Search

Earth construction has long tradition in our civilization with wide distribution in various ways and techniques of application. When combined with other natural materials it is the material for construction of comfortable space for people. Increased need for energy efficient houses actualizes this type of construction in modern conditions as a holistic solution for modern buildings. In addition to many uses of earth as a building material, rammed earth wall came to consideration since it allows us to observe most of the advantages and disadvantages of this type of construction. Finding solutions to remedy observed disadvantages will lead to improved construction of adobe, wattle-and-daub, unbaked bricks, etc. This paper is aimed at proving energy efficiency of rammed earth wall and it points out possible research directions into improvements while preserving existing benefits. The most important issue is preservation of cost efficiency of earth building while using other natural supplements into the soil mixture. [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]

Data centers are major contributors to the emission of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, and this contribution is expected to increase in the following years. This has encouraged the development of techniques to reduce the energy consumption and the environmental footprint of data centers. Whereas some of these techniques have succeeded to reduce the energy consumption of the hardware equipment of data centers (including IT, cooling, and power supply systems), we claim that sustainable data centers will be only possible if the problem is faced by means of a holistic approach that includes not only the aforementioned techniques but also intelligent and unifying solutions that enable a synergistic and energy-aware management of data centers. In this paper, we propose a comprehensive strategy to reduce the carbon footprint of data centers that uses the energy as a driver of their management procedures. In addition, we present a holistic management architecture for sustainable data centers that implements the aforementioned strategy, and we propose design guidelines to accomplish each step of the proposed strategy, referring to related achievements and enumerating the main challenges that must be still solved. [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]

Nowadays, industrial enterprises are facing up to new challenges to well optimize their performances, with regards not only to conventional performances (e.g. reliability or productivity) but also to emerging ones as those related to sustainability issues. Indeed, sustainability indicators have to be considered now in the decision-making process of the plant to better control and maintain it to be consistent with Green Production requirements. In that way, indicators such as Energy Efficiency or Energy Consumption are promoted for the impact they have on these requirements in a Life Cycle Cost vision. Thus the core idea defended in this paper is addressing the necessary evolution of conventional maintenance decision-making process in industry for considering the energy efficiency indicator. To support the idea, the first objective is to define the concept of energy efficiency indicator which materializes the energy efficiency performance at a specific time. The definition is done for different abstraction levels such as component, function, system which are subjected to time-dependent degradation behaviors. So, the energy efficiency indicator concept is expressed as the amount of energy consumed per unit of useful output, which has to be seen as a sustainable performance measure of industrial system. Then a mathematical formulation is proposed to calculate energy efficiency indicator at any time of the performance by considering dependent factors (static and dynamic ones) impacting inputs and outputs of the system. The second objective is to propose a new concept named REEL (Remaining energy-efficient lifetime) for tracking the energy efficiency performance evolution. The REEL is defined by the time left before the system loses its energy efficiency property considered as a specific EEI value (EEI threshold) not to be exceeded. This specific value is technically and/or economically fixed in advance, given the current condition, past and future operation profiles. The REEL could be used as an appropriate indicator for maintenance decision-making process in a proactive vision. The third objective is to formalize a generic approach in the way assess the REEL value. The assessment requires to forecast the evolution of energy efficiency indicator (whatever the abstraction level is) by taking into account the static and dynamic factors. Finally, the feasibility and added value of our proposals are illustrated on a manufacturing platform named TELMA (TELeMAintenance). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental Sustainability is one of the ‘Grand Challenges’ for manufacturing success in the 21st century. The present article mainly focuses on energy use during the manufacturing steps used for assembling products. In particular, industry still needs systematic and reliable ways to capture information for ultimately accounting for energy efficiency in manufacturing processes. For that purpose, an information model in the form of a formal ontology was created using information elements as building blocks, which emerge from manufacturing process models, supply chain operations, manufacturing process parameters, 3D form features and exergy-based thermodynamic analysis. These information elements were integrated by means of semantic relationships in an ontology. Once this information model was constructed, an application example of a welded hull panel assembly was used for verification of the model's representativeness and completeness. Results show that it is feasible to correlate all required data by means of semantic relationships for estimating energy efficiency indicators prior to physical prototyping, or ultimately comparing different alternatives for manufacturing processes regarding energy efficiency. However, manufacturing processes must be described in detail in order to allow energy efficiency analyses. In addition, geometric models need to be able to represent form features that can best relate to specific manufacturing process parameters. And finally, energy efficiency indicators, such as the degree-of-perfection can be derived from a comprehensive thermodynamic analysis, to be performed in each individual process step. Results indicate it is possible to provide an information structure for the calculation of the degree-of- perfection associated with an exergy-based thermodynamic analysis in assembly processes. Therefore, it has the potential to serve as a basis for a unifying framework for developing software applications that could allow the calculation of the degree of perfection in manufacturing operations. In addition, the resulting information model may facilitate data integration in the extended enterprise environment as well as the development of standards that can lead to seamless interoperability of manufacturing information systems. This paper presents the means by which energy efficiency can be accessed directly from an integrated semantic model, and opens the possibility to be extended for many different sorts of manufacturing processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased competition and reduced profit margins are pushing manufacturing plants to find ways to improve operational efficiency and reduce costs. At the same time, government incentives and community initiatives are encouraging the industrial sector to pursue sustainability in operation and energy consumption. This has introduced a paradigm shift where the focus of plant operation is moving from solely cost reduction to one that considers asset management, emission control, and utilization of alternative energy resources. Mathematically speaking, the problem is changing from a single objective optimization to one with multiple objective functions that may at times be contradictory. The focus of this paper is to propose a methodology for management of an industrial plant considering the above factors. It is assumed that the plant is equipped with distributed generation (DG), and can also participate in demand response (DR). Further, the effect of ambient temperature on the lifetime and available capacity of assets such as the plant transformer has been taken into account and incorporated into their daily schedule. The objective is then to find an optimal solution for operating various workstations in such a way that it minimizes the operational costs, the emissions produced, and the loss of life of assets exposed to excess temperatures. A multi-objective optimization problem is therefore formulated through extended lexicographic goal programming, which is further modified to ensure Pareto optimality. A case study has also been presented for a manufacturing plant for luxury vehicle cockpit assembly line. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper reviews crucial role of building performance simulation (BPS) – dynamic analysis of the inextricable linkage of building''s energy demand for HVAC and other building''s technical systems sustainable energy supply and renewable energy sources (RES) availability to reach building''s zero energy status. Reviewed are BPS advances in buildings energy efficiency optimization, solar, geothermal and other renewable energy sources integrated implementation, as well as hybridization and mixed distributed energy generation, co- and tri-generation for building''s greening and sustainable neighborhoods, settlements, as well as “high performance” Zero Energy Cities Planning. As an introduction, outlined is the intrinsic harmony of the traditional village houses balanced use of renewable materials and energy sources and presented are feasibility study results on the sustainable Zero Energy ECO Settlement at the Mediterranean Sea proceeded by the description of the site''s sustainability''s constrains assessment. Architectural design and building''s dynamic behavior and energy efficiency optimization resulting in minimization of thermal and lighting loads, precede to the multidisciplinary engineering investigation and preliminary design of sustainable Zero Energy Buildings confirming feasibility of settlement''s sustainable energy and water supply by the reliable implementation of solar PV and wind technologies, including PV powered sea water desalination. Further, interwoven with presentation of a few case studies, paper outlines advances in BPS and Co-simulation. Reviewed are optimization of mixed, natural and mechanical ventilation via CFD integrated with architectural modeling; BPS and Co-simulation approach to the “total building performance optimization” encompassing multifunctional facades, day-lighting, IE&AQ and HVAC systems operation offering an enormous potential for energy saving by residential/municipal RES integrated renovation. Stressed has been that it is impossible to reach sustainability without harmonious interdisciplinary interacting, without balance between materiality and spirituality, science and art, technology development and cultural and other human values improvement, without ethics of sustainability. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper assesses the energy and water consumption practices of existing housing in Saudi Arabia, with the ultimate aim of establishing guidelines for delivering sustainable residential buildings in the near future. In order to achieve this aim the current status of a typical Saudi residence (i.e. an apartment complex) is investigated in terms of energy and water consumption using simulation software packages. The paper then examines the prospects for applying various measures to the typical Saudi residence to manage energy and water use more sustainably. This research identifies several design-related faults common to Saudi Arabian house design. These faults contribute to an inefficient use of energy and domestic water resources. Finally, the paper puts forward a set of recommendations and guidelines, design-related and otherwise, to enhance the sustainability of future Saudi residential buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to develop an optimal real-life energy-efficient design for a production plant within the concept of the circular economy. The problem is to install a Heat Recovery System (HRS) that utilizes the hot oil used by the compressors to heat the water for the central heating system. To achieve the desired level of energy efficiency this design problem must be formulated from both the optimization and sustainability points of view. Additionally, this design problem must also consider the investment cost. In line with this purpose, this paper formulates this design problem as an optimization problem employing a mathematical programming approach as a single objective, and as a multi-objective optimization problem through a goal programming approach. Besides, this paper uses the return on investment as a key performance indicator, since it deals with a real-life design problem with an investment cost. The related design problem is solved with the single objective and multi-objective versions of the developed mathematical programming model via a commercial solver to identify different design alternatives and hence giving the decision-maker to make a selection option. Finally, the capability of the developed mathematical programming model is tested on a set of randomly generated problems. The obtained results indicate that the developed mathematical programming model is a successful decision support system since its single and multi-objective versions are capable of identifying energy-efficient production designs within the context of the real-life problem on hand and the circular economy. • A real-life energy-efficient design problem for a production plant is undertaken. • A heat recovery system is proposed within the concept of a circular economy. • The problem is modelled from both the optimization and sustainability aspects. • The problem is formulated as multi-objective models using goal programming. • The models are solved to minimize investment costs and maximize energy efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper explores two linked theses related to the role energy in economic development, and potential sources of increased energy efficiency for continued growth with reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The first thesis is that, while reduced GHG emissions are essential for long-term global sustainability, the usual policy recommendation of increasing energy costs by introducing a carbon tax may be relatively ineffective under current market structures and have an unnecessarily adverse impact on economic growth. Our second thesis is that there exists a practical near-term strategy for reducing GHG emissions while simultaneously encouraging continued technology-driven economic growth. Moreover, this strategy does not require radical new technologies, but rather improved regulation or—more precisely—better deregulation of the electric power sector. In respect to the first of our two theses, this paper addresses a deficiency in neoclassical economic growth theory, in which growth is assumed to be automatic, inevitable and cost-free. We challenge both the assumption that growth will continue in the future at essentially the same rate (“the trend”) as it has in the past, and the corollary that our children''s children will inevitably be richer and better able to afford the cost of repairing the environmental damages caused by current generations [Simon et al., The state of humanity. Cambridge MA: Blackwell Publishers Ltd.; 1995]. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Emissions reductions targets for the UK set out in the Climate Change Act for the period to 2050 will only be achieved with significant changes to the built environment, which is currently estimated to account for 50% of the UK's carbon emissions. The socio-technological nature of Civil Engineering means that this field is uniquely placed to lead the UK through such adaptations. This paper discusses the importance of interdisciplinary teaching to produce multi-faceted team approaches to sustainable design solutions. Methods for measuring success in education are often not fit for purpose, producing good students but poor engineers. Real-world failures to apply sustainable design present a serious, difficult to detect, and ultimately economically negative situation. Techniques to replace summative examinations are presented and discussed, with the aim of enhancing core technical skills alongside those required for sustainable design. Finally, the role of our future engineers in policy-making is discussed. In addition to carbon, the provision of water and food will heavily influence the work of civil engineers in the coming decades. Leadership from civil engineers with the technical knowledge and social awareness to tackle these issues will be required. This provides both opportunities and challenges for engineering education in the UK. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper presents an overview of the most current topics of interest related to the field of housing and residential building construction. It addresses issues related to industry-wide residential construction trends, policies, innovative technology adoption, construction management, sustainability, energy efficiency, building science, and the need for education, especially regarding architectural concerns. The authors discuss several key technical aspects of residential building, such as structural concerns, building enclosures, and indoor environmental quality issues. Emphasis is placed on the need for renewed research and development efforts, outside-the-box thinking related to financial and investment structures for housing, improved models for adopting innovative technologies in residential construction, new construction management approaches, incorporation of more advanced building science in conjunction with advanced engineered features and architectural design, embracing green and sustainable design and construction, and consideration of the health of the occupants. The authors, who have varying specialties, identify critical issues that need more investment to support technical studies and developments as well as education, training, and awareness efforts. [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]

Modern long distance ore pipeline systems are subject to strong costs, both from the economic and environmental standpoints. The task of assessing the relative importance of energy and water consumption without a detailed engineering analysis is often not obvious. In the present paper, the relative importance of water and energy unit costs is assessed by a novel dimensionless formulation accounting for the essential hydraulic and cost elements that conform the slurry transport. It is found that, for conditions resembling those of copper and iron concentrate pipelines, the ratio between energy and water costs has a wide range, depending on the particular transport conditions and unit cost scenarios. Although operating at similar volume fractions, results indicate that energy/water cost relations may differ between copper and iron concentrate pipelines and local conditions, thus suggesting the need to explicitly include energy and water cost in the design strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a methodology to improve the sustainability of industrial processes combining two tools: BAT Analysis and process simulation. Both tools are jointly applied to identify the IF of the analyzed process, so that the most appropriate candidate techniques from an inventory can be selected. The selected alternatives are tested in different scenarios that are evaluated using simulation, which would determine the configuration that best improves the sustainability of the process. The combination of both tools in an integrated methodology will help decision makers to select the most sustainable configuration for a given process. The methodology is validated in a case study: a hydrogen production plant. After analysing several scenarios where different candidate techniques are implemented, results show that the IF identified can be highly improved when the appropriate combination of BAT is applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the findings from a multi-objective genetic algorithm optimization study on the design parameters of an underwater compressed air energy storage system (UWCAES). A 4 MWh UWCAES system was numerically simulated and its energy, exergy, and exergoeconomics were analysed. Optimal system configurations were determined that maximized the UWCAES system round-trip efficiency and operating profit, and minimized the cost rate of exergy destruction and capital expenditures. The optimal solutions obtained from the multi-objective optimization model formed a Pareto-optimal front, and a single preferred solution was selected using the pseudo-weight vector multi-criteria decision making approach. A sensitivity analysis was performed on interest rates to gauge its impact on preferred system designs. Results showed similar preferred system designs for all interest rates in the studied range. The round-trip efficiency and operating profit of the preferred system designs were approximately 68.5% and $53.5/cycle, respectively. The cost rate of the system increased with interest rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Typically, a historic building consists of what today would be considered traditional features, such as fireplaces and chimney stacks, as well as cellular room plans with high ceilings and draught lobbies which reduce air infiltration and heat loss and increase its thermal mass. Such inherent properties should not be overlooked when considering a historic building's future thermal performance, as they may be able to make a valid contribution to improving its energy efficiency. This paper aims to research the link between conservation principles and sustainable refurbishment schemes, appraising the impact of sustainable technologies on historic dwellings. A key theme of the study is the fine balance to be achieved when managing change in refurbishment projects of heritage value. In addition, recent additions or alterations of less heritage value may still form part of the fabric of historic dwellings and must be managed or rectified so as not to detract from the overall character or functionality of the building. This brings to the forefront the role of conservation principles and guidelines as well as energy-efficiency standards and building regulations, and the effect of governmental policy on piecemeal change, in light of the high level of importance given to the sustainability agenda. Home-owners are given incentives and permitted alteration rights that do not always respect the sensitive character of historic dwellings. Currently, if a building is not listed, then its intrinsic features are not protected. Local planning authorities require clearer guidance on how to reach sustainability targets without compromising the heritage value that makes historic dwellings so unique and distinct to the era to which they belong. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of Sustainable Development Goal 7 is to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all. Increased energy efficiency is particularly important in the construction industry because urban agglomerations currently consume up to 80% of global energy, 40% of which is attributable to buildings. In countries like Italy however, where historical buildings constitute a significant part of the building patrimony, improving energy efficiency is not always straightforward as interventions must take into account the historical materials used as well as the context of the construction. Therefore, the aim of this research was to establish a methodology that would identify the most effective means of achieving energy efficiency taking into account the historical aspects of a building and its cultural context. The methodology proposed and described in this paper involves: preliminary analyses to identify the elements of value and the level of transformability of facades; the selection of different insulating materials; dynamic simulations of building behaviour; analyses of intervention costs in relation to each type of insulation and finally the preparation of a multi-criteria matrix to identify the most effective method of improving energy efficiency of a historical wall with differing degrees of transformability. Each insulating material was analysed in relation to heating and cooling requirements and material cost impact. The methodology was applied to a case study in the Province of L'Aquila, Italy. In the paper a multicriteria framework, for the improvements in the thermal efficiency of a building, it is presented. Specifically the attention is focused on heating requirements, cooling requirements and cost impact. The results indicate that, with respect to historical building, it is possible to adopt strategies finalyzed to improve the energy efficiency of these buidings, contributing in this way, also toward the SDG7. Specifically, the best performance for a wall with a high level of transformability can be obtained using calcium silicate, extruded polystyrene, kenaf and hemp, whilst, in the case of a wall with a low level of transformability, the best materials are calcium silicate, polyurethane and linen fiber. Finally, in the case in which external constraints prevent the application of a thick coat and internally there is limited space, the use of calcium silicate was found to be the best energy efficient measure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial manufacturing is the largest end-use sector in terms of both final energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions (more than 30% of the total); its increase is rapidly altering the world climate. The need to mitigate the environmental impacts of manufacturing processes makes energy efficiency a key success factor for sustainable production. Accordingly, the scientific community's interest in energy management has grown considerably, resulting in several literature reviews on energy modelling and production systems analysis, emissions calculation, sustainability tools and benchmarking techniques. However, a comprehensive analysis of methods and tools aimed at improving energy awareness and assessing their effects on energy efficiency is lacking. To address this gap, this paper undertakes a systematic literature review of energy assessment methods and tools. From the 1367 papers retrieved by searching scientific literature databases, 64 scientific articles met the inclusion criteria and were analysed in detail. The study aims to provide scholars with a picture of the current state of scientific research and to identify the scientific works that could help industry practitioners in energy management. Following the ISO 50001 framework, the methods and tools were divided into three main groups (i.e. energy analysis, energy evaluation and energy-saving measures methods) and the specific findings relating to each group were synthesized. Finally, the paper addresses unresolved issues and challenges and makes suggestions for future research directions. • A systematic literature review of energy assessment methods and tools are provided. • Relevant concepts, themes and characteristics has been summarized. • A classification of energy assessment methods and tools has been presented. • The limits and the possible solution strategies to overcome them are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy efficiency is one of the most relevant issues that the scientific community, and society in general, must face in the next years. Furthermore, higher energy efficiencies will contribute to worldwide sustainability. Buildings are responsible for 40% of the overall consumed energy. Smart Grids and Smart Buildings are playing an essential role in the definition of the next generation of sustainable Smart Cities. The main goal is reducing the impact of energy consumption on the environment as much as possible. This paper focuses on information communication technologies (ICTs) and techniques, their key characteristics and contribution to obtain higher energy efficiencies in smart buildings. Given that electrical energy is the most used, the investigation mainly centres on this energy. This paper also pays attention to green energies and energy harvesting due to their contribution to energy efficiency by providing additional clean energy. The main contribution of this investigation is pointing out the most relevant existing and emerging ICT technologies and techniques which can be used to optimize the energy efficiency of Smart Buildings. The research puts special attention on available, novel and emerging sensors, communication technologies and standards, intelligence techniques and algorithms, green energies and energy harvesting. All of them enable high-performance intelligent systems to optimize energy consumption and occupants' comfort. Furthermore, it remarks on the most suitable technologies and techniques, their main features and their applications in Smart Buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy systems are in a state of transition due to national energy and climate policies. The Finnish Government has declared a national target of achieving carbon neutrality by 2035. This will require further reductions in carbon intensity of the Finnish energy generation mix. Some of the energy related emission reductions could simultaneously be achieved through effective energy efficiency measures in the buildings sector. In this paper, the effectiveness of these measures is studied in alternative long-term energy system scenarios with varying CO 2 reduction targets for the energy supply sector until 2050. The results show that initial carbon intensity of energy mix has a significant effect on the achievable CO 2 emission reductions of demand-side measures. Moreover, assigned system boundaries can significantly affect the results, especially in a low-carbon energy system, where energy savings mostly reduce the use of wood-based biomass in the energy production. Furthermore, long-term perspective for identifying the environmental effects of an energy efficiency measure is recommended, since they often have a long economic lifetime and due to structural changes in the energy system, the marginal energy production unit changes over its lifetime. Consequently, the CO 2 emission reduction potential of an energy efficiency measure can vary over its lifetime. • Building sector demand-side measures are analysed in broader energy system context. • CO 2 emission reduction potential depends on the carbon intensity of marginal unit. • Marginal emission factor can change during the lifetime of demand-side measure. • System boundaries can significantly affect the results in a low carbon energy system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent surveys on the condition of the Italian school building stock provide information on its relevant seismic behavior and fire safety levels, however no information is made available on its thermo-hygrometric conditions and energy behaviour, despite the fact that the former has a considerable impact on the use and physical conditions of indoor environments and the latter plays a fundamental role in limiting the buildings operating costs, as literature abundantly shows. This paper reports the results of a study carried out on a sample of Italian school buildings, substantiating their high levels of energy consumption, and describes the application of a specific method of analysis used for identifying the main causes of these, therefore allowing to propose some possible strategies for retrofitting, aimed to improving the building energy efficiency and environmental quality, by way of simulations and validation of their relevant effects and benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Much of the energy utilised in domestic water heating is wasted to the drainage system by applications such showers, baths, dishwashers etc. The recovery of this waste heat from domestic waste water flows has been shown to be a viable method of improving the energy efficiency of buildings. However, many existing systems only operate satisfactorily when the heat exchanger is in a vertical orientation due to the nature of waste water flow within drain pipes. This orientation requirement presents a barrier to the full scale implementation of this technology as many dwellings may not have sufficient space to accommodate a vertical heat exchanger in their waste drainage system. This paper outlines the development and analysis of a horizontal drain water heat recovery system for domestic showers. The results of the investigation show that it is possible to recover energy from horizontal shower drains using a drain water heat recovery device at a satisfactory level of efficiency. The results also demonstrate that such a system may be economically viable depending on a number or external factors. The implementation of this technology on a national level was shown to have the potential to reduce energy usage and CO2 emissions significantly. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Economic, energy, and sustainability metrics are key performance indicators for process operations. The relative importance of these metrics varies from plant to plant, and often some metrics are in conflict with each other (sustainability vs. profitability). In this paper we discuss the current plant environment and how various metrics can be aligned by focusing on energy efficiency. Power-steam systems are the major energy drivers for most plants, and we discuss possible operational changes that might improve energy efficiency, as well as the role of process control. Managing the interplay of real-time optimization and regulatory control is a challenge for the future, as well as interfacing with the implementation of smart power grids by the utility industry. Combined heat and power along with energy storage presents interesting control and optimization opportunities to maximize energy efficiency. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: ‘Gher’ farming is a unique system that incorporates the joint operation of three enterprises: freshwater prawn, fish and HYV rice, and is expanding rapidly in the coastal regions of Bangladesh because of its proven high income earning potential. In this paper, the sustainability of this system is evaluated by analysing its performance in terms of energy use by applying a stochastic distance function approach which revealed interesting and unexpected results. The prawn enterprise which is the key income earning component is found to be technically inefficient while the rice enterprise is found to be efficient. The net energy balance and the energy use efficiency of the ‘gher’ farming system is estimated at 18,510 MJ ha−1 and 1.72 respectively. The ‘gher’ farmers are operating at a very high level of technical (energy) efficiency (92%). Diversification amongst enterprises is associated with technical (energy) inefficiency. However, larger operation size enhances efficiency. The key policy implication is that the ‘gher’ farming system can be sustained in the long run provided that productivity from the rice enterprise remains high. Also, policies to support the expansion of ‘gher’ farm sizes will improve efficiency. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

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]

While designing the volume of a building, architectural solutions can be employed to achieve greater energy efficiency for the entire lifecycle of the building. However, currently this possibility is not sufficiently utilised. The paper provides a comparative analysis of architectural solutions, presenting the ones that not only allow for a reduction in energy losses through the external envelope of a building considering the local climatic conditions; but also make it possible to increase the use of energy from renewable resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Urbanization is a demographic, economic, and land transformation process. Building construction and operation are integral aspects of urban land use change and contribute to material and energy resources consumption and the resulting carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in urban areas. In this paper, we ask two questions regarding the urbanization process: 1) Do the land, material, and energy use efficiencies associated with the construction and operation of buildings increase over time? 2) Do the gains in resource use efficiencies offset the increases in resource demands due to the magnitude of urbanization? To answer these questions, we use a systematic approach similar to a material flow analysis and apply it to the Pearl River Delta, a rapidly urbanizing region in China. We use a combination of satellite data and official statistics to evaluate changes in urban population density and building density from 1988 to 2008. Both density measures decrease from 1988 to 2003; after 2003, building density increases while population density continues to decline. We also track the indirect impacts of urban land expansion on material and energy demands and associated CO2 emissions using concrete and heating/cooling as proxies for building construction and operation, respectively. Throughout the study period, structural changes and efficiency gains decrease the demand per unit floor area for both building materials and energy. However, the efficiency gains are outstripped by the magnitude of urban expansion, therefore leading to an increase in the demand for resources and CO2 emissions per capita. Our results show that focusing only on gains in efficiency for individual buildings without considering the scale of urban expansion results in underestimate of the cumulative energy, material, and greenhouse gas emissions impacts of urbanization. We emphasize the distinction between the rates versus the accumulations of these impacts over spatial and temporal scales. We discuss the relevance of the Environmental Kuznets approaches to tackling environmental impacts that are cumulative in nature and may lead to irreversible changes in the environment. We conclude that tracking the energy, materials, and emissions impacts of urbanization requires a multi-scale approach that ranges from the individual building to the urban region. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions without hampering economic growth is a significant issue for China. Taking into account environmental sustainability principles, this study analysed the energy efficiency of 30 regions of China for the period 2002-2007. By employing a data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach, this study included undesirable CO2 and SO2 outputs and the desirable GDP output in the model. Empirical outcomes demonstrated that the overall average technical efficiency (TE) of China is 0.843, indicating a 15.70% input inefficiency. Among three geographic areas, the east has the highest technical efficiency, with the highest ability to set up clean-burning power plants based on best technology available. Performance in the west is less good because of much inefficient technology. Finally, the study demonstrates detailed management implications of the BCG matrix. The most important contribution of this paper is a detailed demonstration of an energy performance evaluation mechanism for China. The valuable results and insights gained can be equally effectively applied to studies in other developing countries facing the same gaseous emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Commercialization efforts to diffuse sustainable energy technologies (SETs 1 [1] The SETs can be viewed as a portfolio of technologies, which are expected to use renewable energy resources as input to produce modern energy carriers. ) have so far remained as the biggest challenge in the field of renewable energy and energy efficiency. Limited success of diffusion through government driven pathways urges the need for market based approaches. This paper reviews the existing state of commercialization of SETs in the backdrop of the basic theory of technology diffusion. The different SETs in India are positioned in the technology diffusion map to reflect their slow state of commercialization. The dynamics of SET market is analysed to identify the issues, barriers and stakeholders in the process of SET commercialization. By upgrading the ‘potential adopters’ to ‘techno-entrepreneurs’, the study presents the mechanisms for adopting a private sector driven ‘business model’ approach for successful diffusion of SETs. This is expected to integrate the processes of market transformation and entrepreneurship development with innovative regulatory, marketing, financing, incentive and delivery mechanisms leading to SET commercialization. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The recent rise in the environmental and economic costs of energy demands a need to design and build more sustainable building systems. Curtain wall assemblies show great promise—the spandrel panels within them can be natural solar collectors. By using a solar dynamic buffer zone (SDBZ) in the spandrel cavity, solar energy can be efficiently gathered using the movement of air. There is a need for a numerical model capable of predicting performance of this system. This paper presents the quantification of a prototype SDBZ curtain wall system through experimental testing in a laboratory environment. Results from the experimental testing were used to validate a one-dimensional numerical model of the prototype. This research shows a SDBZ curtain wall system as an effective means of reducing building heating energy consumption. The numerical model showed good correlation with experimental results in the expected operating range of the system. Given the lack of published literature for similar systems, this research acts to validate a simple, innovative approach to collect solar energy that would otherwise be lost to the exterior using already existing components within a curtain wall. This research shows the SDBZ curtain wall has the potential to act as a significant solar collector. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Energy efficiency, generation from renewable sources and more recently energy flexibility are key elements of present sustainability policies. However, we are beginning to see a recognition of the need to couple technological solutions with lifestyle and behavioral changes, sometimes labeled under the term "sufficiency". Appropriate policies and design principles are necessary to enable sufficiency options, which in turn reveal that there is a bidirectional influence between the building and the district/city level. In this context, the authors discuss how city and building re-design should be implemented combining energy efficiency, flexibility, production from renewables and sufficiency options for achieving a positive energy balance at the district level even within the constraints of dense cities. Based on a review of recent advances, the paper provides a matrix of interactions between building and district design for use by building designers and city planners. It also compares possible scenarios implementing different strategies at the building and urban level in a case study, in order to evaluate the effect of the proposed integrated approach on the energy balance at yearly and seasonal time scales and on land take. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] This paper evaluates the cost benefits of combining energy efficiency practices and hybrid photovoltaic-biomass distributed generation systems to design standalone rural housing in Morocco. This integrated analysis approach seeks an enhancement of the economic and environmental sustainability of rural housing units in the Fez region. It utilizes optimization selection procedures to identify both, the energy efficient and renewable energy technologies readily available in the region to reduce the cost and energy use of the housing units. The results of the integrated design indicate that an optimally designed house can reduce life cycle costs by 25% and carbon emissions by 47.13% compared to the current practices. Applying the optimized design to 30-residential houses can result in a decrease of the cost of energy (COE) for the proposed system from 0.155 US$/kW h to 0.125 US$/kW h. However, a sensitivity analysis confirmed that the availability of biomass resource influences greatly the economic viability of the proposed hybrid system. Increasing the daily collected biomass resources from 2.5 to 8.5 tons/day causes a drop in the COE by 46.6%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dielectric medium (kerosene) between the tool electrode and workpiece forms a reaction product, owing to thermal effect of discharge in the process of electrical discharge machining (EDM), which is emitted from the surface in the form of harmful gas and may get into the operator's body by breath system inhalation and contact with skin. Therefore, exhaust emissions should be considered as important performance indicators for the green machining in the process of EDM. Moreover, energy efficiency and machining productivity should be improved and the cut process must take ecological constraints into consideration. Thereafter, the definition of green manufacturing helps to evaluate different and sometimes conflicting aspects of the manufacturing process, such as machining productivity, surface quality, energy efficiency and exhaust emissions. But it is difficult to dynamically adjust the weights of different aspects according to the actual processing conditions. This paper proposes a framework for optimization of cutting parameters to minimize energy consumption and exhaust emissions during electrical discharge machining of Al 6061 and SKD 11. Three cutting process parameters (peak current, pulse period, and duty cycle) are tested against material remove rate (MRR), surface roughness (Ra), energy efficiency per volume (EEV), and exhaust emissions characteristics (EEC) for EDM of these two materials. First, the process energy and exhaust emissions are analyzed. The results show that EEV is negatively correlated with surface quality (Ra) for both Al 6061 and SKD 11 material. Second, two data analyses (Taguchi and adaptive-network-based fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) analyses) are utilized to obtain high MRR and best Ra, EEV and EEC for the desired machining performances and environmental sustainability. It is found that the relative errors between the predicted values and experimental results of MRR, Ra, EEV and EEC are all not more than 20%, and found that the maximum of mean relative errors of them is 13.04%. Finally, a framework implemented by an optimization system, based on ANFIS, enhanced cuckoo search (ECS) algorithm and desirability function, is built to obtain the desired cutting parameters. It is found that high peak current (8.94A) and pulse period (500 μ s) are recommended to obtain multi-objective optimization for machining Al 6061, and that the optimal solutions of the EEV and EEC are significantly decreased, by 87.13% and 37.09%, respectively. Similarly, high peak current (8.77A) and pulse period (261.5 μ s) are recommended to obtain multi-objective optimization for machining SKD 11, and the optimal solutions of the EEV and EEC are significantly decreased, by 93.73% and 46.85%, respectively. Thereafter, it can be concluded from the above research that the proposed technique offers significant advantages and potential for applications in the green manufacturing field. Image 1 • Energy efficiency per volume was negatively correlated with Ra. • Maximizing energy efficiency and minimizing exhaust emissions by empirical models were obtained. • Balancing the machining performances and environmental sustainability was considered. • An optimization system with manual multi-objective weights was build. • Green regions of exhaust-friendly and energy-friendly were acquired. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on manufacturing scheduling has historically emphasized production efficiency. With rising environmental consciousness, manufacturing companies are paying increasing attention to energy efficiency on the shop floor. Manufacturing consumes a large amount of electricity globally. The mismatch between electric supply and demand has been a huge problem, which even becomes worse when renewable energy becomes more popular. The time-of-use (TOU) pricing policy is a widely used demand response (DR) approach, trying to align demand to supply. This paper considers energy-efficient scheduling of a single batch processing machine with non-identical job sizes and release times under a TOU electric tariff so as to simultaneously minimize total electricity cost, a criterion of environmental and energy sustainability, and makespan, a criterion of productivity. A mathematical formulation is developed to optimize electricity cost and makespan. Due to computational complexity, a hybrid multi-objective meta-heuristic algorithm is developed to find the Pareto front. Two constructive heuristics are presented to group jobs into batches. Two different approaches are presented to improve total electricity costs. The performance of the proposed model and algorithms is evaluated through extensive numerical experiments. Production managers can use the model and algorithms provided in this work to make a trade-off between productivity and sustainability. • A new energy-efficient scheduling tool for batch processing machine with arbitrary job sizes and release times. • Consideration on the time-of-use pricing policy for tradeoff between productivity and total electricity cost. • A fast hybrid multi-objective meta-heuristic algorithm to find the Pareto front for practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A practical multi-agent problem in the automobile industry is defined. • A comprehensive approach including System Dynamics and game theory is provided. • Energy efficiency, environmental awareness, and social welfare are considered. • A function for the average of vehicle kilometers traveled in a unit of time is suggested. • Several managerial insights for both manufacturers and governments are presented. This paper looks at the effects that environmental policies have on car manufacturers. A standing problem for car manufacturers is determining both a car's price and its level of energy efficiency. The South Korean government has sustainable goals that encompass saving energy, seeking revenue, and advancing social welfare. This study highlights four decision variables in two groups for the government. The government determines the optimal value of each goal, while maintaining a threshold for the two other goals as constraints. The four decision variables are determining the car sales tax, determining the fuel tax, determining the cost of educating the public about environmental awareness, and determining the percentage of government's cooperation in the manufacturer's research and development expenditure. For the purpose of this study, a new function, average of vehicle kilometer traveled in a unit of time (AVKT), is suggested for calculating the average distance driven by a car over a given period of time, based on the cost of fuel, the car's energy efficiency, the driver's environmental awareness quotient, and the rebound effect. This newly defined multi-agent problem is solved by looking at the structure of the Stackelberg game, and equilibrium solutions are offered by implementing the backward induction procedure. By considering demand and profit for fuel, this study offers the most efficient goals and strategies for both car manufacturers and fuel producers alike. Finally, this study offers several results and insights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]