London’s Nations Trust starts the Emerald Cities Project
Nations Trust Ltd., has started the Emerald Cities Project to promote sustainable cities. The National Trust has a prototype plan for developers who want to move to a greener community building model.
Nations Trust has created a new company called Emerald Cities International Ltd.. Emerald Cities International is providing a franchise opportunity and turnkey solution for developers who want to make a “paradigm shift” by building more environmentally and ecologically minded homes, neighborhoods, and cities.
Nations Trust was created to “provide financial alternatives and turnkey solutions supporting the development of business and industry in expanding regions of the world.” The Emerald Cities Project carries out this mission with one specific requirement. All development must be sustainable and green.
In its recent announcement, Nations Trust laid out a three phase plan for creating such communities. Phase one would include building a sustainable infrastructure. That infrastructure would include:
- Solar Power Plants (PV Field Farms)
- Residential and Business Solar Power Units
- Water Purification & Wastewater Systems
- City Solids Waste Recycling Units
- Waste to Energy Systems
- Organic Agro-Production Systems
- Waste to Fertilizer Systems
- Wind Power Generators
- Non-Asphalt Roadway Construction
- Solar Powered Public Transportation
- Solar Powered Lease Cars
- Smart Solar Powered Homes
Phase two would include residences (both single family and multiple family units), schools, and businesses. The structures would be “eco-spheric domes” that could be as small or as large as necessary to house the functions assigned to that structure. For example, one dome could house an apartment complex and shops, offices and entertainment facilities like a movie theater or sports arena, or schools and government offices. The domes could be linked or stand alone depending on the communities needs.
The domes would be built using concrete, polyurethane foam and an Airform. The polyurethane will be “sandwiched between a tough Airform and several inches of concrete”. This creates an extremely strong structure that can withstand hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes, fire and bullets. These eco-spheric dome structures reduce heating and cooling costs by 75 percent making them extremely energy efficient. The domes require less equipment for heating and cooling and require less maintenance making them very cost efficient to maintain. The advantages of the Emerald Cities eco-spheric domes are:
- Energy Efficient Home and Office Structures
- Affordable Construction Costs
- Reduced Construction Time
- Eco-Spheric Clean Environments
- Earthquake Disaster Resistant
- Hurricane Disaster Resistant
- Long Term Construction Endurance
- Reduced Risk and Lower Insurance Premiums
- Groundbreaking Architectural Design Concepts
- Flexible Interior Design Modules
- Multi modules for Expanding Communities
Phase three includes building a self-sufficient community and sustainable local economy. The community would be able to grow its own food, recycle its waste, generate its own energy and provide its own “alternative” healthcare. The community would use “indigenous” cottage industries and other local business opportunities to become economically stable. Elements of the communities that are expected to be included as appropriate are:
- Education & Training Facilities
- Healthcare & Wellness Center
- Emergency Medical Services
- Wireless City Net Services
- Solar Public Transportation
- Parks, Recreation & Urban Forestation
- Greenways & Community Gardens
- Nature Trails & Pathways
- Agriculture & Food Production Model
- Community GrowHouses and MicroFarms
- High Tech Manufacturing Facilities
- Indigenous Cottage Industries
- Solar Energy & Fuel Cell Production
- Waste Recycling Core Industries
- Restaurants & Shops
- Music Center & Amphitheater
- Cultural Arts Center
The Emerald Cities project is intended for global adoption in both well developed and developing countries. The community model that has been created can be adapted to any environment providing green solutions for community needs.
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May 19th, 2009
Just wanted to point out that this is a project of the Nations Trust Ltd, which has I guess no connection with the UK’s National Trust, an NGO which aims to preserve historic buildings and sites for posterity and owns many stately homes and estates.
December 12th, 2010
Liz – Just saw your comment (18 months later) and assure you that it has been the last thing we have ever wanted to be confused with this fine NGO. It has only happened a couple of times (with people not too good at due diligence) and we have been very quick to correct this. Obviously there is absolutely no connection – except that when I retire I want to buy a castle.