0-energy or Carbon neutral?
 
The definitions above focus completely at energy, while more and more it becomes clear that materials resources face similar problems as energy: consumption has unhealthy side effects, and depletion is at the door for many of the materials. The shift towards 100 % renewable materials should also be a target soon for some regions or cities . 100 % R (for mass and energy)  in stead of 100% RE (only energy).
The UN university takes the concept already somewhat wider:
The idea of Zero Emissions: A central theme of our envisioned Zero Emissions society is the complete utilization of materials via symbiotic flows: one sector's waste becomes another's input. The term Zero Emissions describes the idea of improvement towards maximal utilization of materials and zero emissions of harmful substances.

This shows clearly the problems the definitions regarding Carbon and climate will cause, when also materials requires a neutral approach: Carbon is a main element in renewable materials, and climate is affected by land use for different resources, either materials or energy or food growing. It it is therefore necessary to have similar definitions developed for materials targets to reserve the claims for in a broader context.

Of course, Sustainability even goes beyond this. Some regions and countries already have some kind of target established regarding this. Like the country of Bhutan: The constitution law states that any decision should add to the GNH: Gross national Happinness (in stead of GDP) the definition and measuring is somewhat difficult, however.

We like to emphasize that this paper was not about "Sustainability" . Here we addressed energy consumption and limiting the impacts/effects or replace the causes . It does not say anything about the fact whether the energy was used in a 'sustainable' way (holiday by plain, to name one). This paper was to explore the vagueness in energy related definitions, but does not imply that the authors see this as the only or the main target to meet in our transition to a sustainable society.

Ronald Rovers / Vera Rovers, August 2008 .



home SBS centre
discussion paper on Systems and definitions
Sustainable Building Support Centre
Websites: see www.sustainablebuilding.info to have the webadresses as direct link.

carbon neutral pub…
http://www.sylviamilne.co.uk/pub.htm

100 pct renewable energy island
http://w2.djh.dk/international/2001/samso/

"energie autarke stadt" Gussing
http://www.gussing.at/frame.asp?Bereich=Wirtschaft

Ashton Hayes, UK
http://www.goingcarbonneutral.co.uk/

Växjö , Sweden
http://www.vaxjo.se/vaxjo_templates/Page.aspx?id=1664

Kalmar Sweden
http://www.kalmar.regionforbund.se/sv/Welcome/About-The-Regional-Council/Environment/ 

Kristianstad
http://www.kristianstad.se/klimat
http://www.managenergy.net/download/nr254.pdf

Newcastle
http://www.carbonneutralnewcastle.com/home/

Dutch Pilot program CO2 neutral cities
http://www.builddesk.nl/files/BuildDesk_NL/BD-NL%20Graphics/BD-NL%20PDF/Productsheet_Routekaart_klimaatneutrale_gemeenten.pdf  (in dutch)

Sydney
http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Environment/GreenhouseAndAirQuality/WhattheCityisdoing/CarbonNeutral.asp

Masdar
http://www.masdaruae.com/
http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/node/7807

WWF One planet principles
http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/what_we_do/policy/one_planet_living/about_opl/principles/index.cfm

Dongtan
http://www.arup.com/eastasia/project.cfm?pageid=7047

Sejong, Korea
http://www.korea.net/news/news/newsview.asp?serial_no=20070720035

CO2 worldcup
http://www.co2worldcup.org/carbonneutralcities.htm

The Vatican Climate Forest,
http://www.cathnews.com/news/707/76.php
China project http://www.bioregional.com/news%20page/news_stories/ZED/Zero%20carbon%20homes%20training%20peer%20reviewed%20July%2007.htm

Low Carbon world discussion
http://www.lowcarbonworld.com/webseminars.aspx

Ngo initiatives
http://www.bioregional.com/oneplanetliving/china/jinshan

article
http://editions.pagesuite.co.uk//PageSuite3.aspx?page=122&scale=100&height=700&width=1000&editionid=36879&filekey=&path=_PSEDitions/White%20Digital%20Media/Exec%20Digital/2007-09-20/ 

wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zero_energy_building

Nepal project
http://www.nepalitimes.com/issue/260/Nation/725

award
http://zeroenergybuilding.org/

article
http://www.buildings.com/articles/detail.aspx?contentID=4987

NRL study
http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy06osti/39833.pdf

UN university:
http://www.unu.edu/zef/about.html

zero emissions network
http://www.zeroemissionnetwork.org/


V expanding beyond energy


VI  References
 

Home - Introduction

I Initiatives

II claims and definitions

III Critical elements

IV Definitions

V Beyond energy

VI References

DISCUSSION


 

Home - Introduction

I Initiatives

II claims and definitions

III Critical elements

IV Definitions

V Beyond energy

VI References

DISCUSSION