scholarly journals Socio-Technical Viability Framework for Micro Hydropower in Group Water-Energy Schemes

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (14) ◽  
pp. 4222
Author(s):  
Kemi Adeyeye ◽  
John Gallagher ◽  
Aonghus McNabola ◽  
Helena M. Ramos ◽  
Paul Coughlan
Keyword(s):  
Cost Savings ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Technology Readiness ◽  
Water Networks ◽  
Policy Context ◽  
Recovery Potential ◽  
Sustainability Strategy ◽  
Financial Benefits ◽  
Group Water ◽  
Political Dimensions

Most renewable energy (RE) studies focus on technology readiness, environmental benefits and/or cost savings. The market permeation, viability and adoption of RE technologies such as micro hydropower (MHP), however, require the alignment of other interrelated factors, such as the socio-technical, institutional and political dimensions. This is particularly the case where the energy recovery potential in decentralised water networks is being explored as part of a wholesome sustainability strategy by and for individual and communal prosumers. This study employs a socio-technical approach to understand factors that influence the perceived viability and adoption of MHP in group water-energy schemes. Methods included a progressive literature review to formulate a conceptual framework for the implementation of MHP systems. The framework was validated using survey data from representative stakeholders from groups schemes in Ireland and Spain. These stakeholders were sampled and surveyed at the stage of considering the adoption of MHP in their water networks. The findings highlight the push–pull factors and discusses the opportunities and barriers to the adoption of MHP systems. It confirms that the market, institutional and policy context, cost and financial benefits, social support and collaborative services combine to influence the adoption of MHP technology. Thus, a framework for evaluating the socio-technical viability of MHP systems based on these more realistic integrated, multi-dimensional criteria is proposed.

scholarly journals Self-fill oxygen technology: benefits for patients, healthcare providers and the environment

Breathe ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 113-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phyllis Murphie ◽  
Nick Hex ◽  
Jo Setters ◽  
Stuart Little
Keyword(s):  
Positive Impact ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
List Type ◽  
Potential Cost ◽  
Unlimited Supply ◽  
Technology Benefits

“Non-delivery” home oxygen technologies that allow self-filling of ambulatory oxygen cylinders are emerging. They can offer a relatively unlimited supply of ambulatory oxygen in suitably assessed people who require long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT), providing they can use these systems safely and effectively. This allows users to be self-sufficient and facilitates longer periods of time away from home. The evolution and evidence base of this technology is reported with the experience of a national service review in Scotland (UK). Given that domiciliary oxygen services represent a significant cost to healthcare providers globally, these systems offer potential cost savings, are appealing to remote and rural regions due to the avoidance of cylinder delivery and have additional lower environmental impact due to reduced fossil fuel consumption and subsequently reduced carbon emissions. Evidence is emerging that self-fill/non-delivery oxygen systems can meet the ambulatory oxygen needs of many patients using LTOT and can have a positive impact on quality of life, increase time spent away from home and offer significant financial savings to healthcare providers.Educational aimsProvide update for oxygen prescribers on options for home oxygen provision.Provide update on the evidence base for available self-fill oxygen technologies.Provide and update for healthcare commissioners on the potential cost-effective and environmental benefits of increased utilisation of self-fill oxygen systems.

Use of permeable, reservoir pavement constructions for stormwater treatment and storage for re-use

1999 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 145-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. J. Pratt
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Water Environment ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Stormwater Treatment ◽  
Residential Areas ◽  
Materials Used ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

Permeable surfaces for roads and footpaths have been used as a means of disposal of stormwater in developed urban areas. Such surfaces provide an alternative to impermeable concrete or tarmacadam surfaces which would otherwise produce rapid stormwater runoff, leading to possible flooding and degeneration of receiving water quality through the uncontrolled discharge of polluted urban waters. A further advantage may be obtained from such constructions by undersealing them so as to retain stormwater for re-use for non-potable uses. The potential for general introduction of this type of storage and re-use system in residential areas is discussed and possible alternative designs for the drainage infrastructure proposed. To have widespread impact such a strategy must deliver cost savings as well as reduce the impact on the water environment of anticipated water usage demands. The source of such cost savings and the general environmental benefits of such systems will be presented. The materials used in such a sealed construction and the beneficial changes to the stored water quality are outlined. Recent work has also shown that where the pavement is used for car parking any oils dropped on the surface and washed into the structure by the stormwater may also be degraded. Details will be given of a site in the UK where the above construction is to be used to provide stormwater storage for re-use in flushing toilets at a Youth Hostel.

P5237Continued financial benefits of LATIN telemedicine program from avoiding unnecessary transfer of patients

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
S Mehta ◽  
R Botelho ◽  
S Niklitschek ◽  
F Fernandez ◽  
J Cade ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cost Savings ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Benefit Analysis ◽  
Financial Benefits ◽  
Indirect Care ◽  
Long Term Follow Up ◽  
Cost And Benefit Analysis

Abstract Background Latin America Telemedicine Infarct Network (LATIN) employed telemedicine to construct a population-based AMI program in Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Argentina. It increased access, accuracy and guidelines-based care and addressed fiscal issues. Previously, we demonstrated a cost and benefit analysis (CBA) of LATIN based upon avoiding unnecessary transfers and hospitalization. We have performed a scrupulous follow up of this initial observation with a long-term follow up from all expanded LATIN sites. Purpose To demonstrate that telemedicine avoids unnecessary transfer of patients. Methods 784,947 patients at LATIN spokes (small clinics in remote areas) were screened and CBA measured at hubs, spokes and telemedicine centers. Technology, transfer, inpatient, and procedure-related costs were included. A sensitivity analysis was performed for worst and best scenarios of costs, revenues, and savings. A comparison with Avera e-Emergency (Sioux Falls, SD) Telemedicine program, involving 85 rural hospitals in 7 states, is provided (13% transfer avoidance). Results Of 784,947 screened patients, 8,448 had STEMI (1.08%); 3,911 (46.3%) were urgently reperfused, 3,049 (78%) with PPCI. Time to Telemedicine Diagnosis was 3 min. With efficient triage, costs for non-AMI patients was controlled. LATIN expenses, including for IT and experts, were $272, and for transfer and indirect care, $1,068. Net savings/patient were $796. Savings, till date, range between $187.4 million and $62.4 million (Best scenario −30% transfer avoidance; Worse scenario −10% transfer avoidance). Conclusions Longitudinal analysis firms the trend of enormous cost savings with LATIN. Telemedicine avoids unnecessary transfers and hospitalization and it is a cost-effective strategy for population-based AMI programs.

scholarly journals Sustainable Housing: Understanding the Barriers to Adopting Net Zero Energy Homes in Ontario, Canada

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (22) ◽  
pp. 6236
Author(s):  
Ranjita Singh ◽  
Philip Walsh ◽  
Christina Mazza
Keyword(s):  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Zero Energy ◽  
Design Quality ◽  
Sustainable Housing ◽  
Home Owner ◽  
Net Zero Energy ◽  
Net Zero Energy Building ◽  
Net Zero

Buildings in Canada account for a significant amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and net zero energy building technology has been identified as part of the solution. This study presents a conceptual model identifying barriers to the adoption of net zero energy housing and tests it by administering a survey to 271 participants in a net zero energy housing demonstration project in Toronto, Canada. Using multivariate correlation and multi-linear regression analyses this study finds that of all the innovation adoption variables it was the construction and design quality that was the most significant contributor to the adoption of a net zero energy home by a potential home owner. This study found that the (a) extra cost compared to a conventional home, b) lack of knowledge about the technology associated with a net zero energy home or (c) not knowing someone who owned a net zero energy home were not significant barriers to accepting net zero energy homes. Our results suggest that policy-makers should promote the diffusion of net zero energy home technology by encouraging housing developers to include net zero energy homes in their collection of model homes, with an emphasis on quality design and construction. Furthermore, engaging in trust building initiatives such as education and knowledge about the technology, its related energy cost savings, and the environmental benefits would contribute to a greater acceptance of net zero energy homes.

Metal Line Interconnects Produced by Means of Printable Copper Precursor Solutions

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manish Tiwari ◽  
Constantine Megaridis ◽  
Prodyut Majumder ◽  
Christos Takoudis ◽  
John Belot ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cost Savings ◽  
Metal Films ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Large Area ◽  
Metal Line ◽  
Printed Circuits ◽  
Damascene Process ◽  
Planar Substrate ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Printing Techniques

Patterned metal films are essential to a wide range of applications, from printed circuits and thin film displays in large area electronics, to electrodes in biomedical implants. Current fabrication techniques are usually photolithographic, and rely on either patterning a blanket metal film or patterning a planar substrate into which the metal is deposited, followed by polishing away excess metal (the "Damascene" process). However, photolithographic techniques are expensive and more suitable for relatively small substrates. Conventional printing techniques such as inkjet, flexographic, offset and screen printing for both printable metal films and emergent organic elements, have lower resolution, but offer advantages of flexibility, overall cost savings, scalability to large substrates or those with complex topologies. In addition, these methods have environmental benefits [1].

scholarly journals Quo Vadis Smart Charging? A Literature Review and Expert Survey on Technical Potentials and User Acceptance of Smart Charging Systems

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julian Huber ◽  
Elisabeth Schaule ◽  
Dominik Jung ◽  
Christof Weinhardt
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Energy System ◽  
End Users ◽  
Battery Life ◽  
Domain Experts ◽  
Financial Benefits ◽  
Smart Charging ◽  
Quo Vadis

Uncontrolled charging of plug-in Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) represents a challenge for the energy system. As a solution, recent studies propose smart charging to avoid grid congestion and to integrate renewable energy. While financial benefits for smart charging schemes are currently quite low, there are other objectives for smart charging. However, it is unclear for which objectives smart charging can be used most effectively and which arguments are most likely to convince end users of BEVs to use smart charging schemes. To fill this gap, we conducted a literature review of the premises and the objectives of smart charging and how they fit the end-user’s motivation to use such smart charging systems. To evaluate the results, we present findings of 16 domain experts who evaluated various statements on smart charging according to their technical correctness and their persuasiveness towards end users. The results show that experts consider those smart charging objectives as most persuasive towards end users which they consider technically correct. Moreover, cost savings and integration of renewable energies are rated highest on both scales. On the contrary, experts do not expect a positive impact of smart charging systems on battery life and rate it as not very convincing.

scholarly journals A prospective clinical, cost and environmental analysis of a clinician-led virtual urology clinic

2019 ◽  
Vol 101 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Miah ◽  
C Dunford ◽  
M Edison ◽  
D Eldred-Evans ◽  
C Gan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Footprint ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Enterprise Value ◽  
Working Age ◽  
Mode Of Transport ◽  
Urology Clinic ◽  
Virtual Clinic

Introduction A virtual clinic is a form of telemedicine where contact between clinical teams and patients occur without face-to-face consultation. Our study aims to quantify the clinical, financial and environmental benefits of our virtual urology clinic. Material and methods We collected data prospectively from our weekly follow-up virtual clinic over a continuous four-month period between July and September 2017. Results In total, we reviewed 409 patients. Following virtual clinic consultation, 68.5% of our patients were discharged from further follow-up. The majority of our patients (male 57.7%, female 55.5%) were of working age. The satisfaction scores were high, at 90.1%, and there were no reported adverse events as a result of using the virtual clinic. Our calculated cost savings were £18,744, with a predicted 12-month cost saving of £56,232. The creation of additional face-to-face clinic capacity has created an estimated 12-month increase in tariff generation for our unit of £72,072. In total, 4623 travel miles were avoided by patients using the virtual clinic, with an estimated avoided carbon footprint of 0.35–1.45 metric tonnes of CO2e, depending on mode of transport. Our predicted 12-month avoided carbon footprint is 1.04–4.04 metric tonnes of CO2e. Conclusions Our virtual clinic model has demonstrated a trifecta of positive outcomes, namely, clinical, financial and environmental benefits. The environmental importance and benefits of a virtual clinic should be promoted as a social enterprise value when engaging stakeholders in setting up such a urological service. We propose the adoption of our virtual clinic model in those urological units considering this method of telemedicine.

Dross Processing Technology

2009 ◽  
Vol 630 ◽  
pp. 53-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan Peel ◽  
James Herbert ◽  
David Roth ◽  
Martin J. Collins
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Efficiency ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Aluminium Content ◽  
Cast House ◽  
Metal Quality ◽  
Refractory Life ◽  
A Company ◽  
Insight Into

While it is generally acknowledged that dross generation should be kept to a minimum, too often the importance of maximizing the aluminium content of the dross is overlooked. Some mistakenly believe that a low metal content is a good thing and that the aluminium is being kept in the furnace. In reality, this metal is most likely being lost due to insufficient cooling and thermiting. Much can be gleaned from looking at the dross that is generated in a casthouse; in fact, the quality of dross can provide a good indication of the overall efficiency of the operation. Even with the very low aluminium prices of today of about US$1400 per tonne, a recovery improvement of just 3% for a facility producing 500t of dross per month can provide savings in excess of $250.000 per year. Effective dross management also results in better metal quality, improved fuel efficiency, prolonged refractory life and improved profitability in the entire facility. Over the years, as facilities have focused on better dross cooling and handling techniques, dross recoveries have improved. Today, dross recoveries should be in the range of 60 – 70%. These numbers will raise debate but 30 years of experience give us deep insight into these results. The paper looks at the different techniques of handling the dross that is produced within the melting/casting operation with the objective of maximizing aluminium recovery. This paper will consider both the initial dross handling within the cast house but then also how secondary processors should be evaluated to maximize the value of the dross being processed. A company can lose as much dross recovery opportunity here as in their own facility. . In summary, by careful attention to the equipment and process techniques around the furnace and the follow-on dross management, significant cost savings and environmental benefits can be realized by cast house operations.

scholarly journals Economic and Socio-Environmental Benefits of Dry Beneficiation of Magnetite Ores

Minerals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 955
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Baawuah ◽  
Christopher Kelsey ◽  
Jonas Addai-Mensah ◽  
William Skinner
Keyword(s):  
Cost Savings ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Magnetic Separator ◽  
Wet Process ◽  
Dry Processing ◽  
Ore Processing ◽  
Process Flowsheet ◽  
Wet Processing ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Dry Beneficiation

In our previous studies, we demonstrated the performance of novel superfine crusher and pneumatic planar magnetic separator as energy-efficient technologies for dry processing of magnetite ores. The present study investigates the economic and socio-environmental benefits of applying these technologies in conceptual dry magnetite ore processing flowsheet. The outcome of the study is compared with that of a conceptual wet processing flowsheet for the same ore. The cost estimations used are based on the Brook Hunt C1 methodology whilst revenue estimations are based on the Platts Iron Ore Index specification. The demonstrated economic and socio-environmental benefits show that dry processing flowsheet offers significant energy and cost savings and improved revenue generation compared with the wet process flowsheet. These findings are vital to the magnetite industry, particularly in water- and energy-scarce regions as a benchmark for future studies aimed at deepening and expanding the knowledge base of dry beneficiation of magnetite ores.

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