Is it enough to provide energy efficiency solutions through buildings and application of renewables to have healthy and livable Cities?

It looks like there are other important issues to take into consideration.

Cities are the witnesses of a close relationship between humans and vehicles. Our dependency on motor vehicles[1] is too strong because they are very efficient by solving such questions as mobility and promptness that are related to the quality of life. But are the vehicles efficient in terms of environmentally harmful gases?

The pollutants emitted by motor vehicle engine are not only carbon dioxide (CO2) which is, together with water, are the products of combustion if the engine is totally efficient. They also include nitrogen oxides (NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide (CO), particulates, sulphur dioxide (SO2) and lead – the products emitted due to the fuel type, which is mainly petrol containing impurities. Emission of VOCs from motor vehicles is a problem that accounts for 40% of man-made emissions in Western Europe.

Comparison between limit values from EUs type approval regulations (black clouds) to emissions in “real life” city traffic from the average Euro 6 diesel passenger car. NOx, PM and CO2 emission when using the Helsinki city cycle. Measured at +23 °C (red clouds) and -7 °C (blue clouds). The size of the red and blue clouds indicate the difference in emission from the emission in the type approval test (NEDC).The source: Diesel cars have high emissions in real traffic

The use of a public transportation is one of the countermeasures to reduce air pollution. 50 cars create as much pollution as one bus. Modern diesel cars emit up to four times more toxic pollution, mainly NOx, than a bus in city driving conditions. NOx emissions from heavy vehicles like bus or lorry have been reduced dramatically recently because of the strict tests applied in EU since 2011, the strictness not applied for cars.

The vehicles assigned for public transport, like buses, have shown recently their efficiency through application of hybrid models which enables the local administrations to save up to 30% of fuel annually. Another example of contribution to energy efficiency and clean environment is the use of electric vehicles. This is what is called a “green fleet”. So, the energy efficient technology is another effective countermeasure.

If there is an affordable and readily available technology that can help to reduce emissions and there are elements that have been already implemented for zero contamination in cities, like buildings, what happens with the car industry? Apparently, the convenience and costs are the reasons for lack of implementation of the NOx reduction technology. It looks totally irresponsible and inefficient when so many nations in the worlds decided to shift from traditional energy generation sources to renewables in order to contribute to a more sustainable planet. By now we reached only a marginal improvement in emissions which is too far from the established “zero emission” target.

The central and local administrations have already designed measures to reduce contaminations in their cities. For example, Brussels Government declared that it will reduce the circulation of the most polluting vehicles starting from 2018. To control the effectiveness of this programme, the administration will install cameras for video monitoring. This is also a great contribution to the public health, since the contaminated air causes around 12,000 deaths in Belgium, 620 of which are produced in the capital.

The cities must be clean and healthy, the characteristics that made them more livable and attractive. We must mind, therefore, the practices and urban elements through which we can guarantee better places to live and work in. And this is our responsibility how fast we react to the detected problems related to contamination.

[1] Motor vehicles now include petrol and diesel-engined cars, motorcycles, light vans, passenger service vehicles (buses and coaches) and heavy goods vehicles (HGVs)

Sources:

Cincuenta coches contaminan lo mismo que un solo autobús

Bruselas reducirá progresivamente los vehículos más contaminantes a partir de 2018

Diesel cars emit up to four times more toxic pollution than a bus, data reveals

Diesel cars have high emissions in real traffic

Air Pollution Emissions in the UK

The Renewable Industry is not Related Exclusively to Developed Countries any more

Renewable energy is attracting more and more attention of the global community nowadays, in spite of the fact that still it is not a mainstream source of energy in the world. It is already stated that the renewables have a great generating capacity and they are able to provide energy to run the entire countries (we can recall the real examples shown recently by different countries like Germany and Portugal). Governments of 146 countries already offer supportive policies to this industry and try to keep a leading role in driving growth of renewables and 173 countries introduced targets related with renewable energies for 2016.

This shows a strong commitment of many nations to reduce the negative impact on climate change. At the same time, this practice ensures a sustainable growth of energy generation. According to the 2016 Global Status Report, the renewables generated 24% of global electricity in 2015.

The total investment in renewables reached $286 billion last year. The emergent countries like China[1], Brazil and India, performed the largest investments into renewables last year, although the leading countries on the international scenario according to per capita installations of wind, solar, hydropower and biomass are Denmark, Germany, Sweden, Spain and Portugal. The renewables provided 44% of total EU capacity in 2015. What is surprising is that less developed countries, like Morocco, Uruguay, Honduras, Nicaragua, the Philippines and South Africa, prioritized the transition from traditional to renewable sources for energy generation investing more than $500 million in renewables, having spent 1% of their GDP for renewable energy expansion. The developed countries, by contrast, decreased in their investments by 8% in 2015, a falling trend kept for the past five years.

Without a doubt, the renewable energy has grown fast worldwide recently. It is clearly seen from the growth in total investments – 5% more in 2015 than in 2014, and also from the renewable power capacity (in GW) – 9% more in 2015, that is, 148 GW more[2]. Just to understand these figures better, the additional gigawatts in 2015 are equivalent to Africa’s generating capacity from all sources. The most prominent renewable sources were solar and wind showing 28% and 17% of growth in their power capacities, respectively. The lowest growth corresponded to hydro and geothermal power capacities – 2,7% and 2,4%, respectively.

The renewables are a priority in many countries of the world what makes this industry truly global and not dependable on just a few nations. The renewable industry is shaping already the job market: only in the USA there are 11 million of people employed by 154 companies 100% committed to green energies.

[1] China played a dominant role in investment accounting for 36% of the global total ($102,9 billion), as per The Renewables 2016 Global Status Report.

[2] In 2015 renewables worldwide had the capacity to generate 1,849 gigawatts of power, compared to 1,701 gigawatts in 2014.

Record growth in renewable energy, especially in developing countries – new report

The Renewables 2016 Global Status Report

Renewable energy surges to record levels around the world

Developing world invests more in renewable energy than rich countries for first time, new study says

Energy efficient buildings as sustainable programmes and business

Urban growth is unstoppable: more than half of the world’s population now lives in towns and cities, and by 2030 this number will be about 5 billion. Modern cities must offer dynamic, efficient, healthy and sustainable space for its citizens through different elements and strategies. For example, through energy-efficient buildings that can help in management of serious questions like climate change, health and unemployment, to name just a few.

Buildings are a crucial urban element, they occupy 50% of the land are of any city and they are responsible for 40% of energy consumption and one third of CO2 emissions. According to the Institute for Diversification and Energy Saving, buildings generate 84% of power consumption during their service life distributed among heating, hot water and electricity use; 12% by construction, transportation and elements production, and 4% in maintenance and update. The target marked by EU is to reduce CO2 emissions generated by buildings by at least 80% and its energy consumption by as much as 50% by 2050.

Buildings always require large investment, especially when we speak about smart buildings. At the same time they require a different management type and life cycle analysis because of high comfort levels standards demanded by the consumers and modern equipment installed. The main objectives are to obtain high efficiency and returns on investment, both economic and social. Efficiency obtained through smart buildings is actually very profitable because of great savings in energy and water consumption, waste management and material resource use.

This is one of the instruments that the policymakers can successfully use – that is why the Administration, on all levels, tries to provide certain support for buildings’ users if they also contribute in more efficient systems to guarantee energy efficiency and reduce emissions. There are different funding programmes for optimization of air conditioning systems, lighting systems, energy control and management, façade update and construction of buildings with high energy classification. There are also subsidies to electricity generation for self-consumption through renewable energy sources, micro generation systems installations, centralized thermal production to supply power to several buildings and so on.

Efficient buildings also contribute greatly to public health because of the pollution reduction. High rates of exposure to indoor smoke and smog from coal-fired power plants are directly related to mortality rates, a sensitive question especially in the developing cities which must be addressed urgently. The renewables and “smart” systems designed for modern buildings constitute a real solution to create healthier places to work and live. Energy efficiency in buildings can be turned into sustainable programme and attractive business and this must be one of the immediate political priorities.

Sources:

4 surprising ways energy-efficient buildings benefit cities

IDAE, Instituto para la Diversificación y Ahorro Energético

Energy-efficient Buildings (EeB)

United Nations Population Fund