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“Mekkah Metro” Marks A Green Hajj For Pilgrims

Arwa Aburawa

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November 1, 2010

“Mekkah Metro” Marks A Green Hajj For Pilgrims

A high speed train to Mecca in Saudi Arabia will cut down on carbon emissions during hajj this year, but its reach is limited.

Every year, around three million Muslims from across the world prepare for the spiritual journey of a lifetime. Many will have been saving up for the trip for years and will be prepared to travel thousands of miles to reach their destination: Mecca in Saudi Arabia to perform the hajj.

As one of the five pillars of Islam, every Muslim who has the financial and physical ability is encouraged to make the pilgrimage to Mecca which is Islam’s most holy site. The question is can this spiritual pilgrimage, which leaves behind a trail of waste and carbon emissions, really be transformed into something more green?

Luz Rises Again as BrightSource for California

Business

Susan Kraemer

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October 31, 2010

Luz Rises Again as BrightSource for California

As a Californian, I am very happy that BrightSource Energy has been first to break ground on the new solar power projects in California’s desert.

After all, the brains of BrightSource Energy, Israel-based BrightSource Industries, which is responsible for the plant design and engineering, used to be Luz.

Luz built the world’s pioneering solar thermal project in California’s desert, back in the Carter era ’80s, when, just like now, a truly rare green-minded US president promoted clean energy. Now, once again there is a massive resurgence in clean solar energy in the US, propelled by Obama administration funding under the Recovery Act.

But last time, we almost killed it.

San Francisco Taxis Make The Switch To Better Place Electric Vehicles

Transportation

Tafline Laylin

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October 31, 2010

San Francisco Taxis Make The Switch To Better Place Electric Vehicles

San Francisco plans to join the EV fray with an electrified taxi fleet.

In the short-term, electric vehicles (EVs) aren’t so sustainable. Although they reduce carbon emitted from individual vehicles to basically zero, they still require electricity, the bulk of which in most countries is produced by burning carbon-emitting fuels.

They also require unfriendly batteries that are not easily disposed. But once electricity is generated from solar and wind power and appropriate recycling solutions are created, EVs could go a long way to reducing city din and smog.

But there’s more. A significant challenge is getting enough of a charge to make EVs practical. Modern drivers are accustomed to being able to travel long distances, stop, fuel up, and drive on. But recharging EV batteries requires an investment that tests our time-starved society. As a solution, this past April Better Place inaugurated a battery switch program for a Tokyo taxi fleet. Following their success, San Francisco plans to implement the same.

Phoebus Energy Offers A Hybrid Heating System for Hotels and Hospitals

Energy
Tech

Green Prophet

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October 31, 2010

Phoebus Energy Offers A Hybrid Heating System for Hotels and Hospitals

Using heat pumps and expert data analysis, Phoebus is installing their energy saving solution at the Inbal Hotel in Jerusalem. They promise to offer energy savings, an ROI after 2 to 3 years.

Some of the highest energy costs for large facilities today, especially in the hotel hospitality and health care industries, stem from their extensive heating systems. Not only is the continuous operation of these systems expensive, but since many facilities are heated by fossil fuel-powered central boilers, their fuel consumption and carbon emissions are significant.

Unfortunately, traditional solar power systems don’t seem to be able to provide these industries with the energy performance they need. Phoebus-Energy develops and markets an innovative hybrid water heating system which saves 40-70% of annual fuel consumption and drastically reduces carbon emissions.

Utilizing indirect solar thermal energy and complex data analysis, Phoebus could be a game changer for the industry. Green Prophet sat down with Phoebus-Energy CEO Yoav Ben Yaacov to learn some more about this innovative system.

Interview: Melissa Sterry And The City That Loves Floods

Cities

Tafline Laylin

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October 31, 2010

Interview: Melissa Sterry And The City That Loves Floods

A 21st Century Bionic Pioneer, Melissa Sterry talks to Green Prophet about built environments that embrace the volatile new world order.

Melissa Sterry makes our spooky future full of increased flooding, stronger hurricanes, and severe drought look like a playground.

By applying Resilience Theory, Biomimicry, and Living Architecture principles to every aspect of building, she is creating a city model that not only anticipates but welcomes intensifying natural phenomena.

A judge on the recent GREEN AWARDS 2010 panel, Melissa is an interdisciplinary design scientist, futurologist and sustainable innovation strategist.

The think tank and laboratory Societás Melissa founded in 2004 fuses the sustainability mantra with media, design, and visual arts, while NEW FRONTIERS is “A catalyst for rapid innovation of sustainable design.”

Politicians are talking, but Melissa is walking, and she’s taking all of the world’s most cutting-edge thinkers with her.

Continue

A Growing Gulf Dependent on Imported Food

adam gonn - the media line

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October 30, 2010

A Growing Gulf Dependent on Imported Food

Skyscrapers (even rotating!) and dreams of vertical farms, but not a greenhouse to be seen. The Gulf is growing more and more dependent on imported food.

Many Gulf countries are investing heavily in foreign farmlands that are more fertile, chiefly in Africa, but also India and Pakistan, in a bid to secure a steady food supply. Looking out over the glass and concrete skyscrapers that dominate the skylines in Abu Dhabi, Jeddah or any other oil dependant city in the Gulf, farmlands or greenhouses are nowhere to be seen.

Ever since oil and natural gas was found in the 1950s and 60s, the region has undergone tremendous economic development, turning small villages into sprawling modern metropolises. Food production, on the other hand, has not been able to keep up pace to feed the masses of expats who have moved to the region to work in the bustling economy.

Esfahan Is Almost As Polluted As Tehran

Cities

Mehrdad Parsipour

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October 30, 2010

A look at the air pollution in Esfahan, Iran. Cars and the clay brick industry are some of the biggest problems. The solution? Take the bus.

In 2005 it was announced for the first time that the air pollution of Esfahan, the third big city of Iran, was in an emergency situation. Since then Esfahan has experienced a quick increase in air pollution. Today this city is the most polluted Iranian city after Tehran. The number of the “clean air” days in Esfahan was only 11 days last year.

Where is the pollution coming from? Seventy to 75 percent of this pollution is caused by automobiles. So this has caused more strict control over emissions of the vehicle motors. Yearly checking of the car engines are done by special centers. This has recently been compulsory for car owners.

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