Estidama and the Pearl Rating System: A Comprehensive Review and Alignment with LCA

Ayyagari Ramani and Borja García de Soto
Additional contact information
Ayyagari Ramani: S.M.A.R.T. Construction Research Group, Division of Engineering, New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), Saadiyat Island P.O. Box 129188, United Arab Emirates
Borja García de Soto: S.M.A.R.T. Construction Research Group, Division of Engineering, New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), Saadiyat Island P.O. Box 129188, United Arab Emirates

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 9, 1-31

Abstract: Multiple sustainability standards and rating systems have been developed to draw attention to constructing sustainable buildings. The Pearl Rating System (PRS) is a mandate for all new construction projects in Abu Dhabi. Hence, it is important to understand the main components, advantages, and limitations of the PRS. The feasibility and the practical relevance of the PRS are still being studied. This paper addresses this gap and critically evaluates the PRS against some of the well-established rating systems like LEED and BREEAM. The analysis suggests that the PRS considers the cultural aspect of sustainability, in addition to the environmental, societal, and economic aspects. It was also found that most rating systems, including the PRS, have a very superficial inclusion of life cycle assessment (LCA). The paper finally concludes with other observations and outlook for a more robust implementation of the PRS.

Keywords: assessment tools; construction sustainability; green building codes; life cycle assessment (LCA); sustainability rating systems; sustainability standards (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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