Insights: Embracing smart and sustainable practices in construction

Sustainability is no longer the buzzword it once was, tagged onto the end of a project as an afterthought because it sounds nice but essentially, means nothing.

It’s no longer a buzzword at all, because today, it is a way of living that has taken hold of the public consciousness and the way that people from all walks of life go about their daily business: from the food we eat to holiday choices, and almost everything in between. The expectation from consumers in pretty much any industry, anywhere around the world, is that sustainability will not only have been considered, but delivered, across the spectrum of products, services, and ideas.

Thus, not only is sustainability good for business, but it is – of course – good for the planet as well.  Images of wildfires destroying villages, and towns, and coming very close to cities across the Northern Hemisphere – from Greece to Hawaii – over the summer must be seen as a sign that we all need to do more to live smarter, and more sustainably, and in so doing, to limit our impacts on the natural environment around us.

But how can we do that? Isn’t the damage already done, as this summer has proven?

No.  Quite the opposite and it is right now that we must all, collectively, act – before the devastating scenes of the past summer become the norm.

Sustainability in the construction industry

Sustainability in the construction industry means looking backward, as well as looking forward. There is much we can learn from the way that our ancestors tackled the same challenges we grapple with today before they had access to all of today’s technology, and the latest innovation. Then, we can deploy this technology and innovation to track our progress and change to achieve even greater efficiencies.

In our industry and our region, that means looking at the way our ancestors overcame issues of extreme heat in summertime, by being more considerate about how they positioned buildings in relation to each other to provide natural shading and to capture the cool breezes. They didn’t have the luxury of flicking a switch and having an air conditioning unit roar into life, and within new projects, there could be less need to do that too, simply by adopting simple, proven methods like this.

Wind towers are another ancient cooling system a common sight on many traditional buildings throughout the region. They work by funneling hot winds from outside, inside to the lower floors, where the air is cooled naturally, and then released inside the building. So long as the wind is blowing – which it often is over summer – the airflow will naturally keep the occupants cool inside. Another much-tested approach is the use of high-dome rooves, which serve a very real purpose, aside from their aesthetic. This roof style helps shade the rest of the building, providing a natural cooling aspect when the sun is shining.

Embracing change

Embracing smart design, technology and sustainability are not unique to Qatar. In the MENA region, developers have had no choice but to evolve the way they think about city and building design to embrace the natural environment. Yet, as building practices advance, and new materials are developed, we still find the greatest lessons are found in what has gone before.

That in itself is a more sustainable approach to tackling challenges, while at the same time, meeting the expectations and standards of today’s customers.

Architects in MENA use what they have in abundance. That means using light-colored, locally sourced building materials to bring down the internal temperatures of buildings. We also deploy techniques like thicker walls, and smaller windows to retain cool temperatures inside for longer.  Construction can also embrace new technology by deploying heat-isolating glass that prevents heat loss and keeps the internal temperature cooler. Overall, these techniques will mean using less energy for cooling, which minimises our impact on the environment.

Of course, in the industry, we now also have the benefit of deploying smart features to help ensure that the best choices for the people and the planet become the default choice for tenants. For example, air conditioning units can be preset to never go below 22 degrees Celsius to decrease energy consumption. The deployment of solar panels, across the rooftops of buildings means the abundant sunlight can be captured and turned into fuel to power cities.  And, through deploying smart tech, facilities managers can better monitor energy usage and even store energy in batteries, to be utilised later.

If my experience is anything to go by, I can attest that the business outcomes of embracing smart and sustainable practices are equally as beneficial to our bottom line as it is to our collective environment and wellbeing.

It is only by embracing the ethos of sustainability and smart use of tech from the very start, that we can hope to mitigate some of the challenges urban settings are facing around the world. It is good business to do so, but more importantly, it’s the right thing to do.

The writer is the CEO of Qatar-based Msheireb Properties.