"Use a named case study to describe the features of a sustainable
settlement."
(here are 4 answers from this year’s Y11. All of them are 8/8!. Firstly look at
the mark scheme for a level 3 answer. Mark where you can see they have
reached Level 3. Note that 8/8 doesn’t mean a perfect answer. Be critical –
where do you think these answers could improve? Is there one answer that
you think it is better than the rest? Why do you think this?
1/ BedZED is an example of a sustainable settlement. BedZED encourages
more sustainable means of transport i.e. walking or cycling or car sharing to
limit emissions. They offer alternatives to private car travel like city car or car
share scheme, promoting public transport and reducing the need to travel.
People are encouraged to shop online to reduce food miles therefore reducing
emissions also. This also allows people to grow their own food and much
more. They also turn kitchen and garden organic waste into nutrient-rich
compost that can be used in gardens and allotments removing waste and
reusing it. BedZED has recycled 60% of their waste following these ideas.
Houses have dual flush, low flow taps and clean used water and reuse it for
toilet water to save water as it is non-renewable. Houses have plants on the
roofs for biodiversity. There is wind power ventilation and solar panels for
electricity to make it more environmentally friendly. BedZED also encourages
recycling and make sit easier. An example of this would be their clothes and
furniture swaps that allow residents to swap their unwanted items and
furniture with other residents for items they do want thus reducing the need to
throw away and create more waste. All these features are what makes
BedZED the UK's biggest eco-community.
2/ Bedzed is a sustainable community situated in the west of London. They
aim to create a thriving community for ordinary people, using only the earth’s
natural resources. Examples of this are how they use sustainable transport,
aiming to use public transport and cycling for their long journeys, also car
sharing, which has reduced their car mileage by 64% compared to the
average. This then means that they are making less of an impact towards
global warming, so that the earth stays in its current state for longer. Also,
energy efficiency and low carbon power are encouraged, so solar panels,
wind power and recycling are used, as this is both reusing items and creating
energy form renewable sources, meaning that Bedzed has a 45% reduction in
electricity use and 81% reduction in energy use for heating. An idea such as
growing plants on the roof both insulates and produces local food so it doesn’t
have to be imported, which is sustainable as it requires less fuel and energy.
The toilets are dual flush, low flow taps are used and clean used water is
reused in the toilet, this in turn results in an 88% reduction in water usage
throughout the community, as water is a non-renewable sourced this is good.
Furthermore, the residents on average know the name of 20 neighbours,
demonstrating a friendly community.
3/ BedZED is a great example of a sustainable settlement, located in London
(South West). BedZED is a community which care greatly about the
environment so have created many ways in which they can save energy.
BedZED only uses renewable energy following their 'Zero energy' policy. It is
a sustainable settlement for many reasons, firstly the houses in the
community are all made from re-cycled materials or renewable materials
found in the area, these materials are better for the environment and can be
used again and again. Another way the houses are sustainable is that the
roofing is covered in grass, which is sustainable because food can be grown
on the grass, produces habitats for a range of animals and also is used as
insulation for the houses, resulting in less energy being used to heat the
house meaning less emissions being released into the atmosphere. In
BedZED they highly promote car sharing or to cycle because this means less
vehicles being used so carbon emissions will be lower. Also the mains public
facilities: schools and hospitals, are on site, this reduces travel needed and
these sites are in walking/ cycling distance for the whole community, which
also reduces carbon emissions because less cars will be used. Another
example is that all the houses are triple glazed and have solar panels making
the houses all energy efficient. Finally BedZED is extremely efficient with
water, they collect rainwater and reuse it. Overall BedZED is an extremely
close community which work together to make it a safe and environmentally
friendly place for people to live.
4/ BedZED is a community based in south-west London, it is sustainable for
the following reasons; it was built on a brownfield site which was previously an
industrial estate meaning it is re-using spoiled land which would otherwise be
left to waste land. Local, organic box schemes were introduced that support
the local farming industry, therefore improving our farms and sales for the
future as well as the health of the people (because they’re organic so no bad
chemicals were used). training and equipment was offered to residents to help
them grow their own fruit and vegetables in their gardens and on-site mini
allotments. their recycling schemes also make BedZED sustainable, e.g,
composting turns kitchen and garden waste into a resource for growing food,
(improving gardens and allotments for future use, as well as having less to put
in the bin), segregated under-sink, colour coded bins are also sustainable
because it means less to go to landfill because people are more aware about
which waste products can be recycled, therefore saving the planet for future
generations and not filling up landfill so quickly, as well as having the benefits
from the re-used materials for things such as bags, plastic, and bottles which
can be re-used again, also meaning less of earth's resources are being used
up!