8.4

Question 1

sustainable innovation

Answer 1

creating new products w positive changes to people, planet, profit

Question 2

what does sustainable innovation depend on

Answer 2

the cooperation between diff stakeholders (govs, manufacturers etc), taking into account their diff perspectives and goals

Question 3

why is sustainable innovation so difficult and costly

Answer 3

works on socio technical system – its beyond just technical solutions and is therefore a radical approach

Question 4

why can sustainable innovation lead to periods of negative economic impacts

Answer 4

bcs radical changes can take 20-40 years, depending on the innovation being implemented

Question 5

sustainable strategies

Answer 5

1 top down
2 bottom up

Question 6

top down strategies

Answer 6

controlled by govs, highest companies etc => have the potential to make widespread changes, generally driven by legislation etc

Question 7

bottom up strategies

Answer 7

opposite of top down
the idea is to change policy through behaviours; big impacts ha[[en when individuals work together
hence strategies come from ‘bottom’ – local, regional, consumer-group level (like biking to work instead of taking a car, tree planting…)

Question 8

gov initiatives helping w sustainable innovation

Answer 8

1 regulation – govs set rules, laws, limits
2 taxes – can be set to penalise products that damage environement
3 subsidies – companies may receive subsidies to support sustainable innovations
4 education – govs can encourage sustainable consumption by providing information

Question 9

macro E sustainability

Answer 9

1 large goal setting
2 national level, focuses on country E consumption
3 gov policies, international agreements

Question 10

micro E sustainability

Answer 10

1 small goal setting
2 focus on local initiatives
3 focuses on individuals, companies making choices

Question 11

energy demand

Answer 11

how much E flows over a day, week, year. not consistent

Question 12

what is important for those who manage + generate E to understand

Answer 12

when there are high, low demands for E

Question 13

energy security

Answer 13

the uninterrupted availability of affordable E sources

Question 14

how to battle fluctuating E demand

Answer 14

through resilient E grids and larger availability of natural resources for E

Question 15

smart grids

Answer 15

becoming alternatives to national grids bcs of their ability to meet changing demands. its a modernised electrical grid that uses technology to improve efficiency, reliability of electricity production and distribution

Question 16

advantages of smart grids

Answer 16

1 permit greater penetration of highly variable renewable E sources
2 includes access to multiple suppliers to reduce effect of supply disruption from individual sources

Question 17

disadvantages of smart grids

Answer 17

1 high implementation cost
2 relies on tech => vulnerable to hacking, malfunction