For those of you who hate scorching your feet on hot beach sand, the developers of one of Dubai’s latest luxury hotels has the ultimate pampering for you: the climate controlled beach.
No more toasted toes on the way to the waves of the Arab Gulf, promises the Palazzo Versace. The beach will feature a cooling system that will cool the sands and allow the guests to bask in the sun without becoming overheated.
“We will suck the heat out of the sand to keep it cool enough to lie on,” said the founder of the hotel, Soheil Abedian. “This is the kind of luxury that top people want.”
Technological solutions to cool the Middle East sand?
So, how do you keep the sands cool, and can you do it in an environmentally responsible way?
One reported solution is to run coolant pipes under the beach in order to draw the heat out of the sand, and bring it to a comfortable temperature in the scorching heat of the United Arab Emirates.
Sea water itself could be used, in conjunction with a refrigeration/air conditioner system, or on its own. Another source reports that cool sands could be achieved by a combination of clever landscaping and shading by trees, or by forcing air conditioned exhaust air from the hotel and residential building under the beach.
Just roll out the red carpet
While the second solutions appear to be more environmentally responsible, the only effective solutions seems to be the ridiculous option of refrigeration. Maybe putting down a carpet would be the best.
And does it really matter whether it is green, if 60% of Dubai’s power bill goes to air conditioning, and expensive luxury high rises with all of the latest amenities are springing up everywhere, causing traffic jams, congestion and pollution?
In keeping with the ever-expanding search for the ultimate tourist attraction, Dubai has an impressive:
- An indoor desert ski resort
- Plans for the world’s first rotating skyscraper
- The tallest building in the world, the Burj Dubai
- The first 7-star luxury hotel
- A palm-shaped artificial island
- A stunning skyscraper covered in solar cells and wind turbines
Are Dubai’s building hey-days numbered?
But it appears that the party might be over, and Dubai’s grandiose plans, both wasteful and responsible, may be going nowhere.
The global economic crisis, causing a shortage of disposable income and a severe credit crunch, is bad news for an economy based on tourism, shopping and real estate projects: Dubai’s economy gets less than 6% of its revenue from petroleum and natural gas, as part of a calculated policy to depend on trade, real estate and financial services.
With dropping prices for the little oil it has, and a decrease in available foreign cash, Dubai might have to turn to low cost solutions and expand on its environmental projects: A planned fleet of electric cars, the Middle East’s largest solar panel factory, or bicycles in the 40 degree heat? Maybe they will convert to eco-tourism, and join other eco-tourist destinations in the region.
Author: Daniel Pedersen
Having spent my Jerusalem childhood ear-deep in science fiction stories, I’m still waiting for clean and abundant fusion power. On the way, I dabbled in solar-powered desalination and alternative building technologies at Swarthmore College, and studied the chemistry and mutagenic effects of particulate air pollution at MIT for a PhD in environmental engineering. Since returning to Jerusalem in 2002, I’ve directed air quality research campaigns from Rosh Hanikrah to Eilat & Aqaba for Hebrew University. I’ve led cooperative regional projects, wrote a successful proposal for the largest air-quality study in the history of the Middle East, and established the first monitoring network in Palestinian cities. Last year I edited a weekly TV environmental spot on Channel 2 and wrote a companion blog. At Hadassah College I train the next generation of environmental science professionals, audit Israel’s chemical and environmental laboratories for the Israel Laboratory Accreditation Authority, and provide environmental consulting services to diverse clients. Daniel can be reached at daniel (at) greenprophet.com.
Yes, It is a good idea.
no – i recognised it from my stay on the gold coast every summer growing up in australia..
i have been to the PV once on the gold coast and was thrown out immediately!
Justin, – thanks. I’ll correct it with a photo of the Dubai location. Did you recognize it from your stay at the Gold Coast PV?
great article – small correction:
Yes that is a photo of the Palazzo Versace, but not the one in Dubai. The photo posted here is the Palazzo Versace on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia.
Unreal I think all of Dubai is a little excess. Is there really a need for that. Next thing you know they will cool the water for people.
Some people just have too much money and free time. But then, I guess that shows why I’ll never be a “top person.”
My mom always told me that lying on a cold floor will cause very bad infections and disease. Surely lying on cold sand can’t be all that good for “top people.”