Sustainability assessment of sanitation options in Vietnam: planning with the future in mind

2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 262-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Willetts ◽  
M. Paddon ◽  
Nguyen Dinh Giang Nam ◽  
Nguyen Hieu Trung ◽  
N. Carrard
Keyword(s):  
Energy Use ◽  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
City Government ◽  
Assessment Process ◽  
Water Utility ◽  
Local Agriculture ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Local Water ◽  
Planning Methodology ◽  
Sanitation Infrastructure

This paper describes a participatory deliberative planning methodology employed in Can Tho, Vietnam to assess sanitation infrastructure options for a new peri-urban area with an expected population of 278,000 people. The study compared four options across a range of scales from centralised to decentralised treatment systems, and also included an innovative resource recovery option with urine collection and reuse in local agriculture. The study was undertaken in close collaboration with the local water utility, a local university, and several city government departments. In the sustainability assessment process key city stakeholders ranked the four options against criteria in five areas: (i) technical and risk, (ii) social and health, (iii) environmental, (iv) economic and financial, (v) city future. Stakeholders were provided with detailed information about each option, including quantitative data such as costs and energy use, and qualitative data against areas such as social acceptability. The assessment made evident the trade-offs between these five areas, and after their prioritisation, stakeholders agreed on the option that combined centralised treatment for the densely populated area to be inhabited earlier, and decentralised treatment for the remaining area. The methodology provided a robust way for stakeholders to engage in informed decision-making on this important planning issue.

scholarly journals Strategies to Improve the Energy Performance of Buildings: A Review of Their Life Cycle Impact

Buildings ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadia MIRABELLA ◽  
Martin RÖCK ◽  
Marcella Ruschi Mendes SAADE ◽  
Carolin SPIRINCKX ◽  
Marc BOSMANS ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Embodied Energy ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Operational Energy

Globally, the building sector is responsible for more than 40% of energy use and it contributes approximately 30% of the global Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. This high contribution stimulates research and policies to reduce the operational energy use and related GHG emissions of buildings. However, the environmental impacts of buildings can extend wide beyond the operational phase, and the portion of impacts related to the embodied energy of the building becomes relatively more important in low energy buildings. Therefore, the goal of the research is gaining insights into the environmental impacts of various building strategies for energy efficiency requirements compared to the life cycle environmental impacts of the whole building. The goal is to detect and investigate existing trade-offs in current approaches and solutions proposed by the research community. A literature review is driven by six fundamental and specific research questions (RQs), and performed based on two main tasks: (i) selection of literature studies, and (ii) critical analysis of the selected studies in line with the RQs. A final sample of 59 papers and 178 case studies has been collected, and key criteria are systematically analysed in a matrix. The study reveals that the high heterogeneity of the case studies makes it difficult to compare these in a straightforward way, but it allows to provide an overview of current methodological challenges and research gaps. Furthermore, the most complete studies provide valuable insights in the environmental benefits of the identified energy performance strategies over the building life cycle, but also shows the risk of burden shifting if only operational energy use is focused on, or when a limited number of environmental impact categories are assessed.

scholarly journals A decision analysis framework for stakeholder involvement and learning in groundwater management

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 8747-8780 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. P. Karjalainen ◽  
P. M. Rossi ◽  
P. Ala-aho ◽  
R. Eskelinen ◽  
K. Reinikainen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Analysis ◽  
Groundwater Management ◽  
Stakeholder Participation ◽  
Scientific Information ◽  
Stakeholder Involvement ◽  
Resource Planning ◽  
Assessment Process ◽  
Analysis Framework ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
Trade Offs

Abstract. Multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) methods are increasingly used to facilitate both rigorous analysis and stakeholder involvement in natural and water resource planning. Decision making in that context is often complex and multi-faceted with numerous trade-offs between social, environmental and economic impacts. However, practical applications of decision-support methods are often too technically oriented and hard to use, understand or interpret for all participants. The learning of participants in these processes is seldom examined, even though successful deliberation depends on learning. This paper analyzes the potential of an interactive MCDA framework, the decision analysis interview (DAI) approach, for facilitating stakeholder involvement and learning in groundwater management. It evaluates the results of an MCDA process in assessing land-use management alternatives in a Finnish esker aquifer area where conflicting land uses affect the groundwater body and dependent ecosystems. In the assessment process, emphasis was placed on the interactive role of the MCDA tool in facilitating stakeholder participation and learning. The results confirmed that the structured decision analysis framework can foster learning and collaboration in a process where disputes and diverse interests are represented. Computer-aided interviews helped the participants to see how their preferences affected the desirability and ranking of alternatives. During the process, the participants' knowledge and preferences evolved as they assess their initial knowledge with the help of fresh scientific information. The decision analysis process led to the opening of a dialogue, showing the overall picture of the problem context, and the critical issues for the further process.

Trade-offs and synergies between water and energy use in rural Australia

2015 ◽  
pp. 123-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shahbaz Mushtaq ◽  
Tek N. Maraseni ◽  
Kathryn Reardon-Smith
Keyword(s):  
Energy Use ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Rural Australia

scholarly journals Assessment of Energy Use on Urban Kathmandu from Energy Cultures Framework in Gender Perspective

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 308-316
Author(s):  
Bindu Shrestha ◽  
Sushil B Bajracharya ◽  
Sudarshan R Tiwari
Keyword(s):  
Material Culture ◽  
Energy Saving ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Gender Perspective ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Scant Attention ◽  
Cleaner Technology ◽  
Reduce Carbon Emission ◽  
Women's Role

The urban household has a high potential for energy saving to reduce carbon emission; however, it has been scant attention in Nepalese energy policy. Though sustainable development has set 2030 goals to achieve high impact on energy with a focus on women’ role, Nepal is still lagged for effective participating women properly in the energy sector. Urban women have a triple role with significant responsibility for household chores, and efficient cooking is one of pertinent attitudes to reduce energy in Kathmandu. Household energy is highly influenced by human behavior, energy culture, and practices, more significant role for shifting technology, that has less consideration in the policy. This paper aims to assess the energy practices identifying trade-offs of an energy transition to cleaner technology from the questionnaire survey, observation, interviews, and quantitative analysis in terms of a gender perspective. The analysis is based on energy cultures framework in gender perspective with primary attributes of cognitive norms, energy practices, and material culture to understand urban Kathmandu neighborhood. The field study showed that urban households are suffered from energy inaccessibility, inequality, and insecurity resulting in fuel stacking, socio-economic disparity, and environmental impacts. In conclusion, the energy-saving and reduced carbon emissions can be solved through prioritizing women’s role as a change of agent with active participation, incentives, two-way communication, and awareness to improve the situation.

scholarly journals Collaborating constructively for sustainable biotechnology

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas E. Matthews ◽  
Carrie A. Cizauskas ◽  
Donovan S. Layton ◽  
Laurence Stamford ◽  
Philip Shapira
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Synthetic Biology ◽  
Social Impact ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Impact Categories ◽  
Recent Advances ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Analytical Approaches

AbstractTackling the pressing sustainability needs of society will require the development and application of new technologies. Biotechnology, emboldened by recent advances in synthetic biology, offers to generate sustainable biologically-based routes to chemicals and materials as alternatives to fossil-derived incumbents. Yet, the sustainability potential of biotechnology is not without trade-offs. Here, we probe this capacity for sustainability for the case of bio-based nylon using both deliberative and analytical approaches within a framework of Constructive Sustainability Assessment. We highlight the potential for life cycle CO2 and N2O savings with bio-based processes, but report mixed results in other environmental and social impact categories. Importantly, we demonstrate how this knowledge can be generated collaboratively and constructively within companies at an early stage to anticipate consequences and to inform the modification of designs and applications. Application of the approach demonstrated here provides an avenue for technological actors to better understand and become responsive to the sustainability implications of their products, systems and actions.

Prospects, problems and pitfalls of urban water reuse: a case study

2001 ◽  
Vol 43 (10) ◽  
pp. 9-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. W. Hermanowicz ◽  
E. Sanchez Diaz ◽  
J. Coe
Keyword(s):  
San Francisco ◽  
Distribution System ◽  
Water Reuse ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Large Fraction ◽  
Reclaimed Water ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Water Reclamation ◽  
Bay Area ◽  
Local Water

This paper presents a successful water reclamation and reuse project in the San Francisco Bay area. The project, which includes a water reclamation facility and a separate distribution system, is operated by a wastewater utility and reclaims approximately 4% of its dry-weather flow. Project history, its design and implementation are further discussed. Planning, and especially demand analysis, was critical for project development. Earlier attempts of water reuse were not successful because reclaimed water quality did not match the requirements of potential large industrial customers. Current customers are a mix of public, commercial and residential users who apply the reclaimed water solely for landscape irrigation. In addition, a large fraction of the reclaimed water is used internally in the main wastewater treatment plant. Early connection of largest customers, innovative collaboration with a neighboring reclamation project and cooperation of the local water supplier were very important for project success. Distribution of internal process water consumes most energy. The second major energy use is for the treatment of reclaimed water while distribution of reclaimed water to external customers requires least energy.

scholarly journals Energy-Efficient Coding with Discrete Stochastic Events

2002 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 1323-1346 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanne Schreiber ◽  
Christian K. Machens ◽  
Andreas. V. M. Herz ◽  
Simon B. Laughlin
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Energy Efficient ◽  
Information Transfer ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Bimodal Distribution ◽  
Fixed Cost ◽  
Signaling Cost ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Flow Through ◽  
Stochastic Events

We investigate the energy efficiency of signaling mechanisms that transfer information by means of discrete stochastic events, such as the opening or closing of an ion channel. Using a simple model for the generation of graded electrical signals by sodium and potassium channels, we find optimum numbers of channels that maximize energy efficiency. The optima depend on several factors: the relative magnitudes of the signaling cost (current flow through channels), the fixed cost of maintaining the system, the reliability of the input, additional sources of noise, and the relative costs of upstream and downstream mechanisms. We also analyze how the statistics of input signals influence energy efficiency. We find that energy-efficient signal ensembles favor a bimodal distribution of channel activations and contain only a very small fraction of large inputs when energy is scarce. We conclude that when energy use is a significant constraint, trade-offs between information transfer and energy can strongly influence the number of signaling molecules and synapses used by neurons and the manner in which these mechanisms represent information.

Water-conservation policies in perspective: insights from a Q-method study in Salta, Argentina

Water Policy ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 897-916 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. Iribarnegaray ◽  
M. F. E. de la Zerda ◽  
C. M. Hutton ◽  
C. Brannstrom ◽  
V. I. Liberal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Q Methodology ◽  
Water Governance ◽  
Water Utility ◽  
Conservation Policies ◽  
Social Perspectives ◽  
Awareness Campaigns ◽  
Local Water ◽  
Rate Of Success

Narratives and discourses on issues such as water management and other complex social–ecological systems respond partly to people's worldviews or social perspectives. Knowledge of these perspectives might help increase the rate of success of specific initiatives related to water conservation and could be an important tool to improve water governance. A study performed in the city of Salta, Argentina, revealed the existence of four social perspectives on issues related to water management. Perspectives were obtained with Q methodology by interviewing 29 local stakeholders. Participants sorted 68 statements organized around four themes (service provider; water rights; public participation; water availability) according to their degree of agreement or disagreement. The findings support our contention that there are clear links between social perspectives and the rate of success of some water policies implemented by the local water utility in the past 15 years, in particular the promotion and use of household water meters and awareness campaigns launched to reduce water consumption. We show that the limited success of these initiatives was partly due to ignorance or disregard of social perspectives on water management.

scholarly journals Sustainable Innovation for Queensland's Housing Design: a Case Study

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 11-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Johnston ◽  
Mirko Guaralda ◽  
Sukanlaya Sawang
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Performance ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
Selection Process ◽  
Housing Design ◽  
Construction Methods ◽  
Prefabricated Houses ◽  
Insight Into

This research provides an assessment tool that assists the selection process of sustainability in detached suburban housing. It investigates the implications of using different design and construction methods including architecturally designed houses, developer housing and prefabricated houses. The study simulates one example of the three types of houses that have been chosen to fulfil a real client brief on a real site on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland Australia. Criteria for sustainability assessment are formulated based on literature reviews, exemplar designs and similar research projects for which the houses can be adequately evaluated. This criterion covers aspects including energy use, materials and thermal performance. The data is collected using computer models and sustainability assessment software to compare and draw conclusions on the success of each house.Our study indicates that architecturally designed housing with prefabricated building techniques are a better alternative to generic developer style housing. Our research provides an insight into the implications of three key elements of sustainability including energy use, materials and thermal performance. Designers, builders, developers and home-buyers are given an insight into some options currently available on the housing market and how the choices made during early design stages can provide a more positive environmental impact.  

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