Energy Conservation Strategies Research Articles

Energy management education for persons living with long COVID-related fatigue (EMERGE): protocol of a two-parallel arms target trial emulation study in a multicentre outpatient intervention setting with an online control group register

IntroductionEnergy management education (EME) is a manualised, evidence-based self-management education programme developed and delivered by occupational therapists for persons living with chronic disease-related fatigue. Studies have shown that EME can...

Energy Conservation Strategy Driven by Optimizing Waste Heat Supply Chain

Abstract: Subject to pressures from resource exhaustion and environmental pollution, many countries have aimed to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy as part of their decarbonization strategy. In the post-pandemic era, countries are making efforts to explore a sustainable mode of economic development that features low resource consumption and less environmental pollution. Consumers are increasingly concerned about the environmental friendliness of energy products. In this study, we formulated four solutions for energy-saving optimization and control of the waste heat supply chain to conserve energy and compared the impact of a profit-as-incentive energy efficiency strategy and an energy efficiency incentive strategy on energy efficiency in the waste heat supply chain. Government agencies and enterprises can adopt a suitable strategy with the best current social and economic benefits to manage waste heat recovery. The profit-as-incentive energy efficiency strategy is more favorable for enterprises in the early stage of development. Under dual pressures of social attention to green energy and environmental protection, government agencies may adjust energy conservation policy to encourage enterprises to choose an energy efficiency incentive strategy to increase energy conservation.

Spawning is accompanied by increased thermal performance in blue mussels

Climate change is causing extreme short-term warming with greater intensity and more frequent occurrence. Reproduction and subsequent recruitment of coastal ecosystem engineers, such as the blue mussel, may be impacted by the extreme temperatures because these vital functions are sensitive to the timing of short-term changes in abiotic factors. We exposed intertidal blue mussels, Mytilus edulis, to a thermal challenge from 10 to 29 °C using an ecologically relevant heating rate of 4 °C/h. We assessed their reproductive status by observing spawning activity and by analyzing histological sections of their gonad tissue. In addition, we monitored their heart rates and valve gaping behavior to determine their thermal performance. We identified three spawning groups: non-spawners that had mature gonads but did not release gametes, post-spawners that released mature gametes prior to the thermal challenge, and active spawners that released mature gametes during the thermal challenge. Across temperatures, active spawners had significantly higher heart rates and their heart rate peaked at the temperatures 3.9 and 3.2 °C higher compared to those of non-spawners or post-spawners, respectively. Post-spawners had significantly narrower valve gapes across temperatures compared to both other spawning groups. Hence, the metabolic response to warming strongly depends on the reproductive status, with active spawners experiencing increased thermal stress due to heightened metabolism, non-spawners showing heat-induced metabolic depression, and post-spawners adopting an energy-conserving strategy indicated by reduced gaping. Considered together, spawning during recurring short-term warming events may elevate mortality risk with potential consequences for the local biodiversity in a future climate.

The Effect and function of Nanotechnology in achieving sustainable architecture

Given the significant growth of the world's population, several serious issues have arisen, including pollution, economic challenges, and environmental problems. To address these environmental issues, many construction experts are actively seeking new flexible techniques. In this context, nanotechnology emerges as a critical field aimed at enhancing the efficiency of the built environment and plays a vital role in addressing prominent future challenges. The nanotechnology revolution has had a positive impact on architecture. The use of nanotechnology is considered one of the most successful modern methods for achieving sustainable buildings with high operational efficiency. This study aims to examine the role of nanotechnology in achieving sustainable architecture through a descriptive-analytical approach. The findings of this research include the advantages of nanotechnology in the construction and improvement of building quality, the enhancement of material quality, energy savings, and consequently sustainable architecture and environmental sustainability. Additionally, it explores strategies for energy conservation in buildings and achieving sustainable architecture using nanomaterials and technology.

Research on the Differential Model-Free Adaptive Mooring Control Method for Uncrewed Wave Gliders

Uncrewed Wave Gliders (UWGs) are capable of harnessing energy from ocean waves and photovoltaic sources to enable long-duration voyages. Since the float’s yaw motion relies on the rudder of the submersible for control, this introduces many unknown nonlinear and time-delay factors into the control system. Moreover, the susceptibility of UWGs to waves influences results in limited maneuverability and necessitates energy efficiency considerations, complicating the task of following a designated path to a specific point for observations. To address these challenges, this paper first introduces a differential model-free adaptive control (DMFAC) approach for managing the float’s heading control, along with a proof of its stability. Furthermore, an improved attractive force line-of-sight (IAFLOS) guidance strategy for overall mooring control is proposed. The integration of the DMFAC heading controller and the IAFLOS strategy forms a comprehensive mooring control system, which is validated through simulation studies in typical maritime conditions. This control system ensures that, while considering energy conservation strategies, the distance between the wave glider and the mooring point remains within 20 m during mooring.

Insight into Carbon Emissions in Economically Developed Regions Based on Land Use Transitions: A Case Study of the Yangtze River Delta, China

This study focused on the land use (LU) structure and carbon emissions (CEs) in the Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, and Shanghai provinces of the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) in China from 2000 to 2020, using the STIRPAT model and scenario analysis (SA). We conducted an analysis of the influence exerted by relevant factors on land use carbon emissions (LUCEs) and made forecasts regarding the diverse development scenarios of CE trends, aiming to provide methodological guidance for validating the effectiveness of existing policies in reducing CEs and offer direction for achieving the peak CO2 emissions target as soon as possible. It also constitutes a significant reference for the early realization of the peak CO2 emissions target. The results indicated the following: (1) Between 2000 and 2020, CEs resulting from LU in the YRD rose from 2.70 × 108 t to 9.10 × 108 t, marking an increase of 243.77%. In 2020, the built-up area was the predominant contributor to CEs, representing 99.15% of the overall carbon sources, whereas forests served as the main carbon sink, comprising 92.37% of the total carbon sinks (CSs) for that year. (2) For each percent increase in the parameters considered in this study, the corresponding increases in LU CO2 emissions were estimated to be: 1.932% (population), 0.241% (GDP per capita), −0.141% (energy intensity), 0.043% (consumption structure), 1.045% (industrial structure), and 0.975% (urbanization). (3) According to the existing policy framework and development plans, the YRD is expected to achieve peaking carbon dioxide emissions by 2030. If energy conservation and carbon reduction strategies are implemented, this peak could be achieved as early as 2025. However, if economic growth continues to depend primarily on fossil fuel consumption, the region may not hit its carbon peak until 2035. (4) The low-carbon scenario, which considers the needs of social progress alongside the intensity of carbon emission reductions, represents the most effective development strategy for reaching a carbon peak in LU within the YRD. Effectively managing population size and facilitating the upgrading of industrial structures are key strategies to hasten the achievement of peaking carbon dioxide emissions in the region.

Deciphering the function of Fe3O4 in alleviating propionate inhibition during high-solids anaerobic digestion: Insights of physiological response and energy conservation

Fe3O4 is a recognized addictive to enhance low solid anaerobic digestion (AD), while for high solid AD challenged by acidity inhibition, its feasibility and mechanism remain unclear. In this study, the positive effect of Fe3O4 on high-solids AD of food waste by regulating microbial physiology and energy conservation to enhance mutualistic propionate methanation was documented. The methane yield was increased by 36.7 % with Fe3O4, which because Fe3O4 alleviated propionate stress on methane generation, along with improved propionate degradation and methanogenic metabolism. Fe3O4 facilitated the production of extracellular polymeric substances and the formation of tightly bio-aggregates, fostering an enriched microbial population (e.g., Smithella and Methanosaeta) to resist propionate stress. Also, Fe3O4 up-regulated the genes in stress defense system, cytomembrane biosynthesis/function, metal irons transporter, cell division and enzyme synthesis, verifying its superiority on cellular physiology. In addition, energy-conservation strategies related to intracellular and extracellular electron transfer were enhanced by Fe3O4. Specifically, the enzyme expressions involved in reversed electron transfer and electron bifurcation coupled with direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) were upregulated by at least 2.2 times with Fe3O4, providing sufficient energy to drive thermodynamic adverse methanogenesis from propionate-stressed condition. Consequently, the reinforced enzyme expression in the dismutation and DIET pathway make it to be the predominant drivers for enhanced methanogenic propionate metabolism. This study fills the knowledge gaps of Fe3O4-induced microbial physiological and energetic strategies to resist environmental stress, and has remarkable practical implicated for restoring inhibited bioactivities.

Analysis of Lipid Metabolism in Adipose Tissue and Liver of Chinese Soft-Shelled Turtle Pelodiscus sinensis During Hibernation.

Hibernation serves as an energy-conserving strategy that enables animals to withstand harsh environments by reducing their metabolic rate significantly. However, the mechanisms underlying energy adaptation in hibernating ectotherms, such as Pelodiscus sinensis, remain contentious. This paper first reports the decrease in lipid levels and the expression of metabolism-related genes in P. sinensis during hibernation. The results of physiological and biochemical analysis showed that adipocyte cell size was reduced and liver lipid droplet (LD) contents were decreased during hibernation in P. sinensis. Concurrently, serum levels of triglycerides (TGs), total cholesterol (TC), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC) were diminished (n = 8, p < 0.01), while an increase in serum glucose (Glu) (n = 8, p < 0.01) was noted among hibernating P. sinensis. These observations suggest a shift in energy metabolism during hibernation. To gain insights into the molecular mechanisms, we performed integrated transcriptomic and lipidomic analyses of adipose tissue and livers from summer-active versus overwintering P. sinensis, which revealed downregulation of free fatty acids (FFAs), triglycerides (TGs), diglycerides (DGs), and ceramides (Cers) during hibernation. The results of GSEA analysis showed that metabolic pathways associated with lipid metabolism, including glycerolipid metabolism and regulation of lipolysis in adipocytes, were suppressed significantly. Notably, acute cold exposure induced significant downregulation of genes related to lipolysis such as PNPLA2, ABHD5, LPL, CPT1A, and PPARα. The results indicate that lipolysis is suppressed during hibernation in P. sinensis. Collectively, these findings deepen our understanding of survival mechanisms and elucidate the unique energy adaptation strategies employed by hibernating ectotherms. Future research should explore the implications of these findings for the conservation of ectotherms and the applications for artificially inducing hibernation.

A novel blockchain-based system for improving information integrity in building projects from the perspective of building energy performance

Global population growth has long been intertwined with environmental concerns and sustainable development. The building sector, a significant energy consumer worldwide, contributes substantially to total energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. With the projected global population projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, building energy consumption is expected to rise continuously, emphasizing the need to optimize energy performance for environmental sustainability. Despite efforts by many countries to formulate energy conservation objectives and strategies, empirical evidence reveals a substantial disparity between designed and actual building energy consumption, known as the building energy performance gap (BEPG). This gap poses a significant challenge to energy conservation efforts, and the lack of information integrity is a significant contributor to this gap. To address the challenge of inadequate information integrity in building energy projects, this research proposes an innovative solution based on blockchain technology. By utilizing blockchain's decentralized, transparent, and tamper-resistant nature, the proposed model aims to enhance information transmission mechanisms among stakeholders. Ten key energy-related stakeholders and various information flows within building projects are identified. Based on this, an exploratory architectural information management model incorporating blockchain technology is developed. The model features functionalities such as data recording, retrieval, transmission, and incentive mechanisms to ensure data immutability and reliable access security. Through a case study, the model's performance is evaluated in terms of storage cost, latency, and privacy, demonstrating significant time savings in uploading and transferring files. The proposed blockchain-based model offers a feasible solution to the challenges of inadequate information integrity in building energy projects, promoting collaboration and accurate information transmission. This model contributes to improving project outcomes and advancing sustainable development in the construction industry.

A novel energy-saving and emission-reduction strategy based on facile preparation of thermal insulation coatings doped with modified vacuum ceramic microbeads for concrete protection

The development of thermal insulation protective coatings suitable for constructions and buildings offers a multifaceted approach: it substantially reduces indoor temperatures, enhances residential comfort, decreases air conditioning energy consumption, and conserves energy. Additionally, these coatings provide robust resistance against corrosive substances, thereby significantly prolonging the service life of concrete. In this work, the modification of vacuum ceramic microbeads (VCM) through the polymerization of catechol and hexamethylene diamine to form poly(catecholamine) (PCA) was investigated by FT-IR, XRD, and TEM analysis. Increased levels of incorporation of VCM@PCA further decreased thermal conductivity and increased surface hydrophobicity, while excessive incorporation detrimentally affected the coating's mechanical properties. PDMS/VCM@PCA coating demonstrated exceptional thermal insulation performance, reducing coating temperature by 15.9 °C under simulated sunlight exposure, and in outdoor experiments, the interior temperature of the simulated house with this coating was 4.2 °C lower than the external temperature, highlighting its potential for energy conservation, emission reduction, and building temperature regulation. Additionally, PDMS/VCM@PCA coating provided excellent protection for concrete structures, significantly enhancing abrasion resistance. It also improved the interfacial adhesion between the organic layer and concrete under dry, wet, and 10% NaCl immersion conditions. The addition of VCM@PCA further enhanced resistance to chloride ion penetration, effectively reducing chloride ingress. This thermal insulation protective coating presents a novel strategy for energy conservation, emission reduction, and sustainable development in the civil construction industry.

Computer-based monitoring system of retort processes for energy efficiency and carbon emission reduction

Retort sterilization is critical in the food industry. However, retorts are not smart enough to fully monitor and calculate their energy usage to reduce their carbon emissions. In this project, sensors and network equipment were installed in a retort, and a PC-based system was used to process the collected data. To monitor the sterilization status and energy consumption, we added flow sensors and electricity meters and built a visual identification system. Carbon emissions were calculated, and energy conservation and carbon emission reduction strategies were explored. According to the monitoring data, the electricity consumption of the air compressor, boiler, and natural gas combustion accounted for 80 % of the total carbon emissions. If the equipment cannot be changed, the cooling water system can be stopped in noncooling stages to conserve energy. This strategy reduced the energy consumption of the cooling system by 70 % and was the most effective strategy for this project.

Neuralgic amyotrophy: An update in evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment approaches.

Neuralgic amyotrophy (NA) is an underrecognized peripheral nerve disorder distinguished by severe pain followed by weakness in the distribution of one or more nerves, most commonly in the upper extremity. While classically felt to carry a favorable prognosis, updates in research have demonstrated that patients frequently endure delay in diagnosis and continue to experience long term pain, paresis, and fatigue even years after the diagnosis is made. A transition in therapeutic approach is recommended and described by this review, which emphasizes the necessity to target compensatory abnormal motor control and fatigue by focusing on motor coordination, energy conservation strategies, and behavioral change, rather than strength training which may worsen the symptoms. The development of structural hourglass-like constrictions (HGCs) on imaging can help confirm the suspected clinical diagnosis, and in association with persistent weakness and limited recovery on electrodiagnostic testing may be considered for surgical consultation. Given the complex nature of management, a multidisciplinary approach is described, which can provide an optimal level of care and support for patients with persistent symptoms from NA and allow more unified guidance of rehabilitation and surgical referrals.

Renovation Strategies for Energy Conservation in Multi-Story Residential Buildings in Turkey

Renovation Strategies for Energy Conservation in Multi-Story Residential Buildings in Turkey

High-power-density adsorption chiller driven by data center waste heat using encapsulated composite as adsorbent

Achieving energy savings in the cooling system, the second-largest energy user, is crucial for reducing power usage effectiveness (PUE) in data centers (DCs). A promising energy conservation strategy for DCs with hybrid cooling systems involves repurposing waste heat from liquid-cooled circuits to drive adsorption chillers, which in turn cool air-cooled components. However, the application requires adsorption chillers capable of operating at ultra-low heat source temperature while possessing high cooling power density. In this paper, we develop a compact adsorption chiller using encapsulated LiCl-embedded silica gel (SG)-water as the working pair, free from corrosion and capacity degradation issues. The chiller is experimentally investigated under typical DC waste heat driven cooling conditions. It features an annular finned tube as the adsorber module to enhance mass transfer area, and a waterproof but breathable membrane encapsulated outside the adsorber to prevent solution leakage from the composite adsorbent. The developed chiller demonstrates a specific cooling power (SCP) of 102.35 W/kg and a volumetric cooling power (VCP) of 7.47 kW/m3 with hot/cooling/chilled water inlet temperatures of 50 °C/30 °C/23 °C, twice the performance of SG-water chillers. This work could advance heat recovery and energy savings in DCs and inspire more research interest into developing low-temperature-driven compact adsorption chillers.

Comparison of energy conservation strategies for 5G NR RedCap service in industrial environment

The recently standardized reduced capability (RedCap) type of user equipment (UE) for 5G New Radio (NR) systems offers a useful option for energy-constrained devices. By utilizing a combination of discontinuous reception (DRX), wake-up signal (WUS), and radio resource management (RRM) relaxation functions, RedCap UE may provide excellent power efficiency for a large set of applications. In this study, we investigate power efficiency and battery lifetime for RedCap UEs for different types of applications and various combinations of energy conservation mechanisms. We utilize extended virtual reality (X-VR) and web browsing as applications of interest. To this aim, we develop a versatile mathematical framework representing the sought metrics as a function of time, accounting for specifics of millimeter wave (mmWave) propagation, micro- and macro-mobility of UEs, human body blockage, and type of application. Numerically, we show that higher micro- and macro-mobility speeds lead to worse power efficiency and the loss can be quite substantial amounting up to 30%. Antenna arrays with worse directivity show better performance in the presence of micro- and macro-mobilities when RRM Relaxation is utilized, with a difference between 15×15 and 4×4 arrays reaching 1.5 bit/J/KHz, which is approximately 40%. The energy conservation mechanisms produce no noticeable impact on the power efficiency and battery lifetime for rate-greedy applications such as X-VR. Low-data-rate applications with long pauses between transmission cycles, such as web browsing, may benefit from utilizing WUS and RRM Relaxation in addition to conventional DRX. However, their impact is rather small at a scale of 5%–10%.

Electric energy consumption (EEC) in groundwater-based drinking water supply systems: analysis and comparison of seven Italian case studies

ABSTRACT Drinking water and wastewater services depend on energy: electric energy consumption (EEC) of this sector amounts to 2–3% of global EEC. The attention of the scientific community and of water utilities about this topic is focused on energy optimization of wastewater treatment plants and pumping stages in drinking water supply systems (DWSSs). However, because of increasingly stringent regulations and because of more and more extended water-source pollution, the need for ‘unconventional’ drinking water treatment systems, which are very energy-intensive, will bring treatment to be a key factor in this scenario. Analyzing EEC in seven full-scale DWSSs, we wanted to control EEC in every single stage of the DWSS (withdrawal, drinking water treatment plant (DWTP) and distribution) and to identify opportunities for reducing energy consumption in DWSS, with a special focus on each drinking water treatment process. The most energy-intensive unconventional treatment turns out to be membrane filtration by reverse osmosis (for which specific consumption per cubic meter of pumped water is equal to 0.243 Wh/m3), whereas the most energy-intensive conventional treatment turns out to be air oxidation (specific EEC from 0.012 to 0.087 kWh/m3). The main strategies for energy conservation can be applied both in management and in the design phase.

Numerical and Experimental Study on the Performance of Photovoltaic—Trombe Wall in Hot Summer and Warm Winter Regions: Energy Efficiency Matching and Application Potential

Enhancing the energy efficiency of building envelopes is one of the key strategies for energy conservation and reducing consumption in buildings. This study employs numerical research methods to explore the impact of crucial factors such as solar cell coverage, air channel height, indoor relative humidity, and indoor wind speed on the power generation performance and thermal comfort of a photovoltaic (PV)—Trombe wall. The dynamic changes in optical and thermal performance and energy efficiency matching mechanisms of this system are also discussed in hot summer and warm winter regions. The research findings indicate that the periods of good thermal comfort and power generation efficiency for humans are from 9:00 to 17:00 in winter. In summer, these periods are from 5:00 to 8:00 as well as from 17:00 to 20:00. When the system height is 2 m, the electricity price for power supplied by the PV—Trombe wall system is 25% lower than the residential price, with an annual energy generation of 322.5 kWh/m2 of solar panel, which can save USD 6.35 in costs. Moreover, an experiment is conducted to investigate the thermoelectric correlation by constructing a traditional Trombe wall and an external PV—Trombe wall. When the coverage reached 52.08%, the overall system efficiency was maximized. At a coverage of 78.12%, the system’s thermal efficiency was at its lowest, while the maximum power generation was 510.3 W. It can be seen that the PV—Trombe wall possesses good economic benefits and energy saving as well as emission reduction potential in hot summers and warm winters regions, and the smooth implementation of related works will effectively promote its applications and promotions.

Effect of addition of Ce and accumulative roll bonding on structure-property of the Mg-Ce-Al hybrid composite and its prediction and comparison using artificial neural network (ANN) approach

Abstract Light alloys play a crucial role in realizing the national strategy for energy conservation and emission reduction, as well as promoting the upgrading of manufacturing industries. Mg/Al composite laminates combine the corrosion resistance and ductility of aluminium alloy with the lightweight characteristics of magnesium alloy. The addition of Ce (rare earth elements) can improve the mechanical properties of magnesium via grain refinement and improve the ductility of the hybrid composites. In the present work, an investigation on addition of Ce into the Mg/Al matrix through Accumulative Roll Bonding (ARB) has been presented. The Mg/Ce/Al hybrid composite consists of Mg-4%Zn alloy and Al 1100 alloy with 0.2% Ce particles added between the dissimilar layers. The changes occurred in the evaluation of microstructure, corrosion and mechanical properties of the Mg/Ce/Al hybrid composite as a result of deformation process and also the addition of Ce have been explicated. The ARB parameters: temperature, rolling speed, percentage reduction, and aging time, have been studied. An increase of about 2.36 times in strength and hardness of the hybrid composite, has been reported. Further, the structure–property relations in the Mg/Ce/Al hybrid composites were aslo predict and compare using machine learning models: Decision Tree and Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) models.

Energy conservation strategies on academic buildings using interpretive structural modeling to develop energy sustainability

Effective energy conservation strategies are required to be implemented in academic buildings as they consume significant energy while considering the convenience and function of the buildings. However, the influencing factors are interrelated and complex, requiring an appropriate approach to unravel the complexity. Therefore, this study aims to identify, analyse, and map the interaction relationship between factors affecting energy conservation in academic buildings. This study used Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) procedure starting from developing the Structural Self Interaction Matrix (SSIM), converting SSIM into a Reachability Matrix, revising the matrix, and categorizing the factors by using MICMAC analysis. This study involved 9 factors, including architectural design, illumination technology, education and awareness, energy monitoring and management, renewable energy use, efficient HVAC system, energy-saving equipment, institutional policies, and campus community participation. The study found that renewable energy use at level 3 was the factor that was not influenced by and did not interact with any other factors. Meanwhile, the illumination technology was a factor that interacted with the efficient HVAC System factor which was at level 1 where these two factors were influenced by other seven factors. This study aligns with current developments in energy conservation, including an increased focus on renewable energy and energy efficiency in academic buildings, supported by global and national policies aimed at achieving sustainability goals. It provides a comprehensive understanding on developing sustainable energy conservation strategies in academic buildings.

Developing Energy Conservation Strategies in Agricultural Enterprises

The article emphasizes that agriculture has specific aspects, particularly regarding energy consumption. The research reveals that some agricultural enterprises are capable of generating their own energy. These characteristics are associated with various types of energy used in the production process: fossil energy, solar energy, and soil energy. The authors highlight the need for special attention to the development of energy-saving strategies in agriculture, as these enterprises often face high energy costs and have significant potential for enhancing energy efficiency. It has been established that reducing the use of fossil energy sources and maximizing the use of renewable sources, such as solar energy and soil energy potential, can substantially contribute to energy conservation in the agricultural sector. The considerable dispersion of agricultural enterprises leads to high costs and differences in energy consumption principles: fossil energy is primary for industry, while in agriculture, it serves a supplementary role, where natural energy forms biological mass (crops, livestock). The importance of management aspects in developing an effective energy-saving strategy, which promotes sustainable development and economic benefit in the agricultural sector, is highlighted. The authors propose key steps for ensuring energy conservation, which should form the basis for creating a comprehensive energy-saving strategy in agriculture.