Sustainable Design Rating Systems

30.03.2022

ARCH302 Prof. Mohannad Abu Suhaiban

 Sustainable Design Rating Systems:

-AL SA’FAT: Dubai Green Building Evaluation System.

-Estidama: Pearl Rating System l Abu Dhabi.

-LEED: Rating system | U.S. Green Building Council.

-BREEAM: Building Research Establishment l Watford,

England, UK).

ARCH302 Prof. Mohannad Abu Suhaiban

 SustainableDesign
Sustainable DesignRating
RatingSystems:
Systems:

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Source:
Source: dm.Gov.ae
dm.Gov.ae

ARCH302
ARCH302 SPRING2020 Prof.
Prof. Mohannad
Mohannad Abu
Abu Suhaiban
Suhaiban
 Al Safat’s reduction goals

-20% in electricity consumption

-15% in water consumption

-20% carbon dioxide emissions

-50% waste reduction

ARCH302 Prof. Mohannad Abu Suhaiban

 Building typologies

A) Villas.

B) Residential/commercial: Apartments, labour Accommodation and Student

Accommodation...Hotels, Motels, Laboratories, Offices, Resorts, Restaurants and Food
Outlets.

C) Public Building: Banks, Post Offices, Cinema / Theatres, Retail Outlets, Edu-
cational Facilities , Shopping Malls, Government buildings • Masjid and Worship Houses,
Health Care Facilities • Exhibitions and Festival Centres, Historical / Heritage Buildings •
Gymnasium and Sports complex, Museums • Sports and Entertainment complexes, Pet-
rol Stations.

D) Industrial Building: Factories, warehouses and workshops.

ARCH302 Prof. Mohannad Abu Suhaiban

 The Pearl Rating System for Estidama
The PearlEmirate
Rating of
System for
Abu DhabiEstidama
Emirate of Abu Dhabi

ARCH302 Prof. Mohannad Abu Suhaiban

ARCH302 SPRING2020 Prof. Mohannad Abu Suhaiban
 Source: upc.gov.ae

Source: upc.gov.ae

ARCH302 SPRING2020 Prof. Mohannad Abu Suhaiban

ARCH302 Prof. Mohannad Abu Suhaiban

 ‘‘Estidama, which means ‘sustainability’ in Arabic, is the initiative which
will transform Abu Dhabi into a model of sustainable urbanization. Its aim
is to create more sustainable communities, cities and global enterprises
and to balance the four pillars of Estidama: environmental, economic,
cultural and social’’

ARCH302 Prof. Mohannad Abu Suhaiban

 The Pearl Rating System is organized into seven categories that are fundamental to more sustainable
development. These form the heart of the Pearl Rating System:

Integrated Development Process: Encouraging cross-disciplinary teamwork to deliver environmental and

quality management throughout the life of the project.

Natural Systems: Conserving, preserving and restoring the region’s critical natural environments and
habitats.

Livable Buildings: Improving the quality and connectivity of outdoor and indoor spaces.

Precious Water: Reducing water demand and encouraging efficient distribution and alternative water
sources.

Resourceful Energy: Targeting energy conservation through passive design measures, reduced demand,
energy efficiency and renewable sources.

Stewarding Materials: Ensuring consideration of the ‘whole-of-life’ cycle when selecting and specifying
materials.

Innovating Practice: encouraging innovation in building design and construction to facilitate market and
industry transformation. ’

ARCH302 Prof. Mohannad Abu Suhaiban

 PEARL
PEARL RATING
RATING LEVELS
LEVELS

Public
Public Realm Realm
Rating Rating Levels
Levels

Source: upc.gov.ae
Source: upc.gov.ae

ARCH302
ARCH302 SPRING2020 Prof. Mohannad
Prof. Mohannad Abu Suhaiba
Abu Suhaiban
 THE
THE PEARL
PEARL RATING
RATING STAGES
STAGES

Links between the Pearl Rating Systems

Links between the Pearl Rating Systems

Source: upc.gov.ae
Source: upc.gov.ae

an ARCH302 SPRING2020 Prof. Mohannad Abu Suhaiban

ARCH302 Prof. Mohannad Abu Suhaiban
 VS VS VS

Kim Waller Kim Waller Kim Waller

for for for
MSc+MArchDesign
h Sustainable Environmental MSc+MArch
Sustainable Environmental Design Sustainable Environ
Architectural Association
al Association School of Architecture School of Architectural
Architecture Association School

ARCH302 Prof. Mohannad Abu Suhaiban

 Similarities

• Both formal, third party assessment schemes with internationally recognised

certification

• Holistic – cover all areas of environmental performance

• All building types & stages from construction to operation

• Solid indicator of performance, very thorough

• BUT costly, time consuming and hard work. Can be inflexible & bureaucratic -
have to be started very early

ARCH302 Prof. Mohannad Abu Suhaiban

 LEED

• Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design

• Owned & managed by US Green Building Council (USGBC). Certified by Green Business
Certification Inc. (GBCI)

• Ratings of Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum

• Comparability for US or international property portfolios

• Can be very costly – still limited experience in UK market

• US building standards meaning duplicate work in UK – but now better international adaptations

ARCH302 Prof. Mohannad Abu Suhaiban

 Credit Categories
• Location & Transport (LT) – Local
infrastructure, utilities & amenities. Services &
transport networks
• Sustainable Sites (SS)– Landscaping; ecology;
run-off; heat islands; light pollution &
construction impacts
• Water Efficiency (WE) – Water use & metering
• Energy & Atmosphere (EA) – demand, efficient
use and renewable supply. Commissioning &
user training
ARCH302
• Materials & Resources (MR) – responsible and
sustainable sourcing & LCA; waste
• Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ) – Air
quality & internal comfort (thermal, visual,
acoustic). See also WellBuilding Standard
• Innovation (IN) – Performance beyond
standards; innovative measures; use of LEED
AP
• Regional Priority (RP) – Local environmental
priorities or issues
Prof. Mohannad Abu Suhaiban
 BREEAM

• Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method

• Launched in UK in 1990 by Building Research Establishment (BRE), then government owned but
now private. Still owned, managed and administered by BRE

• Ratings of Pass, Good, Very Good, Excellent & Outstanding

• Still most commonly used and comprehensive assessment method in UK - often a planning
condition or requirement for public buildings

• Based on UK Building Regulations & Standards, with international adaptations where needed

ARCH302 Prof. Mohannad Abu Suhaiban

 Credit Categories

• Management – design & construction process; • Materials – responsible and sustainable

building handover, management and operation sourcing; durability
• Health & Wellbeing – internal air quality; • Waste – Operation & construction; reduction,
thermal, acoustic and visual comfort reuse and recycling
• Energy – use, supply and metering • Land Use & Ecology – ecosystem protection &
• Transport – local amenities; transport links & enhancement
cycling/walking • Pollution – air, water, light, noise. Also
• Water – use; reuse; waste prevention and flooding
metering • Innovation – performance beyond standard; or
innovative features

ARCH302 Prof. Mohannad Abu Suhaiban

 LEED
USGBC

GBCI No Assessor – GBCI

Assess Project
LEED Accredited
Professional (AP)
Client
Project Manager

Project Team

ARCH302 Prof. Mohannad Abu Suhaiban

 Process
BRE

BREEAM Assessor

BREEAM Accredited
Client
Professional (AP)
Project Team

ARCH302 Prof. Mohannad Abu Suhaiban

 Comparisons & Considerations

Context
• Consistency of regulations & legislation across US & UK
• Baseline performance – distance from ‘standard practice’

Resourcing
• Role, responsibilities and abilities of assessor
• Role & resourcing of regulatory body

Future
• Trump & Brexit?

ARCH302 Prof. Mohannad Abu Suhaiban