Sustainable Communities

Abstract

Sustainable communities are defined in direct relation with the nearly Zero Energy Community concept, where the energy is mainly produced using renewables and its consumption considers energy-saving measures implemented at residential, public and commercial building levels. The main steps in implementing renewable energy systems to meet the energy demand at building and community level are outlined, focusing on specific aspects in various communities. The operation and energy management in sustainable communities are analysed considering that the energy demand does not fully match the availability of renewable energy sources, particularly of solar energy. Examples of sustainable communities selected all over the world are described, outlining solutions that rely on renewable energy mixes containing solar energy conversion systems. The emergent trends in using the solar energy at the community level are discussed, focusing on the use of novel materials that support the decrease in the thermal energy demand, on the energy mixes of two or more renewable energy sources and on the energy management supporting significant energy savings in the built environment.