scholarly journals A Method for Studying Acidification and Eutrophication Potentials of a Residential Neighbourhood

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
MODESTE Kameni Nematchoua ◽  
Somayeh Asadi ◽  
Donghyun Rim ◽  
Esther Obonyo ◽  
Sigrid Reiter
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Neighborhood Design ◽  
Local Climate ◽  
Photovoltaic Panel ◽  
Energy Mix ◽  
Acidification Potential ◽  
Neighborhood Scale ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Acidification and Eutrophication are two environmental impacts that have a significant effect on air pollution and human health. The quantitative analysis of these two impacts remains hitherto unknown at the scale of new neighborhoods. The main purpose of this research is to evaluate, analysis and compare the acidification and eutrophication potentials of one neighborhood initially located in Belgium. To perform this comparison, the same neighborhood design is applied to in150 countries, but four parameters are adapted to each country: energy mix, local climate, building materials, and occupants’ mobility. In addition, this research evaluates the induced environmental costs of the neighborhood over 100 years and examines the impact of the photovoltaic panel on these environmental impacts. This research, extended to the scale of several nations, will enable new researchers, and especially policy-makers, to measure the effectiveness of sustainable neighborhoods. Eutrophication and acidification potentials were assessed under different phases (construction, use, renovation, and demolition), with Pleiades ACV software. Among the four local parameters (energy mix, local materials, climate, and transport, the energy mix has the most significant effect on the two studied environmental impacts. The results show that 72 %, and 65% of acidification, and eutrophication potentials are produced during the operational phase of the neighborhood. In the case of sustainable neighborhoods, the acidification potential is 22.1% higher in the 10 top Low incomes countries than the 10 top High-income countries. At the neighborhood scale the main eutrophication potential component is water (34.2%), while, the main source of acidification potential is electricity production (45.1%)

scholarly journals Environmental Impacts and Benefits of the End-of-Life of Building Materials: Database to Support Decision Making and Contribute to Circularity

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (22) ◽  
pp. 12659
Author(s):  
Ana Antunes ◽  
Ricardo Martins ◽  
José Dinis Silvestre ◽  
Ricardo do Carmo ◽  
Hugo Costa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Waste Management ◽  
End Of Life ◽  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
National Level ◽  
Construction And Demolition Waste ◽  
Demolition Waste ◽  
Life Phase ◽  
The Impact

This paper outlines a methodology for structuring a generic database of environmental impacts on the end-of-life phase of buildings, which can be used at the national level, in accordance with European standards. A number of different options are also considered for managing construction and demolition waste (CDW), as well as for promoting the circularity of materials in construction. The database structure has been developed for use by the main stakeholders who decide the disposal scenario for the main CDW flows, assess waste management plans, and identify the corresponding environmental aspects. The impact categories considered in this paper are global warming potential (GWP) and the abiotic depletion potential of fossil fuels (ADP (f.f.)). This lifecycle assessment (LCA) database further facilitates the identification of important information, such as possible treatments for CDW, or suppliers of recycled materials for use in new construction. Two demolition case studies were used to confirm the benefits of the proposed database. Two demolition scenarios are assessed—traditional and selective—in order to demonstrate the advantage of selective demolition in waste management. The results obtained from the environmental assessment of CDW flows demonstrate that the proposed database can be an important and useful tool for decision making about the end-of-life of construction materials, as it is designed to maximize their reuse and recycling. An innovative online platform can be created based on this database, contributing to the reduction of the environmental impacts associated with the end-of-life phase of buildings.

scholarly journals Environmental Impacts of Detached Family Houses Used Natural Building Materials

Proceedings ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (20) ◽  
pp. 1301 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Monokova ◽  
Silvia Vilcekova ◽  
Ludmila Meciarova ◽  
Iveta Selecka
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
Green Technologies ◽  
Green Materials ◽  
Acidification Potential ◽  
Natural Building ◽  
Operation Phase

This paper aims to assess the environmental impact of family houses designed as a building with green technologies and green materials. These family houses are located in villages of Velky Folkmar and Jedlinka, which are situated in eastern Slovakia. The analysis investigates the role of application of these technologies on impact categories such as: global warming potential (GWP), acidification potential (AP), eutrophication potential (EP), photochemical ozone creation potential (POCP), abiotic depletion potential fossil fuels (ADPF) expressed as CO2eq, SO2eq, PO43−eq, kg ethylene and MJ, respectively within “Cradle to Grave” boundary by using the LCA assessment method. The main contribution of the study is to highlight the significance of green technologies in reduction of environmental impacts. The presented results show that house with built-in green materials and technologies causes significantly lower environmental impacts compared to house where both green technologies and conventional materials are built. The operation phase (B6) is characterized by greater environmental impacts compared to the product and construction phases, as well as deconstruction phase due to the use of green materials and technologies.

scholarly journals Life-cycle assessment of a photovoltaic panel: Assessment of energy intensity of production and environmental impacts

2021 ◽  
Vol 1209 (1) ◽  
pp. 012027
Author(s):  
M Vácha ◽  
J Kodymová ◽  
V Lapčík
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Energy Intensity ◽  
Glass Production ◽  
Photovoltaic Cell ◽  
Solar Panels ◽  
Photovoltaic Panel ◽  
Cell Production ◽  
The Impact

Abstract A number of articles have already been published on energy recovery from the sun using solar panels and their environmental impacts. However, in this article, we assess the impact of solar panel technology, and use separately obtained data based on the disassembly of a specific photovoltaic panel into discrete parts. The aim of this article is to list all the environmental impacts of this panel per unit of energy produced and at the same time to focus primarily on deciphering the energy intensity of individual phases of the life cycle of photovoltaic panel production. An analytical method of Life-cycle assessment using the environmental software version SimaPro 9.0.049 with an integrated Ecoinvent 3 database was used to determine the environmental impacts. Throughout the work, we focus on the data obtained, which shows that the process of photovoltaic panel production itself is very energy-intensive, especially in the phase of photovoltaic cell production and solar glass production. In other phases, which is the production of individual parts of the photovoltaic panel, its use, and subsequent recycling, they do not contribute so much to the overall energy balance. In the environmental impact assessment, the most affected aspects were human health, followed by climatic change, resources, and the ecosystem quality came last. In all four of the above categories, the influence of the photovoltaic cell production phase was determined to be dominant.

scholarly journals Climate Adaptability Based on Indoor Physical Environment of Traditional Dwelling in North Dong Areas, China

2022 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 850
Author(s):  
Fupeng Zhang ◽  
Lei Shi ◽  
Simian Liu ◽  
Jiaqi Shi ◽  
Qian Ma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Physical Environment ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Thermal Environment ◽  
Adaptation Strategy ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Local Climate ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
The North ◽  
The Impact

In this study, climate-responsive solutions used in traditional dwellings in the North Dong region of China were identified, and the impact of these solutions on the indoor physical environment and energy consumption was analysed. First, over the course of a year, sample dwellings and short-term on-site indoor physical environment measurements were selected from the local climate. Then, three building materials, namely, brick, wood, and rammed earth, and different structural forms were selected to simulate the indoor thermal environment, ventilation conditions, and energy consumption of traditional dwellings. The study also summarised the advantages and disadvantages of the physical environment of traditional dwellings in response to climate characteristics. The results showed that the fluctuation in indoor temperature and humidity of typical dwellings in the North Dong region is approximately 5 °C, which is 14% lower than that outdoors. Traditional Dong dwellings have good indoor conditioning abilities. Traditional wood structure dwellings can save 26% and 39% of energy per year compared with those of raw earth and brick wood, respectively. Traditional dwellings in the Dong region are well adapted to the local climate in terms of form, materials, and structure and contribute to climate-responsive buildings in the harsh climatic conditions of the region. The solutions used in these dwellings can also be used to design new climate-responsive buildings; however, the indoor thermal comfort is not entirely satisfactory. We proposed an effective adaptation strategy for Dong traditional dwellings.

PENERAPAN CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY DALAM PENGELOLAAN WAKAF PRODUKTIF

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Masruchin Masruchin
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Infrastructure Development ◽  
Religious Activities ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Local Society ◽  
Business Units ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
The Impact ◽  
A Company ◽  
Social And Environmental Impacts

Corporate Social Responsibilityis a concept that a company has various forms of responsibility to all stakeholders including consumers, employees, shareholders, communities and the environment in all aspects of the company's operations that include economic, social, and environmental aspects. Therefore CSR is closely related to "sustainable development", in which a company, in carrying out its activities must base its decisions not only on the impact on economic aspects, such as the level of profits or dividends (profits), but also must consider the social and environmental impacts that arise from that decision, both for the short term and the longer term.Pondok Modern Darussalam Gontor (PMDG), in managing its Productive Waqf by establishing business units which mostly involve workers from the local society around PMDG. They are employed according to their skills. This is a form of implementing CSR in order to help advance and improve the welfare of the local society. The existence of these various business units is one of the educational facilities and as a form of CSR application which is actually intended to educate in the fields of independence, entrepreneurship, sincerity and sacrifice.PMDG involvement in social activities that are useful for the local society such as infrastructure development and village facilities, regeneration of students who are from around PMDG to be able to get higher education with funding from the PMDG, doing guidance to the local society through various religious activities, educational and economic activities is a form of PMDG responsibility to the local society environment and also to all stakeholders such as students, Ustadz, employees, so as to provide social and environmental impacts for the short term and the longer term.Keywords: Corporate Social Responsibilityandproductive waqf.

scholarly journals The Economic Effects of Electromobility in Sustainable Urban Public Transport

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 878 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oliwia Pietrzak ◽  
Krystian Pietrzak
Keyword(s):  
Public Transport ◽  
Research Study ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Economic Effects ◽  
Urban Transport ◽  
Energy Mix ◽  
Zero Emission ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Given

This paper focuses on effects of implementing zero-emission buses in public transport fleets in urban areas in the context of electromobility assumptions. It fills the literature gap in the area of research on the impact of the energy mix of a given country on the issues raised in this article. The main purpose of this paper is to identify and analyse economic effects of implementing zero-emission buses in public transport in cities. The research area was the city of Szczecin, Poland. The research study was completed using the following research methods: literature review, document analysis (legal acts and internal documents), case study, ratio analysis, and comparative analysis of selected variants (investment variant and base variant). The conducted research study has shown that economic benefits resulting from implementing zero-emission buses in an urban transport fleet are limited by the current energy mix structure of the given country. An unfavourable energy mix may lead to increased emissions of SO2 and CO2 resulting from operation of this kind of vehicle. Therefore, achieving full effects in the field of electromobility in the given country depends on taking concurrent actions in order to diversify the power generation sources, and in particular on increasing the share of Renewable Energy Sources (RES).

scholarly journals Assessing the Economic and Environmental Impacts of Alternative Renewable Portfolio Standards: Winners and Losers

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (11) ◽  
pp. 3319
Author(s):  
Jamal Mamkhezri ◽  
Leonard A. Malczynski ◽  
Janie M. Chermak
Keyword(s):  
New Mexico ◽  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
The State ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Renewable Portfolio Standard ◽  
County Level ◽  
Renewable Portfolio Standards ◽  
Energy Potential ◽  
Output Analysis ◽  
The Impact

State-mandated renewable portfolio standards affect substantial portions of the total U.S. electricity supply. Renewable portfolio standards are environmentally motivated policies, yet they have the potential to greatly impact economy. There is not an agreement in the literature on the impact of renewable portfolio standards policies on regional economies, especially on job creation. By integrating various methodologies including econometrics, geographic information system, and input–output analysis into a unique system dynamics model, this paper estimates the economic and environmental impacts of various renewable portfolio standards scenarios in the state of New Mexico, located in Southwestern U.S. The state is endowed with traditional fossil fuel resources and substantial renewable energy potential. In this work we estimated and compared the economic and environmental tradeoffs at the county level under three renewable portfolio standards: New Mexico’s original standard of 20% renewables, the recently adopted 100% renewables standard, and a reduced renewable standard of 10%. The final one would be a return to a more traditional generation profile. We found that while the 20% standard has the highest market-based economic impact on the state as a whole, it is not significantly different from other scenarios. However, when environmental impacts are included, the 100% standard yields the highest value. In addition, while the state level economic impacts across the three scenarios are not significantly different, the county-level impacts are substantial. This is especially important for a state like New Mexico, which has a high reliance on energy for economic development. A higher renewable portfolio standard appears to be an economic tool to stimulate targeted areas’ economic growth. These results have policy implications.

scholarly journals Reducing environmental impacts from garments through best practice garment use and care, using the example of a Merino wool sweater

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen G. Wiedemann ◽  
Leo Biggs ◽  
Quan V. Nguyen ◽  
Simon J. Clarke ◽  
Kirsi Laitala ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Western Europe ◽  
Impact Category ◽  
Fashion Industry ◽  
Worst Case ◽  
Multiple Users ◽  
Washing Machines ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Purpose Garment production and use generate substantial environmental impacts, and the care and use are key determinants of cradle-to-grave impacts. The present study investigated the potential to reduce environmental impacts by applying best practices for garment care combined with increased garment use. A wool sweater is used as an example because wool garments have particular attributes that favour reduced environmental impacts in the use phase. Methods A cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment (LCA) was used to compare six plausible best and worst-case practice scenarios for use and care of a wool sweater, relative to current practices. These focussed on options available to consumers to reduce impacts, including reduced washing frequency, use of more efficient washing machines, reduced use of machine clothing dryers, garment reuse by multiple users, and increasing number of garment wears before disposal. A sixth scenario combined all options. Worst practices took the worst plausible alternative for each option investigated. Impacts were reported per wear in Western Europe for climate change, fossil energy demand, water stress and freshwater consumption. Results and discussion Washing less frequently reduced impacts by between 4 and 20%, while using more efficient washing machines at capacity reduced impacts by 1 to 6%, depending on the impact category. Reduced use of machine dryer reduced impacts by < 5% across all indicators. Reusing garments by multiple users increased life span and reduced impacts by 25–28% across all indicators. Increasing wears from 109 to 400 per garment lifespan had the largest effect, decreasing impacts by 60% to 68% depending on the impact category. Best practice care, where garment use was maximised and care practices focussed on the minimum practical requirements, resulted in a ~ 75% reduction in impacts across all indicators. Unsurprisingly, worst-case scenarios increased impacts dramatically: using the garment once before disposal increased GHG impacts over 100 times. Conclusions Wool sweaters have potential for long life and low environmental impact in use, but there are substantial differences between the best, current and worst-case scenarios. Detailed information about garment care and lifespans is needed to understand and reduce environmental impacts. Opportunities exist for consumers to rapidly and dramatically reduce these impacts. The fashion industry can facilitate this through garment design and marketing that promotes and enables long wear life and minimal care.

scholarly journals Towards Improving the Durability and Overall Performance of PV-ETICS by Application of a PCM Layer

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 4667
Author(s):  
Dariusz Heim ◽  
Anna Wieprzkowicz ◽  
Dominika Knera ◽  
Simo Ilomets ◽  
Targo Kalamees ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Flow ◽  
Thermal Stabilization ◽  
Thermal Ageing ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Latent Heat Storage ◽  
Local Climate ◽  
Building Performance Simulation ◽  
Building Integrated Photovoltaics ◽  
Pv Panel ◽  
Overall Performance

The main goal of the paper was to numerically analyse the risk of overheating of the Energy Activated External Thermal Insulation Composite System (En-ActivETICS) as an example of Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV). The analyses were conducted with the coupled power flow method (thermal and electrical) for 20 European cities. All locations were analysed considering the local climate in the context of building performance simulation as well as electricity production. The obtained results allowed for the determination of the risk of overheating, which can influence system durability, accelerated thermal ageing, and overall performance. It was revealed that the risk of overheating above 80 °C is possible in almost all locations; however, the intensity considerably differs between southern and northern Europe. The effect of latent heat storage for better thermal stabilization and overall performance was determined numerically for all locations. Finally, the improved solution with a phase change material (PCM) layer beside the PV panel was proposed individually for specific climatic zones, considering the required heat capacity. The maximum panel temperature for improved En-ActivETICS does not exceed 85 °C for any location.

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