12 March 2009
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THIS BLOG IN ROMANIAN
GREEN @ WORK...
ECO OFFICE?
- A greener workplace can mean a lighter ecological footprint, a healthier and more productive place to work, and good news for the bottom line.
- Whether you’re the boss or the employee, whether your office is green already or still waiting to see the light, some practical steps can lay the groundwork for a healthy, low-impact workspace.
- From how you get to work - we recommend telecommuting - to helping your company walk the walk through corporate financial investment in green, to getting a new green job that matches your career with your ideals, to starting your own green business, we break down your green workplace.
Calculate here your company's carbon footprint
WE SUSTAIN:
Masdar: the first zero-carbon and zero-waste city
The citizenship debate continues on and as part of this discussion, we must consider a vital piece of the belonging puzzle. Where we live and how we live there are battle grounds on many fronts but none more so these days than from an environmental standpoint. Leading the field of innovation are the United Arab Emerates who with their ultra luxurious and exclusive "The World" residences in the Persian Gulf in Dubai have made a mark in the real estate market.
The expectations for such a project to be environmentally friendly can't be too high. The stagering amount of material and terraforming this project required puts it beyond the point of possibly being carbon neutral. As a saving grace native flaura and fauna have flourished in the shallows that have been created as a result of the islands. Such an acheivement brings into question how we live and those that are included in community, even perhaps redefining community in a way that will allow a better understanding what it means to be isolated.
The next big announcement from the UAE comes in the form of an idea that we can really support. Masdar, a zero carbon and zero waste community powered completely by alternative energy, mostly solar."Today the WWF and the city of Abu Dhabi released more details (here's our first story) of the 47,500 inhabitant eco-town called Masdar ("the source" in Arabic) that they plan to raise from the desert floor. WWF provided ten sustainable-city concepts, the UK's Foster and Partners is supplying the design, and a new Abu Dhabi corporation is contributing the cash for the walled Masdar City, which will stretch out 3.5 miles and is planned to be carbon neutral, zero waste and car free." said Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Chief Executive Officer for Masdar.
What is not clear about Masdar is how accessible it will be. There are many different descriptions of features for the city, but no direct descriptions of accessibility features. Those involved must be commended for an incredible vision of what future cities will look like. Biggest question on my mind is how all citizens will be able to contribute in a future city such as Masdar and how that will impact the community.
SOURCE: http://www.planinstitute.ca/
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