News

Masdar City created in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates as an experiment in creating a sustainable city. Masdar City utilizes best construction techniques, positioning of buildings in best directions and placing adjacent buildings next to them to offer much needed sun in the harsh brutal climate in the Middle East desert of the UAE. Masdar City’s goals are to create sustainable clean energy from renewable sources and sustainable technology.  Masdar City was established in 2006.

Solar PV energy and wind energy will be the main sources of power for the city and wind towers are used to add breezes through the city using traditional Arabic architecture. Masdar is generating 20 GW of renewable energy to date (2022). The planned city was for 40,000 residents; currently there are only 6,000 residents in Masdar City. Other sustainable cities being planned in the Gulf include Saudi’s Neom (the line) and Dubai’s Desert Rose.

TintDepot’s thoughts on key practices for a sustainable city include incorporating the following best practices:

• Incorporate walkable city ideas into the planning which means residents only need to walk 5 to 15 minutes or less to get to needed places such as: grocery store, pharmacy, cafe, restaurants, shops, office areas, park, day care, schools, and metro rail connection.
  • Mixed use buildings such as a 5 or 7 story building that incorporates
    • Commercial space on 1st & 2nd floors that have: restaurants, cafes and store front shops
• Place buildings associated with the angle of the sun to avoid summer heat gain.
• Place buildings next to each other to offer shade
• All buildings have solar panels on roofs that extend over the buildings to offer shade below for residents
• All buildings incorporate energy storage to save solar power for evening use
• All buildings to utilize heat pumps and have very efficient insulation  for the envelope of the buildings: roofs, walls doors & windows.
• All buildings have efficient insulation incorporating residential & commercial window film for all glass to reject heat before entering the home or office
• Pedestrian walkways & alleys for friendly convenient & enjoyable walks to local establishments. Residents have right of way for all streets. Streets should offer outdoor cafe areas, very large walkways, bike lanes and plenty of shade with trees and solar awnings
• Metro rail connection that moves residents around the city comfortably and connects to other cities, airports & universities.
• Car parking put underground
• Incorporate renewable energy sources for utilities and offer microgrids. Utilities should source energy from
  • Solar PV
  • Rooftop solar
  • Onshore wind power
  • Offshore wind power
  • Geothermal power
  • Hydro power
  • Energy storage with batteries and hydroelectric energy storage
• Incorporate local shade trees throughout and vegetation
• Plant micro forests with native plants
• Gardens on every balcony, rooftop and along every building & home