Ota, Japan Ota is located 80 kilometres north-west of Tokyo and is one of Japan’s sunniest locations. Through investment by the local government, Ota is one of Japan’s first solar cities — three-quarters of the town’s homes are covered by solar panels that have been distributed free of charge.
Waste incineration in Vienna A waste incineration and heat generation plant is part of a hard-waste management system in Vienna, Austria (see FIGURE 3 ). This plant became the first in the world to burn waste that cannot be recycled and use the energy generated by the plant in a heating network. The plant burns more cleanly and produces more heat and energy than many other waste generation plants, making it attractive to many urban communities. Each year, waste is turned into heat and electricity and supplies heating and hot water for 350 000 apartments — around a third of the city’s total. Landfill waste has been reduced by 60 per cent in the city. Green architecture in Japan The ACROS Fukuoka building located in Fukuoka, Japan, is an example of plants and greening being used to enhance a building ( FIGURE4 ). The terraced green roof and green walls merge with a park and contain around 35 000 plants. The green roof keeps the temperature inside more constant and comfortable, thus reducing energy consumption. It is also able to capture rainwater run-off and attracts insects and birds. In addition, it is visually appealing and attracts many people to the surrounding park.
FIGURE3 Spittelau waste treatment plant in Vienna, Austria. This power station burns waste, thus reducing landfill, to produce heat that is supplied to thousands of buildings.
FIGURE4 The ACROS Fukuoka building located in Fukuoka, Japan
Sustainable housing in Melbourne The Commons is a sustainable housing project located in Brunswick, Melbourne, designed with an emphasis on environmental responsibility and community wellbeing. Developed as part of a larger trend toward eco-friendly urban living, the project features a range of sustainable design principles aimed at reducing its environmental footprint. The Commons incorporates energy-efficient technologies and environmentally friendly materials, creating a model for sustainable housing in urban areas.
472 Jacaranda Humanities Alive 8 Victorian Curriculum Third Edition
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