Energy self-sufficient regionsA background report of CIPRA
Not having to depend on energy imports: this vision holds great fascination for many regions. Self-sufficiency is "in." There are already many very positive approaches and examples of attempts to go down this road. At the heart of all the concepts is the idea of meeting demand through regional renewable sources of energy, saving energy and using energy more efficiently. Anyone who systematically takes this approach in an attempt to create an energy self-sufficient region changes the face of their region and its structures - to the benefit of their own economy, society and the environment. Most regions that strive for energy self-sufficiency are motivated by the sustainability principle in its three dimensions. However, when it comes to fleshing out the theory with specifics, the economic and social aspects are often given priority whereas the ecological dimension tends to be given second-rate treatment. This problem becomes particularly obvious when conflicts of interest emerge between construction of facilities and nature protection issues, for example. But a region can only be classed as sustainable if the concerns of nature and landscape protection are also adequately taken into account. |
