Sustainable Urban Development Flashcards
Why is Urban sustainability needed?
In cities, huge quantities of energy and water are consumed. Waste disposal and traffic congestion are also problems. Cities can tackle these problems and become more sustainable.
Environmental planning in Freiburg
Waste recycling is a key feature of sustainable urban living.
Freiburg has reduced landfill by:
Reducing annual waste disposal from 140 000 to 50 000 in 12 years
Provided energy for 28 000 homes by burning waste
A biogas digester for organic food and garden waste which is collected weekly
More than 1 million corks recycled yearly
90kg per head of non-recyclable waste (Germany’s average is 122kg)
350 community collection points for recycling
More than 88% of packaging waste recycled
Environmental planning also involves the use of brownfield sites.
Social planning in Freiburg
In Freiburg, local people are involved in urban planning at both local and city level.
Local people can invest in renewable energy resources
Financial rewards are given to people who compost their green waste and use textile nappies.
Economic Planning in Freiburg
Freiburg is a city where people come to attend conferences on sustainability, and this provides jobs for local people. More than 10 000 people are employed in 1500 environmental businesses in the city.
Their solar valley
The solar factory employs 250 people making solar panels
A solar training centre provides training in the skills needed for the new solar tech
Many solar institutions have their HQs in Freiburg, and the city hosts major European solar energy conferences
The institute for Solar energy systems conducts research and has developed new systems for solar cooling and air conditioning
Water conservation in Freiburg
Freiburg’s waste water system allows rainwater to be retained, reused or to seep back into the ground. Water conservation involves:
Collecting rainwater for use indoors
Green roofs
Pervious pavements that allow rainwater to soak through
Unpaved tramways
Drainage wetlands
Energy Conservation in Freiburg
Freiburg has a strict energy policy based on:
Energy saving
Efficient tech
Use of renewable energy sources
It is also one of Germany’s sunniest cities so solar power is an important form of renewable energy. There are about 400 solar panel installations in the city. However, the largest proportion of Freiburg’s renewable electricity comes from Biomass, using waste food and rapeseed oil. This produces enough energy to heat Freiburg’s three swimming pools.
Freiburg: sustainable living: creating green space
Green spaces help keep the air clean, provide a natural and free recreational resource and provide a habitat for wild life.
Examples:
- 40% of the city is forested
- only native tress and shrubs are planted in the 600 hectares of parks
- 44,000 trees have been planted in parks and streets
- 56% of forests are nature conservation areas of which 50% is managed and the remaining 6% left wind
Sustainable traffic management in Freiburg
They have an integrated traffic plan
The tram network provides efficient, cheap and accessible public transport, they have 400km of cycle paths and restrictions on car parking spaces; in the Vauban district each one costs £20 000.
The trams:
Low fares allow unlimited travel in the city and surrounding district
Any ticket for a concert, sports or other event is also valid for use on public transport
The tram network covers 30km and is connected to the 168km of city bus routes
70% of the population live within 500m of a tram stop with a tram every 8min
Sustainable traffic management in Singapore
Restricted entry to the city centre during rush hours
Development of an overhead railway system and efficient bus network
Advanced electronic monitoring and control of traffic signals to keep traffic flowing
Electronic road pricing on major roads
Quota system to reduce the number of car owners
High petrol prices
High vehicle registration fees and strict requirements for obtaining a driving licence
Financial incentives for using cars only at weekends
Government car-sharing schemes
As a result, there is 45% less traffic and 25% less accidents, 2/3 of all daily journeys ae by public transport and car ownership has declined by nearly 1% since 2000.
Sustainable traffic management in Beijing
Limiting car sales – only 20% of people who apply to own a vehicle are allowed to
Increased parking fees – congestion charge and pollution tax introduced to help improve air quality
Expansion if the public transport system – thirty new metro lines and a rapid bus transit system are to be built by 2020, the metro currently only serves half of Beijing’s population
Restrictions on vehicle use – cars are banned from the city one day a week, based on a number plate system. Non-residents can’t bring a car into the city.
The restrictions have led to a 20% drop in car use.
