Related Greenhouse Gas Emissions Research Articles

Contribution of Glazed Balconies as a Passive Heating System in Contemporary Buildings in Northern Portugal

To mitigate greenhouse gas emissions responsible for global warming and climate change, governments have undertaken concerted efforts and established goals to restructure production and consumption patterns within the current global economy. The construction sector, which in Europe has significant energy use and related greenhouse gas emissions, recognizes adopting passive heating and cooling systems for buildings as a viable solution. The revival of vernacular passive solar strategies emerges as opportune within this context. Through dynamic simulations, this study aims to analyze and quantify the potential contribution of glazed balconies, a traditional passive heating system, to improve contemporary constructions’ thermal behavior and comfort conditions in mild temperate climates, such as in northern Portugal. Results indicate that this system can significantly enhance a building’s energy efficiency, reducing energy needs for heating and cooling by up to 47% while extending periods of thermal comfort indoors by nearly 900 h per year compared to buildings with non-glazed balconies. Proper use of natural ventilation and shading devices is essential to ensure optimal system performance and prevent overheating. This research underscores the potential of glazed balconies as a sustainable solution for enhancing contemporary buildings’ thermal-energy performance and comfort, contributing to the transition towards carbon-neutral constructions.

Does the Trade of Livestock Products Enhance Micro-Nutrient Availability While Minimizing Environmental Impact?

Providing sufficient, high-quality food without compromising efforts in climate change and environmental pollution control is a long-term imperative for humanity. Livestock product trade may help bridge the gap in micro-nutrient supply; however, its potential environmental impacts remain underexplored. Using data from 200 countries and 77 different livestock commodities from 1961 to 2019, this study uncovers the impact of livestock trade on micro-nutrient productivity per livestock unit and per feed nitrogen input. Our results indicate that livestock trade has improved productivity for all seven studied micro-nutrients over the past 59 years, except for vitamin A. This improvement has led to a substantial reduction in the number of livestock units and feed nitrogen requirements needed to deliver the same amount of micro-nutrients, thereby reducing related greenhouse gas emissions and nitrogen losses globally. Generally, livestock trade has become more optimal and functional in terms of livestock productivity and feed use efficiency, particularly in the most recent decade, although there were slight differences between various micro-nutrients. We recommend continuing and potentially increasing international livestock trade, given the higher efficiency gap between exporting and importing countries; however, this should be structured more appropriately.

Opaque ventilated façades: Energy performance for different main walls and claddings

Ventilated façades can reduce heat gains through the opaque envelope of buildings, and consequently help to lower the cooling energy demand and the relative greenhouse gas emissions. However, the influence of the design features and climatic variables on their energy performance is not known enough.In this article, the influence of different parameters of the ventilated façade has been assessed. The cladding material, the relative position between mass and thermal insulation in the main wall, the air cavity geometry, and the open/closed joint configurations have been evaluated through a numerical calculation with a model that considers all these parameters, validated with experimental data.It has been observed that, in summer conditions, the best strategy to prevent heat gains is to block the energy in the outermost layers. This suggests adopting non-thermal conductor materials for claddings and the insulation of the main wall on the outer layer. Higher cavities imply a reduction of the ventilation benefits; the air remains more time in the cavity, and thus heat fluxes per unit façade area increase. On the contrary, lower air cavities allow more fresh air entrances from outside, as occurs for open joint claddings, reducing net heat gains. Additionally, widening the air cavity, up to 10 cm, results in lower average heat flux.All these different façade configurations are compared in a cradle-to-gate environmental impact assessment demonstrating that the lowest energy-demanding solution during the service life might not be the best one in the whole life cycle, thus a deeper study is needed.

Bifacial flexible CIGS thin-film solar cells with nonlinearly graded-bandgap photon-absorbing layers

The building sector accounts for 36% of energy consumption and 39% of energy-related greenhouse-gas emissions. Integrating bifacial photovoltaic solar cells in buildings could significantly reduce energy consumption and related greenhouse gas emissions. Bifacial solar cells should be flexible, bifacially balanced for electricity production, and perform reasonably well under weak-light conditions. Using rigorous optoelectronic simulation software and the differential evolution algorithm, we optimized symmetric/asymmetric bifacial CIGS solar cells with either (i) homogeneous or (ii) graded-bandgap photon-absorbing layers and a flexible central contact layer of aluminum-doped zinc oxide to harvest light outdoors as well as indoors. Indoor light was modeled as a fraction of the standard sunlight. Also, we computed the weak-light responses of the CIGS solar cells using LED illumination of different light intensities. The optimal bifacial CIGS solar cell with graded-bandgap photon-absorbing layers is predicted to perform with 18%–29% efficiency under 0.01–1.0-Sun illumination; furthermore, efficiencies of 26.08% and 28.30% under weak LED light illumination of 0.0964 mW cm−2 and 0.22 mW cm−2 intensities, respectively, are predicted.

A multi-scale lifecycle and technoeconomic framework for higher education fleet electrification

Transportation accounts for one-quarter of all energy related greenhouse gas emissions. As it pertains to transport electrification, higher education institutions—such as universities—can model solutions that affect broader society. Despite this, higher education’s role in fleet electrification adoption has been understudied. We, therefore, modeled an archetypical higher education institution to analyze the carbon and economic payback periods of three electrification scenarios (Business-as-Usual, Targeted Electrification, and Full Electrification) using a cradle-to-grave lifecycle and technoeconomic approach. Given the archetypical higher education institution fleet of 368 vehicles, results show an economic ratio plateau point of about 8 years at 20 fuel-based cars replaced by electric vehicles and a carbon payback period peak of roughly 10 months at 50 fuel-based cars replaced. We then performed a multi-scalar analysis by leveraging implementation theory. We find that higher education institutions that adhere to the tenets of implementation theory are poised to be pro-environmental change agents in many regions and countries. The methods and findings herein can be adapted to other institutions, regardless of fleet size, and can bolster relevant decision-making outcomes now.

An advanced geospatial assessment of the Levelised cost of energy (LCOE) for wave farms in Irish and western UK waters

With the climate crisis becoming an ever-growing concern, Europe is striving to reduce its energy related greenhouse gas emissions. On the western edge of this continent, wave energy is a logical future clean energy consideration for Ireland and the U.K. to help realise ambitious targets recently being set in policy. Yet to reach commercialisation, there is still much uncertainty surrounding the financial feasibility of wave farms in the region of interest, and where exactly the most feasible locations are likely to be. The Levelised Cost of Energy (LCOE) is the most commonly used metric in determining the financial feasibility of an energy project, and it is very much site dependant when it comes to wave energy, varying considerably from one location to the next. This study uses the geographic approach to address this and estimate the LCOE of wave energy farms in the region, considering different technology types and the geospatially variable inputs at play. The results reveal areas of high project feasibility in the Atlantic Ocean (off the west coast of Ireland), the Celtic Sea and the Inner Seas off the West Coast of Scotland (ISWCS), with LCOE values below 110€/MWh along the coasts of these areas.

Spatiotemporal tracking of building materials and their related environmental impacts

Urban development will increase the demand for new buildings expected to cause significant environmental impacts in the coming decades. Spatiotemporal prediction for new buildings, their typologies, resource quantities and types required for construction, and the associated impacts are crucial to effectively tackle strategies to reduce the related greenhouse gas emissions. Within the context of Denmark, this study establishes a prognosis of expected yearly embedded impacts across the country towards 2050 based on Business as Usual (frozen policy) trends. Through the Holt-Winters method's additive version, the study forecasted the future amount of building types in each Danish municipality. The embedded impacts disaggregated into building types, components, materials, and life cycle stages are calculated from the material intensity coefficients of real projects. Considering a ‘business as usual’ scenario, the prediction shows an increase in demand by 6.5 % for new gross floor areas compared to the number of current buildings constructed in the past years. The GHGs from the upstream processing of materials correspond to 7 % of current consumption-based yearly emissions in Denmark. To strive for sustainable development, the findings of the study help inform stakeholders in the built environment to better correlate the material mechanism ‘supply-demand’ for circularity and where efforts to minimize the impacts should be prioritized.

Parametrized passive house standard compliance energy analysis of three exemplary carbon neutral hybrid timber technology-based building renovations in the Republic of Korea

So-called Passive House (PH) and near net Zero Energy Building (nZEB) concepts have become standards for energy-efficient building renovations with low greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Minimizing building service energy demand related GHG emissions requires detailed specification and assessment of energy-efficient renovation measures and user behavior prediction. This study examines the compliance with the PH-standard of three exemplary carbon neutral hybrid-timber technology-based building renovations in the Republic of Korea. The simulation of assessment indicators employed a parametric design system to automate exporting data from building models to the PH Planning Package. Calculations were compared with threshold values for the PH-standard to evaluate compliance. The results showed that thermal bridge compensation contributed to the reduction of heating- and cooling-associated primary energy demand. The residential buildings (apartment and multi-unit) achieve the passive house standard, while the renovated mixed-use building does not achieve the standard due to high user and process loads. The parametric design facilitates the evaluation of multiple design options with variable user behavior. Integration of heating, cooling, mechanical ventilation, hot water production, and user behavior related to passive ventilation and the shading of transparent components were found to be critical factors in achieving passive house standard thresholds.

Parametric Analysis for Hybrid–Electric Regional Aircraft Conceptual Design and Development

This paper proposes a conceptual analysis of the limitations related to the development (and integration) of hybrid–electric propulsion on regional transport aircraft, with the aim to identify a feasibility space for this innovative aircraft concept. Hybrid–electric aircraft have attracted the interest of aeronautical research as these have the potential to reduce fuel consumption and, thus, the related greenhouse gas emissions. Nevertheless, considering the development of such an aircraft configuration while keeping the constraints deriving from technological and/or operating aspects loose could lead to the analysis of concepts that are unlikely to be realised. In this paper, specifically to outline the boundaries constraining the actual development of such aircraft, the influence on overall aircraft design and performance of the main technological, operating, and design factors characterising the development of such a configuration is analysed and discussed at a conceptual level. Specifically, the current achievable gravimetric battery energy density (BED) is identified as the main limiting factor for the development of regional hybrid–electric aircraft, and a sensitivity analysis shows the correlation of this important technological parameter with aircraft performance in terms of both fuel consumption and energy efficiency. In this context, minimum technological development thresholds are therefore identified to enable the effective development of this type of aircraft; namely, a minimum of BED = 500 Wh/kg at battery pack level is identified as necessary to provide tangible benefits. From an operating point of view, flight distance is the most limiting design requirement, and a proper assessment of the design range is necessary if a hybrid–electric aircraft is to be designed to achieve lower emissions than the state of the art; flight ranges equal to or lower than 600 nm are to be considered for this type of aircraft. As a bridging of both of the previous constraints, a change in the design paradigm with respect to established practices for state-of-the-art aircraft is necessary. More specifically, penalisations in maximum take-off weight and overall aircraft energy efficiency may be necessary if the aim is to reduce direct in-flight consumption by means of integration of hybrid–electric powertrains.

A study of energy use and associated greenhouse gas emissions in Norwegian small-scale processing of whitefish

This study considers the energy use and associated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at three fish processing companies, representing a seasonal small-scale whitefish processing industry within the Norwegian coastal fisheries. The primary objective is to analyse the energy use in small-scale processing of whitefish and to provide energy requirements for primary processing, freezer and freezer storage, and drying. The study also discusses the environmental importance of the fish processing stages as compared to fishing vessels in seafood value chains. The results show that initial processing and cold storage has an average energy use of 132 kWh/ton of raw material. Freezing and freezer storage and drying have energy consumptions of 449 and 203 kWh/ton, respectively. Energy use per unit of volume decreases as the amount of raw material increases. This study finds that small-scale whitefish processing may account for a significant share of the total energy consumption and associated GHG emissions from fishing vessels and processing stages. The energy related GHG emissions are highly dependent upon the electricity mix and energy sources in general. The representativeness of the results is limited given that the three companies considered in this case study operate under very specific conditions, i.e., they are small-scale actors operating within a seasonal and geographically limited coastal fishery. Future research could utilize data from a larger number of facilities and do long-term statistical analysis of energy use in different fish processing stages. The use of advanced metering systems has proven suitable for such purposes, and could be supplemented by installation of permanent monitoring equipment such as “panel servers” to record energy use for specific processes within whitefish processing.

Estimated Impacts of Smart Water Meter Implementation on Domestic Hot Water Consumption and Related Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Case Studies

This study investigates the water–energy–carbon (WEC) nexus in cities across four countries, namely the United Kingdom (UK), the United States of America (USA), Australia (AUS), and South Korea (KOR), over a decade, from 2011 to 2021. The primary objective is to assess the impact of smart water metering (SWM) implementation on the WEC nexus, with a specific focus on domestic hot water (DHW) consumption and associated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The analysis of the collected data reveals diverse patterns among cities with varying levels of SWM implementation. Notably, cities with higher SWM implementation demonstrated significant reductions in water consumption, indicating the effectiveness of the efficient water consumption and demand management achieved through SWM. The study emphasizes the importance of addressing GHG emissions related to water heating, with the carbon intensity of water heating identified as a critical factor in this context. To achieve net reductions in GHG emissions, intensive efforts are required to simultaneously decrease both DHW consumption and the carbon intensity of water heating. The research findings highlight the potential for substantial GHG emissions reductions by combining SWM implementation with the decarbonization of water heating. By recognizing the interdependencies within WEC systems, this study underscores the significance of SWM in advancing toward a carbon-neutral society. In conclusion, this study contributes valuable insights into the WEC nexus and emphasizes the role of SWM in achieving sustainability goals. It advocates for integrated policies to effectively address the interconnected issues of the WEC nexus for effective climate change mitigation.

Parameterized Modeling of the Energy Demand of Machining Processes as a Basis for Reusable Life Cycle Inventory Datasets

Manufacturing processes have a significant contribution to energy consumption and related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in a product’s life cycle. Today, information on GHG emissions is increasingly demanded from companies in a life cycle perspective, based on the methodology of Life Cycle Assessment. Manufacturing companies supply producers of final products and are, therefore, requested to provide data on GHG of their manufacturing processes and resulting products. Obtaining such data for real-world manufacturing processes represents a huge effort. This challenge can be overcome with the use of a parameterized model, the Extended Energy Modeling Approach (EEMA), that has been developed for the machining process, which is a widespread industrial manufacturing process. The model calculates the total energy demand from power key values, which report the average power consumption of the constant and variable units of the machinery equipment, the consumer groups, as well as the different operating states of the equipment. Therefore, EEMA enables the reuse of a single measurement campaign for follow-up investigations of the specific machine tool, thereby significantly improving the efficiency of data acquisition for the calculation of the total energy demand and life-cycle-based GHG emissions. To use EEMA for the compilation of life cycle inventory datasets, methodological requirements were analyzed to derive a procedure for LCA-compliant datasets for machine tools. The key findings of applying the EEMA for the case study of a turning machine show that the constant consumer groups have a significant influence on the total energy demand. The share of the variable consumer groups in the total energy demand increases with increasing machine utilization but is always below 5%.

Small-scale experiments on the operational performance of a lightweight thermally active building system

Thermally active building systems (TABS), which are integrated with the structure of a building, provide a robust approach for utilising renewable energy. However, reinforced concrete, where TABS are typically placed, is responsible for a significant proportion of initial embodied energy and related greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, combining lightweight structural elements and thermal systems reduces initial embodied energy usage while retaining the active material’s thermal storage and heat transport benefits. The present experimental work explores the operational performance of a prototype of a lightweight TABS at ceiling level. A small-scale climate chamber was constructed and equipped to evaluate the prototype in the key operating modes. The study investigated the relationship between the supply temperature of the lightweight TABS and the climate chamber’s internal air temperature for active heating, active cooling and natural ventilation modes. The experiments compared the reaction time in active heating mode for a range of supply temperatures. In addition, we examined the dynamic characteristics of the thermal mass of the lightweight TABS in passive natural ventilation mode and passive cooling mode in the presence of an internal thermal load. The results provide insights into the dynamic performance in operation. In heating mode, we identified the time lag between the radiant surface achieving a steady state and the conditioned air reaching its target temperature. This feature emphasises the significance of refining control strategies when designing comfortable environments with low-temperature heating systems at ceiling level. Further, we highlighted the importance of balancing decisions on minimising embodied energy with the suitability of the selected material to leverage renewable energy sources. The experimental data can be used for validating high-resolution numerical models, which support the development of multifunctional elements with renewable energy sources for building heating and cooling.

Sustainable utilization and valorization of potato waste: state of the art, challenges, and perspectives

AbstractPotatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) are starchy tuberous crops that represent the world’s fourth most important crop. According to the “Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations,” 376 million metric tonnes of potatoes were produced globally in 2021. It is anticipated that around 8000 kilotons of potato peel waste might be generated in 2030, with related greenhouse gas emissions of 5 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent. Waste generated throughout the food supply chain, from potato farms to forks, contributes considerably to global warming. Apart from animal feed, technical processes in the potato processing industry generate waste organic residues with high amounts of bioactive compounds and carbohydrates, and thus extraction and bioconversion processes can produce high-value products. These include the isolation of functional ingredients for the formulation of nutraceuticals and pharma products, bioenergy-related products, enzymes, and fertilizers for the market, hence contributing to a more responsible production and consumption and, overall, circular economy. This review focuses on studies involving potato waste from industries such as pulp, processed water, peels, and mash showing the great prospects of the by-products from this crop for value-added supply chains and the reduction of undesired environmental effects. This work attempts to adhere upon several Sustainable Development Goals, specifically goals 7, 12, and 13, while also contributing to long-term growth targets and reducing negative environmental consequences produced by the food sector.

Comparative Analysis of Hybrid-Electric Regional Aircraft with Tube-and-Wing and Box-Wing Airframes: A Performance Study

The continuously expanding transport aviation sector has a significant impact on climate change, and measures must be taken to limit its environmental impact. The study of advanced airframes, which may increase the lift-to-drag ratio and structural efficiency, and the development of innovative high-efficient powertrains, could be a way to achieve air transport decarbonization. This paper explores this broad topic by proposing a classical performance comparison between an aircraft with a traditional tube-and-wing (TW) airframe and a corresponding one with an advanced box-wing (BW) lifting architecture, both equipped with a parallel hybrid-electric powertrain. In fact, the propulsion technologies selected for this comparative study are consistent with the 2035 forecast, and both aircraft concepts are designed to belong to the regional transport category. The comparison between TW and BW is conducted on a conceptual and multi-disciplinary level, offering an analysis of the competitive benefits and limitations in terms of the aerodynamic, structural, and propulsive performance of the two configurations. The metrics selected to make the comparison are related to aircraft performance, such as the structural weight, the block fuel, or the energy required to accomplish the assigned mission. The outcomes obtained highlight the potential of BW airframes coupled with hybrid-electric powertrains to reduce fuel consumption, and hence the related greenhouse gas emissions, because of improvements introduced by this advanced architecture in both the aircraft’s empty weight and energy efficiency.

Ecodesign for Industrial Furnaces and Ovens: A Review of the Current Environmental Legislation

The increasing global demand for energy- and resource-efficient, environmentally friendly products has led the European Union (EU) to develop a sustainable product policy, incorporating ecodesign legislation and energy labeling as effective tools for promoting energy efficiency and sustainability. Recent European energy policies, such as the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) and the Ecodesign Directive (EDD), have set new objectives for enhancing energy efficiency. This study focuses on the 2012 Lot 4: Industrial and Laboratory Furnaces and Ovens, Tasks 1–7 Final Report, which informed the European Commission’s 2014 working document for the Ecodesign Consultation Forum on industrial and laboratory furnaces and ovens. The working document proposed initial draft measures and requirements for this product group, aiming to achieve specific energy savings and related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions. The findings of the investigations on energy consumption and GHG emissions are presented in this work, with draft calculations and projections serving as the foundation for discussions on future measures. The BAT (best available technologies) scenario would result in lower environmental impacts. The initial and indicative draft Lot 4 impact assessment predictions for energy savings demonstrate the positive influence of prospective ecodesign measures in reducing energy consumption. These deliberations will ultimately contribute to the formulation of an official mandatory regulation for industrial and laboratory furnaces and ovens, in line with the EU’s sustainable product policy objectives.

Integrating energy retrofit with seismic upgrades to future-proof built heritage: Case studies of unreinforced masonry buildings in Aotearoa New Zealand

Deep energy retrofit can improve historic buildings’ indoor environmental quality and protect them from decay and obsolescence while reducing their energy use and related greenhouse gas emissions. Although this practice has been growing internationally, in Aotearoa New Zealand there are currently no policies or initiatives to encourage energy retrofit in historic buildings and no substantial examples of projects. Most retrofits currently focus on much-needed earthquake strengthening, due to high seismic risks and national policies which mandate all existing earthquake-prone buildings to be either structurally retrofitted or demolished over the next decades. As seismic upgrade projects are widespread, this study explores the potential of applying energy retrofit concurrently with seismic strengthening, with a focus on unreinforced masonry (URM) – the main type of earthquake-prone historic construction in the country. The research investigates three case studies of listed heritage URM buildings using Post-Occupancy Evaluation and simulation. Their current performance was investigated, and retrofit scenarios were analysed through energy and hygrothermal simulation, utilising the EnerPHit standard as a guide. The energy models demonstrated a potential reduction of up to 92% in heating demand when comparing the most comprehensive retrofit scenario with the baseline in the coldest climate. The potential energy savings from each intervention were balanced against their heritage impact, based on the standard EN16883:2017. The study provides a methodology for balancing several considerations in integrated retrofit to make historic buildings more resilient not only to seismic threats, but also to a changing climate, while keeping a respectful approach to heritage.

Domestic water versus imported virtual blue water for agricultural production: A comparison based on energy consumption and related greenhouse gas emissions

AbstractThe supply of water, food, and energy in our global economy is highly interlinked. Virtual blue water embedded into internationally traded food crops has therefore been extensively researched in recent years. This study focuses on the often neglected energy needed to supply this blue irrigation water. It provides a globally applicable and spatially explicit approach to the watershed level for water source specific quantification of energy consumption and related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of irrigation water supply. The approach is applied to Israel's total domestic and imported food crop supply of 105 crops by additionally including import‐related transportation energy and emissions. Total energy use and related emissions of domestic crop production were much lower (551 GWh/422 kt CO2‐equivalents [CO2e]) than those embedded into crop imports (1639 GWh/649 kt CO2e). Domestic energy and emissions were mainly attributable to the irrigation water supply with artificial water sources (treated domestic wastewater and desalinated water, 84%). Transport accounted for 79% and 66% of virtually imported energy and emissions, respectively. Despite transport, specific GHG emissions (CO2e per ton of crop) were significantly lower for several crops (e.g., olives, almonds, chickpeas) compared to domestic production. This could be attributed to the high share of energy‐intensive artificial water supply in combination with higher irrigation water demands in Israel. In the course of an increasing demand for artificial water supply in arid and semi‐arid regions, our findings point to the importance of including “energy for water” into comparative environmental assessment of crop supply to support decision‐making related to the water–energy–food nexus.

Consumer perception of plant-based yoghurt: Sensory drivers of liking and emotional, holistic and conceptual associations

Plant-based (PB) yoghurts is a rapidly expanding food category with the potential to reduce many of the negative environmental impacts associated with the farming of dairy cattle and related greenhouse gas emissions. Within the context of growing consumer demand for PB products, this research aimed to identify the main drivers of consumer acceptance of PB yoghurts through data drawn from a consumer study of 113 adult New Zealand participants who tasted a representative range of commercially available vanilla-flavoured PB yoghurts, and provided sample evaluations using a multi-variable measurement approach comprised of liking ratings, emotional responses, sensory characterisations, and holistic / conceptual perceptions. The primary finding of this study was that the overall acceptability of currently available PB yoghurts is low, leading to poor attitudes and low willingness to consume PB yoghurts. The examined products were characterised by the presence of several sensory attributes that negatively impacted consumer liking, either because they were unexpected or because their intensity level was too high. Among the main sensory issues identified were perceived sourness (acidity), lumpy appearance and non-white colour. In contrast, vanilla flavour and a creamy/smooth texture were identified as the main drivers of liking. The multi-response approach used in this study enabled a comprehensive characterisation of the products. One of the key insights gained was that negative emotional activation, caused by the presence of unexpected sensory attributes in the samples, was the main driver of product rejection. This was likely due to the disparity between consumers’ sensory expectations, formed primarily based on their experience with dairy yoghurts, and the actual experience upon tasting the PB yoghurts. Overall, the findings indicate that the sensory properties of currently available PB yoghurts are a significant barrier to their adoption by most consumers and that addressing these sensory deficiencies is essential to achieving mainstream market acceptance of these products.

Trade-offs between greenhouse gas mitigation and economic objectives with drained peatlands in Finnish landscapes

In Finland, the widespread drainage of boreal peatlands has led to increased forest productivity. The cost is a dramatic increase in soil greenhouse gas emissions. Empirical research of drained peatlands has found a correlation between greenhouse gas emissions and the ground water table. This suggests an opportunity to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions through forest management. We explore this opportunity at the landscape level through a simulation and optimization framework. We explore how forest management actions can impact the ground water table and the related greenhouse gas emissions. There are various economic and societal constraints for a set of forested peatland landscapes in Finland. First, we link forest simulations with hydrological and statistical models to predict CO2, CH4, and N2O emissions from the drained peatlands. We then present the range of landscape level solutions that prioritize between minimizing the net ecosystem greenhouse gas emissions, the economic timber value, and the even flow of timber income over time. Our results highlight the impact that integrating peatland soil greenhouse gas emissions will have on the planning process. This promotes the use of management options that benefit both biomass growth and reduced peatland soil greenhouse gas emissions.