Businesses across the world are increasingly looking for sustainable solutions that help them meet their goals to increase productivity, save energy and reduce waste.

Here in the Middle East, many of the trailblazing buildings constructed over the past two decades are as noted for their approach to sustainable building as for their breathtaking forms. This is a region where the dual goals of water- and energy-efficiency are increasingly at the heart of specification decisions.

I caught up with Sam Kumar, Associate Director at multidisciplinary design practice U+A, which works on some of the most high profile real estate projects in the Middle East, Africa and Europe, and is supported by Axalta in its powder coating decisions. Sam told me that increased urbanisation in the region has highlighted the need for ecologically sustainable design solutions as well as construction standards. “These include LEED® as well as regional rating schemes such Estidama, Al Sa’fat, and Barjeel,” he explains.

Sustainable sourcing 

Sam continues: “One of the prime measures for this approach is to ensure sourcing of sustainable materials with minimal emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as well as materials sourced from recyclable origins or using the least consumption of raw materials.” 

Satisfying these sourcing requirements is where Axalta powder coating solutions can provide a cost-effective route to gaining the points needed for certifications such as LEED, the U.S. Green Building Council’s green building programme. Alesta® SD Powder Coatings range can contribute up to eight points in two of LEED’s six assessment categories due to the fact they are, for example,  virtually zero VOC content and can satisfy the requirements of reporting documents for relevant projects.

Business benefits

The environmental benefits of LEED certification are becoming widely acknowledged as the rating is adopted in more than 150 countries across the world. Furthermore, research shows that green certification is also beneficial for businesses and individuals. According to the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED buildings typically earn a higher rental value, incur lower operational costs and use resources more efficiently. What’s more, users report fewer rates of absenteeism and sick days, and higher levels of productivity.

Axalta has created a new CPD to highlight the business benefits of LEED and show how Alesta® SD Powder Coatings can contribute to LEED certification on your next project.