In Nov 2014 , Dubai Municipality had issued a circular to all stakeholders of the construction sector to use eco-friendly and sustainable concrete materials in building construction, which will reduce carbon emission and create a more environment-friendly urban environment.

In order to protect the environment and the preservation of public health and safety, Civic Body decided to mandate the use of Ground Granulated Blast Slag (GGBS) and Fly Ash with Portland cement in mixtures of concrete. The use of these materials is an integral part of this circular. The decision was to be effective 1^st April 2015 i.e. today.

So effective today all  new building, consulting offices, contracting companies and concrete factories are responsible technically and legally for the implementation of this decision to use   eco-friendly and sustainable concrete materials that also extends the life of buildings by decades.

Starting today , the eco-friendly Supplementary Cementing Materials(SCM) will replace in varying ratios , the common Ordinary Portland Cement(OPC) used in most Dubai buildings. SCM includes material such as Ground Granulated Blast Slag(GGBS) and fly ash. A typical internationally recommended SCM to OPC ratio is a mixture of 64 percent GGBS and 34 percent OPC.

Manufacturing of a tonne of OPC results in the emission of 1.1 tonnes of carbon dioxide and 164kg of dust which lead to increased global warming, increasing environmental damage and proportion of respiratory diseases such as asthma, ossification pneumonia, lung cancer, kidney failure and other serious diseases. By comparison , SCMs are cleaner , more durable and ?competitively priced?. Substituting SCMs in place of OPC cuts CO2 emissions by 80 percent while increasing resistance to salts , which is a factor to be considered in the local industry because of the soil composition of Dubai.

The Government of Dubai has decided to be one of the top ten sustainable cities in the world  by 2020 as part of its strategic goal to enhance Dubai?s leadership in sustainability efforts in all sectors and levels. Building a sustainable city includes all aspects that impacts the society, economy and environment.

 Goal is to build an economy that protects the environment as well as an environment that supports the growth of economy .

DM initiatives for sustainability start from urban planning and include initiatives and efforts in Water Treatment, Environment & Waste Management, Thermal Insulation , Energy Conservation, Green Buildings, and Green City.

The concept of Green Buildings will enhance the level of Dubai among sustainable cities.  The 79 regulations will deal with the buildings from its designing stage by choosing sustainable sites, using appropriate orientation and using modern techniques  which help in minimising the environmental impacts of construction phase in balance with economic vision. The regulations and specifications support green products and materials used in construction and operation processes.

Sources:

Gulf News

Gulf Property

Dubai Municipality