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Micro-scale energy systems include the following:
• Energy production sites and firms (e.g., an oil well or biofuel feedstock growth site).
• Energy conversion sites and firms (e.g., a power plant or a refinery or an electric
utility company).
• Individual devices, processes, and machines.
• Buildings or industrial facilities like a factory with a well-defined operation.
• Residences and buildings and the individuals who manage their energy systems.
• Government agencies that regulate energy firms and public utilities.
• Individuals who provide labor in energy systems and their labor unions.
Micro-scale water systems include the following:
• Hydroponic systems where water acts as a medium for transporting nutrients
to plants.
• Water treatment and wastewater treatment facilities.
• Hydroelectric and thermoelectric power plant water systems.
• A variety of industrial facilities in which water flows have a critical function.
• Irrigation systems which can range from a single field to a farm.
• Pumps and canals.
• Water-using processes and machinery.
• Water providing utilities.
• Water transfer, storage, and wholesale infrastructures.
• Individuals and households who are micro-scale producers (e.g., wells, rain
barrels) and consumers of water.
• Commercial and industrial buildings.
12.3.2.2 Meso-scale
Meso-scale systems include larger systems where the precise conditions and interactions of irreducible components are important, but averaging is also utilized. This
includes systems where large-scale economic and political forces are important
such as in cities, counties, and peri-urban areas, which act as hubs of processing,
transit, consumption, and, sometimes, production (often referred to a Network
Level perspective) (see Sect. 1.4.2). Meso-scale systems can also include landscapes, watersheds, and foodsheds. Examples include the following:
Meso-scale food systems:
• Landscape systems encompassing many farms or agricultural communities.
• “Foodsheds” that serve a particular population or city.
• City regulations placed on food supply chain quality or sustainability.
• Wholesale, warehouse, and retail supply chains and storage facilities for a particular regional food product or location (recognizing that the elements of a supply
chain are micro-scale elements).
• Bulk grain storage.
• Labor organizations of workers in food systems.
• Advocacy groups for farmers, food industries, specific commodities, and
consumers.
12 Questions and Scales
Micro-scale energy systems include the following:
• Energy production sites and firms (e.g., an oil well or biofuel feedstock growth site).
• Energy conversion sites and firms (e.g., a power plant or a refinery or an electric
utility company).
• Individual devices, processes, and machines.
• Buildings or industrial facilities like a factory with a well-defined operation.
• Residences and buildings and the individuals who manage their energy systems.
• Government agencies that regulate energy firms and public utilities.
• Individuals who provide labor in energy systems and their labor unions.
Micro-scale water systems include the following:
• Hydroponic systems where water acts as a medium for transporting nutrients
to plants.
• Water treatment and wastewater treatment facilities.
• Hydroelectric and thermoelectric power plant water systems.
• A variety of industrial facilities in which water flows have a critical function.
• Irrigation systems which can range from a single field to a farm.
• Pumps and canals.
• Water-using processes and machinery.
• Water providing utilities.
• Water transfer, storage, and wholesale infrastructures.
• Individuals and households who are micro-scale producers (e.g., wells, rain
barrels) and consumers of water.
• Commercial and industrial buildings.
12.3.2.2 Meso-scale
Meso-scale systems include larger systems where the precise conditions and interactions of irreducible components are important, but averaging is also utilized. This
includes systems where large-scale economic and political forces are important
such as in cities, counties, and peri-urban areas, which act as hubs of processing,
transit, consumption, and, sometimes, production (often referred to a Network
Level perspective) (see Sect. 1.4.2). Meso-scale systems can also include landscapes, watersheds, and foodsheds. Examples include the following:
Meso-scale food systems:
• Landscape systems encompassing many farms or agricultural communities.
• “Foodsheds” that serve a particular population or city.
• City regulations placed on food supply chain quality or sustainability.
• Wholesale, warehouse, and retail supply chains and storage facilities for a particular regional food product or location (recognizing that the elements of a supply
chain are micro-scale elements).
• Bulk grain storage.
• Labor organizations of workers in food systems.
• Advocacy groups for farmers, food industries, specific commodities, and
consumers.
12 Questions and Scales