(MENAFN- The Peninsula) The Peninsula
Doha: The Gulf Organisation for Research and Development (GORD) was among the leading organisations highlighted at the Gulf Green Cities & Buildings conference & expo that took place in Kuwait from January 25 to 26.
Organised under the patronage of Kuwait's Minister of State for Municipal Affairs H E Abdulaziz Waled Abdullah Al Mujel, the two-day event gathered advocates, practitioners and researchers to share the latest solutions and advancement needed to catalyse the region's transition towards sustainable built environment.
As one of the main participants at the event, GORD offered technical presentations and workshop on GSAS green building rating system as well as exhibited its sustainable solutions that piqued the interest of visitors coming from across the Gulf region.
It also showcased its sustainability solutions represented in demonstrating the patent of ultra-efficient cooling system called“Synergia 7in1”, which attracted the attention of conference visitors from all GCC countries.
After Qatar, Kuwait houses the largest collection of green buildings certified under GORD's Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS).
As the developer and certifier of GSAS, GORD's prominent participation in Kuwait's recent event was necessitated by the regional market's rising interest in implementing GSAS on new and existing projects through dedicated certifications for design, construction and building operations.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Yousef Alhorr, Founding Chairman of GORD, acknowledged the nation's progress, saying,“The State of Kuwait has made concerted efforts towards green transformation, making environmental sustainability an integral part of its national strategy. Within the framework of the Kuwait National Development Plan (2020–2025) towards United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals and Kuwait Vision 2035, green cities with sustainable built environment are of prime importance.
“As Kuwait continues its sustainability journey, we at GORD are honoured to support the nation with wider implementation of GSAS green building framework, which has already been applied on a number of projects from leading government and private companies in Kuwait. These entities include Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC), Kuwait Integrated Petroleum Industries Company (KIPIC), Kuwait Oil Tanker Company (KOTC), Kuwait Municipality, Ministry of Public Works, Kuwait Finance House, Al-Sayer Group and Kuwait University and other organisations.”
Speaking about the organization's research work, Dr. Alhorr added,“GORD's R&D activities contribute to sustainable development by focusing on themes related to energy efficiency and recycling, materials innovation, and high-performance air-conditioning technologies, resulting in the registration of more than 10 patents and collaborations between GORD and Kuwaiti institutions.”
Alongside exhibition opportunities for novel green solutions, the Gulf Green Cities & Buildings Conference & Expo offered expert presentations on areas related to buildings' energy efficiency, energy management, renewable energy, green buildings, sustainable transport in green cities, water management, waste and land management in green cities among others.
A key highlight of the event remained GSAS Green Advocate Masterclass delivered by GORD's sustainability experts. Addressing the climate challenges within the built environment, GSAS Green Advocate Masterclass is an intensive one-day course that provides a solid foundation for individuals looking to accelerate their career in the sustainability milieu. It was attended by 40 practitioners.