28 Construction Thursday 11 March 2010 Real estate sector witnesses Construction growth in last two months: Report Trends BY ERIKA WIDEN ccording to a monthly Formica Corporation makes strides report, released yester- in sustainability initiatives day by Century 21 Qatar, the demand for different CINCINNATI: Formica Corporation, the North real estate assets has American division of the Formica Group of companies, Awitnessed a growth during January has completed a product life cycle assessment on key and February indicating a continual products and their environmental impacts on energy, market stabilisation. water, waste and greenhouse gases. The assessment Moreover, the recent Qrex 2010 was conducted by an independent, third-party car- exhibition held last week attended bon and sustainability consultant in accordance with by leading companies in the industry international standard ISO 14040 series. marked a constant support for the Formica Group continues to take steps to: local real estate sector. - significantly reduce energy use throughout the Lusail, The Pearl Island, Doha life of its products; Land and Barwa projects including - reduce carbon emissions by developing renewable the city metro, the intra city train energy sources, waste-to-energy technologies and fuel- and the undersea tunnel are expected efficient freight activities; to surge construction activity in the - maintain and exceed Greenguard Indoor Air country. Quality Standards; Since the beginning of the year, - work with suppliers to increase recycled and eco- as per the research department of friendly content in raw materials; and Century 21 Qatar, rents of resi- - make mandatory the use of fibers from sustain- dential properties are constant in able forests. most part of the city, however, a few Formica Group has instituted design and manu- residential areas witnessed a con- facturing standards in support of conservation and tinuous decline, in particular apart- green building, including contribution to credits within ments situated in Bin Mahmoud, the US Green Building Council’s LEED rating sys- Al Dafna and Al Sadd and a slight tems. Formica brand laminates also have been certi- increase in Al Muntazah and Bin fied according to the Greenguard Indoor Air Quality Omran. Certification Program for Low Emitting Products. The demand for fully furnished residential units is rising in popular zones such as Al Sadd and Al Dafnah Energy Inspectors earns award hence the increasing demand is forc- for protecting the environment ing owners to be flexible with cus- tomers seeking unfurnished or semi furnished apartments. WASHINGTON: The US Environmental Protection Villa rents are also stable, with Agency (EPA) has named Energy Inspectors minimal changes in the past two Corporation as a 2010 ENERGY STAR Partner of months. Villa compounds consti- the Year for its outstanding contributions to residen- tute a large portion of villa supply tial energy efficiency resulting in the reduction of in the market causing a decrease in in Ain Khaled, Al Gharrafa and are in Aziziya and Al Mamoura average rent for unfurnished villas greenhouse gas emissions by millions of pounds annu- villa rents. Trendy locations with Rayyan. while rates in Al Dafna, Duhail and are between QR10,000 to QR13,000 ally, and saving millions of kilowatt hours of energy new villa compounds are located The highest decline of villa rents Ain Khalid slightly recovered. The per month. THE PENINSULA annually through its work as a Home Energy Rating company. Energy Inspector’s accomplishments will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington on March 18, 2010. Energy Inspectors, an Energy Star partner since 1999, is being honoured for their work in qualify- ing new homes to earn the Energy Star label. Home Grow any plant, any Energy Raters provide the evaluation, testing, and independent verification required for Energy Star qualified homes. An early participant and national season, in a greenhouse leader in residential energy efficiency and green build- ing, Energy Inspectors has earned the Energy Star Partner of the Year Award an unprecedented 4 con- BY JOEL M LERNER The greenhouse part of the structure secutive years, 2007 through 2010, having certified can have a wood or metal frame. Wood is over 100,000 homes as energy efficient. he ending of winter and more expensive and requires additional approach of spring intensify maintenance; aluminum is cheaper and cabin fever and turn garden- generally maintenance-free. The “glass” Los Angeles World Airports receives Ters’ thoughts to the potential element can be actual glass or a cheaper award for friendly concrete that greenhouses — and their fancier alternative such as polyethylene, poly- cousins, conservatories — offer. carbonate or fiberglass. The panes can A greenhouse or conservatory ena- be transparent or translucent, depend- LOS ANGELES: Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) bles you to grow any plant you want — ing on the location of the structure and is the recipient of the Excellence in Concrete Award winter, spring, summer or fall. Nurture the season. presented annually by the Southern California chapter vegetables, flowers, shrubs or trees from Glass is preferred, and it should be of the American Concrete Institute in recognition of seeds or cuttings. Raise exotic flora or glazed with a finish to reduce glare and “excellence in environmental usage of concrete on the overwinter your patio containers planted heat gain. Glass also should be tempered. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) Crossfield with bananas, oranges, palms or other Tempered glass has been heated to 1,200 Taxiway Project.” As part of the project, a 1,600 space tropical plants. Greenhouses will allow degrees Fahrenheit and then cooled, parking lot was constructed to accommodate airline ten- you to provide proper climate conditions which can make it up to four times as ants who were being displaced by the new taxiway. 365 days a year. strong as regular glass. The Airport Development Group’s project team, Greenhouses are within the reach of Floors require a liberal layer of gravel headed by Civil Engineering Associate III Goran most homeowners, especially if you build for drainage and a raised walk made of Lazarevic, incorporated the use of pervious concrete one from scratch or buy a kit. They come wood, brick, stone or other fabricated into construction of the parking lot. Civil Engineer in a variety of sizes, shapes, colours and material to provide a dry walking sur- Rosa Brice was the construction manager. materials. There are solariums no larger face. Some greenhouses have concrete or Pervious concrete is a special type of concrete with than bay windows that serve as small other masonry surfaces for more perma- a very high degree of porosity. This concrete provides greenhouses. You can utilise sunrooms nence than wood. Floor drainage should an environmentally friendly surface that allows storm- or enclosed swimming pool areas — any be carefully designed and installed to water to flow through it, thereby reducing runoff from environment that can be controlled will control irrigation runoff. the parking lot. The parking lot is the largest pervious work as a greenhouse. The design of floors will depend on concrete project in California. Gardeners who dream of having a how you are planning to water plants. Use of pervious concrete also helps replenish water plant conservatory might have to com- Some greenhouse plants need water tables and aquifers, minimizes standing water, miti- promise on some of their ideas unless only on their roots, while others require gates surface pollutants, reduces the need for separate they own a large home with lots of moist atmospheres. stormwater retention ponds and allows for the use of An artist’s impression of Makkah Clock Royal Tower. glass and tall ceilings. Conservatories There are tubes that will drip water smaller capacity storm drains. are room-like structures, often custom- onto planting mediums in whatever designed, that are sometimes extensions way you would like it delivered, spray- of homes and used mainly for exhibit- ing or dripping it directly into the soil. Kwikset expands keyless product World’s second tallest ing plants. Beautifully appointed con- Hoses and watering wands offer other offering with the SmartCode Lever servatories were a favourite of wealthy choices. Victorians who loved displaying their Ventilation is crucial to plant health. orchids, tropical palms and other It is provided by the exchange of outside LAKE FOREST: Kwikset, an innovation leader in building to open in Saudi exotics. air through vents, windows and fans, the residential door hardware industry, announced Greenhouses, the more utilitarian which can be regulated automatically, the expansion of its keyless, touchpad, electronic alternative, can also be custom-designed depending on outside weather condi- lock product offering with the introduction of the he world’s second tallest building will be opened next and -built and are intended to be con- tions. Greenhouses can get hot. If you’ve SmartCode Lever. Designed with a sleek style to com- August in Saudi Arabia, Meed has reported. The 577- trolled environments for the propaga- ever left a CD or chocolate bar in your plement your home’s interior, you can lock your home metre Makkah Clock Royal Tower will be 59 metres tion and growing of plants. car during the summer, you have expe- office, wine cellar, storage room, or any other entryway Ttaller than the 508-metre tall Taipei 101 tower in If you want a traditional greenhouse rienced the radiant energy the sun can and never again have to worry about carrying a key. Taiwan, but 251 metres shorter than the Dubai’s 828-metre made of wood and glass, there are com- emit through glass. To gain entry, simply input your personalized code. tall Burj Khalifa. panies that specialise in installing and Air circulation inside the greenhouse Locking is even easier, with the simple touch of one Makkah Clock Royal Tower is part of the 4.5 million- restoring historic greenhouses, which is another critical element.