Alternative Energy: Prospects

Masdar City

“When the original master plan for Masdar City was unveiled in 2007, the image of the world’s first entirely self-sustaining, zero-carbon, zero-waste city rising from the desert captured the world’s attention .”

Fatima Al Marzooqi/ The National [28]

Masdar City is an arcology project in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates. Its core is a planned city, which is being built by Masdar, a subsidiary of Mubadala Development Company, with the majority of seed capital provided by the Government of Abu Dhabi. Designed by the British architectural firm Foster and Partners, the city relies on solar energy and other renewable energy sources. Masdar City is being constructed 17 kilometres east-south-east of the city of Abu Dhabi, beside Abu Dhabi International Airport [5].

Masdar City at a glance

As the world’s most sustainable eco-neighbourhood, Masdar City is designed to reduce energy and water consumption and features an integrated, smart transportation network that makes the community accessible and livable. Everything from multinational companies to coffee shops call Masdar City home.

Here is a glance at the benefits of this community:

Energy and water consumption

Passive and intelligent building design that reduces energy and water demands by 40 percent (according to ASHRAE/Estidama building standards)

World’s largest cluster of high-performance buildings that, together, create a real-time laboratory to monitor and study how cities use, conserve and share resources

Buildings that meet a minimum Estidama certification of three pearls (comparable to the LEED Gold certification for green buildings)

Smart transportation network

Walkable and pedestrian-friendly city

Design that encourages and promotes zero-carbon public transportation options

Transportation options that include: 1) A driverless, point-to-point personal rapid transit system; 2) a ride-sharing program featuring electric vehicles; and 3) accessible and strategically positioned car parks

Future transportation options may include: 1) electric buses; and 2) a centralised, zero-carbon, automated public transportation network

Mix of tenants

General Electric

International Renewable Energy Agency

Mitsubishi

Siemens [29]

Ways to save electricity

Whatever kind of energy source we use, we are to use it in a thoughtful and economic way. Below you can find some tips how to save electricity in your household.

How to save electricity?

No-one wants to be stuck with a big power bill. If you’re already strapped for cash, here are some simple green ideas that will reduce your energy consumption and save you money:

1) in your home, you can save energy by turning off appliances, TVs and radios that are not being used, watched or listened to. You can turn off lights when no one is in the room. If you are going to be out of the room for more than five minutes, turn off the light. [31]

2) by putting insulation in walls and attics, we can reduce the amount of energy it takes to heat or cool our homes. Insulating a home is like putting on a sweater or jacket when we're cold... Instead of turning up the heat. [31]

3) unplug everything. Did you know that appliances and electronics continue sapping electricity as long as they're plugged in, even when their switches are turned off? Making a habit of unplugging these items when they aren't in use saves a lot of energy over time. 1. Power down your computer and unplug it when you aren't using it. Computers are one of the main culprits when it comes to using a lot of energy in a household, so unplugging them when you're finished checking your email for the night is worth the hassle. 2. Unplug your TVs, radios and sound systems. Leaving these plugged in day in and day out is a waste of electricity and money. 3. Don't forget smaller appliances like coffee makers, toasters, hair dryers and phone chargers. These use small amounts of energy, but it really adds up over time. [32]

4) use energy-efficient lightbulbs. Replace all of your incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) or led bulbs. Incandescent bulbs release most of their energy through heat, rather than light. Newer bulb styles are much more energy efficient, and they save a lot of electricity and money over time. (CFLs use only about 1/4 the energy of incandescent bulbs. They come in many shapes and styles. Be sure to dispose of these bulbs properly, since they contain small amounts of mercury. Led bulbs are more expensive than CFLs, but they last longer and don't contain mercury.) [32]

5) use more natural lighting. Close the curtains during hot summer days to block the sun. During the winter, keep the curtains open. [32]

6) use candles instead of electric lights a few times a week. You don't have to wait until a summer thunderstorm knocks out the power to break out the candles. Choose a night or two a week to leave the lights off and light your family's way with sturdy, slow-burning candles that cast a fair amount of light. Kids will find it exciting, and over time you'll save electricity and cash. [32]

7) in the bathroom.

Take a short shower instead of a long bath. It might take 25 gallons of hot water to fill the bathtub, compared to only seven gallons for a quick shower. [31]

Shrink your bills, not your clothes. 90% of a washing machine's energy expenditure is spent on heating the water, so if you wash your clothes at 30-40 °c you're saving significant amounts of money. [33]

8) in the kitchen.

According to researchers who are paid to study such things, a load of dishes cleaned in a dishwasher uses 37 % less water than washing dishes by hand! However, if you fill up one side of the sink with soapy water and the other side with rinse water - and if you don't let the faucet run - you'll use half as much water as a dishwasher does. Doing the dishes this way can save enough water for a five-minute shower!

If you need to warm up or defrost small amounts of food, use a microwave instead of the stove to save energy. Microwave ovens use around 50 percent less energy than conventional ovens do. For large meals, however, the stove is usually more efficient. In the summer, using a microwave causes less heat in the kitchen, which saves money on air conditioning.

Don't keep the refrigerator door open any longer than you need to! Close it to keep the cold air inside! Also, make sure the door closes securely. There is a rubber-like seal around the door that you can test. Just close the door on a dollar bill, and then see how easy it is to pull out. If the dollar slides out easily, the door is probably leaking cold air from inside. [31]

Use the right ring for the right thing. If your cooker has a small ring, use a small pan. You might only be heating up a small meal, and doing so in a big pan wastes a lot of energy. Conversely if you try and heat a large pan on the small ring you're more likely to end up heating for longer than saving any money or energy. [33]

3. You can also save energy in your school.

Each week you can choose an energy monitor who will make sure energy is being used properly. The energy monitor will turn off the lights during recess and after class. You can make "turn it off" signs for hanging above the light switches to remind yourself. [31]

So, in conclusion, we would like to say that saving electricity at home has become increasingly important in recent years. Using electricity without regard to conserving energy contributes to global warming and leads to massive electricity bills. Choosing your appliances wisely, being mindful of your energy consumption habits, and getting creative with household chores can help save money and give you the peace of mind that comes with knowing you're doing your part to reduce strain on the environment.