Miscellaneous

Imagine New York Would be Under Water

02 July 2017 From Paul Münzner Filed Under: Featured, Miscellaneous, Videos

What is an existential threat to coastal cities as a consequence of climate change? A short movie from Claire & Max visualizes the possible result if we are not able to reach our ambitious but required two-degree target. But let’s stop talking. Instead, we would like to let the pictures speak for themselves.

Imagine New York Would be Under Water

Higher Education Institutions Score Sustainability STARS

The acronym stands for “Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System”

22 March 2017 From Paul Münzner Filed Under: Featured, Miscellaneous

Now, as in the past, awareness of sustainability begins with education. But now universities and colleges can gain recognition for their efforts towards sustainability through the STARS program. The acronym stands for “Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System”. It provides a self-reporting framework that allows for assessment and rating.

So far, more than half of the participating tertiary education organizations say that STARS has instigated further efforts towards sustainability on campuses.

The Latest Gold STARS Award Goes to…

UC Santa Barbara (UCSB) is among the most recent recipients of a gold STARS rating making it one of only 29 universities in the US to achieve the award. A spokeswoman said that the campus has focused on sustainability through optimizing energy and water use and through research and education.

However, although UCSB is celebrating its new sustainability status, it will still have something to strive for: platinum rating is the top STARS honor that can be achieved. USCB is happy with that. It has consistently achieved a higher sustainability score each time it was rated and looks forward to the continuation of the challenge.

“STARS 2.1 is more rigorous than earlier versions and UCSB has been able to achieve higher points each time we have submitted.” said Mo Lovegreen, UCSB’s director of sustainability.

During the California drought, the university worked hard to reduce water consumption, but it will be looking at its rainwater management system next and hopes to use more renewable energy in the future. The university hopes to achieve platinum status by 2020.

Not Just for the Big Achievers

Although competition for the highest STARS rankings is stiff, it’s not just a program for the top achievers. Colleges and universities that are taking their first steps towards on-campus sustainability will also benefit. The program provides guidance, both for those wanting to take sustainability to the next level, and those who are just beginning a drive towards sustainable operations.

By helping institutions to identify the most impactful sustainability strategies, goal-setting becomes possible, and for those who achieve their goals, STARS recognition serves as an additional motivation.

Taking Sustainability Into the Community

By building sustainability awareness and making it an important goal to strive towards, the STARS program allows for the extension of sustainability initiatives into the community at large. As students, faculty and admin staff learn more about sustainability through their participation in STARS, they become more likely to promote it when off-campus.

Students are active participants, and as the leaders of the future, they will take the principles of sustainability with them throughout their careers. The potential benefits of STARS participation are indeed far-reaching.

Smart Urbanization in Qatar to Be Fostered Through Ambitious Investment Programs

... upgrading of health services, public transport, and infrastructure

27 February 2017 From Paul Münzner Filed Under: Featured, Miscellaneous

Cities around the word are vying for the tag “smart city,” following in the footsteps of cities like Barcelona and Amsterdam. Dubai and Doha are among the cities that are said to be investing heavily in infrastructure that they hope will serve residents more comprehensively and efficiently, serving as centers for smart urbanization in Qatar. Infrastructure development is the first component of a smart city, with technology integrated into the way services are provided to allow for greater ease of use and efficiency.

Arab Future Cities Summit to be Held in April

The Arab Future Cities Summit will be held in Doha this April, and the organizers say that the Qatari construction industry is the second-greatest contributor to the country’s economy after oil. The government budget for 2017 has allocated $25.6 billion to projects that will include the upgrading of health services, public transport, and infrastructure. Roughly $35bn-45bn are intended for the country’s most expensive infrastructure project – the Qatar Rail Development Programme.

Summit delegates will discuss strategies for sustainable city infrastructure development and smart urbanization in Qatar, looking at how it can provide long-term benefits for local populations. Summit organizers say that improved connectivity will go hand-in-hand with infrastructure development, improving quality of life and stimulating the economy.

FIFA World Cup Stimulates Smart Urbanization in Qatar

The 2022 FIFA World Cup is providing a stimulus for infrastructure development as the city prepares for an influx of international soccer fans. With over a million visitors expected, Qatar is working on improving the infrastructure that will support them, with a separate budget allowing for large investments in transport infrastructure, stadiums, and hospitals.

The country has been working towards increasing its tourism revenue, and the World Cup preparations will equip it to handle larger numbers of visitors than ever before.

Smart Mall in Doha Shows How Future Cities Can Realize Efficiencies

Doha’s Festival City mall is being held up as an example of how future smart cities in Qatar could work. Apart from offering free WiFi to visitors, it makes use of digital info stations that allow patrons to navigate the complex effectively.

The smart car park is the most interesting connected feature. Traffic signals direct visitors to available parking and channel traffic away from congested areas. The system covers 8,000 parking spaces.

When combined with IoT (internet of things) digital management systems, infrastructure can be used more efficiently, reducing wasted time and resources. Barcelona already uses a similar system to that of Festival City in Doha to help drivers find parking, thereby reducing emissions and traffic congestion.

Working Towards Sustainable Cities

The Arab Future Cities Summit strives to promote discussion and information sharing and will take a closer look at connected transport, cyber security, smart stadiums and airports, and smart economic zones to name but a few. Qatar has committed itself to an ambitious infrastructure improvement program and hopes that in doing so, it will boost the “smart” profile of its cities.