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Purpose: The construction sector significantly contributes to global carbon emissions (CE). Assembled buildings, especially assembled interior decoration (AID), have recently gained popularity due to their potential carbon reduction benefits. This study aims to explore the environmental and economic benefits of assembled interiors by comparing AID and traditional interior decoration (TID). Methods: Based on the life cycle assessment (LCA) framework, the environmental life cycle costing (ELCC) assessment process was refined and a Dynamic ELCC (D-ELCC) model specifically for hospital buildings was developed. The model was applied to compare two interior decoration techniques in the hospital case and identify key factors through sensitivity analysis, along with dynamic scenario interpretation to assess the environmental and economic impacts over the life cycle. Results and discussion: AID lowers life cycle carbon emissions (LCCE) by 187.58 kg CO2-eq/m2. Excluding the operational phase, AID reduces CE by 57.95%. However, AID's D-ELCC is higher by 131.14 yuan/m2 ($17.93). However, only the material production and transportation stages are more costly, possibly due to the immaturity of the assembly industry chain at present, resulting in higher initial investment costs. Nonetheless, AID's sustainability and economics are superior in the long term. Conclusions: The application of AID in hospital buildings with high energy consumption can effectively enhance the environmental and economic benefits of such buildings. To improve the market competitiveness of AID, it is important to increase the use of eco-friendly materials, and to improve standardization and integration in design and production processes, thereby reducing D-ELCC across the board. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The prominence of energy conservation in worship buildings like mosques, temples, and churches has led many nations to enact regulations for enhanced energy efficiency. However, the upfront costs often deter decision-makers. This research focuses on mosques, investigating cooling load reduction strategies and assessing their long-term cost dynamics. Methods: To address the challenge of meeting energy requirements for community worship places, with mosques as a case study, this research conducted a comprehensive investigation. Various cooling load reduction strategies, both active and passive, are assessed to understand their impact on long-term cost dynamics. DesignBuilder V7.0.2 software is used for simulations. Results and discussion: In a hot and dry climate context, this research carefully selected strategies like external shading, exterior wall insulation, R10 polystyrene roof insulation HRBLUE2 windows, night ventilation practices, and LED lighting systems, steered by environmentally aware construction principles. The objective is to determine the optimum means of management of cooling loads through a delicately adjusted cooling load strategy. Moreover, the life cycle cost related to those cooling strategies is determined. The recommendation includes implementation of strategies that effectively reduce cooling loads, decrease life cycle cost, and improve overall performance, specifically adapted for mosque environments. Conclusion: This research emphasizes the crucial necessity for practicing sustainability in the construction of community buildings utilized for worship and the significance of energy conservation. By investigating cooling load decreasing strategies for mosques and their corresponding long-term cost implications, it suggests valuable solutions for addressing the energy needs of such places. The findings emphasize the importance of executing strategies that reduce cooling loads efficiently along with improving overall performance and minimize. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To limit climate change and reduce further harmful environmental impacts, the reduction and substitution of fossil energy carriers will be the main challenges of the next few decades. During the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), the participants agreed on the beginning of the end of the fossil fuel era. Hydrogen, when produced from renewable energy, can be a substitute for fossil fuel carriers and enable the storage of renewable energy, which could lead to a post-fossil energy age. This paper outlines the environmental impacts and levelized costs of hydrogen production during the life cycle of water electrolysis technologies. Results: The environmental impacts and life cycle costs associated with hydrogen production will significantly decrease in the long term (until 2045). For the case of Germany, the worst-case climate change results for 2022 were 27.5 kg CO2eq./kg H2. Considering technological improvements, electrolysis operation with wind power and a clean heat source, a reduction to 1.33 kg CO2eq./kg H2 can be achieved by 2045 in the best case. The electricity demand of electrolysis technologies is the main contributor to environmental impacts and levelized costs in most of the considered cases. Conclusions: A unique combination of possible technological, environmental, and economic developments in the production of green hydrogen up to the year 2045 was presented. Based on a comprehensive literature review, several research gaps, such as a combined comparison of all three technologies by LCA and LCC, were identified, and research questions were posed and answered. Consequently, prospective research should not be limited to one type of water electrolysis but should be carried out with an openness to all three technologies. Furthermore, it has been shown that data from the literature for the LCA and LCC of water electrolysis technologies differ considerably in some cases. Therefore, extensive research into material inventories for plant construction and into the energy and mass balances of plant operation are needed for a corresponding analysis to be conducted. Even for today's plants, the availability and transparency of the literature data remain low and must be expanded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Straw management is extremely challenging, and irrational treatment can cause environmental pollution and affect the development of a circular economy in agriculture. The high-value utilization of agricultural straw as an important pathway to promote circular economy and achieve carbon neutrality goals has attracted much attention. Herein, the environmental and economic performance of the main straw-based fuel (straw-to-biochar, ethanol, and biogas) and material (straw-to-board and paper) utilization scenarios in China were compared from a life cycle perspective. This study is based on data from the eFootprint platform and the China Life Cycle Database. The results show that straw production for fuel has a better environmental performance than the production of materials option for water use, acidification potential, eutrophication potential, and respiratory inorganics. Utilizing straw to produce fuels or materials can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 155–1296 kg CO2 eq. and decrease primary energy consumption by 8949–31270 MJ. Straw-to-board has the worst energy conservation and emission reduction performance but has the best economic performance with an LCC value of − 46.38 USD. The scenario with the shortest payback time is straw-to-ethanol, which take only 2 years. Sensitivity analysis reveals that the product has the most significant impact on the environmental and economic performance. The study analyzed the environmental impacts and economic benefits of these straw utilization pathways to provide solutions for sustainable straw management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well understood that many of civil projects require large sums of money annually to preserve their assets during the operation phase. Operation and maintenance costs typically account for over 80% of life cycle costs (LCC). Thus, decision-making based solely on ownership costs cannot be optimal in the long run. To address this concern, the use of LCC is suggested for assessing project cost performance. The diversity of civil projects and the importance of decision-making in such projects have led to the development of numerous studies in this field. Given the diversity of LCC-related problems and its special place in the scientific community, various studies have been conducted. Yet, the substantial number of studies poses a challenge in identifying research procedures and emerging areas. Therefore, scientometric techniques were used to analyze 2804 papers published (to date) by researchers in this field. The co-occurrence network of keywords, co-authorship of authors, and journal citations were examined, and renowned authors and research fields were identified. The results indicated that 57% of studies related to infrastructure and 43% buildings. Also, the literature on LCC-based structural design, one of the newest and perhaps most neglected branches was analyzed. One of the gaps in this field is overlooking the analysis of LCC adoption in the seismic design optimization of high-rise and irregular structures, which needs much more attention to be paid in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As efficient activators of peroxymonosulfate (PMS), cobalt ions play an important role in the degradation of organic pollutants. It is imperative to synthesize PMS activators from low-cost materials with uniform structures to improve the catalytic efficiency and cycle life and reduce the cost of wastewater treatment, which has practical importance. In this work, alkali-activated slag geopolymer microsphere-supported Co catalysts (Co-GMs) were synthesized via a simple solution impregnation method and used for the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB). The Co-GM/PMS system is highly efficient, and the degradation rate of RhB (40 mg/L) reached 99.8% within only 10 min. Moreover, Co-GM has a wide pH range from 3 to 9 and good anti-interference performance for other ions, as well as low Co2+ leaching (0.809 mg/L) and favorable reusability. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) were explored via radical quenching experiments and electron spin-resonance (ESR) spectroscopy, which revealed determined that the major ROS involved in the degradation of RhB are 1O2 and SO4·−. The synergistic effect of free and nonfree radicals plays an important role during degradation. Moreover, four probable degradation pathways were proposed via liquid‒phase mass spectrometry (LC‒MS). The results revealed that the removal rate of total organic carbon (TOC) reached 74.2% within 60 min. This research innovatively proposed the application of geopolymer composite catalysts in advanced oxidation and developed an ultralow-cost PMS activator for highly efficient degradation of RhB, which represents a new choice for wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased use of cogeneration in district heating (DH) systems is important in the pursuit towards a low-carbon society, particularly in light of the ongoing electrification across multiple sectors. Apart from reducing CO2 emissions, cogeneration also contributes to additional income for the DH system owner. Nonetheless, it is important to be aware that the economic and environmental performance of DH systems are directly connected to the energy use within DH networks. This research investigates sector interactions associated with the introduction of a biomass combined heat and power (CHP) and residential energy renovation according to (life cycle cost) LCC optimum and Swedish energy targets, with a focus on CO2 emissions and the system cost of the energy utility company. The study object consists of a DH system in Visby, Sweden, and 920 historic residential building undergoing energy renovation. The results show a profitability of 905–915 MSEK for the DH system with the integration of a CHP. Global CO2 emissions decrease by 32.6–33.1 ktonnes/year, 9.0–9.2 ktonnes/year, and 19.9–20.1 ktonnes/year, for marginal coal-condensing power (limited biofuel), natural gas combined cycle power (limited biofuel), and European average production, respectively. In addition, sensitivity analyses confirm the benefits of cogeneration related to both economics and CO2 emissions based on changes in key parameters of the DH system. Highlights: This paper studies sector interactions between biomass CHP introduction and residential energy efficiency measures. The study object consists of a DH system in Visby, Sweden, and 920 residential buildings. Integrating a CHP decreases the DH system cost by 905–915 MSEK. Global CO2 emissions decrease by 9.0–33.1 ktonnes/year. The reduction in global CO2 emissions is closely linked to the method of CO2 accounting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the effect of using steel slag in different layers of a flexible pavement structure on the permanent deformation performance and life cycle cost (LCC). Materials were obtained from a recent expressway pavement construction project. Physical and chemical properties of steel slag produced in Oman indicated that it can be used in the pavement layers. Results indicated that 100% of slag can be used in the base or subbase layers resulting in a CBR value of 212%. For wearing course (WC) and bituminous base course (BBC) layers, a 30% and 25% replacement of coarse aggregate was recommended based on Marshall mix design method. A finite element program was used to model the pavement sections. Rutting performance was determined based on the dynamic modulus |E*| results and mechanistic empirical pavement design guide (MEPDG) rut models. Rutting was not significantly different from the control section when steel slag was used in the base and/or subbase pavement structure. Rutting increased from 12.5 to 17.9 mm at the end of design life when slag was used in the WC layer. Further increase in rutting resulted when the steel slag was introduced in the BBC layer. LCC analysis based on 75 mm milling and overlay and zero slag cost indicated a reduction of 29.4% in cost when slag is used in both base and subbase layers. Steel slag in WC was recommended for lower volume roads with a higher target rut depth (16.5 mm), in which case LCC increased by 12% compared to the control section. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Winter heating in rural areas of northern China requires about 200 million tonnes of standard coal, of which coal is used as the main heat source, causing serious air pollution and exacerbating the greenhouse gas effect. Abundant "zero-carbon" straw in rural areas is a viable strategy for replacing coal-fired heating. The purpose of this paper is to compare the environmental and economic performance of straw heating scenarios. Methods: The environmental impacts and economic costs of four straw heating models across household, village, township, and county scales were compared through life cycle assessment and life cycle cost methods. In this study, the 24-h heat demand of 1 m2 (5.18 MJ) was used as a functional unit. Results: The results showed that the county scale straw cogeneration (CSC) model exhibits the best environmental performance. The global warming potential (GWP) and primary energy demand (PED) of the CSC model are only 11.17% and 10.82% of the household heating model. Straw heating is preferable at the township scale to the village scale from environmental aspects, and direct combustion heating is superior to gasification. For economic aspects, fuel costs are the highest as a percentage of total costs, and the CSC model has the lowest economic costs, with an LCC of 47% of the HSP model. Replacing 20% of coal with straw for heating can reduce annual emissions by 128 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent and the energy conservation and emission reduction impact by 0.17 (19.97%) in rural areas of China. Conclusions: Straw heating reduces the environmental impact as scale increases. At the same scale, straw direct combustion for heating has better environmental and economic performance than gasification. The county scale straw heating model has 89% lower carbon emissions than household scale, and has the best overall performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Robust assessments are needed to identify the best circular economy (CE) approaches related to their contribution to achieving a CE by simultaneously considering the complexity of the three pillars of sustainability (environmental, economic, social). In this regard, the circular life cycle sustainability assessment (C-LCSA) framework was recently developed. This study aimed to demonstrate its applicability and capability of identifying trade-offs and interlinkages between the different dimensions using a case study of different CE approaches to carpet tiles. Methods: C-LCSA integrates circularity and life cycle sustainability assessments (LCSA). Thus, this study applied the material circularity indicator (MCI) in parallel to life cycle assessment (LCA), life cycle costing (LCC), and social life cycle assessment (S-LCA). The last technique was applied as social hotspot assessment. Five CE approaches of carpet tiles produced in the US, including strategies like reducing the consumption of primary materials through recycled and bio-based feedstock or replacing carpet tiles for a longer overall service life, as well as recycling, were assessed and compared to their mainly linear counterpart. Results and discussion: The study revealed that recycling carpet tiles containing recycled and bio-based materials at the end-of-life (EoL) resulted in the lowest global warming potential (8.47 kg CO2 eq.) and the highest circularity (MCI value of 0.76, with 1 indicating the maximum level of circularity) compared to the other scenarios. However, this scenario had a trade-off with a higher acidification potential (0.039 kg SO2 eq.) and higher costs (US$19.98) compared to the disposal scenario. On the other hand, the scenario using primary, non-bio-based materials in production and disposing of the carpet tiles at their EoL performed the worst in circularity (MCI value of 0.11) and implied high environmental impacts while being more cost-effective (US$10.27). Conclusions: C-LCSA transparently revealed interlinkages in terms of circularity and the overall sustainability performance of different CE approaches. While no significant differences in terms of social hotspots were identified, approaches associated with a higher circularity and improved environmental performance in most impact categories tended to result in higher costs. This emphasized the need for individual and holistic assessments of the new CE approach to identify and address trade-offs. To enhance and foster C-LCSA in academia and industry, further studies applying the framework to different sectors are encouraged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Remanufacturing is a process in which used products are professionally repaired or upgraded to restore their performance to new products, but the uncertainties and complexities of the used products can greatly affect the remanufacturability. Blindly remanufacturing used products with uncertain remanufacturability can weaken the economic and environmental advantages. To improve remanufacturing efficiency, focusing on the three-dimensional sustainability of environment, economy, and society, this study presents a quantity remanufacturability assessment method for used products based on life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA) theory, which we call Re-LCSA method. Methods: The remanufacturability assessment method assesses the environmental sustainability using life cycle assessment (LCA) techniques to compare the environmental benefits of product remanufacturing with new manufacturing. Economic sustainability is assessed by using life cycle costing (LCC) theory to compare the cost–benefit of product remanufacturing with new manufacturing. Social sustainability is assessed by using Dreyer's (Int J Life Cycle Assess 15:247–259, 2010a), (Int J Life Cycle Assess 15:385–402, 2010b) social life cycle assessment (S-LCA) methodology to analyze the factors of human rights, working conditions, and social economic related to product remanufacturing companies. The three dimensions of sustainability are respectively expressed by an indicator to assess the remanufacturability. Results and discussion: A used 5-year-old engine is used to illustrate the remanufacturability assessment process. The integrated environmental impact indicator of new manufacturing is more than five times that of remanufacturing, indicating that engine remanufacturing has great advantages over new manufacturing in reducing environmental pollution and energy consumption. The total remanufacturing cost accounts for approximately 50% of new manufacturing costs, with the greatest advantages found in the "raw material production" and "parts production" stages. The social analysis results show that engine remanufacturing performs well in terms of "human rights" and "social economy", but has lower scores in "working conditions." Conclusions: The Re-LCSA method provides an efficient means to identify the remanufacturing feasibility of used products and avoid unnecessary resource waste. It can also help in exploring ways to conserve resources, protect environment, and improve social conditions through remanufacturing. However, the assessment results depend largely on the underlying assumptions and investigation data; therefore, the accuracy of data and system boundaries must be ensured. In addition, the sustainability result is remarkably affected by weighting and value criteria, and it should be thoroughly investigated for rational decision making. Future work should focus on improving the adaptability of this method by developing an expert knowledge system for rational decision making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Existing life cycle sustainability assessments (LCSAs) suffer from a lack of comprehensiveness, consistency and practical tools for implementation. A robust and operational methodology for LCSA of products was developed in which life cycle costing (LCC) covers the economic dimension. We aim to define a comprehensive LCC methodology not tailored to a specific type of product for the purpose of LCSA and test its applicability. Methods: Based on a literature screening, best practice and research needs are identified. Subsequently, a comprehensive LCC methodology is developed that (a) suits LCSA purposes, (b) explicitly addresses double counting, (c) is applicable to different stakeholder needs, (d) addresses externalities and (e) facilitates LCC. It can be used as part of the LCSA, but also stand-alone. The LCC methodology is applied in two case studies, one on the business-to-business (B2B) "beverage carton package" and one on the consumer product "outdoor wool jacket". Results and discussion: To align specifically with the LCSA's environmental part, guidance for an environmental LCC for a generic product was established. While providing minimum requirements, it also allows flexibility in terms of considering discounting or positive cash flows and thus the choice of the economic indicator, depending also on the defined goal and scope, and the chosen stakeholder perspective. Practical guidance on data collection and management is provided in the form of an extended cost breakdown structure and regarding the allocation of product-unspecific costs. Double counting within LCC and within LCSA is addressed. The methodology was applied in two case studies, quantifying the "total undiscounted value" (package) and "total undiscounted cost" indicators (jacket). A solution to communicating results containing confidential data and from different stakeholder perspectives was found for the jacket case. Confidentiality and the lack of publicly available data of sufficient quality prevented the sharing of the "package" results. Conclusions: An LCC methodology for use in LCSA is developed, and its applicability is tested in two case studies. Novelties concern the methodological consideration of different stakeholder perspectives, suggesting alternative aggregated economic indicators, the proposed cost breakdown structure as an economic inventory, guidance on allocation of product-unspecific costs and addressing double counting. Data availability, including confidentiality, and quality remain barriers to publishing LCC results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global phenomenon of urban flooding has become a pressing issue for cities worldwide. Conventional strategies to alleviate flooding, such as augmenting the capacity of drainage systems, are incompatible with the principle of sustainable development. In this regard, Low Impact Development (LID) techniques have emerged as a promising and sustainable approach to manage storm water. The objectives of the present study are to determine the enhancement in functional and structural resilience of an UDS after implementation of LIDs and Life Cycle Cost (LCC) analysis of implementation of LIDs. To showcase the role of LIDs in enhancing drainage system resilience, a case study was conducted in Gurugram, India, a city frequently impacted by flooding. The LID Performance Index is designed to measure the improvement in functional resilience and decrease in the number of vulnerable locations aims to quantify the enhancement in structural resilience. The LCC analysis is carried out to determine the Benefit–Cost Ratio (BCR) of implementing the LID. The study determined the optimal percentage of LIDs to incorporate into the urban drainage system through the creation of various scenarios that considered the impacts of urbanization, climate change, and the cost of implementing LIDs. Results indicated that a system incorporating 10% of LIDs (S1) with a Benefit–Cost ratio of 2.05 was the most suitable scenario for the case area. For the scenario S1 the functional resilience is enhanced by 21% and number of vulnerable locations decreases by 8.7%. The study also identifies the barriers to the implementation of LIDs in developing countries like India, categorizing them into planning, implementation, and maintenance stage barriers. Ultimately, the study provides a comprehensive understanding of nature-based solutions for the effective management of urban drainage infrastructure, offering valuable insights for urban planners, design engineers, and policy makers to protect cities from flood hazards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Additive manufacturing (AM) technologies have demonstrated a promising material efficiency potential in comparison to traditional material removal processes. A new directed energy deposition (DED) category AM process called wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) is evolving due to its benefits which include faster build rates, capacity to build large volumes, and inexpensive feedstock materials and machine tools compared to more technologically mature powder-based AM technologies. However, WAAM products present challenges like poor surface finish and lower dimensional accuracy compared to powder-based processes or machined parts, prevalence of thermal distortions, residual stresses, and defects like porosity, cracks, and humping, often requiring post-processing operations like finish machining and heat treatment. These post-processing operations add to the production cost and environmental footprint of WAAM-built parts. Therefore, considering the opportunities and challenges presented by WAAM, this paper analyses the environmental impact, production costs, and mechanical properties of WAAM parts and compares them with those achieved by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) and traditional computer numerical control (CNC) milling. A high-strength low-alloy steel (ER70S) mechanical part with medium complexity was fabricated using WAAM. Based on the data collected during this experiment, environmental impact and cost models were built using life cycle assessment and life cycle costing methodologies. WAAM was observed to be the most environmentally friendly option due to its superior material efficacy than CNC milling and has a better energy efficiency than LPBF. Also, WAAM was the most cost-friendly option when adopted in batch production for batch sizes above 3. The environmental and cost potential of WAAM is amplified when used for manufacturing large products, resulting in significant material, emission, and cost savings. The fabricated WAAM part demonstrated good mechanical properties comparable to that of cast/forged material. The methodology and experimental data presented in this study can be used to calculate environmental impacts and costs for other products and can be helpful to manufacturers in selecting the most ecofriendly and cost-efficient manufacturing process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to design the best off-grid integrated renewable energy (IRE) system for the electrification of twelve villages located in the Munsyari Block of district Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand state (India). Three off-grid IRE systems consisting of a solar photovoltaic (SPV) system/micro-hydro power (MHP)/biogas generator (BGG) and various battery energy storage (BES) devices like Lead-Acid (LA), Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), and Sodium-Sulfur (NAS) have been proposed and optimized on the MATLAB to meet 8760-hour load demand. According to the simulation results, the total life cycle cost (LCC) and cost of energy (COE) of the SPV/MHP/BGG/NAS (base case) are INR 68.77 million and 16.77 INR/kWh, respectively. It offers approximately 20% and 100% lower LCCs than LA and Li-Ion battery-based IRE systems, respectively. The proposed system includes 676 SPV panels (NSPV), 648 BES devices (NBES), micro-hydro power of 25 kW capacity, biogas generator of 40 kW capacity, and power converter of 114 kW. Furthermore, the performance of the IRE system was evaluated by taking into account the load-resource associated uncertainties, and it was discovered that the LCC, COE, NSPV, NBES, and excess energy are increased by approximately 66%, 75%, 17%, 318%, and 373%, respectively, when compared to the base case. Finally, the sensitivity analysis has been conducted with the variable input parameters, such as inflation rate, discount rate, solar radiation, and dung collection efficiency. It is found that the variation in inflation rate significantly reduces the system LCC by 21.81 million INR. Whereas, variation in discount rate significantly increases the system COE by 5.72 INR/kWh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circularity has emerged as a pivotal concept in the realm of sustainable resource management and business operations. Resource exhaustion and environmental degradation propelled by globalization and the culture of consumerism have intensified the focus on the concept of the circular economy around the world. Nevertheless, the evaluation and quantification of circularity achievements remain uncommon in corporate practices. This article employs a systematic literature review to delve into circularity measurements in the managerial life cycle. Key approaches emerging from the academic literature are examined, including life cycle costing, life cycle assessment, life cycle cost–benefit, life cycle benefit analysis, and life cycle sustainability assessment. The review seeks to offer a comprehensive overview of the methodologies employed to assess circularity in corporate processes, highlighting current challenges and opportunities for effective implementation. We adopt a conceptual model of sustainable and circular life cycle management based on specific performance indicators that allow the environmental, social, and economic impact of processes to be assessed throughout the life cycle of products or services. The implementation of Sustainable and Circular Life Cycle Management from a managerial perspective could support firms to eradicate and quantify waste, preserve the inherent value of products and materials, encourage the adoption of renewable energies, and eliminate harmful chemicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon-based nanodots have garnered recent interest for their simple synthesis and versatile utility, ranging from biomedical to (opto) electronic applications, evolving into a tunable and biocompatible material. Here, for the first time, a biochar (lotus leaf) derived carbon nanodots was synthesized through hydrothermal carbonization. The synthesized hollow spherical biochar was engineered via functionalization by grafting –SO3H active sites. The attained catalyst was broadly analyzed by XRD, FTIR, TGA, BET, SEM–EDX, TEM, and XPS analysis after which it was applied for the acetalization reaction of crude glycerol (a biodiesel by-product) to form solketal, a potential fuel additive to valorize the large waste stream generated from biodiesel industry. Employing the RSM-CCD methodology, the experimental matrix was executed, and subsequent data were scrutinized through multiple regressions to model a quadratic equation. Under specific reaction parameters—a reaction duration of 14 min, a molar ratio of 7.5:1, and a catalyst loading of 5.7 wt.%, maximum solketal yield (95.7%) was attained through the ultrasonication method. Finally, to conclude, life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) for solketal production was studied here which determined the overall cost of solketal production per kilogram to be 0.719 USD ($), indicating high commercial applicability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Municipal solid waste (MSW) has increased dramatically in emerging economies like Bangladesh as a result of rapid urbanization and economic growth. Due to the high land requirements and nature of the waste, options of municipal waste management such as landfilling and waste-to-energy have proven to be expensive and inefficient. Previously, a pilot study on a waste-to-compost program in a decentralized facility was done in Dhaka to evaluate the effectiveness of municipal waste management. Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the life cycle costs (LCCs) of a waste-to-composting facility in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The objective was to ensure economical and effective management of MSW by comparing overall spending to the current and proposed waste management process. Methodology: In order to evaluate the potential of the planned decentralized compost plant, LCC methods using UNEP/SETAC guidelines are used in the study. This includes an additional analysis of environmental and operational costs and benefits. Result: The research found that the overall cost of the decentralized compost facility was $857,110, much less than the expenditures associated with landfilling and conventional composting methods in Dhaka. Conclusion: This study shows that a decentralized waste-to-compost plant may be a profitable option for dealing with municipal solid waste. Its potential to ease stress on municipal governments is highlighted by its much lower price tag. Insightful for policymakers and urban planners in emerging nations confronting comparable waste management difficulties, this research stresses the need to implement such creative, cost-effective approaches in quickly rising metropolitan cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Catalytic biodiesel production with bases can be achieved under relatively mild conditions. However, the basicity of solid alkali catalysts originates usually from electron-rich atoms such as oxygen and nitrogen, rather than electron-deficient metal species. This typically induces aggregation and leaching of active sites, and difficulty in recycling. Here we synthesized a photothermal catalyst made of stable and uniformly dispersed graphene-like biomaterial anchored neighboring potassium single atoms. The production of biodiesel from various acidic oils over this catalyst was evaluated by life cycle assessment and cost analysis. Infrared thermal imaging and finite element simulations were used to study the light-induced self-heating process. We further studied the alkaline behavior of neighboring potassium single atoms by carbon dioxide chemisorption and quantum calculations. Results show biodiesel yield of 99.6% at room temperature, which is explained by a good local photothermal effect at the solar interface and the presence of superalkali sites in the atomic potassium-containing biomaterial. The global warming potential measured for this system resulted in a net negative CO2 emission of −10.8 kg CO2eq/kg. The photothermal catalyst can be recycled with almost no decline in reactivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phase Change Materials (PCMs) have got widespread attention in thermal energy storage (TES) applications as a result of their wide operational temperature range, high energy storage density, and prolonged life cycle at a reasonable cost. They offer a practical solution to mitigate the building energy consumption, addressing interior temperature fluctuations and enhancing demand-side management through the incorporation of renewable energy and off-peak power. This study focuses on evaluating the influence of PCMs on the performance of radiant heating and cooling systems. Based on conducting a comprehensive review, this study explores the current challenges associated with PCM utilization in these systems. The analysis discloses noteworthy discoveries and potential advantages, paving the way for further investigation and wider adoption of PCMs in the construction industry. Notably, the incorporation of a 10-mm PCM resulted in a 2.4% annual reduction in heating energy consumption in comparison with the existing structures. Furthermore, utilizing a 20–50-mm PCM could yield annual heating energy savings ranging from 7.3 to 15.3%. N-eicosane emerges as the most effective PCM for floor heating, achieving an optimal floor temperature and contributing to a substantial 43% reduction in heating energy consumption. Ultimately, radiant floor systems demonstrate the potential to reduce energy consumption by up to 8% and 4% in a comparison with commercial heating and cooling systems, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This summary discusses the importance of transitioning from a linear economy to a circular economy in the agri-food sector. The document emphasizes the challenges and opportunities of implementing circular economy strategies in this sector, as well as the significance of life cycle thinking and assessment methods. It introduces a special issue of The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment that focuses on assessing circular economy strategies in the agri-food sector using life cycle assessment methods. The special issue includes 10 papers that cover methodological advancements, case studies, and literature reviews. The studies primarily focus on the environmental performance of circular strategies, with limited attention given to economic and social impacts. There is a need for more comprehensive assessments that consider all dimensions of sustainability and explore the interconnections between life cycle sustainability assessment and circularity assessment. [Extracted from the article]

Purpose: Life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle costing (LCC) are state-of-the-art methods used to holistically measure the environmental and economic performance of industrial symbiosis networks (ISNs). Existing methodologies face a challenge in unifying LCA and LCC of an ISN in a single model that can disaggregate the network-level results to the entity and resource flow levels. This study introduces UM3-LCE3-ISN, a methodology for multi-level matrix-based modeling for life cycle environmental and economic evaluation of ISNs. Methods: The UM3-LCE3-ISN methodology is designed to conduct a process-based LCA and LCC of any ISN scenario. The methodology constructs a single matrix-based model that represents the physical and monetary flows of an ISN across the entire life cycle. The demand and price vectors in the model can be manipulated to produce LCA and LCC results of an ISN at the levels of the entire network, individual companies, and specific resource flows. A formalism is provided that outlines the steps for model construction and multi-level analysis. Verification of the model constructed can be done by producing scaled technology and monetary matrices of an ISN. UM3-LCE3-ISN is tested through a case study of an urban agri-food ISN comprising five entities engaged in open and closed-loop recycling. Results and discussion: The case study results demonstrated that UM3-LCE3-ISN can be used to compute the life cycle environmental impacts and net present value of ISNs at the three different stakeholder levels. Only one matrix model was required for each scenario to compute the LCA and LCC results for multiple stakeholders through one computation as opposed to several computations in multiple separate models. UM3-LCE3-ISN can produce granular LCA and LCC results regarding specific waste-to-resource conversion processes within an ISN and their contribution to the environmental and economic performance of specific entities. Overall, UM3-LCE3-ISN is able to unify potential conflicting assumptions and data used by different models and obtain more holistic LCA and LCC results that are harmonized for stakeholders across different levels. Conclusion: The UM3-LCE3-ISN methodology can be applied in industrial symbiosis facilitation tools that allow diverse stakeholders such as policy-makers, urban planners, businesses, and product designers to operate on a common platform to determine the life cycle environmental and economic performance of an ISN from multiple perspectives of interest. This would allow diverse stakeholders to make holistic evidence-based decisions and strategies for developing ISNs in different sectors that enable a large-scale transition to a circular economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A laboratory-scale mesophilic submerged anaerobic hybrid membrane bioreactor (An-HMBR) was operated for 270 days for the treatment of high-strength synthetic wastewater at different hydraulic retention times (HRTs) (3 days, 2 days, 1 day, and 0.5 days). Chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency of 92% was obtained with methane yield rate of 0.18 LCH4/g CODremoval at 1-day HRT. The results of lab scale reactor at 1-day HRT were utilized for upscaling and cost analysis. Cost analysis revealed that the total capital cost comprised tank system (48%), membrane cost (32%), screen and PUF sponge (5% each), PLCs (4%), liquid pumps (3%), and others (2%). The operational cost comprised chemical cost (46%), pumping energy (42%), and sludge disposal (12%). The results revealed that the tank and heating costs accounted for the largest fraction of the total life cycle cost for full-scale An-HMBR. The heating cost can be compensated by gas recovery. Sensitivity analysis revealed that the interest rates, influent flow, and membrane flux were the most crucial parameters which affected the total cost of An-HMBR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The continuous use of fossil fuels has prompted scientists and researchers to convert to renewable sources for powering water pumps. By converting sunlight into electrical energy, the photovoltaic (PV) panels can drive the water pump or produce electricity through an inverter. Over the past few years, scientists have been working on developing more efficient solar-powered water pumps. A summary of existing research and development activities for developing a dependable and cost-effective solar irrigation system is described in this study. The paper outlines Bangladesh's present irrigation scenario, the problems associated with solar irrigation systems, and government policies and actions promoting solar irrigation. The main objectives and goals of the proposed project are to develop an efficient standalone hybrid solar PV–pyro-oil generator-based water pumping system for the Barind tract and off-grid remote areas. Moreover, the techno-econo-environmental feasibility of the proposed project has also been evaluated. The total life cycle cost and investment payback period of the 20-year project were found to be 14,377.32 dollars and 7.04 years, respectively. Moreover, the project's internal rate of return and CO2 reduction potential were found to be 21% and 197.1 tons, respectively. Therefore, the project is sustainable and feasible, which provides a guideline for researchers and investors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reasonable treatment of large amounts of sludge excavated from landfills has gained increasing attention due to the diminishing availability of landfill space in China. In this study, five landfill sludge (LS) treatment technologies using life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle cost (LCC) were investigated, i.e., co-incineration in coal-fired power plants (CFPP) and waste incineration power plant (WIPP), co-processing in cement kiln, bricks production, and sintering ceramsite. The LCA results demonstrate that sintering ceramsite outperforms other technologies and LCC results indicate sintering ceramsite also provides the highest economic benefit ($869.94). To further enhance environmental and economic performances of the LS treatment, the substitution of coal with natural gas and biomass can reduce Energy Conservation and Emission Reduction (ECER) index by 74% and 98%, respectively. This substitution can increase economic returns by 24% and 26%, respectively. Furthermore, national-level economic benefit and carbon emission reduction potential of different LS treatment technology alternative scenarios were assessed. Results display that a combination of 50% CFPP, 25% bricks, and 25% ceramsite (biomass) offers the highest economic gain, which is 3.02 times that of 50% CFPP and 50% cement (original case). Conversely, the replacement of 25% brick with 25% cement in the above combination result in the lowest carbon reduction, which is 9.35 times that of the original case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paper mill sludge (PMS) is featured with a high content of cellulose and hemicellulose, and using its characteristics to make paperboard can achieve a high-value utilization of PMS, which has attracted growing interest. In this study, currently prevalent landfill, incineration technologies (generating heat and electricity by incineration), and three paperboard technologies (medium density fiberboard, pulp board, and corrugated paper) were evaluated and compared via life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle costing (LCC) methods. LCA results show that the PMS-to-pulp board outperforms others with an energy conservation and emission reduction (ECER) value of − 2.86 × 10−8, while the landfill exhibits the highest overall environmental impact with an ECER value of 4.80 × 10−9. LCC results reveal that the PMS-to-pulp board delivers the highest economic profit with $257.357, while the landfill is the lowest with $ − 35.63. The PMS paperboard technologies are more economically friendly than the incineration technologies due to additional electricity/steam consumption during the PMS pre-drying process in incineration. In addition, different scenarios were set up to explore national GHG emission reduction potential by increasing paperboard technologies application rate and reducing the proportion of landfill and incineration. The scenario analysis suggests that replacing 90% of landfill and incineration ratio with PMS paperboard technologies could tremendously improve the overall emission reduction performance with − 9.08 × 1010 kg CO2 eq. This result indicates that the PMS treatment technology transformation has a significant favorable impact on the achievement of the "carbon neutrality" target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper argues that firms in certain life cycle stages may be more subjectively valued by individual investors, leading to an optimistic bias in stock prices that is subsequently corrected upon the release of earnings news. Using a cash flow-based life cycle stage classification, introduction and decline stage companies exhibit three-day cumulative abnormal returns (CARs) around earnings announcements that are at least 112 bps lower than firms in growth, maturity, and shake-out stages. Specifically, introduction and decline stage stocks exhibit less positive reactions to positive earnings surprises and more negative reactions to negative earnings surprises relative to companies in other life cycle stages. Lottery stocks' excess returns around earnings announcements (Liu et al. in Journal of Financial Economics 138: 789–817, 2020) also vary based on firm life cycle stage. Our findings suggest that individual investors' optimistic expectations for introduction and decline stage stocks are met with disappointment when value-relevant earnings news is released. This study demonstrates that firm life cycle stage has real implications for stock price reactions to earnings announcements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With rapid urbanization sweeping through emerging nations, such as India, there has been a substantial increase in wastewater production, which poses a significant challenge in terms of its treatment and sustainable use. Conventional wastewater treatment methods, including the moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR), up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB), membrane bioreactor (MBR), activated sludge process (ASP), sequencing batch reactors (SBR), and others, have demonstrated their effectiveness but come at a considerable cost. As these systems age, their operational and maintenance expenses escalate, rendering them less practical and sustainable. Despite the establishment of numerous wastewater treatment plants aimed at adhering to the regulations set forth by the Central Pollution Control Board of India (CPCB), high operating and maintenance costs have resulted in the abandonment of many of these facilities. There is a persistent need for sustainable, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly wastewater management technology to address this pressing issue. A solid immobilised biofilter (SIBF) system is currently under research as a potential solution because of its natural, cost-efficient, and sustainable characteristics. This study engages in a compelling comparative case study of two hospitals in Maharashtra, India. This contrasts the conventional wastewater treatment method (MBBR) with the natural treatment approach (SIBF). This study utilizes a 30-year life cycle cost analysis approach, which distinctly reveals that the MBBR system carries a higher life cycle cost. In contrast, the SIBF system has significantly lower costs because of its reduced energy consumption and operational costs. Four laboratory tests, namely biological oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, total suspended solids, and pH, were used to evaluate the quality of the treated wastewater. This research makes a significant contribution to the field of cost-effective wastewater management solutions by evaluating the feasibility of system implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weigh-in-motion (WIM) technology provides accurate information about road network traffic, including vehicle class and speed, vehicle count, gross vehicle weight (GVW), wheel and axle weights, axle spacing, date, and time of each vehicle passage over WIM sensors. Several factors can affect the WIM system accuracy (i.e., measurement error). The potential site-related influences include road geometry, pavement stiffness, surface distresses, roughness, and climate. Further, the WIM calibration and equipment-related factors also have a substantial effect, including sensor type and array, calibration speed, and speed points used by the WIM controller. The long-term pavement performance (LTPP) database was used to study the relative importance of these factors. The WIM calibration data were available for bending plate (BP), load cell (LC), quartz piezo (QP), and polymer piezo cable (PC) sensors. The representative values of GVW measurement errors were estimated using WIM equipment calibration data for all sensors. The BP sensor showed the lowest errors, followed by LC and QP sensors. The PC sensor indicated the highest WIM measurement errors among all sensor types. Decision tree models developed in this paper illustrate a potential for estimating the expected WIM measurement error range using information about the WIM site and sensor-related factors. The results show that the sensor array and types are the most important predictors, followed by WIM controller functionality (speed points). The data analysis and results also show that for some sensor types, the climate is important. One can integrate this information with equipment installation and life cycle costs to determine the most reliable and economical equipment while also considering WIM data accuracy requirements by WIM data users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In order to train new professionals and researchers in the area, among other purposes, it is necessary to have knowledge about the operationalization of life cycle tools. The objective of this study is to formulate a proposal for conducting environmental life cycle costing (ELCC) from the approach of this content in the scientific literature. Methods: To this end, we developed a review with the analysis of studies that performed the tool in various productive contexts, between 2008 and 2022, published in journals indexed in the Web of Science. The application of keywords defined for the search allowed the retrieval of 4007 documents. Non-peer-reviewed journal articles, conference papers, review articles, editorial materials, meeting abstracts, letters, and book chapters were excluded. The abstracts and methodologies were also read to further exclude articles that were not classified using the ELCC. With the application of these procedures, we obtained 133 articles, which were analyzed in detail. Results and discussion: A proposal for conducting the ELCC was formulated to guide the execution of the tool. This was composed of procedures, challenges, and opportunities. The main procedures identified included the delimitation of a perspective, goal, scope, internal and external cost categories, application of economic indicators, and uncertainty analysis. The main identified challenges refer to the ELCC execution reproducibility, the difficulty in standardizing cost categories, and the limited vision regarding the tool use. The opportunities mapped out encompass the exploration of the thirty-two gaps pointed out for ten research segments, emphasis on the service sector, government programs, creation of databases, and approach to ELCC concepts in educational training. Conclusions and recommendations: The proposal made it possible to systematize knowledge from the way ELCC has been conducted in the last decades in different segments. In the practical field, this study serves to guide researchers, professionals, or students who wish to use the tool to achieve professional goals. Future research can also refine and explore the proposed structure, as well as the identified gaps and other opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shore power (SP) is widely recognized as an efficient strategy for reducing air pollution in port areas. Unfortunately, the adoption of SP has been relatively low, resulting in limited emission reductions and financial losses. To address these challenges, this paper focuses on enhancing the utilization rate of SP, which is meaningful for emission control and environmental protection. This paper combines system dynamics with a study of the benefits of SP, which bridges the research gap to some extent. We propose a system dynamics model that assesses the impact of various incentive policies on the economic and environmental benefits of SP. The model considers the life cycle cost and comprises four subsystems. By conducting a case study on Nansha Port, we find that price subsidies are more effective than construction subsidies in overcoming economic barriers. Furthermore, we observe that the overall economic benefits only increase when the electricity price decreases. This is because lowering the electricity price enhances the profitability of ships without negatively affecting port revenue. Additionally, it is the proportion of the electricity price and service price that determines the overall economic benefits, rather than the SP price itself. Hence, it is recommended to provide preferential subsidies for the electricity price. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bridge components are subject to both structural loads and environmental stressors, rendering them susceptible to accelerated deterioration and potential collapse in the absence of effective maintenance and rehabilitation strategies. Moreover, the phenomenon of wet-dry cycling, coupled with elevated chloride concentrations prevalent in coastal regions, further expedites the degradation process of bridges, thereby escalating maintenance frequency and repair costs. In response to this challenge, the integration of innovative materials such as Ultra High-Performance Concrete (UHPC) is being explored for the development and implementation of maintenance and rehabilitation strategies. This study presents a comparative analysis between conventional methods and UHPC applications for bridge repairs, utilizing Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) to encompass both agency and user costs, and applies Monte Carlo simulation to account for the variability of the modeling factors. A practical case study illustrates the applicability of the LCCA methodology, revealing that the utilization of UHPC contributes to a reduction in the total life cycle cost for bridge maintenance and rehabilitation. Life expectancy, Average Daily Traffic (ADT), and the duration of construction activities during rehabilitation emerge as the most influential factors affecting life cycle costs. The main contributions of the study are the development of the life-expectancy model and step-by-step Life-Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) methodology. Findings from this study aim to identify cost-effective retrofitting techniques for maintaining bridges in a "State of Good Repair." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As global temperatures rise as a result of climate change, there is an urgent need to find ways to keep buildings cool without increasing energy demand, especially in the residential sector. This is especially true in hot climate regions, where demand for air-conditioning drives high household electricity consumption rates, and, in some cases, overburdens the energy supply. This study evaluates the impact of thermal insulation type, thickness, and location on reducing the annual energy consumption in a representative low-rise residential building in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, using the DesignBuilder energy simulation tool. The most effective materials and locations are identified, and the life cycle cost model is used to establish the optimum thickness in each location. Reductions in energy demand, CO2 emissions, and cost savings are also calculated, and these are shown to exceed those made by applying current Saudi building standards. The findings reveal that applying the optimal thickness of thermal insulation to the walls and roof of a two-storey villa significantly enhances its thermal performance and reduces total costs, cutting overall energy consumption, and carbon emissions by up to 42.5% compared with the base case model, with a cost savings of 33% over 30 years, life cycle savings of 86.1 USD/m2, and a payback period of 7.98 years. This study demonstrates the positive impacts of thermal insulation from both an environmental and an economic perspective, with the aim of increasing its application. Its findings are immediately applicable in other hot-arid regions, notably other Gulf states, and its focus on the importance of ensuring that building regulations that mandate thermal insulation are properly enforced gives it wider relevance in other climate regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most significant damages of reinforced concrete is caused by chloride attacks. Solutions including the use of coatings or special concrete with low permeability have been proposed to promote concrete durability in previous research. Geopolymer mixes is a viable alternative in this context. Notwithstanding the advantages of geopolymer, problems with quick setting, shrinkage, increased cost, etc., may make its use problematic. Using permanent formworks (PFs) will therefore be a solution in this respect. PFs can be used both during the construction and during the repair of the structures. In this study, the considerations of fabricating PFs as well as their on-site implementation are examined. Compressive strength, impact resistance during transportation and installation, chloride ions penetration depth, and capillary absorption (from the seams and bulk) are among the experiments which are carried out to assess the performance of PFs. The significant increase in the service life of structures under chloride attack, the elimination of a part of the molding process in the construction of new structures, and the minimization of the low quality of execution are among the advantages of using PFs. The results reveal that the performance of PFs under harsh environmental conditions is appropriate. Although the use of polyurethane mastic in the seams has favorable results, reducing the number of seams decreases the probability of PFs damage. Although the implementing cost of PFs is slightly higher than conventional concrete (~ 37%), the life cycle cost assessment of the structure shows economic savings if PFs are applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The ability of biorefineries to simultaneously produce energy and materials from biomass is a key factor in their role as a fundamental solution for enabling the circular economy. Research in this field is primarily focused on measuring and improving the sustainability of biorefineries. Nevertheless, the evaluation of biorefineries' sustainability faces a significant challenge due to their emergent nature. This challenge stems from inadequate data availability or the presence of data that is fraught with uncertainties and risks, which hampers the assessment process. Consequently, it becomes imperative to undertake comprehensive and extensive analyses of risks and uncertainties to tackle this issue effectively. In addition to this, data simulation also requires subsequent manual steps to transfer these data into assessment software. All these requirements for a comprehensive sustainability assessment combined can accumulate into a resource-demanding, time-consuming, and energy-intensive task. Furthermore, most studies neglect the trade-off between different sustainability aspects and fully comprehend the relative relevance of input elements impacting sustainability. The aforementioned issues reduce the accuracy of biorefinery sustainability assessments. Research methodology: To overcome these challenges, an automated open-access python-based integrated modular platform, named SAB (Sustainability Assessment of Biorefineries), was developed to perform the environmental and economic assessment of biorefineries. SAB extracts the data required for building the life cycle inventory from the ASPEN model. It performs life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle cost (LCC) while taking the input parameters' uncertainty into account. It also determines the impact of input parameters on LCA and LCC results by carrying out a Global Sensitivity Analysis. In addition, SAB evaluates the sustainability performance of a variety of scenarios based on a trade-off decision-making algorithm to determine the scenario with the least environmental and economic risk. To illustrate the capability of SAB, three case studies for lignocellulose-based biorefinery are presented in this paper. Results and conclusion: Overall, the SAB tool enables the evaluation of LCA and LCC of biorefineries transparently in an automated manner. It can be employed as a decision-making tool that gives information about the environmental and economic risks of multiple scenarios. SAB also supports the development of a more sustainable biorefinery concept by giving information about the effects of different variables on LCA and LCC results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary objective of this study is to assess and establish benchmarks for environmental and economic sustainability of biological and advanced biological wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) with different treatment technologies and characteristics. Furthermore, the study aims to determine the beneficial role of WWTPs to reduction of eutrophication potential. Environmental and economic sustainability of ten municipal WWTPs was assessed using life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle costing (LCC). In the first section of the study, LCA was performed to determine the environmental performance of the WWTPs. Furthermore, net environmental benefit (NEB) approach was implemented to reveal the beneficial role of WWTPs to eutrophication potential. In the subsequent section, LCA-based LCC was conducted by integrating the results of LCA. The most significant environmental impact was determined as marine aquatic ecotoxicity, which is highly affected from the generation and transmission of electricity consumed in the WWTPs. Wastewater recovery and co-incineration of sewage sludge in cement kiln ensure significant environmental savings on ozone layer depletion, human toxicity, acidification, photochemical oxidation, and abiotic depletion (fossil fuel) potential. Considering NEB approach, the highest NEB values were found for the WWTPs with the higher organic load and nutrient concentration in the influent. The results of LCC in WWTPs varied between 0.21 and 0.53 €/m3. External (environmental) costs were evaluated higher than internal (operational) costs for all selected WWTPs. While eutrophication was the highest among environmental costs, electricity cost was the highest among operational costs for almost all WWTPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are wastewater treatment technologies that stand out for their ability to degrade Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs). The literature has extensively investigated these removal processes for different aqueous matrices. Once technically mature, some of these systems have become accredited to be applied on a large scale, and therefore, their systemic performances in the environmental and cost spheres have also become essential requirements. This study proposed corroborating this trend, analyzing the available literature on the subject to verify how experts in the AOP area investigated this integration during 2015–2023. For this purpose, a sample of publications was treated by applying the Systematic Review (SR) methodology. This resulted in an extract of 83 studies that adopted life-cycle logic to estimate environmental impacts and process costs or evaluated them as complementary to the technical dimension of each treatment technology. This analysis found that both dimensions can be used for selecting or sizing AOPs at the design scale. However, the appropriate choice of the impact categories for the environmental assessment and establishing a methodology for cost analysis can make the approach still more effective. In addition, a staggering number of processes would broaden the reality and applicability of the estimates, and adopting multicriteria analysis methodologies could address essential aspects of decision-making processes during the design of the arrangements. By meeting the original purposes, the study broadened the requirements for designing AOPs and disseminating their use in mitigating the discharge of CECs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Climate change, environmental concerns, and economic problems pose challenges to the construction sector in Iran, which must provide affordable solutions while addressing environmental issues. Hence, natural earthen building materials are critically needed to reduce energy-intensive and costly construction practices dramatically. The purpose of this paper is to provide a framework for comparing life cycle assessments (LCA) and life cycle costs (LCC), for load-bearing walls of an single-family affordable housing unit in a desert part of Iran, Ardakan City. Methods: To do so, both LCA and LCC for the unit were performed, considering a cradle-to-site perspective. For this purpose, 22 load bearing wall systems are assessed, including 18 stabilized and unstabilized earthen construction techniques, such as adobe, rammed earth (RE), and compressed earth block (CEB), in addition to four conventional wall assemblies of fired brick (FB), autoclaved aerated concrete block (AAC), ceramic block (CB), and concrete masonry unit (CMU). As well as assessing the environmental impact and life cycle costs associated with the life cycle of each wall, the optimal assembly of the wall is also examined. Results: Results show that unstabilized earthen walling alternatives have significantly lower environmental impacts than conventional materials. Conclusions: Sensitivity analysis indicates that by utilizing local materials to the maximum extent possible, impacts can be further minimized. Considering the results, transportation may even account for a greater proportion of EI than wall components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A surge in energy demand driven by the growing number of buildings and insufficient attention to sustainable and optimised energy-saving procedures are likely to threaten the economy and the environment. The building envelope is a significant component that influences energy requirements, directly affecting the operations costs. Thus, the current study considers the envelope to optimise the building's Life Cycle Costing (LCC) and enhance energy efficiency. Therefore, to achieve the aim of the study, Building Information Modelling (BIM) with the integration of Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) is adopted to assess the building envelope and optimise energy use and relevant costs. Three alternatives of wall system: brick wall with rockwool insulation, brick wall with polystyrene insulation and curtain walls system, are considered for the building envelope to enhance energy-saving potential by analysing and comparing the energy demand. To determine LCCA, the Net Present Value (NPV) approach was adopted for the initial expenditure and the associated future costs. It was found that utilising insulation material with low thermal conductivity reduces heating and cooling energy resulting optimised LCC. Compared to curtain walls, the results show that the rockwool insulated wall reduces 17% of energy demand while the polystyrene wall reduces 12.7% of the energy. Similarly, rockwool insulated walls save 5% energy relative to the wall system with polystyrene insulation. Thus, integrating LCCA with the BIM approach at the conceptual design stages promotes energy and LCC optimisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An insulated building-integrated photovoltaic (PV) roof prototype is designed, developed, and experimentally monitored for the composite climatic conditions in the current work. The prototype is monitored based on hourly indoor room temperature, relative humidity, discomfort index, decrement factor time lag, and power generation. To validate the results, a heat conduction equation was developed and simulated considering actual lower income group (LIG) building size and materials. Second-order polynomial equations were derived from simulation results to optimize insulation thickness. Additionally, the economic analysis of the insulated building-integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) roof was analyzed and compared to the reinforced concrete cement (RCC) roof. The results reveal that insulated BIPV roofs outperform the RCC roof, reducing indoor temperatures by 3.34 ℃ to 1.37 ℃ within an optimum thickness range of 0.0838–0.1056 m. A time lag of 1 h and a significant reduction in decrement factor up to 0.29 are achieved. The average discomfort index of the proposed roof during sunshine hours was found to be between 23 and 26.5. The insulated BIPV roofs with levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of the 3.38 Rs/kWh gave a payback period of 6.32 years and a higher internal rate of return of 29.4 compared to RCC roof. The current study increases the feasibility of PV modules to be used as building material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study focuses on an Italian composting plant and aims to investigate the impact of the presence of plastic impurities in the collected biowaste on the environmental and economic performance of the plant. The study is divided into two main steps: firstly, a material flow analysis was conducted to quantify the number of impurities (e.g., conventional plastics and compostable plastics) before and after the composting process. Secondly, a life cycle assessment (LCA) and a complementary life cycle costing (LCC) of the composting process were conducted. The results of the material flow analysis confirmed the initial assumption that conventional plastic remains almost constant before and after the composting treatment, while compostable plastic almost disappears. As far as the life cycle analyses are concerned, the most environmentally damaging phases of the process were the shredding and mixing phases, while the operating costs (OPEX) contributed the most to the total annual costs of the company. Finally, a further scenario analysis was performed, assuming that the plastic contaminants in the treated biowaste consisted exclusively of compostable plastics. The comparison with this ideal scenario can support decision-makers to understand the potential improvements achievable by addressing the presence of plastic impurities in the biowaste. The results show that the treatment of plastic impurities causes relevant environmental and economic impacts, being responsible for 46% of the total waste to treat at the end of the process, almost 7% of the total annual costs covered by the plant owners, and about 30% of all negative externalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of link slab (LS) made of Engineered Cementitious Composite (ECC) in the construction of joint-free bridge deck can meet structural performance requirements and enhance durability to minimize life cycle costs. Studies documented in the literature to date have been limited to composite steel-concrete I-deck girder bridges despite their commonly used reinforced concrete (RC) girder counterparts in construction. This paper deals with two span full RC deck girder joint-free bridges with ECC link slab (ECC-LS) constructed and tested under static and fatigue loading up to 1,000,000 cycles at 4 Hz subjected to mean stress level of 40% of girder ultimate load, followed by post-fatigue static loading to failure. Residual load, deflection, moment, rotation, stiffness, and energy absorbing capacity of fatigued bridge specimens are compared with its virgin (non-fatigued) counterparts to assess structural performance. Experimental moment capacities are compared with those obtained from existing analytical equations. The comparative performance of joint-fee bridge with RC deck girder is compared with its composite steel-concrete I-girder counterpart to assess its feasibility of construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene merges properties such as high conductivity and outstanding mechanical performance. In tribology, it is expected to be an excellent solid lubricant at both the macro-scale and micro-scale. As a result, graphene is particularly suitable for the self-lubricating anti-wear coatings production on metal substrates. Electrodeposition is one of the most effective processes and, therefore, most widely used in industries to produce metal-graphene coatings on conductive substrates. In particular, nickel-graphene electrodeposited coatings are the most present in literature. However, the environmental impact of the galvanic bath represents a limit in the widespread use of co-deposition through electroplating. The electrophoretic deposition may be an appealing alternative despite the solvent used for the graphene dispersion requires a high resource consumption, increasing the environmental impact. This paper investigates electrophoretic deposition and electroplating through life cycle assessment and costing procedures (LCA and LCC). To this aim, different coatings were produced considering many liquid mediums and tested to achieve specified performance. Then, ANOVA, life cycle assessment, and life cycle costing were performed to assess process repeatability and performance in terms of environmental impact. Electrophoretic deposition showed excellent results compared with electroplating, obtaining a maximum wear resistance improvement of over 80% and a significant reduction in environmental impact and cost in all the scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Irrigation plays a vital role in sustaining agricultural production during periods of low rainfall. While ensuring increased productivity and economic profitability, irrigation is associated with high electrical energy consumption. In 2018, Brazilian Decree 9642 eliminated discounts for rural consumers, established in 2013. Leveraging renewable energy sources for irrigation can mitigate nonrenewable energy dependence and reduce the electricity costs for irrigators. This study aimed to nationally compare the economic viability of on-grid photovoltaic systems as an alternative to conventional grid energy for agricultural irrigation, both pre- and post-Brazilian Decree 9642. We conducted a comprehensive life cycle cost (LCC) analysis for both systems before and after discount termination, facilitating more informed economic decisions. The LCC of the conventional grid energy increased by over 40% after the Decree, whereas the photovoltaic system saw a modest increase of 12%. The solar system's 28% cost advantage over the conventional grid post-Decree underscores its resilience to regulatory changes. The photovoltaic system demonstrated viability when its LCC was equal to or lower than the comparator system's LCC. Notably, the economic viability of the photovoltaic system extended across all geographic regions for the grid-connected system. This study highlights the competitive pricing, versatility, and economic impact of photovoltaic systems in the context of changes in Brazilian tariff legislation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coffee sector, one of the top-traded commodity groups worldwide, seeks to overcome its sustainability challenges through different cultural and technical practices, including shaded-coffee plantations, common in Central America and recognized as an opportunity to overcome such challenges. However, there is limited literature explaining the elements that influence decision-making processes for sustainable coffee production; therefore, this study aimed at identifying and modeling the factors driving this sector toward decisions for sustainable coffee practices. The Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) method allowed to represent a comprehensive model of the factors. In addition, a case study of six shaded-coffee farms using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Environmental Life Cycle costing (E-LCC) provided a contextualized analysis. Main findings stress that the farm stage is the highest contributor to the cost and environmental impacts in green coffee production. Moreover, the model undertook outcomes of the LCA, E-LCC and literature reviews, detecting knowledge and costs as key driving factors for farmers' decisions, followed by the certification schemes, policies and the cooperative system as elements that influence decisions. Emissions, biodiversity and climate change adaptation behave as linking factors, while the use of water resources is the most dependent factor. This research establishes a first model to understand and address the factors that influence how decisions are taken in small-coffee farms when moving toward more sustainable coffee production, opening opportunities for further research as well as improved and tailored policy interventions in similar contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explore the reasons behind corporate dividend changes and factors driving those changes during 2001–2021 in Oman, as a unique environment. The implications of our paper contrast with the relevant existing literature which demonstrates a positive correlation between dividends and stock prices in Oman, in support of the signaling theory. Employing multiple methods and after controlling for the nonlinearity in the profitability process, we find virtually no evidence for the signaling theory of dividends for dividend reductions, in terms of future earnings. Furthermore, our analysis affirms the importance of current profitability in influencing the magnitude of and the propensity to change (increase or decrease) dividends in listed Omani firms. We also find that the catering theory of dividends does not have any explanatory power on dividend changes. Further, firms' life-cycle status and real investments have been found to significantly affect the decision to change dividends. Our results, which depart from the findings in the conventional literature, can be attributed to the distinct institutional features in Oman. Our game-theoretic model of dividend signaling/dividend catering provides some explanations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In Lebanon, poultry production is one of the major components of the agricultural sector; however, it suffers from increasing energy costs necessary to cover poultry heating requirements. This affects the profits of brooding farms, namely, small-scale farms in rural areas. Few studies have addressed the use of renewable energy in the poultry industry in Lebanon, with most having focused on modelling ventilation and air quality requirements in poultry houses. Therefore, there is a need to investigate the efficiency of renewable energy sources in providing heating requirements for poultry production. Accordingly, this study evaluates the performance of a solar-assisted, localized heating system in providing heat requirements for chicks in a renovated green poultry house in the Bekaa semi-arid rural region in Lebanon. For this aim, two brooding cycles were conducted during the warm and cold seasons in a greenhouse and were later replicated in a conventional poultry house. Results: The energy inputs in the green and conventional houses, respectively, were 33,995.39 and 40,656.97 MJ (1000 birds)−1 in the warm season, and 37,058.25 and 45,770.05 MJ (1000 birds)−1 in the cold season. Calculated energy efficiency values for the green and conventional poultry houses were, respectively, 0.58 and 0.50 in the warm season, and 0.46 and 0.41 in the cold season. The net return was negative for both systems and the benefit-to-cost ratio from broiler production was calculated to be 0.49 and 0.50 in the green and conventional houses, respectively. Life cycle cost analysis showed that adopting the green heating system in the studied farm would entail an 18.89% increase in cost over a period of 20 years as compared to the conventional system. Conclusion: It was concluded that poultry production is not profitable in small-scale farms in the studied area in Lebanon. The use of renewable energy might be more suited for large-scale broiler operations to achieve their purpose in reducing overall production costs. Optimization of the green system to fully satisfy the poultry energy requirements would render it more economically competitive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This literature review presents a comprehensive review of life Cycle Assessmernt (LCA), as an emerging tool in the field of cultural heritage research and demonstrate how this tool could be useful to support the development of green heritage science into an environmentally responsible field of scientific endeavour. LCA is a standardised, structured, comprehensive, international environmental assessment tool and a rapidly evolving field of research that leverages and harmonises efforts across many sectors to inform environmentally-friendly solutions and choices. LCA has been growing in importance as an evidence-based tool in the field of heritage science, being used as a decision-support tool at micro level (typically for questions related to specific products/processes) and macro levels (e.g. strategies, scenarios, and policy options). This review explores applications of LCA (and the complementary Life Cycle Cost Assessment (LCC), and Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA)) to a wide array of conservation and preservation actions. The paper also examines challenges associated with the application of these life cycle-based methods in heritage science, in order to put forward a set of recommendations to guide the domain of heritage science towards greener and more sustainable practices and impacts. Based on a review of the principles of green chemistry, green analytical chemistry, green engineering, and nature conservation, the paper also attempts to formulate nine principles of green heritage science, taking into account the complexity of research challenges and the environmental and socio-economic sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Health care is a major contributor to climate change, and critical care is one of the sector's highest carbon emitters. Health economic evaluations form an important component of critical care and may be useful in identifying economically efficient and environmentally sustainable strategies. The purpose of this scoping review was to synthesise available literature on whether and how environmental impact is considered in health economic evaluations of critical care. Methods: A robust scoping review methodology was used to identify studies reporting on environmental impact in health economic evaluations of critical care. We searched six academic databases to locate health economic evaluations, costing studies and life cycle assessments of critical care from 1993 to present. Results: Four studies met the review's inclusion criteria. Of the 278 health economic evaluations of critical care identified, none incorporated environmental impact into their assessments. Most included studies (n = 3/4) were life cycle assessments, and the remaining study was a prospective observational study. Life cycle assessments used a combination of process-based data collection and modelling to incorporate environmental impact into their economic assessments. Conclusions: Health economic evaluations of critical care have not yet incorporated environmental impact into their assessments, and few life cycle assessments exist that are specific to critical care therapies and treatments. Guidelines and standardisation regarding environmental data collection and reporting in health care are needed to support further research in the field. In the meantime, those planning health economic evaluations should include a process-based life cycle assessment to establish key environmental impacts specific to critical care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this research is to carry out a literature review on the use of life-cycle cost (LCC) approaches for hydrogen technologies, by analysing its evolution over a decade (2012–2021). Methods: The SCOPUS database has been used to select relevant literature on the subject. After adoption of inclusion/exclusion criteria, a total of 67 papers were selected for our review. Then, we analysed these studies in terms of hydrogen technologies (fuel cells, electrolysers, hydrogen storage approach, etc.) covered by the LCC approaches. In addition, we also performed an analysis of the LCC features — type of LCC (conventional, environmental, social), integration with LCA/S-LCA, guidelines followed, system boundaries (cradle-to-farm gate, cradle-to-consumer, cradle-to-grave, cradle-to-cradle), functional units, financial tools (NPV, BEP, etc.), type of costs included, and life span — to provide a comprehensive view of LCC studies applied to hydrogen technologies. We also discussed and interpreted the most significant findings. Results and discussion: Our main results can be summarised as follows: (i) the number of LCC studies for application to hydrogen technologies has increased in the decade 2012–2021; (ii) China is the leading country for number of publications on the subject (15 papers), even if the most prolific author and institution are Iranians; (iii) a large number of studies performed LCC analysis including fuel cells and/or electrolysers based on proton exchange membranes; (iv) the most widely used LCC approach is a cradle-to-consumer (37 papers); (vi) almost all the studies on LCC of hydrogen technologies included initial, operation and maintenance costs; while other costs — replacement, external, end-of-life — are included in a limited number of papers; (vii) the net present value (NPV) is the most used financial tool. Conclusions: LCC analysis for application to hydrogen technologies has gained interest in recent years. However, the number of studies that explicitly follow LCC or LCA guidelines is very limited (only 7). The life-cycle cost analyses performed are quite incomplete in terms of costs included in the life-cycle stages. Besides, there is a lack of information and uniformity in the use of functional units and financial tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]