US Green Building Council (USGBC) has signed up as a premium supporting partner for this year’s edition of the Smart Skyscrapers Summit to be held next month (May 16 to 17) in Dubai, UAE.

This association is especially relevant as the increase in green construction in the GCC and other regions is driven by the surging environmental awareness amongst all key stakeholders, said the event organiser Expotrade.

The USGBC’s Leed (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system is recognised as a widely accepted certification for green buildings. At the summit, it will give a presentation on how Leed, currently in 155 countries and territories, is being used in skyscrapers to great benefit in terms of energy efficiency, water conservation and the creating healthier indoor environments.

“Skyscrapers represent a bold, innovative architectural vision,” remarked Mahesh Ramanujam, the chief operating officer at USGBC and president of Green Building Certification Institution (GBCI). “Many of the world’s most prominent skyscrapers, powered by green building rating systems such as Leed, are built to last longer and reduce the impact on the environment. These structures also foster greater community connectivity and create economic concentration, benefiting the surrounding community through employment opportunities and investments in local infrastructure.”

Now in its third edition, the annual summit will bring together more than 400 industry professionals from the architecture, construction, real estate and building industry.