The Not-So-Green Picture: First Air Conditioned Bus Station |
11 Comments |
| By Michael d'Estries in Dumb Ideas | September 17, 2007 | |
Dubai is boasting of their latest creation: the first air-conditioned bus station in the world; ironically located next to some recycle bins in this photo. Instead of employing some green building techniques to reduce the heat, the affluent country opted instead to build an energy-hungry haven instead. Not only that, but more than 800 of them are planned in the coming years. Woe be the world.
Thanks to Shea for the tip!
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Luke said,
A country that rich in oil must have a very different perception on limitation of global natural resources. You would think though that being an area of the globe where global warming is likely to have an extreme impact in the not too distant future would make them a little more environmentally conscious.
Luke
http://talkclimatechange.com
amateur6 said,
I’m as green as the next person (greener if the next person is an average American), but it would be nice to see alternative solutions offered (even of the off-the-cuff variety) instead of just Sheik-bashing. In other words, being part of the solution.
At least the back (sun-side) of the shelter is opaque. If that was in the states it would be all glass, and not even double-glazed or low-e, in all likelihood.
cossette said,
c’est triste de voir que les humain on si grand besoin d’argent pour vivre toute près du pétrol aussi dénaturé … oublier pas la tunique!
Steve Balogh said,
Stones and Glass houses:
http://www.google.com/search?q=heated+bus+stop
I think that we should consider the energy we (as in the colder climes of the US) spend on heating bus stops as well… Just as bad I presume.
sylvain said,
Comparé à nos habitudes occidentales, cela n’a rien de surprenant d’imaginer la clim dans un abri bus. Notre comportement n’est pas exemplaire.Locaux publics ou privés surchauffés, voitures climatisées pour 10% de consommation d’essence en plus… Comment vivions nous avant? Pas de clim dans les voitures,des tricots et des couvertures pour avoir bien chaud chez soi. Juger, c’est facile; le mieux c’est de proposer une alternative qui permette de baisser la température sans polluer. Je ne connais pas la solution. Si quelqu’un la connait, qu’il n’hésite pas la diffuser. C’est aussi comme cela que nous évoluerons. CORDIALEMENT Sylvain
CULTurl » Blog Archive » Yes…those are red people said,
[...] Here is a photo taken by a low flying aircraft as it passes over a village deep within the amazon rain forest of Brazil near Peru. Apparently this is a previously undiscovered group of indigenous persons that have lived in the amazon for quite some time and have never made contact with modern man. This photo and more (which are untouched) can be found here. To me the photo looks like something out a Steven Spielberg movie or something, look at the people, they are painted red… that is crazy! But if these are a previously unknown group of people living in the Amazon, it makes you question how modern man is handling his role as custodian of the earth clear cutting large swaths of forest emitting greenhouse gases and air conditioned bus stops in Dubai. [...]
Peter said,
If you got it, flaunt it!!
shaul shimron said,
I see myself as a “green” person but I am affraid that I disagree with both the title and its comments. I would like to point out that in order to create a greener world we must drive people to switch from cars to public transportation in order to achieve such a goal it is necessary to provide the users of public transportation conditions which will enable them to reach their destinations without sweating. if the price we need to pay for that is air conditioning bus stations its worth it.
essie said,
We’re not harming the environment, we’re just harming ourselves… The world will quickly recoup once we rid it of our species, and that we’re doing a lot faster than some of you may think…
Abram VanElswyk said,
Two things.
First, there’s really a limit to how far “green building technologies” will take you when the ambient outside temperature is north of 100F.
Second, the carbon emissions from a small window A/C unit (all that is needed to power such a space) are nothing in comparison to those emitted from the average private vehicle.
A little back-of-the-envelope calculation tells me that the breakeven point in energy usage is between 2 and 3 new transit riders a day. If such a stop were to attract even 10 former car drivers a day, the result would be substantially reduced carbon emissions.
Ruthless Dutchman said,
Another point to note is the temperature in Dubai, without air conditioned bus stops you WILL get toasted in the desert sun. So glass would be a bad idea to use in Dubai for a bus stop, except for the windows of course.
Sunburnt, dehydrated and sweating, or cool and alert. It’s your choice