ZEMCH 2015 - International Conference Proceedings | Page 189

these stages should integrate with the two others in order to enhance building’s performance and sustainability. Sustainability achievement required to involved with, Ecologists (concern about preserving the natural system), Economists (which deal with the growth efficiency and the uses of resources, Sociologists (which focuses on human needs and culture identify) (Wright.R2008) Totally 65% of the questions in this section investigate about the design phase to highlight the significant important of sustainability to be achieved from the beginning of the project. One of the general question about the ability to achieved sustainability in design have 48% of the answers are(sometime )which mean that the principle of the sustainability may consider or not while the 20% of the answers are (almost never) that gives full image about the current practices in U.A.E in term of sustainability. However the site assessment before the design is a major step weather through the software evaluation analysis, the answer of this question 52% (sometime) while the 33% of the answers (almost always). It’s very clear from these percentages that site evaluation not basic requirement in current practices while in fact it should be. As the building the main consumption of energy through operating of cooling, heating and lighting, the questions about the use of renewable energy such as solar panel, photovoltaic, wind turbine..) 47% of the total answers are (sometime) while the 29% of the answers are (never) and 19% (almost never) this result analysis as it begun to take place in the current practices but not widely because of the absence of motivation and encouragement from the government, On the other hand, in spite of lack of energy in some emirates such as Ajman and Sharjah which are both of them suffering from this problem but still without regulations forced or alternative renewable energy have been followed to reduce consumptions. Hence, the building consumes energy, so the design and construction of buildings should increase operating efficiency, durability and reduce the energy consumptions (AboulNaga & Elshehtawy 2001). The durability means the increase of the lifespan and evaluated the cost of maintenances during the design phase, the questions about the consideration of lifespan for the building,38% of the total answers are ( almost always ) while 20% are (always) and 9%( sometimes) ,that gives indication that the durability of the buildings considered in current practices in U.A.E which provide opportunity to reduce the energy and materials used to achieved sustainability .Meanwhile the question about evaluated the cost of maintenances during the design phase, the answers coming 53% (almost always) and 24% (always) this situation gives an evidence that maintenance of the building consider in current practices in U.A.E . The culture value one of the important components of sustainability as it means the respect of human needs and requirement and the cultural background, as the question about the considered of local culture value in project design .The answers are 35% (sometimes) while 29% ( almost always) and 19% (always) these data give evidence that not all the time the culture value considered in current practices because many of architects and designers belong to another societies and different background. This is exactly what causes the loss of identity. During the last years U.A.E witnessed an improvement of awareness of sustainability which still need further enhancement in order create sustainable culture The main part of the lifestyle depend on culture knowledge and education, the question about the ability of provide funding in order to support researches on environment and sustainability issues, the answers are 4% (always), 9% (almost always), 29% ( sometimes) and 34% (never), it’s very clear that the funding of researches very limited and unregulated by the government. other question about the education is about the offering of sustainability training or courses for employees of the companies, the answers are 23% (sometime), 28% (almost never) and 34% (never) these data shows the lack of sustainability knowledge in the professionals field but many organization and academic institutions begun to manage courses and conferences such as Ajman University in order to improve the professionals awareness. Sustainability assessment and building performance on construction practices in the UAE 187