Solar Power for a Sustainable City

Imagine a city where all electrical energy is from clean, renewable resources.  Does this sound like an implausible idea?  Well, this vision of the future is already in existence today and in one of the most famous cities in the world – Seville, Spain!  Seville is the fourth largest city in Spain and has been in the global eye for millennia.  It is where Ferdinand Magellan began the first voyage around the world and where the famous opera Barber of Seville calls home.  However, what makes it remarkable today is that it is almost entirely powered by solar energy!

How It Works

Seville gets over 3,000 hours of sunlight each year, which makes it a perfect place for solar energy.  The process works by focusing large mirrors called heliostats on a receiver which heats water into steam as it travels into a drum.  This is used to propel massive turbines creating electrical energy before being condensed back into water and beginning the trip all over again.

A solar tower power plant

The Solucar Complex

The Solucar Complex is where Seville will get all of its energy needs from.  It uses a wide range of technologies including solar towers and troughs.  As newer technologies are discovered, they have been incorporated into each new plant within the complex.  Its construction began in 2004 and the first tower, the PS10, began operations in 2007.

History

While the current Solucar Complex generates 180 megawatts (MW) of power, it has been a process to get there.  In addition, the total scope of the complex is only halfway built!  By the end of completion, it will have the capacity to generate power all of Seville, a city at almost 750,000 people.

The PS10 Solar Power Plant was the first completed portion of the complex, finished in 2007.  Capable of generating 11 MW or approximately 3% of Seville’s power needs.  This plant consists of 624 mirrors that heat water in a central unit and is the world’s first commercial solar tower. 

However, this was nowhere near enough for true power independence and a progression toward renewable sources.  The PS20 Solar Power Plant was added in 2009, capable of 20 MW.  It has double the number of mirrors and represents the 2^nd generation of solar technology which means that the energy conversion rate is higher as well.  It is the most powerful solar tower in the world.

The PS10 and PS20 towers

Combined, these towers account for 10% of Seville’s power requirements.  As of 2010, the construction of Solnova 1, 3, and 4 have massively boosted the complex’s capacity.  These are trough style parabolic mirrors that track the sun as it moves across the daytime sky.  Each of the three plants generates 50 MW, boosting the total capacity of the current complex to 180 MW or 60% of Seville’s power needs.

Future

There are still three more plants that are set to be completed in 2013.  There is the AZ20, a solar tower similar to the PS20 that will generate 20 MW of power.  There are also the Solova 2 and 5 trough plants, each with another 50 MW like their predecessors.  In all, this brings the total to Seville’s required 300 MW of power, all from solar energy!

The Solnova plants in front of the PS10 and PS20 towers

Benefits

The Solucar Complex is responsible for the creation of 1,000 jobs in construction and another 300 in operating the various plants.  It is estimated that over the course of the complex’s 25 year life expectancy, it will prevent 600,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere per year.  This amount of carbon dioxide reduction would be similar to the amount that could be processed by almost 1.5 million trees!

Abengoa Solar

Abengoa Solar have been involved in the construction and operation of the Solucar Complex since its inception.  They operate a total of five complexes throughout Spain and one in Algeria.  They are involved in the expansion of these current complexes as well as new projects in the United States and United Arab Emirates.  They are also involved in complex operations in Chile and Mexico as joint projects with other companies.

The Green Revolution

Many other cities all over the world are joining the revolution to attain their energy needs from 100% renewable, non-polluting resources and it doesn’t just stop at solar.  Wind, hydro, and other energy alternatives are constantly being researched and improved to increase energy conversion rates and to make it affordable.  This is also the plan followed by new urban planners for new cities and growth. 

What makes Seville so unique is that they are actively building infrastructure for their city rather than buying offsets from other areas.  Essentially, their power grid is unique for their citizens.  As the sustainable movement continues to evolve, so too will new ideas on how to make it possible.

Sources: Abengoa Solar, Andalucia, Estela Solar, NREL, EERE, Power-Technology, ENS-Newswire, Indigo Guide, Destination 360, Bytelib

Vertical Farming: The Rise of Food Sustainability

You may or may not have heard about a new type of farming called “vertical farming”; yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like! Vertical farmers utilize unique space by farming upwards, in and on top of skyscrapers and tall buildings. Vertical farming is a great way towards a more sustainable alternative to regular crop farming because it means you can buy locally grown food while not using up any land. This can reduce emissions created from food products that travel long distances and, with an abundance of buildings, it’s possible to have hundreds of thousands pounds of vegetables and herbs produced annually and sold locally!

Dickson Despommier, a professor at Columbia University, describes here why vertical farming could, and should, change the world: 

(Learn more at verticalfarm.com) 

With Vancouver vying to be one of the greenest cities in the world by 2020, vertical farming can be one of those ideas that really puts a city over the top. Enter Alterrus Systems Inc., a Vancouver based company that was formed for the very purpose of creating North America’s first ever “VertiCrop” farm. VertiCrop is a technological innovation that revolutionized farming by allowing vegetables and herbs to grow vertically without any soil, pesticides, or herbicides. VertiCrop can change the way we farm by providing fresh produce to local communities quicker than ever before. The first-ever VertiCrop farm in North America will be located on the roof of a parking lot located in downtown Vancouver and will produce around 150,000 pounds of green produce annually. The food will then packaged and sold locally under the brand name “Local Garden”.

A Problem of Sustainability

The world’s population is increasing. But we are running out of land for farming. 70% of all fresh water on the planet is used for agriculture. yet the runoff is unusable due to contaminants in the soil. To sustainably create the amount of food the world will require, farming needs to be modified. We require a combination of solutions and a paradigm shift in how we grow and distribute healthy food.

The World Needs to Grow Up

Vertical farming addresses the problems of increased demand for sustainable, nutritious food. Vast areas of underutilized urban space, such as empty buildings and rooftops, can be used to grow fresh produce at or near to where it is to be consumed. Contrast this with the status quo that ships produce to grocers from an average of 1,500 miles away. Transporting produce over such long distances not only generates carbon emissions, but a dependence on foreign oil. In addition, closed-loop vertical farming environments don’t require the use of harmful pesticides and herbicides, which totally eliminates contaminated runoff. And with only the minimal amount of water needed to grow a variety of fresh, healthy produce, this sustainable farming method helps conserve our planet’s most precious resource.

- Alterrus

In the United Kingdom, the team at Vertical Veg are teaching people how to grow vertical farms themselves, right on their balconies! By following their blog or attending classes, individuals can learn how to grow food to feed themselves, their families, and more. Depending how much space each person has, they can grow as little as a one plant to as much as the creators themselves! Vertical Veg reports how much they grow by weight and dollar value so readers can really see the difference this sustainable innovation can make. Check out their Growing Diaries to learn more.

If you're interested in growing your own food try searching local information to ensure you grow the proper crops at the appropriate times of year for the greatest success. Be sure to review your building and city bylaws as well to ensure you are operating within your limits! There are also many other sustainable agricultural projects popping up around the world so if you're interested in participating be sure to keep an eye out. In Vancouver the Strathcona Community Gardens and SOLEfood Farm are doing their part to support the greenest city. Restaurants such as the Forage are also going green by using local foods, emitting zero-waste, and installing solar panels. There are also food trucks that are being set up that sell food products made from local ingredients and utilize renewable energy. 

Learn more about sustainable eating with Farm-To-Table: Local Sustainability and Sustainable Agriculture - what it is and how you can support it.

Sources: Alterrus, The Economist, The Star News, The Georgia Straight News, Gadling, VertiCrop JPEG, VertiCrop.com, 1 Sole, Strathcona Gardens, Vancouver, Vertical Veg

Greencyclopedia Staff Picks

Check out our top 10 staff picks or read our previous post for your reader's choice favourites! Click the links to read more.

Sustainable Agriculture -what it is and how you can support it

What is a "carbon footprint", and what does it mean to be "carbon neutral" or"carbon negative"?

African Solar Lanterns

Solar Success - how companies are making solar power affordable

Renewable Energy Documentaries

28 Ways to Build a Green Lifestyle

Farm-To-Table: Local Sustainability

Ocean Power

Wind Energy in the Home

Green Leaders

Reader's Choice: Our Top 10 Articles of All Time

Here are our top 10 articles as shown by you, our readers! Click the titles to read more.

Geothermal Energy in the Home

Top 10 Technology Advances in Renewable Energy

Green Resolutions

Natural Gas

Top 10 Transactions in Renewable Energy in 2011

Solar Power At Home - now easier than ever!

Easy ways to get your kids thinking about the environment early

Profiling Biofuel Feedstocks

Eco-Friendly Architecture: paints, flooring, green roofs, and more!

Renewable Energy Hotspots: where they are and why

Sustainable Agriculture - what it is and how you can support it

When most people think of sustainable agriculture they think of agriculture that is less harmful to the environment - while you can’t have sustainable agriculture that isn’t environmentally sustainable, there can certainly be much more to it.  Sustainable agriculture is agriculture that is practiced in a way that doesn’t impact future generations’ ability to grow food.  In order for this to happen, practices used must be sustainable in all of three categories:  Environmental, Social, and Economic. 

Environmental Sustainability

Agriculture is heavily reliant on the environment in order to be productive - a healthy environment will produce more food as well as maintaining reserves of wildlife and native plant species. 

There are endless opportunities for improving environmental sustainability in agriculture.  Innovation continues to improve upon unsustainable methods, replacing them with newer, sounder practices – or, in some cases, leading us to old methods that can be adapted for modern agriculture.

Here are a few ways that agricultural facilities can improve their environmental sustainability:

Soil amendments and cover crops: Healthy soil doesn’t require as many chemical inputs.  Adding organic matter to soil, such as compost or manure, adds nutrients and roughage without the chemicals.  As well, certain cover crops can add nutrients to the soil, such as nitrogen-fixing clover.

Wildlife habitat: Preserving sensitive habitats (such as fish-bearing streams) and breaking up cultivated areas with wildlife reserves can help to minimize farming’s effects on wildlife populations.  Protecting habitat can be as simple as setting up a fence to keep cattle out of a stream. Hedgerows can provide valuable bird habitat.

Non-renewable energy inputs: Sometimes it’s unavoidable to use non-renewable energy sources or other non-farm inputs, but whenever possible, farming should be a closed energy loop.  Everything used on the farm should be from the farm.  For example, manure from dairy cows can be used to fertilize the corn that the same animals will be eating. 

Integrated Pest Management (IPM): Integrated pest management is a different way of looking at controlling agricultural pests.  Instead of using a pesticide, farmers seek out other, often inventive, ways of dealing with pests.  The best known IPM strategy is the use of ladybugs to control aphids.  Native ladybug species are purchased and released into fields, where they prey upon plant-destroying aphids.  No pesticides are necessary.

In British Columbia, farmers can create an Environmental Farm Plan with the help of the BC Agricultural Council and the BC Agricultural Research and Development Corporation.  Farmers that complete the program can even be eligible for funding to help implement the plan on their farms.

Social Sustainability

Social sustainability refers to how easily a farmer coexists with their neighbours and other stakeholders in the area.  Simple consideration of neighbours and socially sustainable farming practices will help to ensure the farmer will be able to stay farming.

Light pollution: Greenhouse facilities and other practices can produce a lot of light, and can keep neighbours up at night.  Usually, the solution is as simple as blinds for the interior of the greenhouse.

Noise pollution: Certain agricultural practices can be very noisy, such as propane sound cannons for bird control in blueberry fields.  Using sound-free methods is best when it’s possible.

Visual Pollution: A tidy farm enterprise is more pleasant for everyone involved!  Sometimes this means keeping the farm property clear, and sometimes it means keeping shellfish aquaculture floats out of sightlines from the ritzy hotel.

Cultural Sensitivity:  When agricultural endeavors are near to or on top of land that may be culturally sensitive, extra care should be taken.  For example, in certain areas Canadian First Nations People may forage for certain plants on Crown land.  Cattle should be excluded from grazing in areas where culturally sensitive plants are growing at prime foraging times.

Animal ethics: Animal welfare is becoming a priority for many people.  Farmers who wish to ensure their animals are treated in an ethical way can now enroll in programs such as the BCSPCA Certified Program.

Economic Sustainability

Farmers must make money to keep farming -it’s as simple as that.  Any business that doesn’t make money is one that won’t last long.  Sometimes sustainability is a balancing act between social or environmental sustainability and economic sustainability.  In order to maintain high standards in other categories of sustainability,

Secondary sources of income: A secondary source of income will give farmers the padding they need in order to make the right decisions for environmental and social sustainability on their farm.  The income source could be another job, renting out portions of the property, agritourism, anything!

Labour costs: Unfortunately, labour costs for a lot of sustainable practices are higher than their unsustainable counterparts.  Farmers can help to offset these costs by using Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms, or WWOOFers.  WWOOFers travel from all over the world to work on organic farms in return for room and board while they are working.  It’s a great opportunity to see new countries and meet new people.

Marketing costs:  Marketing costs can seem daunting, especially for a small enterprise.  Forming a farm co-operative and sharing costs can help the small farmer get ahead.  A farm co-operative could even help share other costs, if all the farms in it work together!

Organics and Sustainability

Just because a food is labeled “Organic” doesn’t mean it’s sustainable.  Organic crops can still be produced in an unsustainable manner, or shipped in from unsustainable distances.  Here are a few things you can do to help make sure your produce is as sustainable as possible:

Buy local and seasonal.  Produce that is grown in your area requires lower inputs to get to the store/farmers’ market/restaurant, and by buying seasonal produce you’re more likely to get produce that’s local.

Know your certifying bodies.  Each piece of organic produce is certified, and each certifying body has different regulations about what makes the produce organic.  By having a general idea which bodies have regulations to ensure sustainable and ethical practices, you can make educated decisions while shopping.  In British Columbia, check out the Certified Organic Association of BC.

Meet your farmer.  The best way to educate your self is to talk to the farmer!  Buy farm-gate produce or shop at farmers’ markets whenever it’s possible.  Ask the farmer how they grow their crops.  The farmers that are passionate about sustainable practices will enthusiastically share their knowledge.

Sources: EPA, Hobby Farms, Hume Seeds, Friday Design,Ban The Cannons, NRCS, Agritourism, Farmers Market, Local Farming, Market Vegetables, Agroecology: Ecological Processes in Sustainable Agriculture.  Stephen R. Gliessman, Eric Engles, Robin Krieger, Ann Arbor Press, 2000

Back To School - the green way!

It’s that time of the year again - a brand new start of the school year for students and their parents!­ Take this opportunity to introduce some new practices into your daily life that can be more environmentally friendly. You may even be able to save costs by switching to more effective and green alternatives for the start of the new school year!

Green Transportation

Reducing your carbon footprint and making healthy choices

To really make a difference and reduce your impact on the environment, beginning this fall, do your best to reduce the amount you drive your kids to and from school. One popular way is to enroll your children into a bus program. School buses reduce a great amount of emissions, especially if it’s a newer bus that is up to date with the current emission-reducing standards. There’s also the possibility of carpool – either one of your neighbours can start carpooling kids from your neighbourhood or you can start your own carpool. 

If your school does not offer a bus program, or if you just live nearby, get your children to ride their bike or walk to school! A co-op walk team can help keep your kids safe by having groups walk together and alternating parent escorts if needed. 

Eco Supplies

Taking inventory and reusing what you can

Before deciding to go out and buy brand new school supplies for your children, take some time to look at what you’re currently have and see if anything can be reused. Why buy new pens and pencils when the old ones are still usable?  No need to buy a new notebook just because a few pages have been used in one from last year, or buying a new pencil case because the old one is out of style. Making smart, economical decisions can go a long way in saving your money and reducing production and waste emissions that comes from purchasing new supplies.

If your children get hungry or thirsty, its better that they reach for a reusable water bottle and plastic container instead of a disposable plastic water bottle and plastic ziplock bag. Either plastic or aluminum, reusable water bottles make for a much better alternative. Visit Good Housekeeping to read the list of some of the best water bottles around. Also, make sure that any water bottle purchased for reuse is BPA-free (Bisphenol A). There are also alternatives to plastic containers, such as SnackTAXI, who offer reusable food sacks. One “snack-sack” can reduce the use of about 1000 plastic bags over its lifetime.

Buying new eco-friendly school supplies

When you have looked over what you have and you’ve decided that you still need some more school supplies, try to lean towards the greener alternative. Many major retailers are carrying recycled and renewable school supplies such as recycled notebooks, paper and binders, and biodegradable pencils. Paper Mate is offering biodegradable pencils that are offered at many major retailers, such as Staples. There is also Ecojot, who offer notebooks, journals, sketchbooks, and more made entirely from post-consumer waste. When looking for a new backpack, look for an environmentally as well as child friendly backpack, one that’s made from recycled material and is padded to prevent back pain. You can check out The Ultimate Green Store or Ecocentric Bags for an idea on some cool backpacks being offered.

Most of the money spent on supplies will be towards new clothes that children are always in need of. If your kids don’t mind, wearing hand-me-down clothing from friends and family or thrift stores can be one of the ways to save money and reduce your emissions. If your children are style-conscious, there are many popular brands like Adidas, Levi’s and H&M that offer clothes made from more eco-friendly material.

The most important thing to consider is that your children must understand and be educated on the importance of the environment and that even the little things can go a long way in sustaining our planet.

Little Steps

Go with what you know

Going green doesn't always have to mean big changes, sticking to some basic principals can make a big difference in little ways! REDUCE, REUSE, & RECYCLE every way you can. 

For more suggestions on going green with kids visit some of our other articles:

Easy ways to get your kids thinking about the environment early

28 Ways To Build A Green Lifestyle

Green Resources: Digital Textbooks

Or check out the following links for more resources:

Meadford Independent, “Green Tips for Back to School”

Tree Hugger, “How to Go Green: Back to School”
Huffington Post, “Green your Back-to-School Routine”

SnackTAXI

Ecouterre, “Levi’s, H&M, Adidas Debut Apparel Made With Eco-Friendly “Better Cotton””

Paper Mate, “Biodegrable Products”

Good Housekeeping, “Reusable water bottle reviews”

The Ultimate Green Store

Ecocentric Bags

Ecojot

Sustainable Urban Planning

What is Urban Planning?

Urban planning is the branch of architecture dealing with the design and organization of urban space and activities, including the physical arrangement of the cities and the condition they are in. Cities have employed planners to lay out their infrastructures for years and, like many professions, urban planning has developed over time to reflect the changes in our society and our planet.

Historically, urban planning was primarily concerned with the placement of certain things near other things (i.e. a waste treatment plant should be far away from an elementary school, but a park could be nearby). As the awareness of climate change has grown, and a general shift has been made to a more eco-friendly way of life, urban planning can now take sustainability to heart and begin building greenest cities from the ground up.

How can a city "Go Green"?

These days it’s hard to say exactly what makes a city “green”. As creativity and innovation thrive, new and better ways to live environmentally friendly are constantly being revealed. Any step in the right direction is a good one and, lucky for us, there are many ways for our cities to show their green sides.

Clearing the clutter

Urban sprawl is the uncontrolled spread of urban development into neighboring areas; much like organizing your closet or defragmenting your computer, putting stuff where it belongs can greatly increase the available space you have by maximizing the space you use. Urban planning that reduces sprawl is considered green because it increases the density of city infrastructure and fits the same amount of “city” into a smaller area. Cutting back sprawl can positively impact a city’s sustainability in a number of ways:

Wildlife Refuges

When a city is compact, land that would have otherwise been used by sprawl is left in a more natural state. This provides opportunities for wildlife habitat and also acts as a reserve for native plant species. Available wildlife habitat keeps wildlife and humans both safer, and interactions to a minimum. The forests and vegetation that grow on this land will also act as a natural water filtration system and a carbon sink.

The city of Seattle, Washington comprises over 54,000 acres of land; of this, more than 6,000 acres is green space. The city’s Urban Wildlife and Habitat Management Plan lays out guidelines for managing land such that crucial wildlife habitat is left undisturbed. Land that is considered to be of particular importance for wildlife is acquired by the city to prevent its development, and green spaces are linked whenever possible.

Food Security

In addition to threatening natural ecosystems, urban sprawl threatens farmland. As the need for growth in the city centre pushes the city limits outwards, productive farmland is bought up and developed for other uses.  This increases a city’s dependence on food grown out of town or overseas.  When food isn’t grown locally, it requires large input of energy (usually in the form of fossil fuels) to transport it to where it will be consumed. 

To help protect farmland, the Town of Oliver, BC, collaborated with Land and Water BC to create the Wine Village and Kettle Valley Railway Plan. The plan conceptualizes a compact, pedestrian-friendly village with mostly multi-family dwellings. Surrounding the village is fertile wine country, agrotourism to which is marketed by the village in order to give agriculture in the area a boost and ensure continued production.

Fossil Fuel Use

It’s not just food that uses up fossil fuels to get around!  When a city begins to sprawl, opportunities to take alternate forms of transportation begin to diminish. People become reliant on their cars to get around, since walking, cycling, or public transit are often no longer viable options. Air quality suffers, as does the health of the individual who is now hopping in their car instead of hopping on their bike.

BedZED, short for Beddington Zero Energy Development, is a multi-use planned community in London, England.  It includes both residential and commercial spaces, and has been built to be carbon neutral.  Ideally, workers in the office space would live in the residential buildings and be able to walk neatly to work. 

Affordability

Another unfortunate, and probably less thought-of, effect of urban sprawl is its effect on our pocket book.  Whenever new housing developments or commercial properties are built, the infrastructures to support them need to follow.  Tax payers end up footing the bill for extra roads, sewers, water, and electric that wouldn’t be necessary in a more compact city layout. 

In Vancouver, BC, zoning bylaws were amended in 2009 to allow a secondary dwelling structure on many previously single-family lots. The secondary “laneway” house can be as large as 750 square feet, depending on the size of the lot. Laneway houses can be used as guest houses, as in-law suites, or as rental properties to increase the homeowner’s income. 94% of lots outside of Vancouver’s downtown core were affected by the zoning change. The potential for increasing residential without rebuilding is huge, and all without creating the need for new roads or sewers.

Where to start?

For the city that’s ready to make the first step, there are many resources available to help. British Columbia’s Ministry of Community Development has published an e-book, A Guide to Green Choices, aimed directly at communities looking to improve. The BC Climate Change Council offers Sustainability Facilitators and planners free of charge to local BC community governments.  Outside of BC, consultants such as PlanGreen will help communities establish policies and meet their environmental goals. 

What can I do?

There are lots of things you can do to help your community reach its green goals!

Contribute to infilling

Infilling is the process of increasing the density of a city by replacing or adding to existing developments. Infilling reduces urban sprawl and helps to prevent habitat loss and unnecessary infrastructure. You can help in a couple of ways:

• Consider a dwelling in a multi-family development, such as a condominium or a town-home.
• Give tiny houses a chance! In areas where lane-way houses are allowed, consider downsizing your life and living in a tiny house or a small house.  Seven hundred and fifty square feet may seem small, but a tiny house done right can pack a lot of house into a little space. Check out the Tumbleweed Tiny House Company to see floor layouts of dwellings under 900 square feet.

Make yourself more food-secure

Food security is a term that’s used when talking about how stable our food supply is. When food is shipped in from overseas, it is not a secure food system. Something like a fuel shortage or a political disagreement can disrupt shipment and leave us hungry. To help make yourself more food secure, try some of these ideas: 

• Support local farmers. Farmers markets are a great place to buy produce, and they’re a lot of fun, too. Supporting our local farmers ensures they are there when we need them.
• Grow your own food if it’s possible. Find a community garden, or dig a plot in your backyard. Even a container on your patio helps a little.  Looking for more space to grow or have space to spare? Maybe a yard-sharing program is for you. Yard sharing programs connect people who need space and people who have unused property. In Metro Vancouver, you can check out Sharing Backyards. 

Plan your commute

• Live as close to work as you can. If you can walk or cycle to work, you are not using any fossil fuels. You’ll find you also free up all sorts of time if your commute is suddenly cut in half.
• Use public transit if you can
• Is there an option for you to telecommute? Take it whenever possible, even if it’s only one day a week, every little bit helps.
• If you can’t manage without your car, carpool! If it’s an option for you, you could also consider vehicles that use alternate forms of energy, such as natural gas or electricity.     

Be part of the solution

Most importantly, get involved! It’s your community, make it into what you want it to be. Stakeholders of the Resort Municipality of Whistler, BC, together with municipal staff, created a document they called the Whistler Environmental Strategy (WES). While the Municipal Council didn’t endorse the project, the resulting document has still influenced the decision-making process within the municipality. Several areas of environmental concern outlined in the WES have been further investigated and included in budgets and plans. Your voice can only be heard if you say something.

Sources: Seattle.gov, Coach House Builders, Plan Green, CSCD, Infrastructure, Vancouver, Wallpapers, Tumbleweed Houses, Blogspot Image, Macleans, CSCD