scholarly journals Water Conservation Initiative in a Public School from Tropical Country:  Performance and Sustainability Assessments

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarva Mangala Praveena ◽  
Sri Themudu
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Rainwater Harvesting ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Water Footprint ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
School Setting ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Tropical Country ◽  
Existing Building

Abstract Malaysia is a tropical country that gets high rainfall throughout the year that can be utilized for various activities including water conservation. Water conservation initiatives in Malaysia are mainly concentrated in commercial and residential buildings but public buildings such as schools have been underutilized. Thus, this study aims to conduct a water conservation initiative in a primary school in Malacca (Malaysia). Water audit were conducted to identify the highest water usage location and the most suitable water conservation method in a school setting. Lastly, the sustainability performance of the rainwater harvesting system was evaluated via the Sustainable Development Analytical Grid (SDAG) assessment tool. Water footprint findings demonstrated that approximately 60% of total water use was due to toilet use. The rainwater harvesting system was selected as this method enables the use of a renewable source (rainwater) and it conveniently fit with the existing building rooftop and plumbing system to engender high sustainability potential and collaboration opportunities. After several months of operation, environmental, social, and economic benefits were observed. Sustainable assessment has indicated that all the six dimensions were well balanced with scores greater than 50% and continued improvements will increase the project’s sustainability in the future. This study approach is generalizable to any school worldwide with a similar water footprint as a water restoration at both local and global contexts to achieve United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.

The Sustainable Strategy of Obsolete Building Conversion to Residential Uses

2015 ◽  
Vol 725-726 ◽  
pp. 1199-1205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milica Živković ◽  
Milan Tanić ◽  
Slaviša Kondić ◽  
Vojislav Nikolić ◽  
Nikolay Vatin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Development Strategy ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Optimal Solution ◽  
Demographic Changes ◽  
Existing Building ◽  
Urban Structures ◽  
The Social ◽  
Building Conversion

Changes in the existing urban structures that result in obsolescence and abandonment of buildings, open up the opportunities for an alternative use of the existing building fund which would be in line with the current needs and aspirations of today. Conversion of obsolete buildings to residential buildings might be an optimal solution for the social and demographic changes that continuously influence and intensify the demands for new housing. The paper points out the quality of this approach and explores the extent to which conversion of obsolete buildings for residential uses may be a valid tool in sustainable development strategy.

scholarly journals Green Building Analysis of PT United Tractors on Existing Building Based on the Latest Rating Tools Green Building Council Indonesia

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 7-11
Author(s):  
Bakhtiar Burhan ◽  
Hanny J. Berchsman ◽  
Dena Hendriana ◽  
Henry Nasution ◽  
Gembong Baskoro
Keyword(s):  
Water Conservation ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Green Building ◽  
Suitability Analysis ◽  
Existing Building ◽  
Material Resources ◽  
Site Development ◽  
Eligibility Requirements ◽  
Energy Efficiency And Conservation

PT United Tractors building has received a Platinum predicate for the Greenship New Building Category. However, the more advanced the development and growth of the company, research must continue to be done to see if the building is still feasible in its current condition. The method used in this research is to compare the condition of the existing building with the Greenship New Building Assessment tool. After comparisons, a new category suitability analysis was carried out for existing buildings. The analysis was carried out by direct measurement methods, interviews and using secondary data. From the results of the study, the PT United Tractors building received a Gold rating, because it met five building eligibility requirements, including Appropriate Site Development, Energy Efficiency and Conservation, Water Conservation, Material Resources and Cycle, Indoor Air Health and Comfort. The assessment of the suitability of the criteria in each category showed a result of 65 points (57%). For this reason, it needs improvement in order to reach the highest point in Platinum rank.

scholarly journals Rainwater Harvesting Potentials in Commercial Buildings in Dhaka: Reliability and Economic Analysis

Hydrology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 9
Author(s):  
Md. Rezaul Karim ◽  
B. M. Sadman Sakib ◽  
Sk. Sadman Sakib ◽  
Monzur Alam Imteaz
Keyword(s):  
Water Demand ◽  
Rainwater Harvesting ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Commercial Buildings ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Capital City ◽  
Balance Model ◽  
Climate Conditions ◽  
Rainwater Tank ◽  
Catchment Areas

Despite numerous studies on residential rainwater tank, studies on commercial rainwater tank are scarce. Corporate authorities pay little heed on this sustainable feature. With the aim of encouraging corporate authorities, this study presents the feasibility and economic benefits of rainwater harvesting (RWH) in commercial buildings in the capital city of Bangladesh, where water authority struggles to maintain town water supply. The analysis was conducted using a daily water balance model under three climate scenarios (wet, dry and normal year) for five commercial buildings having catchment areas varying from 315 to 776 m2 and the storage tank capacity varying from 100 to 600 m3. It was found that for a water demand of 30 L per capita per day (lpcd), about 11% to 19% and 16% to 26.80% of the annual water demand can be supplemented by rainwater harvesting under the normal year and wet year climate conditions, respectively. The payback periods are found to be very short, only 2.25 to 3.75 years and benefit–cost (B/C) ratios are more than 1.0, even for building having the smallest catchment area (i.e., 315 m2) and no significant overflow would occur during monsoon, which leads to both economic and environmental benefits. Though the findings cannot be translated to other cities as those are dependent on factors like water price, interest rate, rainfall amount and pattern, however other cities having significant rainfall amounts should conduct similar studies to expedite implementations of widescale rainwater harvesting.

scholarly journals Integrating GIS-Based MCDA Techniques and the SCS-CN Method for Identifying Potential Zones for Rainwater Harvesting in a Semi-Arid Area

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 704
Author(s):  
Hussein Al-Ghobari ◽  
Ahmed Z. Dewidar
Keyword(s):  
Water Conservation ◽  
Surface Runoff ◽  
Rainwater Harvesting ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Remote Sensing Data ◽  
Curve Number ◽  
Drainage Density ◽  
Promising Alternative ◽  
Thematic Layers ◽  
Scs Cn

An increasing scarcity of water, as well as rapid global climate change, requires more effective water conservation alternatives. One promising alternative is rainwater harvesting (RWH). Nevertheless, the evaluation of RWH potential together with the selection of appropriate sites for RWH structures is significantly difficult for the water managers. This study deals with this difficulty by identifying RWH potential areas and sites for RWH structures utilizing geospatial and multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) techniques. The conventional data and remote sensing data were employed to set up needed thematic layers using ArcGIS software. The soil conservation service curve number (SCS-CN) method was used to determine surface runoff, centered on which yearly runoff potential map was produced in the ArcGIS environment. Thematic layers such as drainage density, slope, land use/cover, and runoff were allotted appropriate weights to produced RWH potential areas and zones appropriate for RWH structures maps of the study location. Results analysis revealed that the outcomes of the spatial allocation of yearly surface runoff depth ranging from 83 to 295 mm. Moreover, RWH potential areas results showed that the study areas can be categorized into three RWH potential areas: (a) low suitability, (b) medium suitability, and (c) high suitability. Nearly 40% of the watershed zone falls within medium and high suitability RWH potential areas. It is deduced that the integrated MCDA and geospatial techniques provide a valuable and formidable resource for the strategizing of RWH within the study zones.

scholarly journals Drivers of sustainability practices and contributions to sustainable development evident in sustainability reports of European mining companies

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anđela Ivic ◽  
Nína María Saviolidis ◽  
Lara Johannsdottir
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Mining Activities ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Mining Companies ◽  
Social License ◽  
Sustainability Reports ◽  
Sustainability Practices

AbstractMining activities cause negative environmental impacts and social conflicts but also provide economic benefits to communities and secure the minerals necessary for low-carbon technology. The aim of this multiple case study is to analyze, compare and critically evaluate sustainability reports of 10 European mining companies for the 2016–2018 period to determine the drivers for implementation of sustainability practices and their contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The findings suggest that European mining companies act under pressures from international initiatives and industry associations, the European Union, governments, stakeholders, and maintaining social license to operate. The companies report on the core subjects of corporate governance, employees, the environment, stakeholders’ engagement and occupational health and safety. Positive trends were observed in stakeholders’ engagement and health and safety, while air emissions and water and energy usage increased for most companies. Furthermore, there was an absence of improvement in gender diversity, utilization of renewable energy, and waste recycling. Even though all analyzed companies mentioned SDGs in the reports, the reports lacked a comprehensive explanation of mining activities’ contribution to the SDGs. This study addresses a gap in the existing literature on the European mining context of sustainable development and SDGs relevant for researchers, policymakers, and other impacted stakeholders and adds new theoretical knowledge on the external drivers of CSR activities based on institutional theory.

scholarly journals Sustainability of Regional Agroecological Economic System Based on Emergy Theory: A Case Study of Anhui Province, China

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (15) ◽  
pp. 8317
Author(s):  
Xue Wu ◽  
Yaliu Yang ◽  
Conghu Liu ◽  
Guowei Xu ◽  
Yuxia Guo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Economic System ◽  
Agricultural Development ◽  
Evaluation Method ◽  
Measurement Model ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Anhui Province ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Emergy Theory ◽  
Operation Status

The agroecological economic system is the basic system on which human beings depend for survival. In order to better evaluate the operation status of a regional agroecological economic system and deepen the cognition of the input and output of the regional agroecological economic system from the angle of emergy, the evaluation method of sustainable development of the regional agroecological economic system with comprehensive consideration of resources, economy, and environment was proposed by constructing a unified dimensional measurement model. This paper analyzed and evaluated the data of the agroecological economic system in Anhui Province from 2010 to 2019. The results showed that the agroecological economic system in Anhui Province bore less environmental pressure and gradually decreased, and had a good system efficiency and economic benefits. The average emergy sustainability index (ESI) was 3.12, indicating that the agroecological economic system in Anhui Province had certain vitality of sustainable development. Based on this, the paper puts forward some suggestions on sustainable and high-quality agricultural development in Anhui Province, which provides theoretical and methodical support for sustainable development of a regional agricultural economy.

scholarly journals Bioclimatic and Regenerative Design Guidelines for a Circular University Campus in India

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (15) ◽  
pp. 8238
Author(s):  
Noemi Bakos ◽  
Rosa Schiano-Phan
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Design Guidelines ◽  
University Campus ◽  
Design Strategies ◽  
Regenerative Design ◽  
Governmental Institutions ◽  
Social Environmental

To transform the negative impacts of buildings on the environment into a positive footprint, a radical shift from the current, linear ‘make-use-dispose’ practice to a closed-loop ‘make-use-return’ system, associated with a circular economy, is necessary. This research aims to demonstrate the possible shift to a circular construction industry by developing the first practical framework with tangible benchmarks for a ‘Circular University Campus’ based on an exemplary case study project, which is a real project development in India. As a first step, a thorough literature review was undertaken to demonstrate the social, environmental and economic benefits of a circular construction industry. As next step, the guideline for a ‘Circular University Campus’ was developed, and its applicability tested on the case study. As final step, the evolved principles were used to establish ‘Project Specific Circular Building Indicators’ for a student residential block and enhance the proposed design through bioclimatic and regenerative design strategies. The building’s performance was evaluated through computational simulations, whole-life carbon analysis and a circular building assessment tool. The results demonstrated the benefits and feasibility of bioclimatic, regenerative building and neighbourhood design and provided practical prototypical case study and guidelines which can be adapted by architects, planners and governmental institutions to other projects, thereby enabling the shift to a restorative, circular construction industry.

scholarly journals Multi-Use of the Sea as a Sustainable Development Instrument in Five EU Sea Basins

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (15) ◽  
pp. 8159
Author(s):  
Joanna Przedrzymirska ◽  
Jacek Zaucha ◽  
Helena Calado ◽  
Ivana Lukic ◽  
Martina Bocci ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Baltic Sea ◽  
Spatial Planning ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
The Black Sea ◽  
The North ◽  
The North Sea ◽  
Maritime Spatial Planning ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Impact

This paper examines the concept of maritime multi-use as a territorial/SPATIAL governance instrument for the enhancement of sustainable development in five EU sea basins. Multi-use (MU) is expected to enhance the productivity of blue economy sectors, as well as deliver additional socio-economic benefits related to the environmental and social dimensions of sustainable development. The paper provides a definition of maritime multi-use and identifies the multi-uses with the highest potential in EU sea basins. In each sea basin, multi-use plays a different role as concerns sustainable development. For the Eastern Baltic Sea, the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea, the MU focus should remain on the environmental pillar of sustainable development. In the North Sea, North Atlantic and Western Baltic Sea, addressing social sustainability seems a key precondition for success of MU in enhancement of sustainable spatial development at sea. Moreover, it has been suggested to introduce MU key global strategies such as SDGs or Macroregional strategies and action plans and to supplement maritime spatial planning with sectoral incentives and educational efforts as key vehicles supporting MU. The paper concludes by identifying aspects which, in order to inform maritime spatial planning and maritime governance regarding a more conscious application of the aforementioned concept, require further investigation. Key tasks are related to: more profound evaluation of performance of policies supporting MUs, researching the impact of MU on societal goals and on the MU costs and benefits, including external ones, and finally identifying the impact of MU on the development of various sectors and regions on land.

scholarly journals Optimization of Costs and Self-Sufficiency for Roof Integrated Photovoltaic Technologies on Residential Buildings

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (13) ◽  
pp. 4018
Author(s):  
Guglielmina Mutani ◽  
Valeria Todeschi
Keyword(s):  
Solar Energy ◽  
Energy Security ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Maximum Level ◽  
Economic Incentives ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
The South ◽  
Self Sufficiency ◽  
Photovoltaic Technologies

It is common practice, in the production of photovoltaic energy to only use the south-exposed roof surface of a building, in order to achieve the maximum production of solar energy while lowering the costs of the energy and the solar technologies. However, using the south-exposed surface of a roof only allows a small quota of the energy demand to be covered. Roof surfaces oriented in other directions could also be used to better cover the energy load profile. The aim of this work is to investigate the benefits, in terms of costs, self-sufficiency and self-consumption, of roof integrated photovoltaic technologies on residential buildings with different orientations. A cost-optimal analysis has been carried out taking into account the economic incentives for a collective self-consumer configuration. It has emerged, from this analysis, that the better the orientation is, the higher the energy security and the lower the energy costs and those for the installation of photovoltaic technologies. In general, the use of south-facing and north-facing roof surfaces for solar energy production has both economic and energy benefits. The self-sufficiency index can on average be increased by 8.5% through the use of photovoltaic installations in two directions on gable roofs, and the maximum level that can be achieved was on average 41.8, 41.5 and 35.7% for small, medium and large condominiums, respectively. Therefore, it could be convenient to exploit all the potential orientations of photovoltaic panels in cities to improve energy security and to provide significant economic benefits for the residential users.

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