Sustainable Building entails applying sustainability assessment standards to 70 national projects covering an area of 50 million square meters.

The Sustainable Building Program has announced the application of sustainability assessment standards to over 70 major national projects by the end of 2023, covering areas exceeding 50 million square meters. This initiative aims to promote the concept of sustainability in residential, commercial, and community projects through measuring their sustainability levels using the Sustainability Assessment System, one of the initiatives of the Ministry of Municipal Rural Affairs and Housing.

The Sustainable Building Program emphasized that the implementation of sustainability assessment standards on these projects will enhance their operational efficiency, energy and water consumption, improve the quality of life for residents and visitors, enhance the urban landscape, promote adherence to local identities in different provinces, and increase the return on investment through efficient use of energy, water, and natural resources.

The Program highlighted that the applied sustainability assessment standards in these projects reduce the negative environmental impacts of construction waste and materials, provide green spaces, and safe paths for bicycles and pedestrians. The sustainability assessment certificates, with their various classifications, are awarded based on high-efficiency standards and compliance with the Saudi Building Code.

The Sustainable Building Program noted that sustainability assessment has three main pillars: environment, economy, and society. These pillars aim to minimize negative impacts on the environment, promote economic growth, and provide a better daily life for residents. The assessment can be applied to newly constructed buildings or existing inhabited buildings.

The Sustainability Assessment System focuses on evaluating the sustainability of projects at all stages of development and classifying them based on the requirements and points achieved. Residential, commercial, and community buildings are evaluated during the design and construction phases, and projects are classified into five levels based on the points earned. The levels range from 20 points for the Green level to 80 points or more for the Diamond level. After meeting the standards, the certificate is awarded based on the achieved level.

It is worth mentioning that the Sustainable Building Program provides various services that contribute to improving the quality and sustainability of buildings and communities. It aims to enhance the offered units, develop the real estate sector, provide more sustainable communities and buildings, establish a social base that contributes to changing the concept of sustainability for communities and buildings, raise awareness among individuals and developers about it being the optimal choice, reduce material and economic losses resulting from construction and building processes, and contribute to enhancing market efficiency in line with the goals of the Housing Program, one of the programs of Vision 2030.