Buildings are green, efficient and healthy, they respect the urban fabric and socio-economic structures of Lebanese cities, towns and villages

Refurbish Lebanon’s urban environment in cities, towns and villages to make it livable, resilient and focused on residents’ wellbeing

A Clean, Preserved and Resilient Environment

1.A building code is a set of rules that specify the standards for construction

2.The main purpose of building codes is to protect public health, safety and general welfare as they relate to the construction and occupancy of buildings

3.Building codes are intended to be applied by architects, engineers, interior designers, constructors and regulators but are also used by safety inspectors, environmental scientists, real estate developers, subcontractors, manufacturers of building products and materials, insurance companies, facility managers, and tenants

4.According to the World Green Building Council, a “green building” is defined as being efficient in terms of energy (20%-50% lower cost), water (-40%) and natural resources usage

1.Number of certified green buildings

2.Number of refurbished buildings

3.Water and electricity consumption

4.Air conditioning consumption

5.Green building certifications

1.Building codes that are respectful of the socio-cultural values and the history of the urban fabric are not up to standards and are often not respected

2.From an urban perspective, high rise buildings are raising the urban canopy height. This not only causes the loss of traditional urban character, but also alters the spatial and physical characteristics of the urban fabric, leading to dynamic perturbations affecting the urban microclimate, thereby exacerbating the Heat Island Effect

3.Lebanon became the 5th country to implement the LEED for Neighborhood development through the District //S project at Saifi, Beirut

4.Buildings account for nearly 40% of national CO2 emissions

5.A large number of new buildings are being built with parking plots at the ground floor, depriving Lebanese cities of amenities and walkable destinations

6.There is room for improvement in common areas

1.Lack of an all encompassing building code

2.Lack of incentives to build using green-friendly methods

3.Refurbishing existing buildings is difficult and expensive. Many such buildings face structural issues

4.The indifference of politicians and the lobbying of real estate contractors and entrepreneurs frequently prevent parliament from approving law drafts to preserve urban heritage

5.The massive challenge of restoring and rebuilding Beirut’s areas that were devastated during the blast on  August 4th, 2020

1.In 1940, during the Mandate period, Lebanon’s original building law was drafted (based on the French model). This law authorized the municipality to control different aspects of construction such as specifying setbacks, building heights, elevation materials in certain zones, plots and areas where construction is banned, and space between urban blocks and the area of the building with respect to the total plot area

2.1983 Building code(Law 646 by decree 148 dated 16/9/1983) amended 2007

3.The Lebanese law on Urban Planning (Law 69 issued in 1983) stipulates that all planned buildings need to conform to the zoning and building regulations, and that illegally constructed buildings must be destroyed

4.In 2002, Law 444, an environmental protection law, was passed. It states that half of the leftover spaces in the built lots should remain as green areas; however, this is seldom implemented

5.There is no legal framework or regulatory policies for green buildings

6.Several draft laws for safeguarding of urban heritage were presented to parliament but have not been passed

Policy Action

1.Develop a unified building code adapted to the various Lebanese habitats (city-centers, suburbs, towns, villages)

2.Amend Lebanese building codes and planning regulations to include further measures for environmental sustainability (construction and operation), including microclimate regulations, biodiversity, and performance standards

3.Also include amendments to address safety standards, health and wellbeing standards, accessibility and inclusion standards, aesthetics, urban continuity, efficiency and socio-cultural values

4.Motivate the Lebanese Standards Institution (LIBNOR) to work with all stakeholders to ensure the implementation of its “Building Environmental Performance-Principles, Requirements and Guidelines”

5.Stop real estate developers from ignoring zoning regulations and using plots on the seashore for investments, as this practice blocks the sea breeze effect

6.Prevent real estate developers from combining empty and vacant small parcels into larger lots; this way the potential of implementing green strategies by reconnecting such spaces through corridors can be explored

7.Develop an incentive plan to refurbish existing buildings and to safeguard urban heritage

8.Promote green building design principles by offering incentive mechanisms such as tax incentives by local authorities

9.Conduct periodic energy audits