Selected community sustainability projects

Question 1

What are some examples of small relatively self contained communities trying to be more sustainable?

Answer 1

Eigg Scotland
BedZED London

Question 2

Where is Eigg?

Answer 2

A small island of the west coast of Scotland with an area of 31km*2 and 100 residents

Question 3

What as setup in 1996 in Eigg?

Answer 3

Isle of Eigg trust

Question 4

What was the aim of the Isle of Eigg trust?

Answer 4

To buy the island from the existing owner then manage the island for the benefit of the community, wildlife and the wider environment

Question 5

How is Eigg’s energy sustainable?

Answer 5

Eigg is not connected to the national electricity grid
Islands energy strategy emphasises renewables

Question 6

What was developed for Eiggs electricity in 2008?

Answer 6

Island electricity grid to distribute electricity generated by renewable sources with diesel backup generators

Question 7

How many HEP generators does Eigg have?

Answer 7

3 (largest has capacity of 100kw)

Question 8

What do some individual households on Eigg have to be more sustainable?

Answer 8

Micro-hydro systems
solar PV and photothermal systems

Question 9

How large is in terms of power is Eiggs solar farm?

Answer 9

50kw solar PV system

Question 10

How many wind turbines does Eigg have?

Answer 10

4 generating up to 24kw of electricity

Question 11

What is used for heating in many properties on Eigg?

Answer 11

Wood biomass

Question 12

How are most cars powered on Eigg?

Answer 12

mostly petrol or diesel with little electric

Question 13

What are some examples of habitats that have been protected on Eigg?

Answer 13

Sea cliffs (nests for seabirds)
Conifer plantations removed (restore bog and heath)
Rowan tree planted (provide winter bird food)

Question 14

What sort of birds nest on Eigg?

Answer 14

Hen harriers
Golden eagles
White tailed eagles

Question 15

How have areas with important wild plants been protected? (Eigg)

Answer 15

have been fenced for protection from grazing

Question 16

How is waste and recycling treated on Eigg?

Answer 16

Recyclable waste is collected and shipped off the island for recycling
Garden and food waste is composted and used as garden soil improver

Question 17

What does RBCMA stand for?

Answer 17

Rio bravo conservation and management area

Question 18

Where is Rio bravo?

Answer 18

Belize, Central America

Question 19

What species were selectively logged by the British up to the middle of the 20th century?

Answer 19

Mahogany

Question 20

Who now manages Rio bravo?

Answer 20

Belizian NGO ‘programme for Belize’

Question 21

What is the biodiversity of Rio bravo like?

Answer 21

High
200 tree species
400 bird species
70 mammal species

Question 22

Why does current exploitation of the Rio bravo area aim to make money for?

Answer 22

The reserve without causing long term damage

Question 23

What sort of areas in the Rio bravo reserve aren’t exploited?

Answer 23

More sensitive areas such as wetlands close to rivers

Question 24

What is the focus for tree selection for logging in Rio bravo?

Answer 24

The most economically valuable such as mahogany

Question 25

What is needed for trees to be felled in Rio bravo?

Answer 25

There must be trees of the same species upwind as there seeds will recolonise the area

Question 26

What allows trees form Rio bravo to be tracked?

Answer 26

Each reeled tree us given a unique identification tag allowing it to be traced to its original location

Question 27

Why is tracking of felled trees from Rio bravo done?

Answer 27

Used to gain accreditation of sustainable exploitation by the forest stewardship council

Question 28

What are buffer zones near rivers part if the Rio bravo management?

Answer 28

No mechanical or harvesting activities can occur near rivers because of the ecological sensitivity of aquatic ecosystems

Question 29

Why are small trees not felled in Rio bravo?

Answer 29

As it allows them to grow and be harvested in the future when they are larger

Question 30

Why might some large trees be left in the Rio bravo area?

Answer 30

They may be left because they produce many seeds that will help to fill spaces left by felled trees

Question 31

Why is there restricted use of machinery in Rio bravo?

Answer 31

Large machines can damage the trunks and roots of trees tat are not going to be felled

Question 32

Why must track roots be planned in the Rio bravo area?

Answer 32

Planned to avoid important trees and their roots (including rare trees and one which provide food) Previous tracks used whenever possible

Question 33

What is done with small branches from felling in Rio bravo?

Answer 33

Small branches with low commercial value are given to local artisans (carvers or furniture makers)

Question 34

Why are tree nurseries used in the Rio bravo area?

Answer 34

Tree seedlings are raised to increase the number if trees that’s ere over-exploited in the past or which are ecologically important (fruit trees)

Question 35

How is illegal logging controlled in Rio bravo?

Answer 35

Rangers patrol the reserve to control illegal logging Confiscated timber used to pay for conservation activities

Question 36

What is being done for carbon sequestration in Rio bravo?

Answer 36

Area of forest is part of a research programme to see the role of forests in reducing global climate change

Question 37

Where has funding for the carbon sequestration programme come from? (Rio bravo)

Answer 37

Electricity companies Individuals who want to minimise atmospheric CO2 levels

Question 38

Where is Kalundborg eco-industrial park?

Answer 38

Denmark

Question 39

What is the Kalundborg eco-industrial park?

Answer 39

Industrial symbiosis project where companies in an area are organised in a way that mimics natural cyclical processes

Question 40

What is done whenever possible with he eco-industrial park?

Answer 40

Located o that the raw materials they need are the waste from another industry

Question 41

What can be the use of heat waste from coal fired power stations?

Answer 41

Domestic heating Fish farms

Question 42

What can be the use of sulphur dioxide waste from coal fired power stations?

Answer 42

Building plaster manufacture

Question 43

What can be the use of ash waste from coal fired power stations?

Answer 43

Road building and cement manufacture

Question 44

What can the organic sludge waste from fish farms be used for?

Answer 44

Agricultural fertiliser

Question 45

What can the yeast waste from biotechnology and medicine manufacture be used for?

Answer 45

Pig farms (food)

Question 46

What can the fermentation sludge waste from biotechnology and medicine manufacture be used for?

Answer 46

Agricultural fertiliser

Question 47

What can the natural gas waste form oil refinery be used for?

Answer 47

Burnt in coal fired power stations

Question 48

What is the restriction to renewable energy?

Answer 48

Restricted by geographical and temporal availability

Question 49

What do large scale electricity grids allow for?

Answer 49

Make it possible to distribute electricity from area of surplus to areas of shortage

Question 50

What is the problem alternating current?

Answer 50

Requires every power station to be generating so that it can synchronise to be in phase with all others (difficult with a wide range of countries)

Question 51

What has been proposed to be able to harness more renewable energy?

Answer 51

Several large scale direct current projects

Question 52

What is an example of a large scale direct current project?

Answer 52

Pan Asian Energy infrastructure (Eastern Asia)