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The amount of energy required to power new and existing buildings is predicted to reach unsustainable levels thanks to over $500 billion worth of new developments planned to reach completion in the Middle East in the next decade. Industry experts predict that the running costs of buildings could be cut by 45 to 60% through the introduction of new technology, design and engineering practices. Architects, designers, engineers and contractors must learn to build better and smarter if they want to maintain development at current levels according to Middle East intelligence experts, MEED. This will be one of the key themes of next month's Middle East Green Buildings 2008 conference, organized by MEED. In addition to concerns over meeting increased demand, cost-cutting is also a driving force behind the pressure to go green, despite the recent windfall in petrodollars. These solutions are being taken very seriously by developers, particularly following the launches of Estidama Sustainability Guidelines in Abu Dhabi and the Green Building Guidelines in Dubai this year.
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