Development of an environmental sustainability model for new residential development in South Australia: an ecological footprint approach
Date
2012
Authors
Morrissey, J.
Carre, A.
Boland, J.
Editors
Mendez, B.
Pena, J.
Pena, J.
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Source details - Title: Household energy: economics, consumption, and efficiency, 2012 / Mendez, B., Pena, J. (ed./s), Ch.5, pp.143-166
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Abstract
The inter-related issues of climate change and energy use have brought renewed focus on the importance of renewable energy generation and energy efficiency. In the residential sector, these strategies have the potential to contribute to significant energy reduction while adding to social security and long term economic well-being. In Australia, a lack of data has impeded the policy debate on residential energy use. In particular debates about environmental performance, standards and targets are contested and lack an empirical basis. A key problem is the complexity and multi-scaled nature of the challenges faced by decision makers. Policy measures need to account for complexity on the one hand, and to communicate to diverse audiences in simple terms on the other. To address these challenges for the residential sector, reliable evidence is required to inform design and planning stages, while the rationale for decision-making needs to be transparent. In this context, this paper presents a method for the assessment and benchmarking of new residential developments with reference to global ecological limits. Research is conducted in conjunction with the Land Management Corporation (LMC), the State Government land development agency in South Australia (SA), as part of wider initiatives to reduce energy use and emissions in the residential sector in SA. Informed by sustainability indicators theory, the research aims to link state of the art quantification at the component scale with succinct communication of global level implications. An Ecological Footprint model, incorporating detailed life cycle assessment, is developed to assess parameters of housing construction, housing design and performance and development configuration in terms of global ecological impacts. The Lochiel Park green development in SA is incorporated as a benchmark of current ‘good practice’ housing development. The developed model enables the comparison of alternative development scenarios and policy interventions for new residential development, allowing decision makers to simultaneously assess and communicate the implications of alternative policy pathways to diverse stakeholders. The approach incorporates scientifically robust and credible quantification while facilitating communication via a readily understandable global index. The integration of ecological footprint methodology with detailed life cycle assessment data for specific targeted outcomes, as reported here, represents an exemplar of best practice scientific analysis for policy making.
An Ecological Footprint model, incorporating detailed life cycle assessment, is developed to assess parameters of housing construction, housing design and performance and development configuration in terms of global ecological impacts. The Lochiel Park green development in SA is incorporated as a benchmark of current ‘good practice’ housing development. The developed model enables the comparison of alternative development scenarios and policy interventions for new residential development, allowing decision makers to simultaneously assess and communicate the implications of alternative policy pathways to diverse stakeholders. The approach incorporates scientifically robust and credible quantification while facilitating communication via a readily understandable global index. The integration of ecological footprint methodology with detailed life cycle assessment data for specific targeted outcomes, as reported here, represents an exemplar of best practice scientific analysis for policy making.
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Copyright 2012 Nova Science Publishing