Tag Archives: Green Spaces

The Impact of Urban Heat Island Effect on Sustainability

By | | ,
6 Comments

Urban Heat Island (UHI) Effect arises due to absorption of incident radiation from the sun by built surfaces of tall buildings, roof, concrete structures and asphalt roads and then releasing it in the form of heat. The term “urban heat island” describes the built-up areas that are significantly hotter than the surrounding open, natural or rural areas. It occurs on the surface and in the atmosphere. The built surfaces are made of high-percentage of non-reflective and water-resistant construction materials. These materials act as heat sinks that absorb the radiated heat and store it for long time. The Urban Heat Island … Continue reading →

Are Green Roofs a Viable Option for the Middle East?

By | | , ,
6 Comments

Urban green roofs have long been promoted as an easy and effective strategy for beautifying the built environment and increasing investment opportunity. The building roof is very important because it has a direct impact on thermal comfort and energy conservation in and around buildings. Urban green roofs can help to address the lack of green space in many urban areas. Urban green roofs provides the city with open spaces that helps reduce urban heat island effect and provides the human population on the site with a connection to the outdoors. However, we must differentiate between two types of urban green … Continue reading →

A Message on World Environment Day

By | | ,
5 Comments

The World Environment Day implores us to appreciate the beauty of nature and its importance, and to take forward the call to protect the Earth that we share. The World Environment Day invites you to think about how we are part of nature and how intimately we depend on it. It challenges us to find fun and exciting ways to experience and cherish this vital relationship. People and Nature The World Environment urge us to think about how we are part of nature and how intimately we depend on it. It challenges us to find fun and exciting ways to … Continue reading →

Green Spaces in Middle East – Perspectives

By | | ,
4 Comments

Often dubbed as “pockets of green in a grey landscape”, green spaces such as urban parks, vertical gardens and street trees, are increasingly being incorporated into city plans and designs for their multi-functional benefits of ecological, physical and social nature. An obvious benefit from increasing green space within cities is the increase in biodiversity. Often serving as refuges and habitat corridors for wildlife, studies have shown increases in both native and endemic flora and fauna with the expansion of green spaces in cities. Infact it has been observed that city planners choose to incorporate green spaces, such as urban parks … Continue reading →

How Environment, Stress, and Loneliness Intersect

By | | , ,
Leave a comment

The factors that play a part in the status of our wellbeing are more vast and complex than many of us realize. So often, when we think about what it means to take care of our health or to be healthy, we think of behaviors like physical activity. While it’s true that these factors matter, and while movement and other standard health practices can promote mental health as well as physical health, they don’t always tell the full story or do the whole job when it comes to taking care of ourselves. How might the environment, stress, and loneliness impact … Continue reading →