Assessing Urban Metabolism through MSW Carbon Footprint and Conceptualizing Municipal-Industrial Symbiosis—The Case of Zaragoza City, Spain

This paper proposes a holistic vision of the urban metabolism (UM), viewing the city as a subsystem within an industrial ecosystem (IE) in which municipal-industrial symbiosis is essential to achieve sustainability goals. For this purpose, the metabolism of a large Spanish city, Zaragoza, was studied by analyzing the main fractions of its MSW. A methodology based on carbon footprint (CF) was developed to analyze the environmental impact—in terms of CO2—of the influence of households’ behavior, the City Council’s strategies, and the main MSW fractions. Zaragoza’s IE represents a footprint of 931,250 CO2 tons for the fractions studied, of which 438,000 CO2 tons are due to organic fraction, 180,371 to plastics and 154,607 to paper and cardboard, which are the three most significant contributors. If households selectively separated 100% of their waste, the footprint would drop to 648,660 tons of CO2. Furthermore, monetary savings were quantified through the CO2 emissions price. The proposed methodology accounts for the CF of the whole IE, not just the city. Moreover, it enables the creation of Sankey diagrams to visualize the distribution of emissions of each subsystem, highlighting the importance of cooperation between the city and its recycling industries to reduce its CF.

1506 Theatre and The Environmental Impact: If You Don’t Measure It Can’t Be Managed

Introduction The environmental impact of healthcare is estimated to be 5% of the total global impact and up to 10% in certain countries. The Green Healthcare programme in Ireland has published aims on its website to recycle 70% of the packaging waste and reduce waste sent to landfill by 10% by 2035. Currently the national average of recycled waste from hospitals is 11% Method We commenced a waste analysis project to assess the carbon footprint of our theatres. We measured the amount of waste which could potentially be recycled and preformed an economic analysis on this data to calculate projected cost benefit. Pilot analysis split waste into three categories – recyclable, landfill, and healthcare risk. Cases included ranged from minor to major complex including robotic procedures. Results Waste destined for the incinerator was excluded Pilot data showed that recyclable waste per case ranged from 400g to 2kg. which represents up to 50% of waste that would have otherwise been destined for landfill Conclusions Significant environmental and monetary savings are possible and recycling in theatre has been shown to be feasible in other hospitals. This does however require engagement from all staff and hospital administration. Further analysis is required to quantify the monetary cost to introduce a recycling programme and to determine optimum pathways for waste disposal in the theatre setting.

Efficient ways of communicating time-of-use electricity tariffs in Ireland: Plain and simple

With the ongoing rollout of smart meters in Ireland, time-of-use (ToU) tariffs are currently being introduced as a new way to pay for electricity. Such tariffs can bring important benefits to both consumers and society, in terms of reduced electricity bills and CO2 emissions, respectively. At the same time, some consumers may find it more difficult to benefit from ToU tariffs than others. Communication around ToU tariffs thus needs to explain both benefits and challenges successfully; it needs to encourage ToU uptake, while enhancing comprehension. This paper presents results from a pre-registered experiment that pre-tested behaviourally-informed communications on ToU tariffs. A large, representative sample of consumers (n=1,300) viewed an experimentally manipulated primer on ToU tariffs before completing a series of tasks to measure their views, objective comprehension, and tariff choices. In general, consumers were positive towards ToU tariffs, viewing monetary savings as a primary benefit. Environmental framing of information enhanced positivity among younger participants. Comprehension and choice quality were rather modest, but improved when tariff examples were presented in a plain table, compared to 24h clock formats. This finding is important as the latter are commonly used in the market. The study demonstrates the benefit of experimentally pre-testing policy interventions.

Community Involvement in Urban Water Management: The N Park Resort Condominium Rainfall Harvesting and Water Saving Project in Penang, Malaysia

Community engagement and involvement is vital for the success of urban water management. However, poor public engagement, cheap water tariffs, apathetic attitude and lack of public interest are identified as the main reasons for high water wastage in Penang State, Malaysia. The N Park Resort Condominium rainfall harvesting and water saving project in Penang, Malaysia is a prime example of successful urban water management involving government, private sector, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and local communities. The N-Park condominium consisting of 965 units is the first condominium in the country to initiate a community water- saving project. Started in August 2009 and completed in December 2010, the project is jointly implemented by the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) Malaysia (Government), Water Watch Penang (WWP) (NGO), N-Park Management Corporation (NPMC)(Community) and the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PWSC). The methodology involved installation of a rainwater harvesting system, installation of water-saving devices and a water-saving campaign. Results of the project showed that the rainwater harvesting system was most successful as the rainwater harvested was used for gardening, washing common areas and toilets, flushing toilets, and washing vehicles. The installation of water-saving devices was also successful as it resulted in substantial water savings. Results showed reduced total water usage from 8 to 25 % between September 2009 to March 2010. The greatest reduction by 50 % was between May and July 2011, followed by 47.5 % in January 2011. During the time of the project, the amount of water saved was equivalent to RM1,3971 in monetary savings per month. Over a year, this is translated to a savings of 16,818 m3 of water or the equivalent of RM 16,782. More recently, between February 2020 and April 2021, the average water saved was 5852 m3 per month or averaging 48.77 % per month, equivalent to about RM34,255. Results also showed enhanced water awareness and better relationships between neighbours. Overall, this project proved that collaboration between government-private sector-NGOs is workable, and the project can be replicated nation-wide in apartments, hotels, factories, universities, and schools.

Commercializing Innovation In Residential Energy Retrofits In Toronto: A Case Study Involving Gemeni NTED®

Retrofitting Canada’s existing housing stock to increase energy efficiency of dwellings is an opportunity to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Gemini Nested Thermal Envelope Design (NTED®) is an innovative building retrofit that drastically reduces energy consumption. However, this innovation’s potential can only be realized once it has achieved widespread market acceptance. Using Gemini NTED® as a case study, an innovation commercialization model was applied to energy retrofits to aid in establishing an appropriate commercialization strategy for Toronto. Market research conducted within this study identified external factors affecting commercialization, barriers to innovation adoption and competitive forces affecting profitability. Economic valuation evaluated discounted monetary savings from reduced energy consumption. Results show that the retrofit market is moderately attractive and conducive to earning profits. Results related to Gemini NTED® show that Gemini may have commercialization potential for retrofitting older electrically heated homes especially in Canadian provinces with high electricity rates. Results arising from a soon to be completed Gemini NTED® pilot will confirm capital costs and economic benefit.

Commercializing Innovation In Residential Energy Retrofits In Toronto: A Case Study Involving Gemeni NTED®

Retrofitting Canada’s existing housing stock to increase energy efficiency of dwellings is an opportunity to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Gemini Nested Thermal Envelope Design (NTED®) is an innovative building retrofit that drastically reduces energy consumption. However, this innovation’s potential can only be realized once it has achieved widespread market acceptance. Using Gemini NTED® as a case study, an innovation commercialization model was applied to energy retrofits to aid in establishing an appropriate commercialization strategy for Toronto. Market research conducted within this study identified external factors affecting commercialization, barriers to innovation adoption and competitive forces affecting profitability. Economic valuation evaluated discounted monetary savings from reduced energy consumption. Results show that the retrofit market is moderately attractive and conducive to earning profits. Results related to Gemini NTED® show that Gemini may have commercialization potential for retrofitting older electrically heated homes especially in Canadian provinces with high electricity rates. Results arising from a soon to be completed Gemini NTED® pilot will confirm capital costs and economic benefit.

EXPRESS: Do Promotions Make Consumers More Generous? The Impact of Price Promotions on Consumers’ Donation Behavior

Despite the growing concerns regarding the increasing consumerism related to promotions, this research documents a positive effect of price promotions on consumers’ donation behavior. Specifically, the authors propose that price promotions increase consumers’ perceived resources, which in turn increase consumers’ donation behavior. A series of seven studies, combining field and experimental data, provide converging support for this proposition and its underlying mechanism of perceived resources. Further, the authors show that the positive effect of price promotions on consumers’ donation behavior is attenuated when consumers focus on the amount of money spent (rather than saved), when consumers feel they have overspent their budget, and when the monetary savings cannot be realized immediately. Finally, the authors show that this effect is stronger when donation solicitation occurs immediately after the price promotion (vs. after a delay). This research documents a novel behavioral consequence of price promotions and uncovers a mechanism by which price promotions can lead to positive social consequences and contribute to a better world.

Is the difference in consumption and income an indication of petty corruption?

Based on micro-level data on reported household earnings, expenditures and assets, provided by the Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey (RLMS) for the period 2000–2013, it is found that households with workers in the public sector receive lower earnings than households with members employed in the private sector but enjoy the same level of consumption. Controlling for the reported level of earnings, private households do not show a significantly higher probability of possessing summer cottages (dachas), cars and computers, or living in better housing conditions, or having a higher level of monetary savings. The differences in assets cannot be reconciled with the sizeable expenditure-income gap found. The precautionary motives of workers are not able to reconcile these discrepancies either: neither attitude to risk, nor risk itself, differ between individuals employed in the private and public sectors. It is hypothesized that employees continue working in the public sector despite their low rate of official pay, because of unreported income they receive, or bribes.

Effects of Agroforestry and Other Sustainable Practices in the Kenya Agricultural Carbon Project (KACP)

With growing global demand for food, unsustainable farming practices and large greenhouse gas emissions, farming systems need to sequester more carbon than they emit, while also increasing productivity and food production. The Kenya Agricultural Carbon Project (KACP) recruited farmer groups committed to more Sustainable Agricultural Land Management (SALM) practices and provided these groups with initial advisory services on SALM, farm enterprise development and village savings and loan associations. Recommended SALM practices included agroforestry, cover crops, mulching, composting manure, terracing, reduced tillage and water harvesting. The effects of the KACP on the uptake of SALM practices, maize yield, perceived food self-sufficiency and savings during the initial four years were assessed comparing control and project farmers using interviews, field visits and measurements. Farmers participating in the KACP seemed to have increased uptake of most SALM practices and decreased the use of practices to be avoided under the KACP recommendations. Agroforestry and terraces showed positive effects on maize yield. During all four years, the KACP farms had higher maize yield than control farms, but yield differences were similar in 2009 and 2012 and there was no overall significant effect of the KACP. In 2012, the KACP farms had higher food self-sufficiency and tended to have higher monetary savings than control farms.

Can digital ecosystems mitigate risks in sea transport operations? Estimating benefits for supply chain stakeholders

Decision-making supported by digital ecosystems has been increasingly studied during recent years, especially due to improved technical capabilities to collect, store, and analyze large amounts of data. The literature recognizes that these systems can reduce response time of managers and enhance a cost-efficient recovery of supply chains. However, there is a lack of methodological frameworks to evaluate the benefits of these platforms. In addition, there is still little understanding of the risks in ocean container transport and their implications for supply chains. This paper proposes and applies a mathematical model for evaluating the impacts of digital platforms, with a focus on solutions to mitigate risks in sea transport operations. The model is based on scenarios and decision tree models to evaluate the impacts of a supply chain digital ecosystem on full containers shipped from Asia to Europe implemented by four companies. Results show monetary savings per scenario in the range from €3448 to €79,242. The most significant savings are expected on unplanned transshipments, cargo damage, export inspections, container detention, and container release.