Topology of Sustainability - Energy
There are three modes of energy use in sustainability: embodied, dispersed, and operative.
Embodied energy is the energy used to create a material, system or facility.
Dispersed energy is the energy used to transport a material, system or facility to another location.
Operative energy is the energy to operate and maintain a material, system, or facility.
An example of the three energy modes is a space station. Creating the space station utilizes embodied energy. Transporting the space station into space utilizes dispersed energy. Operating and maintaining the space station utilizes operative energy.
Technological energy flows are the result of active comfort strategies. Embodied, dispersed, and operative energy levels are high. Examples are electric heat for a home or driving a car.
Sustainable energy flows are the result of passive comfort strategies. Embodied, dispersed, and operative energy levels are low. Examples are heating a home with passive solar energy or walking.
There are two types of energy sources: renewable and nonrenewable.
Renewable energy sources are provided from the sun, wind, water, and biological processes. These sources are unlimited in availability and provide reduced economic and environmental costs for each additional unit consumed.
Nonrenewable energy resources are provided from fossil fuels: oil, gas, and coal. These sources are finite resources that require greater economic and environmental costs for each additional unit of energy consumed.
Below is a graph of Economic and Environmental Cost of Resource Use. This graph compares renewable energy costs with nonrenewable cost
