Green Housing Solutions

A former shipyard and industrial site in Malmo, Sweden, is being turned into a green residential area based on 100% use of renewable energy. It sounds like a good model for elsewhere in the urbanised developed world.

It is nearly all pedestrianised and has frequent buses - running on a natural gas/biogas mix - to connect it to the rest of the city. The area has an open drainage system which traps rainwater on numerous living green roofs, in courtyard ponds and open channels. The pond and canal in the area provide habitats for wildlife. A 2MW wind turbine provides much of the electricity. Solar collectors on 10 of the buildings provide 15% of the heating, but a more important source is a heat pump connected to aquifers 90m (297ft) underground. For recycling there are waste separation units close to home and a centralised system of vacuum waste chutes.