Renewable energy and energy sustainability

Abstract

Abstract Energy sustainability is a significant and focal aspect of sustainability, which is an important consideration for human development and activity. Energy sustainability is of importance because of the broad and growing nature of energy use, the numerous environmental impacts associated with energy systems, and the significance of energy in living standards and economic development. Renewable energy has a central role to play in achieving energy sustainability. Numerous needs must be addressed appropriately to attain or shift toward energy sustainability, including obtaining sustainable energy resources, employing advantageous energy carriers, boosting efficiencies of energy systems, mitigating lifetime environmental impacts of energy systems, and addressing nontechnical aspects of energy sustainability, such as living standards and lifestyles, economics and affordability, and societal acceptability and equity. This chapter describes sustainability, energy, societal energy use, energy sustainability, and methods and technologies that can be used to enhance energy sustainability. Throughout, the key role and importance of renewable energy are stressed. These needs for energy sustainability are examined in detail, along with the relation to each of the renewable energy resources. Finally, an energy sustainability evaluation of a particular energy system, the net-zero energy building, is presented.