Masdar Iniative is a city being built adjacent to Abu Dhabi, and a design concept of sustainable living off of renewable resources located in the (UAE) United Arab Emirates. Though, the walled city will not allow cars it will be designed as a microchip network of connections, meaning that no one will be more than 200 meters from essential facilities. It will be strategically located close by Abu Dhabi’s principal transport system, Personalized Rapid Transportation (PRT) network. Masdar will be connected to surrounding communities, as well as the center of Abu Dhabi and the international airport, by a network of existing roads and new rail and public transport routes. Shaded walkways will create a pedestrian-friendly environment for Dhabi’s extreme climate. Expansion is carefully planned; the surrounding land will contain wind, photovoltaic farms, research fields and plantations, so that the city will be self-sufficient. The only sources of energy will be provided via solar movement and prevailing winds. With the use of a 60 megawatt photovoltaic power plant that will provide electricity to construct the remainder of the city will be done in two stage phasing, which later becomes the site for the city’s second phase, allowing for urban growth while avoiding low density sprawl.
Masdar city will be divided into six different units within the city. Those units include the Masdar Institute, research network, carbon management, special projects, innovation and investment units, and the Masdar special free zone. The Masdar Institute will be offering Masters and PhD programs in Science and Engineering with the sustainability and technology themes of the Masdar initiative. The Research Network and Innovation and Investment unit which definitively seems to have the same function seeks investors, studies development ideas and monitors the development of the city. The Carbon Management unit monitors carbon emissions reduction projects. Special Projects unit develops intense energy and technology projects of larger scales. The Special Free Zone will be a green community close by the airport to be open in 2009 which will provide housing and essential facilities for the students, researchers, industry workers and carefully selected tenants.
In an effort to initiate the global change from fossil fueled economies to sustainable living, Masdar is developing the worlds first “zero carbon- zero waste” city know to urban living. Abu Dhabi, Masdar, and Foster + Partners are all working together to plan the concepts, development and blueprint of the city. This past January 21st – 23rd during the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) there were many projects and concepts being presented as future developments for the city.
To what extent do the belief systems in The King of Trees act as a means of enforcing societal norms?
Ministry of defence and Urban development. N.p., 5 Nov. 2012. Web. 23 Apr. 2014. <>.
As the environmental problems become more and more serious these years, especially that intense negative impact that buildings in modern cities bring to the cities, the concept of Green Building is being more and more important considered by local and federal government. According to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), a green building is one that utilizes design and construction practices that significantly reduce or eliminate the negative impact of buildings on the environment and the building's occupants. Besides the more and more advanced building structure and technology, the main goal of green building is to protect the health of the occupants, save energy and reduce pollution to environment. There are many certifications of green buildings to judge whether the building meets the standard of green buildings and what environmental performance level is this building at, to help government regulators, building professionals and consumers to see better how this building can be improved and what is its impact on human beings and environment. Such green building programs include Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star program, National Association of Home Builders (NAHB Green), etc. Among them, LEED is one of the most popular certification programs that give the building credits for its environmental performance. In this essay, I will discuss the costs and benefits of different types of building projects that were certified by LEED.
The 38th ICAO Assembly wants to achieve carbon-neutral growth in 2020 to adapt with the climate changes. To reduce greenhouse gas emissions from its operations it’s reducing the amount of fuel consumptions. To reduce carbon emissions
Cities all over the world are developing. As war ended in 1942, a significant number of people move to the city because they want to improve life. This urbanization process is causing a number of problems and should be met by sustainable development policies. In the beginning, it is important to know the definition of sustainable development. There are some definitions for sustainable development, but simply they say that sustainable development is a development which using resources now and preserving them for future generations (Adams, 1999, p.137). This concept has been agreed internationally at a Rio Conference in 1992 to be implemented by all government policies which mostly known as “Agenda 21” principles (Adams, 1999, p.141). This paper will show that traffic jams and housing problems caused by urbanization can be met by sustainable development policies. The structure of this paper will first explain the situation that leads to traffic jams and housing problems. Next, it will elaborate the sustainable development solutions, implications for the solutions, and evaluations how effective the sustainable development solutions solved the problems.
ST Diamond Building is the art of green architecture, combined with the science of energy conservation is showcased in the 4,928 square metres Diamond Building, an iconic 8 storey office building. The Diamond Building is the Energy Commission’s social Commitment to the present and future generations of Malaysia. Taking the lead in developing and implementing solutions for environmental sustainability, the Energy Commission embarked on a bold vision to develop its headquarters in line with highest global standards in green initiatives, to showcase the best practices in environmental solutions. The vision of the Diamond Building was first sowed in 2002 with an aim to build a facility with green and energy efficient technologies, which will aptly symbolises Energy Commission as a regulator for the
Development of megacities is increasing. This can be seen that 28 cities of 28 countries become megacities in 21 century. We focus on three kinds of development in megacities; they are economic development, human development, and sustainable development. Economic development concern on the improvement of economic activities to invest the consumption, human development concern on the individual matter such as self-development, the relations among human beings in all aspects, and human rights, and sustainable development concerns on economic, environmental and social objectives that should be balance between the needs of present and needs of future. And Jakarta is one of the examples of development of megacities in developing countries.
The physical side and the financial side have to work in a open exchange of information. The synergy of this project before it ever starts construction must come from the cooperation and adjustments made by both sides to create the best development. The physical side must take into account several things with the environmental sector. How can this site be used? What amenities or attractions can I draw from the existing environment? How can I improve the existing environment to create a more valuable development? The urban linkage must take into consideration how they are going to create their link to the surrounding environment and/or city.
Indeed, many global cities face compelling urban planning issues like urban sprawl, population, low density development, overuse of non-renewable natural recourses, social inequities and environmental degradation. These issues affect the cities themselves, the adjacent regions and often even globally. The resulting ecological footprint upsets the balance in adjacent rural and natural areas. Unplanned or organic development leads to urban sprawl, traffic problems, pollution and slums (as evident in the case of Mumbai city). Such unplanned development causes solid waste management and water supply to fall inadequate. Urban sprawl gives rise to low density development and car dependent communities, consequently leading to increased urban flooding, low energy efficiency, longer travel time and destruction of croplands, forests and open spaces for development.
Now days, the world is intended to be in a worst scenario ever imagined. Climates, global warming and furthermore problems. However, I have noticed new changes, universally speaking, yet renewable energy has also been popularized to our world and I addition, it became part of Sustainable Architecture. “Sustainable Architecture describes the fact that we can only exist and create with the availability of natural resources. Those resources are the foundation of our world. Sustainable architecture proclaims this fact to the world… And that is probably the most appropriate understanding of the term.”(Brooks, 92) That’s why these resources exist within our environment but only few of the people anticipated a good use for them just t increase likelihood the worlds energy efficiency and also the natural environment. Speculating Asia’s growth both in wealth and population, it has been a great risk for them consequently they had been temporizing endeavoring new ways of preventing massive energy consumptions and wastes from resources. “How can we protect our natural resource base while sustaining our socio economic gains? My answer in two words: systems and self.”(Ms. Galang, 1)
Trees are terrific. They cover the world and provide air and beauty for all to enjoy. Yes indeed trees are terrific. There are many uses for trees and their byproducts. Everywhere we look there are trees or some kind of shrub that always give us something to look at.
In a world where over half of the human population calls a city their home, the need to restructure and revolutionize the way we design our urban environments has never been greater. Currently, the notion that these vast metropolises of metal, concrete, and sludge could one day be fully realized pillars of sustainability is certainly laughable. However, when these same cities are constantly growing and multiplying across the globe, all the while using a greater and greater chunk of our planet’s energy, this impossible task becomes a necessary focus. To strive towards the closed, continuous loop of “true” sustainability could greatly alter the image of the modern city. Any improvement over the current state of urban affairs could carry weight, and even if that goal is not entirely fulfilled, the gained benefits would be immense.
Moore said that we can understand sustainability as “a storyline, a narrative thread that people use to understand how the past, present, and future can be connected in different ways” (Moore 2007). Since the understanding of sustainability has been changing, we can neither predict what will happen in the future nor establish a set of rules for the future generation to follow. As Norton argued, sustainable activities can be conducted in the present “without negatively impacting the range of important choices that should be left open to the next generation” (Norton 2005:432). Therefore, it’s crucial to apprehend the nature of sustainable cities in order to set up the framework while never kill
As the result of urbanization, cities have more problems to overcome such as pollution, overpopulation, drug abuse, congestion, crime, poverty, traffic jam, slum areas, and many more. There must be something to solve these problems. Government and citizens should be involved because taking care of city problems can’,t be done entirely by government. The community can be even more successful because it deals directly with problem areas.
Bode, H. (2005). The 'Standard'. Sustainable Development and Innovation in the Energy Sector. New York: Amherst International, Inc. Hans, R. (2012).