Proposed Vision for Green Buildings in Iraq

Abstract

Buildings are consuming for energy and natural resources, and environmentally polluting, in contrast to green buildings that reduce energy consumption, conserve natural resources from access, reduce polluting emissions, and provide a healthy and safe environment for residents. The research conducted a questionnaire of stakeholders in the construction and implementation sectors. The questionnaire showed that there are many problems that limit the trend towards the application of green buildings in Iraq, which is the problem of this research. The results of the analysis of the questionnaire revealed the presence of 26 problems, the most important of which is the weakness of the concept of green buildings in the society in general and the refusal of change and move towards the adoption of green buildings when constructing buildings in Iraq by 93.7%. In addition, the most important factors affecting the inability to move towards green buildings are the legal, technical, design, planning, financial, intellectual, functional, technological, construction and sustainability factors. The research aims to prepare a future vision and proposals to address the problems and factors that affect the weak demand for green buildings in Iraq. These proposals might be legal, technical, design, planning, financial, strategic and technical, that could help decision-makers and those interested in the construction and environment sectors to prepare drafts, codes and decisions for the transformation to green buildings. The research recommends the establishment of a higher council for green buildings in Iraq, which will be linked to the Council of Ministers, which will include government ministries such as housing, municipalities, science and technology and higher education and scientific research, as well as the private sector (companies and organizations), to achieve partnership and integration between them for promoting the green building sector in Iraq.