scholarly journals Empirical Analysis of “GHG Emission Avoidance” Calculation for Selection of Sustainable Environmental Projects

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 139-144
Author(s):  
Lea Robič Mohar ◽  
Matej Rajšp ◽  
Matej Požarnik
Keyword(s):  
Building Materials ◽  
Glass Ceramics ◽  
Theoretical Background ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Practical Calculation ◽  
Ghg Emission ◽  
Environmental Projects ◽  
Climate Neutrality ◽  
Complex Matter

Innovative environmental projects, selected for co-financing, must contribute to the green recovery of Europe’s economy and maintain the momentum in its transition to climate neutrality. However, measuring overall sustainable environmental efficiency of a project is a complex matter. The “GHG emission avoidance” indicator, which began to appear in the award criteria of the environmentally oriented tenders of the European cohesion policy for the Programme period 2021-2027, enables the allocation of funds based on the achieved environmental benefits. The purpose of this paper is to present theoretical background and practical calculation of the “GHG emission avoidance” indicator. An absolute and relative indicator is analysed, with which investors quantitatively evaluate the potential for avoiding emissions, generated in the case of project implementation. The research part of this article is presented through case study of a project in the sector of glass, ceramics and building materials in energy-intensive industry, in which contribution of the selected sustainable project to the EU vision for a climate-neutral economy is demonstrated.

scholarly journals Passive Solar Solutions for Buildings: Criteria and Guidelines for a Synergistic Design

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 376
Author(s):  
Giacomo Cillari ◽  
Fabio Fantozzi ◽  
Alessandro Franco
Keyword(s):  
Energy Demand ◽  
Theoretical Background ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Passive Systems ◽  
Extrinsic Factors ◽  
Solar Systems ◽  
Final Performance ◽  
Passive Solar ◽  
Energy Simulations

Passive solar system design is an essential asset in a zero-energy building perspective to reduce heating, cooling, lighting, and ventilation loads. The integration of passive systems in building leads to a reduction of plant operation with considerable environmental benefits. The design can be related to intrinsic and extrinsic factors that influence the final performance in a synergistic way. The aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive view of the elements that influence passive solar systems by means of an analysis of the theoretical background and the synergistic design of various solutions available. The paper quantifies the potential impact of influencing factors on the final performance and then investigates a case study of an existing public building, analyzing the effects of the integration of different passive systems through energy simulations. General investigation has highlighted that latitude and orientation impact energy saving on average by 3–13 and 6–11 percentage points, respectively. The case study showed that almost 20% of the building energy demand can be saved by means of passive solar systems. A higher contribution is given by mixing direct and indirect solutions, as half of the heating and around 25% of the cooling energy demand can be cut off.

Polytechnic to Business Project (P2B) a Case of Innovation and Knowledge Transference

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-49
Author(s):  
Teresa Paiva
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Transfer ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Theoretical Background ◽  
Transfer Model ◽  
Case Study Method ◽  
Multiple Sources ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Manage Innovation

Background: The theoretical background of this article is on the model developed of knowledge transfer between universities and the industry in order to access the best practices and adapt to the study case in question regarding the model of promoting and manage innovation within the universities that best contribute with solution and projects to the business field. Objective: The development of a knowledge transfer model is the main goal of this article, supported in the best practices known and, also, to reflect in the main measurement definitions to evaluate the High Education Institution performance in this area. Methods: The method for this article development is the case study method because it allows the fully understanding of the dynamics present within a single setting, and the subject examined to comprehend what is being done and what the dynamics mean. The case study does not have a data collection method, as it is a research that may rely on multiple sources of evidence and data which should be converged. Results: Since it’s a case study this article present a fully description of the model proposed and implemented for the knowledge transfer process of the institution. Conclusion: Still in a discussion phase, this article presents as conclusions some questions and difficulties that could be pointed out, as well as some good perspectives of performed activity developed.

scholarly journals Product-Service Systems and Sustainability: Analysing the Environmental Impacts of Rental Clothing

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 2118
Author(s):  
Emma Johnson ◽  
Andrius Plepys
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Service Systems ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Fast Fashion ◽  
Product Service ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
Environmental Savings ◽  
Product Service Systems

Business models like product-service systems (PSSs) often recognise different sustainability goals and are seen as solutions for the impacts of consumption and fast fashion, but there is a lack of evidence supporting the environmental claims of such business models for clothing. The research aimed to understand if rental clothing business models such as PSSs have the environmental benefits often purported by quantifying the environmental impacts of rental formal dresses in a life-cycle assessment (LCA) in a case study in Stockholm, Sweden. The effects of varying consumer behaviour on the potential impact of a PSS vs. linear business model are explored through three functional units and 14 consumption scenarios. How users decide to engage with clothing PSSs dictates the environmental savings potential that a PSS can have, as shown in how many times consumers wear garments, how they use rental to substitute their purchasing or use needs, as well as how consumers travel to rental store locations.

scholarly journals Modelling Sustainable Industrial Symbiosis

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 1172
Author(s):  
Hafiz Haq ◽  
Petri Välisuo ◽  
Seppo Niemi
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Waste Management ◽  
Environmental Performance ◽  
Life Cycle Cost ◽  
Economic Assessment ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Industrial Symbiosis ◽  
Comprehensive Model ◽  
Network Connections

Industrial symbiosis networks conventionally provide economic and environmental benefits to participating industries. However, most studies have failed to quantify waste management solutions and identify network connections in addition to methodological variation of assessments. This study provides a comprehensive model to conduct sustainable study of industrial symbiosis, which includes identification of network connections, life cycle assessment of materials, economic assessment, and environmental performance using standard guidelines from the literature. Additionally, a case study of industrial symbiosis network from Sodankylä region of Finland is implemented. Results projected an estimated life cycle cost of €115.20 million. The symbiotic environment would save €6.42 million in waste management cost to the business participants in addition to the projected environmental impact of 0.95 million tonne of CO2, 339.80 tonne of CH4, and 18.20 tonne of N2O. The potential of further cost saving with presented optimal assessment in the current architecture is forecast at €0.63 million every year.

scholarly journals Operational and Safety Management at Intersections: Can the Turbo-Roundabout Be an Effective Alternative to Conventional Solutions?

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 5103
Author(s):  
Vincenzo Gallelli ◽  
Giusi Perri ◽  
Rosolino Vaiana
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Congestion ◽  
Safety Management ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Assessment Model ◽  
Pollutant Emission ◽  
Emission Rates ◽  
The European Union ◽  
European Union Policy ◽  
Union Policy

The European Union policy strategies on the sustainability of the transport system pursue the goals of maximizing safety and environmental benefits and reducing the severity and frequency of crashes, congestion, and pollutant emission rates. A common issue is the planning of the most effective solution for operational and safety management at intersections. In this study, an egg turbo roundabout is proposed as the alternative solution to a conventional roundabout in Southern Italy which suffers from traffic congestion. A comparative analysis is carried out using microsimulation techniques to investigate the safety effects and operational improvements of converting a traditional priority intersection into standard roundabout or turbo roundabout layout. In particular, the VISSIM software is used to explore the most relevant operational performance measures: queue length, travel times and delays. The lowest values of these measurements are recorded for the simulated turbo roundabout, thus making this scheme more appropriate in terms of operational performances. With regard to safety analysis, the Surrogate Safety Assessment Model (SSAM) is used to collect information on the predicted number of conflicts, the probability, and severity of the potential collisions. The results suggest that, for the specific case study, the safety levels of the standard roundabout and the turbo roundabout are approximately comparable.

scholarly journals Integration of Emergy Analysis with Building Information Modeling

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 7990
Author(s):  
Suman Paneru ◽  
Forough Foroutan Jahromi ◽  
Mohsen Hatami ◽  
Wilfred Roudebush ◽  
Idris Jeelani
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Building Information Modeling ◽  
Energy Analysis ◽  
Information Modeling ◽  
Environmental Cost ◽  
Emergy Analysis ◽  
Modeling Tools ◽  
Building Information

Traditional energy analysis in Building Information Modeling (BIM) only accounts for the energy requirements of building operations during a portion of the occupancy phase of the building’s life cycle and as such is unable to quantify the true impact of buildings on the environment. Specifically, the typical energy analysis in BIM does not account for the energy associated with resource formation, recycling, and demolition. Therefore, a comprehensive method is required to analyze the true environmental impact of buildings. Emergy analysis can offer a holistic approach to account for the environmental cost of activities involved in building construction and operation in all its life cycle phases from resource formation to demolition. As such, the integration of emergy analysis with BIM can result in the development of a holistic sustainability performance tool. Therefore, this study aimed at developing a comprehensive framework for the integration of emergy analysis with existing Building Information Modeling tools. The proposed framework was validated using a case study involving a test building element of 8’ × 8’ composite wall. The case study demonstrated the successful integration of emergy analysis with Revit®2021 using the inbuilt features of Revit and external tools such as MS Excel. The framework developed in this study will help in accurately determining the environmental cost of the buildings, which will help in selecting environment-friendly building materials and systems. In addition, the integration of emergy into BIM will allow a comparison of various built environment alternatives enabling designers to make sustainable decisions during the design phase.

scholarly journals Stoichiometry and disorder influence over electronic structure in nanostructured VOx films

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
A. D’Elia ◽  
S. J. Rezvani ◽  
N. Zema ◽  
F. Zuccaro ◽  
M. Fanetti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electronic Structure ◽  
Distorted Octahedral Geometry ◽  
Edge Structure ◽  
Distorted Octahedral ◽  
X Ray Absorption ◽  
Complex Matter ◽  
Nanometric Size

AbstractWe present and discuss the role of nanoparticles size and stoichiometry over the local atomic environment of nanostructured VOx films. The samples have been characterized in situ using X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy identifying the stoichiometry-dependent fingerprints of disordered atomic arrangement. In vanadium oxides, the ligand atoms arrange according to a distorted octahedral geometry depending on the oxidation state, e.g. trigonal distortion in V2O3 and tetragonal distortion in bulk VO2. We demonstrate, taking VO2 as a case study, that as a consequence of the nanometric size of the nanoparticles, the original ligands symmetry of the bulk is broken resulting in the coexistence of a continuum of distorted atomic conformations. The resulting modulation of the electronic structure of the nanostructured VOx as a function of the oxygen content reveals a stoichiometry-dependent increase of disorder in the ligands matrix. This work shows the possibility to produce VOx nanostructured films accessing new disordered phases and provides a unique tool to investigate the complex matter.

scholarly journals Life Cycle Environmental Assessment of Light Steel Framed Buildings with Cement-Based Walls and Floors

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (24) ◽  
pp. 10686
Author(s):  
Mona Abouhamad ◽  
Metwally Abu-Hamd
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Simulation Software ◽  
Life Cycle Assessment Methodology ◽  
Building Information Model ◽  
Building Information ◽  
Cold Formed Steel ◽  
Environmental Measures ◽  
Materials Used

The objective of this paper is to apply the life cycle assessment methodology to assess the environmental impacts of light steel framed buildings fabricated from cold formed steel (CFS) sections. The assessment covers all phases over the life span of the building from material production, construction, use, and the end of building life, in addition to loads and benefits from reuse/recycling after building disposal. The life cycle inventory and environmental impact indicators are estimated using the Athena Impact Estimator for Buildings. The input data related to the building materials used are extracted from a building information model of the building while the operating energy in the use phase is calculated using an energy simulation software. The Athena Impact Estimator calculates the following mid-point environmental measures: global warming potential (GWP), acidification potential, human health potential, ozone depletion potential, smog potential, eutrophication potential, primary and non-renewable energy (PE) consumption, and fossil fuel consumption. The LCA assessment was applied to a case study of a university building. Results of the case study related to GWP and PE were as follows. The building foundations were responsible for 29% of the embodied GWP and 20% of the embodied PE, while the CFS skeleton was responsible for 30% of the embodied GWP and 49% of the embodied PE. The production stage was responsible for 90% of the embodied GWP and embodied PE. When benefits associated with recycling/reuse were included in the analysis according to Module D of EN 15978, the embodied GWP was reduced by 15.4% while the embodied PE was reduced by 6.22%. Compared with conventional construction systems, the CFS framing systems had much lower embodied GWP and PE.

CASE STUDY: Environmental benefits of ractopamine use in United States finisher swine12

2011 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 492-499 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.L. Woods ◽  
T.A. Armstrong ◽  
D.B. Anderson ◽  
T.E. Elam ◽  
A.L. Sutton
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Environmental Benefits
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