SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

What does SUSTAINABILITY mean?

What is Sustainable Development?
What are we doing about SUSTAINABILITY?
What is our role?
What does SUSTAINABILITY mean?

The best-known definition of sustainability or sustainable development

is suggested by the World Commission on Environment and
Development as:
“Forms of progress that meet the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their
needs." (WCED, 1987)
Sustainability refers to a very old and simple concept (The Golden
Rule)...do onto future generations as you would have them do onto
you."
Sustainable development is a pattern of resource use that aims to
meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these
needs can be met not only in the present, but in the indefinite future
More and more people using more and more resources, creating more and more
waste and pollution, will only make the world in which we live tomorrow a worse
place than the world in which we live today.

Human Earth’s Resources

Consumption

PROBLEM!!!
Why are we bothering?

• It is scientifically accepted that we are using up the earth’s

finite resources at an alarming rate, which in turn means
that we are causing larger adverse effects on the
environment.

• We recognize that everything we do has an impact and we

recognize our obligations to ensure a better future for our
children and the children of all species.
 The Triple Bottom Line

Social Criteria:
• Socially desirable
• Culturally acceptable
• Psychologically nurturing

Environmental
Economic/Financial
Criteria:
• Environmentally Criteria:
Robust • Technologically
• Generationally feasible
Sensitive • Operationally
• Capable of viable
continuous • Economically
learning sustainable
VALUES

Materials Balance

Zero Waste
Water Balance

Land Balance
Carbon Neutral

Visionary
Zero Energy

Resilience
Health

Prosperity
Beauty
Happiness
Checklist for a Project/Building

• Is it Sustainable?
• Has it minimized its impact?
• Does it use the most ecological materials?
• Does it celebrate nature?
• Does the project generate life?
• Does it support its context?
• Does it support people and their comfort?
Sustainability

An Approach

Goal: Seamless Integration of Activities

• Engineering
• Operations
• Construction
• Marketing
Engineering Sustainability

Minimizing Consumption & Costs!

• Energy Efficiency
• Water Efficiency
• Material Reuse
• Air Quality

potential to significantly decrease energy demand through basic

design-related (zero cost) solutions – e.g. reducing glazing on
western facades
Sustainability Solutions

Professional Consistency
• A more holistic approach to determining solutions
– Re-thinking design standards
– Using optimization tools
– Construction waste and water sources

• Communicating both field and office staff to what Sustainability means

• Lifecycle assessment approach

– Initial capital cost is not the ONLY factor
– Higher initial capital costs can be justified with:
• Energy & water savings
• Acceptable payback periods
• Ease of adaptability to future legislative changes
Lowest Capital Cost solution is not necessarily the BEST
ALTERNATIVE

Incorporate sustainability mindset into VE exercises –look at the

long term impacts / cost
‘Unregulated’ VE can wipe-out sustainable designs

Sustainability is most cost-effective when integrated at the planning

stage
Why is Sustainability Important for the Contractor?

Increasing Awareness in Environment & Changing government regulations

–‘Green Building Standards’…

Facts…
• Clever use of ‘waste' (materials, heat, etc.) can reduce costs
• Reusing ‘waste materials’ can decrease installation time (no waiting for
material delivery)
• Potential of being outbid by others who think and operate sustainably
– A contractor was the low bid because he was the only one who thought
of reusing a concrete wall
– One Contractor’s waste is another Contractor’s treasure…Contractor
purchased rejected material from a nearby project and used it to reduce
costs on his project. Bought materials for 1/3 the price
Rethinking the Construction Phase

• Are HVAC and other facility commissioning activities provided?

• Have new and updated energy efficient technologies been

developed since the design was completed & planned installation of
equipment?

• Have you considered lifecycle and payback calculations offered with

change orders and/or field modifications?

• Are the facilities designed for future technologies (conduits to roof,

windows, etc.)?

• Would a contractor proposal for renewable energy or stormwater

infiltration be accepted?
How Can A Developer Incorporate Sustainability Into
Projects?

A Developer should…
• Know the sustainable practices in the market before they design &
construct
• Demand cost effective sustainable solutions from engineers/
architects
• Understand upcoming legislative restrictions and/or building code
changes
• Realize the impacts on sustainable infrastructure that your project
generates
Sustainable communities

• Safe and livable places

• Eco-efficient transport
• Access to mixed facilities
• Diverse and inclusive
• Community impact
• Effect on local economy, population and market
• Integration
• Minimized ecological impact
• Self-sustaining economies
• Effective governance
.

Sustainability is about ensuring we continue to prosper while

also delivering outstanding environmental and social results.

it's all about planet, people and prosperity

Sustainability Commitments

Sustainability commitments relate to:

• Resources and waste
• Community
• Products and services
• Natural environment
• Management and investment
• Our people
• Health and safety
• Client, Developer, Contractor, Partners, customers, suppliers and
regulators
 Sustainability Commitments (Example)
1. Deliver and manage our projects and assets in a way that reduces use of energy, water
and materials
2. Deliver communities that exceed our customers' expectations and provide local
benefits
3. Provide leadership on improving labour practices in the GCC
4. Create and maintain a health and safety culture
5. Protect the environment and responsibly manage biodiversity on developments
6. Develop and implement a climate change strategy and action plan
7. Develop and implement guidelines for responsible investment
8. Become an employer of choice in the GCC
9. Inform, empower, enthuse and make our employees accountable for achieving our
sustainability ideals
10. Establish mechanisms to involve key stakeholders in our strategies, products, and
services
11. Partner with the supply chain to drive sustainability initiatives
12. Share sustainability learning across the group and use to inform decision-making
13. Benchmark, monitor, review and report on the sustainability performance
14. Implement a group-wide sustainability and governance framework
15. Deliver a corporate responsibility and sustainability leadership program in UAE
 Sustainability Ideals (Example)

Our commitment to sustainability is driven by our determination to be responsible leaders and

role models.
Our actions, along our value chain, are shaped by a deep appreciation of the infinite
opportunities that exist within the finite limits of our communities and planet and the need to
respect the rights of all.

We will deliver sustainability performance and leadership by:

• Setting and exceeding standards beyond compliance

• Managing responsibly using robust processes

• Developing and empowering our people to integrate sustainability into our business

• Seeking foresight and knowledge to manage our growth, risks and opportunities

• Investing responsibly and with due diligence

• Promoting joint stewardship with our long term partners

• Engaging with our stakeholders to inform our strategies, products and services
What’s in it for us?

• Sustainability is good for business – it positions us in the market and

helps reduce operating costs

• Helps us manage business risks and pursue opportunities

• Helps us meet / exceed customer and regulator expectations

• Helps us attract and keep staff

• Will make it easier to obtain funds and attract Joint Venture partners

• Will support and enhance competitiveness

• It’s the right thing to do

How?
How?
How?
Action Plans for sustainability!
Why?

 Improve your market position

 Deliver real results

 Business benefit

 Clarity – actions and performance

Project stage

 Integrate sustainability into master plan

Concept  Integrate sustainability into contracts and specs
 Establish strong management systems
 Set ambitious sustainability targets

 Sustainability targets - contracts and specs

Design  Review targets at design milestones

 Contractors and suppliers – opportunities?
 Set ambitious sustainability targets
 Project stage

 Contractors and suppliers – opportunities?

Implementation  Incentives - existing contractors and suppliers
 Contractor performance - monitor and enforce
 Set ambitious sustainability targets

 Actions/targets - asset management

Operations  Retrofit/modify assets/plant etc
 Influence resident/occupant sustainability
 Set operational targets
All stages
• Sustainability - project management meeting agendas
• Monitor AP progress
Action tips i s titcic
R e a l l i s
A l i g n needd, , Rea
a s u r a b lele, , Alig
b
i f i c , M eeasura
( S c
ppeecific , M
A R T ( S
11. .SSM MART u n dd)) eess
m e - b o o u n l l e a g u u
aannddTTi ime-b t a a b i
ininabilitl i t y y ccoolleag
r
oouur suss u s t a
a l k t o y y s d r i v e r?r?
e
22. .TTalk to b u s i n
i eesss driv
n t h e mm
s n
trtorong bg u s c t o f
etedd of th e
e r e a s e x p e c
33. .IsIsththere a d w
atannd wh h a at tisis expe
e u n d e r
e s
r t
s o r m a n nccee??
l d rf a
44. .PPeeoopple un ward ggooooddppeerform
o n s t o orereward
i
55. .OOppt tions t e m e n tt
n
e n s
ddoorrseme
g e
eemment e n t n
a n a g
66. .M Ma na
e t h eel plp
77. .GGet h
Progress and performance

Platform will track:

• Progress against actions
• Performance against targets
We are focused on Sustainability.

There is a duty on each of us and the generations to follow, to

ensure a better quality of life.

There are many challenges ahead, however, these problems are

achievable if we respond with responsibility, courage, creativity,
innovation and compassion.

With all of us working together we can create a truly sustainable

future.
Sustainable human resource practices

• Embed sustainability into corporate culture & values

• Learning & Development programs
• Green office practices to set an example
• Encourage and reward sustainability behaviors
• Reap the benefits
Sustainability Risks

• Formal risk review process

• Sustainability risks

• Risk mitigation plans?

Governance

• Internal processes-rewards, communications/reporting

mechanisms, internal assurance, and investment decisions

• Accountability and transparency

• Monitoring and Reporting

• Building sustainability into business planning

• Quality Management systems

Framework for Sustainability

Sustainability Framework
• Goals and Objectives: with targets and indicators to drive stretch
performance, and to allow monitoring and reporting
• Targets: Measurable targets set out across the development life-
cycle from concept through to operations

Sustainability Action Plans

• Actions set out to deliver on targets
• Time bound and measurable

Key Performance Indicators

• Rewards for delivery of sustainability outcomes
Sustainability Planning

Putting words into action

• Who?
• How?
• When?

Sustainability action plans prepared for each project…

• Plans were informed by stage in development cycle
• “Younger” developments were able to implement sustainability from
structure planning and master planning stages
• More progressed developments looked at ways of working initiatives
around existing contracts
Sustainability Planning

Delivering innovative infrastructure solutions to lead government

and community investment
– Sustainability should be incorporated at an infrastructure level
for maximum impact

Aligning sustainability with core business strategy and objectives

– Action plans should be developed for each of the corporate
services including human resources, finance and legal teams
Sustainability Philosophy

Assure that Developments are in compliance with the Sustainability and

Environmental regulations, rules and measures by active involvement in the
process at all stages of the project
Thank You!