Smart Cities and Circular Economy: The Intersection of Technology and Sustainability

As urbanisation continues to grow and the world’s population expands, the need for sustainable cities has become increasingly crucial. Smart cities, which incorporate technology and data to enhance citizens’ quality of life, offer a unique opportunity to address environmental challenges and promote the circular economy.

The circular economy, a model of production and consumption that aims to reduce waste and maximise resource efficiency. It is founded on the principles of reducing, reusing, and recycling, and requires a shift away from the traditional linear economy, which follows a take-make-dispose model.

Cities can go from being “black holes sucking in food, energy, and other resources to engines of a regenerative food system and bio economy,” according to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Production that regenerates rather than damages the natural systems on which it depends will result from the shift to a circular economy.

How can the transition to a successful circular economy be made in smart cities?
The European Commission (EC) launched a series of initiatives in a 2015 Circular Economy Action Plan to address this issue, with the goal of “maintaining the value of products, materials, and resources for the longest possible time in order to develop a sustainable economy.”

Cities are under siege because tens of thousands of new residents move there every year in quest of better services, jobs, and cultural opportunities even though their infrastructure is in disrepair. Now, cities use 60% of the energy produced worldwide and produce 70% of the garbage and greenhouse gas emissions. Budgets are getting smaller while demands on them are increasing. We can no longer afford to overlook the effects of our consumption on the environment, politics, or the economy.

One of the critical areas where smart cities can significantly impact the circular economy is transportation. Transportation is responsible for a substantial proportion of greenhouse gas emissions, and reducing these emissions is critical to combating climate change. Smart transportation systems, which integrate data from sensors, GPS, and other sources, can optimise traffic flow, reduce congestion, and encourage low-carbon transportation modes like cycling and public transit.

Another area where smart cities can promote the circular economy is in the built environment. Buildings are a significant source of energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, and improving building energy efficiency is essential to reducing their environmental impact. Smart building technologies, such as energy-efficient lighting and heating systems, can reduce energy consumption and enhance the overall sustainability of buildings.

Some important examples:

1. Promoting circular economy principles in Amsterdam.
To utilise cold energy from drinking water throughout the winter, the Sanquin blood bank has partnered with Waternet (Amsterdam’s water utility). In the initial phase, this will be saved as thermal energy and applied to Sanquin’s manufacturing procedures. In the first five years, they want to harvest 20,000 gigajoules of energy. Since the process raises the temperature of the drinking water and consumers will require less energy to heat water in the home, there is also an anticipation that households will save money and energy.

2. Promoting circular economy principles in Helsinki.
To promote sustainable transportation, including a bike-sharing program and a car-sharing program. The city also has organised traffic management system that uses data to optimise traffic flow and reduce emissions. By the end of 2019, Helsinki has saved 47 million euros, 6.9 million litres of fuel, and 17,100 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions thanks to the thoughtful mass coordination that has been in place there since 2014.

However, implementing smart city solutions that promote the circular economy also presents challenges. One significant challenge is the high initial cost of deploying advanced technologies, which can be a significant barrier for many cities. Additionally, effective governance and coordination across different sectors and stakeholders are essential to ensuring that smart solutions are integrated effectively and deliver maximum benefits.

In conclusion, the intersection of smart cities and the circular economy presents a compelling opportunity to address some of the most pressing environmental and social challenges confronting cities today. Therefore, it is crucial to examine the circular economy’s viewpoints throughout the entire construction process, from planning land use to pre-construction of neighbourhood construction projects, infrastructure and building construction, maintenance, and demolition.

 

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ET Edge Insights, its management, or its members

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