Sustainable Infrastructure

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Sustainable Infrastructure Eco-Industrial
Networking

• International Sustainable Development Research
  Conference
• Tracy Casavant, MES, P.Eng
• President
• JC Ireland, P.Biol.
• CEO
• Eco-Industrial Solutions Ltd

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What is Sustainable Infrastructure?

• Characteristics
• Distributed
• Integrated
• Renewable / low impact
• Appropriate
• Multi-objective
• Adaptable
• Ecological
• Reduced demand

• Systems
• Water
• Wastewater
• Stormwater
• Energy
• Transportation (people goods)
• Parks open space
• Community facilities

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Why Sustainable Infrastructure ?

• Infrastructure deficit in communities
• Need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Growing public environmental awareness
• Growing environmental / green technologies sector
• Overall lack of capital and OM resources

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What is Eco-Industrial Networking (EIN)?
EIN represents the practical application of the
principles of industrial ecology Nature is our
model A systems approach is essential
EIN provides a framework to support progress
towards sustainability.
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EIN in Action

• Integrated, multi-objective approach
• Business networks / synergies (by-product,
  energy, transportation, management)
• Green (eco-) buildings, sites, processes,
  infrastructure
• Niche business opportunities

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Related Sustainability Concepts
EIN builds on and provides support for the
following concepts

• Circular economy
• Cleaner production
• Eco-efficiency
• Design for environment
• Demand Management

• Eco-industrial development
• Industrial symbiosis
• By-product synergy
• Eco-cities
• SmartGrowthTM

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EIN Adds Value to Infrastructure Systems

• Greater returns on investment
• Meet multiple objectives
• Manage supply and demand
• Integrate infrastructure
• Create opportunities for distributed
  infrastructure
• Support green design technologies

How can I close loop water wastewater?
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Infrastructure EIN

• Case Studies

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Hinton Eco-Industrial ParkConcept

• New 108 acre eco-industrial park
• More efficient road design (40 less area)
• Ecological storm and wastewater management
• District (e.g., co-gen) and renewable (e.g.,
  geoexchange) energy
• By-product synergies

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Hinton Eco-Industrial ParkSustainable
Infrastructure

• Zoning (Eco-Industrial District) and Development
  Guidelines
• Encourage green buildings, distributed energy,
  wastewater cascading, etc.
• By meeting guidelines, businesses will reduce
  demand on infrastructure AND support green,
  distributed systems

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Hinton Eco-Industrial ParkSustainable
Infrastructure

• Single integrated infrastructure design contract
• Water, wastewater, stormwater, energy
  distribution, parks trails, roads, utility
  corridors
• Integrated design workshops (just like for green
  buildings)

Potable Water
EIP Business1
Wastewater Treatment Plant
EIP Business2
Energy Plant
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Hinton Eco-Industrial ParkSustainable
Infrastructure

• Example Wastewater System

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Brazeau County, Alberta Wastewater Treatment

• EIN approach informed design of solar aquaticsTM
  wastewater treatment facility
• Solar aquaticsTM uses plants and organisms in a
  greenhouse setting to treat wastewater
• Similar to Living MachineTM

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Greening a green technologyBrazeau County WWTP

• Case study review to uncover lessons learned
• EIN opportunity analysis

• Energy modelling
• orientation and glazing, insulation, concrete
  location thickness
• Earth energy (geoexchange)
• Process innovations to reduce footprint

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Final Design
Glazing on one wall only, with lightshades
Oriented 15 S-SW to maximize solar gain
Thicker concrete floor than walls to reduce
energy consumption
Cistern under building to store treated
wastewater for re-use
New design consumes 74 less energy than other
SASTM.
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EIN OpportunitiesBrazeau County WWTP

• Design includes cistern for treated ww storage
• Firefighting water
• Wastewater reuse for bulk haul in OG service
  sector (needs AB Env approval)
• Additional trucked sewage treatment to pay for
  larger up-front system
• Grow landscaping plants for sale
• Research and education partnerships
• Eco-tourism?

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Project Economics

• Estimated total cost 889,700
• 100,000 more than new lagoon with far greater
  treatment
• Includes extra 60,000 for EES
• But
• Uses 1/10 the land of new lagoon
• Potential revenue streams
• Treated wastewater
• Hauled sewage
• High-end landscaping plant sales

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EIN InfrastructureBenefits

• Reduce loads on infrastructure
• Create multi-objective infrastructure
• Build a better business case for green
  infrastructure
• Support sustainable municipal business
  operations
• Maximize value from infrastructure investments