scholarly journals A Design-led FEWW Nexus Approach for Qatar University

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Theodora Karanisa ◽  
Ahmed Ouammi ◽  
Helmi Hamdi ◽  
Imen Saadaoui ◽  
Noora Fetais ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Footprint ◽  
Food Waste ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Animal Feed ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Design Development ◽  
Food Energy

Demographic explosion, climate change, urbanization, change of life quality, and food demand have put extra pressure on Food, Energy, Water, and Waste (FEWW) resources.A special focus has been placed on university campuses as they are representative urban communities with a substantial need for food, energy, and water and they generate waste. Furthermore, universities can be models for the community as they can apply and disseminate new ideas. The case study of the Qatar University via the Doha Living Lab (DLL) generates ideas and gives solutions to the FEWW Nexus through urban agriculture practices adopted to the climatic conditions of Qatar. The DLL follows the M-NEX Design method consisting of three steps: Design Development, Design Evaluation, and Implementation by engaging stakeholders and the local community. The areas of the DLL increase food production on the campus while minimizing the use of energy and water, enhance biodiversity as well as soil quality by valorizing food waste. The carbon footprint of DLL is reduced by 2% when the same quantity of food is produced locally than imported. This applies when 75% of the energy needs come from renewable sources, 75% of the needed animal feed comes from bio waste, and finally, when novel greenhouse technologies are utilized with low energy consumption. According to the research results, the FEWW Nexus and food production on campus can be sustainable in terms of low carbon footprint with minimal resource use, use of renewable energy sources, and food waste valorization.

scholarly journals Carbon footprint of lentil in old Brahmaputra floodplain soil

2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 162-167
Author(s):  
ME Haq ◽  
MA Kader ◽  
S Farhan
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Footprint ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Production Capacity ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Floodplain Soil ◽  
Science Field

Crop production has contributed significantly to global carbon footprint (CF). Characterizing the carbon footprint of agricultural production offers key information for achieving low carbon agriculture. Bangladesh has struggled for long and worked hard for increasing food production capacity for its large growing population. It is necessary to choose the crops and management practices which have low CF to maintain a win-win situation between food production and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, the CF of Bangladesh’s crop production has not yet been assessed. Therefore, this study was conducted to estimate the CF of lentil as one of the major legumes cultivated in Bangladesh. The crop was cultivated at the Soil Science Field Laboratory of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) Farm, Mymensingh i.e. Agro-ecological zone (AEZ 9) during November, 2013 to April, 2014 by following standard management practices. The Carbon footprint was calculated by using the collected emission factors from literature as default values for each input and operation used for the production of crops as per guideline of ISO (2006) and IPCC (2006). The GHG emissions in the crop fields are taken from the studies of Pathak and Aggarwal (2012). The yield of lentil was 0.90 t ha-1 with a CF of 406 kg CO2-equivalentst-1 of lentil. Direct and indirect GHG emissions singly contributed the half of CF accounting 52.54% of total CF. The contribution of fertilizer, irrigation, machinery and labor inputs to the overall carbon footprint were 23.16%, 15.97%, 1.26% and 7.06%, respectively. Among the fertilizers, nitrogenous fertilizer was dominant and singly contributed to 70% of fertilizer CF. However, for developing best management practices for climate change mitigation in crop production of Bangladesh, further studies of soil and regional specific CFs of lentil are needed.Progressive Agriculture 27 (2): 162-167, 2016

scholarly journals Environmental Impact of Meals: How Big Is the Carbon Footprint in the School Canteens?

Foods ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 193
Author(s):  
Mirco Volanti ◽  
Francesco Arfelli ◽  
Esmeralda Neri ◽  
Aurora Saliani ◽  
Fabrizio Passarini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Carbon Footprint ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Energy Content ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Food Services ◽  
Resource Exploitation ◽  
Negative Externalities ◽  
Life Cycle Assessment Methodology

The inhabitants of the world are expected to grow by two billion in the next two decades; as population increases, food demand rises too, leading to more intensive resource exploitation and greater negative externalities related to food production. In this paper the environmental impact of meals provided in school canteens are analysed through the Life Cycle Assessment methodology, in order to evaluate the GHGs emissions released by food production. Meals, and not just individual foods, have been considered so as to include in the analysis the nutritional aspects on which meals are based. Results shows that meat, fish and dairy products are the most impacting in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, with values that shift from 31.7 and 24.1 kg CO2 eq for butter and veal, to 2.37 kg CO2 eq for the octopus, while vegetables, legumes, fruit and cereals are less carbon intensive (average of 3.71 kg CO2 eq for the considered vegetables). When the environmental impact is related to the food energy, the best option are first courses because they combine a low carbon footprint with a high energy content. The results of the work can be used both by the consumer, who can base the meal choice on environmental impact information, and by food services, who can adjust menus to achieve a more sustainable production.

scholarly journals Overcapacity as a Barrier to Renewable Energy Deployment: The Spanish Case

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pablo del Río ◽  
Luis Janeiro
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Scant Attention ◽  
Low Carbon Energy ◽  
The Impact

Renewable energy sources (RES) play a critical role in the low-carbon energy transition. Although there is quite an abundant literature on the barriers to RES, the analysis of the electricity generation overcapacity as a barrier to further RES penetration has received scant attention. This paper tries to cover this gap. Its aim is to analyse the causes and consequences of overcapacity, with a special focus on the impact on RES deployment, using Spain as a case study. It also analyses the policies which may mitigate this problem in both the short and the longer terms.

scholarly journals THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AIMS, METHODS AND THEIR FINANCIAL ASPECTS IN THE CASE OF SOCIAL INNOVATIONS IN THE FIELD OF DISTRICT HEATING

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (special) ◽  
pp. 29-38
Author(s):  
Gábor Béla Süveges
Keyword(s):  
Heat Source ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Social Innovation ◽  
Technological Development ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Good Practice ◽  
District Heating ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Operational Environment

In the field of district heating the process of social innovation has been initiated for the betterment of environmental conditionsand contributes to the improvement of the quality of life at the given locations and to the general well-being of the local community. The aim of this study is to present a good practice of social innovation. The technological development and the implementation of professional innovations at the Miskolc District Heating Ltd. established an operational environment of district heat production that, via the model of optimal heat source mix, can serve as an example for the planning of heat-source portfolios at the Hungarian district heating systems. The study shows how it contributes to the accomplishment of the European and Hungarian energy strategy. It also focuses on the use of eco-label and good examples of using renewable energy sources in district heating. The results of the study are applied to prepare a detailed map of the element of social innovation networks in the field of district heating and to determine the indicator groups with a special focus on its financing and economy.

scholarly journals Review on: Its Potentials and Application of Potato Peel (Waste)

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Gashaw Abebaw ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Food Waste ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Animal Feed ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Potato Peel ◽  
Food Preservative ◽  
Food Industries ◽  
Local Resources ◽  
Potential Use ◽  
Value Added Products

The increasing amount of food waste throughout the world is becoming a major problem for waste management plants. The food waste produced amounts to 1.3 million tons a year. This is a resource that could be used for production of new products. Bioeconomy is a method that can help achieve production of value-added products that use local resources and waste to manufacture products efficiently. This by-product causes environmental pollution due to decomposition. However, food byproducts like potato peel have essential organic matter. So this review introduces the potential use of potato peel as food preservative, pharmaceutical ingredient, renewable energy, and animal feed to promote ecofriendly food industries. In this review are looking at possibilities to use potatoes for production of new materials, such as bioplastics, antioxidants, proteins, instead of their conventional use for food production.

scholarly journals The Adoption of Electric Vehicles in Qatar Can Contribute to Net Carbon Emission Reduction but Requires Strong Government Incentives

Vehicles ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 618-635
Author(s):  
Ahmad Al-Buenain ◽  
Saeed Al-Muhannadi ◽  
Mohammad Falamarzi ◽  
Adeeb A. Kutty ◽  
Murat Kucukvar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Natural Gas ◽  
Electric Vehicles ◽  
Carbon Footprint ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Electric Mobility ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Gasoline Vehicles ◽  
The Government

Electric mobility is at the forefront of innovation. Cutting down greenhouse gases when low-carbon electricity sources are maintained has answered the concerns of skeptics when switching to electric mobility. This paper presents a life-cycle-based comparative study between the electric and conventional gasoline vehicles with respect to their environmental performance, taking the case of Qatar. A well-to-wheel life cycle assessment is used to understand the carbon footprint associated with the use of alternative mobility when powered by non-renewable energy sources such as natural gas for electricity production. A survey was also conducted to evaluate the economic and practical feasibility of the use of electric vehicles in Qatar. The analysis showed that electric vehicles (EVs) have passed conventional gasoline vehicles with a minimum difference between them of 12,000 gCO2eq/100 km traveled. This difference can roughly accommodate two additional subcompact electric vehicles on the roads of Qatar. Even though Qatar is producing all of its electricity from natural gas, EVs are still producing much less carbon footprint into the atmosphere with the results showing that almost identical alternatives produce triple the amount of GHG emissions. The results of the survey showed that, despite promising results shown in switching to carbon-neutral mobility solutions, a lack of willingness prevails within the State of Qatar to incline towards electric mobility among users. This implies that Qatar has to spend a lot of time and resources to achieve its ambitious goal to decarbonize mobility on roads with 10% electric vehicles by 2030. This research highlights the need for more practical incentives and generous subsidies by the government of Qatar on e-mobility solutions to switch the transportation system into an eco-friendly one.

Designing an Automated Composter for Food Waste Management with the Implementation of Internet of Things

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
N. A. Fakharulrazi ◽  
◽  
F. Yakub ◽  
M. N. Baba ◽  
L. F. Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Internet Of Things ◽  
Food Waste ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Animal Feed ◽  
Modern Technology ◽  
Constant Attention ◽  
Whole Process ◽  
Handling Cost ◽  
Unpleasant Odor ◽  
Environmentally Friendly Method

Composting food waste is a delicate procedure that requires specific infrastructure and machinery that can gradually transform the wastes to nutrient-rich manure. Nevertheless, it also desires a constant attention by experts to achieve a quality outcome. Therefore, automatic composting machinery is a promising new idea as modern technology is taking over the world with it high efficiency. The objective of this paper is to build a fully automated composting machine that can help to reduce food waste using a more efficient and environmentally friendly method. This machine has its special features of heating, cooling and grinding which is simple and easy to use for every consumer at just one touch of a button. In addition, it uses a special filter to eliminate unpleasant odor to ensure consumer’s space of mind. The composting process uses node microcontroller (MCU) to run its operation and Internet of Things (IoT) with a developed mobile application to measure the amount of food waste, current process and its moisture content before turning the waste into high nutrient flakes at around 10% of its original volume. It will also notify the consumer when the whole process is done and the final product is ready to use. The produced flakes are good for nurturing soils, use as fertilizer, and renewable source of energy or animal feed. The benefit is to help reduce handling cost of waste at landfill. Excessive logistical energy is required to send food waste to landfill if conventional equipment is applied. This product has a high potential to penetrate the end users who usually cooks at home and also the industrial food manufacturers whether from medium to large which produces a lot of raw waste. Essentially, this machine allows food waste, through implementation of IoT to be converted to usable fertilizer.

Advancing Innovations in Renewable Energy Technologies as Alternatives to Fossil Fuel Use in the Middle East

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Damilola S Olawuyi
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Middle East ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Electricity Grid ◽  
Energy Technologies ◽  
Gulf Countries ◽  
Environmentally Responsible ◽  
Legal Frameworks ◽  
Legal Barriers

Despite increasing political emphasis across the Middle East on the need to transition to lower carbon, efficient, and environmentally responsible energy systems and economies, legal innovations required to drive such transitions have not been given detailed analysis and consideration. This chapter develops a profile of law and governance innovations required to integrate and balance electricity generated from renewable energy sources (RES-E) with extant electricity grid structures in the Middle East, especially Gulf countries. It discusses the absence of renewable energy laws, the lack of legal frameworks on public–private partnerships, lack of robust pricing and financing, and lack of dedicated RES-E institutional framework. These are the main legal barriers that must be addressed if current national visions of a low-carbon transition across the Middle East are to move from mere political aspirations to realization.

scholarly journals Chemical Characterization of Microcystis aeruginosa for Feed and Energy Uses

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (11) ◽  
pp. 3013
Author(s):  
Larissa Souza Passos ◽  
Éryka Costa Almeida ◽  
Claudio Martin Pereira de Pereira ◽  
Alessandro Alberto Casazza ◽  
Attilio Converti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microcystis Aeruginosa ◽  
Animal Feed ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Chemical Characterization ◽  
Cyanobacterial Blooms ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Carbohydrate Source ◽  
Heating Value ◽  
Adverse Health Effects ◽  
Degradation Reactions

Cyanobacterial blooms and strains absorb carbon dioxide, drawing attention to its use as feed for animals and renewable energy sources. However, cyanobacteria can produce toxins and have a low heating value. Herein, we studied a cyanobacterial strain harvested during a bloom event and analyzed it to use as animal feed and a source of energy supply. The thermal properties and the contents of total nitrogen, protein, carbohydrate, fatty acids, lipid, and the presence of cyanotoxins were investigated in the Microcystis aeruginosa LTPNA 01 strain and in a bloom material. Microcystins (hepatotoxins) were not detected in this strain nor in the bloom material by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that degradation reactions (devolatilization) initiated at around 180 °C, dropping from approximately 90% to 20% of the samples’ mass. Our work showed that despite presenting a low heating value, both biomass and non-toxic M. aeruginosa LTPNA 01 could be used as energy sources either by burning or producing biofuels. Both can be considered a protein and carbohydrate source similar to some microalgae species as well as biomass fuel. It could also be used as additive for animal feed; however, its safety and potential adverse health effects should be further investigated.

EXPRESS: Sustainable by Design: Choice Architecture and the Carbon Footprint of Grocery Shopping

2021 ◽  
pp. 074391562110088
Author(s):  
Luca Panzone ◽  
Alistair Ulph ◽  
Denis Hilton ◽  
Ilse Gortemaker ◽  
Ibrahim Tajudeen
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Footprint ◽  
Carbon Tax ◽  
Food Products ◽  
Grocery Shopping ◽  
Choice Architecture ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Policy Objective ◽  
Carbon Footprints ◽  
Design Choice ◽  
Goal Priming

The increase in global temperatures requires substantial reductions in the greenhouse emissions from consumer choices. We use an experimental incentive-compatible online supermarket to analyse the effect of a carbon-based choice architecture, which presents commodities to customers in high, medium and low carbon footprint groups, in reducing the carbon footprints of grocery baskets. We relate this choice architecture to two other policy interventions: a bonus-malus carbon tax on all grocery products; and moral goal priming, using an online banner noting the moral importance of reducing one’s carbon footprint. Participants shopped from their home in an online store containing 612 existing food products and 39 existing non-food products for which we had data on carbon footprint, over three successive weeks, with the interventions occurring in the second and third weeks. Choice architecture reduced carbon footprint significantly in the third week by reducing the proportion of choices made in the high-carbon aisle. The carbon tax reduced carbon footprint in both weeks, primarily by reducing overall spend. The goal priming banner led to a small reduction in carbon footprint in the second week only. Thus, the design of the marketplace plays an important role in achieving the policy objective of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

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