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Many ports and terminals endeavor to enhance energy efficiency as energy prices have increased through years and climate change mitigation is a key target for the port industry. Stricter environmental regulations are adopted by authorities to limit pollutants and GHG emissions arising from energy consumption. Increasingly, port operational strategies and energy usage patterns are under scrutiny. To ingrain sustainability and environmental protection of ports, the use of innovative technology appears as a critical conduit in achieving a transition from a carbon-intensive port industry (dependent on fossil fuels) to a low-carbon port model by harnessing renewable energy, alternative fuels (e.g. LNG, hydrogen, biofuel), smarter power distribution systems, energy consumption measurement systems. In this context, this paper conducts a systematic literature review to analyze operational strategies (e.g. peak shaving, operations optimization), technology usage (e.g. electrification of equipment, cold-ironing, energy storage systems), renewable energy, alternative fuels and energy management systems (e.g. smart grid with renewable energy) for improving the energy efficiency and environmental performance of ports and terminals. Research gaps and future research directions are identified. Analysis shows that there is a great potential for ports to achieve further energy efficiency and researchers have many impactful research opportunities. • A detailed literature review on energy efficiency in ports and container terminals is conducted. • Operational strategies such as optimization of port operations and peak shaving methods are presented. • Technologies such as electrification of equipment, cold-ironing, energy storage systems, smart grid, microgrid are reviewed. • Renewable energy and clean fuel use in ports are presented. • Methods regarding energy consumption and emission measuring/assessment are detailed for ports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green building (GB) strategies are essential for mitigating energy wastage in the building sector, which accounts for nearly 40% of global energy consumption. However, due to the unpredictable nature of occupants' behavior and inadequate energy management, actual power consumption in GB can exceed intended values by up to 2.5 times. Building Automation Systems (BAS) are increasingly important in improving energy efficiency in GB. This study, therefore, aims to comprehensively review 143 articles published from 2008 to 2022 to explore the nexus between BAS and GB. This paper systematically illustrates 1) BAS applications throughout the lifecycle of GB; 2) BAS applications in supporting GB indoor human comfort, including thermal comfort, visual comfort, ventilation comfort, and acoustic comfort; 3) a research framework for reducing the energy performance gap in GB; 4) five BAS and GB integration methods for improving energy efficiency; and 5) limitations, challenges and future research directions in the BAS-GB domain. The findings reveal that current research in the BAS-GB domain is insufficient and predominantly concentrates on improving energy efficiency and occupant comfort. There are four challenges to achieving comprehensive integration of BAS and GB: uncertainties, long-term prediction and control, BAS-supported sustainability goals, and privacy and security. This study provides essential guidance on BAS implementation for GB development. The five BAS-GB integration approaches lay the groundwork for future research into achieving trade-off objectives between energy efficiency and occupant comfort. • Building automation systems (BAS) applications in green buildings (GB) have been comprehensively reviewed. • Model predictive control (MPC) integrating with BAS for improving energy efficiency of GB has been explained. • Four integration methods for achieving a trade-off objective have been discussed. • Challenges and trends in the BAS-GB domain have been highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of energy management (EnM) became a topical issue in industrial settings as a result of the energy crises that affected the global community in the 1970s. However, EnM was not implemented within industry with all its potential to improve energy security, raise the maturity level of EnM and increase sustainability. According to the results of previous empirical investigations, the expected interest in energy programs is not found and there is no clear understanding about program adoption criteria within an industry. Keeping in mind the adoption of energy investment through conformation with financial analysis and choosing the investments through contextual factors in the organization (e.g. organizational energy culture, power relationships, EnM system, expertise availability, managers’ mindset) together with characteristics of EnM program as two macro perspectives in energy efficiency literature, this paper aims to understand the main driving factors which lead organizations to either adopt or not adopt a particular program (always with respect to energy management). Moreover, it aims to express the impact of those driving forces of implementing a successful EnM program which could contribute to better understanding of suitable EnM configuration. The investigation has been conducted as a multiple case study involving 15 manufacturing companies of varying size and in different sectors located in Sweden. After analyzing the minimum required steps to establish EnM, assessing the adoption of practices according to their energy strategy, and through assessing EnM maturity level, we found a low level of risk (which arises from lack of certainty and awareness) and the program's alignment with the core business as prominent driving factors for all sizes which foster positive investment decision making through top management. On the contrary, complexity of industry (for large manufacturing companies) and access to capital (for small and medium-sized companies) are the main barriers to adopting those programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction industry has been evolving to embrace sustainability. This has highlighted the necessity to inspect sustainable performances throughout the post-construction building lifecycle. Application of relevant Building Management Systems (BMS) to achieve this goal is essential. Likewise, it is vital to balance the maximization of building energy efficiency and users' desired level of comfort while employing an efficient BMS for sustainable maintenance of facility operations. The high probability of inaccurate manual building inspections plus the lack of real-time input of dynamic factors urges development of automated BMS. Therefore, Building Information Modelling (BIM) plays a key role towards automation in construction and corresponding management systems. Despite the nD capability of BIM enabling its potential practice during building lifecycle phases, designers-contractors focused primarily on the application of BIM during design-construction management stages. Moreover, integration of knowledge management systems empower handling and sharing of building maintenance information during the building lifecycle. This is essential for post-construction sustainable performance. Focusing on building energy efficiency, this article has reviewed 96 papers and suggests engagement of an Integrated Knowledge-based Building Management System using nD BIM applications (BIM-IKBMS) during the post-construction building lifecycle to advance the successful implementation of sustainable building performances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The building sector accounts for significant portion of total final energy use in most countries. One way to reduce significantly building energy consumption is to adopt energy efficiency technologies and strategies. Due to environmental concerns and high cost of energy in recent years there has been a renewed interest in building energy efficiency. Passive House (PH) standard provides a cost-efficient way of minimizing energy demand of buildings in accordance with global principle of sustainability. However, it is ongoing challenge to improve building energy efficiency without compromising indoor environmental quality. The objective of this paper is to review the interactions between energy performance and indoor environment quality in buildings with PH standard, considering parametric sensitivity study including effects of diverse parameters on PH building performance. Passive House technologies including heat and cooling recovery ventilation, pre heating/cooling fresh air, pre-ventilation and passive cooling are presented considering different weather conditions. Thermal comfort represented by recommended thermal range and comfort zone and indoor air quality indicated by CO2 concentration have been numerically and experimentally analysed. The simulation and measurement results illuminate that it is possible to realize energy efficiency and favourable indoor environment in PH buildings at the same time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of cities and their commitment to meet the European targets on energy and climate has steadily increased in the latest years as testified by the large number of ambitious initiatives undertaken by European cities to face multiple challenges towards sustainability. Many projects and initiatives have arisen all around Europe to support cities in the achievement of the Europe 2020 targets of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. RE-SEEties “Towards resource-efficient urban communities in SEE” is one of the projects funded under the South East Europe program aimed to enhance the policy-making and strategic planning competences of municipalities in the field of energy efficiency, renewable energy sources and waste valorization. This paper focuses on the methods developed and the main results achieved in the framework of RE-SEEties. The main focus is on the eight partner cities (The Local Government of Budapest District 18 – Hungary/HU, Municipality of Aigaleo – Greece/EL, Municipality of Potenza – Italy/IT, City of Nitra – Slovakia/SK, City of Skopje – Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia/FYROM, City of Miercurea Ciuc – Romania/RO, Municipality of Ptuj – Slovenia/SI, City of Ivanić-Grad – Croatia/HR) and how they were assisted by professional institutions in translating their commitments towards resource efficiency into Local Strategies and Action Plans. A critical comparison of these final results points out differences and similarities in the state-of-the-art of cities across South East Europe as well as a the level of ambition and difficulties faced to turn into resource efficient urban communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The issue of worldwide over consumption and squandering of electrical energy has resulted in what one might call an energy obesity problem in terms of energy intake and its expenditure. It is indeed something that must change if modern society is to become sustainable someday. This is to be realized in conjunction with adequate government policies and innovative strategies aimed at effectively integrating non-conventional renewable energies (NCRE), with thriftiness and energy efficiency (EE) – the three pillars of energy sustainability (ES) – in today׳s electric power systems generation and distribution infrastructure. This ought to be done in a way that incorporates them jointly, as part of a comprehensive energy strategy to propitiate a wider penetration of distributed generation (DG) solutions. Departing from mainstream literature on the subject, this paper proposes such strategies for integrating hybrid micro-generation power systems to the grid through homeostatic control (HC), as a means to reconcile power supply and energy demand response management (EDRM). These strategies can be designed and implemented in the microgrid׳s supervisory control system for the purpose of eliciting EE and thriftiness in consumers to build ES in the system. The theoretical model behind the HC strategies is presented and a numerical example is provided, using real electricity consumption data of a small rural community in Chile. Upon examining a particular set of criteria designed to control renewable power (RP) supply from a grid-tie microgrid to residential consumers, simulation results show that the model proves effective when testing such criteria for different power supply scenarios. Particularly revealing is the role of the energy storage system (ESS) – the energy buffer – in the HC strategies being proposed and the difference that it makes in eliciting thrifty, efficient energy consumption as a result of individual and collective efforts to ensure energy sustainability of the system as a whole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Urbanization, sustainability, energy efficiency, information and communication technology (ICT) and nanotechnology are emerging at the beginning of the 21st century. They are seeking to improve environmental effectiveness in the context of connected communities, global competitiveness, economic development, climate change, and demographic shifts. Virtually all proposed solutions to energy consumption and climate change acknowledge the role ICT plays as a key enabler of environmental effectiveness. One of the major challenges that the ICT sector faces today is that hardware is being pushed to its physical limits. The traditional means to reduce product size, increase functionality and enhance computing capabilities are becoming difficult and expensive every passing day. On the other hand, the industry is benefiting from nanotechnology advances with numerous applications including those in smarter sensors, logic elements, computer chips, memory storage devices, optoelectronics, quantum computing, etc. This paper presents an overview of the ICT benefiting from development in nanotechnology with respect to sustainability and energy efficiency. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]