GORD hosts representatives of Gulf countries to enhance region’s green building strategy

THE GSO Technical Subcommittee for Sustainable Building (TC06-SC1) held detailed discussions on 25 draft standards in the committee’s work plan.

The discussions came up during the 10th meeting of the GSO Technical Subcommittee for Sustainable Building – a regional body chartered for developing green buildings-related standards and schemes – hosted by the Gulf Organisation for Research and Development (GORD).

Marked by the presence of representatives from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Yemen, the two-day event took place at the Chedi Katara Hotel in Doha. As a chair of the GSO Technical Subcommittee for Sustainable Buildings, GORD organised the event on behalf of the GCC Standardisation Organisation (GSO) and Qatar General Organisation for Standardisation (QS).

The event was an opportunity for representatives from different Gulf countries to come together and discuss important issues related to sustainable development, environmental stewardship, and the implementation of international standards.

Dr Yousef Alhorr, chairman of the committee and founding chairman of GORD, highlighted the meeting’s crucial role in charting the committee’s current plans and strategy in the coming years. “Our goal is to expand the scope of our work and ensure that we are addressing all relevant aspects of sustainable building practices,” said Dr Alhorr.

Among other members of the committee who attended the meeting were representatives of GCC Standardisation Organisation (GSO), Saudi Arabian Standards Organisation (SASO), Yemen Standardisation, Metrology & Quality Control Organisation (YSMO), KOWSMD - Public Authority for Industry in Kuwait, and Qatar General Organisation for Standardisation (QGOSM).

Members in the meeting discussed several issues, including the progress on new international standards and their importance to the subcommittee for issuing specifications related to green buildings. They also delved into plans and strategies for the implementation of sustainability standards to the latest projects in the Gulf region.

Members of the meeting also shared thoughts on the committee’s future strategy to involve aspects that were not taken into account previously, thereby offering more comprehensiveness to the committee’s activities and specifications. These aspects include infrastructure, planning considerations, site design, environmental management, and product design to facilitate reuse.

GORD representatives shared the organisation’s latest projects aimed at developing sustainable built environment.