Analysis of Sustainable Energy Systems in Ecovillages: A Review of Progress in BedZED and Masdar City

Dan Zhu¹, Michael Kung², Liang Zhou^3,4

¹College of Design, Construction and Planning, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA.
²College of Education, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA.
³School of Geographic and Oceanographic Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
⁴Department of Geography, Indiana University, Bloomington, USA.

DOI: 10.4236/lce.2015.61001                

Abstract

This paper explores sustainable energy systems in ecovillages based on the concept of the Zero Energy Building. The cases discussed in this paper include BedZED in the United Kingdom and Masdar City in the Middle East. These two communities contain features characterized by the sustainable principles of the ecovillage concept by using renewable energy and reclaimed materials to reach a low/zero energy system in buildings. The creation of more ecovillages and the growth of current ecovillages play an important role in positively solving environmental and social problems. The low energy buildings in the ecovillages also act as a model for communities wishing to implement sustainable development.

Keywords

Zero Energy Building, Renewable Energy, Sustainable Development, Ecovillage, Reclaimed Materials

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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