An Overview of Green Buildings Potential in Palestine

Date
2019-07-01
Authors
Alsamamra, Husain
Said, Nour
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Science Publishing Group
Abstract
Palestine is a developing country of a different nature from that of the developing countries of the world. It is a state under occupation that does not have many natural resources. It is prohibited from exploiting its natural resources such as water, salt, and natural gas, and even producing or importing electricity, occupation is the total importer of fossil fuels, adding 87% of its electricity needs. The design of green energy-saving buildings, combined with the exploitation of renewable energy resources, especially solar energy, with 3000 sunshine a year and an average of solar radiation of 5.4 kW h/m2/day, may be the only way out of the current situation. The main objective of this work is to provide a review of the green building sector in Palestine in terms of research issued, governmental and non-governmental bodies concerned with the development of this field, in addition to the most important projects implemented as green building in Palestine, and finally discussing the most important obstacles hindering the adoption of green building as a long-term sustainable development strategy. Our urban heritage has an architectural and construction style that meets the requirements of sustainable construction. However, the rapid and dramatic change in the construction sector, in terms of building materials and construction, has increased the energy burden. Throughout Palestine there are seven climatic zones, which in itself is a challenge to the design of green construction, in addition to low public awareness of the concept of sustainable construction. The study concluded that, the absence of legislations and laws binding the minimum requirements of green building are among the most important obstacles to the adoption of sustainable construction as a long-term strategy to achieve the desired independence in the energy sector, in addition to the non-use of financial tools to stimulate investment in the green building sector in Palestine.
Description
Keywords
Palestine , Green Building , Climatic Zones , Natural Resources , Sustainable Development , Building Materials , Construction Sector
Citation
Nour Said, Husain Alsamamra. An Overview of Green Buildings Potential in Palestine. International Journal of Sustainable and Green Energy. Vol. 8, No. 2, 2019, pp. 20-33. doi: 10.11648/j.ijrse.20190802.11