scholarly journals Analyses of the Life Cycles and Social Costs of CO2 Emissions of Single-Family Residential Buildings: A Case Study in Poland

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 6164
Author(s):  
Gabriela Kania ◽  
Klaudia Kwiecień ◽  
Mateusz Malinowski ◽  
Maciej Gliniak

Comprehensive environmental impact assessments of buildings and construction as a whole consider the preparation of construction and finishing materials, their transportation, the process of erecting buildings, long-term operations—including the consumption of electricity, water, and fuels—and the management of the waste generated during the demolition of facilities. In terms of the above-mentioned elements, the most negative environmental impact on a building’s life cycle is in its exploitation stage. In order to reduce this impact, modern sustainable construction uses renewable energy sources. In the area of the Polish building market, analyses of CO2 emissions, the application of LCAs for building materials, and assessments of the social impacts of modern buildings are still very limited. The aim of this study is to evaluate the environmental life cycles and social costs of the CO2 emissions of single-family residential buildings, in which four different systems providing energy (heat and electricity) from renewable and nonrenewable sources are used. In this research, it was found that the annual CO2 emissions per square meter of building surface area in the analyzed objects were in the range of 30 to 176 kg CO2. The greatest contributor to the environmental effects was energy consumption (58% to 90%). The CO2 analysis conducted showed that facilities that use a heat pump are characterized by an environmental effect that is six times lower than that of facilities that are powered by coal combustion and electricity from the network. Similarly, the social costs associated with CO2 emissions were significantly lower in the case of the use of renewable energy sources.

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 22
Author(s):  
Zoltán Szakály ◽  
Péter Balogh ◽  
Enikő Kontor ◽  
Zoltán Gabnai ◽  
Attila Bai

The current paper analyzes the awareness of renewable energy sources (RES), the relationship between self-reported and actual knowledge, and the correlation among the knowledge of renewable energy sources, the characteristic stereotypes, and the typical attitude of different social groups to energy, comparing them with international experience. A nationwide representative questionnaire-based survey was carried out involving 1002 people in Hungary in 2019. Better education, a higher income, an active white-collar profession, and a health- and environment-conscious approach to life (LOHAS (lifestyle of health and sustainability) segment) are definitely an advantage when it comes to knowledge of renewable energy sources. No significant relationship was detected in terms of age; however, in cluster formation, young people were typically found to be better informed. Overall, the actual knowledge of the Hungarian respondents is more favorable than the self-reported one, and the basic level of knowledge of energy sources in the case of wind and hydropower exceeds international experience. The social factors of better knowledge essentially correspond to the international trends; however, regarding firewood, solar, and wind energy, the average Hungarian has certain false stereotypes that can be considered typical. The assessment of convenience and that of environmental aspects are almost the same.


2021 ◽  
Vol 19 ◽  
pp. 205-210
Author(s):  
Milan Belik ◽  

This project focuses on optimisation of energy accumulation for various types of distributed renewable energy sources. The main goal is to prepare charging – discharging strategy depending on actual power consumption and prediction of consumption and production of utilised renewable energy sources for future period. The simulation is based on real long term data measured on photovoltaic system, wind power station and meteo station between 2004 – 2021. The data from meteo station serve as the input for the simulation and prediction of the future production while the data from PV system and wind turbine are used either as actual production or as a verification of the predicted values. Various parameters are used for trimming of the optimisation process. Influence of the charging strategy, discharging strategy, values and shape of the demand from the grid and prices is described on typical examples of the simulations. The main goal is to prepare and verify the system in real conditions with real load chart and real consumption defined by the model building with integrated renewable energy sources. The system can be later used in general installations on commercial or residential buildings.


2021 ◽  
Vol 250 ◽  
pp. 07001
Author(s):  
Wadim Strielkowski

This paper aims at explaining the universality and broadness of the research in energy studies. Specifically, it wants to show that the energy research is not a solely engineering or natural sciences field and how it can be done in social sciences. The paper draws some relevant examples including energy research in literature and poetry, history, religion, art, as well in other social sciences and humanities. In general, it becomes apparent that energy research can boast vast depths and angles that are worth exploring for any social scientist. Given the key importance of energy research in the third decade of the 21st century and the worldwide focus on the renewable energy sources, electrification of transport and heating in the face of the threatening global warming and climate change, it seems relevant to focus on researching the perspectives and paradigms for the traditional and renewable energy sources in the 21st century using the toolbox of the social sciences.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (22) ◽  
pp. 7819
Author(s):  
Grzegorz Lew ◽  
Beata Sadowska ◽  
Katarzyna Chudy-Laskowska ◽  
Grzegorz Zimon ◽  
Magdalena Wójcik-Jurkiewicz

Climate change is becoming a global problem. In many countries, actions are taken with the main aim of reducing CO2 emissions. The main action, especially in developed countries, is decarbonization. The European Union has become one of the organizations that plays a leading role in decarbonization of the economy. For this reason, renewable energy sources are being intensively developed in the EU countries. Solar energy with the use of PV installations is developing the fastest. Poland is one of the European leaders in photovoltaic development, and according to estimates for 2021–2025, it will continue to be. The aim of this study was to find out the opinions of people toward actions related to the decarbonization policy in Poland. These opinions were obtained through the prism of respondents’ attitudes toward energy produced by means of PV micro-installations. A questionnaire survey was used in this research. The survey was conducted using the CAWI (Computer-Assisted Web Interview) technique. To analyze the results of the study, a Kruskal–Wallis ANOVA test and U–Mann Whitney test were used. Responses were obtained from 633 people. The results obtained from the survey allowed us to draw conclusions, which include the following: (1) a lack of general conviction of respondents about the effectiveness of Poland’s decarbonization policy on reducing global CO2 emissions, especially among those who show a higher willingness to use PV installations, (2) the willingness to use PV installations is motivated by economic rather than environmental benefits, (3) the need for more widespread public campaigns aimed at promoting the benefits of decarbonization and renewable energy sources, and (4) the finding that the respondents’ region of residence (with a different degree of insolation) mattered for the willingness to use PV installations.


2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 29
Author(s):  
Marcos Lenin Dávila Cedeño ◽  
María Gabriela Dávila Arteaga ◽  
Antonio Vázquez Pérez ◽  
Marcos Lenin Dávila Arteaga

The purpose of the research is to expose the nature that, in matters of law and social policy, justifies promoting the elaboration and adoption of a regulatory framework that favors the use of renewable energy sources, for the generation of electricity through case analysis in the Province of Manabí. For the accomplishment of the research study has taken into account a brief theoretical analysis on the fundamentals of the regulatory doctrine, where it exposes the conceptual framework of the law and its necessity for the good development of the social relations that derive from the use of the Renewable sources of energy. A study was carried out of the specific regulatory work carried out at the international level, in order to promote the adequate use of renewable energies, as well as a national study presenting an initial vision for the study and establishment of a specific regulatory framework for the case study of the province of Manabí, as well as a group of policies and support measures that could be adopted to promote the integrated use of renewable energy sources and their contribution to the national energy matrix.


2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 29-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcos Lenin Davila Cedeno ◽  
Maria Gabriela Davila Arteaga ◽  
Antonio Vazquez Perez ◽  
Marcos Lenin Davila Arteaga

The purpose of the research is to expose the nature that, in matters of law and social policy, justifies promoting the elaboration and adoption of a regulatory framework that favors the use of renewable energy sources, for the generation of electricity through case analysis in the Province of Manabí. For the accomplishment of the research study has taken into account a brief theoretical analysis on the fundamentals of the regulatory doctrine, where it exposes the conceptual framework of the law and its necessity for the good development of the social relations that derive from the use of the Renewable sources of energy. A study was carried out of the specific regulatory work carried out at the international level, in order to promote the adequate use of renewable energies, as well as a national study presenting an initial vision for the study and establishment of a specific regulatory framework for the case study of the province of Manabí, as well as a group of policies and support measures that could be adopted to promote the integrated use of renewable energy sources and their contribution to the national energy matrix.


2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-114
Author(s):  
Ana Radojevic ◽  
Danijela Nikolic ◽  
Jasna Radulovic ◽  
Jasmina Skerlic

The implementation of energy efficiency measures and use of renewable energy sources in educational buildings can significantly contribute to reducing energy consumption, but also to CO2 emissions in the entire public sector. The paper shows the comparison of energy consumption indicators for 61 elementary school buildings which have previously been divided in 12 groups, according to the period of construction and size, based on the national typology called TABULA, as the first step of further study on how to use the renewable energy sources. The aim of this paper is to use the energy benchmarking process to select representative facilities which are suitable for applying renewable energy sources, for their further energy efficiency improvement. Indicators of annual specific electricity consumption and CO2 emissions per unit area [kWh/m2] and per user [kWh/user] were calculated. After that, from two groups (in which the highest electricity consumption and CO2 emissions are 68.37% and 74.53% of the total consumption/ emissions), one representative facility was selected.


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