Representing local self-sustainability

The paper shows graphical tools developed to support the quantitative assessment of local self-sufficiency scenarios. They are part of the applicative tools of ELaR, which stands for Ecodynamic Land Register, a methodology to evaluate different energy and material flows design choices to improve local sustainable development. Flows evaluation are provided by two graphic tools: "Resources/impacts Geographies" and "User histograms". The "geographies" (code elements) give basic information on Local Demand of Energy and Matter (LDEM), and on Local Renewable Energy Technical Potential (RETP). The "user histograms" (code rules) are the link structures between the changing metabolism (demand) and the locally available resources (supply), information collected in the geographies, in order to check different design choices. They report the per-capita flows - energy and matter local demand related to the extension of per-capita productive land.