A review of the water-related energy consumption of the food system in nexus studies

2021 ◽  
Vol 279 ◽  
pp. 123414
Author(s):  
K.M.Nazmul Islam ◽  
Steven J. Kenway ◽  
Marguerite A. Renouf ◽  
Ka Leung Lam ◽  
Thomas Wiedmann
Keyword(s):  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Food System ◽  
Related Energy

scholarly journals Development of Advanced Smart Ventilation Controls for Residential Applications

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (17) ◽  
pp. 5257
Author(s):  
Iain Walker ◽  
Brennan Less ◽  
David Lorenzetti ◽  
Michael D. Sohn
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Ventilation ◽  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Control Strategy ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Related Energy ◽  
Smart Control ◽  
Ventilation Rates ◽  
Ventilation Systems

This study examined the use of zoned ventilation systems using a coupled CONTAM/EnergyPlus model for new California dwellings. Several smart control strategies were developed with a target of halving ventilation-related energy use, largely through reducing dwelling ventilation rates based on zone occupancy. The controls were evaluated based on the annual energy consumption relative to continuously operating non-zoned, code-compliant mechanical ventilation systems. The systems were also evaluated from an indoor air quality perspective using the equivalency approach, where the annual personal concentration of a contaminant for a control strategy is compared to the personal concentration that would have occurred using a continuously operating, non-zoned system. Individual occupant personal concentrations were calculated for the following contaminants of concern: moisture, CO2, particles, and a generic contaminant. Zonal controls that saved energy by reducing outside airflow achieved typical reductions in ventilation-related energy of 10% to 30%, compared to the 7% savings from the unzoned control. However, this was at the expense of increased personal concentrations for some contaminants in most cases. In addition, care is required in the design and evaluation of zonal controls, because control strategies may reduce exposure to some contaminants, while increasing exposure to others.

An Updated Estimate for Energy Use in U.S. Food Production and Policy Implications

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda D. Cuellar ◽  
Michael E. Webber
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Total Energy ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Energy Intensity ◽  
Food System ◽  
The United States ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Total Energy Consumption ◽  
Food Consumed

In this work we estimate the amount of energy required to produce the food consumed in the United States in 2002 and 2007. Data from government sources and the scientific literature were used to calculate the energy intensity of food production from agriculture, transportation, manufacturing, food sales, storage and preparation. Most data were from 2002; consequently we scaled all data from other years to 2002 by using ratios of total energy consumption in 2002 to total energy consumption in the year data were reported. We concluded that food production required at least 7,880±733 trillion BTU in 2002 and 8,080±752 trillion BTU of energy in 2007, over a third of which came from food handling in homes, restaurants and grocery stores. The energy used to produce food represents approximately 8% of energy consumption. Our estimate is for the energy required to produce the food consumed in the United States and takes into account food imports and exports. To account for net food exports in the agriculture sector we calculated values for the energy intensity of ten food categories and then used the mass of domestic food consumption in each category to calculate the energy embedded in the food consumed in the United States. The amount of energy required to produce the food consumed in the United States has policy implications because it is a substantial fraction of total energy consumption and is responsible for a commensurate amount of greenhouse gas emissions. There are many opportunities for decreasing the energy intensity of food production at all steps of the food system. Education of the public and policy measures that promote energy efficiency in the food sector have the potential for decreasing food waste and the energy intensity of the food system.

scholarly journals Structure Dynamics and Risk Assessment of Water-Energy-Food Nexus: A Water Footprint Approach

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peng Zhang ◽  
Zihan Xu ◽  
Weiguo Fan ◽  
Jiahui Ren ◽  
Ranran Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Socioeconomic Development ◽  
Food System ◽  
Water Footprint ◽  
Rapid Expansion ◽  
Green Water ◽  
Arid Areas ◽  
External Energy ◽  
Important Indicator

The “Water-Energy-Food Nexus” is one of the present research hotspots in the field of sustainable development. Water resources are the key factors that limit local human survival and socioeconomic development in arid areas, and the water footprint is an important indicator for measuring sustainable development. In this study, the structural dynamics and complex relationships of the water-energy-food system in arid areas were analyzed from the perspective of the water footprint, and the risk characteristics were evaluated. The results show that: (1) Agriculture products and livestock products account for the largest water footprints (>90%), which is much higher than the water footprints of energy consumption (<5%). From the water footprint type, the blue water footprint (>50%) > the grey water footprint (20%–30%) > the green water footprint (<20%). (2) Since 2000, especially after 2005, while energy consumption drove rapid economic growth, it also led to the rapid expansion of the water footprint in the Manas River Basin. By 2015, the water deficit was relatively serious, with the surface water resource deficit reaching 16.21 × 108 m3. (3) The water-energy risk coupling degree of the water-energy-food system in this basin is comparatively significant, which means that it is facing the dual pressures of internal water shortage and external energy dependence, and it is vulnerable to global warming and fluctuations in the international and domestic energy markets. Thus, it is necessary to adjust the industrial structure through macroeconomic regulation and control, developing new energy sources, reducing the coupling degree of system risks, and achieving sustainable development.

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