by Shane Henson — June 15, 2011— The Lebanon Green Building Council (LGBC), with support from IFCIFC, a member of the World Bank Group, recently launched the ARZ Building Rating System (ARZ), a rating system that will evaluate the energy efficiency of commercial buildings in the country to encourage better resource management.
ARZ, developed in Lebanon, measures the extent to which commercial buildings in Lebanon are healthy, comfortable places to work and do business, and also their impact on the natural environment. Additionally, ARZ will encourage building owners to introduce green technologies and materials to reduce energy use, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and achieve other sustainability benefits that help mitigate climate change and support environmental protection.
While several internationally accepted green building rating systems already exist, officials within the Lebanon Green Building Council and IFCIFC say they recognized the need for a system that responds to Lebanon’s unique conditions. As such, the ARZ Building Rating System meets minimum international environmental requirements, but emphasizes Lebanon-specific conditions, including an emphasis on energy and water conservation, and on recognizing the nature of the country’s existing buildings stock.
