Carbon Footprint Approach Research Articles

Rebuilding a traditional village house using the carbon footprint approach

Houses in villages that are traditionally built with locally available materials like wood, mud, and stones are nowadays being demolished and reconstructed. The current trend has been to adopt framed construction with reinforced cement concrete and red bricks as the main materials. This is going to have a significant environmental impact and needs to be addressed with critical observations. This study was conducted for a local village in Tripura state, India, where a new house for the economically weaker section was constructed using stabilized mud blocks and bamboo as a model house. The main objective was to investigate the environmental impact of the transformation of a traditional house constructed out of locally available materials versus masonry and concrete houses. The impact has been represented as the difference in the Carbon footprint of the two houses based on the LCA approach. It was found that the total carbon footprint of the house built with locally available bamboo and stabilized mud bricks having a built up area of 25 m2 was 9.599 tons, 11.736 tons, and 11.401 tons of CO2 eq lower in landfilling, waste treatment and circular economy, respectively, as compared to concrete and masonry houses, and it has the potential to reduce the life cycle impact of the production stage to be almost neutral.

Carbon footprint of tonsillectomy

Background and purposeHealthcare is responsible for 5.4% of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK. Emissions in surgery is a relatively unexplored area; in particular, this hasn't yet been looked at as a whole in ENT in the UK. The purpose of the study was to quantify the amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission from a tonsillectomy and assess the proportion of each source's contribution. MethodsOperational data from tonsillectomies performed at a large university teaching hospital in the UK were gathered and converted to global warming potential using established conversion factors and data from existing healthcare-focused carbon footprint studies. The domains considered were waste, pharmaceuticals, surgical instrument decontamination, transportation, consumables use and utilities. This study used a process-based carbon footprint approach based on the “Greenhouse Gas Protocol: Product Life Cycle Accounting and Reporting Standard”. Main findingsThe carbon footprint of a typical case was 41 kgCO2e which is equivalent to driving a car for approximately 150 miles. Consumables were responsible for 17% of this; 14% came from transport, 5.4% from decontamination, 4.8% from pharmaceuticals and 4% from waste. However, the largest GHG was from utilities, of which heating, ventilation and air conditioning was the overwhelming contributor. ConclusionsWhile the largest sources of GHG emissions require hospital-wide initiatives, there are aspects of consumables and waste streams we can improve on in ENT surgery. These include the use of disposable vs reusable instruments as well as increased availability and use of recycling waste streams in theatres. Additionally, this study provides a template that can be applied to other ENT procedures.

AN OVERVIEW OF GROUND SOURCE HEAT PUMPS

As a natural consequence of the increase in the world population, energy needs are also increasing dramatically. At the present time natural gas and coal are generally used as energy sources. According to researchers, oil, natural gas and coal reserves will be run out in the near future. Therefore, new and renewable energy is needed to meet the energy needs for our countries. A lot of researchers have been carrying out about field of alternative energy sources. These studies generally; such as solar energy, wind energy, geothermal energy, wave energy and biomass energy. In addition to these energy conversion systems, it was also possible to mention about heat pumps with the features of low energy consumption, high coefficient of performance and environmental friendly. The presented paper is a study of general description and basic approaches on ground sources heat pumps. Ground source heat pump and history of it were explained. Some explanations were given about Ground Sources Heat Pump Systems such as Working principles, type of it, general view of advantage and disadvantage of it, hybrid type ground sources heat pump systems working principles, zero carbon footprint approach for it and also heat pump investment comparison with other systems.

Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions for irrigated corn production in the U.S. great plains

Agricultural management practices improve crop yields to satisfy food demand of the growing population. However, these activities can have negative consequences, including the release of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that contribute to global climate change. To mitigate this global environmental problem, the management practices that contribute the most to system GHG emissions should be identified and targeted to mitigate emissions. Accordingly, we estimated the cradle-to-product GHG emissions of irrigated corn production under various farmer-selected scenarios at an experimental testing field in the semi-arid U.S. Great Plains. We applied a carbon footprint approach to quantify life cycle GHG emissions associated with pre-field (e.g., energy production, fertilizer production) and in-field (e.g., groundwater pumping, fertilizer application) activities within fourteen scenarios in the 2020 Oklahoma Testing Ag Performance Solutions (TAPS) sprinkler corn competition. We determined that 63% of the total GHG emission from corn production was associated with in-field activities and that agricultural soil emissions were the overall driving factor. Soil biochemical processes within agricultural soils were expected to contribute an average of 89 ± 18 g CO2-eq kg−1 corn of the total 271 ± 46 g CO2-eq kg−1 corn estimated from these systems. On-site natural gas combustion for agricultural groundwater pumping, pre-field fertilizer production, and pre-field energy production for groundwater pumping were the next most influential parameters on total GHG emissions. Diesel fuel, seed, and herbicide production had insignificant contributions to total GHG emissions from corn production. The model was most sensitive to the modeled GHG emissions from agricultural soil, which had significant uncertainty in the emission factor. Therefore, future efforts should target field measurements to better predict the contribution of direct soil emissions to total GHG emissions, particularly under different managements. In addition, identifying the optimal application rate of irrigation water and fertilizer will help to decrease GHG emissions from groundwater irrigated crops.

Green and highly selective hydrogenation of lignin-derived aromatics at low temperature over Ru-Fe bimetallic nanoparticles supported on porous nitrogen-doped carbon

Low temperature and highly selective hydrogenation of the lignin-derived aromatics to obtain high-value chemicals and clean liquid fuels is a significant step for lignin valorization in the chemical industry. Developing efficient catalysts with high activity and selectivity for hydrogenation of lignin-derived aromatic rings at low temperature remains a big challenge. Herein, a well-dispersed Ru-Fe bimetallic nanoparticle catalyst supported on porous nitrogen-doped carbon was developed through a facile impregnation method. It showed excellent catalytic activity for hydrogenation of lignin-derived aromatics, such as diaryl ethers, phenolic monomers and arenes to corresponding alicyclic compounds with high selectivity, under surprisingly mild conditions (≤50 °C, ≤2 h and 1 MPa H2). Hydrogenation of aromatic rings took precedence over the cleavage of C-O bond for the lignin-derived aromatics. The resulting alicyclic compounds are key raw materials for synthesizing polymer, pharmaceutical intermediates and resins, and clean liquid fuels. The strong interactions between metal and support improved the anti-oxidation and anti-sintering ability of the catalyst, and significantly improve the hydrogenation performance. Additionally, the phenols in the lignin oil were effectively converted into cyclohexanol and its derivatives at 90 °C over the Ru-Fe bimetallic catalyst, with selectivity up to 53.3% in the hydrogenated lignin oil. The development of this catalyst for selective hydrogenation of lignin-derived aromatics at low temperature provides a green, low carbon footprint and sustainable approach for the value-added utilization of lignin and its derivatives.

Eco Friendly Production Options in Sanitary Ware Industry: Carbon Footprint and Sustainability Approach

Eco Friendly Production Options in Sanitary Ware Industry: Carbon Footprint and Sustainability Approach

Circular solutions for food packaging. Innovative coated paper packaging and its carbon footprint

Purpose: The strive towards circularity within the packaging sector has been an ever-growing challenge. Regular paper seem to be a good solution due to its natural and renewable origins and relative ease in its end-of-life processing. Food products require defined barrier and mechanical properties and seal functions that cannot be provided by regular paper or cardboard. The underlying objective of the paper is to indicate the best scenarios with regard to circularity challenge. Possibly, the implementation of innovative, highly functional, and recyclable coated paper/cardboard materials for food packaging applications would allow to replace traditional multi-layered plastics. Design/methodology/approach: The objective of the paper is to verify the environmental performance of selected coated paper material over its counterparts from multi-layered plastics with the use of the Carbon Footprint approach (CF). CF is used to compare the environmental impacts of a chocolate tablet life cycle with the use of different packaging materials: coated paper (CPCS) and oriented polypropylene (oPP). A special focus is on the recyclability issue of the packaging materials and their contribution to overall environmental performance. Findings: The results show that CPCS packaging has a slightly lower CF. Overall, CPCS packaging is contributing half of CF in comparison to oPP packaging. The difference is higher as far as packaging manufacturing is concerned, but due to the higher weight of CPCS packaging for chocolate tablets, its contribution to CF in whole life cycle rises. Research limitations/implications: Since the assessment is made during the packaging testing process, its results are not yet final and could be due to change if the composition of CPCS will due to some further changes. Secondly, the shelf life tests are not finished yet and do not impact the life cycle so far. Originality/value: The study is focused on the assessment of innovative coated paper packaging and investigates its CF in comparison to currently used packaging material for chocolate tablets. Its results could contribute to the selection of more sustainable and circular packaging. Keywords: coated paper materials, food packaging, carbon footprint (CF), circular economy, life cycle management. Category of the paper: research paper.

Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Carbon Footprint of Main Crop Production in China.

As a major agricultural country, the comprehensive accounting of the dynamics and composition of the carbon footprint of major crops in China will provide a decision-making basis for environmental management and agricultural green development in the whole process of the major crop production system in China. To investigate the spatiotemporal dynamics of the carbon footprint for major crops in China, a life cycle-based carbon footprint approach was used to evaluate the carbon footprint per unit area (CFA) and per unit yield (CFY) of eight crops for the period of 1990 to 2019. Our results showed that the CFA for all major crops showed an increasing trend with time before 2016 but slowly decreased afterward, while the CFY decreased by 16-43% over the past 30 years due to the increase in crop yield. The three main grain crops, rice (4871 ± 418 kg CO2-eq · ha-1), wheat (2766 ± 552 kg CO2-eq · ha-1), and maize (2439 ± 530 kg CO2-eq · ha-1), showed the highest carbon footprint and contribution to the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, mainly due to their larger cultivated areas and higher fertilizer application rates. CH4 emission was the major component of the carbon footprint for rice production, accounting for 66% and 48% of the CFA and CFY, respectively, while fertilizer production and usage were the largest components of carbon footprint for dryland crops, making up to 26-49% of the CFA and 26-50% of the CFY for different crops. The present study also highlighted the spatial and temporal patterns of the carbon footprint for major crops in China, which could serve as references for the development of best management practices for different crop production in China, to mitigate agricultural GHG emission and to pursue low-carbon agriculture.

Carbon Footprint Management by Agricultural Practices.

Simple SummaryMinimizing the effects of climate change by reducing GHG emissions is crucial and can be accomplished by truly understanding the carbon footprint phenomenon. This study aims to improve the understanding of carbon footprint alteration due to agricultural management and fertility practices. It provides a detailed review of carbon footprint management under the impacts of environmental factors, land use, and agricultural practices. The results show that healthy soils have numerous benefits for the general public and especially farmers. These benefits include being stable and resilient, resistant to erosion, easily workable in cultivated systems, good habitat for soil micro-organisms, fertile and good structure, large carbon sinks, and hence lower carbon footprint. Intensive tillage is harmful to soil structure by oxidizing carbon and causing GHG emissions. If possible, no-till; if not, minimum tillage frequency and depth of tillage, and optimum moisture are recommended. The soil should be at an appropriate level of moisture when tillage takes place. Diverse cropping systems are better for the soil than monocultures. Minimizing machinery operations can help to avoid soil compaction. Building soil organic carbon in the most stable form is the most efficient practice of sustainable crop production.Global attention to climate change issues, especially air temperature changes, has drastically increased over the last half-century. Along with population growth, greater surface temperature, and higher greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, there are growing concerns for ecosystem sustainability and other human existence on earth. The contribution of agriculture to GHG emissions indicates a level of 18% of total GHGs, mainly from carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O). Thus, minimizing the effects of climate change by reducing GHG emissions is crucial and can be accomplished by truly understanding the carbon footprint (CF) phenomenon. Therefore, the purposes of this study were to improve understanding of CF alteration due to agricultural management and fertility practices. CF is a popular concept in agro-environmental sciences due to its role in the environmental impact assessments related to alternative solutions and global climate change. Soil moisture content, soil temperature, porosity, and water-filled pore space are some of the soil properties directly related to GHG emissions. These properties raise the role of soil structure and soil health in the CF approach. These properties and GHG emissions are also affected by different land-use changes, soil types, and agricultural management practices. Soil management practices globally have the potential to alter atmospheric GHG emissions. Therefore, the relations between photosynthesis and GHG emissions as impacted by agricultural management practices, especially focusing on soil and related systems, must be considered. We conclude that environmental factors, land use, and agricultural practices should be considered in the management of CF when maximizing crop productivity.

Mechanically stabilised layer by geogrids in road construction as an environmental aspect of sustainable development

The purpose of this paper is to focus on the advantages of environmental aspects of mechanically stabilised layer by using geogrids (MSL). MSL is utilised in road construction as a sub-base layer or capping layer for a week sub-soil improvement. The concept of a MSL says that unbound granular layer is stabilized by the non-reinforcing hexagonal geogrid by the way of interlock with the aggregate. The mechanism of interlock means that both geogrid and aggregate interact under applied external load. The beneficial consequence on the serviceability of that layer by the resisting of the movement of the particles is defined as stabilisation. Mechanically stabilised layer by geogrid allows to save both money and time of construction compared to traditional technologies. Moreover, it also substantially supports sustainable development being a successful alternative to traditional solutions in road construction, such as: soil replacement, cement and other hydraulically bound mixtures or granular unbound layers which are non-stabilised by geogrids. MSL gives massive benefits for the environment, allowing for significant reduction of energy usage and greenhouse gases emission (mainly CO2). The paper shows the methodology of carbon footprint approach, which is an equivalent amount of CO2 emission, resulting from all component processes related to a specific technology used in road construction.This paper describes also the basic rules of how to calculate the amount of this reduction by using a special tool, so called Carbon Calculator (CC) designed by one of the leading geogrid manufacturer. CC allows to determine the reduction of CO2 as a result of geogrid utilisation in MSL compared to other well-known and long-standing solutions, mainly traditional granular unbound and cement or other hydraulically bound mixtures. A number of calculations of carbon footprint with MSL and other traditional solutions used as a sub-base or capping layer in the road construction have been done and the results of them have been presented in the further part of this article.

Towards more sustainable tourism under a carbon footprint approach: The Camino Lebaniego case study

From an economic point of view, the tourism sector is one of the most important in the world with religious tourism, such as pilgrimages, being a growth area. Tourism activities also make a significant contribution to CO2 emissions (roughly 8% of the world's carbon emissions). In this framework, the main objective of this research is to develop an integrated sustainable model by assessing the impact of pilgrimages to the Camino Lebaniego (Lebaniego Way) in the Cantabrian region, which is one of the most popular routes in northern Spain. To do this, it is necessary to quantify the environmental impacts of this activity since this is a key element in establishing appropriate and effective environmental management programmes. This study uses the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method, focused on the Carbon Footprint (CF) impact category, to assess the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of this activity considering ‘a pilgrim who completes the route in three days’ as the selected functional unit (FU). In addition, the sub-sectors of accommodation, food and beverages, and waste management are taken into account. Following this route generated a total of 13.69 kg CO2 eq./FU, of which accommodation and the services offered there contributed almost 71.47%, food was 17.08%, and waste management 11.45%. The evening meal and propane consumption were the hotspots in the hostel, accounting for almost 74% of the total impact, so alternatives were proposed to reduce the impacts associated with these. In terms of transport, it was found that for the same destination, it was better to use a car rather than a plane, because the associated CO2 emissions were lower. Finally, these aspects are discussed and improvement measures for reducing GHG emissions are proposed, involving the introduction of good practices and environmental commitments from the pilgrims themselves, as well as enterprises and local communities. Ecolabels and environmental certifications should become a key tool for sending this signal to the market as should the use of public transport to the destination, among other actions. Ultimately, religious and nature tourism seems to be on the upturn, and it is likely that pilgrimage routes could be the next post-COVID travel trend.

The carbon footprint of milk during the conversion from conventional to organic production on a dairy farm in central Germany

Dairy products play an important role in human nutrition, but at the same time, the dairy sector is a major contributor to global warming. The conversion from conventional to organic milk production could reduce the carbon footprint due to the elimination of synthetic fertilizers and strong reliance on closed on-farm nutrient cycling. We present one of the first studies to comprehensively estimate the climate-change impacts of the conversion to organic production of a large-scale dairy operation in central Germany. We used detailed farm data and a carbon footprint approach based on the IPCC tier-2 methodology to estimate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with feed production, animal husbandry, and animal rearing. Our results show that the carbon footprint per kg of energy-corrected milk (ECM) decreased by 9% during the first year of conversion to organic milk production. Conversely, livestock emissions per kg ECM increased by 12% in the first conversion year due to the increase in methane emissions from enteric fermentation, but this increase was more than offset by the decrease in emissions from feed production. Emissions from internal and external feed production per kg ECM decreased by 17% and 29%, respectively. Our study helps to understand how individual emission sources change as a result of a farm’s conversion to organic production. This research is important and timely, as the European Union is pursuing ambitious goals to increase the area under organic farming, although the impact of the conversion period on GHG emissions has been insufficiently studied.

Analysis of carbon footprint and reduction approach of magnesia production in China

China shares 13.15% and 69.23% of the global magnesite reserves and production respectively. Magnesia is an important connecting link between magnesite and refractory. It is approximately over 80% of magnesite industry that the carbon emitted from magnesia production is directly caused by carbonate decomposition and fossil fuel combustion. Therefore, the study of carbon footprint in magnesia production is valuable for carbon reduction. However, the researches on carbon reduction in magnesia production are rare. In this paper, the carbon footprint method is employed to quantitatively investigate the carbon reduction capacity in magnesia production under the influence of product structure, production process and equipment, and energy source structure. The results show that, for different magnesia, the carbon footprints are 3.937–4.804 kgCO2-eq/kg of fused magnesia, 2.151–3.064 kgCO2-eq/kg of sinter magnesia and 1.440–2.221 kgCO2-eq/kg of light calcinated magnesia at present, respectively. Moreover, for improvement of production process and equipment, the carbon footprint of flash calcinator is 0.489–1.218 kgCO2-eq/kg lower than that of reverberatory furnace for light calcinated magnesia. Similarly, the application of a high-power electricity arc furnace decreases the carbon footprint by 0.763–3.506 kgCO2-eq/kg of fused magnesia. Furthermore, for energy source replacement, the introduction of nuclear power has a carbon reduction capacity of 0.334–2.058 kgCO2-eq/kg-magnesia compared with coal-fired power. It will be 0.473–3.172 kgCO2-eq/kg-magnesia when hydrogen is employed as fuel compared with natural gas and producer gas. Finally, the combination of nuclear power, hydrogen and the carbon capture system will further pull the carbon footprint down to 0.244–0.767 kgCO2-eq/kg-magnesia.

Supply potential of lignocellulosic energy crops grown on marginal land and greenhouse gas footprint of advanced biofuels—A spatially explicit assessment under the sustainability criteria of the Renewable Energy Directive Recast

AbstractAdvanced biofuels produced from lignocellulosic crops grown on marginal lands can become an important part of the European Union (EU) climate change mitigation strategy to reduce CO2 emissions and meet biofuel demand. This study quantifies spatially explicit the availability of marginal land in the EU, its production biomass potentials for eight different crops, and the greenhouse gas (GHG) performance of advanced biofuel supply chains. Available land is mapped based on land marginality and Renewable Energy Directive Recast (REDII) land‐related sustainability criteria. Biomass potentials are assessed with a water‐use‐to‐biomass‐production approach while considering the available land, location‐specific biophysical conditions and crop‐specific phenological characteristics. The GHG balance of advanced biofuels from energy crops produced on marginal lands is assessed considering both land‐related carbon stock changes and supply chain emissions with the carbon footprint approach from the REDII. Available marginal land that meets REDII criteria is projected at 20.5–21 Mha 2030 and 2050, respectively. Due to biophysical limitations, not all available land is suitable for energy crop production. The maximum biomass potential of lignocellulosic energy crops (optimal crop choice with maximum yield for each available location) varies between 1951 PJ year−1 in 2030 and 2265 PJ year−1 in 2050. The GHG emission performance (net emissions) of different advanced biofuel supply chains varies on average between −32 g CO2‐eq MJfuel−1 for poplar/willow diesel to 38 g CO2‐eq for reed canary grass renewable jet fuel. The large variability in GHG performance is strongly determined by the spatial heterogeneity, which dictates the type of feedstock produced under specific local biophysical conditions, the crop characteristics, and the best conversion pathway. Negative GHG emissions are related to increased carbon stocks for the biomass and soil organic carbon pools compared to the land prior to conversion. When for each location, the advanced biofuel supply chain with the highest GHG performance (lowest net GHG emissions) is selected, 618 PJ year−1 of advanced biofuels can be produced by 2030. Under REDII GHG emission criteria, slightly less (552 PJ year−1) is viable. Smart choices on location, crop type and supply chain design are paramount to achieve maximum benefits of bioenergy systems.

Environmental Effects of Energy Consumption: A Case Study of Henan

Henan Province is a major birthplace of the Chinese nation and civilization; it has rich tourism resources, including many internationally famous cultural relics and historical sites. To ensure the sustainable development of humanistic tourism in Henan Province, it is essential to study the environmental issues of energy consumption. Using the carbon footprint approach, this article analyzes the environmental effects of energy consumption and evaluates the corresponding energy policies in Henan Province. First, economic development is causing environmental degradation and a large carbon footprint in Henan Province. Second, LMDI factor decomposition analysis of the carbon footprint of energy consumption in Henan Province shows that economic development factors are positively promoting the carbon footprint of energy consumption, while energy efficiency plays an inhibiting role. Finally, based on an evaluation of the energy policies of Henan and a prediction for the carbon footprint of energy consumption, by the end of 2021, under the “Three-Year Action Plan for Pollution Prevention and Control in Henan Province”, the carbon footprint of energy consumption will decrease by 5% compared with 2015. On the one hand, this study can provide reference for other developing countries in the world to improve energy consumption efficiency and relieve the pressure of energy consumption on the environment and ecosystem. On the other hand, it also provides a model for how to protect the sustainable development of the regions with rich cultural tourism resources.

CARBON ACCOUNTING, DISCLOSURE AND MEASUREEMENT: A Systematic Literature Review

ABSTRACTPurpose — This research aims to support Sustainable Development Goals specifically to reduce carbon emission. Design/methodology/approach — Systematical literature review was used as a research method, evaluated and analyzed as much as 17 articles.Findings — The result indicate that mitigation is more preferable than adaptation in case of carbon emission accounting definition. Stakeholders were involved to applied carbon disclosure which support the stakeholder theory, while measurement of carbon emission found that carbon-footprint approach is more widely used by organizations.Practical Implications — Environmental field become one of the SDG’s (Sustainable Development Goals) objectiveas it is related to the climate change caused by carbon emission that significantly increase from 1990’s.Originality/value — This research delivers concept, definition, practice, and measurement of gas emission based on previous research result (by several researchers/research paper) in various countries.Keywords — Climate change, carbon accounting, adaptationandmitigation, carbon-footprint approach.

The Research on the Environmental Results of the Movement of Tourists: Focused on a Carbon Footprint Approach

The Research on the Environmental Results of the Movement of Tourists: Focused on a Carbon Footprint Approach

Optimization of settlement land use through carbon footprint approach in The North Balikpapan

Limited land in the downtown area as well as the increasing amount of new activities centre causes residential development leads to North Balikpapan. This area is an urban fringe with vast protected forests as buffer zone and catchment area for the city and surrounding area. Land conversion in this area will increase hazard risk of inundation, water quality decrease and increased CO2 emissions. Therefore, development should be maintained environmental stability. One of the rights applicated approach is carbon footprint that is capable to measure the balance between production and absorption needs of CO2 emissions. To find the optimal land allocation, we used carbon footprint calculation from the household activities, identify the factors of settlement growth, and use Linear Programming analysis. Analysis’ results show that settlement activities in North Balikpapan produce 108.362,4 tCO2/year or equivalent with 618,50 Ha green space. Meanwhile, the development of settlement in North Balikpapan is affected by social demographic, developer initiative, environmental condition, public facilities availability, economical structure, and policy factors. According to those factors, optimal allocation of settlement area in North Balikpapan is only about 4,510.01 Ha. With that condition, it still able to absorb CO2 emissions from inside or outside the area around 2.751 tCO2/year.

THE PLANNING AND DESIGN OF KAMPONG PAKUNCEN IN YOGYAKARTA BASED ON THE GREEN CONCEPT

This study aims to determine the green concept of a slum “kampong” with the green concept and carbon footprint approach based on daily activities, building materials and fuel consumption as well as to deliver the concept of renewable energy. The carbon footprint is the measure of total amount of carbon dioxide gas emissions directly or indirectly caused by daily main activities and accumulation of products used daily. It is the case study of Kampong Gampingan-Pakuncen, Yogyakarta. This kampong is known as a densely populated kampong located in the city centre not far from Malioboro, the centre of commercial and business districts in Yogyakarta City. The employed methods were the quantitative-comparative method between carbon footprint of existing and planning condition and the quantitative approach of renewable energy. The results showed that the carbon dioxide concentration of Kampong Pakuncen in the existing condition is 1,712.767 tonnes CO2/month while the total amount of carbon dioxide concentration of the design is 1,293.785 tonnes CO2/month, hence 24.462% carbon dioxide concentration reduction. To save energy consumption in daily activities, it is proposed that water wheel as micro-hydro power should be used for electricity.

Evaluating the carbon footprint of WEEE management in the UK

The UK produces an estimated 2 Mt of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) annually and the management of this waste has become a foremost environmental issue in the UK. Whilst the collection, transportation and treatment of WEEE contributes to climate change due to its considerable energy and material requirements, the effective recovery and reuse or recycling of WEEE can contribute towards a net climate benefit. Here, we present a combined material flow analysis and carbon footprint approach (based on a bespoke calculator tool) for quantifying the flows of WEEE through a national waste management system and evaluating their potential climate impacts. We apply this approach to analyse the WEEE management system for the UK from 2010 to 2030 using prospective scenario analysis and assess the carbon footprint of their management pathways. Reuse was identified as the most favourable end-of-life management option in terms of potential climate impact, followed by recycling, with landfill identified as being the least favourable option. Overall, current end-of-life management practices for WEEE in the UK were found to result in a net positive (i.e. beneficial) climatic effect, although this saving was found to reduce when WEEE recycled as non-obligated WEEE was not included. Overall, we recommend that future national policies should focus on formalising indirect WEEE collection pathways to help increase overall collection rates and, thus, reuse and recycling activities.