Analysis Of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Research Articles

Life cycle embodied, operational and mobility-related energy and greenhouse gas emissions analysis of a green development in Melbourne, Australia

At least 40% of total greenhouse gas emissions are related to the built environment, mostly because of energy coming from fossil fuels. In response, developments with an improved energy efficiency (e.g. so-called ‘green’ or ‘net-zero energy’ developments) have been built. Despite reductions in operational energy use in ‘green’ developments, previous studies have identified trade-offs in terms of embodied energy in construction materials and sometimes transport energy associated with the mobility of building users.This research reconsiders the evaluation of green environmental claims through a life cycle approach. A multi-scale life cycle energy assessment software tool is employed to quantify the energy use and greenhouse gas emissions of a case study medium-scale green development in Melbourne, Australia over 50 years. Results show that the total life cycle energy use and greenhouse gas emissions of the development are 1,492 TJ (2,688 GJ per capita and 107 GJ/m2 of GFA) and 81 ktCO2-e (146 tCO2-e per capita and 6 tCO2-e/m2 of GFA), respectively, compared to 2,220 TJ (4,001 GJ per capita and 159 GJ/m2 of GFA) and 177 ktCO2-e (318 tCO2-e per capita and 13 tCO2-e/m2 of GFA) for a business-as-usual development with the same geometry. In fact, each of the embodied, operational and transport energy requirements represents an important contribution to the life cycle energy: 31%, 35% and 34%, respectively. Therefore, all life cycle stages and scales of the built environment are relevant to the overall energy and greenhouse gas emissions performance of green developments.

Carbon-Negative Policies by Reusing Waste Wood as Material and Energy Resources for Mitigating Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Taiwan

Carbon-negative policies for mitigating the emissions of greenhouse gas (GHG) from the energy sector are becoming more urgent and important. Therefore, the environmental policies and regulatory promotion for reusing waste wood as a carbon-negative resource in Taiwan were discussed in this work, which focused on mitigating the emissions of GHG from the energy industries and the manufacturing and construction industries. Considering the official GHG inventory report, the trend analysis of GHG emissions from the energy and the manufacturing and construction industries was addressed first. In addition, this study placed emphasis on the environmental policies and regulatory measures for the material and energy resources from waste wood according to the promulgation of the relevant acts. It was found that the total GHG emissions from the energy and the manufacturing and construction industries accounted for over 80% of net GHG emissions in 2018. In review of the resource recycling and circular economy, lignocellulose-based (or bamboo-based) char, ecological building material, and wood-to-biofuel pathways (e.g., solid recovered fuel) were discussed in this work because they have been promoted by the central competent authorities of the Council of Agriculture (COA), the Ministry of Interior (MOI), and the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA), respectively. In order to achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs) in Taiwan, carbon-negative policies for reusing waste wood as material and energy resources will play an important role in the mitigation of GHG emissions.

Well-to-wheel analysis of greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption for electric vehicles: A comparative study in Oceania

Electric Vehicles (EVs) are regarded as a feasible solution to achieving decarbonisation in the transportation sector. However, EVs powered by fossil dominated energy sources may offer a discounted solution. This paper presents a comparative study of Australian and New Zealand’s vehicle markets on Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and energy consumption using well-to-wheel analysis. A vehicle uptake projection model is proposed to predict future uptake of EVs and associated emissions under three scenarios with different mix of EVs. Our empirical results suggest that, with the current electricity mix, in terms of energy consumption, Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) perform better than other types in New Zealand and Australia. Emission wise, BEVs emit 90% less GHG than the second-best option Plug-in EV in New Zealand, and 40% less than the second-best, Fuel Cell EVs (FCEVs), in Australia. In the long run, as more “green hydrogen” is produced, FCEVs will play a critical role in minimising emissions. Emissions in the two countries are predicted to reach their peak around 2030, provided that BEVs form the major portion of the EV mix with a higher penetration of renewables and more FCEVs enter the fleet. The empirical outcomes provide important policy insights to support decision making.

Analysis of Energy Structure and Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Walnut Orchards; a Case Study in Ilam Region

Analysis of Energy Structure and Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Walnut Orchards; a Case Study in Ilam Region

Greenhouse Gas Emission Analysis of Integrated Production-Inventory-Transportation Supply Chain Enabled by Additive Manufacturing

Abstract Additive manufacturing (AM), owing to its unique layer-wise production method, can offer evident advantages such as faster production, lower cost, and less waste compared to traditional manufacturing (TM) technologies. The uses of AM in rapid tooling, prototyping, and manufacturing have been innovating the current manufacturing industry from the process level to the entire supply chain. Most existing research on AM is focused on process improvement and new materials, largely neglecting the potential economic and environmental benefits enabled by AM supply chains. This research investigates an innovative supply chain structure, i.e., the integrated production-inventory-transportation (PIT) structure that is uniquely enabled by AM because of its capability of fabricating the entire product with less or even no need for assembly and labor involvement. This paper quantifies and compares the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of TM and AM-enabled PIT supply chains. Since the manufacturing industry is a major source of GHG emissions in the U.S., it needs to be thoroughly studied to explore opportunities for reducing GHG emissions for environmental protection. Case study results suggest that a potential reduction of 26.43% of GHG emissions can be achieved by adopting the AM-enabled PIT supply chain structure. Sensitivity analysis results show that a 20% variation in GHG emission intensity (the amount of CO2eq emissions caused by generating a unit of electricity) can lead to a 6.26% change in the total GHG emissions from the AM-enabled PIT supply chain.

Comparative Analysis of Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emission of Diesel and Electric Trucks for Food Distribution in Gowanus District of New York City.

New York City’s food distribution system is among the largest in the United States. Food is transported by trucks from twelve major distribution centers to the city’s point-of-sale locations. Trucks consume large amounts of energy and contribute to large amounts of greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, there is interest to increase the efficiency of New York City’s food distribution system. The Gowanus district in New York City is undergoing rezoning from an industrial zone to a mix residential and industrial zone. It serves as a living lab to test new initiatives, policies, and new infrastructure for electric vehicles. We analyze the impact of electrification of food-distribution trucks on greenhouse gas emissions and electricity demand in this paper. However, such analysis faces the challenges of accessing available and granular data, modeling of demands and deliveries that incorporate logistics and inventory management of different types of food retail stores, delivery route selection, and delivery schedule to optimize food distribution. We propose a framework to estimate truck routes for food delivery at a district level. We model the schedule of food delivery from a distribution center to retail stores as a vehicle routing problem using an optimization solver. Our case study shows that diesel trucks consume 300% more energy than electric trucks and generate 40% more greenhouse gases than diesel trucks for food distribution in the Gowanus district.

Analysis of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and the Environmental Impact of the Production of Asphalt Mixes Modified with Recycled Materials

This research focuses on the production and construction stages of the life cycle analysis (LCA) of asphalt mixtures modified with industrial waste and by-products, based on the quantification of methane (CH4), carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions produced during these processes. A laboratory-designed and calibrated gas measurement system with a microcontroller and MQ sensors is used to compare the emissions (GHG) of a “conventional” asphalt mix with those emitted by waste-modified asphalt mixes (polyethylene terephthalate and nylon fibres) and industrial by-products (copper slag and cellulose ash). The results obtained show that the gases emitted by each type of material can influence the design criteria from an environmental perspective. Methane gas emissions for asphalt mixes made with polymeric materials increase compared to the production phase of a conventional mix (M1) by 21% for PET and 14% for nylon. In contrast, for mixtures made with copper slag and cellulose ash, this emission is reduced by 12%. In addition, the use of copper slag and cellulose ash to replace natural aggregates reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 15% during the production phase and contributes to the creation of photochemical ozone for a shorter period of time. Regarding carbon dioxide emission, it increases considerably for all asphalt mixes, by 26% and 44.5% for cellulose ash and copper slag, respectively. For asphalt mixtures made of polymeric materials, the increase in carbon dioxide emission is significant, 130% for PET and 53% for nylon. In addition, it is noted that for this type of material, not only the emission of the gas must be taken into consideration, but also the time that the volatile particles spend in the atmosphere, affecting climate change and photochemical ozone (smog). The carbon monoxide gases emitted in the production phase of all the asphalt mixes analysed is similar among them.

Analysis of Greenhouse Gas Emission From Aircrafts and Ground Service Equipment at Tribhuvan International Airport of Nepal

This paper highlights the trend of carbon dioxide emission and its reduction measure at Tribhuvan International Airport, which is the only international airport of Nepal. The landing and take-off (LTO) cycle of three-year (2016 to 2018) data were gathered from Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) for all types of aircrafts and fuel consumption data of each ground service equipment (GSE) were collected from Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC). With the help of LTO emission factors published by different institutions and collected data, the emission was calculated and overall (international, domestic, helicopters and GSE) CO₂ emission in the year 2016, 2017 and 2018 was found to be 56.55, 65.66 and 71.89 Kilotonnes respectively. Upon validation of calculated emission the discrepancy of 2.59% was found. The CO₂ emission was forecasted up-to 2030 considering two scenarios namely, time series analysis and regression analysis. Lastly, for the CO₂ reduction from GSE the scenario; Electrical GSE and Construction of Aerobridge was studied and from which it was found that the CO₂ will be reduced by 80% if implemented.

Degradation of carbon stock (C) in calculation analysis of greenhouse gas emissions in cocoa plantations in South Sulawesi

Cocoa as one of the most developed plantation commodities in Indonesia has a strategic position in efforts to increase carbon absorption to reduce the rate of global warming. As a woody plant, cocoa can absorb CO2 from the air and store it in the form of carbon (C) in its body (biomass). The absorption process of CO2 also affects the rate of photosynthesis in plants as the main ingredient in the breakdown of carbon in the plant body, especially cocoa. This research was conducted in Gantarangkeke District, Bantaeng Regency, South Sulawesi. Sampling was carried out by purposive sampling method on the basis of consideration of the type, density and cropping system applied. The estimation of biomass used a non-destructive method by measuring the diameter at breast height (DBH 1.3 m) and the height of the cocoa. Carbon storage in cocoa is differentiated by several plant ages, namely 5 years and 10 years. The results showed that the carbon stock in Bantaeng Regency was 27.05 tons/Ha.

코로나19 기간 국내 전력 산업의 온실가스 배출 요인분해 분석

2020년 1월 국내 첫 코로나19 환자가 발생한 이후 2020년 전기 판매량은 전년 대비 2.2% 감소하였다. 부문별로는 산업용 4.0% 감소, 서비스용 2.0% 감소, 공공용 3.4% 감소한 반면, 가정용은 거주 시간이 증가하면서 5.1% 증가하였다. 월별 전기 판매량은 2020년 8월에 전년 동월 대비 6.2% 감소하여 가장 크게 감소하였다. 2020년 전기 생산량은 전년 대비 1.9% 감소하였으며, 원자력 발전량은 9.8% 증가, 신재생 19.8% 증가한 반면, 석탄은 13.6% 감소하였다. 월별 발전량은 2020년 5월에 전년 동월 대비 6.2% 감소하여 가장 크게 감소하였다. 2020년 발전 부문의 연료 소비에 따른 온실가스 배출량은 전년 대비 14.1% 감소한 것으로 분석되었다. 전력산업의 온실가스 배출량에 대하여 LMDI 요인분해 분석을 한 결과, 2020년에 인구 효과와 전기 생산 효과는 전력산업의 온실가스 배출량 증가를 야기하였지만, 경제 효과와 전기 원단위 효과, 화력발전 믹스 효과, 배출집약도 효과가 배출량 감소를 야기함으로써 전력 산업의 온실가스 배출량은 전년 대비 감소하였다. 그러나 2020년 말부터는 전기 판매량과 온실가스 배출량이 서서히 예년 수준으로 회복됨에 따라, 2050년 탄소중립을 달성하기 위해서는 전기에 대한 수요 관리와 탈탄소 발전원으로 전환, 배출집약도 저감 등의 대책이 강화될 필요가 있다.

Simulation-Based Analysis of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Sustainable Supply Chains—Re-Design in an Approach to Supply Chain Strategy

The aim of the study was to analyze emissions in the supply chain and to identify, based on a literature analysis, which supply chain strategies could contribute to reducing these emissions. A broad spectrum of new supply chain strategy solutions was identified and, based on simulations of selected products, conclusions were drawn and the advantages and disadvantages of theoretical solutions were presented for individual cases. A critical analysis of the literature and simulation methods were used to illustrate the problem presented in this paper, to identify the factors causing greenhouse gas emissions and to draw conclusions in the form of proposals to redesign existing strategies, considering the factors determining the increase in pollution caused by the performed logistics processes. The results of the simulations and the literature analysis indicate that solutions related to the redesign of strategies must consider the specificity of the product and the nature of the chain. Not all proposed strategies are applicable to all chains, and each new strategy must be carefully considered and consider many factors. An important element to reduce the negative environmental impact of chains is a well-thought-out relationship with suppliers, a well-chosen and adapted logistics infrastructure, including means of transport. The presented solutions clearly indicate that the environmental aspect plays an increasingly important role in chain management and influences the applied chain strategies. However, reducing the environmental impact of a chain is not a revolutionary approach and an easy-to-implement strategy change, but a well-thought-out, long-term process that considers the specifics of the products, the possibilities of alternative sourcing and distribution modes, and the need to invest in logistics infrastructure to make it as environmentally neutral as possible.

Sustainability assessment and optimization of legumes production systems: energy, greenhouse gas emission and ecological footprint analysis

AbstractThis study examined energy, greenhouse gas emission and ecological footprint analysis (EFA) of chickpea and lentil cultivation with different mechanization production systems. In lentil production, except for tillage operations, other operations are performed manually and the remaining straw is burned in the field; while in chickpea production, most of the agricultural operations are mechanized and residues are collected, baled and transferred to the warehouse for animal feed. In this paper, for the first time, some of the sustainability indicators are investigated and compared in two different legume production systems. Energy productivity and net energy for chickpea and lentil production were calculated at 0.036, 0.161 and 2373 and 5900 MJ per hectare, respectively. The CO2emission and ecological carbon footprint were 173 kg CO2−eqand 0.15 global hectare for lentil and 484 and 0.87 for chickpea production. Totally, due to excessive consumption of diesel fuel and lack of proper management, the social cost of emission from straw baling in chickpea production (27.65 dollars per hectare) was higher than burning straw in lentil production (8.77). Multi-objective genetic algorithm results showed the potential of minimizing diesel fuel and fertilizer consumption and no chemical for chickpea production. Overall audition results of two different production systems revealed that traditional lentil production is more sustainable. Therefore, implementations of modern agricultural practices alone are not enough to achieve sustainability in agricultural production systems.

A quantitative analysis of greenhouse gases emissions by multiple fisheries for catching the same species (hairtail and small yellow croaker)

A quantitative analysis of greenhouse gases emissions by multiple fisheries for catching the same species (hairtail and small yellow croaker)

Life-cycle analysis of greenhouse gas emissions from hydrogen delivery: A cost-guided analysis

The cost of hydrogen delivery for transportation accounts for most of the current H2 selling price; delivery also requires substantial amounts of energy. We developed harmonized techno-economic and life-cycle emissions models of current and future H2 production and delivery pathways. Our techno-economic analysis of dispensed H2 costs guided our selection of pathways for the life-cycle analysis. In this paper, we present the results of market expansion scenarios using existing capabilities (for example, those that use H2 from steam methane reforming, chlor-alkali, and natural gas liquid cracker plants), as well as results for future electrolysis plants that use nuclear, solar, and hydroelectric power. Reductions in greenhouse gas emissions for fuel cell electric vehicles compared to conventional gasoline pathways vary from 40% reduction for fossil-derived H2 to 20-fold for clean H2. Supplemental tables with greenhouse gas emissions data for each step in the H2 pathways enable readers to evaluate additional scenarios.

Environmental emissions reduction of a preoperative evaluation center utilizing telehealth screening and standardized preoperative testing guidelines

The healthcare sector is responsible for 8.5% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the United States. To prevent catastrophic effects of climate change, urgent reductions in GHG emissions are needed. Unnecessary preoperative testing and clinic visits contribute to excessive utilization of healthcare resources and patient travel, and addressing them may help reduce emissions. A retrospective cross-sectional analysis of GHG emissions associated with pre- and post- implementation of a novel telehealth preoperative evaluation process was performed on 298 American Society of Anesthesiologists Class I-III patients undergoing elective spine surgery at Yale New Haven Hospital. Electronic health records were evaluated to determine patient health status and necessary or unnecessary preoperative tests and clinic visits. Life cycle assessment and U.S. EPA GHG calculator were used to estimate carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions from preoperative testing, clinic visits, and patient commuting. GHG emissions were reduced by 8.09 kg CO2e (9.6%) per patient, from 84.52 kg CO2e pre-intervention to 76.43 kg CO2e post-intervention (p = 0.019). The largest reduction, 14.71 kg CO2e, stemmed from fewer in-person clinic evaluations. An additional reduction of 18.07 kg CO2e per patient would have been possible if clinic performance were optimized (only necessary testing performed), resulting in a total reduction of 26.16 kg CO2e (31%). A preoperative clinic using established testing guidelines and telehealth can reduce environmental emissions. With more than 40 million annual surgeries nationwide, concerted effort to reduce unnecessary testing and visits should help curtail healthcare GHG emissions.

Analysis of greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union member states with the use of an agglomeration algorithm

The use of fossil fuels as sources of energy is related to the emission of pollutants into the atmosphere. The implementation of international commitments on reducing emissions requires their continuous monitoring. The main energy resources for electricity production in the world include fossil fuels, i.e. oil, coal and natural gas, and according to projections their dominant role in the market of energy resources will persist for at least the next two decades. The aim of this article is to analyse the level of differentiation of European Union member states in terms of emissions of four greenhouse gases and to identify groups of similar countries based on these criteria. Such studies will provide information that will enrich our knowledge about the contribution of each European Union country to the emissions of greenhouse gases. This article uses a taxonomic method - cluster analysis, namely the agglomerative algorithm, which enables the extraction of objects that are similar to each other from the data and then to merge them into groups. In this way, a number of homogeneous subsets can be obtained from one heterogeneous set of objects. European Union countries make up the objects of segmentation. Each of them are described by their level of greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrogen oxides and nitrous oxides. Groups of homogeneous countries are distinguished due to total emissions and due to the level of their emissions per capita. Analysis is based on annual Eurostat reports concerning greenhouse gas emissions.

Trend Analysis of Air Quality Index (AQI) and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions in Taiwan and Their Regulatory Countermeasures

A reduction in the energy-related emissions of air pollutants would not only mitigate climate change but would also improve local air quality and public health. This paper aimed to analyze the trends of air quality index (AQI) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Taiwan by using the latest official statistics. In addition, this study also summarized regulatory measures for controlling air pollution from the energy sector with relevance to sustainable development goals (SDGs). With the joint efforts by the public and private sectors, the change in the total GHG emissions did not vary much with the exception of 2009, ranging from 250 to 272 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent from 2005 through 2019. Based on the data on AQI, the percentage of AQI by station-day with AQI > 100 has decreased from 18.1% in 2017 to 10.1% in 2020, indicating a decreasing trend for all criteria air pollutants. On the other hand, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) lockdown, in 2019, has positively impacted Taiwan’s urban air quality, which was consistent with those observed in other countries. This consistent situation could be attributed to the climate change mitigation policies and promotional actions under the revised Air Pollution Control Act and the Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Management Act of 2015. In response to the SDGs launched by the Taiwan government in 2018, achieving the relevant targets by 2030 can be prospective.

Prediction and evaluation of greenhouse gas emissions for sustainable road transport within Europe

Environmental pollution leads a rise in sustainable development problems. Greenhouse gases(GHG) are one of the most important barriers against to sustainable development and greener cities. When the causes of GHG are investigated, human activities appeared as one of the main reasons. As one of the human activities, transportation has the highest impact on the increase in GHG emissions in green cities. Of the different transportation modes such as air, railways, and road, this study focused on road transportation due to its greater impact when compared to others in terms of GHG emissions. GHG emission estimation should be the initial step to evaluate current status of countries. Therefore, this study aims to make detailed analysis of GHG emissions in four European countries, due to different types of road transport vehicles. Grey prediction is used to estimate the amount of GHG emissions for each road transport vehicle for each country. In conclusion, implications are presented in order to reduce the GHG emissions and to meet sustainable development conditions according to the numerical results of the estimation and it is aimed to prepare a base for new studies about GHG emissions in road transportation.

Intercropping and rotation with leguminous plants in organic vegetables: crop performance, soil properties and sustainability assessment

ABSTRACT This research was carried out in an organic crop sequence of cauliflowers (Brassica oleracea L.) and tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) intercropped with different cover crop species (burr medic (Medicago polymorpha L) and crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.)) grown as living mulches and cultivated on a ridge system on a site characterised by extreme weather events (floods) in the Mediterranean environment. The objectives of the research were to: (i) investigate the impact of the combination of agro-ecological techniques (cover crops and organic fertilisation) on cash crops yield, biomass production and selected physical properties of the soil; (ii) evaluate the sustainability of the systems by using both energy inputs/outputs analysis and assessment of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). Six treatment combinations were compared: intercropping with burr medic throughout the crop rotation, with and without organic fertilisers; growing crimson clover as a living mulch in the winter crop within the crop rotation, with and without organic fertilisers; cropping system without cover crops, with and without organic fertilisers. The findings highlighted that the introduction of cover crops in the rotation should be recommended since it resulted in higher crop production levels without negative impacts on soil physical properties, as well as in the best energy use efficiency and carbon efficiency in the system. The results of the soil physical quality assessment indicated that the agro-ecological practices had no significant effects on the soil properties. Therefore, in the Mediterranean conditions, the proposed agro-ecological approaches can be crucial to achieving sustainable organic agro-ecosystems.

A framework for the design and optimization of integrated fixed-film activated sludge-membrane bioreactor configuration by focusing on cost-coupled life cycle assessment

A rising need to design the wastewater treatment configurations with the uppermost economic and environmental compatibility is felt thanks to the increasing trend of water dilemma all over the universe. In light of this subject, the present study for the first time manifests a comprehensive cost-coupled life cycle assessment data of a highly efficient optimized integrated fixed-film activated sludge-membrane bioreactor (IFAS-MBR) configuration. For this purpose, a broad range of analyses was conducted comprising greenhouse gas emission, energy demand, economic burden, and sensitivity analysis regarding the optimization approach. The maximum removal efficiency at optimum condition was as follows: COD (94.54%), BOD (99.86%), TN (97%), TSS (99.99%), and total carbon (93.45%). From an environmental perspective, climate change dominantly emanated from greenhouse gases emission (27.5%) with the most impact on human health (67.57%). The configuration used an 8.27 MJ energy derived from fossil fuels utilization. However, the IFAS unit played a key role in carbon footprint, dominantly associated with CO2 emission (86.4%). The construction expenditures of IFAS and MBR units illustrated the maximum economic burdens (87.3%). Accordingly, this study can present a stepwise guideline for further related investigations.