Robertsfors (Umea)
This is one of the fourth generation eco-municipalities. Robertsfors was developed as a model of a community that created a five year plan – a more directed and fast process. We arrived in the mid morning after a long night …. Due to delays we missed the flight from Stockholm toUmea the night before so spend Thursday night in Stockholm. Friday we caught a flight from Stockholm to Umea – very weary.
Our first stop was the Green Zone in Umea, a sort of industrial park that was designed and build incorporating green building practices and systems. It included a car dealership, a McDonalds and a petrol/ethanol station. We heard from the former director of ESam, Michael Jalmby speaking about biofuels. Sweden as a country has set a goal of being fossil fuel free by 2020. His work is now focused on developing this industry.
The strategies are clear: Limiting driving, increasing motor efficiency and developing the production and use of biofuels. This speaks to analyzing our goals… are we seeking cost efficiency or creating a role model that provides a long term solution. Short vs. long term goals. As a society we have sought the quick fix at the best price.
We learned about the chain of factors feeding into the biofuel development:
Feedstock
Production
Vehicles & distribution of the fuels
Education
Rules & Regulations
Market Demand
All links of the chain must be in place for the system to work.
We then heard from Anders Nyquist – the architect who designed the Green Zone. He made a commitment early in his career to design only zero-emmision buildings. Features he brought into the Green Zone include green roofs (sedum on tile), ethanol pumping station, car wash with features using far less water, geo-thermal heating and cooling, cellulose fibers insulation plus much more. 99% of the materials used in the building can be reused or recycled when the time comes to take it down. I kept thinking about the newly proposed development in Bayfield and wishing our mayor was here to hear this!
“Ecological sustainability generates financial gains. For the time being the investment cost for the building of an ecologically adapted facility is higher than for traditional methods. However, the substantial savings in operating costs compensates a great part of the investment costs.”
As an architect, he is a visionary. His presentation, his values, his knowledge all were inspiring. In speaking with the community leaders, the Green Zone has become a highly popular tourist attraction.
After lunch we visited Umea Energi plant. This plant runs at about 99.5% efficiency, generating energy primarily from municipal solid waste. The tour of the plant was quite extensive, hard hats and all. Many of the villages and communities are heated as a district. That is the case here with the majority of homes and businesses tied into this system. Lots of technical info provided – but yet another example.
To dinner. More good food.
Our first stop was the Green Zone in Umea, a sort of industrial park that was designed and build incorporating green building practices and systems. It included a car dealership, a McDonalds and a petrol/ethanol station. We heard from the former director of ESam, Michael Jalmby speaking about biofuels. Sweden as a country has set a goal of being fossil fuel free by 2020. His work is now focused on developing this industry.
The strategies are clear: Limiting driving, increasing motor efficiency and developing the production and use of biofuels. This speaks to analyzing our goals… are we seeking cost efficiency or creating a role model that provides a long term solution. Short vs. long term goals. As a society we have sought the quick fix at the best price.
We learned about the chain of factors feeding into the biofuel development:
Feedstock
Production
Vehicles & distribution of the fuels
Education
Rules & Regulations
Market Demand
All links of the chain must be in place for the system to work.
We then heard from Anders Nyquist – the architect who designed the Green Zone. He made a commitment early in his career to design only zero-emmision buildings. Features he brought into the Green Zone include green roofs (sedum on tile), ethanol pumping station, car wash with features using far less water, geo-thermal heating and cooling, cellulose fibers insulation plus much more. 99% of the materials used in the building can be reused or recycled when the time comes to take it down. I kept thinking about the newly proposed development in Bayfield and wishing our mayor was here to hear this!
“Ecological sustainability generates financial gains. For the time being the investment cost for the building of an ecologically adapted facility is higher than for traditional methods. However, the substantial savings in operating costs compensates a great part of the investment costs.”
As an architect, he is a visionary. His presentation, his values, his knowledge all were inspiring. In speaking with the community leaders, the Green Zone has become a highly popular tourist attraction.
After lunch we visited Umea Energi plant. This plant runs at about 99.5% efficiency, generating energy primarily from municipal solid waste. The tour of the plant was quite extensive, hard hats and all. Many of the villages and communities are heated as a district. That is the case here with the majority of homes and businesses tied into this system. Lots of technical info provided – but yet another example.
To dinner. More good food.
posted by pinehurstpair at 8:56 AM
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