Is a zero-carbon city on the horizon?

Fri, 02 May 2008 12:27:22 GMT

clipped by: Mohir
clipper's remarks: As part of their Masdar Initiative (masdar meaning "the source" in Arabic), an effort to further the research and implementation of sustainable construction, the Abu Dhabi government will build this city on a nearby 2.3 square-mile site (six square kilometers), adjacent to its international airport at an estimated cost of $22 billion.
It projected the city will eventually be able to sustain 50,000 residents and more than 1,000 businesses.
It broke ground in construction of the city and hopes to complete the project by 2016.

Clip Source: science.howstuffworks.com

Looking to reduce your "carbon footprint?" You're not alone. These days, many people are thinking about the amount of energy they use and the harmful carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere. But if you're like many people, your carbon consciousness may begin and end with your passing interest in purchasing a hybrid vehicle.

Not so for Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the fourth largest source of oil in the world. The city is raising the bar for environmental stewardship. Given the fact that it has the fourth largest carbon footprint in the world,

The city's environmental efforts have resulted in grand plans to build a nearby city that will be entirely carbon neutral and will produce no waste.

To attain this zero-carbon and zero-waste goal, it plans to use the cutting-edge technology of sustainable design, which strives to reduce harmful environmental impact as much as possible.

an artist's rendering of what Masdar will look like from an aerial view.

Tags: carbon footprint, ecology, pollution, abu dhabi

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Is a zero-carbon city on the horizon?