scholarly journals Roadmap to Rebound: How to Address Rebound Effects from Resource Efficiency Policy

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Font Vivanco ◽  
Serenella Sala ◽  
Will McDowall
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Resource Efficiency ◽  
Economic Consequences ◽  
Economic Modelling ◽  
Environmental Pressures ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Rebound Effects ◽  
Life Cycle Stages ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Increasing Demand

Increasing demand for resources has been met with a new wave of resource efficiency policies worldwide. Such policies are, however, vulnerable to rebound effects when increased resource efficiency leads to additional resource use via behavioural and systemic responses. Yet, the implications of policy-induced rebounds are mostly unknown since most studies have focused on costless and exogenous efficiency improvements that are not linked to any specific policy intervention. After reviewing the literature, we provide guidance for the analysis of policy-induced rebounds. With regards to scope and method design, we highlight the untapped potential of life cycle assessment (to capture trade-offs between life cycle stages and environmental pressures) and macro-economic modelling (to reveal economic consequences beyond supply chain effects). We also find striking asymmetries in research efforts, leaving knowledge gaps for key resource efficiency strategies targeting, among others, materials, water, land, biodiversity, and waste. Lastly, rebound effects generally focus on a single resource, usually energy, and much is ignored about their implications in the context of resource interlinkages. A better understanding of such cross-resource rebounds is key to design and to assess the effectiveness of emerging policy paradigms such as the resource nexus and the sustainable development goals.

scholarly journals Compact and Resource Efficient Cities? Synergies and Trade-offs in European Cities

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Fertner ◽  
Juliane Große
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Urban Development ◽  
Resource Efficiency ◽  
Transport Systems ◽  
Urban Structure ◽  
City Development ◽  
City Region ◽  
Compact City ◽  
Rebound Effects ◽  
Trade Offs

Cities are the main consumers of energy and resources but at the same time are considered as centres for innovation which can provide solutions to unsustainable development. An important concept regarding energy and resource efficiency on the scale of the city and city-region is the compact city. Compact cities and compact urban development are thought to decrease energy and resource demand per capita and increase efficiency. At the same time trade-offs and potential rebound effects of increased resource efficiency question certain achievements of a compact urban structure. This paper reviews aspects of resource and energy efficiency in compact city development in a European context. We conclude that, if the idea of the compact city should have any effect on resource and energy efficiency, accompanying measures have to be implemented, such as e.g. efficient public transport systems to offer alternative travel modes. Also the allocation of efficiency gains due to compact urban development has to be taken into account in order to avoid direct and indirect rebound effects.

scholarly journals Management of the sustainable development of heating systems construction during changes of the conditions of the assessment

2018 ◽  
Vol 251 ◽  
pp. 05026 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalia Verstina ◽  
Evgeny Evseev
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Systems Development ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Heating Systems ◽  
Life Cycle Stages ◽  
Methodical Approach ◽  
Definition Of

Scientific-and-practical aspects of regulating the matters of the assessment of sustainable development, are considered in the article. The tendencies of the heating systems development construction are systematized. The authors offer the methodical approach to the formation of information for the definition of indicators of sustainable development of heating systems construction in the built-up territories, taking into account the interrelation of the heating systems life cycle stages.

scholarly journals Design Guidelines Developed from Environmental Assessments: A Design Tool for Resource-Efficient Products

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 4953
Author(s):  
Siri Willskytt ◽  
Sergio A. Brambila-Macias
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Resource Use ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Resource Efficiency ◽  
Design Guidelines ◽  
Design Tool ◽  
Design Practice ◽  
Life Cycle Assessments ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Design Case

The circular economy provides a potential solution to the take–make–dispose model of resource use that currently characterizes the economy. Guidelines for the circular economy often consist of prioritized lists of measures to achieve resource efficiency. However, for the purpose of designing products, such general prioritizations of measures are less useful. Instead, the tool developed in this study is based on learnings from numerous life cycle assessments and provides design recommendations for the improved resource efficiency of products based on product characteristics. The tool includes measures over the whole lifecycle of different products that lead to improved resource efficiency. The tool also demonstrates how different product types, such as different varieties of durable and consumable products, can become more resource-efficient and when trade-offs occur over the lifecycle of a product. The tool was tested in a design case where its usefulness and usability were evaluated using a comparative life cycle assessment and a questionnaire. The evaluation shows the tool is informative and provides design suggestions that lead to improved resource efficiency. The tool is considered usable and could be implemented in design practice.

The Role of Technology and Rebound Effects in the Success of the Sustainable Development Goals Framework

2020 ◽  
pp. 192-216
Author(s):  
David Font Vivanco ◽  
Tamar Makov
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Technological Change ◽  
Systems Approach ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Clean Energy ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Rebound Effects ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Development Goals

The sustainable development goal (SDG) framework lacks a systems approach and addresses specific goals as separate elements, typically in isolation from each other. In doing so, the framework overlooks the fact that many of the goals are inherently linked such that progress toward one goal could either hinder or reinforce progress toward other goals. While linkages are especially common in goals that rely on technological change, the role of technology in mediating SDG linkages remains relatively unexplored. In particular, behavioral or systemic responses that counteract environmental gains from technological change, commonly referred to as rebound effects, could mediate linkages between SDGs and diminish the overall efficacy of SDG strategies. To illustrate the potential of using rebound effects to expose hidden SDG barriers, this chapter first maps the technology-reliance of SDGs and their interlinkages. The authors then focus on three goals that are both technology-intensive and highly interlinked—SDG6 (clean water and sanitation), SDG7 (affordable and clean energy), and SDG12 (responsible consumption and production)—and explore potential implications related to rebound effects. The chapter shows that rebound research offers a rich array of theories, tools, and methods, and provides a useful framework to identify and characterize conflicting and reinforcing SDG linkages, specify their underlining mechanisms, and assess the nature and magnitude of their impacts. The application of rebound theories and methods could therefore help investigate the consistency of the SDG framework as a whole, and identify appropriate management strategies to mitigate undesired effects and potential environmental-economic-social trade-offs.

scholarly journals Challenges of a Healthy Built Environment: Air Pollution in Construction Industry

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (18) ◽  
pp. 10469
Author(s):  
Antonija Ana Wieser ◽  
Marco Scherz ◽  
Alexander Passer ◽  
Helmuth Kreiner
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Built Environment ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Air Pollutant ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Industrial Sectors ◽  
Life Cycle Stages

Air pollution is a global concern, especially in cities and urban areas, and has many implications for human health and for the environment. In common with other industrial sectors, the construction industry emits air pollutants. In scientific literature, the contribution the construction industry makes to air pollution is underexposed. This systematic literature review (SLR) paper gives an overview of the current literature regarding air pollution within the construction industry. Air pollution is discussed focusing mainly on three levels: (i) buildings and their building life cycle stages, (ii) construction processes and components, and (iii) building material and interior. The final sample of the SLR comprises 161 scientific articles addressing different aspects of the construction industry. The results show that most articles address the use stage of a building. Particulate matter in different sizes is the most frequently examined air pollutant within the SLR. Moreover, about a third of the articles refer to indoor air pollution, which shows the relevance of the topic. The construction industry can help to develop a healthier built environment and support the achievement of cleaner air within various life cycle stages, e.g., with optimized construction processes and healthier materials. International agreements and policies such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can support the sustainable development of the construction industry.

FINANCING THE DEVELOPMENT OF MUNICIPAL ENTITIES AT DIFFERENT LIFE CYCLE STAGES: PUBLIC AND PRIVATE RESOURCES

2019 ◽  
Vol 0 (3) ◽  
pp. 53-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
T.Yu. Altufyeva ◽  
◽  
P.A. Ivanov ◽  
G.R. Sakhapova ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Life Cycle Stages

Integrated Geomorphological, Geospatial and AHP Technique for Groundwater Prospects Mapping in Basaltic Terrain

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vaishnavi Mundalik ◽  
Clinton Fernandes ◽  
Ajaykumar Kadam ◽  
Bhavana Umrikar
Keyword(s):  
Groundwater Resources ◽  
Drainage Density ◽  
Groundwater Potential ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Thematic Layers ◽  
Groundwater Availability ◽  
Basaltic Terrain ◽  
Thematic Layer ◽  
Increasing Demand ◽  
Gis Environment

Groundwater is an important source of drinking water in rural parts of India. Because of the increasing demand for water, it is essential to identify new sources for the sustainable development of this resource. The potential mapping and exploration of groundwater resources have become a breakthrough in the field of hydrogeological research. In the present paper, a groundwater prospects map is delineated for the assessment of groundwater availability in Kar basin on basaltic terrain, using remote sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques. Various thematic layers such as geology, slope, soil, geomorphology, drainage density and rainfall are prepared using satellite data, topographic maps and field data. The ranks and weights were assigned to each thematic layer and various categories of those thematic layers using AHP technique respectively. Further, a weighted overlay analysis was performed by reclassifying them in the GIS environment to prepare the groundwater potential map of the study area. The results show that groundwater prospects map classified into three classes low, moderate and high having area 17.12%, 38.26%, 44.62%, respectively. The overlay map with the groundwater potential zones in the study area has been found to be helpful for better planning and managing the resources.

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