scholarly journals Environmental Sustainability Assessment of Dairy Farms Rearing the Italian Simmental Dual-Purpose Breed

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 296 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mario Baldini ◽  
Francesco Da Borso ◽  
Andrea Rossi ◽  
Mario Taverna ◽  
Stefano Bovolenta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
Real Data ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
Environmental Footprint ◽  
Dual Purpose ◽  
Effective Strategies ◽  
Scenario Analyses

This study aimed to assess the environmental footprint of dairy farms rearing a dual-purpose breed, and to evaluate, through alternative scenario analyses, the fattening of calves and the cultivation of hemp as strategies for reducing the environmental impact of these farms. Eleven farms were evaluated for global warming (GWP), acidification (AC) and eutrophication (EUP) potential. The Life Cycle Assessment method with three scenarios, REAL, based on real data, BEEF, where calves were fattened in farm, and HEMP, where hemp was cultivated in farms, were considered. If referred to 1 m2 of utilizable agricultural land, the GWP, AC and EUP were 1.6 kgCO2eq, 21.7 gSO2eq and 7.1 gPO43−eq, respectively. If referring to 1 kg of fat and protein corrected milk, the emissions were 1.1–1.4 kgCO2eq, 14.8–19.0 gSO2eq, and 5.0–6.4 gPO43−eq, depending on the allocation method adopted. The emissions were associated positively with culling rate and negatively with production intensity. In BEEF and HEMP scenarios, the emissions were reduced by 8–11% and by 1–5%, respectively. Fattening the calves, evaluating the cultivation of alternative plants and improving the productive and reproductive efficiency of animals could be effective strategies for reducing the environmental footprint of the farm.

scholarly journals An Assessment of the Environmental Sustainability and Circularity of Future Scenarios of the Copper Life Cycle in the U.S.

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (20) ◽  
pp. 5624 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miranda R. Gorman ◽  
David A. Dzombak
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Future Scenarios ◽  
Environmental Footprint ◽  
Scenario Analyses ◽  
Analysis Methodology ◽  
The U.S

Assessments of availability and sustainability of metals necessary for economic development into the future are important for planning by producers, consumers, and governments. This work assessed the U.S. copper life cycle and examined six future scenarios by which to assess the circular economy and sustainability of copper to 2030. Regression analysis methodology was used to identify relationships among seven drivers and eight materials flows. These relationships were used to develop six forecasts of future scenarios for U.S. production, consumption, old scrap collection, new scrap recovery, landfilling, and scrap exports of copper. Flow forecasts were used to quantify circularity and environmental footprint metrics to assess sustainability. Results of the scenario analyses provide insights into the types of behaviors and trends that could be incentivized to allow for increased circularity of copper. One such finding was that slow population growth and high urbanization resulted in the most circular scenario. Major limitations to circularity are import reliance and scrap exports. Analysis of the scenarios leads to the conclusions that population dynamics are critical to the circularity of copper, as well as that both environmental footprint metrics and circularity indicators must be considered when assessing environmental sustainability.

An Assessment Method for Certified Environmental Sustainability in the Preservation of Historic Buildings. A Focus on Energy Efficiency and Indoor Environmental Quality in the Italian Experience of GBC Historic Building

2019 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Boarin ◽  
E. Lucchi ◽  
M. Zuppiroli
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
Historic Buildings ◽  
Indoor Environmental Quality ◽  
Historic Building ◽  
Use Of Resources ◽  
Quality Aspects

Abstract Environmental sustainability certification represents a strategic opportunity for improving energy efficiency, environmental quality, rational use of resources and design innovation in historic buildings, allowing greater transparency on energy uses and environmental management. To address these aspects, the Green Building Council of Italy has developed a new rating system, GBC Historic Building®, derived from the most diffused environmental sustainability assessment method worldwide (i. e. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design - LEED®), in order to evaluate the sustainability level of restoration, rehabilitation and adaptation of historic buildings built before the end of World War II. This manuscript focuses on how this innovative assessment method addresses energy issues and indoor environmental quality aspects throughout the different thematic areas, introducing the new category “Historic Value”, distinctive of this protocol, aimed at improving the knowledge on the historic building and to support a sustainable approach in the restoration process.

scholarly journals Accounting for Regional Heterogeneity of Agricultural Sustainability in Spain

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samir Mili ◽  
Javier Martínez-Vega
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Agricultural Sustainability ◽  
Agricultural Activity ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
Policy Coherence ◽  
Regional Variability

Agriculture is increasingly facing major challenges such as climate change, scarcity of natural resources and changing societal demands. To tackle these challenges there is a pressing need to evolve towards more sustainable agricultural practices. As a result, sustainability stands among the most relevant topics in agricultural research worldwide, and Spain is no exception. Agricultural sustainability has been analysed in Spain mainly at a national and farm scale. This contribution aims at assessing agricultural sustainability in Spain at a provincial scale, allowing the scrutiny of regional variability induced by the existing differences in extension, relevance and policies of the agricultural activity at this level. The sustainability assessment performed is based on a selection of twenty-two indicators covering the three classical dimensions of sustainability—environmental, economic and social. The methodology implemented is based on normalising and aggregating selected indicators according to three composite indicators for the fifty Spanish provinces. Numerous statistical and cartographic sources are used. Cluster analysis establishes four different groups of provinces according to their performance in terms of agricultural sustainability. Higher economic sustainability in provincial agriculture seems to be mostly associated with more intensive use of agricultural labour and agricultural machinery and faster wealth growth. Social sustainability seems to be linked to greater diversification of economic activities and to quality productions under Protected Designations of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indications (PGI). Best environmental sustainability is achieved where extension of agricultural land is larger, less agricultural area is burned, and carbon stock and sequestration by agricultural ecosystems is better. It is expected that the results could improve the policy coherence and decision-making for more sustainable agricultural systems in Spanish regions.

scholarly journals Application of Lifecycle Measures for an Integrated Method of Environmental Sustainability Assessment of Radio Frequency Identification and Wireless Sensor Networks

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (10) ◽  
pp. 2794
Author(s):  
Aldona Kluczek ◽  
Bartlomiej Gladysz ◽  
Krzysztof Ejsmont
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Radio Frequency ◽  
Radio Frequency Identification ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
Integrated Method ◽  
Frequency Identification ◽  
Low Degrees ◽  
Sustainability Assessments

Internet of Things (IoT) technology has advanced in recent years, leading to improvements of manufacturing processes. As a result of such improvements, environmental sustainability assessments for technologies have been requested by international control agencies. Although various assessment approaches are widely applied, IoT technology requires effective assessment methods to support the decision-making process and that incorporate qualitative measures to create quantifiable values. In this paper, a new environmental sustainability assessment method is developed to assess radio frequency identification (RFID) and wireless sensors networks (WSN). This integrated assessment method incorporates a modified and redesigned conceptual methodology based on technical project evaluation (IMATOV) and an extension of conventional lifecycle measures. The results shows the most and least important metrics. The most important metrics are the categories “electronic devices disposed of completely” and “decrease in stocks”, with the greatest GWFs (20% and 19%, respectively) and IAVs (127% and 117%, respectively) and moderate consolidated degrees of fulfillment. Relatively low degrees of fulfillment are achieved by categories such as “decrease in numbers of assets”, “supply chain echelons benefiting RFID”, and “tag lifecycle duration”, with IAVs below 10%. This study promotes an integrated method to support decision-making processes in the context of environmental sustainability assessments based on lifecycle measures.

scholarly journals Sustainability Assessment of Public Transport, Part I—A Multi-Criteria Assessment Method to Compare Different Bus Technologies

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 825
Author(s):  
Jonas Ammenberg ◽  
Sofia Dahlgren
Keyword(s):  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
Public Procurement ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
County Level ◽  
Participatory Process ◽  
Problem Context ◽  
The Public ◽  
Sustainability Performance ◽  
Sustainability Assessments

This article departs from the perspective of Swedish regional transport authorities and focuses on the public procurement of bus transports. Many of these public organizations on the county level have the ambition to contribute to a transition involving the continued marginalization of fossil fuels and improved sustainability performance. However, there are several renewable bus technologies to choose between and it can be difficult to know what alternative (or combination) is preferable. Prior research and the authors’ experiences indicate a need for improved knowledge and supportive methods on how sustainability assessments can support public procurement processes. The purpose of this article is to develop a multi-criteria assessment (MCA) method to support assessments of public bus technologies’ sustainability. The method, which was established in an iterative and participatory process, consists of four key areas and 12 indicators. The article introduces the problem context and reviews selected prior research of relevance dealing with green or sustainable public procurement and sustainability assessments. Further on, the process and MCA method are presented and discussed based on advice for effective and efficient sustainability assessments. In the companion article (Part II), the MCA method is applied to assess several bus technologies involving biodiesel, biomethane, diesel, electricity, ethanol and natural gas.

scholarly journals Climate Vulnerability and Adaptation Challenges in Szekszárd Wine Region, Hungary

Climate ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 25
Author(s):  
Attila Buzási
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
Evaluation Methodology ◽  
Intrinsic Factors ◽  
Vulnerability Assessments ◽  
The Future ◽  
Climate Vulnerability ◽  
High Level ◽  
Wine Region ◽  
Lock In

Wine producers face several challenges regarding climate change, which will affect this industry both in the present and the future. Vulnerability assessments are at the forefront of current climate research, therefore, the present paper has two main aims. First, to assess two components of climate vulnerability regarding the Szekszárd wine region, Hungary; second, to collect and analyze adaptation farming techniques in terms of environmental sustainability aspects. Exposure analyses revealed that the study area will face several challenges regarding intensive drought periods in the future. Sensitivity indicators show the climate-related characteristics of the most popular grapevines and their relatively high level of susceptibility regarding changing climatic patterns. Since both external and intrinsic factors of vulnerability show deteriorating trends, the development of adaptation actions is needed. Adaptation interventions often provide unsustainable solutions or entail maladaptation issues, therefore, an environmental-focused sustainability assessment of collected interventions was performed to avoid long-term negative path dependencies. The applied evaluation methodology pointed out that nature-based adaptation actions are preferred in comparison to using additional machines or resource-intensive solutions. This study can fill the scientific gap by analyzing this wine region for the first time, via performing an ex-ante lock-in analysis of available and widely used adaptation interventions in the viticulture sector.

scholarly journals Correction: Optimal sustainability assessment method selection: a practitioner perspective

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Koppiahraj ◽  
S. Bathrinath ◽  
V. G. Venkatesh ◽  
Venkatesh Mani ◽  
Yangyan Shi
Keyword(s):  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
Method Selection

scholarly journals Impact of a Telemedicine Program on the Reduction in the Emission of Atmospheric Pollutants and Journeys by Road

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (22) ◽  
pp. 4366 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josep Vidal-Alaball ◽  
Jordi Franch-Parella ◽  
Francesc Lopez Seguí ◽  
Francesc Garcia Cuyàs ◽  
Jacobo Mendioroz Peña
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Atmospheric Pollutants ◽  
Fuel Reduction ◽  
Environmental Footprint ◽  
Time Saving ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Total Travel Time ◽  
Hospital Visits

This retrospective study evaluates the effect of a telemedicine program developed in the central Catalan region in lowering the environmental footprint by reducing the emission of atmospheric pollutants, thanks to a reduction in the number of hospital visits involving journeys by road. Between January 2018 and June 2019, a total of 12,322 referrals were made to telemedicine services in the primary care centers, avoiding a total of 9034 face-to-face visits. In total, the distance saved was 192,682 km, with a total travel time saving of 3779 h and a total fuel reduction of 11,754 L with an associated cost of €15,664. This represents an average reduction of 3248.3 g of carbon dioxide, 4.05 g of carbon monoxide, 4.86 g of nitric oxide and 3.2 g of sulphur dioxide. This study confirms that telemedicine reduces the environmental impact of atmospheric pollutants emitted by vehicles by reducing the number of journeys made for face-to-face visits, and thus contributing to environmental sustainability.

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