Home Blog Page 286

Reflective white paint on hot roofs could reduce cooling loads by 20%

2

white roof, masdar institute, watergy international, air conditioning, heat island affect, urban design, urban issues, global warming, climate change

It can get hot enough in the Middle Eastern sun to fry an egg outside. If you’ve spent even a small amount of time in either Abu Dhabi or any other Gulf countries in summer, you know that it’s stifling hot outside and freezing cold inside just about every building. New paint may be able to reduce cooling loads by 20 percent – at least according to research from Watergy International Group.

Saudi prince slaughters 2,100 nearly extinct birds – for thrills?

6

Arab-hunts-2100-houbara-bustardsSaudi royals seem to be more hazardous to the world bird-life than wind turbines and skyscrapers! A Saudi prince poached thousands of protected birds during a 21-day hunting safari in Pakistan, so claims a new report.

Arab investors and land grabbers wanted by Egypt

2

cultivated field near LuxorEgypt plans to lease 25,000 hectares of agricultural land to Arab investors. Agriculture minister Ayman Abu Hadid made the announcement in Tunis recently. Egypt is hoping that sustainable farmers will apply. 

Raw human sewage murders millions of fish in Iran

0

iran-fish-dead

This is what millions of dead fish in Iran look like: Raw, human sewage has leaked into a dammed river in the Tehran region of Iran killing millions of fish, a local news report there shows. 

Saharan refugees learn how to spin old plastic bottles into gold

0

plastic-gold-florie-salnotLondon’s Victoria & Albert Museum just wrapped a stunning show of Arab-influenced artwork from ten contemporary artists selected as finalists for year’s Jameel Prize – 3. The work of French designer Florie Salnot is a standout as it quite literally creates something spectacular from near nothing.

An urban park that embraces its desert environment

2

Sunken Oasis, Thomas Heatherwick, urban park, abu dhabi, desert, evaporation, desert park, urban planning, urban design

How many times have you seen a big old patch of lawn in the middle of Abu Dhabi and cringed?

Pistachios could power an entire new “eco-city” in Turkey

0

pistachio, burning pistachios for energy, Burgeap, Gaziantep, Turkey, SE Turkey, eco-city, turkish eco-city, eco-city powered by pistachios, alternative energy, renewable energy, biofuel

Turkey is floating plans to build a new “eco-city” in the southeastern corner of the country, near the border of Syria, and green building experts from Gaziantep want to use energy from burning pistachio shells to keep it running.

IDE Technologies aims for a fleet of floating water desalination plants in three years

206

IDE Technologies, floating desalination plants, offshore desalination, fleet of desalination platforms, Israel, Japan, desalination ships, Japanese shipbuildersBarge-mounted desalination plants aren’t unique – the Saudis first deployed them in 2008 – but Israel’s IDE Technologies Ltd. and Japanese shipbuilders have a plan to take offshore floating desalination to a whole new level.

Qatar axes four of 12 solar-powered World Cup 2022 stadiums

0

Vagina stadium, 2022 world cup, qatar world cup, Zaha Hadid, 8 world cup stadiums Qatar, FIFA, green design, solar powerQatar plans to spend roughly $200 billion to prepare for the hundreds of thousands of fans who are expected to show up for the 2022 World Cup – a sum that appears to be four stadiums more than the Emirate can afford.

The 200 fruitarians who find this country to be their Garden of Eden

2

fruitarian-laptop-dreads

Vegetarians criticise meat eaters for giving the world cow farts (greenhouse gases) and for making animals endure unspeakable suffering. Vegawarians criticize both for not seeing the middle ground. Vegans take on all three groups saying that no animal products should be consumed by us humans, but there is another level of food piety:

“Driverless” Tesla electric car will test run on Israel’s Better Place grid

tesla-Roadster_2.5_windmills_trimmed

In the aftermath of the demise of Shai Agassi’s Better Place electric car network company,  EV car purchasers in Israel feared they might become stranded due to not being able to recharge or exchange their car’s lithium batteries. Will Tesla, who said they wouldn’t, swoop in?

Abu Dhabi puts great effort in giving sea turtles their rightful home

0

hawksbill sea turtle

Some people make injured sea turtles human-engineered solutions like this turtle that got new flippers but most sea turtles are just getting caught in fishermen’s nets or choking and dying from plastic without us even noticing. World sea turtle populations are steadily declining, but at some amazing sites in Abu Dhabi we still have hope. 

Energy-aware Dubai airports pre-empted Earth Hour – why not all year?

0

Dubai Airport Earth HourDubai International Airport (DXB) switched off all non-essential lights across its three terminals for 24 consecutive days to mark this year’s Earth Hour.  It’s sister airport, Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International, located 20 miles south west of Dubai, did the same. 

Abu Dhabi’s Masdar appoints new leaders

0

Masdar CEO and Chairman
Masdar CEO Sultan Al Jaber is moving on to “greener” pastures, according to a statement released by Abu Dhabi investment giant Mubadala. The firm has appointed Al Jaber as its chairman; Masdar’s new CEO has been identified as Ahmad Belhoul.

Turning words into energy at ‘Powering the Middle East’ in Jordan

0

Powering the Middle East, renewable energy, energy summit, Jordan summit, renewable energy, government and private sector meet, PPP, Middle East energy, Many conferences end in handshakes and no action, but Powering the Middle East aims to close deals. This two day summit in Amman hosted by HRH Prince Assem Bin Nayef from Jordan will connect energy and water players in the private sector with government officials capable of turning words into real projects.