14 / 2019-02-05 14:57:46

The adoption of building environmental performance assessment methods in UAE projects

Adoption,building assessment,sustainability,UAE

Current research in sustainable development of the built environment acknowledge the role of building environmental performance assessment methods as market changers and catalysts for change towards sustainable design and construction of buildings. While most of the existing studies are focused either on assessment tools and methods, or on the outcomes in performance in relation to the assessment methods, this research builds on and extend growing studies which address how assessment tools and methods are actually realized in practice and how change is happening. Drawing from diffusion of innovations theory, a pilot study was designed to investigate the adoption of UAE’s building environmental performance methods which started to emerge since 2010. Semi-structured interviews with 7 professionals working with the two main assessment systems in the emirates of Abu Dhabi and Dubai has revealed that the spread of sustainable design and construction practices is motivated by mandating the assessment and certification process for all projects, but, with various rating requirements for private and government projects. The data from this pilot study captures the continuous development of communication channels for the spread of sustainable design and construction practices between the regulative bodies who developed the two assessment systems with: a) clients through raising awareness activities and incentives, b) projects professionals through training and technical support, and c) suppliers of sustainable systems and products through quality assurance and certification procedures. Finally, the paper discusses the captured different activities of building and maintaining these communication channels in light of relevant literature to develop conceptual understanding for further research relevant to the adoption of building environmental performance assessment methods in the built environment.