Contribution To Global Warming Research Articles

Urbanization Heat Flux Modeling Confirms It Is a Likely Cause of Significant Global Warming: Urbanization Mitigation Requirements

Recent ground-based measurements find the magnitude of the urbanization effect on the global average annual mean surface air temperature corresponds to an urbanization contribution of 12.7%. It is important to provide modeling to help understand these results as there are conflicting concerns. This study models the global warming contribution that urbanization heat fluxes (UHF) can make due to anthropogenic heat release (AHR), and solar heating of impermeable surface areas (ISAs), with additional secondary effects. Results help explain and support ground-based observations. Climate models typically omit anthropogenic heat release (AHR) as warming estimates are below 1%. In agreement, the baseline assessment in this paper has similar findings. However, in this study, the methods of climate amplification estimates (MCAE) with data-aided physics-based amplification models are used. When the MCAE are applied at the global and microclimate levels that consider greenhouse gases (GHGs), feedback, and other secondary effects; the results show that AHR fluxes can amplify, increasing to have an estimated global warming (GW) influence of 6.5% from 1950 to 2022 yielding a 0.9% decade−1 increase. This increasing rate due to energy consumption is found as anticipated to be reasonably correlated to the increasing population growth rate over this time. Furthermore, using the MCAEs, this paper studies heat fluxes assessment due to solar heating of unshaded impermeable surfaces including likely secondary amplification effects. Impermeable surface areas (ISAs) such as asphalt roads, roofs, and building sides have been reported with high land surface contact temperatures (LSCTs) relative to non-ISAs and significantly found to contribute to urbanization warming. Results indicate that high-temperature unshaded impermeable surfaces (including building sides) are estimated to average around 10–11 °C above the earth’s ambient temperature of 14.5 °C (showing albedo ISA estimates between 0.133 and 0.115 respectively); the ISA heat fluxes with secondary effects are estimated to have about a GW influence of 6.5%. This is broken down with average contributions of 4.0% from urban ISAs and 2.5% from rural ISA heat fluxes. Asphalt road ISA heat fluxes are estimated to have about a 1.1% global warming influence. Then the total UHF effect from ISAs and AHR with secondary effects is assessed in modeling to yield a combined average GW influence of 13% helping to confirm ground-based measurement results. Several key adjustment values were used for shading, cloud coverage, and rural-to-urban ISA ratios. Microclimate GHGs and related water vapor feedback (WVF) were assessed to increase urban warming by about 50%. As well an assessment of water vapor and radiation increases from UHF is provided. This study also shows the need to incorporate urbanization heat fluxes with secondary effects into climate models and indicates the necessity for Paris Agreement urban heat flux mitigation goals. Results also found that given average climate conditions, it is possible to mitigate much of the UHI effect with an albedo increase of 0.1 that is anticipated to lower the average impermeable surface temperatures by about 9 °C. Studies show this can be accomplished with cost-effective cool roads and roofs. Although roads are only estimated to occupy 14% of ISAs, changing roads from asphalt to concrete-type surfaces would improve reflectivity by about a factor of 5 and is estimated to mitigate about 5.5% of global warming. Unfortunately, the current overuse of black asphalt on pavements and roofs is highly dangerous to our environment causing UHI increases in heatwaves, excessive temperatures, and global warming issues and should be banned. Asphalt usage also reduces opportunities for solar geoengineering of urbanization.

The net-zero and sustainability potential of SCC development, production and flowability in concrete structures

Abstract Climate action around the world has shifted to the potential of global warming contribution from the design and construction of infrastructures, especially those in demand for concrete. Concrete production and use have been identified as contributing to >5% of the world’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The main aim of this research work is to critically study the net-zero and sustainability potentials that the world can leverage on from the development, production and flowability of self-compacting concrete (SCC). Conventional concrete is made of >50% of ordinary cement, which contributes to >7% of the world’s GHG emissions. But in 1988, a fluidized concrete that compacts under its self-weight, known as SCC, was formed and developed to overcome the need for durability, skill and manpower that were dwindling in Japan at the time. This concrete created a pathway for cement to be replaced partially or totally by certain pozzolanic materials that function as viscosity-modifying admixture, high-water reducing agent or microencapsulated phase-change materials in the concrete mix. However, research findings have shown that for these materials to alter the flowability of SCC, there has to be reduced yield stress and moderate viscosity for allowable internal friction based on the Bingham model, and this has to be achieved under the same water–cement ratio. Fortunately, the implication of the use of these admixtures as replacements for cement is that there is a reduced demand for cement production and use in cleaner concrete production and, as such, a reduced CO2 emission associated with this process.

A laboratory assessment of how biomass pellets could reduce indoor air pollution, mitigate climate change and benefit health compared to other solid fuels used in Ghana

To reduce indoor air pollution, the government of Ghana in 2019 formulated the renewable energy master plan to help disseminate biomass pellets and stoves to 2,000,000 households by 2030. But pellets have neither been included in Ghana's energy mix nor have their surmised climate and health benefits been empirically assessed. This laboratory study tested emissions by burning wood, charcoal and pellets in improved cookstoves. It further modelled their associated indoor air pollution reduction, personal exposure, health benefits and climate impact for comparison. The emission factors based on useful energy delivered of CO, CO2 and PM2.5 were 3.506 ± 0.704, 306.6 ± 43.35, and 0.229 ± 0.039 g/MJdelivered, respectively, for wood rocket 1 stove; 2.115 ± 0.695, 272.8 ± 16.70, and 0.256 ± 0.166 g/MJdelivered for wood rocket 2 stove; 4.820 ± 1.098, 205.3 ± 60.49, and 0.051 ± 0.044 g/MJdelivered for charcoal 1 stove; 4.474 ± 1.525, 221.8 ± 65.71, 0.043 ± 0.040 g/MJdelivered for charcoal 2 stove; and 0.511 ± 0.325, 338.1 ± 45.41, and 0.041 ± 0.023 g/MJdelivered for pellet stove. The forced air supplied by the gasifier stove reduced pollutant emissions from pellet combustion. The 100-year global warming contribution of the pellet stove was lower than that of charcoal stoves, and was influenced by upstream emissions of fuel processing. The WHO (World Health Organization) models showed that a complete transition from wood to pellets in one million households could significantly improve health with most benefits for children below five years. However, the reported benefits can only be achieved if pellets are added to Ghana's energy mix. The government of Ghana can ensure a sustained adoption of pellets by fostering market enablers for supply and demand of pellets and gasifier stoves, and mitigating the factors that impact pellet production and use. Field evaluation of the economic, health and climate co-benefits of using pellets in Ghana is recommended for future study.

A novel method of identifying and analysing oil smoke plumes based on MODIS and CALIPSO satellite data

Abstract. Black carbon aerosols are the second largest contributor to global warming while also being linked to respiratory and cardiovascular disease. These particles are generally found in smoke plumes originating from biomass burning and fossil fuel combustion. They are also heavily concentrated in smoke plumes originating from oil fires, exhibiting the largest ratio of black carbon to organic carbon. In this study, we identified and analysed oil smoke plumes derived from 30 major industrial events within a 12-year timeframe. To our knowledge, this is the first study of its kind that utilized a synergetic approach based on satellite remote sensing techniques. Satellite data offer access to these events, which, as seen in this study, are mainly located in war-prone or hazardous areas. This study focuses on the use of MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) and CALIPSO (Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations) products regarding these types of aerosol while also highlighting their intrinsic limitations. By using data from both MODIS instruments on board Terra and Aqua satellites, we addressed the temporal evolution of the smoke plume while assessing lidar-specific properties and plume elevation using CALIPSO data. The analysis method in this study was developed to better differentiate between oil smoke aerosols and the local atmospheric scene. We present several aerosol properties in the form of plume-specific averaged values. We believe that MODIS values are a conservative estimation of plume aerosol optical depth (AOD) since MODIS algorithms rely on general aerosol models and various atmospheric conditions within the look-up tables, which do not reflect the highly absorbing nature of these smoke plumes. Based on this study we conclude that the MODIS land algorithms are not yet suited for retrieving aerosol properties for these types of smoke plumes due to the strong absorbing properties of these aerosols. CALIPSO retrievals rely heavily on the type of lidar solutions showing discrepancy between constrained and unconstrained retrievals. Smoke plumes identified within a larger aerosol layer were treated as unconstrained retrievals and resulted in conservative AOD estimates. Conversely, smoke plumes surrounded by clear air were identified as opaque aerosol layers and resulted in higher lidar ratios and AOD values. Measured lidar ratios and particulate depolarization ratios showed values similar to the upper ranges of biomass burning smoke. Results agree with studies that utilized ground-based retrievals, in particular for Ångström exponent (AE) and effective radius (Reff) values. MODIS and CALIPSO retrieval algorithms disagree on AOD ranges, for the most part, due to the extreme light-absorbing nature of these types of aerosols. We believe that these types of studies are a strong indicator for the need of improved aerosol models and retrieval algorithms.

A Sustainable Approach towards Disposable Face Mask Production Amidst Pandemic Outbreaks

SARS-CoV-2 has become a global pandemic, causing many disruptions in multiple sectors. The World Health Organization has urged the public to wear face masks as part of the countermeasure. As the demand for face masks increased, research on the environmental sustainability of face masks production started to emerge. However, the scope of the prior studies is limited to environmental impacts during the manufacturing process. Broadening the research scope is critical to acquire a comprehensive environmental impact analysis. Therefore, this study investigates the life cycle impact assessment of disposable face mask production, from raw material extraction to the point of sale, by adopting the life cycle assessment method. Disposable face masks are assessed for a single person, over one functional unit (FU) of 30 12-h days. The ReCiPe approach was used with a Hierarchist perspective. The results reveal that disposable face mask manufacture contributes significantly to enormous environmental impact categories. As a solution, this study proposes a reconfiguration of the manufacturing process, by altering the design and material proportion of the earloop to minimise the environmental impact. The investigation indicates that the proposed design might decrease the global warming contribution, from 1.82593 kg CO2 eq. to 1.69948 kg CO2 eq.

Atmospheric methane removal: a research agenda

Atmospheric methane removal (e.g. in situ methane oxidation to carbon dioxide) may be needed to offset continued methane release and limit the global warming contribution of this potent greenhouse gas. Because mitigating most anthropogenic emissions of methane is uncertain this century, and sudden methane releases from the Arctic or elsewhere cannot be excluded, technologies for methane removal or oxidation may be required. Carbon dioxide removal has an increasingly well-established research agenda and technological foundation. No similar framework exists for methane removal. We believe that a research agenda for negative methane emissions—‘removal' or atmospheric methane oxidation—is needed. We outline some considerations for such an agenda here, including a proposed Methane Removal Model Intercomparison Project (MR-MIP).This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Rising methane: is warming feeding warming? (part 1)'.

A STUDY ON THE FACTORS CONSIDERED BY BUYERS WHILE PURCHASING ECO-FRIENDLY HOMES

Home buying is a very thought-intensive process that entails several factors like budget, locality, amenities, commutation & communication facilities etc. Lately, along with these factors, there has been a sought after “Environmental Friendliness & Sustainability of Homes”. People have started looking for properties that are built with a eco-friendly approach, such that it gave rise to a new niche of homes in the arena of homebuying called “Eco-Friendly Houses”. An Eco-Friendly House, or an Eco-House as it is called, is basically a low-impact & environment friendly construction built with the intent of lessening pollution, reducing the carbon footprint, & thus global warming contribution, of the property, & having a sustainable endurance. To study the factors that influence purchase of Eco-Houses, 478 eco-home buyers were interviewed, out of which the researcher with 430 respondents, conducted an empirical study using percentage analysis as a statistical tool and concluded that there are various factors affecting the selection criteria out of which the most effective ones are features of eco-homes like solar energy plants & wind turbines, rainwater harvesting, planting trees & saplings all across the premises of then property.

Measurements and analysis of non-methane VOC (NMVOC) emissions from major domestic aerosol sprays at “source”

Non-Methane Volatile Organic Compounds (NMVOCs) from domestic aerosol sprays are emerging pollutants and have substantial negative effects on human health and the environment. This study, for the first time, carried out quantification of the NMVOC emissions from off-the-shelf domestic aerosol sprays, at “source” in the UK. These aerosol sprays contain harmful organic compounds as propellants and products. The results showed that the cosmetic category (i.e. body sprays) have higher concentrations of NMVOCs with 93.7 wt% per can compared to households (i.e. air fresheners) with 62 wt%. Also, water-based products showed less NMVOCs in all analyses compared to solvent-based formulations. Direct replacement of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) propellants from conventional products with ‘clean air’ (i.e. nitrogen) showed the potential emission reduction of 50%. Hair spray products, however, have the highest ozone forming potential with about 105.1 g of Ozone per litre of the product compared to other domestic aerosol sprays. The level of global warming contribution of the selected aerosol sprays in the UK was measured to be 129.8 ktCO2e in 2018 and globally, this can be projected to be 3154.6 ktCO2e in 2020. Furthermore, NMVOC emissions contribution from the domestic aerosol sprays in the UK was measured as 61.2 kt in 2018 based on annual consumption of 520 million cans. Globally this can equate to 1437.6 kt based on the projected usage of 17.5 billion cans. Therefore, it is vital to expedite replacing LPG propellant with nitrogen in a drive for a ‘near-zero’ emission in aerosol industry. The results presented in this study can also be used to steer policy makers to the potentially brewing danger from an otherwise passive emission source.

Mitigation of Rumen Methane Emissions with Foliage and Pods of Tropical Trees.

Simple SummaryMethane produced by enteric fermentation contributes to the emission of greenhouse gases (GHG) into the atmosphere. Methane is one of the GHG arising from anthropogenic activities with the greater contribution to global warming. This paper provides a brief introduction to the potential use of tropical foliage trees, pods, and secondary metabolites to reduce methane emissions from ruminant supply chains. A better knowledge of the available strategies for efficient foliage use in the tropics is essential in order to ensure increasing livestock production while preserving the environment. The mitigation of rumen methane production through the use of the foliage and metabolites of tropical trees represents an interesting challenge for scientists working in the field of ruminant nutrition.Methane produced by enteric fermentation contributes to the emission of greenhouse gases (GHG) into the atmosphere. Methane is one of the GHG resulting from anthropogenic activities with the greater global warming contribution. Ruminant production systems contribute between 18% and 33% of methane emissions. Due to this, there has been growing interest in finding feed alternatives which may help to mitigate methane production in the rumen. The presence of a vast range of secondary metabolites in tropical trees (coumarins, phenols, tannins, and saponins, among others) may be a valuable alternative to manipulate rumen fermentation and partially defaunate the rumen, and thus reduce enteric methane production. Recent reports suggest that it is possible to decrease methane emissions in sheep by up to 27% by feeding them saponins from the tea leaves of Camellia sinensis; partial defaunation (54%) of the rumen has been achieved using saponins from Sapindus saponaria. The aim of this review was to collect, analyze, and interpret scientific information on the potential of tropical trees and their secondary metabolites to mitigate methane emissions from ruminants.

(Invited) Organic Thermoelectric Materials and Devices

Within the last 3 years, thermoelectric technologies have seen renewed global deployment providing unique solutions to pressing thermal problems. Today thermoelectric technologies are helping to ensure vaccines viably reach the most remote locations in the world, are providing personal comfort in wearable devices addressing medical circulatory conditions, and are being designed for integration into electric vehicles thereby reducing the global warming contributions of refrigerants in conventional air conditioning systems. The majority of these technologies have resulted from innovative engineers utilizing conventional materials in niche applications, however, additional societal contributions can be achieved by leveraging the large-area processability and abundance of polymer-based thermoelectrics. Unfortunately, the material performance of polymer-based thermoelectric materials is lacking compared to their inorganic counterparts. To circumvent this challenge, composites or hybrid organic-inorganic materials are often employed in functional devices. Furthermore, while there is an abundance of p-type materials to select from, there are few air-stable n-type thermoelectric materials. Metal coordinated polymers (or metallo-organic polymers) are one promising class of thermoelectric materials where a metal (or semimetal) atom is present along the polymer backbone. This structure produces periodic centers of high electron density, which, when coupled to the vibrational modes (e.g., vibrons or phonons), could result in appreciable power factors. Both air-stable p-type and n-type metal coordinated polymers can be readily synthesized from abundant materials and are promising scalable alternatives to inorganics that leverage solution processing. This talk will first provide a motivating overview of emerging thermoelectric technologies being developed. Next, this talk will discuss progress in synthesizing and controlling the thermoelectric properties of poly(nickel-ethenetetrathiolate) (i.e., Ni-ETT) and poly(nickel-tetrathiooxalate) (i.e., Ni-TTO), which are both air-stable n-type thermoelectric materials containing nickel along the polymer backbone. Next, this talk will discuss our work studying poly(3-alkyl-chalcogenophene), where the isovalent series of thiophene, selenophene, and tellurophene were investigated. Finally, this talk will introduce new thermoelectric device architectures, specifically printable and knittable devices, that are enabled by these materials. Throughout this talk emphasis will be placed on the engineering and scaling challenges, which have been overlooked in the pursuit of high performance materials, but are most critical to realizing thermoelectric devices.

Environmental impact analysis of landfilling system in Irkutsk on basis of life cycle assessment method

Irkutsk is the center of Eastern Siberia with a population of about 600,000 people. At present, the waste management system of Irkutsk is represented by the processes of collection and disposal of MSW. Only 4% of all waste produced by the city are collected separately and transported for a recycling. Most of the wastes are concentrated on a landfill, located 10 km from the city center. The paper describes modeling of the current and alternative future scenarios for waste management in the Irkutsk. We applied the Life Cycle Assessment method using EASETECH. We focused on landfilling which completely dominates the waste management system and on greenhouse gas emissions quantified in terms of CO2-equivalents. The study shows that the introduction of a modern landfill technology can significantly improve the global warming contribution from the waste management in Irkutsk.

Environmental impact analysis of landfilling system in Irkutsk on basis of life cycle assessment method

Irkutsk is the center of Eastern Siberia with a population of about 600,000 people. At present, the waste management system of Irkutsk is represented by the processes of collection and disposal of MSW. Only 4% of all waste produced by the city are collected separately and transported for a recycling. Most of the wastes are concentrated on a landfill, located 10 km from the city center. The paper describes modeling of the current and alternative future scenarios for waste management in the Irkutsk. We applied the Life Cycle Assessment method using EASETECH. We focused on landfilling which completely dominates the waste management system and on greenhouse gas emissions quantified in terms of CO2-equivalents. The study shows that the introduction of a modern landfill technology can significantly improve the global warming contribution from the waste management in Irkutsk.

Energy Effective and Green Drying Technologies with Industrial Applications

Heat pump drying is a green technology with zero global warming potential and zero ozone depletion potential when operating with natural fluids. A well designed heat pump dryer can be several times more energy efficient and less costly than conventional dryers. This dryer beneficially contributes to a sustainable society while providing superior products at competitive cost. It is an advanced engineered drying technology ready for implementation by modern industries wishing a return of investment while contributing to a sustainable society. This paper covers the advances in heat pump and superheated steam drying technologies. These drying processes are in the category of green technologies because they are highly effective and advantageous for the environment and climate change. Descriptions and layouts are given covering design of heat pump and steam dryers. Details are provided in their beneficial operation in single and multistage with vapor compression and drying chambers placed in series. The drying modes covered are atmospheric sublimation and evaporation for improved capacity and superior characteristics of dried materials. The future trend is heat pump drying with natural fluids and superheated steam drying complying with proper industrial practice and with regulations reducing damage to sea, soil and water as well as zeroing contribution to global warming and to climate change. These technologies have been built and extensive R&D has been done at Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim. The technology has progressed to pilot scale and industrial applications indicating a small but real contribution to a better society today and tomorrow. Lastly, this is an advanced engineered drying technology ready for implementation by modern industries wishing a return of investment while preserving the environment.

(Invited) Organic Thermoelectric Materials and Devices Enabling New Thermal Management and Conversion Technologies

Within the last 3 years, thermoelectric technologies have seen renewed global deployment providing unique solutions to pressing thermal problems. Today thermoelectric technologies are helping to ensure vaccines viably reach the most remote locations in the world, are providing personal comfort in wearable devices addressing medical circulatory conditions, and are being designed for integration into electric vehicles thereby reducing the global warming contributions of refrigerants in conventional air conditioning systems. The majority of these technologies have resulted from innovative engineers utilizing conventional materials in niche applications. However, additional societal contributions can be achieved by leveraging the large-area processability and abundance of polymer-based thermoelectrics. Unfortunately, the material performance of polymer-based thermoelectric materials is lacking compared to their inorganic counterparts. To circumvent this challenge, composites or hybrid organic-inorganic materials are often employed in functional devices. Furthermore, while there is an abundance of p-type materials to select from, there are few air-stable n-type thermoelectric materials. Metal coordinated polymers (or metallo-organic polymers) are one promising class of thermoelectric materials where a metal (or semimetal) atom is present along the polymer backbone. This structure produces periodic centers of high electron density, which, when coupled to the vibrational modes (e.g., vibrons or phonons), could result in appreciable power factors. Both air-stable p-type and n-type metal coordinated polymers can be readily synthesized from abundant materials and are promising scalable alternatives to inorganics that leverage solution processing. This invited talk will first provide a motivating overview of emerging thermoelectric technologies being developed through the Scalable Thermal Energy Engineering Laboratory (STEEL) directed by Prof. Shannon Yee at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Next, this talk will discuss progress in synthesizing and controlling the thermoelectric properties of poly(nickel-ethenetetrathiolate) (i.e., Ni-ETT) and poly(nickel-tetrathiooxalate) (i.e., Ni-TTO), which are both air-stable n-type thermoelectric materials containing nickel along the polymer backbone. Next, this talk will discuss recent on-going work studying p-type chalcogenophene polymers, where the isovalent series of polythiophene through polytellurophene will be discussed. Finally, this talk will introduce new thermoelectric device architectures, specifically printable, that are enabled by these materials. Throughout this talk emphasis will be placed on the engineering and scaling challenges, which have been overlooked in the pursuit of high performance materials, but are most critical to realizing thermoelectric devices.

Priority of domestic biomass resources for energy: Importance of national environmental targets in a climate perspective

The optimal use of biomass from a global warming mitigation perspective depends upon numerous factors, including competition for land and other constraints. The goal of this study is identifying optimal uses of domestic biomass resources for the case of Denmark, with the objectives of minimizing global warming contribution and fossil energy resource consumption. For this purpose, consequential life cycle assessment of the different options for biomass was performed. Optimal solutions were identified, given specific national environmental targets, using linear programming. Results highlighted that utilizing the energy potential of manure and straw represents the primary opportunity for further global warming mitigation. For this purpose, co-digestion (for manure) and combustion with heat-and-power production (for straw) appear as the most promising technologies. The utilization of biomass (or biogas) for electricity/heat is generally preferred, as long as coal/oil is still used within the energy system. Yet, to fulfill environmental targets for renewable energy in the transport sector, the diversion of a significant share of biogas (and/or other biofuels) from these more beneficial uses is necessary. To completely phase out coal/oil, additional biomass (to current domestic resources) must be included, either through domestic energy crops cultivation or biomass/biofuel import; alternatively, natural gas could be used.

Commentary: Reporting on global warming: A study in headlines

Commentary: Reporting on global warming: A study in headlines

Response of gaseous carbon emissions to low-level salinity increase in tidal marsh ecosystem of the Min River estuary, southeastern China

Although estuarine tidal marshes are important contributors to the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, the relationship between carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) emission, and environmental factors, with respect to estuarine marshes, has not been clarified thoroughly. This study investigated the crucial factors controlling the emission of CO2 and CH4 from a freshwater marsh and a brackish marsh located in a subtropical estuary in southeastern China, as well as their magnitude. The duration of the study period was November 2013 to October 2014. Relevant to both the field and incubation experiments, the CO2 and CH4 emissions from the two marshes showed pronounced seasonal variations. The CO2 and CH4 emissions from both marshes demonstrated significant positive correlations with the air/soil temperature (p<0.01), but negative correlations with the soil electrical conductivity and the pore water/tide water Cl− and SO42− (p<0.01). The results indicate no significant difference in the CO2 emissions between the freshwater and brackish marshes in the subtropical estuary, whereas there was a difference in the CH4 emissions between the two sites (p<0.01). Although future sea-level rise and saltwater intrusion could reduce the CH4 emissions from the estuarine freshwater marshes, these factors had little effect on the CO2 emissions with respect to an increase in salinity of less than 5‰. The findings of this study could have important implications for estimating the global warming contributions of estuarine marshes along differing salinity gradients.

Thermal-energy analysis of natural “cool” stone aggregates as passive cooling and global warming mitigation technique

Recently, research focused on the development of roofing and paving systems aimed at (i) enhancing the passive cooling at single-building level and (ii) mitigating urban heat island at inter-building scale. In this work, the optic-thermal behavior of a naturally cool gravel for roof and paving application is studied, through lab and field experimental analyses. Specific evaluation about the cooling potential is carried out with varying grain size of the same gravel and stone typology. Additionally, its cool roof effect is investigated through dynamic simulation in a case study university campus in Italy. Finally, the analysis of the global warming contribution of the gravel was performed, with reference to the most performing gravel size.The results show differences up to 24% in terms of albedo with varying the only grain size. Additionally, the gravel with the smallest grain size resulted the most performing in terms of summer energy saving and indoor thermal comfort. By shifting from single building scale models to global climate energy balance models, an equivalent carbon emission offset of 4400 tCO2eq was found, imputable to the (i) energy saving contribution, and (ii) global warming mitigation effect produced by the enhanced albedo of the case study area.

Waste management in the Irkutsk Region, Siberia, Russia: Environmental assessment of current practice focusing on landfilling

The municipal waste management system of the region of Irkutsk is described and a life cycle assessment (LCA) performed to assess the environmental performance of the system. Annually about 500 000 tons of waste are managed. The waste originates from three sources: household waste (27%), commercial waste (23%) and office & institutional waste (44%). Other waste of unknown composition constitutes 6%. Only 3% of the waste is recycled; 97% of the municipal waste is disposed of at the old Alexandrovsky landfill. The environmental impact from the current system is dominated by the landfill, which has no gas or leachate collection system. The global warming contribution is due to the emission of methane of the order of 420 000 tons CO2-equivalents per year. Collection and transport of the waste are insignificant compared with impacts from the landfill. As the old landfill runs out of capacity in a few years, the LCA modelling showed that introduction of a new and modern landfill with gas and leachate collection could improve the performance of the waste management system significantly. Collection of landfill gas and utilization for 30 years for electricity production (gas turbine) would reduce the global warming completely and result in a net saving of 100 000 CO2-equivalents per year due to storage of biogenic carbon in the landfill beyond 100 years. Considering other first-order degradation rates for the landfilled organic matter did not overtly affect the results, while assumptions about the top cover oxidation of methane significantly affected the results. This shows the importance of controlling the gas escape from the landfill.

Demand for clean energies efficient development in building technologies

The increased availability of reliable and efficient energyservices stimulates new development alternatives. This article discusses thepotential for such integrated systems in the stationary and portable powermarket in response to the critical need for a cleaner energy technology.Throughout the theme several issues relating to renewable energies,environment, and sustainable development are examined from both current andfuture perspectives. It is concluded that green energies like wind, solar,groundsource heat pumps, and biomass must be promoted, implemented, anddemonstrated from the economic and/or environmental point view. Biogas frombiomass appears to have potential as an alternative energy source, which ispotentially rich in biomass resources. This is an overview of some salientpoints and perspectives of biogas technology. The current literature isreviewed regarding the ecological, social, cultural and economic impacts ofbiogas technology. This article gives an overview of present and future use ofbiomass as an industrial feedstock for production of fuels, chemicals and othermaterials. However, to be truly competitive in an open market situation, highervalue products are required. Results suggest that biogas technology must beencouraged, promoted, invested, implemented, and demonstrated, but especiallyin remote rural areas. Anticipated patterns of future energy use and consequentenvironmental impacts (acid precipitation, ozone depletion and the greenhouseeffect or global warming) are comprehensively discussed in this article. NationalCentre for Research, Energy Research Institute (ERI), between January 2011 andJuly 2011. An approach is needed to integrate renewable energies in a way tomeet high building performance. However, because renewable energy sources arestochastic and geographically diffuse their ability to match demand isdetermined by adoption of one of the following two approaches: the utilisationof a capture area greater than that occupied by the community to be supplied, orthe reduction of the community’s energy demands to a level commensurate withthe locally available renewable resources. The adoption of green or sustainableapproaches to the way in which society is run is seen as an important strategyin finding a solution to the energy problem. The key factors to reducing andcontrolling CO2, which is the major contributor to global warming, are the useof alternative approaches to energy generation and the exploration of how thesealternatives are used today and may be used in the future as green energysources. This study highlights the energy problem and the possible saving thatcan be achieved through the use of renewable energy technologies. Also, thisstudy clarifies the background of the study, highlights the potential energysaving that could be achieved through use of renewable energy technologies anddescribes the objectives, approach and scope of the study. The move towards ade-carbonised world, driven partly by climate science and partly by thebusiness opportunities it offers, will need the promotion of environmentallyfriendly alternatives, if an acceptable stabilisation level of atmosphericcarbon dioxide is to be achieved. This requires the harnessing and use ofnatural resources that produce no air pollution or greenhouse gases andprovides comfortable coexistence of human, livestock, and plants. The increasedavailability of reliable and efficient energy services stimulates newdevelopment alternatives. We present and focus a comprehensive review of energysources, and the development of sustainable technologies to explore theseenergy sources. We conclude that using renewable energy technologies, efficientenergy systems, energy savings techniques and other mitigation measuresnecessary to reduce climate changes.