Dubai to Create World’s First Refrigerated Beach
Most of the time here at Cleantechnica, we report on important technical advances and breakthroughs that help mankind to reduce its harmful impact on the environment. Once in a while though, a tech story emerges that highlights how willfully unconcerned some people are with the green issues that worry the rest of us.
The latest news from Dubai falls squarely into the latter category. It seems that planners in the Arab state have stumbled on the great idea of creating a fully refrigerated beach so that tourists don’t burn their feet. From late next year, guests at the exclusive Palazzo Versace hotel will enjoy private access to the beach, situated next to the main building.
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The beach, to be created by British company Hyder Consulting, will feature a computer-controlled system of coolant-filled pipes under the sand that will help keep temperatures comfortable. According to Soheil Abedian, president of the company that owns the Palazzo Versace, “This is the kind of luxury top people want.”
However, environmentalists have been quick to point out the shortcomings of the ludicrous scheme. Commenting on the move, Rachel Noble of Tourism Concern said, “Dubai is like a bubble world where the things that are worrying the rest of the world, like climate change, are simply ignored so people can continue destructive lifestyles.” The question is though, are the ‘top people’ that have flown half way around the globe to sip mojitos at the resort next year likely to care?
Image Credit - The Consumerist via flickr.com on a Creative Commons license
This is absolutely unbelievable. Along with Dubai’s ridiculous indoor ski area this shows exactly how irresponsible the UAE is becoming with their newfound wealth.
This is yet another reason why we should get off of oil: these idiots should not have our money.
They could use the waste heat for some good use. Water heating or something. It would essentially be a geothermal heat pump. You could do this kind of stuff if you had enough energy. Since energy cannot be created or destroyed it could be considered free. This doesn’t outrage me at all.
Pumping coolant to the pipes will consume useful energy. I think, wasting it for such a comfort is not nice.
Interesting concept, and not necessarily a horrible thing. The coolant could be a corn-based glycol currently used in solar thermal water heating systems. The tubes might be ground-coupled or head out to sea to take advantage of the higher temperature gradients.
The pumps themselves could be PV or wind powered (they have no shortage of sun or breezes), and only operate during the hottest parts of the day. Granted, there are probably better uses for such technologies, but this is a nice proof-of-concept.
Clearly it falls under the category of spectacularly wasteful - but that’s the point. Some of the ideas in the comments about using geothermal energy, heat pumps and etc - in other words harnessing the power of unbridled opulence to fund experimental eco-projects that could then continue onto more practical applications - but think about it: you’re talking about Dubai, the city built entirely on the dirtiest profit of them all. The idea-logic of Dubai’s existence is so totally opposed to green technology that I don’t believe there is much hope. Any engineers or advocates that might be inclined to develop a green solution will be the last folks invited to the party.