DEM worked with Haiyan City to design a carbon-neutral area, implementing sustainable initiatives in each step of the process.
The objective for the Danish Low Carbon Street is to create a carbon-neutral city that through technological empowerment, social awareness, economic insight, and environmental action are sustainable in every way. The design plan takes existing buildings into account, and new buildings are planned to secure optimal natural daylight internally, and sunlight for solar PV cells and solar water heating on buildings externally. Low carbon emissions are secured for the local water supply, drainage system, waste treatment system and local transportation within the area. Also, a green line provides a walk or bike riding area that perpetuates the story of sustainability by looping around the new energy facility and sustainability center. The planning of the area follows a Sustainability Strategy, which ensures that all initiatives work towards a smart city with low carbon emissions.
An Engineering Approach to SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities
By 2030, almost 60 percent of the world’s population will live in urban areas. Common urban challenges, as a result, include congestion, lack of funds to provide basic services, shortage of adequate housing, pollution, and declining infrastructure. Danish consulting engineers work closely with national governments and city administrations to develop solutions that will match the specific needs of a city whilst simultaneously strengthening the capacity of city planners and administrators to control urbanisation. More specifically, Danish consulting engineers for instance assist national governments and city administrations to build sustainable and climate resilient buildings utilizing local materials, we help create carbon-neutral cities and we mitigate the environmental impacts, e.g. air pollution, waste management, of growing cities and expanding infrastructure.
Danish Energy Management & ESBENSEN (DEM) is working with sustainability, the UN Global Goals, and circular economy within both new construction and renovations. And is also a member of FRI, the Danish association of consulting engineers. This story was originally featured in FRI’s publication: “Engineering a Better and Sustainable World“.