scholarly journals What Is the Impact of Mass Timber Utilization on Climate and Forests?

2022 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 758
Author(s):  
Rachel Pasternack ◽  
Mark Wishnie ◽  
Caitlin Clarke ◽  
Yangyang Wang ◽  
Ethan Belair ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide Emissions ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Production Cross ◽  
Climate Impact ◽  
Forest Carbon ◽  
Wood Products ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Positive Outcomes ◽  
Mass Timber ◽  
The Impact

As the need to address climate change grows more urgent, policymakers, businesses, and others are seeking innovative approaches to remove carbon dioxide emissions from the atmosphere and decarbonize hard-to-abate sectors. Forests can play a role in reducing atmospheric carbon. However, there is disagreement over whether forests are most effective in reducing carbon emissions when left alone versus managed for sustainable harvesting and wood product production. Cross-laminated timber is at the forefront of the mass timber movement, which is enabling designers, engineers, and other stakeholders to build taller wood buildings. Several recent studies have shown that substituting mass timber for steel and concrete in mid-rise buildings can reduce the emissions associated with manufacturing, transporting, and installing building materials by 13%-26.5%. However, the prospect of increased utilization of wood products as a climate solution also raises questions about the impact of increased demand for wood on forest carbon stocks, on forest condition, and on the provision of the many other critical social and environmental benefits that healthy forests can provide. A holistic assessment of the total climate impact of forest product demand across product substitution, carbon storage in materials, current and future forest carbon stock, and forest area and condition is challenging, but it is important to understand the impact of increased mass timber utilization on forests and climate, and therefore also on which safeguards might be necessary to ensure positive outcomes. To thus assess the potential impacts, both positive and negative, of greater mass timber utilization on forests ecosystems and emissions associated with the built environment, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) initiated a global mass timber impact assessment (GMTIA), a five-part, highly collaborative research program focused on understanding the potential benefits and risks of increased demand for mass timber products on forests and identifying appropriate safeguards to ensure positive outcomes.

“Cement-Free Product” for Settlement of Ceramic Tiles: An Approach for Greener Construction

2014 ◽  
Vol 805 ◽  
pp. 403-408
Author(s):  
Otávio Luiz do Nascimento ◽  
Alexandra Ancelmo Piscitelli Mansur ◽  
Herman Sander Mansur
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Free Product ◽  
Ceramic Tile ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Emissions ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Ceramic Tiles ◽  
The Impact

Increased public awareness of the threats posed by global warming has led to greater concern over the impact of anthropogenic carbon emissions on the global climate associated with the level of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. Hence, without radical market, technological, and cultural changes, the CO2 concentrations are expected to rise to unbearable levels within just few decades ahead. The production of cement is estimated to be responsible for approximately 5% of the global carbon dioxide emissions. Consequently, aiming for creating a more sustainable world, engineers and scientists must develop and put into use greener building materials that may revolutionize the entire construction industry. This study presents an innovative product for settlement of ceramic tiles as a potential alternative for replacing the conventional cement based mortar in some specific building applications. Essentially, the novel system is based on a double face polymer-adhesive sheet (“cement-free product”). Thus, the main goal was to evaluate the performance and estimate the durability of the developed system. Pull-off tests were conducted in order to compare this new system to the traditional one, with polymer modified mortar, under different procedures and conditions of cure. In addition, both systems were modeled using Finite Element Method (FEM) to obtain the stresses at the interface between ceramic-tile and adhesive. Based on the results, the recommended limits of bond strength for the innovative “cement-free product” of ceramic tile installation could be lower than those specifications used for the equivalent mortar systems. Therefore, these results give some preliminary evidence that by using the new “cement-free” product for ceramic-tile installation may lead to some increase in the productivity and, more important, in the sustainability of a relevant sector of the construction industry.

scholarly journals Analysis of the Return on Investment in Solar Collectors on the Example of a Household: The Case of Poland

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariusz Niekurzak ◽  
Ewa Kubińska-Jabcoń
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Emissions ◽  
Return On Investment ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Green Energy ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Solar Collectors ◽  
The Impact

Background: The growing consumption is what drives the development of unsustainable energy and material-intensive production technologies that emit large quantities of pollutants into the atmosphere, water, and land. Obtaining green energy allows reduction of the interference with the environment and, consequently, fits into a sustainable energy development strategy. In order to achieve the emission targets set by the EU for Poland, it is necessary to prioritize the development of renewable energy sources (RES) technologies within the energy sector.Methods: The purpose of the study was to present the results of the research relating to the return on investment of solar collectors for single-family houses in Poland. The research was presented on the basis of the legal conditions applicable to micro installations in the light of the amendment of the RES Act, and the impact of these amendments on the aspects of such investment was determined.Results: On the basis of the constructed economic model used to assess the return on investment of increasing the area of solar collectors, it has been shown that an operating installation will bring measurable economic benefits in the form of reduction in the amount of energy purchased annually in the amount of 6,756 kWh and environmental benefits in the form of reduction of carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere 2.4–3.6 Mg per year. An installation subsidized under the “My Electricity” program can reach an NPV of EUR 6,000 over 20 years at a discount rate r = 0 and assuming that the electricity is EUR 0.15/kWh. If the price rises to 0.2 EUR/kWh, the NPV will be 10,000 EUR. For the analyzed installation, the investment consisting in increasing the collector area in accordance with NPV is economically effective for the absorber area in the range of 5.6–7.6 m2 and reaches the maximum value for the absorber area of 6.6 m2, while the absorber area above 7 m2 contributes to reduce the value of the economic return on investment. The obtained results have been generalized, which allows to use them in the process of selecting the size of collector area for similar installations.Conclusion: The return on investment analysis carried out in respect of a detached house allowed to demonstrate that this project is fully justified. Furthermore, pursuant to the Renewable Energy Sources Act in force in Poland, treating a small entrepreneur as a prosumer who may generally take advantage of favorable conditions for discounting the produced energy leads to very favorable possibilities of settling electricity. Considering an entrepreneur as a prosumer who may use one-off depreciation of a solar collectors installation as a fixed asset and request for VAT refund is what makes such an investment very attractive in financial terms and makes it difficult to find a safe investment alternative characterized by such a high rate of return.

scholarly journals The potential environmental benefits of reusable and recyclable materials stocks in Toronto's single-detached housing

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deniz N Ergun
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide Emissions ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Primary Energy ◽  
Environmental Indicators ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Environmental Benefit ◽  
Material Volume ◽  
Material Reuse ◽  
The City ◽  
Common Barriers

This study examines the stocks of building materials in Toronto’s in-use and annual obsolete single detached housing, to provide potential environmental benefit parameters for city scale material reuse and recycling. The material volumes of five archetypes, developed to represent typical Toronto housing, were measured and extrapolated to the city scale. Applying established criteria for reusability and recyclability, city scale reusable and recyclable stocks were determined for three environmental indicators: material volume headed to landfill, carbon dioxide emissions, and primary energy consumption. It was determined that 61-66% of the material volume in Toronto’s in-use and annual obsolete housing could be reclaimed for reuse/recycling, and was mostly composed of masonry, concrete, and framing lumber from houses built from 1930-1960. Additionally, annual obsolete reusable materials represented an embodied carbon of 2,287-4,116 tonnes and energy of 52,883-95,189 GJ. By addressing common barriers to widespread uptake of reuse/recycling, Toronto could reap these determined potential environmental benefits.

scholarly journals The potential environmental benefits of reusable and recyclable materials stocks in Toronto's single-detached housing

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deniz N Ergun
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide Emissions ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Primary Energy ◽  
Environmental Indicators ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Environmental Benefit ◽  
Material Volume ◽  
Material Reuse ◽  
The City ◽  
Common Barriers

This study examines the stocks of building materials in Toronto’s in-use and annual obsolete single detached housing, to provide potential environmental benefit parameters for city scale material reuse and recycling. The material volumes of five archetypes, developed to represent typical Toronto housing, were measured and extrapolated to the city scale. Applying established criteria for reusability and recyclability, city scale reusable and recyclable stocks were determined for three environmental indicators: material volume headed to landfill, carbon dioxide emissions, and primary energy consumption. It was determined that 61-66% of the material volume in Toronto’s in-use and annual obsolete housing could be reclaimed for reuse/recycling, and was mostly composed of masonry, concrete, and framing lumber from houses built from 1930-1960. Additionally, annual obsolete reusable materials represented an embodied carbon of 2,287-4,116 tonnes and energy of 52,883-95,189 GJ. By addressing common barriers to widespread uptake of reuse/recycling, Toronto could reap these determined potential environmental benefits.

Potential of Cork Cement Composite as a Thermal Insulation Material

2015 ◽  
Vol 666 ◽  
pp. 17-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sukhdeo R. Karade
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Insulation ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Environmental Concern ◽  
Cement Composite ◽  
Mineral Wool ◽  
Comfort Level ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Insulation Material ◽  
Thermal Insulating ◽  
The Impact

The growing environmental concern throughout the globe has led architects & engineers to design energy efficient buildings. Consequently, they are looking for building materials that can reduce the energy consumption in buildings to maintain the comfort level. Use of proper thermal insulating materials can reduce the energy required for heating or cooling of the buildings. Presently mineral wool and various foams are used for this purpose. Efforts are being made to use wastes in making thermal insulation materials so that the impact on environment can be further reduced. Cork granules are obtained as waste from the cork processing industries that make ‘bottle stoppers’ as a main product. These granules have a low density and could be used as lightweight aggregates for making concrete with low thermal conductivity. This article describes the physico-mechanical properties of lightweight cementitious composites made using cork granules. Further, environmental benefits of their application in thermal insulation of buildings has been discussed.

scholarly journals Evaluation of the Profitability of Using Solar Collectors in Single-Family Housing Industry - The Case of Poland

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariusz Niekurzak ◽  
Ewa Kubińska-Jabcoń
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Emissions ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Green Energy ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Solar Collectors ◽  
Single Family ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background: The growing consumption is what drives the development of unsustainable energy and material-intensive production technologies that emit large quantities of pollutants into the atmosphere, water and land. Obtaining green energy allows to reduce the interference with the environment and, consequently, fits into a sustainable energy development strategy. In order to achieve the emission targets set by the EU for Poland, it is necessary to prioritise the development of Renewable Energy Sources technologies within the energy sector.Methods: The purpose of the study is to present the results of the research relating to the profitability of solar collectors investment for single-family houses in Poland. The research was presented on the basis of the legal conditions applicable to micro installations in the light of the amendment of the RES Act and the impact of these amendments on the aspects of the profitability of such investment was determined. Results: On the basis of the constructed economic model used to assess the profitability of increasing the area of solar collectors, it has been shown that an operating installation will bring measurable economic benefits in the form of reduction in the amount of energy purchased from the current supplier and environmental benefits in the form of reduction of carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere. The obtained results have been generalised, which allows to use them in the process of selecting the size of collector area for similar installations. Conclusion: The cost-effectiveness analysis carried out in respect of a detached house allowed to demonstrate that this project is fully justified. Furthermore, pursuant to the Renewable Energy Sources Act in force in Poland, treating a small entrepreneur as a prosumer who may generally take advantage of favourable conditions for discounting the produced energy leads to very favourable possibilities of settling electricity. Considering an entrepreneur as a prosumer who may use one-off depreciation of a solar collectors installation as a fixed asset and request for VAT refund is what makes such an investment very attractive in financial terms and makes it difficult to find a safe investment alternative characterised by such a high rate of return.

scholarly journals Utilization of Industrial Byproducts for Enhancing the Properties of Cement Mortars at Elevated Temperatures

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (21) ◽  
pp. 12104
Author(s):  
Vasiliki Pachta ◽  
Eleftherios K. Anastasiou
Keyword(s):  
Fly Ash ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Elevated Temperatures ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
High Calcium ◽  
Eaf Slag ◽  
Industrial Byproducts ◽  
The Impact

The research on industrial byproducts, such as slags and fly ash, was intense during the last decades in the building sector. Apart from the environmental benefits coming from their exploitation, their application may lead to the production of cost effective and durable building materials, such as mortars and concrete. The impact of industrial byproducts on the resistance of materials to fire and elevated temperatures was assessed by many scientists, however, it is still an open field of research. In this study, locally available byproducts were investigated, including High Calcium Fly Ash (HCFA), coming from lignite-fired power plants, as well as Ladle Furnace Steel (LFS) slag and Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) slag aggregates, originating from the steel making industry. Six mortar compositions were manufactured with substitution of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) with HCFA and LFS slag (20% w/w) and of natural aggregates with EAF slag (50% w/w). At the age of 7, 28, and 90 days, the physico-mechanical properties of the specimens were recorded, while they were further exposed at elevated temperatures, concerning 200 °C, 400 °C, 600 °C, 800 °C, and 1000 °C. After each exposure, their physico-mechanical and microstructure characteristics were identified. From the evaluation of the results, it was asserted that HCFA and EAF slag aggregates enhanced the overall performance of mortars, especially up to 600 °C. LFS was beneficial only in combination with EAF slag aggregates.

scholarly journals Management of Termite Pests in Three Public Services of Korhogo (North of Côte d’Ivoire)

2021 ◽  
pp. 85-93
Author(s):  
Tenon Coulibaly ◽  
Dohouonan Diabaté ◽  
Akpa Alexandre Moïse Akpesse ◽  
Kouassi Philippe Kouassi
Keyword(s):  
Cote D'ivoire ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Public Services ◽  
Côte D’Ivoire ◽  
Wood Products ◽  
Real Problem ◽  
Cote D’Ivoire ◽  
Côte D'ivoire ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The City

Termites are becoming economic pests because of their appetite for wood and wood products in human dwellings and building materials. The objective of this study is to assess the impact of these insects on the activities of public services in the city of Korhogo, located in the north of Côte d'Ivoire. Termite attacks was investigated in 3 public services of the city. A survey was conducted to identify the control methods used against these pests. The results showed that termite pests represent a real problem. A total of 7 species of termites responsible for attacks were collected. These species belong to the wood-feeders, fungus-growers and grass-feeders group. The fungus-growers are the most involved in the observed attacks. Pseudacanthotermes militaris, which was involved in 54% of the attacks, was the most dangerous species. Termite attacks and damages were observed on doors, wooden shelves, ceilings, birth and marriage records. Surveys reveal that only chemical control is used in these services to control termites. A total of four pesticides were used to control termites in the three services visited. These were Cypercal 50 EC, K-Othrine® SC25, Actellic® 50 EC and Furadan 3G. Unfortunately, these products appear to be ineffective in some services. It is therefore important to take more effective and environmentally friendly measures to limit the impact of these insects on the activities of the public administrations of the town of Korhogo.

Application of a Tax to E-Commerce Deliveries in Barcelona

2021 ◽  
pp. 036119812110124
Author(s):  
Genís Majoral ◽  
Francesc Gasparín ◽  
Sergi Saurí
Keyword(s):  
Cost Benefit Analysis ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Supply Side ◽  
Environmental Tax ◽  
Positive Outcomes ◽  
Demand Side ◽  
Benefit Analysis ◽  
Revenue Collection ◽  
Last Mile ◽  
The Impact

The number of e-commerce transactions is increasing worldwide. Deliveries of goods purchased online generate externalities throughout the whole supply chain and, particularly, the increasing concern about the last-mile distribution of goods. The escalating presence of vans in cities contributes to poor air quality, climate change, noise, and congestion. So far, the majority of solutions to address this issue are based on the supply side, such as electric vans, optimizing the routing and pick-up-points, and so forth. Even in other transport sectors, pricing solutions are well known, yet they have not been extended to e-commerce delivery. This paper aims to propose an environmental tax falling on the demand side and equaling the externalities from this activity. The analysis has been particularized for the case of Barcelona. A cost–benefit analysis to assess the impact of such a tax has been carried out. When revenue collection is reinvested in the logistics sector, and for subsidizing electric distribution vehicles, the results indicate that the levying of the tax can generate positive outcomes.

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