A region known more for carbon emissions strives to create a carbon-neutral city powered by renewable energy and designed to reduce overall energy demand.
"Construction is under way on what is being called the world's first carbon-neutral city, rising from a featureless sandy expanse near the Abu Dhabi airport. Green as the city is intended to be, some environmentalists have criticized the project for deflecting attention from ongoing unsustainable development in a region with few natural resources aside from oil.
The city called Masdar, Arabic for "source," will have 40,000 residents and be powered exclusively by the sun, wind and heat stored in the earth.
Project leaders are relying on future "green" innovations -- what project manager Amer Battikhi calls "jumps in technologies" -- to make the goal possible. For that reason, many of the solar fields planned for the city will be built near the end of the eight-year project.
A 10-megawatt solar farm was built first, however, to generate power for the first phase of construction. Planners are also using recycled steel and recycled concrete and hope to recycle and reuse all construction waste. Waste that can't be recycled is being collected in hopes that future technologies will allow it to be recycled.
Much of the city is being constructed on a platform, or pedestal. Above the pedestal will be pedestrian streets and a dense mix of businesses and homes. Below the pedestal, a fleet of nearly 3,000 electric vehicles called "personal rapid transit" pods will carry residents and visitors through the city.
Traditional cars will be barred from entering Masdar. Light rail will connect the city with the carbon-emitting world.
Water will be produced by solar-powered desalination and will be reused for irrigation. Even the dew will be collected for use."
FULL STORY: Oil-rich, high-living gulf nation creating first carbon-neutral city
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Google Maps Introduces New Transit, EV Features
It will now be easier to find electric car charging stations and transit options.
Ohio Lawmakers Propose Incentivizing Housing Production
A proposed bill would take a carrot approach to stimulating housing production through a grant program that would reward cities that implement pro-housing policies.
Chicago Awarded $2M Reconnecting Communities Grant
Community advocates say the city’s plan may not do enough to reverse the negative impacts of a major expressway.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Town of Zionsville
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.