Bioenergetics of the common seastar Asterias rubens: a keystone predator and pest for European bivalve culture

AbstractLosses due to predation are recognized as an important factor affecting shellfish stocks, restoration efforts and aquaculture production. Managing and mitigating the impact of predators require information on the population dynamics and functional responses to prey availability under varying environmental conditions. Asterias spp. are well-known keystone predators with the capacity to exert a top down control on shellfish populations. Asterias spp. populations are extremely plastic, booming fast when prey is abundant and exhibiting a remarkable individual resilience to starvation and adverse environmental conditions. These aspects have led Asterias spp. to be considered pests by shellfish producers and fishers and to be catalogued among the most devastating invasive species. Assessment and mitigation of the impact of Asterias rubens in northern Europe have been the objective of several projects. However, there is still a limited understanding of the processes behind A. rubens population plasticity and how environmental conditions affect individual growth and predation. Under these circumstances a comprehensive eco-physiological model becomes necessary. These models can integrate available information on biology and eco-physiology to gain understanding of the effect of the environmental conditions on the impact of A. rubens.In this work, we performed a number of eco-physiological experiments and combined them with field data from a Danish estuary to estimate and validate the parameters of a dynamic energy budget (DEB) model for the whole life cycle of A. rubens. DEB models can be used to assess the effects of environmental variability on the life cycle and key population traits allowing the prediction of the performance, abundance, resource requirements and potential distribution of individuals and populations under dynamic environments. As such the DEB model presented in this study aims to become a tool to be used to assess and manage the impact of A. rubens in cultured and natural shellfish populations. The successfully parameterised DEB model describes A. rubens as a plastic species, an efficient predator with low maintenance costs and, at least while feeding on mussels, a high energy yield from its prey. The model validation against independent data resulted in the model being capable to assess growth, food demand, reproductive output and reserves dynamics of A. rubens under experimental and natural conditions. Moreover, application of the model to the Limfjorden seastar fishery is used to further discuss the use of the model to understand biology and ecology of this pest species in the context with the management of shellfish stocks and impact mitigation.

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The Green Degrees of Single Construction Technology Assessment System Using AHP-Fuzzy

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.671-674.2636 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 671-674 ◽

pp. 2636-2643 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Cheng Yi ◽

Jun Yi Huang ◽

Fu Yan Sun ◽

Meng Lan Lin ◽

Qiang Liu

Keyword(s):

Life Cycle ◽

Evaluation System ◽

Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation ◽

Green Technology ◽

Assessment System ◽

Construction Technology ◽

Construction Technique ◽

Green Construction ◽

The Impact ◽

Whole Life Cycle

According to the idea of the life cycle assessment method (LCA), the consumption of the energy and material, which is involved in the whole life cycle in each phase of single green construction technique, and the impact on the environment, is discussed. Based on the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation theory, a green degree evaluation system is established. The Analytic Hierarchy Process method (AHP) is adopted to establish green assessment system of the hierarchical structure model, and by means of 10/10-18/2 scaling method through pairwise comparison on tectonic judgment matrix of each level, the weight of each affecting factor is ultimately determined. Finally, VB program is used to compile visual programs of green degrees assessment. The quantitative assessment of integrated green degree for green construction technology is obtained, after inputting the score of the corresponding index, with reference to the influence of the factors assessment standards. By verifying rationality of the assessment system, the study proves that the system plays a guidance role in the self-assessment and reasonable construction for the construction of green technology.

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The importance of embodied energy in carbon footprint assessment

Structural Survey ◽

10.1108/ss-01-2013-0012 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 32 (1) ◽

pp. 49-60 ◽

Cited By ~ 31

Author(s):

Zaid Alwan ◽

Paul Jones

Keyword(s):

Life Cycle ◽

Carbon Footprint ◽

Embodied Energy ◽

Total Carbon ◽

Design Team ◽

Content Type ◽

Operational Energy ◽

The Impact ◽

Whole Life Cycle

Purpose – The construction industry has focused on operational and embodied energy of buildings as a way of becoming more sustainable, however, with more emphasis on the former. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the impact that embodied energy of construction materials can have on the decision making when designing buildings, and ultimately on the environment. This is an important aspect that has often been overlooked when calculating a building's carbon footprint; and its inclusion this approach presents a more holistic life cycle assessment. Design/methodology/approach – A building project was chosen that is currently being designed; the design team for the project have been tasked by the client to make the facility exemplary in terms of its sustainability. This building has a limited construction palette; therefore the embodied energy component can be accurately calculated. The authors of this paper are also part of the design team for the building so they have full access to Building Information Modelling (BIM) models and production information. An inventory of materials was obtained for the building and embodied energy coefficients applied to assess the key building components. The total operational energy was identified using benchmarking to produce a carbon footprint for the facility. Findings – The results indicate that while operational energy is more significant over the long term, the embodied energy of key materials should not be ignored, and is likely to be a bigger proportion of the total carbon in a low carbon building. The components with high embodied energy have also been identified. The design team have responded to this by altering the design to significantly reduce the embodied energy within these key components – and thus make the building far more sustainable in this regard. Research limitations/implications – It may be is a challenge to create components inventories for whole buildings or for refurbishments. However, a potential future approach for is application may be to use a BIM model to simplify this process by imbedding embodied energy inventories within the software, as part of the BIM menus. Originality/value – This case study identifies the importance of considering carbon use during the whole-life cycle of buildings, as well as highlighting the use of carbon offsetting. The paper presents an original approach to the research by using a “live” building as a case study with a focus on the embodied energy of each component of the scheme. The operational energy is also being calculated, the combined data are currently informing the design approach for the building. As part of the analysis, the building was modelled in BIM software.

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Research on the evaluation system of green highway in the whole life cycle of South China Mountain Area

E3S Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/e3sconf/202016504062 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 165 ◽

pp. 04062

Author(s):

Shengjun YU ◽

Jiang Li ◽

Chenhui Feng

Keyword(s):

Life Cycle ◽

Environmental Impact ◽

Evaluation System ◽

New Technology ◽

Highway Construction ◽

High Energy ◽

Point Of View ◽

Road Maintenance ◽

Mountain Area ◽

Whole Life Cycle

The urgency of the global environmental impact has made mankind pay more and more attention to the issue of sustainable development in all fields. The field of highway construction is no exception. Traditional highway construction has the characteristics of high investment, high energy consumption, wide pollution and strong destruction, and serious environmental impact, which is not conducive to the long-term development of society and the country. From the point of view of life cycle, combined with Current Events and Policies, green concept, Four-New Technology and consulting experience in highway construction of many years, this paper puts forward a three-stage green highway construction system of green design, green construction and green road maintenance. to promote the healthy, sustainable and green development of highway industry.

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Life Cycle Modelling of the Impact of Coal Quality on Emissions from Energy Generation

Energies ◽

10.3390/en13061515 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (6) ◽

pp. 1515 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Lukasz Lelek ◽

Joanna Kulczycka

Keyword(s):

Life Cycle ◽

Environmental Impact ◽

Electricity Generation ◽

Fossil Fuel ◽

Combustion Process ◽

Quality Parameters ◽

Electricity Production ◽

Fuel Quality ◽

The Impact ◽

Whole Life Cycle

This paper presents a model combining the LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) of fossil fuel extraction with its quality parameters and related CO2, SO2 and dust emissions at the stage of the combustion process. The model which was developed aims to identify the environmental impact of the processes of electricity production from selected energy carriers over their whole life cycle. The model takes into account the full LCA of fossil fuel extraction (of both hard and brown coal), its enrichment and fuel production as well as the environmental impact associated with emissions introduced into the air at the stage of electricity generation based on the fuels evaluated. Such an approach allows one to determine the fuel quality parameters that affect the environmental impact of energy production based on an LCA of mining and assigns the degree of environmental impact involved in particular production processes. Overall, the results obtained based on the proposed model permit the identification and prioritisation of the individual processes in the electricity generation life cycle which contribute the highest share in the general environmental impact indicator, having taken into account the modelling of the quality of the fuels used (calorific value, ash and sulphur content).

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Life Cycle Sustainability Assessments of an Innovative FRP Composite Footbridge

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su132313000 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (23) ◽

pp. 13000

Author(s):

Timothy Jena ◽

Sakdirat Kaewunruen

Keyword(s):

Life Cycle ◽

End Of Life ◽

Environmental Impacts ◽

Environmental Benefits ◽

Raw Material ◽

Suitable Alternative ◽

Frp Composite ◽

Reinforced Plastic ◽

The Impact ◽

Whole Life Cycle

Sustainable construction and the design of low-carbon structures is a major concern for the UK construction industry. FRP composite materials are seen as a suitable alternative to traditional construction materials due to their high strength and light weight. Network Rail has developed a prototype for a new innovative footbridge made entirely from FRP with the aim of replacing the current steel design for footbridges. This study conducted a life cycle analysis of this novel composite footbridge design to quantify the cost and environmental benefits. An LCA and LCC analysis framework was used to analyse the environmental impacts and cost savings of the bridge throughout its lifespan from raw material extraction to its end of life. From the results of the LCA and LCC, the FRP footbridge sustainability was reviewed and compared to a standard steel footbridge. Due to the uncertainty of the fibre-reinforced plastic (FRP) structure’s lifespan, multiple scenarios for longevity at the assets-use stage were studied. The study revealed that the FRP bridge offered substantial economic savings whilst presenting potentially worse environmental impacts, mainly caused by the impact of the production of FRP materials. However, our study also demonstrated the influences of uncertainties related to the glass-fibre-reinforced plastic (GFRP) material design life and end-of-life disposal on the whole life cycle analyses. The results show that if the FRP footbridge surpasses its original estimation for lifespan, the economic savings can be increased and the environmental impacts can be reduced substantially.

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Towards a sustainable business model for smartphones: Combining product-service systems with modularity

10.29007/djcz ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Alice Frantz Schneider ◽

Sepideh Matinfar ◽

Eoin Martino Grua ◽

Diego Casado-Mansilla ◽

Lars Cordewener

Keyword(s):

Life Cycle ◽

Business Models ◽

Modular Design ◽

Service Systems ◽

Sustainable Business ◽

Product Service ◽

Extended Lifespan ◽

The Impact ◽

Whole Life Cycle ◽

Product Service Systems

Based on the Sustainable Development Goals introduced by the United Nations and on the circular economy concept, ICT providers are adapting to become more sustainable. Some assess the CO2 emissions in the whole life cycle, while others propose to use renewable energies during manufacturing and assembling. In contrast with the current smartphone business models that rely on ongoing patterns of production and consumption, this paper proposes a more sustainable approach by combining product modularity, Product-Service Systems (PSS), and design for attachment. With a modular design, it becomes easier to repair the product or to replace parts, allowing for an extended lifespan. In combination with PSS, we propose that the modules, when no longer used by one customer, return to the market to be reused by another one. Lastly, we discuss the impact of the users’ behaviour through emotional bond, personalization, and technology appropriation as predictors of attachment to the product and consequently an extended lifespan. Through comparing case studies and using Life Cycle Assessment to calculate the CO2 equivalent emissions, we argue that our approach would directly reduce the environmental impact of the smartphone on the production phase, which accounts for most of the emissions throughout its life cycle.

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Sustainability Analysis of Active Packaging for the Fresh Cut Vegetable Industry by Means of Attributional & Consequential Life Cycle Assessment

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12177207 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (17) ◽

pp. 7207

Author(s):

Miguel Vigil ◽

Maria Pedrosa-Laza ◽

JV Alvarez Cabal ◽

Francisco Ortega-Fernández

Keyword(s):

Life Cycle ◽

Shelf Life ◽

Environmental Benefits ◽

Consequential Lca ◽

Environmental Implications ◽

Novel Technologies ◽

Impact Reduction ◽

Fresh Cut ◽

The Impact ◽

Whole Life Cycle

In order to enlarge the shelf life and avoid the waste of fresh-cut (FC) products, novel packaging techniques with antimicrobial properties have been proposed. In this work, we analyzed the potential environmental benefits of using films reinforced with bactericidal ZnO nanoparticles (NP) for FC produce packaging, when compared to the traditional polypropylene (PP) films. A biodegradable, polylactic acid (PLA) package and a non-biodegradable, polypropylene package, both coated with ZnO NP, were considered as novel technologies. The eco-profile of the considered alternatives was assessed via two life cycle assessments (LCAs). Firstly, an attributional LCA was performed in order to compare the materials in terms of their production and end of life (EOL) processes, allowing us to extend the conclusions to different food products. Secondly, a consequential LCA was performed taking into account the whole life cycle of the fresh vegetable, with special attention to the environmental implications of the produce losses among the chain. The uncertainties of the models were assessed via Monte Carlo approach. In both cases, the scenarios concerning the PLA and PP active packages with ZnO NP showed a better profile than the traditional techniques, specifically when considering the full supply chain of the FC vegetables in the consequential LCA. As agricultural production is the main contributor to the environmental impact of the cycle, the avoidance of wastes by extending the shelf life through the novel packages leads to the impact reduction of FC products.

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Life Cycle Assessment of Residential Air Conditioners Considering the Benefits of Their Use: A Case Study in Indonesia

Energies ◽

10.3390/en14020447 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (2) ◽

pp. 447

Author(s):

Selim Karkour ◽

Tomohiko Ihara ◽

Tadahiro Kuwayama ◽

Kazuki Yamaguchi ◽

Norihiro Itsubo

Keyword(s):

Global Warming ◽

Life Cycle Assessment ◽

Life Cycle ◽

High Energy ◽

External Cost ◽

Air Conditioners ◽

Energy Mix ◽

The Future ◽

Use Stage ◽

The Impact

The global demand for air conditioners (ACs) has more than tripled since 1990, with 1.6 billion units currently in use. With the rapid economic and population growth of countries located in the hottest parts in the world, this trend is likely to continue in the future. The aim of this study was to show the benefits of introducing air conditioners with different materials or different technologies such as inverters with high energy-saving performance on the environment and human health in Indonesia. To evaluate the environmental impacts of the different technologies, a cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment (LCA) of air conditioners was conducted using the life-cycle impact assessment method based on endpoint modeling (LIME3). As expected, the use stage has the largest global warming potential (GWP), representing more than 90% of the impact, whereas copper and nickel have the most important impact in terms of resource consumption (about 50%). We found that the impacts are heavily dependent on the country’s energy mix, but reduction can be achieved by introducing better technologies. The integration factors from LIME3 were then applied to estimate the external cost of each model; the results showed that the use stage also has the most influence. Even though the impact of climate change is important, air pollution impact must be seriously considered as its impact was found to be the highest (about 60% of the total impact). The external cost was finally compared to the possible benefits produced by the introduction of air conditioning technologies during their 10-year life cycle. We found that the impacts are twice that of the benefit for the best model (USD 2003 vs. 1064); however, the novelty of this study is that the benefit was also considered. In the future, developing countries should promote AC models with inverters, refrigerants with low global warming impact such as natural refrigerants, and encourage the recycling of units as soon as possible. The energy mix for electricity production is also a key parameter to consider.

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Comparative environmental impacts of Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles with Hybrid Vehicles and Electric Vehicles in China—Based on Life Cycle Assessment

E3S Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/e3sconf/201911802010 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 118 ◽

pp. 02010 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ningning Ha

Keyword(s):

Life Cycle Assessment ◽

Life Cycle ◽

Internal Combustion Engine ◽

Electric Vehicles ◽

Combustion Engine ◽

Internal Combustion ◽

Hybrid Vehicles ◽

Comparison Results ◽

The Impact ◽

Whole Life Cycle

In China, the growth of new energy vehicles is especially rapid and the explosive growth of the automobile brought an increasing impact on the environment. This paper selected Electric Vehicles, Hybrid Vehicles and Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles of the same model of BYD as the object. We established a Life Cycle Assessment with GaBi6 software and CML2001 model. The results show that in the whole life cycle, the influences of ADP, GWP and ODP of Electric Vehicles are less than that of Hybrid Vehicles and Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles. The impact of Electric Vehicles are 39%, 50%, and 4% of the Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles and the Hybrid Vehicles’ impact are 65%, 78% and 85% of the Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles. Electric Vehicles and Hybrid Vehicles have a clear improvement in these three types of impacts. The comparison results of AP, EP, FAETP, MAETP and POCP show that the potential impact of Electric Vehicles is greater than that of Hybrid Vehicles and Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles. At present, improving production technology and reducing the consumption of energy during production phase are effective measures to reduce the environmental impact of Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles and Hybrid Vehicles of China.

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Life Cycle Assessment for Bioethanol Production from Oil Palm Frond Juice in an Oil Palm Based Biorefinery

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su11246928 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (24) ◽

pp. 6928 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Siti Jamilah Hanim Mohd YUSOF ◽

Ahmad Muhaimin Roslan ◽

Khairul Nadiah Ibrahim ◽

Sharifah Soplah Syed ABDULLAH ◽

Mohd Rafein Zakaria ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Life Cycle Assessment ◽

Life Cycle ◽

Oil Palm ◽

High Energy ◽

Present System ◽

Impact Categories ◽

Juice Extraction ◽

Oil Palm Frond ◽

The Impact ◽

Palm Frond

A study was conducted to estimate the possible environmental impacts arising from the generation of bioethanol from oil palm frond sugar juice in a theoretical oil palm based biorefinery model. A life cycle assessment (LCA) with the gate-to-gate approach was performed with the aid of SimaPro version 8.0 whereby ten impact categories were evaluated. The scope included frond collection and transportation, frond sugar juice extraction, and bioethanol fermentation and purification. Evaluation on the processes involved indicated that fermentation contributed to the environmental problems the most, with a contribution range of 52% to 97% for all the impact categories. This was due to a substantial usage of nutrient during this process, which consumes high energy for its production thus contributing a significant burden to the surrounding. Nevertheless, the present system offers a great option for biofuel generation as it utilizes sugar juice from the readily available oil palm waste. Not only solving the issue of land utilization for feedstock cultivation, the enzymatic saccharification step, which commonly necessary for lignocellulosic sugar recovery could also be eliminated.

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