Law makers suggest construction of 'green buildings' to save energy

By V L Srinivasan

Muscat, Jan 27: With the demand for electricity rising at a faster rate, the concept of eco-friendly ‘green buildings’ is catching up at an equal pace in the sultanate with the Public Authority for Electricity and Water (PAEW) planning to encourage them in a big way.

Raising the issue at a seminar on ‘Using Coal in Power Generation in the Sultanate of Oman’, the members of the Shura Council and State Council suggested that such structures would help in saving a good amount of electricity. “The government is already constructing houses for the poor and this technology can be used in them,” they said.

The members also took objection to the absence of the representatives from the Ministry of Health and from the Ministry of Climate and Environmental Affairs at the two day seminar, which was organised by the Ministry of National Economy.

“The officials from these two Ministries should have been involved right from the beginning of the proposal to set up the coal based power project at Duqm, as they would have given their valuable suggestions,” they said.

Sharing their views on promoting the concept of ‘green buildings,’ PAEW chairman H E Mohammed Abdullah al Mahrouqi said that there was every need for such houses and various factors including the standards of these buildings, their efficiency in reducing power consumption, especially during summer, will be considered.

Even large and government buildings should be designed in such a manner to save energy. “The preliminary investment will be high, but it will be beneficial in the long run,” he said.

On the absence of the officials from the other two Ministries at the seminar, the PAEW chairman said that the programme was organised in consultation with all departments. However, they will not be able to provide their viewpoints unless and until the PAEW conducted a detailed study about the project. “Ultimately, these two departments have to issue licences after the promoter of the project comply with all conditions to preserve the environment and thereby ensure public safety,” H E Mahrouqi said.