Do you Know? December 2023

Did you know? Ancient ice-making machines found In Persian desert, The Yakhchāl

Look at this short Youtube film by the Leaf of Life to see how that is possible.

The Leaf of Life work with people all over the world to regenerate the earth.

Old School air conditioners might be the answer to cool our cities. In this short film the history and impact that the 1902 invention of the engineer Willis Carrier has made on our world. He used mechanical cooling to control the humidity in a printing plant and since then cities have become hotter than their environs. You will also see how Qatar University uses ancient technology to use wind to cool their buildings... you will also realise how the smartie-box design of our RDP houses are a disaster because solar orientation, good design and efficiency were not considered.

But have you heard of district cooling?

Here is the Old School ACs Youtube

Read some of the comments that accompany the film. @furTron says he works in a company that have 2 buildings - one built in traditional way - solid bricks, and new modern well isolated framed one. The traditional one feels comfy all year long, but the new one gets very quickly hot/cold, due to lack of heat inertia… Sometimes, it gets so cold in the night, that you want to turn on heating when you arrive, and then 6h later, you’re melting down. Madness! But technically it’s very well isolated and almost passive!" is new technology always the answer?

Did you know? Durban’s Golden Mile beachfront hotel sites, fall back to what is now the eThekwini metro at the end of 2025?

Moneyweb reports that Durban is expecting almost a million visitors during the coming holiday season amid concerns about increasing crime, grime and urban decay in especially the central business district and on the beachfront.

“The current state of urban decay is not conducive for businesses,” says the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI).

There is further concern about the long-term prospects for the city after it came to light that it is not only the leases of the iconic Southern Sun Elangeni and Maharani hotels that hang in the balance – the eThekwini metro is reconsidering the leases of a total of nine beachfront hotels.

Read the concerns of investors. Southern Sun warned that Durban beachfront may die if Elangeni, Maharani lease renewals are mishandled.