scholarly journals Carbon Neutral Roadmap of Commercial Building Operations by Mid-Century: Lessons from China

Buildings ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 510
Author(s):  
Shufan Zhang ◽  
Xiwang Xiang ◽  
Zhili Ma ◽  
Minda Ma ◽  
Chenchen Zou
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Commercial Buildings ◽  
Commercial Building ◽  
Carbon Reduction ◽  
Carbon Neutrality ◽  
Last Mile ◽  
Operations And Maintenance ◽  
Carbon Neutral ◽  
Industry Sectors ◽  
Carbon Peak

Carbon neutrality has positive impacts on people, nature and the economy, and buildings represent the “last mile” sector in the transition to carbon neutrality. Carbon neutrality is characterized by the decarbonization of operations and maintenance, in addition to zero emissions in electricity and other industry sectors. Taking China’s commercial buildings as an example, this study is the first to perform an extensive data analysis for a step-wise carbon neutral roadmap of building operations via the analysis of a dynamic emission scenario. The results reveal that the carbon emissions abatement of commercial building operations from 2001 to 2018 was 1460.85 (±574.61) mega-tons of carbon dioxide (Mt CO2). The carbon emissions of commercial building operations will peak in the year 2039 (±5) at 1364.31 (±258.70) Mt, with emission factors and energy intensity being the main factors influencing the carbon peak. To move toward carbon neutral status, an additional 169.73 Mt CO2 needs to be cut by 2060, and the low emission path toward carbon neutrality will lead to the realization of the carbon peak of commercial buildings in 2024, with total emissions of 921.71 Mt. It is believed that cutting emissions from the operation of buildings in China will require a multi-sectoral synergistic strategy. It is suggested that government, residents, enterprises, and other stakeholders must better appreciate the challenges to achieve a substantial carbon reduction and the need for urgent action in the building sector in order to achieve carbon neutrality.

scholarly journals Exploring Carbon Neutral Potential in Urban Densification: A Precinct Perspective and Scenario Analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 4814
Author(s):  
Bin Huang ◽  
Ke Xing ◽  
Stephen Pullen ◽  
Lida Liao
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Scenario Analysis ◽  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Assessment Model ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
Carbon Reduction ◽  
Carbon Neutrality ◽  
Carbon Neutral ◽  
Carbon Performance

Decarbonising the urban built environment for reaching carbon neutrality is high on the agenda for many cities undergoing rapid expansion and densification. As an important urban form, precincts have been increasingly focused on as the context for urban redevelopment planning and at the forefront for trialling carbon reduction measures. However, due to interplays between the built forms and the occupancy, the carbon performance of a precinct is significantly affected by morphological variations, demographical changes, and renewable energy system deployment. Despite much research on the development of low-carbon precincts, there is limited analysis on aggregated effects of population growth, building energy efficiency, renewable energy penetration, and carbon reduction targets in relation to precinct carbon signature and carbon neutral potential for precinct redevelopment and decarbonisation planning. In this paper, an integrated carbon assessment model, including overall precinct carbon emissions and carbon offset contributed by precinct-scale renewable energy harvesting, is developed and applied to examine the lifecycle carbon signature of urban precincts. Using a case study on a residential precinct redevelopment, scenario analysis is employed to explore opportunities for decarbonising densification development and the carbon neutral potential. Results from scenario analysis indicate that redevelopment of buildings with higher-rated energy efficiency and increase of renewable energy penetration can have a long term positive impact on the carbon performance of urban precincts. Meanwhile, demographical factors in precinct evolution also have a strong influence on a precinct’s carbon neutral potential. Whilst population size exerts upward pressure on total carbon emissions, changes in family types and associated consumption behaviour, such as travelling, can make positive contributions to carbon reduction. The analysis also highlights the significance of embodied carbon to the total carbon signature and the carbon reduction potential of a precinct during densification, reinforcing the notion that “develop with less” is as important as carbon offsetting measures for decarbonising the precinct toward carbon neutrality.

scholarly journals A scenario analysis of Chinese Carbon Neutral based on STIRPAT & System Dynamic model

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Wen ◽  
Jie Zhang ◽  
Zhao Li
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Carbon Emission ◽  
Chinese Government ◽  
Per Capita Gdp ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Carbon Neutrality ◽  
Three Stages ◽  
Per Capita ◽  
Carbon Neutral ◽  
Carbon Peak

Abstract With the statement of Chinese government on energy saving in 2020 at the United Nations General Assembly, carbon neutral was widely spread as a new concept. As a big country, China has the responsibility and obligation to make its own contribution to global climate change. This paper aims to explore and find effective ways for China to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. We identify the main factors affecting carbon emissions by STIRPAT model, combined with the scenarios analysis we divide the year 2020 to 2060 into three stages： year 2020-2030 is Carbon Peak stage, year 2030-2050 is Rapid Emission Reduction stage, year 2050-2060 is Complete Carbon Neutralization stage. At each stage, three development models, high, medium and low level, were established. A total of 27 different scenarios in three stages. A system dynamics model was established to simulate the effects of carbon emission factors and changes in carbon sinks in different scenarios. Finally, 8 paths were found which in line with Chinese current goal of achieving carbon neutrality with treating reach Carbon peak in 2030 as an additional filter condition. Comparing per capita GDP levels in different scenarios, we eventually find that keep economic development at a low level in the first stage, a high level in the second stage and a medium level in the finally stage, the point where net carbon emissions are less than zero for the first time will appear between year 2056-2057.By then, the per capita GDP will reach 144,500 yuan (based on year 2000), nearly four times 2000’s. In all, these findings are helpful for policymakers to implement reasonable policies to achieve carbon emission peaking & carbon neutral in China.

scholarly journals Achieving Carbon Neutral Airport Operations By 2025: The Case of Sydney Airport, Australia

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Glenn Baxter
Keyword(s):  
Case Study Research ◽  
Carbon Reduction ◽  
Instrumental Case Study ◽  
For Profit ◽  
Carbon Neutrality ◽  
Not For Profit ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Level 3 ◽  
Carbon Neutral

AbstractUsing a qualitative instrumental case study research design, this study examines the strategies and carbon reduction measures implemented by Sydney Airport to achieve their goal of being a carbon neutral airport by 2025. The study period was from 2013 to 2019. The qualitative data was analyzed using document analysis. Sydney Airport has implemented a wide range of carbon reduction measures that underpin its strategy to become a carbon neutral airport. Sydney Airport’s annual emissions intensity per passenger declined in each year examined in study. Sydney Airport has participated in the Airports Council International Airport Carbon Accreditation Program since 2014 and currently holds Accreditation Level 3: Optimization. Sydney Airport’s goal is to be awarded Accreditation Level 3+: Carbon Neutrality by 2025. Sydney Airport has a carbon offsets agreement in place with a not-for-profit organization.

scholarly journals Operational Carbon Change in Commercial Buildings under the Carbon Neutral Goal: A LASSO–WOA Approach

Buildings ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 54
Author(s):  
Xiwang Xiang ◽  
Xin Ma ◽  
Zhili Ma ◽  
Minda Ma
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Emission Reduction ◽  
Driving Forces ◽  
Commercial Buildings ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Lasso Regression ◽  
Commercial Building ◽  
Building Sector ◽  
Whale Optimization ◽  
New Perspective

The rapid growth of energy consumption in commercial building operations has hindered the pace of carbon emission reduction in the building sector in China. This study used historical data to model the carbon emissions of commercial building operations, the LASSO regression was applied to estimate the model results, and the whale optimization algorithm was used to optimize the nonlinear parameter. The key findings show the following: (1) The major driving forces of carbon emissions from commercial buildings in China were found to be the population size and energy intensity of carbon emissions, and their elastic coefficients were 0.6346 and 0.2487, respectively. (2) The peak emissions of the commercial building sector were 1264.81 MtCO2, and the peak year was estimated to be 2030. Overall, this study analyzed the historical emission reduction levels and prospective peaks of carbon emissions from China’s commercial buildings from a new perspective. The research results are helpful for governments and decision makers to formulate effective emission reduction policies and can also provide references for the low-carbon development of other countries and regions.

Finding net zero: how green LNG can improve the competitiveness of Australian LNG

2021 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 512
Author(s):  
Daniel Toleman ◽  
Lucy Cullen
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Capture ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Carbon Capture And Storage ◽  
Gas Combustion ◽  
Carbon Footprints ◽  
Carbon Reduction ◽  
Carbon Neutrality ◽  
Development Scenarios ◽  
Full Life Cycle ◽  
Carbon Neutral

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) will continue to play a critical role in the global energy mix. Even under sustainable development scenarios, which envisage aggressive emissions reductions, LNG demand grows through 2040. The benefits of gas combustion over coal are clear and well known, but pressure is mounting for LNG players to make their gas even cleaner by reducing emissions and decarbonising portfolios. Asian LNG buyers are increasingly carbon-conscious. Six ‘carbon-neutral’ cargoes and a long-term supply tender have been announced. More are likely to follow as visibility on carbon credentials becomes the norm, potentially leading to greater scrutiny of projects and new price premiums. As a result, Australian LNG operators, many of whom have comparatively large carbon footprints, must begin the journey towards carbon neutrality. Innovation is key, with proposals including the use of batteries, renewable energy and carbon capture and storage. This study will highlight how these solutions can be deployed to improve Australian LNG’s carbon competitiveness. Regulation must advance in parallel with technology. There remains a lack of transparency and standardised emissions measurement across the industry. The definition of carbon-neutral itself is inconsistent, ranging from carbon-neutrality up to the point-of-sale all the way to an ambitious objective to offset full life cycle emissions. But the trend towards greener LNG is here to stay. In a jurisdiction at the forefront of carbon reduction, Australian players have an opportunity to partner with buyers to shape this new, ‘greener’ market. This study will consider what Australian operators must do to maintain competitiveness in a changing world.

scholarly journals A Study and Assessment of the Carbon Footprint of Tianjin University’s Weijin Road and Peiyangyuan Campuses, China

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
abduxukur zayit ◽  
Kun Song ◽  
Antariksh Bhagwan Ghengare ◽  
Feng Gao
Keyword(s):  
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Carbon Footprint ◽  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Energy Savings ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Gas Emissions ◽  
Carbon Reduction ◽  
Carbon Neutral ◽  
Performance And Evaluation

Abstract BackgroundA living University campus is like a model city; its energy and carbon auditing can also model how energy and carbon can be studied and analyzed in a city. China’s colleges and universities face grave problems, now and in the future - from declining quality of campus environments to deteriorating building performance, antiquated facilities, and inefficient energy and resources consumption. While research and discussion exists on improving existing university buildings’ energy performance and evaluation standards - much of that research focuses on energy savings, rather than on greenhouse gas emissions reductions. Calculation of campus carbon emissions is the first step for transforming and planning each existing university to carbon neutral campus. Some researchers of campus carbon emissions in China have made calculations, which, although as yet unpublished, create an initial framework for carbon-neutral campus plan targets. The present research gives an overview of universities’ drive towards sustainability in China and in other countries. The paper then details carbon footprint accounting steps, quantifying major carbon emission sources and carbon sequestration by vegetation inside the Tianjin University’s Weijin Road and Peiyangyuan Campuses. Results from China’s universities are compared with international results in the scientific literature. In this paper, based on this data, we suggest strategies and show preliminary target settings for how to transform Weijin Road into a carbon-neutral campus. ResultsAnnual carbon emissions for 2019 of the Weijin Road campus were 58,172.68 tonnes, (2.60 tonnes per person), and Peiyangyuan campus, 55,213.75 tonnes (2.46 tonnes per person). The largest sources of the two campuses’ greenhouse gas emissions were electricity and gas; Weijin Road campus; electricity = 61.42%, gas = 20.73%, and Peiyangyuan campus electricity = 69.32%, gas = 11.60%. Carbon sequestered in the two campuses by vegetation are 11,257.34 tonnes and 27,856.51 tonnes respectively. The renewable energy contribution to carbon reduction in Peiyangyuan campus is 50.85 tonnes.ConclusionPer person carbon emissions of Tianjin University’s two campuses are below the average for some US campuses, but are also greater than some in European countries. Research may investigate methods used by successful campuses towards becoming carbon neutral.

The “carbon-neutral university” – a study from Germany

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 130-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erica Udas ◽  
Monique Wölk ◽  
Martin Wilmking
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Pilot Project ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Traditional System ◽  
Carbon Reduction ◽  
Outreach Programs ◽  
Carbon Neutrality ◽  
Carbon Neutral

Purpose Nowadays, several higher education institutions around the world are integrating sustainability topics into their daily operations, functionality and education systems. This paper presents a case study from a pilot project implemented by the Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universität Greifswald (hereafter, Greifswald University), Germany on its way towards a “carbon-neutral university”. The purpose of this paper is to share an institutional process targeting a gradual transformation towards achieving carbon neutrality. This might be relevant to other higher education institutions striving for a systematic and progressive change from a traditional system to a low emission or carbon-neutral pathway. Design/methodology/approach To achieve carbon neutrality, three major transformative strategies were adopted: carbon reduction, carbon offsetting and mainstreaming sustainable actions via teaching and research. Findings A locally adaptable institutional framework on sustainability was successfully developed to: promote changes in daily operations, implement interdisciplinary research, incorporate sustainability into teaching and education and enhance outreach programs. Strong commitment from all stakeholders resulted in reduction of the university’s carbon footprint from 8,985 to 4,167 tCO2e year−1. Further, the unavoidable emissions could be locally offset through enhanced carbon sequestration on the university-owned forests. Originality/value Based on the experiences of Greifswald University, this paper presents major challenges and success lessons learned during the process of gradual institutional transformation to achieve the target of carbon neutrality.

scholarly journals Pathways to Carbon-Neutral Cities Prior to a National Policy

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 2445 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jani Laine ◽  
Jukka Heinonen ◽  
Seppo Junnila
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Energy Production ◽  
National Policy ◽  
Geographical Location ◽  
Production Capacity ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Carbon Neutrality ◽  
Carbon Neutral ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The City

Some cities have set carbon neutrality targets prior to national or state-wide neutrality targets, which makes the shift to carbon neutrality more difficult, as the surrounding system does not support this. The purpose of this paper was to evaluate different options for a progressive city to reach carbon neutrality in energy prior to the surrounding system. The study followed the C40 Cities definition of a carbon-neutral city and used the City of Vantaa in Finland as a progressive case aiming for carbon neutrality by 2030, five years before the national target for carbon neutrality. The study mapped the carbon neutrality process based on City documents and national statistics, and validated it through process-owner interviews. It was identified that most of the measures in the carbon neutrality process were actually outside the jurisdiction of the City, which outsources the responsibility for the majority of carbon neutrality actions to either private properties or national actors with broader boundaries. The only major measure in the City’s direct control was the removal of carbon emissions from municipal district heat production, which potentially represent 30% of the City’s reported carbon emissions and 58% of its energy-related carbon emissions. Interestingly, the City owns electricity production capacity within and beyond the city borders, but it doesn’t allocate it for itself. Allocation would significantly increase the control over the City’s own actions regarding carbon neutrality. Thus, it is proposed that cities aiming for carbon neutrality should promote and advance allocable carbon-free energy production, regardless of geographical location, as one of the central methods of achieving carbon neutrality.

scholarly journals Consumer willingness-to-pay for restaurant surcharges to reduce carbon emissions: default and information effects

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-29
Author(s):  
Dede Long ◽  
Grant H. West ◽  
Rodolfo M. Nayga
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Willingness To Pay ◽  
Contingent Valuation ◽  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Emission Reduction ◽  
Carbon Emission ◽  
Dichotomous Choice ◽  
Carbon Reduction ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Agriculture And Food

Abstract The agriculture and food sectors contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. About 15 percent of food-related carbon emissions are channeled through restaurants. Using a contingent valuation (CV) method with double-bounded dichotomous choice (DBDC) questions, this article investigates U.S. consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for an optional restaurant surcharge in support of carbon emission reduction programs. The mean estimated WTP for a surcharge is 6.05 percent of an average restaurant check, while the median WTP is 3.64 percent. Our results show that individuals have a higher WTP when the surcharge is automatically added to restaurant checks. We also find that an information nudge—a short climate change script—significantly increases WTP. Additionally, our results demonstrate that there is heterogeneity in treatment effects across consumers’ age, environmental awareness, and economic views. Our findings suggest that a surcharge program could transfer a meaningful amount of the agricultural carbon reduction burden to consumers that farmers currently shoulder.

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