Uncertainties in Non-Domestic Energy Performance Certificate Generating in the UK

In light of the recent launch of the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard targeting the energy performance of commercial buildings, this study compares the energy performance certificates of three UK hotels generated by two different software, EDSL TAS and SBEM, both accredited by the UK government for the purpose. Upon finding the results discrepant, the study finds that the two software’s different assumptions for the air permeability rate contribute to the discrepancy. While modifying this value makes the results from the two software more aligned, further issues regarding the validation process arise. The study continues to find that the underlying issue can be found within the National Calculation Methodology’s assumption about domestic hot water consumption in hotels. These assumptions are compulsory to follow when generating a non-domestic energy performance certificate in the UK, therefore, any uncertainties within them can affect all the buildings seeking an energy performance certificate within that sector. Finally, the study discusses that, for meeting the carbon dioxide mitigation goals, it is necessary to make changes to the current procedure of energy performance certificate generating in the UK to increase its reliability.

A method to predict electric vehicles’ market penetration as well as its impact on energy saving and CO2 mitigation

Introduction: Although forecasting electric vehicles’ growth in China was frequently reported in the literature, predicting electric vehicles market penetration as well as corresponding energy saving and carbon dioxide mitigation potential in a more suitable method is not well understood. Methods: This study chose the double species model to predict electric vehicles’ growth trajectory under mutually competitive conditions between electric vehicles and internal combustion engine vehicles. For comparison, it set two scenarios: with 200 and 300 vehicles per thousand persons at 2050. To give details on energy saving and carbon dioxide mitigation potential induced by electric vehicles’ market penetration, it further divided electric vehicles into five subgroups and internal combustion engine vehicles into seven subgroups, therein forming respective measurement formulas. Results: This paper solved the double species model and thus got its analytical formula. Then it employed the analytical formula to conduct an empirical study on electric vehicles market penetration in China from year 2010 to 2050. Under scenario 300, electric vehicles growth trajectory will emerge a quick growth stage during 2021–2035, thereafter keeping near invariant till 2050. Meanwhile, current internal combustion engine vehicles’ quick growth will continue up to 2027, then holding constant during 2028–2040, afterwards following a 10-year slowdown period. Scenario 200 has similar features, but a 2-year delay for electric vehicles and a 5-year lead time for internal combustion engine vehicles were found. On average, scenario 300 will save 114.4 Mt oil and 111.5 Mt carbon dioxide emissions, and scenario 200 will save 77.1 Mt oil and 73.4 Mt carbon dioxide emissions each year. Beyond 2032, annual 50.0% of road transport consumed oil and 18.6% of carbon dioxide emissions from this sector will be saved under scenario 300. Discussion: Compared with scenario 200, scenario 300 was more suitable to predict electric vehicle market penetration in China. In the short-term electric vehicle penetration only brings about trivial effects, while in the long-term it will contribute a lot to both energy security and carbon dioxide mitigation. The contribution of this article provided a more suitable methodology for predicting electric vehicle market penetration, simulated two coupled trajectories of electric vehicles and internal combustion engine vehicles, and discussed relative energy-saving and climate effects from 2010 to 2050.

Performance analysis of domestic solar air heating system using V-shaped baffles – An experimental study

An experimental study has been carried out to enhance a solar air heater’s performance by integrating artificial roughness through baffles on the absorber plate. In this paper, the thermal and energy matrices analysis of a Solar Air Heater (SAH) roughened with V up perforated baffles have been investigated. The effect of various mass flow rates on the SAH was analyzed with and without baffles. Experimental outputs like outlet air temperature, useful energy (heat) gain and thermal efficiency were evaluated to confirm the performance improvement. The baffled absorber plate SAH was found to give the maximum thermal efficiency and useful energy gain of 89.3% and 1321.37 W at a mass flow rate of 0.0346 kg/s, 13% and 12% higher than SAH without baffle. This result showed that the V up-shaped ribs in flow arrangement provide better thermal performance than smooth plate SAH for the parameter investigated. Energy matrices analysis and carbon dioxide mitigation of the SAH system were also analyzed.

Biofuels from Micro-Organisms: Thermodynamic Considerations on the Role of Electrochemical Potential on Micro-Organisms Growth

Biofuels from micro-organisms represents a possible response to the carbon dioxide mitigation. One open problem is to improve their productivity, in terms of biofuels production. To do so, an improvement of the present model of growth and production is required. However, this implies an understanding of the growth spontaneous conditions of the bacteria. In this paper, a thermodynamic approach is developed in order to highlight the fundamental role of the electrochemical potential in bacteria proliferation. Temperature effect on the biosystem behaviour has been pointed out. The results link together the electrochemical potential, the membrane electric potential, the pH gradient through the membrane, and the temperature, with the result of improving the thermodynamic approaches, usually introduced in this topic of research.

Early Methane Mitigation Critical to Preserving Arctic Summer Sea Ice

<p>Methane mitigation is a key component of limiting the extent of global warming. However, little is known about how methane mitigation can benefit other critical aspects of the climate system, such as tipping elements. This study explores how reducing methane emissions can avert an approaching and concerning climate event: the loss of Arctic summer sea ice. We show that early deployment of feasible methane mitigation measures is essential to delaying and potentially even avoiding the loss of Arctic summer sea ice. Whether or not the sea ice is preserved beyond this century will ultimately depend on the level of concomitant carbon dioxide mitigation, but it is clear that sea ice will be at risk in the absence of methane mitigation. This analysis provides further justification of the value of early methane mitigation and supports the need to consider climate benefits beyond temperature when evaluating mitigation pathways.</p>