DUBAI – The Middle East (ME) region is now more inclined to reducing operational costs through better building design and increasing awareness about sustainability, an industry expert said. “Contrary to what is published in the global media, new real estate development in the Middle East is still very high and a lot more focus is now being given to the quality and sustainability of building designs. Building codes now all incorporate sustainability requirements and local governments have also begun introducing more rigorous codes. For example in Qatar, the Gulf Organization for Research and Development has introduced the Global Sustainability Assessment System (previously QSAS) while in Abu Dhabi, developers are mandated to follow the Estidama Pearl Rating System. We have also seen a large amount of interest from the existing building sector as facility owners are under more and more pressure to reduce operational expenses in the face of rising utility costs," said recently Scott Coombes, a principal at AESG – a company specializing in providing cost effective solutions in reducing the ecological footprint of the built environment. Following its success in establishing a strong reputation in new construction projects, AESG intends to replicate this success in the existing building sector which it believes should be a key focus of sustainability initiatives in the region. Through the implementation of no-to-low cost measures alone, AESG can help existing buildings achieve cost savings of 10 to 20 percent, a figure which can be further increased by investing in appropriate energy saving solutions. Coombes added “we have consistently found that we are able to achieve significant cost savings in existing buildings through the implementation of energy management techniques. This is why we have a strong belief in the growth of this sector because it is where we can add immediate value to our clients." Commenting on the organization's future plans for the region, Saeed Al Abbar, Director at AESG, said “we have already worked on projects throughout the Middle East and have many more overseas projects in the pipeline including major projects in Saudi, Qatar and China. This is why the next logical step for us is to diversify our work into new territories, starting of course with the tremendous growth potential in the region." “There is no doubt that sustainability is something that is gathering tremendous pace throughout the Middle East. While this presents a huge opportunity for us, our core mission as an organization has always been to deliver the highest quality of service that ultimately contributes to the economic, social and environmental sustainability of the region. This is why we will always ensure that we pace our expansion with our ability to maintain our high quality of service" he noted. In response to a voluminous increase in projects in 2011, AESG ramped up its staff in early 2012 with the addition of specialized consultants in the fields of energy auditing, commissioning, energy modeling and sustainability consulting. The company has built a reputation for delivering exceptional quality and now intends to further enhance its technical capabilities though the recruitment of two new consultants within the next two months. – SG/QJM
