Global Warming & Sustainability

-A Brief View of European InnovationsAngie Lee

Global Warming DeCal

Overview

• Sustainability and Global Warming • Definition of Sustainability • 10 Sample Areas to Define Sustainability• Transferability to the United States

How is sustainability related to global warming?

• Stabilize global warming: reduce carbon emission, capture carbon, alternative energy etc.

• Sustainability is an integrative means of improving the environment in a holistic way. Sustainability does not address global warming alone.

• Reducing ecological footprints

What is Sustainability?

"Sustainable Development is development that meets the needs of the presentwithout compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs"

– United Nations Committee on Sustainable Development

Sustainable Development• Location/Accessibility• Ecological Design Principles • Mixed land use and density• Balanced transport • Balanced housing • Energy use • Waste management• Green open space • Food system • Community Involvement

Location

• Right location for resource protection regional and transportation use, in-fill and redevelopment.

• Reduce transportation thus reduce carbon emission

Las VagasVS.

Freiburg

Ecological Design Principles

• Ecological living initiative, green building • Design with nature, lowering ecological

footprint • “The architect of the future will build

imitating Nature, for it is the most rational, long-lasting and economical of all methods.” – Antonio Gaudi

Green Roofs and Solar Roofs

Edinburgh Vauban Stockholm

Stockholm Freiburg Freiburg

Building Designs

Hostel Rolf Piche’s“Heliotrop”

Principles of solar architecture:

•Excellent building insulation

•Windows with thermal insulation

•Large window facing south

Water Systems

Mixed Land Use and Density

• Accessibility • Better streetscapes • Mixed use buildings • Less urban sprawl, compact city

Balanced transport

• Discourage private vehicles, encourage alternative public transportation: trams, subways, bikes, boats

• Road and street designs: narrow streets• Pedestrian zones: car free zones

•Priority on traffic lights

•Reliable

•Run on electricity

•Clean and safe

•Efficient

Biking Innovations

Bike-o-meter Bike signs Bike racks Indoors Bike Parking

Balanced Housing

• Affordable housing: availability, quality• Scotland: Shelter is a citizen’s right

Energy Use

• Renewable/clean energy: solar, wind, hydraulic, biofuel, geothermal, tidal, nuclear etc.

• Efficient energy use • Natural lighting and heating • Building insulation

Insulation

Solar Energy

Wind Energy

Not in picture: Biogas buses, solar architecture, central heating system

Waste Management

• 3R’s: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle• Reduce materials going to

landfill/incinerator

Green Open Space

• Health • Aesthetics • Ecological benefits• Economical benefits• Social benefits

Food System

• Local: reduce distance of travel, keeps money in the area.

• Organic food

Building a community

• Empowering local communities• Form partnerships between government

and communities • Social aspect of sustainability• Livability

Creating a community through art…

Transferability?

• What are the similarities and differences between the United States and Europe?

• Can the “innovations” be applied to the United States?

Some thoughts

• Cultural differences- Attitude towards tax, lawsuits

• Historical differences- European countries are more ancient, pre-existing features

• Political differences- Political systems, national agenda

Take home messages

• Sustainability requires creativity. There is no one way to do it.

• Using multiple tools to solve problems - technological change- cultural change

• Putting things in context

Discussion

• Which of the discussed categories are you most interested in and why?

• Is there any innovation that you think can be employed in the Bay Area? If so, is there a way to modify the innovations to better suit the Bay Area?

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