Ecosystem of Environmentally Sustainable Municipal Infrastructure in Ukraine

Abstract

For the Ukrainian population, there are factors surrounding the choices and preferences one must consider when changing permanent residence. Smart residential areas should be built according to Ukrainian legislation and global innovations, which would reduce administrative dislocations, the load on megalopolises, and negative anthropogenic impacts, and should be based on the increase in energy efficiency and reducing waste. We analyzed the core principles of designing smart residential areas and concluded that constructing cutting-edge residential areas should involve private investments in order to avoid shadow schemes and irrational use of funds (in the Ukraine, the share of the shadow market is more than 50%). Research shows that, as humans inhabit a three-dimensional space, it is possible to predict migration and other permanent residence/behavioral responses, the analysis of which allows controlling migration flows and improves the conditions of Ukraine’s small residential areas based on decarbonization. We conclude that energy saving systems can reduce consumption in a city by 60% and improve Ukraine’s ecosystem. Research also shows that reducing “dislocation”, in terms of population density, by creating open, innovative, eco-friendly environments based on green economy principles, can provide innovative development maps and economic, social, and cultural population growth, decreasing the load on big cities/regional economies, and encourage the restoration of sales markets and production after the COVID-19 pandemic. We developed a model to assess the innovativeness of residential areas, apply alternative methods of energy generation, and analyze the impact of the energy production and consumption market in Europe (with recommendations for the Ukraine). This article estimates energy intensity indicators of the gross domestic product in the Ukraine and in Europe, offering methods to decrease energy dependence and increase energy efficiency in the Ukraine, by adopting alternative energy sources (e.g., biohydrogen out of residues, air, and solar energy), and enhancing environmental legislation.