Publication Coming of First Green Building Specification
In Abu Dhabi, a United Arab Emirate as-sociated with opulence, there is a $22-billion megadevelopment called Masdar City under way, which, if built out, would be the world’s first carbon-neutral mini-city. To ensure the project’s infrastructure and buildings are designed and constructed sustainably, the government owner, the Masdar Initiative, is developing guidelines that include seeking ways to reduce even embedded energy in the production of building materials and products. All firms that want to compete for work on Masdar City have to pass a green screening.
The man developing and maintaining the ambitious undertaking—writing Internet-based specifications centered around sustainability—is Omar M. Waqfi, Masdar’s specifications manager. For the past 18 months, Waqfi has been consumed by development of the guidelines and master specification, which are constantly evolving to accommodate advances in sustainable design, manufacturing and construction.