Search

This study explored the association between renewable energy uptake and digitalization in the sector by reviewing relevant literature (published 2010–2022), with the aim of identifying the existing utilization of digital technologies within the sector, challenges to adoption, and future prospects. Different search engines (SCOPUS, Web of Science, and Google Scholar) were used to locate relevant papers and documents. The results revealed the high significance of digital technologies in supporting the renewable energy sector, with high costs and security risks representing the key challenges. Most papers reviewed had a positive outlook, but recommended further research and development for effective energy transition and resilient infrastructure. The current drivers of the integration of digital technologies to support the diffusion of renewable energy sources appear to extend beyond energy demand and involve many aspects of sustainability and sustainable development. Compared with previous reviews, this work has unique scope and novelty since it considers the bigger picture of the coupling between digitalization and the renewable energy sector, with a greater focus on critical areas in these two interconnected bodies that need to be addressed. The relatively small sample of relevant papers (69 from 836 hits) located in the literature review confirms the need for more research covering the subject in greater depth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces a groundbreaking approach to demand response management, aiming to empower consumers through innovative strategies. The key contribution is the concept of "acquiring flexibility rights", wherein consumers engage with power aggregators to curtail energy usage during peak-load periods, receiving incentives in return. A flexibility right coefficient is introduced, allowing consumers to tailor their participation in demand response programs, ensuring their well-being. Additionally, a lighting intensity control system is developed to enhance residential lighting network efficiency. The study demonstrates that high-energy consumers, adopting a satisfaction factor of 10, can achieve over 61% in electricity cost savings by combining the lighting control system and active participation in demand response programs. This not only reduces expenses but also generates income through the sale of flexibility rights. Conversely, low-energy consumers can fully offset their expenses and accumulate over USD 33 in earnings through the installation of solar panels. This paper formulates an optimization problem considering flexibility rights, lighting control, and time-of-use tariff rates. An algorithm is proposed for a distributed solution, and a sensitivity analysis is conducted for evaluation. The proposed method showcases significant benefits, including cost savings and income generation for consumers, while contributing to grid stability and reduced blackout occurrences. Real data from a residential district in Tehran validates the method's effectiveness. This study concludes that this approach holds promise for demand response management in smart grids, emphasizing the importance of consumer empowerment and sustainable energy practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, there has been an increasing effort to promote energy efficiency, using renewable energies and electric mobility to achieve a more sustainable future and even carbon neutrality by 2050. This paper aims to understand if combining these technologies leads to a win–win solution. For that, the system's characteristics that will be used for the simulation were defined as a residential community consumption scenario with and without electric vehicles charging overnight. The simulation was completed in software, and eight scenarios were tested: high population density/low population density with/without electric mobility and hourly tariff/simple tariff. After these scenarios had been tested, the conclusion was that the low population density and hourly tariff without and with electric mobility were the best two cases economically (in terms of levelized cost of energy, net present costs, and savings) and environmentally, and the worst was high population density with hourly tariff and electric mobility. Other scenarios were then tested, including changes in the load curve, namely a commercial load curve, and changes in the load curve of electric vehicle chargers, mainly daytime charging. The conclusion was that even though the initial hypothesis did not lead to a win–win solution, with changes in the hypothesis, the integration of electric mobility in energy communities might lead to that. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In advanced manufacturing, optimizing mixed-model synchronous assembly lines (MMALs) is crucial for enhancing productivity and adhering to sustainability principles, particularly in terms of energy consumption and energy-efficient sequencing. This paper introduces a novel approach by categorizing sequence-dependent setup times into bipartite categories: workpiece-independent and workpiece-dependent. This strategic division streamlines assembly processes, reduces idle times, and decreases energy consumption through more efficient machine usage. A new mathematical model is proposed to minimize the intervals at which workpieces are launched on an MMAL, aiming to reduce operational downtime that typically leads to excessive energy use. Given the Non-deterministic Polynomial-time hard (NP-hard) nature of this problem, a genetic algorithm (GA) is developed to efficiently find solutions, with performance compared against the traditional branch and bound technique (B&B). This method enhances the responsiveness of MMALs to variable production demands and contributes to energy conservation by optimizing the sequence of operations to align with energy-saving objectives. Computational experiments conducted on small and large-sized problems demonstrate that the proposed GA outperforms the conventional B&B method regarding solution quality, diversity level, and computational time, leading to energy reductions and enhanced cost-effectiveness in manufacturing settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance, a cornerstone of environmental health for thriving biodiversity and undisturbed natural processes. This balance is crucial for the sustainability of ecosystems, directly influencing human health, biodiversity, and the overall quality of our natural environment. WWTPs contribute to this equilibrium by efficiently removing pollutants and harmful substances from wastewater, thus averting the degradation of water bodies that are essential for numerous ecological processes. WWTPs encompass multiple stages of wastewater and sludge treatment and are significant energy consumers globally, especially in secondary treatment, particularly the activated sludge method which is the most common method. With an upcoming directive from the European Union aiming to reduce energy consumption in WWTPs, this paper focuses on a literature review examining global practices implemented across all stages of WWTP treatment processes. It summarizes the key points of each study, focusing primarily on the outcomes of each application. This document concludes with an in-depth review of each study and provides general conclusions for each group of studies. The objective is to identify methods that have effectively reduced energy consumption and enhanced the overall energy efficiency of WWTPs. The main conclusions indicate that the studies encompass a wide range of applications that achieve significant reductions in energy consumption. However, additional testing of these applications in more diverse operating environments through trials could further enhance their reliability and increase acceptance among WWTP operators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This manuscript explores the relationship between the economic awareness (as a part of energy awareness) of Polish households and their sustainable energy consumption practices. Sustainable consumption is measured by the frequency of behaviors such as turning off electrical devices when not in use, removing mobile device chargers from sockets, switching off lights when leaving a room, preferring showers over baths, using washing machines and dishwashers only when full, and purchasing energy-efficient appliances and light bulbs. Economic awareness is gauged through variables such as knowledge of electricity tariffs, understanding of electric bill components, awareness of electricity prices, exact knowledge of electricity expenses, electricity usage in kWh, knowledge of effective energy-saving methods, and familiarity with the energy efficiency classes of appliances and light bulbs. This study presents profiles of households with high and low economic awareness regarding their electricity expenditures and examines how these profiles differ in their sustainable energy consumption behaviors. This research is based on a survey of 1407 Polish households conducted online in 2023. Data collected from the survey were subjected to statistical analysis and are presented in tables and graphs. The findings are discussed in the context of the existing literature in the field, highlighting the implications of economic awareness on sustainable energy consumption practices. This research contributes to understanding how economic knowledge influences energy-saving behaviors among Polish households, providing insights for policymakers and energy conservation initiatives. One of the key findings of this paper is the significant association between economic awareness, energy-saving knowledge, and the adoption of sustainable energy consumption behaviors among Polish households. This study reveals that households with higher levels of economic awareness demonstrate a notably higher frequency of practices related to sustainable energy consumption compared to those with lower economic awareness. Similarly, households equipped with greater knowledge about energy-saving techniques exhibit a higher propensity to adopt energy-efficient behaviors. This underscores important roles of economic literacy and education in fostering behavioral changes towards more sustainable energy practices, highlighting the importance of targeted interventions and educational campaigns aimed at enhancing economic awareness and promoting energy-saving knowledge among consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the urgent global need to limit warming to 2 °C as well as a localized need in our case study to address rising energy demand amid electrical and thermal network limitations, a critical examination of demand-side energy reductions and the concept of energy sufficiency is needed. This paper contributes to the sparse literature on bottom-up analysis by utilizing Iceland—a leader in renewable energy generation—as a case study to explore the socio-economic factors influencing energy footprints. Our findings reveal significant energy footprints across various consumption domains, particularly housing and mobility, influenced by income levels, urbanization, and lifestyle choices. The study highlights the paradox of a high renewable energy supply leading to potential misconceptions regarding abundant and low-cost energy, resulting in substantial energy consumption-related environmental impacts. Using detailed household consumption survey data, this research provides insights crucial for developing sustainable energy policies that not only target technological advancements but also address the need for a reduction in energy demand and a shift towards energy sufficiency. This work marks a contribution to the literature through the provision of a case study of low income inequality and high energy footprints in a highly renewable energy system context. Further, this work is useful for Icelandic and international policymakers to understand in such high-demand contexts which consumption domains would be most relevant for sufficiency policies. This comprehensive analysis opens pathways for future research to further explore the intersections of energy consumption, socio-economic factors, and well-being, offering a nuanced understanding necessary for crafting sufficiency and demand-side policies aimed at a sustainable energy future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the global transition toward sustainable energy gains momentum, integrating electric vehicles (EVs), energy storage, and renewable energy sources has become a pivotal strategy. This paper analyses the interplay between EVs, energy storage, and renewable energy integration with Indonesia's grid as a test case. A comprehensive energy system modeling approach using PLEXOS is presented, using historical data on electricity generation, hourly demand, and renewable energy, and multiple scenarios of charging patterns and EV adoption. Through a series of scenarios, we evaluate the impact of different charging strategies and EV penetration levels on generation capacity, battery storage requirements, total system cost, renewable energy penetration, and emissions reduction. The findings reveal that optimized charging patterns and higher EV adoption rates, compared to no EVs adoption, led to substantial improvements in renewable energy utilization (+4%), emissions reduction (−12.8%), and overall system cost (−9%). While EVs contribute to reduced emissions compared to conventional vehicles, non-optimized charging behavior may lead to higher total emissions when compared to scenarios without EVs. The research also found the potential of vehicle to grid (V2G) to reduce the need for battery storage compared to zero EV (−84%), to reduce emissions significantly (−23.7%), and boost penetration of renewable energy (+10%). This research offers valuable insights for policymakers, energy planners, and stakeholders seeking to leverage the synergies between EVs and renewable energy integration to pursue a sustainable energy future for Indonesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From powering our homes to driving our economies, energy lies at the heart of humanity's complex challenges in the modern era. This paper reviews the evolution of smart energy systems, examining their technological advancements and societal implications while proposing a future design framework emphasizing four key pillars: holistic resource optimization, adaptive intelligence, environmental harmony, and human-centered design. While they offer numerous benefits, such as enhanced energy efficiency and reduced carbon emissions, smart energy systems also face challenges. These include cybersecurity risks, the complexity of integrating diverse energy sources seamlessly, high upfront costs, and potential compatibility issues arising from evolving technologies. Overcoming these challenges will be crucial for unleashing the full potential of smart energy systems and facilitating their global adoption. Abundant opportunities for further research and development exist in this domain, awaiting exploration and advancement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prefabricated temporary buildings are a promising solution for post-disaster scenarios for their modularity, sustainability and transportation advantages. However, their low thermal mass building envelope shows a fast response to heat flux excitations. This leads to the risk of not meeting the occupant comfort and HVAC energy-saving requirements. The literature shows different measures implementable in opaque surfaces, like vacuum insulation panels (VIPs), phase change materials (PCMs) and switchable coatings, and in transparent surfaces (switchable glazing) to mitigate thermal issues, like overheating, while preserving the limited available internal space. This paper investigates the energy and overheating performance of the mentioned interventions by using building performance simulation tools to assess their effectiveness. The optimization also looks at the transportation flexibility of each intervention to better support the decision maker for manufacturing innovative temporary units. The most energy-efficient measures turn to be VIPs as a better energy solution for winter and PCMs as a better thermal comfort solution for summer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scientific community has shown considerable interest in Industry 4.0 due to its capacity to revolutionise the manufacturing sector through digitalisation and data-driven decision-making. However, the actual implementation of Industry 4.0 within complex industrial settings presents obstacles that are typically beyond the scope of mainstream research articles. In this paper, a comprehensive case-study detailing our collaborative partnership with a leading medical device manufacturer is presented. The study traces its evolution from a state of limited digitalisation to the development of a digital intelligence platform that leverages data and machine learning models to enhance operations across a wide range of critical machines and assets. The main business objective was to enhance the energy efficiency of the manufacturing process, thereby improving its sustainability measures while also saving costs. The project encompasses energy modelling and analytics, Fault Detection and Diagnostics (FDD), renewable energy integration and advanced visualisation tools. Together, these components enable informed decision making in the context of energy efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predictive modeling is important for assessing and reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions of light-duty vehicles (LDVs). However, LDV emission datasets have not been fully analyzed, and the rich features of the data pose challenges in prediction. This study aims to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the CO2 emission data for LDVs and investigate key prediction model characteristics for the data. Vehicle features in the data are analyzed for their correlations and impact on emissions and fuel consumption. Linear and non-linear models with feature selection are assessed for accuracy and consistency in prediction. The main behaviors of the predictive models are analyzed with respect to vehicle data. The results show that the linear models can achieve good prediction performance comparable to that of nonlinear models and provide superior interpretability and reliability. The non-linear generalized additive models exhibit enhanced accuracy but display varying performance with model and parameter choices. The results verify the strong impact of fuel consumption and powertrain attributes on emissions and their substantial influence on the prediction models. The paper uncovers crucial relationships between vehicle features and CO2 emissions from LDVs. These findings provide insights for model and parameter selections for effective and reliable prediction of vehicle emissions and fuel consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2030 sustainable development goal (SDG7) target progress indicators show that developing countries are off track. Ethiopia's low performance to the SDG7 has endangered its economic, societal, and environmental sustainability. The performance in clean cooking has contested its policy, institutional setup, and R&D. The objective of this paper lies in evaluating four improved cook stoves against a traditional stove based on fuel consumption, cooking time, and emission. The study would contribute to solving the clean-cooking challenges by giving scientific evidence on the technological status of these stoves. The evaluation results show that the TCS consumed 2.7 kg of fuel, had a cooking time of 1:30 h, and used 4.3 kg CO2 per cooking period. Similarly, the ICSs required: 1.2 kg, 2 h, and 1.9 kg (EZY); 1.5 kg, 3 h, and 2.4 kg (Tikikkle); and 1.4 kg, 5 h, and 3.2 kg (Lakech), respectively. In addition, these stoves registered a thermal efficiency of 25, 17, and 19%, respectively. The metal body, insulation, and air inlet caused EZY to perform better. However, these technologies are low-order technologies, and their performance is found to be a major locking factor in ICS adoption. This evidence would help ICS actors to understand where to intervene for better adoption. Furthermore, the authors gave implementation fix recommendations to improve ICS programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well known that buildings have a sizeable energy and environmental footprint. In particular, in environments like university campuses, the occupants as well as occupancy in shared spaces varies over time. Systems for cooling in such environments that are centrally controlled are typically threshold driven and do not account for occupant feedback and thus are often relying on a reactive approach (fix after identifying problems). Therefore, having a fixed thermal operating set point may not be optimal in such cases—both from an occupant comfort and well-being as well as an energy efficiency perspective. To address this issue, a study was conducted which involved development and deployment of an experimental Internet of Things (IoT) prototype system and an Android application that facilitated people engagement on a university campus located in the UAE which typically exhibits hot climatic conditions. This paper showcases data driven insights obtained from this study, and in particular, how to achieve a balance between the conflicting goals of improving occupant comfort and energy efficiency. Findings from this study underscore the need for regular reassessments and adaptation. The proposed solution is low cost and easy to deploy and has the potential to reap significant savings through a reduction in energy consumption with estimates indicating around 50–100 kWh/day of savings per building and the resulting environmental impact. These findings would appeal to stakeholders who are keen to improve energy efficiency and reduce their operating expenses and environmental footprint in such climatic conditions. Furthermore, collective action from a large number of entities could result in significant impact through this cumulative effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable smart cities (SSCs) target decarbonisation by optimising energy consumption through the emerging capabilities of technology. Nevertheless, the energy consumption behaviour of end users has the potential to compromise the effectiveness of technological interventions, reflecting the importance of active social engagement in realising decarbonisation goals. Although extensive research exists on energy consumption behaviour, little is known about how technology engagement affects it, the nature of these technologies, and their role in SSC. The paper aims to identify, categorise, and investigate the smart technologies that impact household energy consumption behaviours and their integration into the larger SSC system. Following a systematic review of 60 articles from the Scopus database (2013–2023), the study found 45 smart technologies cited, with 49% affecting efficiency behaviour and 51% affecting curtailment behaviour. While these technologies inform the city administration level in the SSC framework, the role of end users remains unclear, suggesting a technocratic approach. The study proposes the Sustainable Smart City Network to facilitate a grassroots approach, identifying five key domains: government policies, smart technology adoption, smart technology engagement, smart city infrastructure, and urban sustainability. The study provides an original contribution to knowledge by unveiling the key technologies affecting energy consumption behaviour and outlining the pragmatic requirements for achieving decarbonisation through a grassroots approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymers are extensively used in various industries due to their versatility, durability and cost-effectiveness. To ensure functionality and longevity, polymer parts must have sufficient strength to endure external forces without deformation or breakage. Traditional approaches to increasing part strength involve adding more material; however, balancing strength to weight relationships is challenging. This paper explorers the viability of manufacturing lightweight components using a microcellular foaming polymer. Microcellular foaming has emerged as a helpful tool to achieve an optimal strength-to-weight ratio; offering advantages such as lightweight, improved mechanical properties, reduced material usage, better insulation and improved cost-effectiveness. It can also contribute to improved fuel efficiency and reduced carbon emissions, making them environmentally favourable. The combination of additive manufacturing (AM) and microcellular foaming has opened new possibilities for design innovation. This text highlights the challenges and efforts in incorporating foaming techniques into 3D printing processes, specifically fused filament fabrication (FFF). This study reveals that microcellular polymers are a viable option when balancing part strength and weight. The experiments completed during the formulation of this paper demonstrated that lightweight LW-PLA parts were significantly lighter than standard PLA parts and that a design of experiments approach can be used to optimise strength properties and provide insights into optimising manufacturability. Microcellular polymers present an opportunity for lighter and stronger 3D printed parts, offering potential energy and material savings for sustainable manufacturing practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes the method pELECTRE Tri, a novel probabilistic Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) method using the traditional ELECTRE Tri, probability distribution, and Monte Carlo simulation to support informed decision-making in complex and uncertain decision environments. The proposed method is illustrated through a case study involving the renovation of three social housing buildings. The paper provides new insights into the application of probabilistic sorting MCDM in the context of energy efficiency in buildings and highlights the benefits of using probabilities rather than crisp values to categorize alternatives enabling stakeholders to make better use of available resources, especially when dealing with a large dataset of energy measures with different features. The methodology implemented in Python (DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7967655) is available as an open source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Additive manufacturing (AM) offers unique capabilities in terms of design freedom and customization, contributing to sustainable manufacturing. However, energy efficiency remains a challenge in the widespread adoption of AM processes. In this paper, we present a comprehensive review of the current research on energy efficiency in AM, addressing challenges, opportunities, and future directions. Our analysis reveals a lack of standardization in the measurement and reporting of energy consumption, making it difficult to evaluate and compare the energy performance of various systems. We propose a holistic framework to address energy efficiency throughout the entire life cycle of the AM process, highlighting the importance of design optimization, material selection, advanced control systems, and energy management strategies. The paper also emphasizes the need for further research on the interactions between process parameters, along with the potential of integrating renewable energy sources into AM systems. This review offers valuable insights for both academics and industry professionals, calling for standardized methodologies and a focus on energy management to optimize energy efficiency in AM processes, ultimately enhancing competitiveness and sustainability in modern manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Producers are encouraged to reduce their energy consumption of manufacturing systems by applying less-energy-intensive modern technologies and advanced machine tools and operating methods at the system level. In the paper, organizational and analytical solutions are combined to model the sustainable production system. Managers can study the behavior of a production system organized using energy-saving rules by changing key parameters of the input model (arrival intensity, bottleneck service rate, buffer size, setup and shutdown time) to analyze the queue size of the production system and therefore performance. A discrete-time queueing model of a single-bottleneck production line with a finite input buffer capacity is proposed. Jobs occur according to a binomial process and are processed individually, one by one, according to the natural FIFO service discipline, with a general discrete-type cumulative distribution function. The total number of jobs present in the system is bounded by a non-random fixed value N. Every time the system becomes empty, an energy-saving mechanism is started: the processing machine (server) is turned off during a geometrically distributed shutdown time. Similarly, the first job arriving into the empty system initializes a geometrically distributed setup time. Identifying renewal moments in the evolution of the model, a system of difference equations is built for the transient queue-size distribution conditioned by the state of the system at the opening. The solution is obtained explicitly in terms of probability-generating functions. In addition, the Drum-Buffer-Rope concept is proposed to reduce the energy consumption of the production line. The throughput of the production system is maximized by adjusting the time between the order arrivals and the size of the input buffer to the capacity of the bottleneck. Turning off a machine under certain conditions and slowing down non-critical machines are strategies to reduce energy consumption. A detailed illustrating numerical and simulation study of the considered model is attached as well, in which the sensitivity of the queue-size behavior to changes of the key input model parameters is investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper introduces an innovative aerospace component production approach employing Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) technology to fabricate near-finished preforms from Ti6Al4V titanium. Tensile tests on WAAM Ti6Al4V workpieces demonstrated reliable mechanical properties, albeit with identified anisotropic behavior in horizontal samples, underscoring the need for optimization. This alternative manufacturing strategy addresses the challenges associated with machining forged preforms, marked by a high Buy To Fly (BTF) ratio (>10), leading to material wastage, prolonged machining durations, elevated tool expenses, and heightened waste and energy consumption. Additionally, logistical and storage costs are increased due to extended delivery timelines, exacerbated by supply issues related to the current unstable situation. The utilization of WAAM significantly mitigates initial BTF, preform costs, waste production, machining durations, and associated expenditures, while notably reducing lead times from months to mere hours. The novelty in this study lies in the application of Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) technology for the fabrication of titanium aircraft components. This approach includes a unique height compensation strategy and the implementation of various deposition strategies, such as single-seam, overlapping, and oscillating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document discusses the challenges and opportunities within the energy industry's industry chain, supply chain, and value chain. It emphasizes the importance of digital transformation, renewable energy sources, and sustainable practices in achieving a low-carbon future. The document includes research papers that cover topics such as carbon emissions, resource management, game theory, market integration, technological innovation, and environmental governance. Overall, the document provides valuable insights and recommendations for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and researchers interested in advancing the global energy transition. [Extracted from the article]

Currently, studies on the energy efficiency of manufacturing systems usually lack synthetic and systematic techniques. In this paper, a holistic framework is demonstrated in order to achieve more sustainable manufacturing, which covers machine-level, system-level and life-cycle-level energy efficiency techniques. Based on these, the mechanism of how energy consumption is affected by machining processes and system operation is analyzed to achieve a comprehensive decision on energy efficiency optimization. Four main topics are included in this paper: (1) Hierarchical sustainability goals and metrics for energy-efficient manufacturing; (2) Machine-level machining processes optimization for energy efficiency enhancement; (3) System-level innovations for efficient consumption management; (4) Life-cycle level energy flow modeling and energy recycling strategy. An automotive engine manufacturing system is taken as an example to build a concrete understanding of the application of the framework. Moreover, this holistic framework establishes the theoretical basis for promoting the energy efficiency of automotive engine manufacturing systems. Furthermore, the proposed techniques can provide decision-making support for achieving sustainable manufacturing in a wider scope of mechanical manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exponential growth of population and industries has brought about an increase in energy consumption, causing severe climatic and environmental problems. Therefore, the move towards green renewable energy is being ever more intensified. This study aims at estimating the rooftop solar power production for Tehran, the capital city of Iran, using a Geospatial Information System (GIS) to assess the big data of city building parcels. Tehran is faced with severe air pollution due to its excessive fossil fuel usage, and its electricity demand is increasing. As a result, this paper attempts to provide the quantified solar power potential of city roof tops for policymakers and authorities in order to facilitate decision-making in relation to integrating renewable energies into the power production infrastructure. The results shows that approximately 3000 GWh (more than 14% of the total electric energy consumption) of solar power can be produced by the rooftop PV installations in Tehran. The potential nominal power of rooftop PV installations is estimated to be more than 2000 MW, which is four times the current installed PV capacity of the whole country. The findings of the study suggest that there is great potential hidden on the rooftops of the city, which can be utilized to assist the power systems of the city in the longer run for a more sustainable future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collective self-consumption is called to be a crucial part of the current energy transition. In addition to the advantages of individual self-consumption, the possibility of improving economic feasibility exists. This paper shows how matching production and consumption loads increase the rate of self-consumption. Still, how the electricity is distributed among a renewable energy community's prosumers would reduce the total costs of self-consumed energy. Possible criteria for the allocation of the generated electricity among shareholders are analysed. The study also evaluates the use of static and dynamic distribution coefficients, observing their results and applicability and sorting them to maximise self-consumption participants' savings. The results are questioned against them and a reference scenario without shared self-consumption installation. As the exploitation of renewable energy for self-consumption is closely linked to the energy market and regulations, the analysis is based on a territorial case study. It is shown that the highest savings occur when electricity is allocated following distribution coefficients that consider the customer's energy consumption better than investment participation or contracted power, even when the compensation of surpluses is added. These criteria can accomplish technical and economic objectives and are introduced in regulations that foster the requested changes in consumers' behaviour and prosumers for sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the potential benefits and feasibility of integrating Building Energy Management Systems (BEMSs) with Building Information Modeling (BIM) in, but not limited to, the construction and building management sectors. By examining advantages, challenges, and real-world case studies, this study offers valuable insights into the impact of BEMS-BIM integration on building operations. The research methodology includes a literature review and bibliometric analysis to understand the subject domain and identify prevalent keywords. Additionally, case studies demonstrate the effectiveness of BEMS-BIM integration in real-world scenarios. This study investigates the possibilities and challenges of BIM to the BEMS methodology for energy-efficient industrial buildings, emphasizing the importance of addressing uncertainties and enhancing software interoperability. This research highlights the potential of BEMS-BIM integration to revolutionize building performance, enhance sustainability, and contribute to a greener and more efficient future for the construction and building management industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The water-energy-food (WEF) nexus has emerged as a crucial framework for addressing the interdependencies and trade-offs between these vital resources. In the context of a just energy transition, where the pursuit of sustainable and equitable energy systems is paramount, understanding the WEF nexus becomes even more critical. We explore the evolving concept of the WEF nexus and its relevance to achieving a sustainable energy transition that considers social equity, environmental sustainability, and economic development. This paper highlights key challenges and opportunities in implementing a just energy transition within the context of the WEF nexus, with a focus on promoting social inclusion, ensuring water and food security, and optimizing energy production and consumption. Additionally, we discuss the importance of integrated policymaking, cross-sectoral collaboration, and innovative technologies in addressing the complex interactions between water, energy, and food systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optimizing traffic signals to improve traffic progression relies on minimizing mobility performance measures (e.g., delays and stops). However, delay and stop minimizations do not necessarily lead to minimal sustainability measures (e.g., fuel consumption and emissions). For that reason, researchers have focused, for decades, on integrating traffic models, signal optimization models, and fuel consumption and emissions models to minimize sustainability metrics while keeping acceptable levels of mobility metrics. Therefore, this paper reviews, classifies, and analyzes studies found in the literature regarding optimizing sustainable traffic signals. This paper provides researchers with a good starting point to further develop solutions which can address sustainable traffic control. To achieve that, this study details the most notable sustainable signal timing optimization studies from six perspectives: traffic models, fuel consumption and emissions models, optimization methods, objective functions, operating conditions, and reported sustainability savings. Outcomes of this research show that the previous studies deployed many combinations of elements from the six-perspective mentioned above, leading to a wide range of fuel consumption and emissions savings. The study also concludes that the available fuel consumption and emissions models are relatively old. Hence, future research is needed to develop new fuel consumption and emissions models based on recently collected data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The work proposes a technique to improve the infrastructure and energy resilience of new developments during the planning stage. Several resilience-related parameters are developed in this paper that can be used to quantify resilience. To apply these parameters, the work assumes various energy outage scenarios varying from less than 24 h to 3 weeks. During these scenarios, a neighborhood population can be relocated to several public buildings promoting better utilization of onsite energy resources. The technique is applied to four representative neighborhoods encompassing various sustainability measures including clean energy. Further, this paper demonstrates an urban scale improvement technique for greater energy and infrastructure resilience. The results indicate a significant improvement in infrastructure resilience by relocating public shelter buildings on the main street intersections so that these can be easily accessible during energy outages or disaster events. Energy resilience can be achieved by the appropriate design of onsite energy resources to eliminate vulnerabilities. For instance, 8.8% to 15.4% of additional land for solar thermal collectors can eliminate thermal energy vulnerabilities. When surplus generation from onsite resources is twice or more as compared to demand during their unavailability, the electrical vulnerability can be eliminated by employing suitable battery banks in various buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By considering a panel dataset between 1995 and 2019 including several countries in South America and methodologically using the fixed effect and GMM methods in first differences, the authors sought to empirically determine the relationship between traditional energy consumption, renewable energy consumption, and economic growth. The results show that the two main variables studied (fossil energy consumption and renewable energy consumption) are statistically significant and contribute to economic growth per capita in all nine South American countries studied. Furthermore, it should be noted that this significance persists in the four models discussed in this study, demonstrating a link between the positive economic impact of reducing traditional energy consumption and increasing renewable energy consumption in the South American countries studied. This article also contributes to the existing literature by highlighting the fundamental role of gross capital formation, labor force participation, and tertiary school enrollment in the economic growth of these countries. Two rather small effects on the aforementioned growth are the corruption perception index and domestic lending to the private sector by banks. This paper calls on policymakers to reconsider increasing energy production using renewable sources and to promote measures for its consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morocco has resolutely committed to the green transition of its economy by opting for industry decarbonation, which now imposes itself as an essential access criterion to foreign markets. Intending to include energy efficiency in the leading players in energy-intensive industries, this paper has the main objective of contributing to a better understanding of the decarbonation plans potential impact, taking the example of solar energy integrating opportunities as an action for a thrifty, sustainable, and low carbon Moroccan industry. Indeed, the paper focuses on the industrial textile sector, such as the energy-intensive industry. This sector is the first employer and the most important industrial activity; it is also an icon and the oldest industry in Morocco. This study examines the energy, economic and environmental fallout, evaluating the productions, the investment and the CO2 emissions limit. Besides, the energy industrial sector is characterized by a strong dependence on fossil imports, which increases the energy factor and price. In this regard, several geographical sites and factories were studied under six climatic regional conditions, proposing the most optimal and sustainable configurations for each location and present models with scopes and levels of energy and environment gains and investments that can inspire the sector actors. Then the present work must install concepts by inspiring local factories, accompanying the national vision, and resizing the industrial ecology. In this paper, a power of 8.88 MW is the total power installed, which provides an annual total of 8484.65 tonnes of CO2, with an average payback time between 2.6 years and 4.5 years, and attractive economic parameters, with an LCOE of 0.034 $/kWh and $181,863 for the NPC, those outputs shows the importance of environmental gains that the generalization of this strategic vision can achieve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a review of the adoption status of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies is presented, specific to US residential buildings. Various technologies are reviewed and categorized as either their relative "higher adoption" or "lower adoption" rates within the US housing stock. More importantly, the review analysis investigates the main factors associated with their high or low adoption rates. Specifically, the paper provides a background of the historical progression of energy efficiency programs as well as sustainability certifications and standards for buildings. The review then analyzes specific building energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies applied to US residential buildings and their adoption rates. The review analysis indicates that building technologies are more frequently adopted for multiple reasons including requirements by codes and standards, incentives through green certifications, low implementation costs, and acceptance and popularity by the public. In contrast, technologies with low adoption rates have higher payback periods, are not required or highly incentivized through codes and certifications, have limited promotion about their benefits, or are not compatible with existing systems. By determining the reasons for the high and low adoption rates, mitigation options can be identified to increase the application of sustainable energy technologies in designing and retrofitting buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) 3D printing is an additive technology used to manufacture parts. Used in the engineering industry for prototyping polymetric parts, this disruptive technology has been adopted commercially and there are affordable printers on the market that allow for at-home printing. This paper examines six methods of reducing the energy and material consumption of 3D printing. Using different commercial printers, each approach was investigated experimentally, and the potential savings were quantified. The modification most effective at reducing energy consumption was the hot-end insulation, with savings of 33.8–30.63%, followed by the sealed enclosure, yielding an average power reduction of 18%. For material, the most influential change was noted using 'lightning infill', reducing material consumption by 51%. The methodology includes a combined energy- and material-saving approach in the production of a referenceable 'Utah Teapot' sample object. Using combined techniques on the Utah Teapot print, the material consumption was reduced by values between 55.8% and 56.4%, and power consumption was reduced by 29% to 38%. The implementation of a data-logging system allowed us to identify significant thermal management and material usage opportunities to minimise power consumption, providing solutions for a more positive impact on the sustainable manufacturing of 3D printed parts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conventional energy source in cement industries is fossil fuels, mainly coal, which has a high environmental footprint. On average, energy expenditures account for 40% of the overall production costs per ton of cement. Reducing both the environmental impact and economic expenditure involves incorporating alternative energy sources (fuels) such as biomass, solid-derived fuel (SDF), refuse-derived fuel (RDF) etc. However, within cement plants, the substitution of conventional fossil fuels with alternative fuels poses several challenges due to the difficulty in incorporating additional fuel-saving techniques. Typically, an additional 3000 MJ of electricity per ton of clinker is required. One of the most effective solutions to this is thermal optimization through co-processing and pre-processing, which makes it possible to implement additional fossil-fuel-saving techniques. In developing nations such as Togo, waste-management systems rely on co-processing in cement factories through a waste-to-energy relationship. Also, there are some old cement plants with low-efficiency, multi-stage preheaters without pre-calciners, reciprocating huge coolers, low-efficiency motors etc., which still operate and need to be made environmentally sustainable. However, compared to modern kilns which can have up to 95% of energy recovery from waste, an old suspension preheater kiln can recover only up to 60% of its heat energy depending on the cooler type, and due to the lack of a bypass and combustion chamber (pre-calciner). This research paper evaluated the performance of a cement plant incorporating AF and presents the procedures and recommendations to optimize AF substitution in cement plants. To achieve this, a comparative performance study was carried out by assessing the alternative fuel characteristics and the equipment performance before and after the incorporation of the alternative fuel. Data were collected on the optimum substitution ratio, pre-processing and co-processing performance, raw-meal design and economic analysis. Results indicated that the cost to be covered per ton of waste input is €10.9 for solid-derived fuel (SDF), €15 for refuse-derived fuel (RDF), and that the co-processing cost optimization for the cement plant could have a cost saving of up to 7.81€/GJ. In conclusion, it is recommended that appropriate kiln and alternative-fuel models be created for forecasting production based on various AF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-dimensionally printed carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (3DP-CFRP) has become an important contributor to commercialized additive manufacturing. Due to carbon fiber infills, the 3DP-CFRP parts can enjoy highly intricate geometry, enhanced part robustness, heat resistance, and mechanical properties. With the rapid growth of 3DP-CFRP parts in the aerospace, automobile, and consumer product sectors, evaluating and reducing their environmental impacts has become an urgent yet unexplored issue. To develop a quantitative measure of the environmental performance of 3DP-CFRP parts, this paper investigates the energy consumption behavior of a dual-nozzle fused deposition modeling (FDM) additive manufacturing process which includes melting and deposition of the CFRP filament. An energy consumption model for the melting stage is first defined using the heating model for non-crystalline polymers. Then, the energy consumption model for the deposition stage is established through the design of experiments approach and regression by investigating six influential parameters comprising the layer height, infill density, number of shells, travel speed of gantry, and speed of extruders 1 and 2. Finally, the energy consumption models are combined and experimentally tested with two different CFRP parts. The results show that the developed energy consumption model demonstrated over 94% accuracy in predicting the energy consumption behavior of 3DP-CFRP parts. The developed model could potentially be used to find a more sustainable CFRP design and process planning solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to identify the most significant alternatives of renewable energy sustainability using a hybrid decision-making model of multiple criteria. Sustainable energy sources cannot run out and can be used for an indefinite period of time. In addition to meeting our energy needs, sustainable energy does not need to be renewed or replenished, nor does it pose any threat of being wrong or running out. Our energy demands can only be met by renewable energy. The bestworst methodand technique for order preference by similarities to ideal solution-I processes have proposed a hybrid model named the bestworst method—technique for order preference by similarities to ideal solution-I, for this purpose. This study uses comparative analysis and sensitivity analysis to determine the results of the proposed study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sixth Assessment Report of Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has highlighted the urgency of accelerated climate actions harnessing synergies and minimizing trade-offs with various SDG. This calls for a clear understanding of linkages between climate goals and other SDGs at national level for formulating synergistic policies and strategies and developing different sectoral programs and coherent cross-sectoral policies. This is even more important for least developed countries such as Nepal where these linkages are less understood and development challenges are multifaceted. In this context, this paper aims to evaluate potential synergies and trade-offs among selected SDGs and their associated targets in Nepal in a linear pairwise comparison. Synergies and trade-offs related to climate action (SDG 13), access to energy (SDG 7), sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12), and life on land (SDG 15) have been evaluated using historical data for the period from 1990 to 2018 employing a mixed methods approach. Network analysis to map the conceptual linkages between the SDGs and their targets was combined with the advance sustainability analysis (ASA) to quantitatively evaluate the synergy and trade-offs between SDGs. The results illustrate the presences of a continual trade-off between emission reductions targets of SDG 13 with per capita energy consumption and share of renewable energy of SDG 7, land use for agricultural production target of SDG 12, and forest area target of SDG 15. This indicates that climate action is strongly interlinked with GHG emissions from economic activities and energy consumption. The results of the study represent a valuable input for the policy makers, supporting coherent and sustainable development planning as Nepal plans to graduate to a middle-income country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen is a promising commodity, a renewable secondary energy source, and feedstock alike, to meet greenhouse gas emissions targets and promote economic decarbonization. A common goal pursued by many countries, the hydrogen economy receives a blending of public and private capital. After European Green Deal, state members created national policies focused on green hydrogen. This paper presents a study of energy transition considering green hydrogen production to identify Portugal's current state and prospects. The analysis uses energy generation data, hydrogen production aspects, CO 2 emissions indicators and based costs. A comprehensive simulation estimates the total production of green hydrogen related to the ratio of renewable generation in two different scenarios. Then a comparison between EGP goals and Portugal's transport and energy generation prospects is made. Portugal has an essential renewable energy matrix that supports green hydrogen production and allows for meeting European green hydrogen 2030–2050 goals. Results suggest that promoting the conversion of buses and trucks into H 2 -based fuel is better for CO 2 reduction. On the other hand, given energy security, thermoelectric plants fueled by H 2 are the best option. The aggressive scenario implies at least 5% more costs than the moderate scenario, considering economic aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indonesia is currently undergoing the energy transition from heavily fossil fuel-dependent energy to cleaner sources of energy in order to achieve its net-zero emissions by 2060. In addition to reducing fossil fuel dependency, as one of the countries with the most geothermal reserves, the optimization of geothermal energy in Indonesia could be key to facilitating the energy transition. The objective of this paper is to elaborate on the transition process, which incorporates the destabilization of fossil fuel and the growth of geothermal energy, by analyzing the impact of both exogenous and endogenous factors on the supply chain structures of both sectors. This study employs workshop involving geothermal stakeholders in Indonesia, combined with the application of the Multi-Level Perspective (MLP) framework as the theoretical lens. The study found that energy demand, environmental awareness, energy regulations, energy supply chain, and geothermal potential breakthroughs are important aspects pertinent to the MLP components, namely the socio-technical landscape, socio-technical regime and niche innovations. The socio-technical landscapes are exogenous factors that pressurize the energy sector regime allowing the niche innovation, in the form of geothermal innovation, to penetrate the fossil fuel regime, allowing it to transition to a geothermal regime. The transition pathways include several measures that could break down the fossil fuel and build up geothermal energy, through a number of schemes and incentives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, people all around the globe have seen its effects, including city closures, travel restrictions, and stringent security measures. However, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic extend beyond people's everyday lives. It impacts the air, water, soil, and carbon emissions as well. This article examines the effect of energy and the COVID-19 pandemic on China's carbon dioxide emissions in light of the aforementioned context, using the daily data from 20 January 2020 and ending on 20 April 2022. Using the nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag model for empirical analysis, the findings indicate that COVID-19 pandemic confirmed cases and renewable energy advance environmental sustainability due to their negative effects on carbon dioxide emissions, whereas fossil fuel energy hinders environmental sustainability due to its positive effect on carbon dioxide emissions. Moreover, these results are also supported by the results of the frequency domain causality test and the Markow switching regression. In light of these results, there are several policy implications, such as vaccination, renewable energy utilization, and non-renewable energy alternative policies, which have been proposed in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quality of human nutrition has acquired significant improvements thanks to the opportunity to store food in suitable temperature conditions. Refrigeration has allowed the slowing of chemical and biological degradation and hence the waste of foodstuff, but at the same time increases energy consumption. These effects impact the environment and the sustainability performance of the cold chain, and drive consumers' choices. The stakeholders of the chain are, therefore, constantly looking for improvement actions to reduce environmental impacts. This paper aims to provide a methodology for prioritizing and assessing the energy efficiency measures for cold chains in terms of quality losses and specific energy consumption, distinguishing between technological, maintenance, and managerial opportunities. This analysis is based on the cold supply chain tool, developed under the H2020 project ICCEE ("Improving Cold Chain Energy Efficiency") which focuses on a holistic approach, not looking only at the individual stages of the cold chain. Furthermore, an economic evaluation has been proposed considering cost savings and the investment needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The maintenance of wireless sensor networks involves challenges such as the periodic replacement of batteries or energy sources in remote locations that are often inaccessible. Therefore, onboard energy harvesting solutions can provide a viable alternative. Experimental energy harvesting from fluid flow, specifically from air flow, is typically restricted to a rotor and stator design or a model that strikes a piezoelectric. On the other hand, energy harvesting from mechanical vibrations routinely uses the linear motion of a magnet passing through a coil or vibrating piezoelectric elements. In this paper, we propose a novel V-twin harvester design that converts wind energy from a rotational input into the linear motion of a magnet inside a coil via a crank-slider mechanism. This design allows for high performance with a smoother voltage output when compared to a reference rotor/stator harvester design or piezoelectric method. At 0.5 Hz, a single crank-slider generated a voltage of 0.176 Vpp with an output power of 0.147 mW, whereas the reference harvester generated 0.14 mW at 1.0 Hz with a 0.432 Vpp. A single crank-slider operating at regulated frequencies of 0.5, 1, 2, and 3 Hz, with a stroke length of 50 mm and a generated continuous power of 0.147, 0.452, 2.00, and 4.48 mW, respectively. We found that under ambient wind speeds of 3.4 and 4.1 m/s the V-twin formation with the optimized configuration, in which the coils and loads were both connected in series, generated 27.0 and 42.2 mW, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomass use for energy and materials is, on the one hand, one of the key mitigation options to reach the 1.5 °C GMT target set in the Paris Agreement, as highlighted by the IPCC and many other key analyses. On the other hand, particularly in parts of the EU, a strong negative connotation has emerged in public debate and EC policy, with a particular emphasis on the (presumed) displacement effect in markets and land use. This is a remarkable contrast because the reasons to use sustainable biomass, on the one hand, and the possibilities and synergies for supplying sustainable biomass, on the other, are underpinned with strong evidence, also providing insights on how displacement issues can be avoided. Sustainable biomass supplies can contribute 20–30% of the future global and European energy supply, leading to reduced overall mitigation costs, including realizing the net CO2 removal from the atmosphere using BECCS concepts. This paper highlights which options, pathways and preconditions are key to achieving such a substantial contribution of sustainable biomass in future (2050) energy and material supply (with a focus on the European setting). By pinpointing how "biomass can be done right" and how important synergies can be achieved via better agricultural methods, the restoration of marginal and degraded lands and the adaptation of climate change, a different policy agenda emerges in sharp contrast to how a biobased economy has been framed in recent years. It is recommended that future policy priorities, particularly at the EU level, take a more integral view on the synergy between the role of biomass in the energy transition, climate adaptation and mitigation, better agriculture and the better use of land in general. Strategies to achieve such positive results typically require an alignment between renewable energy, and agricultural, environmental, mitigation and adaptation policies, which is a largely missing nexus in different policy arenas. Resolving this lack of alignment offers a major opportunity, globally, to contribute to the European Green deal and improve energy security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing need to increase environmental and energy sustainability in buildings (housing, offices, warehouses, etc.) requires the use of solar radiation as a renewable source of energy that can help to lower carbon footprint, making buildings more efficient and thereby contributing to a more sustainable planet, while enhancing the health and wellbeing of its occupants. One of the technologies deployed in the use of solar energy in buildings is heliostats. In this context, this paper presents an analysis of the performance of a heliostat illuminator to improve illumination in a classroom at the Campus of Rabanales of the University of Cordoba (Spain). A design of a system in charge of monitoring and measuring daylighting variables using Arduino hardware technology and free software is shown. This equipment develops the communications, programming and collection of lighting data. In parallel, installation of an artificial lighting system complementary to the natural lighting system is implemented. Finally, an analysis of the impact of the proposed solution on the improvement of energy efficiency is presented. Specifically, it is estimated that up to 64% of savings in artificial lighting can be achieved in spaces with heliostatic illuminators compared to those without them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to replicate an existing study using the Generalized Method of Moments on the impact of ICT penetration (Mobile Phone and Internet) in Western Balkan countries on environmental sustainability through changing CO2 emissions for the period 2000–2015. A two-step system GMM method is used to handle both endogeneity of the independent and persistency of the dependent variables. Two important findings are derived: First, we find that mobile phones have a positive impact, whereas the Internet has a positive but insignificant impact on CO2 emissions per capita in noninteractive models. The impact of ICTs is insignificant as far as CO2 emission from liquid fuel consumption is concerned in noninteractive specifications. Based on this finding, we suggest policymakers of Western Balkan countries follow interdisciplinary policies and strategies considering ICTs such as Internet penetration to mitigate CO2 emissions. Second, in interactive models, all marginal effects are negative, and in one specification the impact is statistically significant. We argue that increasing Internet penetration has a negative net effect on CO2 emissions from liquid fuel consumption. By calculating the policy threshold for this net effect, we discuss the practical implications for policy making in Kosovo where the average Internet penetration is below this threshold. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the extant literature, there are numerous discussions on China's environmental sustainability. However, few scholars have considered renewable energy consumption and trade policy simultaneously to debate environmental sustainability. Therefore, this paper attempts to examine how renewable and non-renewable energy consumption, bio-capacity, economic growth, and trade policy dynamically affect the ecological footprint (a proxy for environmental sustainability). Using the data from 1971 to 2017 and employing the auto-regressive distributed lag model to perform an empirical analysis, the results demonstrate that renewable energy consumption and trade policy are conducive to environmental sustainability because of their negative impacts on the ecological footprint. However, the results also indicate that bio-capacity, non-renewable energy consumption, and economic growth are putting increasing pressure on environmental sustainability due to their positive impacts on the ecological footprint. Moreover, to determine the direction of causality between the highlighted variables, the Yoda-Yamamoto causality test was conducted. The results suggest a two-way causal relationship between renewable energy consumption and ecological footprint, non-renewable energy consumption and ecological footprint, and economic growth and ecological footprint. Conversely, the results also suggest a one-way causal relationship running from bio-capacity and trade policy to the ecological footprint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rational use of energy systems is one of the main discussions in sustainability in the 21st century. Water pumping systems are one of the most significant consumers of electricity in urban systems, whether for urban water supply, sewage, or use in vertical buildings. Thus, this work aims to present Industry 4.0 (I4.0) technologies applied in buildings' water pumping systems, focusing on energy efficiency, supervision, and control of the pumping system. The work involves four steps: (i) identifying the existing I4.0 technologies and (ii) mapping the possibilities of applying Industry 4.0 technologies in building pumping systems. The study includes the analysis of (16) articles published in journals between 2018 and June 2021 to identify I4.0 technologies cited in the publications. It identified and grouped eighteen (18) technologies based on twenty-two (22) terms observed in the papers. The study classified the identified technologies into three possible applications in a building water pumping system. The applications include: (i) directly applicable, (ii) partially applicable, and (iii) application not yet identified. Therefore, the study presents the advantages of I4.0 technologies developed primarily for the industry sector, also applicable in residential building water pumping systems. These technologies' benefits include energy efficiency, user control, a reduction from periods of failure of the pumping system (maintenance), water quality, and moving towards Intelligent Pumping or Pumping 4.0. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air pollution is a major concern, particularly in developing countries. Road transport and mobile sources are considered the root causes of air pollutants. With the implementation of zero-carbon and zero-energy concepts at the district scale, cities can make great strides towards sustainable development. Urban planning schemes are moving from mere building solutions to the larger positive energy district (PED) scale. Alongside other technology systems in PEDs, increased uptake of electro-mobility solutions can play an important role in CO2 mitigation at the district level. This paper aims to quantify the exhaust emissions of six conventional and two fully hybrid vehicles using a portable emission measurement system (PEMS) in real driving conditions. The fuel consumption and exhaust pollutants of the conventional and hybrid vehicles were compared in four different urban and highway driving routes during autumn 2019 in Iran. The results showed that hybrid vehicles presented lower fuel consumption and produced relatively lower exhaust emissions. The conventional group's fuel consumption (CO2 emissions) was 11%, 41% higher than that of the hybrids. In addition, the hybrid vehicles showed much better fuel economy in urban routes, which is beneficial for PEDs. Micro-trip analysis showed that although conventional vehicles emitted more CO2 at lower speeds, the hybrids showed a lower amount of CO2. Moreover, in conventional vehicles, NOx emissions showed an increasing trend with vehicle speed, while no decisive trend was found for NOx emissions versus vehicle speed in hybrid vehicles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper conducts a structured review on the topic of energy efficiency and environmental sustainability in the supply chain management context to define research trends on the topic and identify research gaps. The review is carried out using the largest databases of peer-reviewed literature (Scopus andWeb of Science). A sample of 122 papers focusing on the topic of energy-efficient and sustainable supply chain management was selected and analyzed through descriptive and content analysis. The review highlights that despite there is a growing research trend on the topic, different research gaps remain to be covered. These gaps concern the factors influencing energy efficiency and environmental sustainability initiatives, the classification of energy efficiency and environmental sustainability initiatives, the impact of energy efficiency and environmental sustainability on supply chain performance, the customer perspective in sustainable and energy-efficient supply chain, and the different technologies supporting the energy efficiency and environmental sustainability initiatives. The research gaps and the research questions identified offer the opportunity to identify areas of investigation to design future research directions and propose guidelines in the field of supply chain management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different policies with the goal of reducing energy consumption and other environmental impacts in the building sector coexist in Europe. Sustainable product polices, such as the Ecodesign and Energy Labelling Directives, have recently broadened the scope of their target product groups from a strict product approach to extended product and system approaches. Indeed, there is a potential for greater savings when the focus is at a system level rather than on regulating individual products. Product policies for space and water heating systems have recently introduced and implemented the package label, which is a modular approach, standing between the extended product and the system approaches. This paper presents a systematic analysis of the different system approaches of various policies from an engineering perspective. It analyses in detail the package concept and its features through a practical application using a real case study. It focuses on how the package concept can support decisions made in the building design phase and, in particular, how can support the choice of appropriate components based on estimating system performances. This brings building engineers and regulators closer regarding the use of more consistent data on energy performance. Finally, this paper highlights the need to improve the alignment of the building-related product policies with the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban sustainability has been connected to form and compactness of the urban tissue. At the same time the relationship between urban form and energy efficiency is strongly affected by climate. This paper investigates the effect of climate conditions on the relation between urban morphology and energy efficiency of urban blocks, focusing on the Greek city context. A set of building block typologies is analyzed with regard to their form factors such as S/V ratio, coverage ratio and building ratio for the climatic conditions of two cities, each one belonging to a different climatic zone. Heating and cooling loads are calculated at an urban block scale for the climate of the city of Thessaloniki (zone C) and of the city of Heraklion (zone A) in order to draw conclusions about the relation between geometry factors and energy efficiency. The results of the research indicate that there is a strong relationship between urban morphology factors and energy efficiency and that the total load demand of urban blocks can be described as a function of form parameters. Results of the research, concerning the energy demand calculation, are valuable since they indicate the energy profile of each typology according to climate and can be used for defining different urban strategies towards sustainability in a context-based climate dependent analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]