Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation services

Renewable energy is energy that comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat. We are also interested in other forms of `low carbon` energy. In the context of carbon innovation, the Built Environment includes the planning, design, building, construction, operation and refurbishment of all buildings and infrastructure.

Carbon Accounting is the quantification of the impact of an activity, product or organisation, in terms of additional greenhouse gases that are emitted into the atmosphere as a consequence.

The efficient management of our use of natural resources, maintaining our impact within the carrying capacity of the environment and achieving our carbon output reduction goals.

Green Web or Green ICT relates to: Informatics as an interdisciplinary approach to understanding and managing climate change (complex, global and socially interactive systems). Reducing the carbon footprint of the ICT industry itself (about 3% of global emissions, but growing rapidly). Reducing the carbon footprint of ICT’s used by consumers and organisations (public/private/third). ICT as enabling technology for “dematerialisation” and “artificial intelligence*” of: Land Use, Waste and Water, Renewable Energy, Built Environment & Sustainable Transport, Carbon Accounting & Finance, Organisation and Operations Management (e.g. eBusiness/eGov). Artificial Intelligence (i.e. what we mean by “smart” grid / cities / buildings / logistics.