KHALEEJ TIMES, Saturday, Dec 04, 2021 | Rabi Al-Aakhir 29, 1443
Circular economy key to sustainable urban development
Emirates:
It is an unfortunate fact that the capitalist system predominant
worldwide is currently based on a linear economic structure, whereby natural
resources are extracted, processed into products, consumed, and then waste is
created. This waste is then reintroduced back into the environment, often in a
form that is ecologically harmful.
This system is often summarised as ‘Take, Make, Waste’.
However, the many harmful effects caused by this approach, in the form of
climate change, depletion of natural resources, environmental pollution, habitat
destruction and biodiversity collapse, are now widely recognised, and being
measured in terms of the economic and humanitarian costs which are increasing
every year. As a result of these costs, governments around the world are
starting to drive the transition towards a circular economy.
The Circular Economy
A circular economy is a model of production and consumption which employs reuse,
sharing, repair, remanufacturing and recycling to create a closed-loop system,
minimising the input of resources and output of waste, pollution and carbon
emissions. The circular economy aims to keep products, materials, equipment and
infrastructure in use for longer, thus improving their productivity.
So, when it comes to the ‘Take, Make, Waste’ system, the transition to the
circular economy involves replacing the ‘waste’ element with ‘reuse’.
The good news is that we are already correcting our course. Many billions of
dollars have been invested in research, development and technologies that can
extract useful resources from waste to be reused in our economies, and the
benefits of a circular economy are already well-recognised by the leadership of
the UAE. In January of this year, the UAE Cabinet approved the UAE Circular
Economy Policy, which states that “We can do more and better with less, breaking
the traditional linkages between economic growth and environmental degradation.”
The policy has created a comprehensive framework for identifying sectors to be
prioritised for a shift towards a circular economy. The sectors identified were
infrastructure, transportation, manufacturing, and food production and
consumption.
Although this policy applies to the UAE economy as a whole, the principles can
also be applied to individual projects to create sustainable communities which
minimise their environmental impact, reduce their carbon footprint and
contribute towards the UAE’s circular economy objectives.
Green Infrastructure
With regards to green infrastructure, smart and sustainable urban planning from
the conceptual phase can ensure the whole project is built along green
objectives. Architects can apply intelligent design and building orientation to
avoid the sun and maximize shading to reduce heat gains.
Solar PV cells installed on rooftops and built-up areas offset on energy usage.
However, the highest energy consumption is often at night, when all the family
is home, with the lights and AC and the family’s EV charging in the car port. To
avoid wasting solar energy generated during the day, homes can include energy
storage solutions to provide power in the evenings.
With the technology available these days, 100 per cent of waste and water can be
recycled on site and utilised to create a circular economy. For example, biogas
plant can treat organic waste (food waste, green waste, and sludge) and convert
it into a resource (electricity and/or thermal energy), whilst residues from the
process can be dried and used as fertilizer for landscaping and vertical
farming.
A Sewage Treatment Plant can treat wastewater to produce Treated Sewage Effluent
for landscape irrigation, achieving 100% water recycling, and avoiding carbon
emissions associated with tankers, as well as the need for increased capacity
from local utility providers.
Sustainable Manufacturing
With regards to the actual building process, the carbon footprint can be reduced
using the highest standards of sustainable products and materials. For example,
the building envelope of the structures can use Precast Wall Panels, which
reduce construction waste volume compared to cast-in-situ, thus lowering the
total Embodied Carbon, including emissions generated by transportation.
Architects can use insulated UV reflective walls, roofs and windows to reduce
air-conditioning loads, electricity power consumption, and operational carbon.
Outdoors, pavers with high Solar Reflective Index (SRI) can be used to reduce
heat gains and thermal discomfort.
Smart home automation and energy-efficient HVAC, electrical fittings and
appliances offer lower energy consumption, and efficient, water-saving fittings
and white goods such as washing machines and dish washers reduce water
consumption. For example, a modern, efficient dish washer uses up to four times
less water than hand washing dishes in a sink!
Sustainable Transportation
Any modern real-estate development should, as standard, be designed with
sustainable transportation in mind. Safe and well-lit cycling and walking paths
are the bare minimum, but projects should also factor in fast charging stations
for electric vehicles in homes and public parking around the community, again
with electrical consumption offset by solar PV. Truly green developments can go
further by offering dedicated routes to sustainable public transportation such
as EV shuttle buses and autonomous electric vehicles. Home deliveries from
businesses within the community such as food outlets or groceries should be
managed with EV delivery vehicles as well.
Sustainable Food Production and Consumption
One of the biggest priorities for the UAE government highlighted by supply chain
disruptions during COVID is food security. As such, major investments in
agritech such as hydroponics, vertical farming and more are being made to
increase locally produced food without placing too much burden on water supply.
By incorporating biodomes with hydroponics and vertical farming technology which
are highly space and water efficient, whilst harnessing the abundant solar
energy available in the region, and recycling all wastewater on-site for
irrigation, sustainable developments can harness modern agritech to produce food
within the community.
Partnership and Collaboration
According to the UAE Circular Economy Policy, transitioning to a circular
economy “necessitates comprehensive engagement and active participation of
public sector entities, private sector, academia, and civil society groups”,
whilst also offering “significant public private partnership opportunities.”
As a project developed in partnership with Shurooq, the Sharjah Investment
Authority, Sharjah Sustainable City is a public private partnership. We have
also partnered with the American University of Sharjah for academic research in
sustainable development to ensure that lessons learned from this project, as
well as other such as The Sustainable City – Dubai, can be successfully applied
at scale to all future projects across the UAE and the world.