“Think Green” Conference Addresses Environmental Impact of Real Estate Projects and Green Buildings

Amman 13 Feb 2008. The “Think Green in Real Estate Development Conference” is a 2-day conference that aims to bring together key stakeholders in Jordan and the region to promote environmentally-responsible design and construction methods and solutions that foster sustainable economic development. The Conference, scheduled to take place in Amman on 22 and 23 April 2008, is designed to educate, empower and inspire industry professionals and real estate developers to direct investments into efficient, cost effective and sustainable projects that reduce the use of non-renewable resources and minimise environmental impact during the entire lifecycle of the project.

“We are aiming to bring together major stakeholders, senior decision makers and professionals from across the region to promote and encourage the adoption of environmentally-responsible design & construction solutions and efficient energy & water management systems which make use of renewable energy sources particularly solar energy.”, said Samar Shawareb Ashqar, managing director of Events UnLimited the Conference organisers.

“High level speakers from around the world will address several important issues and present case studies covering a broad spectrum of issues including; Sustainable Design and Construction; the Business Case for Green Projects; Green Buildings - Requirements and Practices as well as Greening Tall Buildings. The Conference will also examine leading energy efficiency technologies, water and wastewater systems and innovative building materials”. “In addition, the Conference will provide ample opportunities for networking and sharing knowledge and expertise in this highly important area”, added Ashqar.

International speakers who have so far confirmed their attendance include senior representatives from the World Green Building Council, Hyder Consulting Middle East, Llewlyn Davies Yeang and Skidmore Owings & Merrill.

The Conference is targeting professionals from various disciplines including architects, designers, consultants, specifiers, planners, developers, contractors, local authorities, real estate professionals, environmentalists, quantity surveyors, building material manufactures and suppliers and financing and investment experts.

The Middle East region is witnessing a real estate boom, driven mostly by surging oil prices that poured excessive cash into the Gulf markets with spill over into other countries including Jordan. World-class projects are being developed across the region for tourism, business, residential and commercial uses, in addition to mixed-use properties, smart and high rise buildings that are changing the landscape of many Arab cities. However, the construction industry in the Middle East is facing several challenges including increasing property and building material costs; higher energy costs; stringent legislative building requirements and environmental considerations in some countries; higher quality requirements; shorter delivery periods; keeping abreast of new technologies & product innovations; management of facilities; higher ROI (return on investment) requirements; and others.

The “Think Green in Real Estate Development Conference” is supported by the World Green Building Council, the Jordanian Ministry of Public Works and Housing, The National Energy Research Center, the EU-financed Energy Efficiency in the Construction Sector in the Mediterranean Project [MED-ENEC] among several others.



<< Back