Masdar Ecocity

In the city of Abu Dhabi, the initiative known as “Masdar,” which means “the source” in Arabic, may just be the most innovative strategy yet to surface toward a sustainable future. Masdar is hoping to be the “green” envy of all, with new initiatives and partnerships for a green ecocity that will far surpass green technologies and innovations of the past.

Masdar's goals are the following:

• Masdar will be a zero-carbon, zero-waste city that explores innovative ideas regarding greenhouse gas emissions and the effect of our carbon footprint.
[Page 316]
• Masdar will be a car-free area.
• Masdar hopes to drive the commercialization and adoption of sustainable energy technology.
• Masdar desires the honor of being an example for the rest of the world and wishes to be a leader in green ecocities and green technologies.
• Masdar aspires to become a research and development consultant for the world energy market.
• Masdar searches for solutions to securing energy sources, dealing with climate change, and educating society in regard to sustainability.
• Masdar wants to provide economic growth for its city through the use and invention of new energy technology, positioning itself for the future.
• Masdar wishes to create partnerships with companies on the level of an international platform.

The city's vision was designed by Foster and Partners and will definitely affect the architecture of tomorrow. Innovations that the city will use include a solar-photovoltaic power plant that will supply energy for the city. Designers also foresee using solar canopies shaped like sunflowers that provide shade as well as power. These sunflower-shaped umbrellas will close at night. No cars will be allowed in the city—people will travel from point A to point B by an electric light rail system that will link back to the center of Abu Dhabi, which is the capital of the United Arab Emirates. Wastewater will be purified and recycled and used as a water source to grow plants. The plants, in turn, will be used to supply biofuel. Desalination processes, much more efficient than current facilities, in Abu Dhabi will also be implemented within the city.

The Masdar project could not come at a better time. The human population on Earth has grown exponentially, and with this rise in population, the concerns and requirements for resources and fossil fuels increase at a tremendous rate. Concerns surrounding energy and energy security and climate change have pushed humans to be more conscious of greenhouse gases that have been rising over the decades. The increase in the need for energy has made the terms sustainable and green common household terms. Many companies and individuals are rushing to bring green ideas and energy-conserving measures to fruition. The diversity of green ideas are many and range from small-scale energy ideas to ideas that are hatched for a carbon-neutral zero-waste city like the Masdar Ecocity. However, such a project being in a city near you soon will be impeded by the initial up-front cost, estimated to be approximately $22 billion. Many cities will not be able to finance the costs of upgrading their city to a Masdar-type green city. In addition, each Masdar will require a diverse set-up geared toward various topography and climate variations. Also, for as many Masdars as may be built for many years, there will still exist carbon-producing cities that could possibly offset the carbon-neutral areas, especially if they are side by side. The advantages to Masdar are that it is the first to implement such a project, so many investors are interested in this cutting-edge technology and wish to be in on the groundbreaking new technology. Masdar also wishes to partner with other companies, and many investors have already contacted the Masdar executives. Abu Dhabi is also already known as one of the richest cities in the world, so money does not seem to be an issue for this area, which is known for its oil production.

...