Amsterdam bans creation of new hotels
Another piece in the overall strategy to reduce tourist flows to the city
This is happening in the context of the most severe winter drought the country has experienced this century
The month of February in Portugal has gone on record as the driest one this century after it has exceeded the previous worst impact in 2005 when drought covered 77% of the national territory. This time, it’s 91%, a disastrous situation that has not been experienced in over six decades. What’s worse is that this kind of warmer and rainless winter is becoming an increasingly common occurrence, likely as a result of climate changes.
In this context, the Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Engineering, in Porto, informed that its researchers have developed a new, more sustainable and compact desalination system, which can turn saltwater into drinkable water.
The equipment “uses solar thermal energy and vapour compression technology to turn saltwater into drinking water”, using two systems at the same time: a solar thermal collector and a desalination subsystem.
“Saline water desalination is a solution to deal with the shortage of drinking water, but it is still a high-cost and energy-intensive process. The technology we are developing introduces renewable energy, thus bypassing these obstacles,” explained Szabolcs Varga, a researcher working on the project, speaking to Lusa news agency.
The prototype was designed to be applied at a local and community level, and its maintenance and use are “simple and easy”. Experimental tests will be carried out with the future objective of “optimizing, changing and improving” the system.
The drought situation had become so dire that earlier this month, the Portuguese government ordered some hydropower dams to temporarily limit water use for electricity production and irrigation, prioritising human consumption instead.
Legislators and magnates have to await a preliminary ruling from the European Court of Justice
The building will then serve as the site for a new museum dedicated to Finnish-Russian relations
Another piece in the overall strategy to reduce tourist flows to the city
In addition, the federal government has launched the National Week of Action against Bicycle Theft to raise awareness of the issue and the new solution
The facility will replace the need to have water supplied by tankers from Valencia
Modern traffic lights do more than regulate the flow of vehicles at crossroads, they also collect enormous amounts of data
Experimenting with public transport provision in Germany is clearly in a state of creative fervour
Legislators and magnates have to await a preliminary ruling from the European Court of Justice
It also set the standards for a better European parking card for people with disabilities
Experimenting with public transport provision in Germany is clearly in a state of creative fervour
It also set the standards for a better European parking card for people with disabilities
Italian cities and regions continue experimenting with creative proposals to curb overtourism effects
Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment.
Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements.
Apply by 10 November and do your part for the transformation of European public spaces
Catch up with some recommendations for the 2024 European Capital of Culture programme from the mayor of Tartu
An interview with the ICLEI regional director for Europe аfter the close of COP28
An interview with a member of the No Hate Speech Network team