BUILDING GREEN
KGBC focuses on education and capacity building as well as providing support for sustainable green building practices.
BIOGRAPHY
Sandra Draskovic was awarded a master’s degree in architecture from the University of Belgrade. For more than 10 years, her architectural practice has been divided between conceptualizing, designing, managing, and executing a diverse residential, commercial, and hospitality portfolio in Serbia, France, Qatar, the UK, Russia, Mongolia, and Kuwait, working on strategic design and sustainability solutions and lecturing and mentoring future young professionals and emerging engineers. She has dedicated her career to spearheading sustainability, strategic, and technical sustainability-focused building solutions and the improvement of environment. She is an experienced manager with a demonstrated history of working in non-profit and profit organizations.How do you educate the construction sector on the importance of energy efficiency in building and environmental sustainability?
KGBC is a membership-based organization, with members from many different sectors and backgrounds such as consultancy offices, contractors, manufacturers, and suppliers of different building materials. We also work with governmental institutions and non-profit organizations. We cover more or less the entire cycle of the real estate industry from demand to supply side of it, working closely on a variety of specially tailored activities and events to achieve our goals. With contractors and the construction sector, we work on different tailored education programs and projects based on market surveys conducted amongst our members. KGBC holds Green Talks, forums that involve a higher level of information sharing, covering various topics related to sustainability to raise the awareness of a wider population. We also have a Green Academy that includes more technical sessions and workshops targeting consultants, contractors, and engineers. Finally, we provide our members with technical workshops and trainings on different certification systems and latest green building technologies.
What has been the evolution of the number of certified buildings in the country so far?
In 2009, ALARGAN's headquarters in ARGAN business park was the first LEED Platinum for commercial interiors certified building in Kuwait. Since then, we have witnessed many other oil headquarters seeking or certified with LEED or GSAS certifications. The new campus of Kuwait University, particularly the College of Technological Studies, College of Business Studies, and College of Basic Education, all seek to acquire LEED certification, while the new Kuwait Airport Terminal 2 targets LEED Gold Certification. KGBC supports all green building certification systems available on the market. We help with the education and capacity building, and when the certification process starts, we connect clients and contractors with the Green Business Certification Institute that issues certifications. We have become a link between GBCI Middle East or GBCI US and local and regional consultancy offices involved in the certification process of the projects.
What are the main needs of the market in Kuwait?
We often visit local private and public universities and give students mentoring sessions on LEED and green buildings in general, deliver lectures and training, and help with student projects on sustainability. Construction site and field workers lack information about certification systems, how to comply with them, and how to design, build, and operate a green building. This is an opportunity for us to provide a specialized educational program to not only engineers and students but also get construction sector workers involved from the early stage of construction until operations and end users of buildings. There is a lack of green building materials, technologies, and systems available on the market, but recent trends show growing interest in this field. In order to build a green building, it is important to not only apply the proper building systems, technologies, and materials, but also source the materials within 500 miles of the location, which reduces the carbon footprint of the transportation and manufacturing process. This is where we encourage local entrepreneurs and green businesses to find an opportunity. We work with the financial sector to offer green mortgages for people to build green. KGBC, beGREEN Global, and UK Certification Authority for Reinforcing Steels have signed an MoU to run the Construction Sustainable Materials Certification Scheme (SMCS) program in Kuwait to increase productivity in their sustainability and materials efforts, save resources, and obtain certain synergies through collaboration between the parties.
What are your expectations for the year ahead?
We would like to grow our membership numbers so that the platform can grow, and more corporations and individuals can join. We will be more present in different local events and target the first Kuwait GBC Annual Conference & Expo conference as the main event of the year. This is not only local but will spark regional interest.
BUILDING GREEN
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Interview
Adel Abdul Wahab Al-Majed , Chairman, Kuwait Banking Association (KBA)
Through a broad array of information, specialized committees, staff expertise, and other resources, KBA supports Kuwait's banks as they perform their critical role in energizing the economy and helping communities thrive.
read articleInterview
Sheikh Dr. Meshaal Jaber Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, Director General, Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA)
KDIPA adopts a proactive approach to attract value-added direct investments supported by an integrated promotional strategy serving Kuwait's developmental goals in line with its National Vision 2035.
read articleCommuniqué
Legal Reform and Infrastructure Projects Spell Opportunity for Foreign Investors
Along with the introduction and modernization of new laws and regulations, the vision of His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to transform Kuwait into an international center for commerce and industry by 2035 is already being implemented through Kuwait's National Development Plan. Coupled with the promulgation of progressive FDI regulations, these new opportunities spell positive news for foreign companies looking to conduct business in Kuwait.
read articleFocus: Developing connectivity
Connecting the Dots
Today, connectivity is hardly indispensible for individuals and the companies where they work. Kuwait's smart cities, considered elsewhere in the book, will thrive on it, and meanwhile the nation continues to register notable business deals from the informatics sector.
read articleInterview
Khalid Abbas , Country Manager-Kuwait, Unilever
Contributing to the improved health and wellbeing of communities and reducing environmental footprint are key priorities for Unilever, which is committed to improving the health and wellbeing of up to 1 billion people globally by 2020.
read articleInterview
Mohammed Yousif Soud Al-Sabah , Board Chairman & Director, Public Authority of Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR)
PAAAFR has adapted a package of policies to face challenges inherent to deserts, hot climate, and water scarcity, bringing Kuwait closer to achieving national food security, one step at a time.
read articleInterview
Yang Chunsen, Vice President/ Chief Representative, China State Construction Engineering Corporation Middle East (CSCME) Kuwait
CSCME is a technology-driven company that leverages its R&D and long-standing partnership with the government to increase its participation in the future development of Kuwait.
read article