low-emission adhesives and paints) in buildings may also provide health-related benefits that reduce illnesses.- Integrate diverse perspectives and foster a collaborative spirit among stakeholders and design professionals to achieve the goals of a sustainable design project.- enhance visual access to the building and minimize the generation of heat associated with interior materials.- Reuse materials from other sources in adaptive ways, such as floor decking and structural columns recovered from abandoned sites.- Incorporate sustainable attributes into new designs by using abundant daylighting; efficient heating, cooling, and ventilation systems; wood flooring from certified sustainable forests; acoustical ceiling tiles with high recycled content; and biocomposite (made of recycled newspaper and soy bean fibers) countertops, shelving, and display fixtures.
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Efficient use of lighting is the most sustainable way to save energy in high-performance building
Authors: Islam M Obeidat and Rania AthamenahHigh-performance and low-impact materials are typically energy efficient, safe for occupants, and have low impact on the environment. Most frequently, lighting systems were recommended based on lighting ability to reduce costs of energy. High-performance interior materials are perceived as more expensive to design, construct, operate, and maintain, but may have increased health, comfort, and safety factors for occupants in the built environment. According to Nguyen et al. (2010), commercial and residential buildings in the United States consume close to 40% of our total energy. Criteria in the energy efficiency category (i.e. lighting) were not met. Similarly, the costs associated with sustainable design have decreased as experience in the industry has increased. The purpose of this study is to focus on using a high-performance and low-impact interior materials, and discuss barriers to sustainable design in the built environment. How can interior design materials impact the health, safety, and well-being of occupants in the built environment? And how can interior designers integrate high-performance and low-impact materials in the sustainable design?A review of literature regarding high-performance and low-impact materials was conducted. Interviews with interior designers were conducted. Instructors and students from different design departments completed a questionnaire survey.Interior designers tend to become more environmentally conscious by supporting sustainable designs that are more environmentally friendly and socially conscious. Therefore they should 1) understand that the sustainability of the high-performance and low-impact materials can be improved by the interior designer’s decisions, 2) consider the properties of sustainable materials when choosing interior design materials, 3) increase the sustainability of the high-performance interior environment by utilizing solar energy (e.g. daylighting), 4) consider how the high-performance materials can increase the sustainability of residential occupants, 5) provide efficient energy, water, light sources, equipment, and accessories to reduce the use of resources, 6) incorporate sustainable attributes into new designs by using abundant daylighting.
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Evidence-based sustainable design strategies in the built environments
Authors: Islam M and Saif ObeidatThe evidence-based sustainable design tool is a design tool created to aid participants during the design and decision-making process and implementation phase of sustainable design projects. It guides users in collecting background information, defining problems and objectives, assessing and selecting tools and methods, evaluating alternatives and solutions, recording the process, and monitoring and measuring progress and outcomes. It is also designed to be an information-sharing tool for participants and stakeholders.Problem statementsGrowing demand for sustainable design and a shortage of evidence-based design requires more knowledge and application of sustainable design principles.Research purposesThe purpose of this study is to discuss the benefits of using evidence-based design in process for sustainable interior design.The objectives of the studyThe objective of this study is to involve owners, developers, interior designers in developing evidence-based design strategies for sustainable settings and in evaluation of those settings to improve the physical environment that lead to better outcomes.The significance of the studyThis study seeks to utilize evidence-based sustainable design strategies in the built environments to create healthier, safety, and more productive environments for occupants. This study will assess the potential benefits of using evidence-based design as a tool of the design process in sustainable design. The study strives to present advantages of the evidence-based design through the use of sustainable design. Also, this study will investigate interior designers to understand of how evidence-based design affects knowledge and application of sustainability principles, and assessed whether such understanding influences their making-decision in solving design problems. Therefore, this study will examine how evidence-based design of the person, process, and product (outcome) and the cognitive stages of the design process (i.e., readiness, reception, reflection, revelation, and recreation) will express in an sustainable design to gain an understanding of the creative decision making process.Research QuestionsHow can sustainable design assist interior designer to gain better evidence in applying sustainable principles to design process?MethodologyA review of literature relating to evidence-based design and sustainable design was conducted. Also, a model was developed to quantify the relationships between evidence-based design and the sustainable design based on the prior studies.FindingsEvidence-based sustainable design tool (1) is flexible and applicable to different situations; (2) measured advancement towards sustainability using easily understood criteria (3); is easy to use; (4) provided supporting evidence for presenting proposals to stakeholders; and (5) had a framework for clearly organizing the complex information involved in achieving sustainability
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Evidence-based design towards sustainable school clinic
Authors: Islam M Obeidat and Montaha OdwanIt is important to understand the needs of students and nursing staff by engaging them in the sustainable design process of school clinics. Sustainable design of clinics has a long-term impact on nursing staff and patient students care. Moreover, sustainable design plays an important role in the healthcare environments for student patients and nursing staff.The purpose of this study is to create a pleasant and inviting atmosphere for the students as well as for the nurses on staff. Most patients are not happy to go to clinics; hence this sustainable design will create more of a homey feeling than a medical setting. The question presented in this study is whether optimal sustainable design and the physical environment will affect the health, comfort, relaxation and safety of student patients and nursing staff in school clinics.School clinics are there to serve the healthcare needs of students. School nurses are key players in the delivery of health services in the school clinic. Accordingly school clinics should be designed to support the school nurses in meeting patients’ needs . The specific sustainable design elements were determined through a review of related literature.Characteristics included: components (rooms), space, and size; general sustainable design elements; location; accessibility; the waiting area; the nurses office; the treatment room; the isolation area; the restroom (toilet); security, storage, safety elements; furnishings and treatment. Specific sustainable design elements included: lighting; windows; integrating natural elements into the design; promoting a sense of well-being for users; security and privacy; confidentiality elements; electrical elements; doors and signage; walls and ceilings; acoustics; use of color; heating / ventilation / air conditioning; and flooring elements.
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Innovation and creativity in sustainable interior design
Authors: Islam M Obeidat and Salwa HasanDuring the Renaissance, science, art, and architecture adopted a philosophy and methods that required separation between subject and object. In design, this was reflected in the formal spatial arrangements of renaissance gardens, the axial layout of structures and gardens, and the spatial isolation between rooms within buildings. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, architects began to blur the boundaries between spaces and forms. This resulted in building designs with dynamic spatial interiors that were reflected in exterior appearance. At the same time, artists (e.g. cubists), scientists (e.g. physicists), and philosophers (e.g. phenomenologists) were also exploring how objects and subjects were part of each other. Through ecological practices such as roof gardens, urban wildlife habitat restoration and solar energy, urban ecologists have attempted to move beyond the dualistic concepts of culture and nature to demonstrate that they belong to the same system.Designers must take ethical responsibility for the environment because design aesthetics shape and express everyday realities. Sustainable architecture is often too focused on visual qualities that appear sustainable, but fail to function more ecologically than conventional buildings.Problem statementsInnovation and creativity refer to the development of awareness and responsibility to identify, learn, and apply elements of sustainability to create a unique sustainable design. Studying competing notions of ecological reform may help create diverse approaches to eco-design. Design directly affects societies; decisions about design and technology involve not only scientific and technical issues but also social ones.Research purposesThe purpose of this study is to discuss innovation and creativity in design ideals and to investigate how innovation and creativity can lead to better sustainable interior design.The objectives of the studyThe objective of this study is to examine innovation and creativity in sustainable interior design adopted by academia and professionals, and the strategies that can be implemented to add on to it.The significant of the studyResearch questionsHow innovation and creativity can lead to better sustainable interior design?MethodologyThe author conducted a review of literature on architectural, artistic, and scientific development of space, form, and knowledge from the Renaissance to the present day with emphasis on the links between culture and nature.FindingsFinding the appropriate means to learn and apply sustainability principles to solve design problems and generate creative/innovative environments is a challenging educational task. It requires:- Improvement of decision making for design projects by identifying sustainability issues, assembling and evaluating relevant data, and creating an appropriate strategy with defined tasks.- Recognition of relationships between laypersons and experts to better integrate social and environmental issues into the design process.- Awareness to allow research to facilitate informed and balanced design without adversely affecting creativity.- Recognition of the complex relationship between research and design and the different integration approaches which are not mutually exclusive.- Integration of research and design by incorporating pre-design research, acknowledging research as an integral part of the design process, and using research to evaluate and modify design.
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Learning and applying sustainability principles is a challenging educational task
Authors: Islam M Obeidat and Cherif AmorIn this global era, sustainability has become a wide-ranging term used in local and global scale and applied to almost every facet of life on earth. In academia, finding the appropriate means to learn and apply sustainability principles is a challenging educational task that leads to what is often called ‘sustainability gap’. In this study, students from architecture, interior design, and landscape architecture are taught sustainability principles in a collaboration studio course. The purpose of this study is: 1) to understand the gap between learning and application of sustainability principles in collaborative pedagogic settings, 2) to examine the association between collaborative pedagogic setting and students' predisposition to environmental responsibility while learning and applying sustainability principles, and 3) to explore whether the symbiosis between sustainability and collaboration might be associated with the students' perception of innovation in design. The objective of this study is to provide data that will help bridge the gap between learning and application of sustainability principles. A review of literature relevant to sustainability and collaboration was conducted. A qualitative (participants observation) and quantitative (survey/questionnaires) approaches were used to collect data in this study. Descriptive statistics, Cronbach’s alpha, open coding, independent T-test, One-way ANOVA, and multiple comparison tests were used to analyze the data. The findings show that collaboration between design and allied disciplines might facilitate learning and application of sustainability principles. Similarly, collaborative settings help students understand the predisposition of being pro-environment, responsive and perceptive of the innovation in design. Finally, collaborative pedagogy has facilitated the identification of conspicuous gaps relevant to learning and application of sustainability principles.
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The impact of lighting on guests’ perception: symbiosis between hospitality and sustainability in interior design
Authors: Islam M MObeidat and Saif ObeidatThe benefits of lighting in hospitality applications have focused on the quantity of light, color quality, perceptions of multi-cultural guests , and the relationship between emotional state and lighting color quality. In turn, lighting in hospitality design involves employing different light levels that work together to highlight unique features and address specific illumination requirements. A good hospitality lighting design should also provide more efficient light sources so that it can translate into savings in terms of money and energy. The purpose of this report is to address the basics of lighting and hospitality design through studying how lighting can assist in designing hospitality applications, and its effect on guests’ behavior, needs and perception. This report involves literature review of lighting, hospitality and sustainability in interior design and their impact on guests’ perception. Design project has been used to create a pleasant atmosphere and provide high-quality lighting design in restaurants as it may create positive perception among guests, potentially influencing their well-being. The results show that lighting in hospitality design is usually required around the clock to help create an environment in which guests feel comfortable and safe. It has been found that lighting is a critical design element to guests’ sense of autonomy and quality of life. People often use lighting to modify relations between them and the surrounding environment in order to regulate space and behavior. Lighting can be used to break the monotony, and different spaces can be enhanced with lighting concepts. Lighting is to provide comfort, safety, and well-being, which help lessen confusion, stress, and unsafe situations. Guests’ feeling of crowdedness can impact their sense of satisfaction with their environment and the quality of their interactions with others. Lighting influences feelings and behaviors of crowdedness for users in the built environment. Areas without lighting caused slower wayfinding and were less accurate when it came down to pointing visitors to designated places in buildings. Consequently, using lighting in hospitality environments is the impulse to building a relationship between occupants and the physical environment.
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Creating a lasting legacy
More LessSports facilities are particularly vulnerable to waste and inefficiency, both short term and many years into the future, from their operating systems to poor location to lack of legacy planning after special events are concluded. We believe that new stadiums, properly planned and developed, can be a catalyst to help develop sports in a the Middle East region so that the venue will have a life beyond the special event and have a lasting benefit for people within the community. With the large investments coming in for sports venues, there is even more of a focus into the longevity and legacy of the stadium. To assure that a stadium will have a lasting legacy and purpose, ROSSETTI has a unique approach to right sizing a stadium. This requires a modular component to a stadium, so that after a mega event like the World Cup, a stadium can be sized for the permanent tenant going forward. Return On DesignTM is ROSSETTI’s unique approach to every project generating value-oriented design solutions for our client’s investment. It’s the only tool that takes the guess work out of which upgrades will add value to fans because it’s customized for each individual client’s market, venue, ticket buyers and business goals. The real value is that it quantifies the investment and potential payback down to the dollar. We accomplish this by evaluating the fan and VIP experience, hospitality segmentation, sponsor opportunities and more, to supply value predictions based on hundreds of data sources. This puts into place revenue generating mechanisms into place to secure the financial enhancement of a facility, now and well into the future. While many firms say they do this claim doing that, ROSSETTI is the only firm that has a patented approach with detailed cost metrics from for over 10 years that will predict the return on investments, typically between two to four years. · We’ve worked with ownership at the Palace of Auburn Hills, home of the NBA Detroit Pistons, for over fifteen years on a series of renovations that continue to breathe new life into the arena while increasing revenue generation. · At Daytona International Speedy, sponsorship is critical to the event and venue. Our ‘fan injector’ entrances integrate sponsorship with fan experiences from the approach and throughout the venue. For new venues, Return on DesignTM can be used to develop revenue by planning the proper mix of product programming and sponsor opportunities right from the start. Conducted in the earliest phases, it prioritizes and customizes important design elements. For example, instead of finding walls on which to place LED sponsor boards, we design the sponsor activation experience into the venue. We recognize there is a delicate balance between selecting capital improvements for implementation and forecasting the prospects for generation of new revenue or improved fan and operations experiences. RODTM enables owners to make smarter decisions, resulting in a better experience with a higher return.
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LEED criteria and sustainability indicators for the hot climate
More LessLEED criteria and indicators - Leadership of Energy and Environmental Design - spread locally, regionally and internationally in response to the call for energy conservation and the preservation of the environment, the resources and local development. The rating systems have been developed to illustrate the sustainability level attained by buildings according to the adopted elements of rationalization and achievement of green architecture.These indicators and standards which follow US standards need to be checked for their compatibility with the hot desert environment to ensure the realization of an energy efficient building in accordance to the efficacy of the local environment. The research deals with presentation of these criteria and indicators and their compatibility with the desert environment with its natural, social and economic components through the application of these standards in the administrative building at the newly constructed Jazan University , as well as an administrative building in Doha required to be presented to acquire the LEED certificate for the hot desert climate, and then infer sub-standards that are compatible with hot, humid and dry desert environment.
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Towards a holistic approach to sustainability: Heritage, architecture and culture as tools for assembling identity in Qatar
More LessJust a few years ago, Doha, the Qatari capital, was referred to as a “sleepy town” (Lonely Planet, 2008). Nevertheless, as a result of its position in the global energy market, the country is going through massive expansion and has the resources to support this growth. Considering Qatar’s current thrive into a post-oil paradigm where knowledge economy might be the generative force for development, an examination of how the State’s new museums contribute to Qatar’s new vision becomes so relevant. This paper analyzes the process of constructing a new urban brand; Dohaization, and the role of new museums in substantiating such brand and new identity. A quest for identity, in the contemporary moment, implies twofold pursuits. First, it would speak to the locality and relate to the community heritage and roots. Second, it should respect the global aspirations and each city’s compelling desire to accommodate a place on the global stage and to brand itself as a global city attracting tourists, knowledge workers and global citizens. The paper will then exploit the findings of this discussion in the assessment and critical review of the two selected museums MIA and QNM.This paper critically narrates the case of two iconic museums in the contemporary urbanization of Doha. By analyzing the process of constructing a new urban identity for Qatar, the paper examines the role of museums in approaching a new paradigm by moving from consuming old heritage to constructing a new tradition and manufacturing an alternative contemporary heritage. The paper addresses crucial questions such as: What is the relation between building museums and pursuing a future development vision? Can the architecture of museums and urbanization facilitate a different level of community engagement?
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The Incrediwell process. Seawater intakes. Feed-source water quality improvement and economics for numerous applications
By Ron DanielThe growing population of Qatar (the Gulf region generally) is critically dependent, for both Power generation and Water production, on the seawater of the Gulf.Knowledge of the continuing deterioration of the Gulf waters results in the unequivocal conclusion that very soon, the Gulf waters acquired with open-intake abstraction methods will no longer deliver the qualities essential to produce the Power and water requirements of the region. Almost all seawater in the Gulf is acquired, as a feed-source for processes such as power generation and desalination, using open-intake abstraction methods. However, this method of obtaining seawater cannot be considered secure and sustainable for the following reasons.• Year upon year, open-intake systems are operationally shut-down due to intake issues with higher numbers of occasions than the year before.• The challenge of delivering a reliable and secure potable water source is unresolved despite significant investment in re-charging Aquifers (Abu Dhabi) or building 7-day capacity reservoirs (Qatar). • The water abstracted is saltier than in previous years.• The abstracted waters are showing year-on-year temperature increases, often considerably higher than the maximum temperature required to cool Electrical Power generation turbines.• To prevent shut-down due the clogging effect of bio-fouling, open intake system are heavily dosed with toxic biocides.Seawater desalination is an energy-intensive and costly means of treating water to potable standards and can have quite extreme environmental impacts. Complex and expensive pre-treatment processes are commonly required to reduce the rate of bio-fouling and the frequency of operational close-down.Environmental impacts are associated with conventional open-intakes. Impingement and entrainment of marine biota is the first impact followed by the discharge of Toxic and carcinogenic brine, resulting from the use of chemicals to keep the intakes and associated piping clean of organic growth. Another issue to contend with is the disposal of macro-organic debris that accumulates on the traveling screens (seaweed, fish, jellyfish, etc.) and other parts of the pre-treatment train.Natural seawater contains a variety of macro- and micro-organic components that affect the treatment process. Open-ocean intakes are seasonally clogged in some regions by seaweed and some pre-treatment systems are periodically fouled by influx of jellyfish or large shoals of small fish (Zouri). Also, natural environmental events, such as harmful algal blooms and red tides, can overwhelm pre-treatment systems and cause temporary shut-downs of IWPP and SWRO plants. Improvements in the raw water quality will lead to reduction in the complexity of pre-treatment systems. There is the constant threat of nearby oil-leaks that require the abstraction system to close and finally, there is the susceptibility to sabotage.This paper looks at sub-seabed abstraction methods resulting in the conclusion that the innovative Incrediwell Process installed by the utilisation of Horizontal Directional Drilling appears to offer the solutions to the above array of problems. This paper will also demonstrate numerous advantages including the reduction of Qatar’s carbon footprint and the significant cost savings to be gained when choosing the Incrediwell Process in favour of the prevalent open-intake method of seawater abstraction
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Life cycle cost analysis of utilizing energy saving lamp at engineering faculty buildings, Universitas Indonesia
Authors: Farizal F and L. PurnamasariLighting as one manifestation of electricity consumption will greatly assist human activity and productivity. In education, lighting plays an important role in the success of the learning process. The Faculty of Engineering, established in 1964, is one of the biggest faculty at Universitas Indonesia. Currently it has eighteen buildings and facilities to serve around five thousands students. Now a days many energy saving lamps are emerging on the market. These lamps consume less electricity than older lamps but they are much more expensive. Two newer lamps, i.e. compact fluorescence lamp (CFL) Tornado 24W and light emitting diode (LED) 9W are assessed to replace existing faculty of engineering lamps. For the purpose, life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) was used. The results recommended replacing the existing lamps with LED with the potential of 11% of cost saving and 87% of power saving.
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Green BIM to achieve Passivhaus in the MENA region
More LessThe use of building information modeling (BIM) for green projects is expected to grow very fast enhancing the bond between BIM and green construction. The presentation will discuss how BIM technology can be implemented to achieve green, sustainable and ecological buildings through:· Generating the conceptual model to simulation· Simulating building different masses to get the best environmental results and compare them together· Designing and building alternatives and choosing the best design option· Using different materials to reach Indoor thermal comfortAlso the presentation will discuss how Green BIM can support integrated design in Qatar from the conceptual design stage till the operation stage reaching client satisfaction.The presentation will show examples for environmental analysis and simulations, for wind, heating and cooling studies that were extracted from BIM and how they affected the design in each project stage and through the project lifecycle.
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Future vision: Going lean in a green environment
More LessThe improvement of efficiency, quality and profitability has been recently the major goal for the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry. The future of the construction industry requires the combination and integration of the four key functions: process, technology, organization and knowledge. New processes, such as lean construction, bring a solution to the trilogy of problems encountered in the AEC industry: time, cost and quality. The overall aim of this paper is to introduce new process and manage sustainability through lean thinking by studying both concepts and providing an answer to the question “Is lean green?”This paper is divided into three parts; the first part explains the concept of “lean thinking”, its origin, applications, goals, benefits and challenges faced when first implemented in the construction industry. The second part explains the concept of sustainability and green construction through the project lifecycle and how it can enhance the inner and outer environment and optimize costs. The third part is integrating the two concepts together showing the strong bond that links sustainability to Lean thinking adding value to construction projects and eliminating waste from the concept design phase to the operation phase. This paper will take the audience/attendees to a new dimension of thinking for going lean in a green environment achieving customer’s satisfaction by the three part goal of better, cheaper and faster projects. Today is just the right time and place to lean and green it, whereas tomorrow will be zero wastes!
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Sustainable architecture and urban design at Carnegie Mellon Qatar
Authors: Kelly Hutzell and Rami el SamahyAs Associate Teaching Professors of Architecture at Carnegie Mellon University, Rami El Samahy and I hold joint appointments, teaching at the Carnegie Mellon University main campus in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the US every fall semester, and at the branch campus in Doha, Qatar every spring semester. In Doha, we offer elective courses in architecture to non-majors, including students studying Business, Information Systems, and Computer Science. These students have the option to earn a minor in Architecture. One of the required courses for the minor in Architecture is a course titled Architecture for non-majors. In this course, students gain knowledge about the breadth of architectural practice through various forms of study, and assimilate these skills as they develop their own approach. In the first weeks, students learn how to measure, draw, and build models. Throughout the semester, students learn to sketch and design. They gain an understanding of local vernacular passive techniques and are encouraged to reinterpret these concepts in order to create responsible and sustainable contemporary architecture.Sustainability at the urban scale is the focus on an elective course titled Mapping Urbanism. This interdisciplinary seminar functions as an introductory workshop to urban design, information design, urban history, and theory. The aim of the course is two-fold: first, to develop an appreciation for the built environment and diverse history and cultures; and second, to educate students about the complex issues of urbanism through mapping. While the structure of the course is similar each year, the focus is always changing. Past courses have focused on examinations of international city typologies, regional sustainable mega-projects, and local public spaces.In addition to teaching architecture electives to non-majors, we’ve also led semester-long study abroad programs, whereby undergraduate architecture students from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh studied abroad in Doha. In 2010, fourth-year undergraduate Bachelor of Architecture students, who are required to take an architectural design studio that focuses on systems integration, redesigned the Qatar Green Building Council (QGBC) headquarters. The project was intended to reflect the needs, mission and organizational structure of the QGBC by showcasing a variety of sustainable strategies. Student projects included ideas such as opening the central atrium to create an exterior courtyard, redirecting the entrance; and have incorporated solar photovoltaic panels, wind turbines and evaporative cooling pools.
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HITTITE CSP & desalinization technology
Authors: Kayihan and Oguz CapanHittite's desalinization technology won the DM2006 Technology Competition from among 2550 applicants. This competition was organized by World Bank and Bill Gates Foundation. Judges for this competition were academicians from UCLA,MIT and Harvard.-Hittite Technologies have been approved by world famous renewable energy laboratories.-SPA-CIEMAT of Spain and DRL of Germany have included Hittite in their EU-financed Project Proposal in 2013.-NREL (National Renewable Energy Lab. of US Dep. Of Energy) and EPRI (American Electric Power Research Institute) included Hittite CSP Technology in their Government Project application called "solar hybridization of existing coal power plants".-Furthermore, MRIGlobal (an independent, not-for-profit organization performing contract research for US Government and Industry) reviewed and decided that Water Treatment & Desalinization Technology of Hittite is the best for industrial waste water treatment, including Shale Gas Farck Water and signed a cooperation agreement with Hittite to use this technology in North America.-Last but not the least, ACCIONA Agua Group from Spain (World's Largest Water Treatment Comp. and World's 2nd Largest Solar Energy Comp.) reviewed and decided that Water Treatment & Desalinization Technology of Hittite is the best fir industrial waste water treatment & desalinization and signed MOU with Hittite to use this technology in their projects.After being introduced to Hittite's desalinization technology in June 2014, the California State Water Authority called the Hittite technology "a game changer" and decided that it will help dramatically reduce California's serious drought problem, inviting Hittite to bring the demo units for demonstration.
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One Health: the case of human exposure to cyanobacterial toxins in natural and built environments
One Health is the combination of multidisciplinary efforts and expertise from the fields of medicine and science to determine environmental factors that affect human, animal, plant and microbial health in natural and built environments. The One Health initiative has gained momentum in recent decades, yet it has its roots of inception at the beginning of Western medicine when Hippocrates realized that human and ecosystem health are intrinsically connected and should not be considered in isolation.Our studies focus on cyanobacteria and how their abundance and toxin production are affected by unique climatological attributes of the desert, as well as anthropogenic influences and practices. We have determined that cyanobacterial crusts and mats can cover up to 87% of the terrestrial and coastal surface of Qatar, contributing to ecosystem health by preventing soil and coastal sediment erosion and enhancing rain water retention allowing for plant proliferation.Cyanobacteria negatively impact human and ecosystem health through the production of a range of toxins known or suspected to produce liver damage, promote tumors, cause paralysis, and potentially trigger neurodegenerative disease in humans and other animals. We have discovered that toxin-producing cyanobacterial species and cyanotoxins are present in both terrestrial crusts and coastal mats of Qatar.In the current paper, we present our results on cyanotoxin transmission and exposure routes to humans through air, drinking water and foodstuffs. We have observed that the annual natural phenomenon of dust storms experienced in the Arabian Peninsula leads to airborne cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins, and that in areas impacted by anthropogenic infrastructure development there is an increased rate of airborne exposure. Interestingly, local dress of gutras and sheilas act as natural filters against inhalation, minimizing exposure to cyanobacterial cells and cyanotoxins in controlled lab experiments.Another feature unique to desert life is the transportation and storage of desalinated water, kept in impoundments for drinking. We have tested water contained in such tanks in both rural and urban desert settings. Visible growth of cyanobacteria was observed in the majority of the tanks, with the neurotoxin AEG present in 90% of rural tanks, and 30% of urban tanks had concentrations of the hepatotoxin microcystin exceeding the World Health Organization’s Provisional Guideline value for lifetime health protection.Finally, we have performed biomagnification studies in the marine food chain of the gulf, choosing marine species based on consumer preferences of the local population.Neurotoxins were found in marine species at all trophic levels, attributed to the bottom up influence of toxins present in cyanobacterial mats or to top down effects of localized cyanobacterial blooms potentially caused by discharge of ballast water into the gulf.Our studies have shed the light on an unexplored biological desert system. Our findings may be used for conservation of this vital biota and for improving the design of built environments, construction procedures and water transportation and storage practices to minimize human exposure to cyanobacteria and their toxins through air and water.
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The Passivhaus concept for the Arabian Peninsula – An energetic-economical evaluation considering the thermal comfort
Authors: Joachim Göttsche, Michael Korn and Alexandre AmatoThe Passivhaus building standard is a concept developed for the realization of energy-efficient and economical buildings with a simultaneous high utilization comfort under European climate conditions. Major elements of the Passivhaus concept are a high thermal insulation of the external walls, the use of heat and/or solar shading glazing as well as an airtight building envelope in combination with energy-efficient technical building installations and heating or cooling generators, such as an efficient energy-recovery in the building air-conditioning. The objective of this research project is the inquiry to determine the parameters or constraints under which the Passivhaus concept can be implemented under the arid climate conditions in the Arabian Peninsula to achieve an energy-efficient and economical building with high utilization comfort. In cooperation between the Qatar Green Building Council (QGBC), Barwa Real Estate (BRE) and Kahramaa the first Passivhaus was constructed in Qatar and on the Arabian Peninsula in 2013. The Solar-Institut Jülich of Aachen University of Applied Science supports the Qatar Green Building Council with a dynamic building and equipment simulation of the Passivhaus and the neighbouring reference building. This includes simulation studies with different component configurations for the building envelope and different control strategies for heating or cooling systems as well as the air conditioning of buildings to find an energetic-economical optimum. Part of these analyses is the evaluation of the energy efficiency of the used energy recovery system in the Passivhaus air-conditioning and identification of possible energy-saving effects by the use of a bypass function integrated in the heat exchanger. In this way it is expected that on an annual basis the complete electricity demand of the building can be covered by the roof-integrated PV generator.
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Smart building integrated photovoltaics BIPV for Qatar
More LessRetrofitting occupied villas with PV systems is only possible with the acceptance of the inhabitants. The challenge is to make Building Integrated Photovoltaics BIPV and own-consumption of PV energy attractive and comfortable to the people. Providing Smart BIPV systems that consist of the PV system, an energy manager and a house management system adaptable to the individual lifestyle of the people could be a helpful motivation to support the PV micro grid generation. In the Smart BIPV system the energy manager is monitoring all energy flows within the building, the consumed energy and the PV production. This detailed visualization makes the people sensible to their energy demands and gives them a real chance to improve their consumption habits. To achieve high own-consumption automatically switching of different appliances is necessary. The PV manager is able to switch appliances on and off according to the individual settings. Flexible appliances with high energy demand (washing machine, dishwasher, and dryer) can be adapted to the own-produced energy. They are connected to different defined power sockets and the central unit will start them when enough PV energy is available. The inhabitants can change the settings individually to their needs, thus they can train their skills and gain experiences in coordinating different machines. Other appliances must work independently from the PV energy (air conditioner, fan, blinds) and should be switched according to the inhabitant’s schedule. For example the air-conditioner should not run the whole day but before the inhabitants’ return, the central-unit can switch it on by settings or remotely to make a comfortable climate. This will not increase the own-consumption but reduces the demand of conventionally produced energy extensively and makes a good conscience. The third group of appliances are all electrical devices with constant energy demand (refrigerator, freezer). These appliances are supplied by PV energy at first and during night by the public grid. That means a visible usage of renewable energy day by day. The Smart BIPV systems can be introduced in new buildings and also in occupied villas. The PV manager is part of this system and the central unit is also connected to the electric meters, power sockets, switch sockets and several components like sensors for measuring temperature, humidity and motion in-house and outside. It must be built in by an electrician but the different applications can be installed successively and adjusted by the inhabitants.
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Closing the performance gap
By Don McLeanThis presentation will examine where the building performance gap comes from and how the industry can minimise it through better understanding of design analysis and learning from buildings in operation. Over the years the green agenda within building design has become increasingly important. It’s only until very recently that designers, and other construction colleagues, have had the technology and know-how to validate how our buildings are performing in real terms in comparison to what was expected from the design stage. The results prove interesting with a common thread, often the building isn’t performing as predicted. Invariably the divergence in results show the real building performing far worse than expected. Why is this? The Carbon Trust published a report, ‘Closing the Gap’, in April 2012. One of the key findings is the confusion that compliance models should somehow suffice for design analysis and in some cases mistakenly used as a form of operational energy prediction. The compliance model is simply a benchmark exercise and omits key elements within the building in its calculation. For example, unregulated loads such as plug loads, server rooms, external lighting and so on. This is ultimately why the EPC, currently, won’t align with the DEC, however your design model could, and a growing number within our industry would say should. The Carbon Trust report further concludes that during the design process we should distinguish between these model types and focus on the design model rather than being driven by compliance. In addition the report concludes that we should also develop our understanding of soft landings and post occupancy building monitoring, and increase their application to benefit our design decisions through lessons learnt. However, understanding our analysis at design stage is only one half of this challenge, the other is understanding how buildings are operating and learning from them. It is all well and good believing that a building is sustainable because it appears to do so at the design stage, but how sustainable is it in reality? How do we know if we are not checking? Soft Landings is keys to this, but we need to correlate building performance against the design. We need to quantify the Performance Gap in the same level of detail which we analyse buildings in simulation software. This presentation will consider the ways in which we can make better use of the latest technology to calibrate our building models and create strategies that can be implemented across a building’s life to help make smarter decisions and enable strategic energy/carbon reduction planning which meets both environmental and financial targets.
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Green Engineering for Sustainable Cities: Gardens by the Bay, Singapore
Authors: Patrick Bellew, Meredith Davey and Leanne RennCooled Conservatories, Gardens by the Bay are the biggest cooled greenhouses in the world and a key project in the Singapore Government’s vision of transforming it into a ‘City in a Garden’. More significantly, the Prime Minister spoke of the lessons Singapore could learn from the green technologies employed within the Gardens so that once ‘economics’ allowed they could be implemented more widely within Singapore creating a green and more sustainable city. Behind the hyperbole, the gardens serve as a great educational tool providing learning points about acting and living in a more responsible manner, alongside demonstrating innovative sustainable technologies. As a national and international exemplar of sustainable practice, Gardens by the Bay was named World Building of the Year at the prestigious World Architecture Festival 2012, is a recipient of the 2013 RIBA Lubetkin Prize and CIBSE International Project of the Year 2014 and MIPIM Best Innovative Green Building 2014. The presenter will discuss the innovative technologies employed by the design team to deliver this award-winning project. He will also discuss the merits of creating such a facility in a sustainable city. As part of a larger design team, Atelier Ten help develop a scheme based on first principles. Holistically integrated solutions were developed to meet the demanding brief to create artificial interior environments enabling Mediterranean and mountain plants to grow in the tropical urban heat of downtown Singapore. The project comprises 52 hectares of landscaped gardens on reclaimed ground. It features a 20,000m2 complex of cooled conservatories and 18 large structures supporting vertical gardens ranging in height from 25m to 50m known as Supertrees. The conservatories and the gardens have been designed to be symbiotic through the interaction of a number of energy and water processes. We have developed innovative strategies for controlling conditions within the two biomes while minimising energy demand to exemplar levels. External supertree structures coupled with liquid desiccant systems provide cool air to the biomes. These structures also incorporate photovoltaics, solar thermal panels and rainwater harvesting. Moreover, waste generated by Singapore’s National Parks will be diverted from landfill and used as a source of biomass to generate energy for use throughout. At present, this horticultural residue waste is land filled and so this installation acts to turn a waste stream into an active energy supply that results in carbon neutral operation.
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Feasibility of Environmentally sustainable buildings in State of Qatar
By Ahmed GomaaThe world has witnessed incalculable technological achievements, population growth and corresponding increases in resource use since the industrial revolution; the side effects of those activities were recognized as we entered the new century. As world population continues to expand, implementation of resource-efficient measures in all areas of human activity is imperative.The purpose of this research is to examine the history of sustainable building, main factors and categories. Various green building rating systems, their components, scoring system and main categories were discussed and a comparison between LEED rating system and QSAS “Qatar Sustainable Assessment system” was conducted.Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a fundamental tool to ensure that decision makers consider the ensuing environmental impacts when deciding whether to proceed with a project; EIA was summarized and implemented on a case study. The research also examined the feasibility of environmentally sustainable buildings throughout evaluating the cost savings related to main components (Construction, life time and environmental) costs. The prime rule for this research is to discuss environmental impacts, mitigation measures and cost implications of using green building in the Gulf Area, using Qatar as a model throughout examining QSAS “Qatar Sustainable Assessment system” and highlighting whether or not sustainable building techniques provide a real contribution to the society, environment and economy.A case study was established to verify the theoretical assumptions and to show how QSAS tools are used. It was found that the financial benefits of green building include lower energy, waste, and water costs; lower environmental and emissions costs; lower operation and maintenance costs and savings from increased productivity and health are highly effective in the Gulf Area. Also some improvements were recommended for the rating system used in the case study.Conclusion:The financial benefits of green buildings of energy, waste & water savings and emissions reductions should be viewed as fairly precise, reasonably conservative estimates of direct benefits that alone significantly exceed the marginal cost of green building. Health and productivity benefits may be viewed as reasonably conservative estimates within a large range of uncertaintyConstructing green buildings cost-effectively requires integrated green building design and a careful commissioning process. The commonly higher initial cost of green design and construction can be expected to drop as designers and builders gain experience in building green.According to the QSAS, certification is denied for a score less than (0) and could be achieved for any score above this number which, after examining the case study, could be easily granted even if the project is not adding any value to the community throughout the three main sustainability pillars. Additional classifications could be imposed to the QSAS scoring system in order to motivate projects’ stakeholders to achieve a higher rating within the established system.Modifications proposed for the QSAS rating system could be summarized as follows: The proposed modification could have a direct reflect on the financial aid provided from the state of Qatar to facilities and insurance fees required from the facility. According to this concept the aid and insurance could be categorized according to the level of complying with QSAS certification level.
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