Low-carbon Concept Research Articles

Experimental study on buildability and mechanical properties of 3D printing cob

The application of 3D printing technology to earth buildings conforms to the development concept of low carbon, green and intelligent construction. The key issue lies in the development of earth material with both favorable buildability and sufficient mechanical properties. In this study, the printing parameters of mixture for 3D printing with different water contents were optimized. The optimum water content of 3D printing cob was determined based on the buildability. The result shows that when the flow spreading diameter is between 140 mm and 160 mm, 3D printing cob has good buildability performance. The optimum water content is 24.6 %. In addition, anisotropic performance was analyzed by compressive strength tests from three orthogonal directions. In particular, according to the test results of single printing limit height and yield stress, the buildability of 3D printing cob wall was analyzed. The building strategy of the printing divided into multiple times was obtained.

An urban agricultural block construction method based on low-carbon concepts: A case study of the Beijing-Tianjin area in China

With the ongoing progress of urbanization, various issues such as resource scarcity, climate change, and carbon emissions overload have gradually emerged. Urban agriculture (UA) is recognized as a pivotal strategy to promote sustainable urban development. In this context, the study proposes a spatial scale hierarchy, encompassing “single building - building cluster - urban block," to formulate spatial strategies for the theoretical model of urban agricultural blocks. The theoretical model integrates production spaces, production methods, and spatial systems based on relevant design principles and the needs of residents. Nankai District's Qingfeng Road East Block in Tianjin is used as the site for applying and simulating the theoretical model. The results of the study show that UA in a 500m × 500m block can ideally eliminate the need for external food inputs by 100% for starchy vegetables, legumes and fruits, and meat/poultry, while achieving a 254.73% self-sufficiency rate for fungi. Additionally, it can reduce energy inputs by 28.33%, water inputs by 38.13%, and completely eliminate waste output for 8754 people. Carbon emission analysis indicates that the urban agricultural block can reduce approximately 2250.01t CO2 emissions from buildings and waste, with greater carbon-neutral potential in transportation and agriculture, forestry, and other land uses (AFOLU). This is significant for tackling various urban challenges and enhancing future development.

Biogenic formation of amorphous carbon in anaerobic digestion: Discovery and regulation with exogenous CO2 and zero valent iron

Anaerobic digestion (AD), a pivotal technology for organic waste reduction and biogas production, has recently gained notable attention for its role in CO2 bioconversion. As membrane separation technologies mature, methane separated from biogas is integrated into natural gas grid, while CO2 can be recycled back into AD reactors, promoting methane production. However, the biogenic formation of amorphous carbon from CO2 in AD is scarcely reported. This study confirmed the presence of amorphous carbon in AD and successfully regulated its growth via exogenous CO2 and zero valent scrap iron (ZVSI), proposing a potential method for CO2 fixation in AD. The results indicated that ZVSI promoted amorphous carbon formation, further boosted by CO2 introduction. Reactors with 80 g/L ZVSI exhibited a 31.4 % increase in amorphous carbon content compared to the control. Concurrently, methane production was also enhanced, with reactors containing 40 g/L ZVSI marking an increase between 9.6 % and 29.8 % over the control. This was attributed to the introduced inorganic carbon, which was further enhanced by the electron donors. Isotopic tracing revealed that the majority of the introduced inorganic carbon was channeled into methane, while a portion formed amorphous carbon. An in-depth microbial community analysis associated potential methanogens (Methanobacteriales, Methanosarcinales, and Methanomicrobiales) with the biogenic formation of amorphous carbon. A potential formation pathway of amorphous carbon was proposed according to metagenomic sequencing analysis. Based on the concept of low carbon, this study breathes new life into traditional anaerobic digestion and also identifies novel pathways for biological CO2 fixation.

Can China's energy policies achieve the "dual carbon" goal? A multi-dimensional analysis based on policy text tools

AbstractThe continuous increase in global temperatures and frequency of extreme weather events underscore the urgency of achieving "dual carbon" goals. Systematically examining the textual characteristics of energy policies under the "dual carbon" framework, synthesizing the implementation pathways of "dual carbon" initiatives contribute to enhancing comprehension, execution, and optimisation of these policies. This study selecting 409 energy policies under the "dual carbon" goals issued by the central government, the State Council, and ministries from 1992 to 2022 as samples, using policy econometrics and content analysis methods, external characteristics of energy policies including publication time, publication type, and publication subject were analysed. Multidimensional content analysis was conducted for policy tools, objectives, and participants. The implementation path of the "dual carbon" goals was summarised. The study found that China's energy policy under "dual carbon" target has undergone four development stages before and after the release of the energy policy, and energy policy system has been continuously supplemented and improved. Various energy policy tools, diverse policy participants, and policy objectives are of concern and focus. From the "tool-subject-target" perspective, six paths for the implementation of "double carbon" targets in China's energy field are summarised. The energy policy under the "dual carbon" goal has problems such as lack of laws and regulations, over-use of environmental policy tools, uneven distribution in the internal segmentation of policy tools, insufficient involvement of market players and the public, and insufficient attention to the reform of energy systems and mechanisms and the goal of establishing energy-saving and low-carbon concepts.

Collaborative Pricing of Green Supply Chain of Prefabricated Construction

In the process of carbon peak and carbon neutrality, prefabricated buildings have developed rapidly, and the concept of green and low carbon has been introduced into the field of prefabricated buildings. This paper establishes an information sharing platform based on BIM (Building Information Modeling), RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification), and GIS (Geographic Information System) technologies from the green supply chain of prefabricated buildings. On the basis of information sharing, the Stackelberg two-stage game is used to analyze and compare the overall profit of the supply chain under the centralized pricing decision and the decentralized pricing decision. Through numerical simulation, this paper analyzes the relationship between pricing and the overall profit of the supply chain, compares the difference of the overall profit of supply chain under two different pricing strategies, centralized pricing and decentralized pricing, and analyzes the influence of information sharing degree on the overall profit of the supply chain. The results show that the overall profit of the supply chain under centralized pricing decisions is significantly higher than that under decentralized pricing decisions. The higher the degree of information sharing, the greater the overall profit of the supply chain.

Study on the Evolution of the World Economy and International Cooperation in the Context of Carbon Neutrality

With the passage of time and the promotion of global eco-environmental protection concepts, the issue of the climate crisis has attracted the attention of all countries in the world and has become a hot topic characterized by ties. In recent years, major economies have announced their participation in carbon neutral activities one after another, actively implemented the carbon neutral targets, promoted international exchanges based on the concept of green and low carbon, deepened the degree of greening cooperation among countries, and met the needs of carbon neutral policy implementation from a strategic perspective. In the process of popularizing the concept of carbon neutrality, global economies have been able to participate in ecological and environmental protection activities together. Nowadays, there are certain changes in the global development pattern, and a scientific and technological revolution oriented to the goal of carbon neutrality has quietly arrived, and the world energy governance order has also changed. This paper analyzes the trend of the world economy in the context of carbon neutrality and the challenges of cooperation brought about by it, and puts forward the idea of participation in international cooperation from China's standpoint.

Properties of polyamide epichlorohydrin resin‐modified wood fibers/soybean straw powder copolymerization enhanced soy protein biomass composites

AbstractThe biomass composites were prepared by hot molding with a pressure of 10 MPa, a temperature of 125 °C, a time of 15 minutes using soybean straw powder, poplar wood fibers, and soy protein as raw materials. The effects of different straw species, the ratio of soybean straw powder to poplar wood fibers, the particle size of soybean straw powder, and the theoretical density on the performance of biomass composites were investigated. The experimental results show that under the condition that the ratio of soybean straw powder and poplar wood fibers is 1 : 1, 20 mesh to 40 mesh soybean straw powder and 20 mesh to 60 mesh wood fibers are selected to copolymerize and strengthen the soy protein biomass composites when the theoretical density is 0.80 g/cm3, the actual density of the biomass composites is 0.90 g/cm3, the tensile strength was up to 22.04 MPa, and the bending strength was up to 44.92 MPa. Biomass composites have good water resistance while obtaining excellent mechanical properties. The above figures not only meet the relevant technical requirements of automotive interior parts but also enable the lightweight design of automobiles and the sustainable development concept of green, low carbon, and environmental protection.

Nano-integrating green and low-carbon concepts into ideological and political education in higher education institutions through K-means clustering

Universities and colleges play a pivotal role in the pursuit of a future that is sustainable through their pedagogical efforts and the execution of state-of-the-art research endeavors aimed at mitigating the effects of climate change. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) serve as crucial catalysts in advancing sustainable development. HEIs are increasingly embracing precise measures to reduce their carbon footprint (CF) while also educating students on global sustainability. These nano-methods provide a quantitative framework for assessing a campus's sustainability efforts in line with Green Campus (GC) initiatives to lower carbon emissions align with GC goals. This study employs K-means clustering to analyze the integration of green and low-carbon principles in higher education political and ideological studies. Its goal is to identify patterns, assess teaching effectiveness, and improve sustainability education, aligning with Green Campus initiatives to enhance institutional contributions to sustainable growth through informed pedagogical strategies. Input data includes curriculum content, teaching methods, student engagement, and institutional goals related to sustainability. Seeking to improve sustainability education align with Green Campus initiatives, higher education can strategically enhance their contributions to long-term sustainability and growth through effective pedagogical approaches. Cluster 3 has the lowest WCSS value of 1200, indicating tighter cohesion and less variability within this cluster compared to Cluster 1 (1500) and Cluster 2 (1800). Cluster 3 stands out with the highest silhouette score of 0.7, suggesting well-defined and distinct clusters, while Cluster 2 has the lowest score of 0.4, indicating some overlap or ambiguity in data points. Cluster 1 has the lowest Davies-Bouldin Index of 0.4, implying better separation between clusters compared to Cluster 2 (0.6) and Cluster 3 (0.5). Cluster 3 is well-defined and cohesive, showing strong integration of green practices. Cluster 1 displays good separation and cohesion, while Cluster 2 requires refinement due to potential overlap in sustainability integration.

Tribological Properties of Blocky Composites with Carbon Nanotubes.

A large amount of primary energy is lost due to friction, and the study of new additive materials to improve friction performance is in line with the concept of low carbon. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have advantages in drag reduction and wear resistance with their hollow structure and self-lubricating properties. This review investigated the mechanism of improving friction properties of blocky composites (including polymer, metal, and ceramic-based composites) with CNTs' incorporation. The characteristic tubular structure and the carbon film make low wear rate and friction coefficient on the surface. In addition, the effect of CNTs' aggregation and interfacial bond strength on the wear resistance was analyzed. Within an appropriate concentration range of CNTs, the blocky composites exhibit better wear resistance properties. Based on the differences in drag reduction and wear resistance in different materials and preparation methods, further research directions of CNTs have been suggested.

Urban ecological human settlements design based on green and low-carbon concept

In recent years, the continuous growth of global carbon emissions has brought about climate change and global ecological environment problems, as well as severe challenges to the development of human settlements. Based on the concept of low carbon, this paper analyzes and summarizes the current situation of green space in typical residential areas, and quantifies its annual carbon sequestration. Then this paper discusses the design optimization strategy to improve its carbon sink efficiency based on the current situation. Finally, the effectiveness and enforce ability of the optimization strategy are verified by estimating the annual carbon sequestration increase value of the green space after the optimization strategy is applied to an example. The method has a certain reference value for the design and research of urban ecological human settlements with the concept of green and low carbon.

Environmental pressure and perceived costs and benefits of residents’ low-carbon behavior

Effectively guiding residents towards low-carbon behavior is an important way to reduce carbon emissions, mitigate climate change and achieve sustainable social development. We developed a dual mediator model of environmental pressure on low-carbon behavior based on Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) theory. The structural equation modelling analysis method was used to conduct an empirical test with 1557 questionnaires of urban residents from Beijing and Shanghai. The results indicate that: (1) environmental pollution intensity and social pressure intensity had a significant effect on residents’ low-carbon behavior. Social pressure was more likely to result in low-carbon behavior. (2) Perceived benefits were conducive to low-carbon behavior, whereas perceived costs inhibited low-carbon behavior. Social pressure intensity influenced low-carbon behavior by significantly acting on perceived benefits and costs, whereas environmental pollution intensity only contributed to low-carbon behavior by significantly reducing perceived costs. (3) Multi-group analysis gender, age, household size, and city of residence had significant moderating effects on the influence of environmental pollution intensity on low-carbon behavior. To promote residents’ low-carbon behavior, society should increase the dissemination of information on green, frugal, and low-carbon concepts to increase social pressure. And incentive measures should be taken to promote residents’ low-carbon behavior by relating them to interests. The results of the study are important for promoting residents’ low-carbon behavior from the perspective of social pressure and understanding the psychological changes in residents’ low-carbon behavior.

Current status of low-carbon education among undergraduates: a case study of Guangdong Province

Abstract Amidst global challenges such as climate change and environmental issues, China has set ambitious goals of achieving a carbon peak by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060. In this context, low-carbon education becomes particularly crucial. This article employs literature reviews and field surveys to analyze the current status and challenges of low-carbon literacy among university students. The findings indicate that most students lack an adequate understanding of low-carbon concepts and practices and do not possess corresponding behavioral habits. By examining influencing factors, the study reveals the impact of societal, familial, and educational factors on low-carbon education among university students. The aim is to enhance their awareness and behaviors toward a low-carbon lifestyle, thereby fostering its widespread adoption and implementation. This research holds significant theoretical and practical implications for advancing low-carbon education among university students.

Analysis of Green Technologies in Urban Rail Transit

Transportation is an important field of carbon emissions, and promoting the green and low-carbon transformation of the transportation industry is of great significance for achieving the national carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals. Therefore, the application of green technology in urban rail transit is receiving increasing attention. This article takes Chengdu Road Station on Tianjin Metro Line 8 as an example to analyze the technical measures to promote green and low-carbon development of urban rail transit systems from the aspects of environmental health, resource conservation, and operational services. The green and lowcarbon concept is integrated into the entire life process of the urban rail transit system, achieving green and sustainable development of rail transit from the aspects of station environment, vehicles, air conditioning, selection and recycling of construction materials, green construction, etc. And provide suggestions for the development of rail transit from four aspects: planning and design, construction and construction, equipment manufacturing, and operation and maintenance, providing reference significance for the research of green rail transit.

Research on the Urban Renewal Design Based on the Low-Carbon Concept

Research on the Urban Renewal Design Based on the Low-Carbon Concept

Research on Development Strategies for the Elderly Care Industry in Liaoning Province Based on Green and Low-Carbon Concepts

Research on Development Strategies for the Elderly Care Industry in Liaoning Province Based on Green and Low-Carbon Concepts

Evaluation Methodology and Establishment of Indicator System for Green and Livable Sustainable Development

At the current stage of China’s low-carbon concept and the international community’s sustainable development trend, the construction industry as one of China’s largest carbon emission industry, emission reduction is the implementation of the “dual-carbon” strategy is an inevitable requirement, but also to promote China’s economy and society as a whole to the objective needs of the green transformation. “Green and livable” has also become a higher pursuit of the industry. While our country at this stage has insufficient understanding of the evaluation system of green livability and sustainable development, this paper analyzes and evaluates the building from multiple perspectives, such as expert questionnaire, indicator establishment, weight calculation, evaluation method, and so on. The significance of this paper is to provide a new evaluation program for the inadequacy of the national green livable building.

Plant Landscape Design Methods Based on Low Carbon Concepts

Plant Landscape Design Methods Based on Low Carbon Concepts

The impact of digital economy on industrial carbon emission efficiency at the city level in China: Gravity movement trajectories and driving mechanisms

Can the digital economy be a key driver of China's industrial green and low-carbon transformation, promoting the growth of urban industrial economy and reducing carbon emissions to achieve a "win-win" development? The study measured industrial carbon emission efficiency (ICEE), analyzed the spatiotemporal center of gravity movement, and investigated the nonlinear and spatial spillover effects of digital economy on ICEE using panel data based on 270 cities from 2005 to 2020 through the super-efficient model, threshold effects and spatial econometric model. The results were as follows: The ICEE of Chinese cities has generally improved over time, with its center of gravity shifting from west to east, contrary to the trajectory of industrial carbon emissions. The effect of digital economy on ICEE presented an "N" shape of increasing (0.240), decreasing (–0.037), then increasing (0.145), rather than a simple inverted "U" shape. When green technology innovation was the threshold variable, the effect on ICEE exhibited a "U" shape of inhibition followed by promotion (–0.185 to 0.345) rather than a direct positive effect. The digital economy enhanced the ICEE of local cities (0.118) and generated positive spatial spillover effects (0.179) in neighboring cities. However, the impact of digital economy exhibited regional heterogeneity, with a radiating effect (0.117) on neighboring cities in the eastern region and an opposite "siphon effect" (–0.330, –0.174) on neighboring cities in the central and western regions. It is crucial to utilize digital technology sharing advanced industrial technology and low-carbon concepts to transcend geographical boundaries and establish industrial carbon reduction synergy from the eastern to the central and western regions.

Retracted: Optimization of New Energy Public Transportation Network Based on Ant Colony Algorithm and Low-Carbon Concept

Retracted: Optimization of New Energy Public Transportation Network Based on Ant Colony Algorithm and Low-Carbon Concept

Application of Acoustic-solid Coupling Theory in New Energy Vehicle Noise Control

The development of new energy vehicles has attracted much attention due to the strong promotion and popularisation of the concept of low carbon and environmental protection, and the increasing demand for environmental protection in cars. Although these vehicles meet people’s requirements for resource and environmental protection, the noise generated during the driving process affects the comfort of the vehicle occupants and the concentration of the vehicle driver. To address this problem, the research proposes to improve the noise control technology of new energy vehicles based on acoustic-solid coupling theory and to test the practical application effect of this technology. The test results show that the maximum acceleration of vibration at the roof, floor, axle head, and spring of the new energy vehicle are 1.48 m/s2, 1.02 m/s2, 0.079 m/s2, and 0.020 m/s2 respectively, which are lower than the maximum acceleration before the use of this technology. The maximum sound pressure at the windscreen and side window glass of the new energy vehicle is 80 dB(A) and 73 dB(A) after the use of this technology. The maximum sound pressure at the driver’s ear was 62 dB(A) and 77 dB(A) when the vehicle was driven on different road surfaces, which were lower than the sound pressure values before use. In summary, the research proposes to improve the noise control technology of new energy vehicles based on the sound-solid coupling theory, which can have the effect of reducing the noise value generated by new energy vehicles and improving the comfort of users.