Perhaps the most unlikely project we’ve been involved with comes from Dubai. A short film about a new development providing a glimmer of hope from this carbon-heavy Emirate.
When we first heard about Dubai’s sustainable city we were intrigued; it was something we had to see with our own eyes. Historically, Dubai, one of the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has been rated amongst the least environmentally friendly cities in the world.
Recently however, the government has unveiled plans to make this oil-rich emirate, which currently relies heavily on fossil fuels, one of the cleanest global cities by the year 2050.
Introducing the Sustainable City
So, what makes a sustainable city? Well in this case - for a development comprised of 500 homes - power will be supplied by a vast network of solar panels positioned to make the most of that natural resource a desert climate has plenty of. 10,000 trees have been planted around the perimeters of the city to filter pollutants and sand particles from the air. To top it off, there are 11 biodome farms for growing fresh produce supplied by recycled water and there will also be an onsite school for sustainability - aptly named the Junior Innovation Centre.
Modelled to become an international showcase for sustainable living, the Sustainable city is Dubai’s first fully operational Net Zero Energy city, and has just been rated Dubai’s happiest community.
Going Green
Since 2005 energy consumption in the UAE has more than doubled, with residents consuming almost 50% more water than the global average, and with this rapid growth projected to continue it is clear to the nation’s government that the way forward is to “go green”. And what better way to achieve this for Dubai, than to harness the natural and relatively untapped resource at their fingertips; their desert climate.