Sustainability is a new, important discourse aimed at promoting a new strategy in the development of energy, water and environmental (EWE) systems — the key components that affect the quality of life on our planet. It is becoming increasingly clear that the quest for sustainable development requires integrating economic, social, cultural, political and ecological factors. The behavior and properties of an EWE system arise not merely from the properties of its component elements, but also to a large degree also from the nature and intensity of their dynamic interlinkages. This volume helps clarify the complexity of these problems by providing a deeper understanding of the implications of the different aspects of sustainability.

This work contains a collection of selected, peer-reviewed and state-of-the-art reflecting papers that were presented at the Third Dubrovnik Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems that was held in June 5–10, 2005 in Dubrovnik, Croatia.

Contents:

• Sustainability Science:
• Sustainability and Safety Evaluation of Energy System (N H Afgan & M G Carvalho)
• Sustainable Technology Trends (D Marinova)
• Energy Policy and Planning:
• Towards a Sustainable Transportation Energy Supply (R L Evans)
• Biodegradable Plastic Substitute from Bamboo (O Yamashita et al.)
• New Renewable Energy Sources and Energy Efficiency:
• Hydrogen for Sustainable Development (F Barbir)
• An Energy Integration Tool for Batch Processes (A C Pires et al.)
• Energy Cogeneration:
• First Micro Combined Heat and Power System in a Swimming Pool in Portugal: Techno-Economical Evaluation and Policy Framework (E Monteiro & N A Moreira)
• Analytical Prediction of Spread Scenarios for Small Scale CHP Systems (E Cardona et al.)
• Water Management:
• The Water Framework Directive and Mediterranean Agriculture (J Albiac & M Mema)
• Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Technology: A Promise for the Future (S K Gupta)
• Water Desalination and Treatment:
• Multi-Effect Boiling System MEB: An Energy Viewpoint (M A Darwish et al.)
• Desalination as a Sustainable Source of Fresh Water Provision? (L Serra et al.)
• Environment Assessment and Evaluation:
• Corporate Attitudes to Environmental and Sustainable Technology Strategies (M Gollagher & D Marinova)
• Regulating Animal Manure to Reduce Pollution and Ensure Sustainable Practices (T Centner)
• Environment Management:
• Environmental Sustainability Measured through Social and Environmental Responsibility (M Sarmento et al.)
• Phytoremediation New Technology for Sustainable Development (M Vlajkovic & B Blagojevic)
• and other papers