Novotny, V (2013) Water-energy nexus: Retrofitting urban areas to achieve zero pollution. Building Research & Information, 41(5), pp. 589-604. ISSN 0961-3218
Abstract
A major paradigm shift is examined for building new and retrofitting historic communities striving towards appropriate consumption of resources and reduced pollution: reusing and recycling water; recovering energy, nutrients, and other resources from used water and solids; attaining a sustainable use of water resources; and attaining net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions targets. The key global and regional footprints identifying the trends towards the sustainable water-energy nexus in future ecocities are defined. Three scales are examined: domestic (individual building), cluster (ecoblock) and regional levels. An integrated approach to urban design and the use of water resources is presented. The future hybrid (partially closed) system would reclaim clean water, nutrients and other resources, and produce additional energy. Methane- and hydrogen-based energy recovery and conversion to electricity in an integrated resource recovery processes are proposed. The triple bottom line analysis and willingness to pay can be used to determine quantitative social values of non-market commodities (i.e. ecological enhancement, sustainability, improvements in water quality and aesthetic assets, and the reduction of GHGs emissions). Urban retrofit solutions are outlined for reducing water use, creating net zero GHGs, eliminating pollution, and generating financial revenue through the recycling and recovery of resources.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | cities; drainage; retrofit; sustainable urban design; urban planning; water conservation; water-energy nexus; watershed management |
| Index terms: | paradigm, urban area, net zero, water quality, social value, drainage, urban planning, consumption, retrofitting, greenhouse gas, integrated approach, willingness to pay, conversion, recovery, water conservation, urban design, pollution, aesthetic, recycling, water resource, resource recovery, revenue |
| Subjects: | climate science, waste management, consumer economics, operations management, urban planning, economic analysis, contractual arrangements, energy systems, urban form and morphology, education and knowledge transfer, renovation and retrofit, manufacturing engineering, factor and component analysis, urban design, sociology, environmental health, environmental engineering, price determination, occupational health, infrastructure and transport systems |
| Topics: | Design Practice, Urban Studies, Procurement, Governance, Sustainability, Stakeholder Management, Project Management, Research Practice, Engineering Principles, Business Strategy, Health and Safety |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCT |
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