Sustainable Urban and Rural Communities

What Sustainable Urban and Rural Communities covers

Sustainable Urban and Rural Communities is examined in Unit A2 1, Building and Managing a Sustainable Future, a written examination. It covers energy and buildings in sustainable urban developments, transport, waste and brownfield sites, water, drainage and urban green space, energy, water and waste for isolated rural dwellings and local food and communication technology in rural areas.

The 5 subtopics

Each one has its own page.

• Energy and buildings in sustainable urban developmentsSustainable and zero carbon developments, cutting heating and cooling demand, urban microgeneration and smart grids, district heating, BedZED and its lessons, compact and mixed-use development, and community involvement.Open →
• Transport, waste and brownfield sitesIntegrated and flexible transport, designing out car use, electric vehicle charging, car clubs and freight, planned waste systems, brownfield and greenfield land, brownfield challenges and regeneration in Belfast.Open →
• Water, drainage and urban green spaceRainwater harvesting, greywater and water-efficient homes, sustainable drainage and flood risk, the urban heat island, green roofs and green spaces for people and wildlife, and urban food production.Open →
• Energy, water and waste for isolated rural dwellingsThe cost and impact of extending networks, independent and indigenous energy sources, agricultural waste, small-scale district heating, private water supplies, septic tanks and reed beds, and oil dependence in rural homes.Open →
• Local food and communication technology in rural areasThe environmental, economic and social benefits and limits of local food, community-supported agriculture, communication technology and rural services, the digital divide, local services and community-owned renewables.Open →

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Take Sustainable Urban and Rural Communities further

The same content, four other ways.

Commonly confused

Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.

• Brownfield site vs Greenfield site

  Brownfield site: land previously built on, often by former industry. Greenfield site: undeveloped countryside or farmland never built on before.

• Rainwater harvesting vs Greywater recycling

  Rainwater harvesting: collecting rain from roofs for toilet flushing and garden use. Greywater recycling: reusing the lightly soiled output of basins, baths and showers.

• Urban heat island vs Sustainable urban drainage

  Urban heat island: the extra warmth of towns compared with the surrounding countryside. Sustainable urban drainage: a set of features that slow and store run-off close to where rain falls.

Questions from this topic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1. 1

   What is a sustainable urban development?

   Model answer

   A sustainable urban development meets residents' needs while minimising energy use, waste and environmental harm. Technology and design work together towards zero carbon living.

2. 2

   What does zero carbon mean for a development?

   Model answer

   A zero carbon development produces no net carbon dioxide emissions from its energy use over a year. Efficient buildings and on-site renewable energy balance any remaining emissions.

3. 3

   How can urban buildings reduce energy use for heating?

   Model answer

   High levels of insulation, airtight construction and triple glazing keep heat in. Passive solar design uses south-facing windows to capture winter sunshine.

4. 4

   How can urban buildings reduce energy use for cooling?

   Model answer

   Shade, natural ventilation and thermal mass keep buildings cool without air conditioning. Light-coloured and green roofs reflect or absorb less heat.

5. 5

   How can microgeneration be used in urban areas?

   Model answer

   Solar panels on roofs, small wind turbines and heat pumps generate energy where it is used. Local generation cuts transmission losses and emissions.

6. 6

   How does a smart grid support urban microgeneration?

   Model answer

   A smart grid manages electricity from many small generators and balances it against demand. Surplus power from one building can supply another nearby.

What is inside Levo

Six ways to work the same material.

Sustainable Urban and Rural Communities revision questions

What does Sustainable Urban and Rural Communities cover in CCEA A-Level Environmental Technology?

5 subtopics: energy and buildings in sustainable urban developments, transport, waste and brownfield sites, water, drainage and urban green space, energy, water and waste for isolated rural dwellings and local food and communication technology in rural areas. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.

How is Sustainable Urban and Rural Communities organised?

By the CCEA 3930 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.