Sustainable ‘Green’ Rural Municipalities: The Path Towards an Environmental and Energy Friendly Rural Community in Israel

The chapter suggests several ways to reduce carbon emissions from rural communities. Both the waste and the energy sectors are significant producers of greenhouse gases (GHG), but with proper management it is possible not only to reduce the amount of GHG, but also to obtain other ancillary benefits. In the field of sustainable waste management, both the city and the agricultural sector gain from cooperation in which the agricultural sector serves as the recipient of an increasing volume of the rich organic waste produced in the city. This means of waste management is significant for countries characterised by high organic content of the waste, poor organic content of agricultural land, and generally inferior waste-management practices. According to this method, each ton of waste reduces 0.25 t of CO2 equivalents by avoiding methane emission at landfill sites, and furthermore, the addition of compost to agriculture soils can increase yields: the production of 1 t of dry vegetative matter leads to the sequestration of 2 t of CO2. Another means to reduce carbon emission is by increasing energy efficiency in the community. Several alternative measures are presented in the chapter, including advanced solar technologies. In addition to carbon emission reduction, the suggested alternatives can reduce air pollution and energy expenditures.