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What would the world look like without petroleum-powered cars, or buildings powered by carbon-producing plants? A number of cities in Europe and Asia are on-track to build prototype future-cities using environmentally friendly forms of energy and waste reduction.
In the United Arab Emirates the city of Masdar is currently under construction. Started in 2006, the city is designed to be carbon-neutral and zero-emission by employing sprawling public transportation systems consisting of small cab-sized electric vehicles guided by magnets. These vehicles will be employed in 83 stations throughout the city, none more than 500 feet from any spot.
Outside transportation options will also follow eco-friendly tracts, with two electric train systems will also allow citizen to get to and from the walled city.
Part of the city is set to open in 2009, while developers are hoping for a population of 55,000 by 2013.
London is the next city planning on large-scale green building, aiming for a zero-emission community in each of the city’s boroughs by 2010 thanks to a new initiative called the “Mayor’s Energy Strategy.”
Far from simply using
energy-reducing lightbulbs, these communities will house approximately 200 units and utilize a combined heat and power plant (CHP) that use renewable biomass as fuel. Other power-producers include roof-mounted wind turbines and solar panels, and community greenhouses.
The prototype community at Gallions Park is expected to begin construction in early 2009.
China is taking a different route in the building a Dongtan on an island off the coast of Shanghai.
Dongtan will feature both wind-power and zero-emissions vehicles, but most importantly the city is designed to use 43% less water than the average urban center. Through innovations such as rooftop gardens that trap and filter rainwater and sewage recycling plants that will feed nearby farms for irrigation, it is hoped that Dongtan will provide an example of water conservation, a major problem in many regions of the world.
The Dongtan engineering firm is anticipation a population of 5,000 by 2010 and eventually 500,000 by 2050.
It is hopeful to see such futuristic and hopeful techniques applied to large-scale construction.
If these prototype cities succeed they will provide a framework for future urban center to deal with energy use and high populations. Here we get to see the green cities of the future- today.
What would the world look like without petroleum-powered cars, or buildings powered by carbon-producing plants? A number of cities in Europe and Asia are on-track to build prototype future-cities using environmentally friendly forms of energy and waste reduction.