L20 Urban Material Flow

Question 1

Why should we look at urban flows?

Answer 1

• 50% of world populations lives in urban regions
• cities occupt 3% of Earth’s land, account for 60-80% global energy consumption and 75% GHG emissions
• cities more vulnerable to climate change impacts bc of population density

Question 2

what is Urban Material Flow Analysis (MFA)

Answer 2

• systemically assess urban-related inputs, outputs and processes
• framework to investigate resource use and predict future requirements and understand how to improve (reduce costs, improve resource consumption efficiency etc)
• different scales (home, business, neighbourhood, community, city)

Question 3

Issues w urban MFA

Answer 3

• data intensitve
• snapshot for given time period, not dynamic
  -average data over geographic area (doesn’t account for spatial distributions)

Question 4

Strategies for Sustainable Urban Futures

Answer 4

1. Design for Reduced Demand (building insulations, active transportation, higher efficiency appliances, smart shading design)
2. Utilize Renewable Energy Sources (distributed PV generation, passive solar water heating systems, change electricity grid supply to renewable sources)
3. Improve Urban Planning (mixed-use areas, walkability, fused grid)
4. Exploit Waste Energy (Biogas, Cogeneration)
5. Reduce Losses in Supply Systems (drinking water supply system leaks, electricity transmission losses)