Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
7. Locating workshops in a special area outside the residential mass,
increasing efficiency of operation, management and transportation
to other cities for further manufacturing.
8. The need to replace old deteriorated water supply asbestos pipes to
prevent leakages and minimise health problems.
9. Better road network linkage with surrounding settlements for better
and efficient transportation. Proposing a bridge to decrease travel-
ling distance to neighbouring industrial zone (Sadat city). Thus pro-
viding jobs, preventing agricultural land loss and advocating more
efficient industrial centres.
These ideas were required and enforced by the local community and the
elected leaders, which shows awareness of the pressing issues of energy
responsiveness and conventional resources depletion, despite the fact that
a direct correlation to EE was not explicit. But this subtle concern can provide
a solid base for more action to provide strategies for planning for EE in
Egyptian cities.
2.6.2.2 Cairo
The megacity of Cairo is rated second worldwide for its pollution rate
(Figure 2.5) [8]. There are approximately 18 million people living in the
Greater Cairo region, which consists of five governorates. Expansion has
caused many problems related to the environment, quality of life and infra-
structure. Cairo is denser than many other cities because the law specifies
an allowed maximum density of 150 person/feddan (357 persons/ha); it does
not need to become any denser. However, there is a need to revise the cur-
rent development strategies concerning the sprawling communities around
the city. These gated communities are a replica of the American image of
the perfect housing environment, where a villa exists on a private piece of
land with a front lawn and a back garden. The building density is as low as
25% (downtown can reach 60%-70%) to accommodate for the extended open
spaces. These communities were originally part of the green belt designated
to surround Greater Cairo. However, there was a shift towards transforming
it into dwelling areas, but with low densities, as an attempt to preserve the
concept of the green belt.
Although there is a growing demand for these communities, they are
far from environmentally friendly. The extension towards the new cities
of Sheikh Zaied and 6th of October on one side of Cairo and the cities of
Obour, Elshorouk and New Cairo on the other defies the original concept
of establishing these as separate cities and transforms them into parts or
districts of ever-growing Greater Cairo (see Figure 2.6).
This has really affected energy consumption trends, especially in increas-
ing car dependency. The lack of an adequate transportation system that
