Monday, March 31, 2014
don’T leave iT Toulon now…
Dear Dolly
Martin, don’t be smartin’ over split »p17
Leinster need to up their game
»p21
Trees that glow in the dark
FUTURE ‘green’ cities could resemble fairylands filled with radiant buildings and glowing trees, a report has predicted. Spray-on, light-absorbing dust would give buildings, roads and pathways a phosphorescent shine at night, helping to improve the safety of parks and alleys. Even trees could be made to glow in the dark by splicing bioluminescent genes into their trunks and branches, say experts. By making street lighting less necessary, the carbon footprint of urban centres would be reduced. The bright vision of environmentallyfriendly cities was unveiled by Arup, the international engineering and design firm behind projects such as Grand Canal Theatre and the eircom building at Heuston South Quarter. It looked at ways of protecting urban areas and improving the lives of their residents in a world transformed by global warming and growing city populations. The report highlights natural solutions
by john von radowiTz
such as preventing flooding by replacing hard concrete and tarmac with permeable surfaces, and increasing tree cover. To meet the increasing demand for food, vertical ‘urban farms’ would see crops being grown in and on city buildings. Parks could provide places to forage for fruits, edible greens and insects. Tom Armour, landscape architecture group leader at Arup, said: ‘By 2050, the human population will have reached nine billion with 75 per cent living in cities. ‘Rapid technological innovation will serve as a major catalyst in the shift toward sustainability, resilience and adaptability in dense urban environments.’ Increasing the number of green spaces in cities is set to both boost life expectancy by encouraging people to exercise more and reduce absenteeism as working in buildings overlooking parkland cuts time off by a quarter, research has found.
MORE POWER TO YOU: Joshua Dargan Hayes, 14, from St Gerard’s School in Bray demonstrates his portable sunshade that uses solary energy to charge mobile devices, ahead of the national finals in the Student Enterprise Awards at Croke Park this Wednesday PICTURE: PhoToCall
Keep Dublin tidy – Please recycle this Metro Herald when you are finished with it