Energy Sustainability A Pragmatic Approach and Illustrations.docVIP

Sustainability 2009, 1, 55-80; doi:10.3390/su1010055 OPEN ACCESS sustainability ISSN 2071-1050 /journal/sustainability Article Energy Sustainability: A Pragmatic Approach and Illustrations Marc A. Rosen Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, 2000 Simcoe Street North, Oshawa, Ontario, L1H 7K4, Canada; E-Mail: marc.rosen@uoit.ca; Tel.: +1-905-721-8668; Fax: +1-905-721-3370 Received: 9 March 2009 / Accepted: 27 March 2009 / Published: 30 March 2009 Abstract: Many factors to be appropriately addressed in moving towards energy sustainability are examined. These include harnessing sustainable energy sources, utilizing sustainable energy carriers, increasing efficiency, reducing environmental impact and improving socioeconomic acceptability. The latter factor includes community involvement and social acceptability, economic affordability and equity, lifestyles, land use and aesthetics. Numerous illustrations demonstrate measures consistent with the approach put forward, and options for energy sustainability and the broader objective of sustainability. Energy sustainability is of great importance to overall sustainability given the pervasiveness of energy use, its importance in economic development and living standards, and its impact on the environment. Keywords: Energy; Sustainability; Renewable energy; Efficiency; Environment; Economics; Exergy; Life cycle analysis. 1. Introduction Energy sustainability is becoming a global necessity, given the pervasive use energy resources globally, the impacts on the environment of energy processes and their reach beyond local to regional and global domains, and the increasing globalization of the world’s economy. Energy is directly linked to the broader concept of sustainability and affects most of civilization. That is particularly evident since energy resources drive