Introduction

Whole Systems Approach to Ecological Design

Appropriate Technology: Water

Organic Agriculture and Local Food

Appropriate Technology: Energy

Green Building & Retrofitting

Sustainable Transport

Transport is one of the most difficult areas in which to lower the carbon footprint.  We are so used to the effectiveness of fossil fuels to provide our mobile energy.  For the ecovillage designer, the following are some options:

• Minimise the need for transport within the ecovillage and the bioregion, which means localisation of activities and strengthening internal links.
• Encourage bicycles – perhaps electric bicycles for longer journeys
• If biofuel crops are local, consider pressing suitable oils, such as rapeseed or sunflower.
• Ecovillage buses and car sharing
• Adopt new technologies, as they become viable, electric, compressed air and hydrogen technologies.

Hydrogen Fueled Cars – some encouraging research

Recent research is showing that generating hydrogen by electrolysis from wind generation and using it in a fuel cell powered car can be viable.  The current problem is that the fuel cell cars are currently expensive, because of low volume production.

A company called Pure Energy Systems (www.pure.shetland.co.uk) has pioneered a successful process.  Approximately 1 kW of dedicated wind generation with a capacity factor of 35% will power a small car, traveling ~7,000 km per annum.  This assumes a loss of 15% in the hydrogen generation and storage system.

Click on image to enlarge

Click on image to enlarge

PURE’s research station in Shetland.
Click on image for more information about Pure Energy Systems