Hammarby Sjöstad

A new district in Stockholm which uses a community energy system and a vacuum waste system amongst other environmental innovations.

Hammarby Sjöstad is a new district to the south of Stockholm. Development in the area was driven by the preparation of plans for Stockholm's bid for the 2004 Olympic Games. The core area of Hammarby Sjöstad was envisaged as an Olympic Village with a strong emphasis on ecology and environmental sustainability, which was promoted as one of Stockholm's unique selling points as an Olympic city.

In particular, Hammarby Sjöstad shows how sustainable infrastructure for transport, waste and energy can be successfully integrated into new developments.

Sewage water is cleaned and purified at a large sewage plant just outside the area and the waste recycled into natural gas, which is used as an energy source for the neighbourhood. Heat produced through the purification process is recycled for use at a district-heating unit. The community also has its own pilot sewage treatment centre, which recycles nutrients from sewage for use on agricultural land. Surface water is cleaned locally. Any combustible waste produced is recycled into heat energy for use in the apartments. Each apartment block has recycling facilities.

Hammarby Sjöstad also has new tram stops, bus routes and a ferry link, and even its own environmental education centre.

Read the full case study to find out more.

Tags: energy, transport, waste, cities and towns, neighbourhoods