Doha: A number of experts and specialists in the field of the environment showcased the most prominent renewable energy technologies, the extent to which sustainability is achieved in housing projects, and the promotion of green buildings that contribute to reducing gas emissions, reducing carbon and water footprint, and preserving natural resources. This came during a discussion panel on Monday entitled 'toward more sustainable cities: renewable energy technologies and achieving sustainability in housing projects,' as part of the activities of the Second Gulf Housing Week held in conjunction with the Build Your Home 2024 exhibition. The experts pointed out the most prominent concepts of environmentally friendly green buildings and the extent of their contribution to reducing the water footprint, noting the most prominent requirements and standards for environmentally friendly buildings, in addition to the impact of green buildings on the system of healthy and sustainable cities, and the extent of how to ac hieve sustainability in housing projects through renewable energy technologies. The participants noted that all health ministries around the world have a healthy city system that relies on sustainable green buildings as reducing gaseous emissions into the atmosphere and reducing the level of electricity consumption works to achieve a healthy city free of gaseous emissions and waste, which were not used properly in the recycling process. They explained that the concept of green buildings is not new and the issue of raising awareness about it still needs to be reconsidered, especially since the world today needs environmental protection. The discussion panel discussed the concept of sustainability that was added to buildings with the aim of completing the environmental system, rationalizing electricity, and recycling waste, which contributes to enhancing the sustainability element in homes. The panel discussed the most prominent sustainability standards available in Lusail City, one of the modern and smart c ities, which obtained cooling from natural gas through gas stations and an underground network. The discussion panel addressed Qatar National Renewable Energy Strategy (QNRES), launched by the Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation "Kahramaa" with the aim of completing sustainability and reducing carbon emissions. The panel pointed out that the GCC countries in general are moving toward reducing carbon, and Kahramaa has tended in recent years to integrate solar energy stations in a centralized manner and has opened the way for self-production through subscribers. Moderated by Director-General of International Cooperation Department at the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Abdullah bin Nasser Al Rashid, the panel saw the participation of Environmental Expert and Engineering Consultant at the office of HE the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Dr. Mohammed bin Saif Al Kuwari, Director of Production Planning and Business Development at Kahramaa Eng. Abdul Rahman Ibrahim Al Baker, and Chief Operating Officer at Marafeq Qatar Abobaker Al Hadrami. The first day of the Gulf Housing Week also witnessed a second discussion panel entitled 'planning and designing a smart residential community: smart residential neighborhoods that take into account technological dimensions in the design of housing, streets, spaces, and services that citizens of the GCC countries receive). Moderated by Director of Project Implementation Monitoring Department at the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning in the Kingdom of Bahrain Eng. Mohammed Abdulaziz Rashdan, the discussion panel saw the participation of Deputy Director-General for Planning and Design Affairs at the Public Authority for Housing Welfare in the State of Kuwait Eng. Nasser Khurbaith, and Acting Executive Director for Planning and Projects Sector at Abu Dhabi Housing Authority Eng. Afra Al Hajri. The first day also included a number of presentations that dealt with mechanisms for using clean energy in cities , what people have learned from the COVID-19 pandemic to create more humane housing and residential neighborhoods, the extent of planning and design of a smart residential community, energy-producing housing, and sustainable solutions for residential buildings, in addition to the contributions of AI engineering in architecture. Source: Qatar News Agency