scholarly journals The Impact of Construction Labour Productivity on the Renovation Wave

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Soren Wandahl ◽  
Christina T. Pérez ◽  
Stephanie Salling ◽  
Hasse H. Neve ◽  
Jon Lerche ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Co2 Emissions ◽  
Labour Productivity ◽  
Research Strategy ◽  
Embodied Energy ◽  
Sustainable Construction ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Operational Energy ◽  
Lean Tools ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Tools And Methods

The European Green Deal's Renovation Wave aims to renovate 35 million energy-inefficient buildings to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by at least 55% by 2030. Historically, efforts to reduce CO2 emissions focused on Operational Energy (OE) of the finished buildings. However, in recent years the Embodied Energy (EE) of the building’s construction process has gained attention because of its essential role in construction renovations projects. In this context, construction efficiency, and more precisely, workers’ efficiency, is a vital catalyst to achieve the European Union (EU) targets. To identify the impact of Construction Labour Productivity (CLP) on the renovation wave an exploratory case study was adopted as a research strategy. Data from four domestic housing renovation projects were gathered. Three specific research goals are outlined. The first is to demonstrate the effect of the adoption of Lean tools and methods to increase CLP. The second is to quantify the correlation between improved productivity and the EE emissions saved during the construction phase. The third goal is to estimate the effect the higher productivity has on OE emissions. The results show that the adoption of several Lean tools and methods has a potential to improve CLP to 45%.  This rate of improvement for the 35 million housing units to be renovated could save 6.9 million tonnes CO2e from EE and 386 million tonnes CO2e from OE. This novelty link between process improvements and reduced energy consumption and emissions can support politicians and infrastructural developers in decision-making for a more sustainable construction industry.

scholarly journals Retrofitting Buildings: Embodied & Operational Energy Use in English Housing Stock

Proceedings ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (15) ◽  
pp. 1135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adnan Hossain ◽  
Monjur Mourshed
Keyword(s):  
Energy Use ◽  
Housing Stock ◽  
Mineral Wool ◽  
Energy Model ◽  
Expanded Polystyrene ◽  
Embodied Energy ◽  
Insulation Materials ◽  
Operational Energy ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Sheep Wool

This study is aimed at assessing the impact of the insulation refurbishment of the English housing stock on the embodied energy needed for the various refurbishment scenarios and their corresponding operational energy use reductions. An embodied energy model comprising 22 million homes has been constructed, enabling the assessment and comparison of operational and embodied energy use due to the insulation refurbishment of various applicable building elements. Results indicate that mineral wool, sheep wool and expanded polystyrene (EPS) are the optimum insulation materials for cavity walls, cold pitch roofs and warm pitched roofs, respectively.

scholarly journals The importance of embodied energy in carbon footprint assessment

2014 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zaid Alwan ◽  
Paul Jones
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Carbon Footprint ◽  
Embodied Energy ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
Design Team ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Operational Energy ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Whole Life Cycle

Purpose – The construction industry has focused on operational and embodied energy of buildings as a way of becoming more sustainable, however, with more emphasis on the former. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the impact that embodied energy of construction materials can have on the decision making when designing buildings, and ultimately on the environment. This is an important aspect that has often been overlooked when calculating a building's carbon footprint; and its inclusion this approach presents a more holistic life cycle assessment. Design/methodology/approach – A building project was chosen that is currently being designed; the design team for the project have been tasked by the client to make the facility exemplary in terms of its sustainability. This building has a limited construction palette; therefore the embodied energy component can be accurately calculated. The authors of this paper are also part of the design team for the building so they have full access to Building Information Modelling (BIM) models and production information. An inventory of materials was obtained for the building and embodied energy coefficients applied to assess the key building components. The total operational energy was identified using benchmarking to produce a carbon footprint for the facility. Findings – The results indicate that while operational energy is more significant over the long term, the embodied energy of key materials should not be ignored, and is likely to be a bigger proportion of the total carbon in a low carbon building. The components with high embodied energy have also been identified. The design team have responded to this by altering the design to significantly reduce the embodied energy within these key components – and thus make the building far more sustainable in this regard. Research limitations/implications – It may be is a challenge to create components inventories for whole buildings or for refurbishments. However, a potential future approach for is application may be to use a BIM model to simplify this process by imbedding embodied energy inventories within the software, as part of the BIM menus. Originality/value – This case study identifies the importance of considering carbon use during the whole-life cycle of buildings, as well as highlighting the use of carbon offsetting. The paper presents an original approach to the research by using a “live” building as a case study with a focus on the embodied energy of each component of the scheme. The operational energy is also being calculated, the combined data are currently informing the design approach for the building. As part of the analysis, the building was modelled in BIM software.

Valutazione economica di una politica di riorientamento dei consumi alimentari finalizzata alla riduzione dell'obesitŕ

2012 ◽  
pp. 75-98
Author(s):  
Rosaria Viscecchia ◽  
Antonio Stasi ◽  
Maurizio Prosperi
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Co2 Emissions ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Economic Effect ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Food Demand ◽  
Partial Substitution ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Relevant Effect ◽  
The Impact

Modern lifestyle is one among the most relevant causes of alimentary disorder and environmental problems. Preventing both of them implies a win-win strategy for the improvement of social wellness (i.e. health and environmental benefits). A suitable strategy could be addressed to the partial substitution of caloric food (e.g. beef meat), which is also responsible for a large amount of greenhouse gas (ghgs) emissions, with less caloric food (e.g. vegetables), which is proved of exerting a lower impact on climate change. The analysis is referred to the Italian case study, based on data from the Italian Statistical Institute (istat). The relationship between obesity and ghgs emissions is here explained experimentally through a 5-stage methodology. In the first step, a regression model (ols method) is adopted to explain obesity rate in terms of ratio of people consuming meat more than once a week, and the ratio of people consuming vegetables less than once a day. The outcome of this analysis allows simulating a policy target in terms of obesity abatement, provided by a reasonable change in food demand. In the third step, a meta-analysis of Life Cycle Assessment (lca) studies has been performed in order to calculate the CO2 emissions of the food types we considered. In the fourth step, the observed change in food demand from the previous step is combined with lca indicators, in order to evaluate the impact of food industry on climate change. Finally, in the fifth step, the benefits of the obesity reduction are calculated considering the cost saving for health care of the obesity, which amounts to 1.700 Eur per person. In addition, the value of the CO2 emission have been compared with the value of the European Union Allowance (eua) of CO2 emissions, which was evaluated in 2009 in terms of 21.45 eur/t CO2. Consequently, we found that the effect of the policy can be estimated in terms of 1,032 Million eur, of which the impacts on human health is the most important (about 1.020 Million eur). The study shows the evidence that the consumption of food with low content of calories has a most relevant effect in the reduction of obesity, but very limited economic effect in terms of CO2 emissions.

Life Cycle Energy and CO2 Emissions of Residential Buildings in Bandung, Indonesia

2013 ◽  
Vol 689 ◽  
pp. 54-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Usep Surahman ◽  
Tetsu Kubota
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Co2 Emissions ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Embodied Energy ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Assessment Model ◽  
Output Analysis ◽  
Simple Medium ◽  
Operational Energy

This study aims to develop a simplified life cycle assessment model for residential buildings in Indonesia, which can be used under relatively poor data availability conditions. In order to obtain material inventory data and household energy consumption profiles for constructing the above model, a survey was conducted in Bandung in 2011. This paper analyzes life cycle energy and CO2 emissions employing an input-output analysis-based method within unplanned houses (n=250), which are classified into three categories, namely simple, medium and luxurious houses. The results showed that the average embodied energy of simple, medium and luxurious houses was 36.3, 130.0 and 367.7 GJ respectively. The cement consumed the largest energy and emitted the most CO2 emissions among all materials. The annual average operational energy of simple, medium and luxurious houses varied widely at 11.6, 17.4 and 32.1 GJ/year respectively. The energy consumption for cooking accounted for the largest percentage of operational energy. The profiles of life cycle CO2 emissions were similar with those of life cycle energy. The factors affecting embodied, operational and life cycle energy were also studied.

scholarly journals The impact of foreign trade on the Netherlands’ real CO2 emissions

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 135-147
Author(s):  
Bartosz Fortuński
Keyword(s):  
The Netherlands ◽  
Co2 Emissions ◽  
Design Research ◽  
The European Union ◽  
The Real ◽  
Eu Member States ◽  
Globalizing World ◽  
The World ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Eu

Aim: CO2 emissions and the related climate change are a global problem, where the direct impact of actions of individual countries depends on their total share in CO2 emissions. In order to assess the potential for policy measures, the openness of an economy, and the related import and export and their impacts on emissions should be considered. The aim of this paper is the attempt to show the real CO2 emissions of the Netherlands as well as the impact of its trade on CO2 emissions in other countries in the world and in the EU in 2015.Design / Research methods: This study was conducted on the group of countries that are the major emitters of CO2 in the world including most of the EU members. Countries with negligible CO2 emissions were omitted. Actual CO2 emissions were obtained by applying the actual emission factor. This takes into account the transfer of CO2 in export products and services as well as those imported by particular countries.Conclusions / findings: The real CO2 emissions in the Netherlands are significantly different from the gross values, which represent the CO2 emissions in the particular countries. It is also important to indicate that isolated actions of a single country within the European Union itself do not deliver the intended global and regional target – significant CO2 emissions reduction. The approach proposed in this study, when applied, may have serious implications for individual EU member states in implementing their energy policy objectives.Originality / value of the article: The article shows a different approach to the issue of CO2 emission, including the importance of international trade in a globalizing world.

scholarly journals Sustainable Development and Energy Policy: Actual CO2 Emissions in the European Union in the Years 1997–2017, Considering Trade with China and the USA

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 3363 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bartosz Fortuński
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Energy Policy ◽  
Co2 Emissions ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Policy Goals ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Eu Energy Policy ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Eu

One of the ways of implementing the concept of sustainable development by the European Union is their energy policy. Among the three main objectives in its energy policy is a reduction in greenhouse gases (mainly CO2) emissions to at least 20% below 1990 levels by 2020. This study aims to assess the impact of international trade on actual CO2 emission in the EU, China and the USA for the period 1997–2017. For this aim, the Actual-Open CO2 emissions were calculated, taking into account the transfer of CO2 in exported products and services from China and the USA to the EU and vice versa. It is concluded that the actual CO2 emissions in China, the USA, and the EU differed from the traditionally calculated emissions. This has serious consequences for policy, as the factual level of implementation of the EU energy policy goals may be different from what is assumed. Without including the goals of energy policy into trade policy, the effectiveness of measures may be limited. This also has implications for the effectiveness of environmental management systems. When improvements rely on increasing trade with large CO2 emitting countries, the final effect may be opposed to the assumed effect.

scholarly journals Identification of the Relationships between Competitive Potential and Competitive Position of the Food Industry in the European Union

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 4160
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Łukiewska ◽  
Małgorzata Juchniewicz
Keyword(s):  
Panel Data ◽  
Food Industry ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Labour Productivity ◽  
Research Area ◽  
Sustainable Growth ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Competitive Position ◽  
Central European ◽  
The Impact

The competitiveness of the food industry, which is among the most important areas in the Central European economy, is a significant and topical research area in economics. The sector is particularly important for long-term sustainable growth in Central European national economies. Its high competitiveness is an important stabiliser in an environment of global economic instability. This study aimed to assess the relationships between elements of competitive potential and the competitive position of the food industry in E.U. countries. The relationships between these categories were examined using econometric models with the use of panel data. The results of the spatial-temporal modelling of the panel data confirmed the significant impact of production potential on the share of exports, profitability and the synthetic competitive position index, the impact of labour productivity on all analysed competitive position ratios, the impact of labour costs on the trade coverage, profitability and overall competitive position and the positive impact of innovation on profitability. It was found that labour productivity was of the greatest importance in building a competitive position. The results of the research can be used by food industry companies and government authorities in creating competitive advantages for the food industry in international markets.

scholarly journals Implementation of Re-used Shipping Containers for Green Architecture (Case Study: ITSB Creative Hub-Cikarang)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anjar Primasetra
Keyword(s):  
Co2 Emissions ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Ventilation System ◽  
Building Design ◽  
Building Construction ◽  
Embodied Energy ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Green Architecture ◽  
The Impact

The largest of CO2 emissions on earth derives from construction activities. It is necessary to solve the problem to reduce the impact of CO2 emissions. One of the solution to reduce the impact of CO2 emission because of construction activity is using re-used material for building construction, such as re-used shipping container because the re-used material has low embodied energy. This paper has three purposes, and there are: explaining the application of re-used containers as building materials in the context of green architecture, explaining the application of building design using re-used containers as material, and explaining the advantages and disadvantages of used containers as building materials. Creative Hub ITSB as a case study owned by the campus of ITSB. The building construction consists of 20 units of a re-used container (20 feet size). The prefabrication construction uses for each steel material. Each component of the building assembled in the workshop, then it delivered to site by truck. The main issues that need to be solved are a matter of the delivery system, the structure, and joints, and the component assembly. Cross-ventilation system and insulating material also crucial because it can reduce building temperature.

scholarly journals Proces kształtowania celów polityki energetyczno-klimatycznej Unii Europejskiej do 2030 roku. Konsekwencje dla Polski

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 159-176
Author(s):  
Marcin Koczan
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Climate Policy ◽  
Co2 Emissions ◽  
Electricity Sector ◽  
Energy Market ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Energy Usage ◽  
Energy And Climate Policy ◽  
The Impact

The process of creation the goals of the European Union’s energy and climate policy until 2030. Consequences for Poland This study analyses the first energy and climate package adopted in 2008 (the so-called „20-20-20” package), setting goals for the European Union and the member states by 2020. Then describes the process of shaping the goals of the energy and climate policy of the European Union until 2030. The author focuses on the aspects that affect the electricity sector in Poland, boost renewable energy usage, re‑form the European energy market and reducing CO2 emissions. The text ends with conclusions and recommendations regarding the impact of the European Union’s energy and climate policy on the electricity sector in Poland.

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