Building Shared Values
Energy Efficiency + Material Efficiency = Resource Efficiency
Unlocking the Circular Economy
Energy Efficiency + Material Efficiency = Resource Efficiency
Unlocking the Circular Economy
Building Shared Values Towards a Circular Economy
At the Nevada Green Institute, we believe that to solve the interconnected challenges of sustainability, we must think differently and work together. As Albert Einstein said, "We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used to create them."
For decades around the world, various stakeholders have worked together - including governments, businesses, non-profits and more - to advance sustainability through a holistic understanding of energy, waste and the circular economy. Past cooperation significantly reduced emissions and advanced technologies. While this progress was significant, we recognize that fully achieving sustainability requires reimagining our economic models.
An optimal circular economy system intertwines various interdependent elements in its design and function. All parts within the system interconnect and rely on each other to operate efficiently. It aims to detach economic growth from finite resources, minimize waste, and keep resources circulating at their highest utility and value for as long as possible.
A circular economy is key to fulfilling sustainability goals as it brings different actors together, encourages renewable resource flows, and fosters innovation. Supportive investments and policies help expand these closed loops across industries and regions. Broader social and environmental considerations also drive efforts to decrease resource dependence and waste.
At NGI, we view the circular economy not as separate initiatives but as a unified system strengthened by collaboration. Its strength lies in maximizing interdependencies between environmental and economic interests. We are dedicated to enabling creative, collective problem-solving through our values-driven platform by boosting public knowledge and understanding of sustainable circular practices.
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Join us in creating a circular future through collective thinking and cooperative action. Contact us to get involved and help advance sustainable circular economy and sustainability on a systems level.
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Integrating resource efficiency in sustainability strategies
Integrating resource efficiency in sustainability strategies
Integrating resource efficiency strategies is a crucial opportunity for moving toward achieving a sustainability plan in the built environment and transitioning to sustainable material management practices. Energy efficiency strategies for buildings and transportation have been at the heart of many policies and research activities in the last decades, and much improvement has been achieved.
Also, pollution prevention measures have been focused on reducing emissions from the production of steel, cement, chemicals, etc.
However, it has given less attention to how a more circular economy could reduce emissions through better use and reuse of the resources that already exist in the economy.
Integrating resource efficiency strategies into a sustainability plan for achieving climate change challenges and better use of resources is imperative. These strategies also support innovations, remanufacturing, and emerging technologies that are the backbone of our economy.
Enabling the Circular Economy in the Built Environment
Enabling the Circular Economy in the Built Environment
The built environment encompasses all aspects of our lives. We construct physical and organizational structures and facilities (e.g., buildings, roads, power supplies, drinking water supplies), create open public space, mitigate pollution effects, and support the natural ecosystem.
Constructing all these spaces and systems requires enormous quantities of materials. Using and reusing materials productively and sustainably over their life cycles can help the built environment address its material and resource needs while remaining competitive in the global economy--creating prosperity, innovation, and growth.
Cities and regions may have distinct jurisdictions but are not isolated ecosystems for inflows and outflows of materials, resources, and products in connection with surrounding areas and beyond. Materials are sourced, used, and then disposed of as waste within the regional economic system.
Therefore, we need to open conversations about the Circular Economy in cities and regions related to a series of economic activities that can be closed-loop and minimize structural waste. Start-ups can benefit from incubators to develop circular-related projects through access to finance capacity building and collaboration. Further, such exchange may foster innovation and spur emerging technology and innovative businesses that can support the supply chain.
Remanufacturing – the backbone of the Circular Economy
Remanufacturing – the backbone of the Circular Economy
Remanufacturing is known as the backbone of the circular economy. Remanufacturing is an industrial practice that involves "returning a product to at least its original performance with a warranty that is equivalent or better than that of the newly manufactured product." Thus, from a customer viewpoint, the remanufactured product should be considered the same as a new product.
Remanufacturing offers potential environmental, social, and economic benefits by protracting the life cycle of the used products. It is one of the key strategies that can attain the objectives of the circular economy.
Zero -Waste Circular Economy
A Zero-Waste Circular Economy goes beyond the model of the (3Rs) reduce, reuse and recycle. It proposes a much more comprehensive transformation of our production and consumption patterns to achieve high resource efficiency. The basis of a circular economy is a zero-waste community, where everything that we produce and consume can return safely to nature or the community. Innovation is one of the enablers of achieving a circular economy. It includes building collaborative partnerships and engaging the community to innovate and promote a knowledge-sharing platform. Furthermore, it encourages the start-up of small businesses.
Enhancing digitalization a resource-efficient and circular economy in rural America
Enhancing digitalization a resource-efficient and circular economy in rural America
The knowledge economy is so hard to find in rural America. What do we need to ​do? We need to design effective strategies that pave the way to build a digital infrastructure that brings more diverse economic activities and industry to the rural region. By doing this, the rural region will build a resilient economy that enables intelligent networks, attract high-tech companies and manufacturing, and creates a career-ready workforce. E-connectivity is more than just connecting households, schools, and healthcare ​centers to each other and the rest of the world through high-speed internet.
It also increases productivity for farms, factories, forests, mining, and small businesses. E-connectivity is fundamental for economic development, innovation, technological advancements, workforce readiness, and improved quality of life.
Join us Invitation: Community Learning on Material Efficiency
Join us Invitation: Community Learning on Material Efficiency
Increasing public awareness on
Energy Efficiency + Material Efficiency
= Resource efficiency
Unlocking the Circular Economy
• Recognize issues,
• Understand the potential benefits of addressing such issues,
• Equip a community with new knowledge and ways of thinking to tackle the multifaceted problems of economic, social, environmental, and resource depletion.
• Understand the linkage between climate change and Resource Efficiency strategies.
Please send us your suggestions, concerns, and questions.
Thank you
Community Learning on Sustainability
Community Learning on Sustainability
Problems in the arena of Sustainability encompass many facets of society and involve many stakeholders. One of the most critical stakeholders in public is the community members, business owners, consumers, and voters.
However, when it comes to concerns about Sustainability, members of the public have highly varied understanding and priorities. Increasing community learning on Sustainability can help to create consensus and fill in gaps in knowledge critical thinking. Read more
YOU CAN SUPPORT US IN DIFFERENT WAYS
YOU CAN SUPPORT US IN DIFFERENT WAYS
Nevada Green Institute values are based on
Inclusive Collaboration (encourage cognitive diversity to bring innovative ideas),
Community Respect, Harmony,
and Preparing for the Future.
Partnership: Please join our Internet of Things (IoT) Partnership to share your best practices in the making of your community.
3. Donation:
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