Energy City Qatar plans to go green

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http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=184857&version=1&template_id=36&parent_id=16

Energy City Qatar plans to go green

Published: Thursday, 15 November, 2007, 01:48 AM Doha Time

Ahmad A al-Abdulla
By Pratap John

Energy City Qatar (ECQ) plans to go green and will seek an internationally accepted rating for the design, construction and operation of high performance environment-friendly buildings.

The energy hub within Lusail Development has specified that only “Green Buildings” will be allowed in the 72 hectares where local and international oil and gas firms and other service industry and infrastructure companies will be setting up various facilities.

Energy City Qatar’s current plan is to get the US Green Building Council’s LEED Rating by 2010 or 2011. The process of handing over the allotted land to clients will be completed in Q2, 2008. The construction of buildings is expected to be completed by late 2009 or early 2010.

“We will be the first energy city in the whole world to get such a prestigious rating,” Energy City Qatar’s chief technical officer Ahmad A.al-Abdulla told Gulf Times here yesterday.

“By emphasising on ‘Green Buildings’ we are clearly sending out a message. We love and care for the environment. Hence the development we envisage centres on safeguarding our environment,” he said.

Al-Abdulla said buildings in all the 92 plots at Energy City Qatar would be powered by alternate energy to the extent possible. Solar and wind energy will be tapped for the purpose.

Only environmentally friendly construction materials will be used. Buildings will be designed in such a way that sufficient natural light will be available.

“This will reduce burning of oil and gas. By curtailing energy consumption, we are also reducing carbon emissions,” he pointed out.

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