1. CRITERIA FOR GREEN BUILDINGS IN LEBANON
Prepared by: The “Order of Engineers & Architects of Beirut” in collaboration with:
Maya Karkour, Sara Jaber, Aram Yeretzian, Bassam Haber, Ziad Haddad & Wissam Tawil

2. Table of Contents Introduction Green Building Criteria Energy
Water Use Efficiency
Indoor Environmental Quality
Environmental Impact

3. A- Introduction Reasons to prepare the criteria
Scope of the criteria Building Types Climatic Zones
Four Climatic Zones as defined in the Thermal Standard for Buildings in Lebanon

4. B. Green Building Criteria
Water Use Efficiency
Energy
Indoor Environmental Quality
Environmental Impact

5. 1. Energy Building Envelope Energy Efficiency Elevators & Escalators
Follow TSBL 2005 as issued by Ministry of Public Works & Transportation for insulation of walls, roofs, floors & glazed elements
Minimum energy efficiency of DX, chiller or boilers to follow Ashrae 90.1 – 2007
Electric Hot Water Heaters to follow RT 2005 – art 58
Elevators & Escalators
Elevators:
Building with more than 4 floors, use VVVF technology
Escalators:
Use on demand or reduce speed

6. Maximum Watts per square meter or linear meter
Artificial Lighting
Lighting Power Densities for building (Interior)
Lighting Power Densities for building (Exterior)
Building Type
Maximum average
Watts per square meter
(W/m2) across total building area
Commercial/Public: Offices, Hotels, Resorts, Restaurants 12
Educational Facilities 13
Manufacturing Facility 14
Retail Outlets, Shopping Malls , Workshop 16
Warehouses 9
Building Area
Maximum Watts per square meter or linear meter
Uncovered parking lots and drives
1.6 W/m2
Walkways less than 3 meters wide
3.3 W/linear meter
Walkways 3 meters wide or greater
2.2 W/m2
Outdoor Stairways
10.8 W/m2
Main entries
98 W/linear meter of door width
Other doors
66 W/linear meter of door width
Building Facades
2.2 W/m2 for each illuminated wall or
surface or 16.4 W/linear meter for each
illuminated wall or surface length
Entrances and gatehouse inspection stations at guarded facilities
13.5 W/m2

7. Occupancy / Motion Sensor Electronic Ballasts
High frequency electronic ballast for fluorescent & Metal Halides conforming to IEC 60598
Common lobbies
Parking
Circulation
Stairs
Keeping a max of 25 % of the normal lighting
Control System
Heat Recovery
Independent temperature control for A/C per zone.
Hotel room management
Thermostatic valve for radiators
Outside compensation recommended
100 % FA AHU’s with heat recovery system.
Heat recovery on generators for hotels, hospitals, industrial facilities of certain areas.

8. Insulation on Pipes & Duct Energy Metering
As per Ashrae Standards for ducts & pipes
Electric metering for building with multiple Tenant.
Energy meters for building supplied with central chilled water or heating system.
Renewable Energy
In single family houses, Solar Panels to cover a min 70% of yearly hot water demand.
Residential building up to 4 stories, Solar Panels to cover min 30 % of yearly hot water demand.
In case of excessive external lighting above the allowable rate in Residential Building, PV panels shall be used to cover this excess.

9. 2. Water Use Efficiency A. Building Water Use Reduction
Efficient Sanitary Fixtures
Condensate Drain Recovery
Building with more than 200 tons, 80 % of condensate to be recuperated for irrigation, toilet flushing or cooling towers in zones 1 & 2
Automatic shut off for public faucets
Fixture type
Maximum Flow Rate
Applicable to
Toilets
Dual Flush 3Lit / 6Lit
all toilets in building
Hand Wash Faucets
6 Lit / Min
2/3 of faucets in building
Showerheads
9 Lit / Min
2/3 of showerheads in building
Kitchen Sinks
all kitchen sinks in building
Urinals
1 Lit / Flush or waterless
all urinals in building

10. B. Site Water Use Reduction
Efficient Irrigation
Rain Water Harvesting
Controllers with moisture sensors.
Drip or subsoil water delivery system.
Obligatory all single family houses, and collected from at least 25 % of roofs & external terraces.
Used for irrigation, toilet flushing, or general cleaning.

11. 3. Indoor Environmental Quality
Natural Ventilation
Mechanical Ventilation
Openable area is 4 % of the internal floor area.
Opposite sides if between 7 & 15 m depth.
Follow Ashrae for occupied areas.
Follow decree 7964 for parkings.

12. VOC Emissions – Paints & Coatings
Thermal Comfort
Lower Limit
Upper Limit
COOLING
Dry bulb Temperature
23°C
26°C
Relative Humidity
40%
60%
HEATING
18°C
22°C
30%
95 % of the year
VOC Emissions – Paints & Coatings
Low Volatile Organic Compound for min 80 % of the paints internal surface.
Comply with: Green Seal GS-11
EN 13300:2001
EU Directive 2004/42/CE21

13. Daylighting Acoustic Performance Comply with Lebanese Construction Law
Comply with Lebanese Official Gazette 1269/1996

14. 4. Environmental Impact 4.1 Impact of Construction Works
Dust Control
Erosion & Sedimentation Protection
Top soil shall be covered by sheets to prevent air pollution
Silt fences to be installed around the site to prevent annoyance to neighboring properties and land.

15. Protection of Ecological Features Noise Control
Trees, hedges, ponds, water sources, wet land, not within building foot print shall be protected
Operate during the hours permitted by the applicable local regulations.
Construction Pollution
Construction Waste Management
Dumping of excavated soil or construction waste onto adjacent sites is prohibited.
Mandatory for Grade A project as defined in Decree 7964

16. 4.2 Landscape Vegetated Walls Vegetated Roofs Planters
25 % of landscape area shall be vegetated.
In case of no landscape area, then 10 % of site area shall be vegetated on roofs, walls or planters.

17. 4.3 Heat Island Effect All buildings should have another 25 % either:
- vegetated
- Covered with high SRI material
- Shaded by SRI material
- Shaded by solar panels
- Or a combination of the above
Roofs shall have 50 % of the non tech area:
Vegetated
Covered with high SRI
Shaded with high SRI
Shaded by solar panels
Or a combination of the above
SRI: Index combining reflectivity & emissivity.

18. Night Time Light Pollution Operational Waste
Min 2 containers or bins for recyclable waste
Downward lights are required
Refrigerant Impact
Zero Ozone depleting potential (ODP)

19. Conclusion:
A good start for implementing Green Philosophy in the construction law.
Neutralize the impact of the increase in exploitation rate.
Enhance the indoor quality environment.
Enhance the construction quality.
Reduce the energy and water consumption.