Qatar Foundationshares eco-friendly plans at Greenbuild2013 conference

In less than a decade, Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development has emerged as a regional leader in the green building movement. With extraordinary plans to become one of the world’s most sustainable communities, its futuristiccampusisa remarkable feat of eco-friendly design and excellence.

As atestament to Qatar’sfirm commitmentto environmental development,Engineer Jassim Telefat, Group Executive Director of Qatar Foundation Capital Projects and Facilities Management, was invited to share his expertise at the Greenbuild 2013 International Conference and Expo held in Philadelphia, U.S.A.

Hosted by the U.S. Green Building Council, theevent took place earlier today at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. With over 30,000 attendees, Greenbuild is one of the world’s largest international green building conferences, featuring distinguished speakers and international experts from all sectors of the building industry.

At the conference, Rick Fedrizzi, President and Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. Green Building Council, took the opportunity to commend Qatar Foundation for its highly sustainable Male and Female Student Housing project. The unique student complex received special recognition and praise for earning 12 Platinum LEED certifications in the category of ‘New Construction’ from the U.S. Green Building Council, which means Qatar Foundation now houses the highest concentration of independently registered platinum LEED buildings of this type in the world.

During an informative session titled, ‘Visionary investment: A study of city planning in Paris and Doha’, Eng. Telefat gave a detailed analysis of Qatar Foundation’s ambitious master plan, which is directly in keeping with the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030. Having accomplishedsignificantmilestones on the path toa greener future, Qatar Foundationis keen to solidify its international standing as an environmentally-friendly campus by developing one of the world’s largest LEED-certified building portfolios.

In his presentation, Eng. Telefat stressed that all Qatar Foundation properties play a major role in minimising the carbon effect by using sustainable and innovative technologies. He gave a clear overview of waste management systems and showcased the organisation’s exceptional green transportation strategy.

One of the impressivefeaturesthat the Foundation plans to implementis an integrated public transportation system that is based on light rail and an innovative ‘e-bike’ circuit.The light rail, or ‘people-mover system’, will incorporate high-end technology that has never been used commercially before,” he said. “The system is fully electric, incorporating rail cars that will recharge when entering stations, before continuing on their journey. Once the system is complete in 2015, employees and students can leave their cars in large car parks on the perimeter and use the people-mover system to travel between buildings in Education City.”

Eng. Telefat emphasised that the master plan is a live document that can be adapted to incorporate state-of-the-art advances in sustainable technology. The latest innovations are integrated at the conceptual stage of each new building and emphasis is placed on ensuring that the site as a whole reflects the Foundation’s environmental ethos, while aiding the nation’s journey towards a knowledge economy.

According to Eng. Telefat, a key objective is educating the community about the importance of sustainability and striving towards a greener lifestyle.From its inception, Qatar Foundation’s Education City has been built with the goal of minimising the environmental impact of construction and developing high-performance buildings with significantly reduced energy and water demands. The campus ensures a superior quality of life for all who come to learn and work by fostering an appreciation for the environment.

Eng. Telefat explained, “We prioritise human development by exposing all our youth to sustainable practices. Through the creation of environmentally-friendly student housing and a green campus, we aim to engage and nurture a community that values the environment. We have installed a monitoring system in each housing unit to help students track their own energy and water consumption. This project serves as a valuable tool for students, as it educates them about sustainability and encourages accountability.”

In line with the programme’sinternational theme, the segment on Paris was presented by Michel Salem Sermanet, Deputy CEO of Marne-la-Vallée New Town Development Corporation. His talk focused on ‘Le Nouveau Grand Paris’ plan with its re-envisioned transit infrastructure and new community connections across the metropolitan area. The discussion session was moderated by Nicolas Buchoud from Renaissance Urbaine.

Greenbuild includes over 100 educational sessions featuring world-renowned speakers, LEED workshops, off-site educational sessions, and Green Building tours of local sites. Past speakers include Ret. Gen. Colin Powell, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, President Bill Clinton, Paul Hawken and David Suzuki.