Energy: Sustainability Principles
For communities to thrive and prosper, they must have access to reliable and affordable energy. However, it is equally important for communities to ensure that energy use supports, rather than detracts, from their residents’ quality of life. Accordingly, cities striving for sustainability pursue cleaner, efficient, and even locally-oriented energy strategies by incorporating measures that address both the sources of energy production as well as the quantity of energy consumption. Cities that are working towards sustainable energy use can manage and reduce costs, improve public and environmental health, increase their energy security, and spur local economic growth.
Energy Reduction and Efficiency
A kilowatt saved is a kilowatt, or more, earned. Therefore, first eliminate excess energy use and then invest in energy efficiency. Energy efficiency can deliver energy savings at one-third to one-half the cost of electricity from new coal and nuclear plants.
Incorporate Renewable Energy Sources
After optimizing energy reduction and efficiency programs, invest in renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and landfill biogas.
Localize Energy Production
To reduce energy loss resulting from electricity transmission and distribution, identify opportunities to locally produce electricity through renewable sources (e.g., solar, wind, and landfill biogas) and highly efficient and cleaner conventional sources (e.g., combined cycle natural gas turbines). Cities that own their own electricity utility are especially capable of implementing local renewable sources and/or highly efficient and clean conventional sources of power generation.
Capture and Reuse Wasted Energy
Identify opportunities to capture and reuse waste heat to power auxiliary energy generating turbines, provide heat for industrial purposes, or provide climate control for buildings. To facilitate the capture and reuse of otherwise wasted energy, cities should foster the co-location of complementary energy production/energy consumption facilities (e.g., industrial parks that use biogas obtained from an adjacent landfill).
Energy that comes from sources that are not depleted by use. Examples include energy from the sun, wind, and small (low-impact) hydropower, plus geothermal energy and wave and tidal systems.A fuel that is produced from the mixture of two gases - methane and carbon dioxide. The gases are themselves the product of the bacterial decomposition of organic matter such as sewage and municipal wastes. Especially popular as a fuel in the generation of hot water and electricity. See also BIOFUELS.Energy efficiency is the process of using less energy to produce the same or increased functions. Often used mistakenly as a synonym for ENERGY CONSERVATION. The ability or potential of a physical body to do work. The most common forms of energy are heat, light, mechanical (moving parts), and electrical.
