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An eco-efficiency optimisation study on unidirectional carbon/glass fibre-reinforced hybrid composites with natural fibre (i.e., flax) and without flax is presented in this paper. The mechanical performance was assessed by determining the flexural properties obtained via finite element analysis (FEA)-based simulation. Given the required flexural strength, optimal candidate designs were found using a set of design rules and regression analysis, with minimising the cost and weight being the objectives. An eco-efficiency framework was applied to determine the eco-efficient hybrid composites. Life cycle assessment was an indispensable component of the framework as it helped determine the life cycle environmental impacts and costs of the hybrid composite materials. The environmental impacts and cost values were converted to the eco-efficiency portfolios of these composites for both comparison and selection purposes. The hybrid composites using bio-based flax fibre have been found to be eco-efficient in most of the cases due to the avoidance of energy-intensive and expensive reinforcing materials. The environmental impacts of the hybrid composites using flaxes are 12 to 13% less than the ones using no flaxes and the former are 7 to 13% cheaper than the latter, making the flax-based hybrid composites eco-efficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The majority of companies using rotating machinery have implemented decarbonization strategies that systematically analyze every part of their organization to try to adopt more sustainable practices. Lubricants are an essential component in rotary equipment, so it makes sense to find optimal ways to manage these fluids in the most sustainable way, including improving their performance. Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) is the recognized tool for assessing the overall environmental impact of a product from cradle to grave and is useful to compare different liquid management strategies. This paper outlines several ways in which turbine oils can be managed more sustainably by considering the life cycle assessment of different practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of China Sciencepaper is the property of China Sciencepaper and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper aims to apply a generic model for the transition to a product classified as a Product-Service System in the bike sharing case. For theoretical foundation, a systematic literature review was conducted, and then, the model was developed and validated with PSS experts and statistical analysis. Considering the need of PSS products to be aligned with the Tripple Botton Line, a Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) was performed to measure the environmental and human health impacts of a bike. Aiming to design an action plan and mitigate these impacts, the generic model was applied. The results contribute to (i) the theoretical development of the literature by proposing a generic model validated and applicable in other cases, and (ii) with the practical development, since with the application of the LCA and the model, it was possible to identify an alternative to mitigate the impacts of the most polluting part of a bike: the aluminum frame. Thus, this study proposes substituting aluminum with a polymeric biocomposite: a blend between polypropylene and bamboo fiber. Given the theoretical modeling of this work, future studies can focus on the practical validation of this blend through mechanical testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper carried out the environmental and economic evaluation for the hydrogen storage technologies on the sedan with Type 3 and Type 4 high-pressured and cryogenic vessels based on life cycle analysis (LCA) method. It is found that Type 4 high-pressured vessel manufacture emits minimum greenhouse gas (GHG) with 5539 kgCO2 eq, which is lower than Type 3 high-pressured vessel of 7219 kgCO2 eq and cryogenic vessel of 135 000 kgCO2 eq in their whole life cycle. The economic analysis shows that Type 4 high-pressure vessel has the lowest cost of 10.4 US$/kgH2 and the minimum energy consumption of 5.2 kWh/kgH2, which is lower than Type 3 high-pressure vessel and cryogenic vessel. With this result, Type 4 high-pressure vessel is a promising choice for hydrogen mobility on the sedan regarding its environmental impact and economic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the background of climate change, the steel industry is considered one of the least eco-friendly industries. Flax fiber-reinforced polymer (FFRP) is an emerging sustainable alternative to steel reinforcement bar; however, its application is much restricted due to its interior material properties. This paper proposed a novel way to form closed-shape stirrups with FFRP, which is suitable for replacing steel stirrups. A multi-disciplinary investigation was conducted concerning the structural and environmental performance of FFRP stirrups in reinforced concrete (RC) beams. Seven specimens were tested under a three-point bending load. The FFRP stirrups substantially increased the shear capacity and ultimate vertical displacement by 77% and 74%, respectively, and shifted brittle failure to ductile failure. The closed-shape stirrups avoided the stress concentration and increased the utilization of FFRP tensile capacity to over 80%. Decreasing the spacing of FFRP stirrups effectively increased the shear capacity and ductility; increasing the width or layer of FFRP stirrups improved ductility only. A life cycle assessment (LCA) was later performed to evaluate and compare the environmental performance of steel, FFRP, and carbon FRP stirrups. As compared to carbon FRP and steel ones, FFRP stirrups substantially decreased the global warming and fossil depletion potential by over 60%. The main contributors to the environmental impacts of FFRP stirrups were the heavy metal released into the water and terrestrial environment during the cultivation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper is to ensure remanufacturing by considering the possible design, material and process changes. A novel remanufacturing quality function deployment (RQFD) was developed to bring out the possible changes to the existing product. To accomplish the above objective, RQFD phase I (voice of customer to engineering metrics) and RQFD phase II (engineering metrics to components of case product) were developed. Based on the results, the improvements options in design, process and materials were identified. The sustainability performance for the original and modified design was identified to understand the environmental benefits achieved through the proposed method. The proposed method has been applied to brake caliper components. The practical applications of the research are expected to help the manufacturers of brake calipers to minimize negative impacts on the environment, energy conservation and natural resources and are safe for stakeholders and are economically sound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The performance of natural fiber reinforced polymer (NFRP) in the flexural strengthening of reinforced concrete (RC) beams is evaluated and optimized in this paper. The optimization comprehensively considers the structural performance, cost efficiency and environmental impacts. Main design parameters – such as the fabrication, the bond condition and the section shape of NFRP laminates – are investigated. The test results revealed that the partial bonded NFRP laminates tended to increase the flexural stiffness within the elastic range. Given the same reinforcement ratio, narrow and thick NFRP yielded the best structural performance. The prefabrication of NFRP laminates using vacuum infusion method greatly decreased the volume fraction of epoxy resin and the related environmental impacts without changing structural performance. The assessment of material cost and environmental impacts indicated that the prefabrication NFRP laminates had obvious advantages over the carbon FRP laminates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of the climate crisis, the development and the path of growth and expansion of renewable energy systems is an urgent task, but must carried out with great care on environmental compatibility and protection. Renewable energy supply systems that are suitable for grid-bound heat supply, particularly in urban areas in Europe, are geothermal binary plants that provide power as well as power and heat. This paper will present studies whose objective was the assessment of hydrogeothermal power and heat generation in low-enthalpy regions from the environmental standpoint. The German Environment Agency published results of a network of studies conducted between 2008 and 2016 on the analysis of detailed and comprehensive environmental impacts of the geothermal energy generation in Germany and has continuously evaluated these findings. In this article, the results of the Life Cycle Assessment are discussed, taking into account all effects and material flows within the entire life cycle. Based on these balances, differing geothermal systems are compared to each other and to other renewable and fossil energy generation systems in order to assess the ecological advantages and disadvantages of these systems. Taking into account local environmental impacts as well a comprehensive ecologic evaluation of potential environmental and human health impacts becomes possible. The paper presents the results of a) the mass and energy fluxes of the process chain along the life cycle, and b) the local environmental impacts along the life cycle with regard to the environmental indicators of these cases. The focus is on the impact of site and plant parameters. Concluding, it can be summarised that geothermal power and heat generation is a very low-carbon technology and can contribute to a sustainable energy supply. Hydrogeothermal plants show a significantly low surface consumption, and environmental impacts are only locally relevant and technically controllable. Through the development of optimised overall concepts, geothermal based power and heat generation can achieve minimal environmental impacts in all areas. The combined heat and power generation from geothermal resources is by far the most environmentally and climate-friendly energy supply compared to all other regenerative and fossil systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the development of a low-alkali eco-friendly solidifying agent (SA) for dredged sludge using cement (C), steel slag powder (SSP), granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBFS), and phosphorus gypsum (PG). First, an orthogonal test design is employed to determine optimal proportions. The impact of material components on the unrestricted compressive strength (UCS), water absorption, pH, and microstructure of the solidified dredging sludge (SDS) is studied across varying initial water contents. Then, key factors affecting UCS development are identified as cement, GGBFS, and curing age. The pH of SDS decreases to 8.5–9.5 at 28 days, attributed to the continuous reduction in alkalinity facilitated by GGBFS reacting with Ca(OH)2. At last, life cycle assessment (LCA) highlights the practical and ecological advantages of ratios C4-G8 and C6-G6. This research contributes valuable insights into the efficient and eco-friendly solidification of dredged sludge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Sakarya University Journal of Science (SAUJS) / Sakarya Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü Dergisi is the property of Sakarya University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Accounting for transportation is an important part of the life cycle analysis (LCA) of beef cattle production because it is associated with energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. This paper describes the development and application of a model that estimates energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions of transport in beef cattle production. The animal transport model is based on the weight and number of animals in each weight category, type of trailer, vehicle, and fuel used. The energy consumption and greenhouse gas emission estimates of animal feed transportation are based on the weight of a truckload and the number of truckloads of feed transported. Our results indicate that a truckload is travelling approximately 326 km in connection with beef cattle production in the study region. The fuel consumption amounts to 24 L of fossil fuel per 1000 kg of boneless beef. The corresponding greenhouse gas emission is 83 kg. It appears from our results that the majority of energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions are associated with sending the finished cattle to slaughterhouses and bringing feeder cattle to feedlots. Our results point out appreciable reductions in energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by changing from conventional fuel to bio-fuel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Coffee cut-stems (CCS) are typically left in the field after coffee harvesting as fertilizer or used partially for cooking and drying of coffee grains. However, the energy contained in this residue is not completely exploited. For this reason, different applications for CCS have been considered to obtain innovative products. This work aims to evaluate the environmental impact of energy generation through two biorefinery systems using CCS as feedstock. Methods: The life cycle assessment (LCA) considers a cradle-to-gate approach, beginning at the seed germination and ending at the production of ethanol, electricity, and low-pressure steam. Inventory data of the coffee production are collected from national reports. Mass and energy balances are calculated using an integrated methodological approach comprising the conceptual design and optimization of the CCS biorefineries. Results and discussion: CCS production is one of the hotspots in both evaluated biorefineries due to the use of high amounts of fertilizers, contributing to most of the environmental impact categories. From the two assessed biorefinery configurations, the system with the lowest environmental benefits was the one that considered the generation of electricity and steam. Factors such as the high emissions of exhaust gases (mainly composed of CO2) and the use of water for steam generation were the main contributors. The alternative solution I (AS-I) has the lowest environmental impact in comparison with the base case. From the sensitivity analyses, the use of energy allocation approach provided better performance than the system expansion approach. However, the selection of one approach over the other highly depends on the evaluated impact category based on the uncertainty analysis. Conclusions: The production of CCS has the highest contribution to the overall environmental impact of the evaluated biorefineries, and thus, we need available information of the coffee crop production including the production of co-products, such as CCS. We present a detailed inventory of the production of CCS in Colombia as an important contribution for further research in the area of coffee-based biorefineries. Based on our inventory, the production of bioenergy (electricity and steam) for a coffee-based biorefinery seems to provide the best environmental performance in comparison to the production of biofuels (ethanol). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hermetic bag storage is a growing innovative technology that can effectively mitigate insect activity in stored grain and preserve quality without pesticides. This study aimed to estimate the environmental and economic impacts of hermetic storage bags as the basis for the sustainable adoption of the technology. This study demonstrated an approach to estimate the environmental impact of using hermetic bags and their superior economic benefits for storing maize at the 1-ton scale over three years. The life cycle assessment (LCA) of six commercially available hermetic bags (AgroZ®, GrainPro, Storezo, ZeroFly®, Elite, and PICS™) from cradle to grave was evaluated and compared using the Sustainable Minds LCA software. The gas barrier liners were analyzed for structure and polymer composition using confocal microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The results showed that bag manufacturing had the highest environmental impact contribution, with 84.6% to 90.8% of the total impacts (mPt). The carbon footprint contribution of the total service life delivered for one hermetic bag ranged from 1.1 to 1.7 kg CO2eq. The economic benefits of using hermetic bags were calculated and compared with traditional storage bag methods for one smallholder farmer using ten (10) hermetic bags storing 100 kg/bag (1 ton) of maize. The results found that using hermetic bags exhibited the highest profit of 1130 USD when used for nine months over three years, while storage loss was maintained at less than 1%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Biomass supply chain optimisation is essential to overcome barriers and uncertainties that may inhibit the development of a sustainable and competitive bioenergy market. The number of research papers presenting optimisation models in the field of bioenergy systems rises exponentially. This paper gives an overview of the optimisation methods and models focussing on decisions regarding the design and management of the upstream segment of the biomass-for-bioenergy supply chain. After a general description of the supply chain and the decisions coming along with the design and management, all selected publications are classified and discussed according to (1) the mathematical optimisation methodology used, (2) the decision level and decision variables addressed and (3) the objective to be optimised. This classification allows users to identify existing optimisation methods or models that satisfy specific requirements. Moreover, the factual description of the presented optimisation methods and models points to opportunities for development of an integrated, holistic approach to optimise decisions in the field of biomass supply chain design and management. Such approach must be based on the consideration of the interrelationships and interdependence between all operations in the entire biomass-for-bioenergy supply chain. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Copyright of Power & Electrical Engineering is the property of RTU Publishing House and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This review on Sustainability covers journal articles and conferences papers published in 2009 and is divided into the following sections: • Sustainable water and wastewater utilities • Sustainable watersheds and water resources management • Industrial and corporate approaches towards sustainability • Stormwater and green infrastructure • Sustainable wastewater technologies • Sustainability assessment and life cycle analysis • Sustainability and energy in wastewater industry • Sustainability and climate change • Sustainability and water reuse • Application of LEED®. The sustainable water and wastewater utilities reviewed sustainable practices, sustainable workforce management, and sustainable financing. The stormwater and green Infrastructure (GI) described the current development in four general categories: new studies of GI and low impact design (LID) system performance; GI/LID system planning and design; modeling of GI/LID systems; and social implications of GI/LID systems. The sustainable wastewater technologies reviewed wastewater treatment, anaerobic technologies, low impact and natural treatment systems, residuals and emissions management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen has been proposed as a low polluting alternative transportation fuel that could help improve urban air quality. This paper examines the potential impact of introducing a hydrogen-based transportation system on urban ambient ozone concentrations. This paper considers two scenarios, where significant numbers of new hydrogen vehicles are added to a constant number of gasoline vehicles. In our scenarios hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (HFCVs) are introduced in Sacramento, California at market penetrations of 9% and 20%. From a life cycle analysis (LCA) perspective, considering all the emissions involved in producing, transporting, and using hydrogen, this research compares three hypothetical natural gas to hydrogen pathways: (1) on-site hydrogen production; (2) central hydrogen production with pipeline delivery; and (3) central hydrogen production with liquid hydrogen truck delivery. Using a regression model, this research shows that the daily maximum temperature correlates well with atmospheric ozone formation. However, increases in initial VOC and NO x concentrations do not necessarily increase the peak ozone concentration, and may even cause it to decrease. It is found that ozone formation is generally limited by NO x in the summer and is mostly limited by VOC in the fall in Sacramento. Of the three hydrogen pathways, the truck delivery pathway contributes the most to ozone precursor emissions. Ozone precursor emissions from the truck pathway at 9% market penetration can cause additional 3-h average VOC (or NO x ) concentrations up to approximately 0.05% (or 1%) of current pollution levels, and at 20% market penetration up to approximately 0.1% (or 2%) of current pollution levels. However, all of the hydrogen pathways would result in very small (either negative or positive) changes in ozone air quality. In some cases they will result in worse ozone air quality (mostly in July, August, and September), and in some cases they will result in better ozone air quality (mostly in October). The truck pathway tends to cause a much wider fluctuation in degradation or improvement of ozone air quality: percentage changes in peak ozone concentrations are approximately −0.01% to 0.04% for the assumed 9% market penetration, and approximately −0.03% to 0.1% for the 20% market penetration. Moreover, the 20% on-site pathway occasionally results in a decrease of about −0.1% of baseline ozone pollution. Compared to the current ambient pollution level, all three hydrogen pathways are unlikely to cause a serious ozone problem for market penetration levels of HFCVs in the 9–20% range. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The efficiency of the same vehicle can vary in different regions, posing unique challenges and implications for electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) within a country. However, most studies have regarded countries as single entities, and it is difficult to assess differences in efficiency between similar entities by simply using the life cycle analysis (LCA) method. To provide the specific environmental efficiency of vehicles in each region, in this study, we used data from 100 cities in 30 provinces in China (4 provinces are not discussed due to a lack of data) and constructed a new road congestion indicator that simulated different road conditions at different times and in different regions. A more effective method, which consisted of LCA, two-stage data envelopment analysis (DEA) and a slack-based model (SBM), was integrated to reflect the phases of LCA more clearly. The results show that the well-to-wheel (WTW) emission range of internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) is 288.28–217.40 CO2-eq g/km, while it is 248.20–26.67 CO2-eq g/km for EVs, which means the WTW carbon emissions of EVs are generally lower than those of ICEVs (except in Heilongjiang Province). Furthermore, it was concluded that provinces with a high proportion of hydropower and a high degree of power autonomy could adjust the proportion of thermal power and inter-provincial power transmission to enhance environmental sustainability, and this would not change provincial environmental efficiency. The analysis suggests that provinces should consider both environmental protection and electricity sustainability when planning their own power development, rather than only focusing on improving environmental efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In remote communities of Canada, diesel is the primary source of electricity and heat. Promoting sustainable and diverse means of heat and power generation is essential to providing reliable and less carbon-intensive energy supply to remote communities. Among renewable energy sources in Canada, biomass is a major source of energy, with wood pellets being a notable contributor. In this study, using wood pellets in a remote community of Canada is investigated using life cycle analysis (LCA). Furthermore, wood pellet combustion is compared with diesel combustion, the most common fossil fuel in these regions. SimaPro (version 8.4.0.0) was used with Ecoinvent 3 as the primary library because of the nature of the feedstock. Harvesting, transportation, sawmill operation, pelletization, and combustion stages are considered in LCA. In doing so, first, life cycle data related to each of these stages are collected with respect to eight impact categories of global warming, ozone depletion, carcinogenic, non-carcinogenic, smog, respiratory effects, acidification, eutrophication, ecotoxicity, and fossil fuel depletion. The results indicate that pelletization and combustion stages have the greatest environmental impact, specifically in terms of non-carcinogenic effects from pelletization and respiratory effects from pellet combustion. Additionally, when comparing wood pellets to diesel, wood pellet combustion exhibits superior performance across various impact categories, particularly in non-carcinogenic effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acrylic acid, one of the most important monomers, has a wide range of uses e.g. in the paints adhesives, textile finishing, leather processing or super absorbents. The production process from propylene is well known and used at industrial scale in the USA, Europe, and Asia. The present paper focuses on the evaluation of the environmental impact of the acrylic acid production process from propylene. Steam is a major raw material in the process under study, consequently different paths to obtain steam are investigated. The process was simulated using commercial software (Aspen Plus, PROII). A productivity capacity of 50,000 tones/year of acrylic acid has been considered. The environmental assessment, evaluated using Life Cycle Analysis method, depends on the material and energy balances generated by simulations. The present work uses a cradle-to-grave approach. The functional unit, to which all the environmental results for the cases under study are reported, is one tone of acrylic acid produced. The boundaries of the system cover: i) acrylic acid production; ii) upstream processes for example catalyst and molten salt production; steam production using various fuels (e.g. natural gas, anthracite, lignite, heavy fuel oil, light fuel oil and biomass) and iii) downstream processes for example: acrylic acid and acetic acid transport to other chemical plants for further processing. The CML (An LCA method developed by the Center of Environmental Science of Leiden University) 2001 impact assessment method was used for comparison between different case studies. The best value for Global Warming Potential (GWP) e.g. 1094.5 kg CO 2 -Equiv./tone is obtained when biomass is used to generate the steam required by the process. For other indicators such as Acidification Potential (AP), Photochemical Oxidation Potential (PCOP) and Eutrophication Potential (EP), the best value is obtained when steam is generated from natural gas. A sensitivity analysis of the environmental impact categories using the different combination of natural gas and biomass was also investigated. The study investigates also the association of the post-combustion amine-based carbon capture technologies with the conventional acrylic acid production process. Such association decreases the value of some environmental impact categories (e.g. GWP) while other impact categories are increasing e.g. AP, Human Toxicity Potential (HTP), Terrestrial Ecotoxicity Potential (TETP). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pears are an important income source in China, and unreasonable management practices have had a negative impact on the sustainability of pear orchards. However, multi-objective synergistic strategies are unclear on a farmer scale. In this study, we quantified indicators of soil fertility (soil organic matter (SOM)), environmental impact (global warming potentials (GWP)), and economic benefit (ratio of benefit and cost (BCR)) and analysed the synergetic strategies based on survey data from 230 smallholders in the Yangtze River Basin (Shanghai City, Chongqing City, Zhejiang province, and Jiangxi province). The average SOM, GWP, and BCR were 28.9 g kg−1, 17.3 t CO2-eq ha−1, and 3.63, respectively. Furthermore, optimised solutions using the Pareto multiple-objective optimisation model can reduce the GWP by 44.6% and improve the SOM and BCR by 34.4% and 43.9%, respectively, when fertiliser N rate and density are both decreased and the ratio of organic fertiliser application is increased compared to farmer management practices. The structural equation model indicated that planting density and fertiliser N rate can directly influence GWP and indirectly increase SOM and BCR; organic fertiliser application directly affects the GWP, SOM, and BCR. Our research provides a bottom-up approach based on the farmer scale, which can improve the sustainability of pear systems, and these findings can be used as guidelines for policymakers and pear orchard managers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flax fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) is an emerging low-carbon alternative to steel. This paper proposes a novel method to streamline and optimize the production of closed type flax FRP. The material properties of flax FRP were greatly improved due to the reliable bonding provided by optimum amount of epoxy resin. The optimized flax FRP stirrups were then used as shear reinforcement in thirteen reinforced concrete (RC) beams, which were subjected to three-point bending until failure. To further improve the performance of flax FRP stirrups in RC beams, the effects due to partial bonding, width and layer of flax FRP stirrups were investigated. The partial bonding of flax FRP significantly increased the effective strain of flax FRP and the resultant shear capacity. Increasing the width or layer of FFRP stirrups minimally improved the shear capacity. The environmental impact intensity of steel, fully and partially bonded flax FRP stirrups were evaluated using life cycle assessment (LCA). The optimized flax FRP stirrups decreased environmental impact intensity by minimizing the negative impacts of epoxy. As compared to the steel stirrups, the partially bonded flax FRP stirrups decreased the environmental impact intensity in most categories by 50–100%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban planners are facing a growing demand for high performance projects in terms of control and reduction of environmental impacts. However, the complex and multi-dimensional concept of sustainable urban development often loses its core substance when confronted to practice realities of urban projects because of a lack of adapted decision support tools. The question arises as to how the effective consideration of the environment and the limitation of the project impacts can be taken into account as soon as the early design stages? As an answer to this question, we developed NEST (Neighborhood Evaluation for Sustainable Territories), a life cycle assessment (LCA) tool for the built environment at the neighborhood scale. LCA has been increasingly used to assess the environmental impacts of construction products and buildings during the last 25 years. And today, a new trend stems in the application of LCA to larger systems such as urban islets or neighborhoods. NEST addresses early design stages, and uses 3D models of neighborhood projects to quantitatively assess a set of environmental impacts. In this paper we propose a presentation of the tool, and an application through the case study of a new development project for a peri-urban area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is the adaptation of an Ecodesign methodology for product publishing SMEs that have implemented Lean Management. To obtain verification of this methodology, an eco-redesign case study of a product has been carried out from a furniture publishing SME which applies lean management to its entire production chain. Some proposed improvements resulting from this case study were: Design for dismantling, Multifunction, Dematerialisation, Increasing the material of renewable origin & Use of recycled material. The results indicate that this ecodesign proposal may be applied in a simpler procedure in companies which have already lean management criteria. Even more, lean management facilitates the development of life cycle assessment studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Linear motor drives (LMDs) are well known to provide significant advantages in terms of positioning speed and accuracy over traditional screw drives (SDs), making them better suited for high-speed high-precision machine tools. However, their use in such machine tools is severely limited by their tendency to consume a lot of electrical energy and cause thermal issues, particularly under high cutting loads. A hybrid feed drive (HFD) has recently been proposed as a possible solution to this dilemma. The HFD switches between LMD and SD actuation depending on the mode of the manufacturing operation, thus achieving speeds and accuracies similar to LMDs while consuming much less energy. This paper presents a comparative life cycle analysis (LCA) of the proposed HFD with an LMD as the baseline for the comparison. The functional unit is taken as the production of parts that involve heavy cutting by a small-sized 3-axis precision milling machine for 250 8-hour work days per year over a 12-year first-use life span. Energy savings provided by the HFD during its use phase vis-a-vis the additional energy investments into the HFD at various phases in its life cycle are compared. The analysis predicts a net positive impact, in terms of energy and the environment, for the HFD compared to the LMD under high cutting loads. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The results of a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study can be affected by several uncertainty sources, mainly due to the methodological choices, the initial assumptions, i.e. allocation rules, system boundaries and impact assessment methods, and the quality of the available data. Then, the experts should estimate the extent of the above-mentioned sources of uncertainty for improving the reliability and the representativeness of the obtained eco-profiles. To estimate the uncertainty is necessary to obtain reliable, transparent and representative LCA results and to correctly support decision-makers in the selection of different product or process options. The following paper starts from a LCA study of the so-called “Sicilian tiles”, which are typical roof tiles employed in restoring old buildings of the Mediterranean area. The authors identify the most relevant sources of uncertainty in the LCA study. Then a sensitivity analysis is performed to estimate the effects on the tile eco-profile of different secondary input data and of the chosen methods for the environmental impact assessment. The results show that, in some cases, significant differences in the energy and environmental indices can be obtained, pointing out the need of developing sensitivity analysis for strengthening the reliability of the obtained eco-profiles. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In recent years, numerous attempts have been made to reduce the global environmental and associated socio-economic impacts of construction activities to achieve sustainable development goals. A sustainable system or activity refers to an eco-friendly, cost effective and socio-politically viable solution. This paper utilizes triple-bottom-line (TBL) sustainability criteria for the selection of a sustainable flooring system in Tehran (Iran). Three types of block joisted flooring systems – concrete, clay, and expanded polystyrene (EPS) blocks – have been investigated using life cycle analysis (LCA). Proposed approach provides a comprehensive evaluation system based on TBL criteria that are further divided into thirteen sub-criteria. It includes: (1) Environmental concerns (resource depletion, waste and emissions, waste management, climate change, environmental risk, embodied energy and energy loss); (2) Economic concerns (material cost, construction cost, and occupation and maintenance cost); and (3) Socio-political issues (social acceptance, vulnerability of area, and building weight). Analytical hierarchy process (AHP) is used as a multi-criteria decision making technique that helps to aggregate the impacts of proposed (sub)criteria into a sustainability index (SI) through a five-level hierarchical structure. Integration of AHP and LCA provides a framework for robust decision making that is consistent with sustainable construction practices. A detailed analysis shows that the EPS block is the most sustainable solution for block joisted flooring system in Tehran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The portable computer or notebook has become an integral and even essential aspect of modern life. Year-in-year its price to the consumer falls while its performance grows, yet recent analysis suggests that pound-for-pound its environmental costs are amongst the highest of any product on the planet. In this paper we explore the market price of “sustainable” notebooks. Drawing on the framework of the ‘tragedy of the commons’ we postulate that as manufacturers shift costs away from the commons to comply with sustainability standards, the cost to the consumer will inevitably rise. We test our hypothesis by comparing the prices of EPEAT Gold certified notebooks with uncertified portable computers. The results are discussed, alternative hypotheses explored and further research outlined. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Global climate change concerns have lead to growing demand for renewable energy sources (RES). However the viability of these sources is critically dependent on environmental, economic and technological considerations. This paper focuses on the environmental aspect of future photovoltaic (PV) systems which are assessed through life cycle analysis (LCA). Previous LCA studies on commercially available PV systems are reviewed. The sustainable evaluation methods used in these studies are also discussed. These methods are applied to the hybrid quantum dot (QD)-based solar cells currently under development within a project between the University of Manchester and Imperial College London. The aim of this project is to develop affordable solar cells with efficiencies up to 10% for micro-generation applications. Presently hybrid QD-based solar cells are not commercially fabricated; therefore the study is mostly based on very small laboratory-scale production. For easy comparability 10% conversion efficiency and 25 years lifetime are initially assumed. Lower conversion efficiencies and shorter lifetimes likely to initially characterise emerging PV technologies such as the hybrid QD-based solar cells are discussed. Comparable criteria for sustainability of electricity-generating systems namely net energy ratio (NER), energy pay-back time (EPB-T) and CO2 emissions per unit generated during lifetime are found to be lower than current commercially available PV modules. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In the present work, a comprehensive numerical model was developed to predict the levelised cost of energy (LCOE) for offshore wind farms. A case study is further performed based on the potential developments at the offshore area of the New York State. In the present work, some specific local limitations in the United States are considered by following in line with the present European development experience. A ten-year historical wind data set is used to evaluate the wind farm energy production. The effects of distance to shore, rated power, life span, operation height, farm capacity and seasonal operation plan on LCOE are evaluated. An optimal site giving an LCOE of 123.4 $2018/MWh is found in this paper. In addition, a novel factor named as wind farm energy density (WFED) is suggested in the present study. It shows that when considering the limited coastal area as an issue, a large capacity wind farm may not have good performance compared with a lower capacity wind farm in terms of energy production. The 508 MW wind farm has a better WFED compared with either a 330 MW wind farm or an 800 MW wind farm under the current investigation. • LCOE analysis for a potential offshore wind development at the New York State is provide. • Ten years historical wind data is used for estimating the power output. • LCOE of three different rated power wind turbines is calculated. • An optimal site giving an LCOE of 123.4 $2018/MWh is found. • A novel factor – wind farm energy density factor is raised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a system’s engineering model for the strategic planning of an integrated solid waste management at local level and more specifically in an island with touristic development. The model was developed for the island of Corfu, but it can also be implemented in other touristic islands all over the world. It combines the worth benefit utility analysis (WBU) with the life cycle analysis (LCA), taking into account environmental, financial, technological and social criteria. The model’s implementation in the island of Corfu demonstrates that the most efficient method for the waste disposal in Corfu is the combination of the material sorting at the waste source and the production of compost from the organic fraction. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A prototype pilot plant testing for a novel complete treatment strategy for landfill leachate aimed to decrease its environmental impact was studied. Pre-treatment of leachate was performed by means of a membrane biore-actor (MBR) decreasing inorganic carbon concentration by 92 ± 8% and achieving N removals of 85%. Suspended solids removal in the MBR >99.9% conditioned leachate for the next membrane step. Spiral-would reverse osmosis (RO) regenerated membranes were used to treat the MBR effluent. This RO unit achieved a global recovery of 84% along with operation and rejections of >95% for most of the analyzed compounds. Since RO permeate did not meet discharge standards, promising results were obtained after a second RO pass was applied. The RO brine produced was further concentrated by an electrodialysis reversal (EDR) unit, achieving an averaged recovery of 67% throughout the operation. The average recovery of the whole pilot plant system was >90%. The reduction of global brine volume together with the use of regenerated membranes are key to the environmental impact of the process and contribute to closing the loop of the circular economy. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), performed according to ILCD Handbook guidelines, demonstrated that proposed new treatment had lower environmental impact than conventional treatments currently used in landfill facilities. Concretely, for the nine impact categories evaluated, the proposed treatment presented an average impact reduction of 93% compared to an advanced oxidation system and an average reduction of 26% when compared to a conventional RO treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adverse environmental impact, a consequence of the ever-increasing industrial activities since the Industrial Revolution, is a growing global problem. Corrective measures in the last several decades have proven insufficient and ineffective to remedy such environ mental damage. To protect the world we live in, it is necessary to adopt a preventive approach to environmental pollution. In order to elimi nate the problems from the very source, Environmentally Conscious Manufacturing (ECM), Design for Environment (DfE), and Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) are now being pursued, falling under the paradigm of Concurrent Engineering (CE). This has led to the need of this research to define environmental consciousness, and to analyze its design implications. Environmental decision-making at the design stage of a product is considered vital to preventing negative environmental impact. Based on concems of all phases in the product life cycle, this re search defines seven criteria to measure environmental consciousness, including recyclability, reusability, maintainability/serviceability, emissions, energy consumption, materials, and durability. It also examines their significance and implications for design. Interactions among these criteria are analyzed by classifying their relationships as positive, negative, and partially positive and negative. To further quantify the degree of environmental consciousness of product design, mathematical and graphical representation of the imprecise environmental data is exemplified. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Under the background of climate change, the steel industry is considered one of the least eco-friendly industries. Flax fiber-reinforced polymer (FFRP) is an emerging sustainable alternative to steel reinforcement bar; however, its application is much restricted due to its interior material properties. This paper proposed a novel way to form closed-shape stirrups with FFRP, which is suitable for replacing steel stirrups. A multi-disciplinary investigation was conducted concerning the structural and environmental performance of FFRP stirrups in reinforced concrete (RC) beams. Seven specimens were tested under a three-point bending load. The FFRP stirrups substantially increased the shear capacity and ultimate vertical displacement by 77% and 74%, respectively, and shifted brittle failure to ductile failure. The closed-shape stirrups avoided the stress concentration and increased the utilization of FFRP tensile capacity to over 80%. Decreasing the spacing of FFRP stirrups effectively increased the shear capacity and ductility; increasing the width or layer of FFRP stirrups improved ductility only. A life cycle assessment (LCA) was later performed to evaluate and compare the environmental performance of steel, FFRP, and carbon FRP stirrups. As compared to carbon FRP and steel ones, FFRP stirrups substantially decreased the global warming and fossil depletion potential by over 60%. The main contributors to the environmental impacts of FFRP stirrups were the heavy metal released into the water and terrestrial environment during the cultivation process.

• NFRP stirrups greatly increased the shear capacity and achieved satisfactory ductility. • The optimum design used narrow and thick NFRP laminates at large spacing. • The environmental impact of NFRP stirrups was slightly lower than that of steel stirrups. • The benign environmental effect of natural fiber was totally nullified by the impregnated epoxy resin. This paper comprehensively evaluates the feasibility of using the environmentally friendly natural fiber reinforced polymer (NFRP) stirrups in reinforced concrete structures. The evaluation is conducted in terms of structural performance and environmental impact. Flax fabrics impregnated in epoxy resin were wrapped around longitudinal reinforcement to form close-type stirrups. A total of eight specimens were prepared using NFRP stirrups, and then subjected to three-point bending load. The structural performance is presented in terms of load-deflection relation and the shear capacity contribution. The obtained structural performance indicated that the NFRP stirrups provided sufficient shear capacity and maintained satisfactory ductility. The optimum design of the NFRP stirrups used narrow and thick NFRP stirrups at large spacing. The environmental impact assessment using cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA) showed that the NFRP stirrups yielded slightly lower environmental impacts than the steel stirrups. The benign environmental impacts of the flax fibers were totally nullified by the negative effects of epoxy resin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]