Abu Dhabi City Municipality Says 385 New Projects Meet Estidama Sustainability Standards

The Abu Dhabi City Municipality's sustainable buildings section said that 385 new projects in Abu Dhabi and its surrounding areas have met the Estidama sustainability standards since the start of the year.

Out of these, 304 projects are still in the design phase, while 81 are currently under construction. To promote sustainability in all sectors, the municipality introduced the Estidama Pearl Rating System, which evaluates buildings on sustainability, with ratings ranging from one to five pearls.

Government-funded projects must meet at least a two-pearl rating, while private projects need a minimum of one pearl to get a building permit. To earn the Estidama Pearl Rating for sustainability, a project must meet both - mandatory and optional criteria.

The optional credits help improve the overall sustainability score, which can result in a higher pearl rating, WAM reported. The Estidama system includes several main categories with various sub-criteria. These categories cover integrated development systems, natural systems, indoor and outdoor livability, water, energy, and building materials.

For example, under the indoor and outdoor livability category, the municipality focuses on ensuring good indoor air quality and providing enough shading in outdoor areas like parking lots and walkways to improve comfort for building occupants.

The Sustainable Buildings Section stated that for verifying compliance with sustainability standards, the team starts by reviewing the project's initial design to gather detailed information and understand the project's context. This helps them decide the best way to apply sustainability standards and guides the project team in choosing the right credit options.

They also check the project submission to ensure it meets the highest sustainability standards by verifying materials and specifications related to green building guidelines, which are included in the project plan before hiring the contractor to make sure they are implemented during construction.

The section also highlighted that many different groups are involved in applying the Estidama Pearl Rating System for buildings and villas. These include property owners, consultants, and Pearl Qualified Professionals (PQP), who are trained and tested to ensure they can effectively apply the system's requirements.

PQPs are responsible for submitting applications for Estidama compliance and follow the rules set by the Department of Municipalities and Transport, which manages the Pearl Rating System's policies.

The Sustainable Buildings Section at Abu Dhabi City Municipality focuses on applying the Estidama Pearl Rating System for buildings and villas during the design and construction stages. This system supports green building practices and improves occupant comfort.

The section encourages project teams to surpass the minimum rating of one pearl and achieve two or more pearls. It helps teams choose optional credits that boost a building's sustainability rating, offers extra support to projects aiming for higher classifications, and ensures the proper use of sustainable materials throughout the project.