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29 March 2024

iPod, iPad... and a greener bite of the apple

Published
By Mily Chakrabarty

 

 

We all know Dubai’s architecture is high, but - if you believe in something called 'cybertecture' - it's also becoming increasingly smart.
 
Take the emirate's Omniyat properites, which recently scooped the 'Best International Apartment' award for the most technologically advanced building at The International Property awards.
 
The iPad is known as the 'world’s first cybertecture apartment tower'. It boasts bells and whistles such as real-time projection feeds (iReality) and bathrooms fitted with health monitoring equipment.  
 
The International Property awards - held in Los Angeles - is dubbed as the Oscars of the real estate sector. Dubai construction Inc bagged five of the top 18 awards.
 
While the real estate companies are investing in real-time technology, the Dubai Executive Council is planning to adopt green technology in what would be a new building system for all new buildings.
 
According to a survey conducted by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, green technologies add about 1-5 per cent to the overall construction cost. However, that can be regained by savings on energy, water and waste management.
There are long-term economic benefits to going green.  Buildings built on green technologies are not only cost-effective, but also cut down on overall pollution and most importantly for Dubai, water consumption by 25 to 30 per cent.
 
While the initial cost for a green, environmentally-sensitive building is marginally higher, overwhelming evidence in other markets clearly indicate that there is a definite payback in savings. Dubai has three green buildings; 25 additional projects are in progress.

Once the green building system is in place, more environmentally-friendly buildings will come up.  Who knows, Dubai might even bag the best green building award at the next 'Oscars'.