While solar power plant installations jump to a new annual record this year, according to the Worldwatch Institute, global trends show that despite all the batabata bing bing (announcements, agreements, tea ceremonies, hand-shaking), the Middle East is doing miserably in taking advantage of the sun –– one country is the exception there and it is Israel.
Israel’s 420 MW leads the Middle East in solar installations by a landslide
How girls can go wild on bikes – penny in your pants hack, and more tips
We’re all over bicycles as the best green alternative to getting you where you want to go.  News about bike-messenger schemes in Beirut, dedicated bike lanes in Jericho, and affordable bikes made of cardboard get our wheels spinning every time.  So we’ve loving this simple way to eliminate one of the biggest obstacles to bike riding for women in conservative cultures such as….um, the Middle East.
Turkish architects design peace islands to replace La Spezia war arsenal
With so much conflict erupting around us, it’s hard to imagine a peaceful future, but Erdem Architects does a good job of it. The Turkish firm recently won an international design competition with their proposal to turn an area of the Italian city La Spezia, historically used to host the city’s war arsenal, into a series of serene peace islands.
3 green reasons why the UAE should be on your travel bucket list
The United Arab Emirates has now become a very popular holiday destination, boasting dry, hot weather for much of the year. Although the climate may be appealing to tourists, the United Arab Emirates has much more to offer than sun, sand and sunbathing.
1. Natural Attractions
As well as the modern, built up cities, the United Arab Emirates also has stunning natural landscapes. If you visit the Liwa Oasis, you will have the opportunity to take a walk or a camel ride and visit the restored fort.
Wildlife lovers may enjoy a visit to Sharjah, which is home to a variety of endemic animals to the Arabian peninsula such as the Arabian leopard, oryx, foxes and mongooses. The Desert Park at Sharjah has more than one thousand species of animals. Sharjah is also a wonderful location for diving, with warm waters that boast coral reefs and colorful marine life.
The United Arab Emirates is a great location for bird watching, with species including kites, falcons and owls, as well as more than two hundred and fifty species of small bird.
2. Culture
Although best known for the shopping facilities and sandy beaches, the United Arab Emirates also has a lot to offer in the way of cultural attractions. Dubai Museum, which was opened in 1971, is home to collections which teach visitors about the Dubai way of life. Exhibits include antique cannons, pearl fishing boats and displays of archaeological and historical significance.
The archaeological site at Julfar is worth a visit for those who are interested in the history of the area. The site consists of the remains of a former port city which dates back to the Middles Ages, with buildings including a fort, royal palaces and a mosque.
3. Beaches
If you enjoy relaxing on the beach, you will find plenty of options in the United Arab Emirates. Even beaches with Blue Flags – the eco standard. The coastline of Dubai has various public beaches, some of which provide facilities such as sun loungers and multi-coloured beach parasols. There are also areas on some beaches where you can take part in a multitude of sports activities, which include beach volleyball and football.
Many of the beaches are close to amenities such as bars and restaurants, so you will be able to find somewhere to get refreshments. When it comes to culinary wonders that tickle the palate, the restaurants in Dubai definitely won’t be found wanting. Here you’ll find various dishes from different cuisines, ranging from fast food and bar chow to gourmet Arabic cuisine, all these are readily available.
There is much to see and do in the United Arab Emirates, whatever your interests. You can spend the day relaxing on the beach, browsing the shops or you can go diving or take a camel ride through the lush oasis. There should be something to suit even the most discriminating of green tastes!
Tesla’s MobilEye partner is going public
Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA), the electric car company founded by Elon Musk, will be releasings its earnings statement next week and call it kismet or good planning, but Tesla has more good news: its partner Mobileye (NYSE:MBLY), the company that will be giving it driverless technology, said it will open on the New York Stock Exchange this week, with shares ranging between $17 and $19 each.
Would stackable B-and-Bee festival shelters work for refugees as well?
When we first presented the solar-powered woven refugee shelters that have now been seen all across the world, many people suggested they’d also make great festival tents. Well, now we’re wondering the opposite. Could these B-and-Bee shelters designed for Belgium festivals provide temporary housing for refugees in the Middle East?
Green spaces make bigger babies
Not great news for mothers-to-be who live in cement-enroaching cities like Beirut: according to a new study pregnant women living near green urban spaces will deliver babies with higher birth weights. Time to start planting trees?
2014 brings Earth its hottest quarter-year ever!
Two credible scientific datasets are suggesting that Earth, like George Clooney or Elle MacPherson, is getting hotter with age. Buckle your seat-belts and let the Climate Change debate begin!
A DIY hack to make your air conditioner cooler
Allergic to home improvement? Here’s an easy DIY chore you shouldn’t sneeze at. Â It will clean your air, Â increase its “coolness”, and save you buckets of money to boot. Â Change your air conditioner filters!
Luxor’s 160 kW solar energy plants would make sun god Ra proud
Luxor home to some of Egypt’s greatest temples has something to solute over: the city has started its first 80kW solar energy plant, worth about $530,000 US to power lights at Luxor University and surrounding streets.
Car sensing cycling jacket with LED lights – when design gets silly!
Have you ever read an online story where the comments best the content, turning your idle news-scanning into a mini-meta experience? A recent piece on some new bike-safety gear caught our eye – (what’s not to love about designs to encourage pedal power!) – but it was the readers’ response that snapped the story into perspective.
Be a humanitarian superhero: park politics
Israel and Hamas agreed to a 12-hour ceasefire in Gaza yesterday, a brief respite from the escalating violence that is testing the capabilities of relief agencies already strained by four years of Syrian war and renewed battles in Iraq.  It’s a half day opportunity to park politics and take humanitarian action. Want to make a difference? Jump into some point and click compassion.
Rooms rotate with the push of a button in this extraordinary Iranian house
Iranian architecture has evolved over the years – like everywhere – and the new generation of designers are producing truly impressive work. Take the extraordinary Sharifi House by next office. In order to maximize space, flexibility and daylight, the design team inserted semi-mobile rooms that rotate with the push of a button.
Plastic for kibble – vending machines for stray animals in Istanbul
There are roughly 150,000 stray cats and dogs in Istanbul alone, and with so many other problems to deal with, city officials aren’t likely to make them priority. One Turksih company came up with a brilliant solution to feed some animals and recycle plastic at the same time.
Solar panels and saving money at home
How would you like to save money by no longer paying electric bills? There are several ways in which this can be accomplished. The first option is to go completely off the grid, and choose not to use electricity of any kind. This may not be suitable for the average person and will definitely not be comfortable, even for the extremist.
The next option is live very frugally and save energy in every way possible by limiting the amount of time in the home with the lights on, unplugging appliances, and even lowering the heat settings. Again, this is not a comfortable option. This option also does not fully eliminate electricity bills. The benefits of solar energy are not always openly discussed, but here are 5 good reasons why you should use solar power energy.
The benefits of solar energy – 5 good reasons
green pr1. Solar energy is reliable. With only a bit of cleaning to do, this form of energy can offer several thousand hours of electricity and power for a home.
2. Solar energy is completely renewable. The Sun is not disappearing any time in the near future, and no mining is necessary in order to use its power.
3. Solar energy is not harmful to the environment. In fact, it is part of the natural environment.
4. It pays for itself. Over time, the initial costs of installing solar panels are cancelled out by the amount of money saved not paying a power company.
5. Fits any budget. Solar panels can be installed one or many at a time to fit almost any budget.
It is obvious that solar panels can be useful, but some may not understand just how useful.
Imagine your perimeter wireless dog fence being powered by solar energy, or any other type of underground fencing for dogs running even during power outages. This could keep your pets safe, even when the electric company cannot keep the power functioning during bad weather.
Solar energy panels can be used to heat water for the home, keep the lights burning bright, and even power the television.
Solar panels can show an immediate savings on the electricity bill. They will not eliminate the bill completely unless all electrical aspects of the house are appropriately hooked into the solar panel converted energy. This is not a difficult task. In fact, solar panels can be purchased in a number of places and are simple to install for those who are true do it yourselfers.
Maybe your budget is tight in these tough economic times. That is alright, as panels can be installed one at a time as the budget allows. Money saved can then be put to further panels. Once an entire home is converted to solar panel energy the savings will start, as no more power bills will be hitting the mailbox. In this manner, the solar panels seem to pay for themselves.
Are you ready to convert? Honestly, we cannot think of many reasons why solar panel energy not converting is an option. Start saving a bit today and buy a single panel. See how things go. The earth and your wallet will be very thankful.