Collective and Complex Infrastructure Systems Flashcards
What are examples of some COLLECTIVE (many-to-one) infrastructure systems?
Wastewater, solid waste, stormwater.
What are some sustainability focuses for the NZ stormwater system?
Passive treatment (little/no energy input);
Increasing/enhancing durability with natural components;
Promoting recharge;
Minimising built infrastructure.
Emissions from the wastewater system mostly result from …
Treatment.
What are the two broad categories of our waste streams?
Organic:
- Energy can be recovered from combustion (food, paper, plastic …)
Inorganic:
- Glass, metals, construction waste …
Waste is a product of …
Urbanization, economic development, and population growth.
Current waste management practices are dominated by …
Landfilling. (e.g.: open/closed landfill, composting, anaerobic digestion, burning)
Waste systems are responsible for ~X% of global GHG emissions.
5%. (~4% for NZ).
- Most waste-related GHG emissions from landfills.
- Of waste, food-waste contributes the most to GHG emissions.
What is the hierarchy of integrated solid waste management to limit GHG emissions? (Most preferred to least preferred)
Most preferred: Source reduction
Recycling/ Composting
Energy Recovery (Materials)
Least preferred: Treatment & Disposal.
OR
Most preferred: Rethink/redesign
Reduce
Reuse/repurpose
Recycle/compost anaerobic digestion
Recover
Least preferred: Treat and Dispose.
How can emissions from the waste system be mitigated from the producers?
Avoid/reduce amount of waste. Reuse. Minimising organic waste in disposal.
How can emissions from the waste system be mitigated from the collectors?
Reuse. Recovery of energy/materials. Minimising organic waste in disposal.
What are some examples of COMPLEX (many-to-many) infrastructure systems?
Transport & buildings.
- many origins, many destinations, many routes
- human actors
- systems of systems
Emissions come from sources from the system and actors engaging with the system.
Globally, transport systems are reliant on …
Petroleum products / fossil fuels / petrol & diesel.
- mostly due to personal vehicles
- modal shift would reduce emissions and traffic congestion
- the price volatility of oil has big impacts on transport. Inherent vulnerability (e.g. COVID lockdown)
Transport accounts for X% of NZ’s GHG emissions and has been the fastest growing source of emissions since 1990. Within transport, road emissions grew by Y% percent.
- GPS 2018
Transport: 18 percent of NZ’s GHG emissions.
Road emissions grown by 78 percent within transport.
A major challenge with reducing transport emissions is not curbing _____ or _____ BUT finding more sustainable means to meet demand.
Mobility or access. Hence, transport-emisisons is a difficult issue.
GHG emissions from transport are predicted to increase faster than any other energy end-use sector.
Infrastructure systems are often _____ or _______ dependent on transport.
Geographically or physically dependent.
Roads are often built first, which dictates the layout for other infrastructure.
Mitigation of emissions from transport can come from …
Improved efficiency (fuel consumption, energy efficiency, emissions intensities)
Reduced journeys (reduce distance, urban form, density)
Shifts to lower-carbon transport (mode-shift)
Buildings account for X% of global final energy use, and Y% of final electricity demand.
31% of global final energy use. 54% of final electricity demand.
- Most energy use in buildings is for space conditioning
The building system contributes both directly and ______ to emissions.
Directly and indrectly.
- Direct: Commercial, residential, N2O emissions, Others
- Indirect: Commerical, residential
To meet Paris Agreements, we need to reduce average building energy use by X% by 2030, globally.
30%.
Collectively, the building sector in NZ represents ~X% of GHG emissions.
15%.
Includes:
- Onsite fossil fuel heating
- Electricity use
- Materials to make and maintain buildings
The building system is characterised by very long-living infrastructure. What concerns does this lead to?
Large potential for “lock-in” effect, i.e., path dependency.
It is important to avoid the lock-in of both inefficient buildings and carbon/energy intensive buildings.
Building energy efficiency, emissions-mitigation strategies include: material, technological and _______ elements.
Material, technological and design.
- Materials to enhance efficiency of building envelope.
- End-use “appliances” e.g., LED lighting
- Better design for reduced demand.
- e.g., smart metering (sensors)
How could education (for building occupants/operators etc.) lead to GHG mitigation?
Consumer choices, behaviour and building operation can lead to GHG mitigation.
Education about energy use:
- improving efficiency of chosen “appliances’
- smart metering.
What are the three main options for waste management in our current systems?
- Reuse or recycle material for further beneficial use.
- Bury the waste in a landfill.
- Burn the waste and generate some electricity.
Stormwater and wastewater includes
Pipes, channels, drains, ponds/infiltration, discharge (to environment)
What are some mitigation opportunities for wastewater systems?
Mitigation opportunities mainly at the point of collection (treatment):
- CH4 production during treatment
- Minimising carbon-based energy inputs (collection and treatment).
Other opportunities:
- Beneficial reuse
- Capturing “biogas” for energy production
Waste consists of___, ____, and ___
1) Municipal waste
2) Commercial waste
3) Industrial waste
Without mitigation GHG from transport sector predicted to …
increase faster than any other energy end-use sector
What do buildings provide?
Provide shelter and protection:
- comfort (warm/cool)
- amenities (water, power)
It is an end-user or producer
In buildings most energy comes from space conditioning (heating/cooling). Heating and cooling are driven by …
Heating and cooling needs are driven by:
- Climate (temperature difference between outdoors & indoor comfort, intensity/frequency of solar radiation
- Materials (insulation, conduction/radiation)
- Area and geometry
Increases in country-wide GHG emissions has largely come from:
Road transport
NZ has a very ____ per capita transport emissions relative to other OECD countries.
High
The _____ sector is the largest emitter of carbon dioxide in NZ.
Transport
GHG emissions from the waste sector are primarily due to:
Decomposing organic material in landfills.
Our waste system is dependent on our transport system for collection and transport to processing and/or disposal facilities. This is an example of ______ dependence.
Physical.
Buildings are a key infrastructure system because:
- We spend the majority of our time inside buildings.
- Buildings tend to be the source and/or end point for most of our infrastructure systems.
What are GHG emissions mitigation strategies in the building sector in NZ?
- Improving insulation of a building
- Switching from single glaze to double/triple glaze windows
- Switching from gas to electric water heater
- Improving the energy efficiency of appliances
Emissions from the building system are driven by:
Energy use.
How could emissions be mitigated from the transport system?
- Reducing the carbon intensity of our fuels
- Increasing the density of our urban spaces
- Improving the energy efficiency of vehicles
- Shifting from private to public transportation
Globally, waste management is dominated by:
Open landfills
