As a fitout contractor specialised in green and sustainable office interiors in the UAE we are encouraged by the green ambitions of the leadership. The country has just been recognised as “an exemplary model of leadership in the green economy regionally and nationally” in a report released last month by The Climate Group, a London-based environmental non-profit organisation. This is due recognition of the country’s focus on sustainable development outlined in its national strategy UAE Vision 2021.
This national strategy really reinforces the need for the commercial fitout industry to lead the development of sustainable workspace in the region. One of the objectives of UAE Vision 2021 is to enhance the adoption of international sustainability standards in the country. What a great opportunity for our industry to raise awareness of green interior certifications and press for specific legislation regionally, following the example of Europe and North America. Green interior certifications deserve the same level of consideration as green building certifications, namely a mandatory status, anywhere in the world.
The vision also outlines a comprehensive set of 22 national key performance indicators that pave the way for the country’s green revolution. Two indicators deserve our industry’s closest attention.
First, the Air Quality Index (AQI) is a daily measure of the quality of air, in terms of pollution and the negative effects it may have on human health. The indicator measures the four main air pollutants: nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, ozone. Under the strategy, the objective is to increase the AQI equivalent from 55% in 2013 to 90% by 2021. I think indoor air quality could become a supporting metric of the AQI. This is because there is a direct relationship between indoor air quality, productivity and employees’ wellbeing.
The second indicator is the Happiness Index, which measures the opinion of individuals about standards of living and life satisfaction. It includes factors such as income level (GDP per capita), average healthy life expectancy, social support, absence of corruption, and freedom to make life choices. The UAE is among the happiest countries in the world according to the 2015 World Happiness Report published by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network. The country ranks 20th out of 158 and tops the list of Arab nations. There is now lots of research showing that happiness and wellbeing at work not only impacts employee productivity and company profitability, but also spills into a person’s family and social life. Workplace design is an important factor influencing wellbeing at work. Our physical environment in terms of natural light, levels of comfort and having space for collaborative or private work affects employee motivation and their overall perceptions of the workplace experience.
The vision offers an opportunity to encourage the adoption of green and sustainable office interiors in the region. It also provides a springboard from which we can develop mandatory green interiors certifications, raise awareness of the correlation between wellbeing at work and workspace design, and make indoor air quality a priority. We want all of our industry colleagues to share our passion. Sustainable development needs the support of all stakeholders. And when it comes to commercial fitout we think it needs to become the only acceptable approach.