ABU DHABI // More than 6,000 environmentally sustainable outdoor lights have been installed in three different projects across the emirate in the past year.
They will help reduce the lighting cost by 40 per cent during the next 20 years and use 60 per cent less energy compared with traditional lamps.
The lights have been installed in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and the Western Region on streets, bridges, tunnels, pedestrian areas, public squares and parks.
The environmentally friendly lights will also contribute to the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions by about 75 per cent and initially minimise maintenance work by 40 per cent and by 80 per cent in the years ahead.
A gradual dimming of lights by up to 50 per cent will increase the anticipated benefits, said Abdullah Al Shamsi, the acting executive director of infrastructure and municipal assets sector at Abu Dhabi Municipality.
The municipality is undertaking various initiatives to promote sustainability.
Last week, in cooperation with the Centre for Waste Management, the municipality embarked on a pilot project to use gravel recycled from demolition and construction waste in road projects.
"Over the next few months, the municipality will also implement a new initiative for improving the performance of the soil in road paving," Mr Al Shamsi said.
In a workshop, officials from different municipalities of the emirate also discussed design codes, and modifying existing public lighting in a way that embraces energy-saving technology.
The Administrative Decision No (39) for 2012 regarding the implementation of the Public Lighting Strategy of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, was issued by the Abu Dhabi Department of Municipal Affairs.
It set detailed standards and specifications to be applied in the implementation of the lighting strategy at the level of the three municipalities in terms of types of lighting, poles, shapes of lighting, heights of lighting poles, nature of lighting, gradual dimming applications and lighting sources.
The decision also clarified the minimum light intensity at levels 1 and 2, rates of regular distribution, and use on roads depending on classification.
anwar@thenational.ae
About Seez
Company name/date started: Seez, set up in September 2015 and the app was released in August 2017
Founder/CEO name(s): Tarek Kabrit, co-founder and chief executive, and Andrew Kabrit, co-founder and chief operating officer
Based in: Dubai, with operations also in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon
Sector: Search engine for car buying, selling and leasing
Size: (employees/revenue): 11; undisclosed
Stage of funding: $1.8 million in seed funding; followed by another $1.5m bridge round - in the process of closing Series A
Investors: Wamda Capital, B&Y and Phoenician Funds
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Where to buy art books in the UAE
There are a number of speciality art bookshops in the UAE.
In Dubai, The Lighthouse at Dubai Design District has a wonderfully curated selection of art and design books. Alserkal Avenue runs a pop-up shop at their A4 space, and host the art-book fair Fully Booked during Art Week in March. The Third Line, also in Alserkal Avenue, has a strong book-publishing arm and sells copies at its gallery. Kinokuniya, at Dubai Mall, has some good offerings within its broad selection, and you never know what you will find at the House of Prose in Jumeirah. Finally, all of Gulf Photo Plus’s photo books are available for sale at their show.
In Abu Dhabi, Louvre Abu Dhabi has a beautiful selection of catalogues and art books, and Magrudy’s – across the Emirates, but particularly at their NYU Abu Dhabi site – has a great selection in art, fiction and cultural theory.
In Sharjah, the Sharjah Art Museum sells catalogues and art books at its museum shop, and the Sharjah Art Foundation has a bookshop that offers reads on art, theory and cultural history.
Small Victories: The True Story of Faith No More by Adrian Harte
Jawbone Press