How Green Is Your City?
by David Biello Sept. 2011
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Source: Scientific American
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Notes:
Summary: Throughout history, China has tried to make an eco-friendly city. However, the building proccess was put on hold due to its expenses. It was bullt to ecourage the citizens to use walking as main transportation in their daily lives instead of using the bus, cars, etc that burn fossil fuels into the atmosphere. But even we create eco-friendly citites, their effect on the overall usage of ebergy and emission would be minimal since the majority of the population lives in older cities. So, we have to turn these old cities into eco-friendly ones. It wouldn't cost much and it would be easier than to start from scratch. It can help pur future as well, because instead of using AC, a.k.a. lots of energy, during hot summers we can instead change the old rooftops to white rooftops that reflect light to keep buildings cooler. Now wouldn't that save a lot of money?! Many countries are changing to eco-friendly cities today, we should make a change before it's too late. Even though, it can be costly sometimes, it'll help us in the long run.
Reflection: While reading this article it made me think of how nice it would be to live in an eco-friendly city, where you there isn't much usage of energy and emissions! Where you see more people walking than riding their cards or where you fresh organic fruit and vegetables on sale! In fact, lower energy bills! Now doesn't that just sound lovely? We should convert all cities into eco-friendly ones! NOW who's WITH ME?!?!?
- Some politics say that the cause of poverty and environmental degradation is population growth.
- Dongtan is a state-of-art eco-city located on China's Chongming Island.
- It was built to encourage the citizens to use walking as a main transpiration in their daily life.
- Only battery or hydrogen powered cars are allowed.
- While farmers will provide organic food and ponds will incorporate with wetlands.
- Yet for all its grand goals, this island city-to-be remains unbuilt.
- It's one of the world's eco-cities that had rough times, because of it's cost.
- It is unclear if China abandoned the project or not.
- Challenges like urbanization in the cities would still remain minimizing the effect of overall use of energy and emissions.
- Another solution is needed for feeding, housing, and transportation since we can't rely on new construction.
- Changing the roofs of some of the older buildings to white roofs that reflect light can keep buildings cooler.
- Cities are using up more than the normal flow of water.
- People fear there will be a water shortage in the near future.
- Other countries are doing many things to conserve water such as an automatic turn off of the shower after a few minutes. The water usage of families are even monitored in some countries.
- Cities are in need of cutting edge technology to help achieve long term sustainability goals.
- Changing building codes require more energy efficiency which could be achieved with better insulation.
- We need to put these ideas into action. Even if they cost money, it will help us in the long run.
- We must boost cities ability to provide clean energy, transportation, food, water and waste disposal is key to ensure a brighter future.
- Its the people who make a city sustainable or not.
Summary: Throughout history, China has tried to make an eco-friendly city. However, the building proccess was put on hold due to its expenses. It was bullt to ecourage the citizens to use walking as main transportation in their daily lives instead of using the bus, cars, etc that burn fossil fuels into the atmosphere. But even we create eco-friendly citites, their effect on the overall usage of ebergy and emission would be minimal since the majority of the population lives in older cities. So, we have to turn these old cities into eco-friendly ones. It wouldn't cost much and it would be easier than to start from scratch. It can help pur future as well, because instead of using AC, a.k.a. lots of energy, during hot summers we can instead change the old rooftops to white rooftops that reflect light to keep buildings cooler. Now wouldn't that save a lot of money?! Many countries are changing to eco-friendly cities today, we should make a change before it's too late. Even though, it can be costly sometimes, it'll help us in the long run.
Reflection: While reading this article it made me think of how nice it would be to live in an eco-friendly city, where you there isn't much usage of energy and emissions! Where you see more people walking than riding their cards or where you fresh organic fruit and vegetables on sale! In fact, lower energy bills! Now doesn't that just sound lovely? We should convert all cities into eco-friendly ones! NOW who's WITH ME?!?!?