Carbon reduction with solar energy in cities

Abstract

One of the carbon reduction strategies is using solar energy (power). Solar energy is the most popular renewable energy and an essential technology for powering our cities in the future. It will transform us from fossil fuel dependency to renewable energy for sustainable cities. Sunlight is very important for urban design and architecture. Solar energy has been used by humans for thousands of years. They used orienting building toward the south for more light and heat. Now, using and storing maximum sunlight and heat is a significant design criterion for cities and streets. Solar energy is the technology used to harness the sun’s energy and make it useable. Today, the technology produces less than one tenth of one percent of global energy demand. The objective of this paper is to explain the importance of using, firstly, passive solar energy design criteria in cities and to give cases where solar energy is used for a sustainable lifestyle (e.g. Masdar City, Dongtan, King Abdullah Financial District, Crystal Island, ZED Factory Projects and Zira Island). As a result, the design of cities, streets and buildings will change. For example, the roofs will be very important for storm-water. Some buildings have green roofs. But in the future, solar panels will replace roofs. Street orientation, ventilation and ratios are essential for radiation. Cities will be smarter and more sustainable than today towards zero-carbon energy.