Tons Of CO2 Equivalents Research Articles

Environmental impact of intravenous versus oral administration materials for acetaminophen and ketoprofen in a French university hospital: an eco-audit study using a life cycle analysis.

The combination of acetaminophen with a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug is the cornerstone of perioperative multimodal analgesia. These drugs can be administered intravenously or orally as premedication, consistent with the concept of pre-emptive and preventive analgesia. We aimed to assess the environmental impact of their intravenous and oral administration in a French university hospital. We carried out a life cycle assessment to determine the amount of greenhouse gas emissions and depletion of water resources resulting from the oral vs intravenous administration of 1g acetaminophen and 50mg ketoprofen. We assessed two schemes of intravenous administration, depending on the use of the same or a different infusion set for each drug. At our centre, the intravenous administration of both drugs was associated with the emission of 444-556g CO2 equivalent (CO2e), and with 9.8-12.2 L of water waste. The oral administration of both drugs generated 8.36g of CO2e emissions and consumed 1.16 L of water. At a national level, the switch from intravenous to oral premedication of the drugs could avoid the emission of 2,900-3,700 tons of CO2e and the waste of 58,000-74,000 m3 of water each year. This eco-audit indicates that oral administration of acetaminophen and ketoprofen results in significantly lower carbon emissions and water consumption than intravenous administration. These findings highlight the importance of using the oral route for most patients, limiting intravenous administration for those with specific needs because of higher environmental impact and cost.

Towards carbon neutral cities: An insight for Istanbul, Turkey

AbstractTurkey pledged net‐zero emissions by 2053 under the Paris Agreement. Istanbul, its largest city, aims to be carbon‐neutral by 2050. To accomplish this goal, the first step involves identifying emissions and devising reduction plans, with a focus on utilizing natural carbon sinks. This study assessed emissions and potential reductions across Istanbul's 39 districts. Greenhouse gas emissions were calculated using Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change guidelines. Despite limited data on sink efficacy, a practical approach was adopted. According to the results, Istanbul emitted 58.5 million tons of CO2 equivalent, varying by district in 2022. In Istanbul, 32% of emissions come from electricity consumption, 29% from heating, 29% from transportation, and 10% from waste disposal. High emissions were observed near waste sites or airports. Carbon sinks reduced emissions by 11.5%, with only two districts achieving neutrality. Natural processes alone are not enough; urgent reduction strategies are needed, prioritizing high‐emission districts over citywide measures.

Assessment of Municipal Solid Waste Management Scenarios in Metro Manila Using the Long-Range Energy Alternatives Planning-Integrated Benefit Calculator (LEAP-IBC) System

Short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) and municipal solid wastes (MSWs) have been found to be viable sources of clean energy. This study integrates the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) guidelines for methane flow rate estimation in the software Long-Range Energy Alternatives Planning-Integrated Benefit Calculator (LEAP-IBC) system to estimate and project the methane emissions coming from the waste generated by Metro Manila, disposed in sanitary landfills. It aims to analyze the environmental impacts of the emissions coming from the non-energy sector using the IBC feature of LEAP and by developing two scenarios with 2010 and 2050 as the base and end years: the baseline and methane recovery scenario, where the latter represents the solid waste management undertaken to counter the emissions. Under the baseline, 97.30 million metric tonnes of methane emissions are expected to be produced and are predicted to continuously increase. In the same scenario, the cities of Quezon, Manila, and Caloocan account for the biggest methane emissions. On the other hand, in the methane recovery scenario, the methane emissions are expected to have a decline of 36% from 127.036 to 81.303 million metric tonnes by 2025, 52% from 135.358 to 64.972 million metric tonnes by 2030, and 54% from 150.554 to 69.254 million metric tonnes by 2040. For the 40-year projection of the study under the 100-year global warming potential analysis, a total of 10,249 million metric tonnes of CO2 equivalent is avoided in the methane recovery compared to the BAU, and a maximum of 0.019 °C temperature increase can also be avoided. Moreover, electricity costs without LFG technology increase from 2.21 trillion to 8.75 trillion, while costs with LFG technology also rise but remain consistently lower, ranging from 2.20 trillion to 8.74 trillion. This consistent reduction in electricity costs underscores the long-term value and importance of adopting LFG technology, even as its relative savings impact diminishes over time. Finally, the fixed effects and random effects panel data regression analysis reinforces and asserts that the solid waste management is really improved by means of the methane recovery technology, leading the methane emissions to decrease.

538 Life Cycle Analysis of a Single Use Laryngoscope – A Target to Reduce Operating Room Environmental Impact

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Health care accounts for an estimated 10% of U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Concerted efforts to decrease waste are needed including critical appraisal of single use items. The purpose of this study was to conduct life cycle analyses (LCA) of a pediatric single use laryngoscope to inform environmental impact and identify targets to reduce waste. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: LCA was used to quantify the environmental impact of a single use pediatric laryngoscope. LCA is an industry standard measure of energy consumption, water consumption, and GHG emissions encompassing a “cradle-to-grave” assessment. The GREET model (Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions and Energy use in Technologies) and Open LCA model were used as sources for product/raw material data. Separate analysis was completed for the battery powering the light emitting diode (LED) lights. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: The LCA revealed 598.2 g of CO2 equivalents for the 121g single use pediatric laryngoscope. There were an estimated 26,849 cases that used single use laryngoscope last year at our free-standing children’s hospital resulting in 16.1 metric tons of CO2 equivalents. This is equivalent to 41,273 miles driven by an average gasoline powered vehicle. The 1.5 V battery was the highest contributor to the laryngoscope’s GHG emissions. While the battery has an estimated 2,800 hours of life, single use laryngoscopes are reported in the literature as being used for only an average of 30 seconds to 2 minutes. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Single use laryngoscopes are high contributors to GHGs. Specifically, the batteries contained in the laryngoscopes are wasteful and challenging to remove and recycle. Future efforts to decrease waste in the OR should target use of similar items that have reusable battery components to improve environmental sustainability.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory from Roadway Construction: Case Study for the Washington State Department of Transportation

Recent emphasis on actions to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions has pushed many state departments of transportation (DOTs) to develop carbon accounting practices compatible with their current standard data collection and storage guidelines. Once accurate and reliable accounting of GHG emissions is established, strategies can be formed that could help mitigate the adverse environmental impacts of materials used by state DOTs. To date, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has not conducted comprehensive research on the embodied carbon within its construction material usage (i.e., upstream Scope 3 emissions inventory of procured materials) with most previous carbon accounting practices being focused on Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions (i.e., the carbon footprint of direct and indirect energy usage). This paper summarizes the results of a life cycle assessment on the agency-wide material procurements and construction operations that emit GHGs at WSDOT as a case study. This study uses several data sources from WSDOT in conjunction with publicly available life cycle emissions factor data to estimate GHG emissions attributed to the materials used to build and maintain roadways under WSDOT’s jurisdiction. Results indicate that upstream Scope 3 emissions for WSDOT as an agency is a significant contributor to its overall GHG emissions inventory. Specifically, between 2017 and 2022, this paper estimates an average annual upstream Scope 3 emissions of 310,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalents, which translates to 56% of the total annual GHG emissions including Scope 1 and 2 emissions.

Energy audit and associated carbon footprint estimation for a Meta Abo brewery

Industrial development in Ethiopia is rapidly increasing, leading to a growing gap between energy supply and demand. To address this, efficient energy utilization in existing industries is crucial. Energy audits identify energy losses and recommend saving measures. Therefore, this study evaluates energy efficiency through an audit and estimates greenhouse gas emissions for a Meta Abo brewery. The indirect method of energy audit and the greenhouse gas protocol of carbon footprint estimation were used to evaluate the energy efficiency and carbon emissions of Meta Abo brewery. The boiler efficiency for Bono Energia and Cochran boilers was found to be 79.2% and 80.9%, respectively. Poor insulation caused an estimated annual fuel loss of 35,350 l (638,768 Ethiopian birr) for steam pipes, while steam leakage resulted in a loss of 31,614 l (571,265 Ethiopian birr). The factory's high electricity expense was attributed to a diesel generator consuming 6000 l/d. Greenhouse gas emissions raised from 9156 to 22,697 tons of CO2 equivalent between 2014 and 2018. Implementing the proposed energy-saving measures could save 20.4 TJ of thermal and electrical energy annually, costing approximately 8.5 million Ethiopian birr, and reduce boiler emissions by 455 tons of CO2 equivalent. Therefore, implementation of these measures is recommended.

Decarbonisation of Kidney Care in the United Arab Emirates: A Roadmap to an Environmentally Sustainable Care.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains a major public health burden and a leading cause of mortality worldwide and in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Alongside its clinical and humanistic burden, CKD care is associated with a significant carbon footprint. In this narrative review, we present an overview of the carbon footprint of current CKD treatments and the results of an analysis estimating the carbon footprint of CKD treatments in the UAE. Using the life cycle assessment (LCA) method and local data from the published national reports and inventory sources, we estimated that haemodialysis leads to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of ~12.8 tons of CO2 equivalents (CO2eq) per person in the UAE annually. Thus, the decarbonisation of CKD care is crucial in establishing an environmentally sustainable healthcare system. We propose a framework to decarbonise CKD care in the UAE that tackles the carbon footprint of CKD care in the UAE by focusing on three main pillars: Delaying early CKD and slowing its progression; reducing anthropogenic emissions from CKD and dialysis care by promoting best practices and eco-friendly technologies; and enhancing access to kidney transplantation. Such approaches are relevant not only for the UAE but also for global healthcare systems aiming towards net-zero emissions.

Renewable energy integration for lower emission planning and achieving regional energy independence: study in Yogyakarta

We propose and try to find a model renewable energy integration for lower emission and achieving regional energy independence. The research uses three stages. First, building an energy system model, to analyze the impact of implementing energy efficiency programs. The second stage is developing an integrated model from the energy demand and supply. Finally, arranging a mitigation scenarios to develop a low-carbon energy and achieving energy independence. Long-range Energy Alternative Planning (LEAP) software was utilized to simulate two scenarios are used to analyze energy demand and supply, namely Baseline scenarios and Mitigation scenarios. Mitigation Scenario is a combination of Energy Efficiency (EE) scenario, Fuel Substitution (FS), mode change scenario (MC), and efficient vehicle (EV) scenario and is used to analyze their impact on energy demand and GHG emissions. The results showed that mitigation scenarios can reduce energy demand by 22.86% when compared to the baseline scenario. In 2050, energy demand based on the mitigation scenario is 147.15 x 103 TJ, higher than based on the baseline scenario, which energy demand is 113.52 x 103 TJ. The cumulative of GHG emission reaches 1,369.37 x 103 Tons of CO2 Equivalent, based on the baseline scenario, can be reduced 13.54% by mitigation scenario. These results are robust. Overall, this research finding provides some possible steps to develop Yogyakarta energy independence and other regions.

Rethinking administrative documents’ validity to cutoff greenhouse gas emissions by million tons

Climate change is a multi-hazard challenge for life on earth in all its aspects. Wildfires, pollution, drought and heatwaves are just a few examples of exacerbated environmental crises propelled by climate change effects. To mitigate such effects, urgent actions are required to cutoff greenhouse gas emissions by all the means across all the sectors. Every additional kilogram of greenhouse gases produced unnecessarily should be avoided. One source of greenhouse gas emissions that may not be top of mind for the public and policymakers - and which can be taken into account in preventive environmental policies- is the industry of administrative and identification documents (papers) with short validity dates that involves intensive production (mass printing) and frequent renewals (mass reprinting) while the carbon footprint is too high. The validity of, for example, identity cards, passports, banking cards, driving licenses, etc., is often short ranging from ~ 3 to 10 years, depending on each type of document and issuing country. Short validity dates, however, should raise critical questions regarding the environmental sustainability, societal and carbon impact, and depletion of natural resources used in their production and frequent renewals. Identification documents are not food products that spoil over time or medications that lose their functional activities, so their validity should be unlimited by time in order to avoid the high environmental costs of mass printing/reprinting and high rates of greenhouse gas emissions associated with their production. The production of plasticized ID-type cards can emit up to 100 grams of carbon dioxide equivalent per card. Manufacturing one administrative document per person and renewing it five times could produce up to 4 million tons of carbon dioxide globally. If individuals have five administrative documents that need renewing five times, which is often the case, gas emissions would be five times higher, or approximately 20 million tons of CO2 equivalent. To save such important amounts of gas emissions, a modernization and flexibilization of administrative documents industry is required toward removing validity by date. This simple change could save substantial amounts of energy and natural resources, such as trees and water, while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions by million tons, especially in the pressing context of climate change. It should be time to initiate a paradigm shift in the administrative document industry. Eliminating validity periods is a straightforward yet effective solution that would significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainable environmental practices.

Understanding the Role of the Binder on the Microstructure and Properties of PTFE-Based Solvent-Free Electrodes

Solvent-free processing, also known as dry-processing refers to a group of manufacturing methods which avoid the use of solvents in the production of electrodes for energy storage applications. This concept has been around for more than a decade, although its popularity has increased dramatically over the last couple of years after the purchase of Maxwell technologies by Tesla. Maxwell patented a novel processing route which involves dry mixing the active material powder with a PTFE binder to form an electrode without the use of any solvent. Solvent-free processes have significant advantages in terms of sustainability, safety and cost over conventional slurry casting.A detailed analysis of the slurry casting process showed that around a quarter of the total manufacturing cost of the battery pack originated from solvent associated steps. Avoiding the use of toxic and flammable solvents such as N-methyl Pyrrolidone (NMP) also naturally leads to an improvement in the safety of the manufacturing environment. More importantly, it was reported that the manufacturing steps associated with solvent removal accounted for half of the embodied energy of a typical Li-ion battery. The embodied energy of a Li-ion battery is a crucial figure of merit in terms of sustainability which is too often neglected. To put things into perspective, Volvo has recently published a carbon footprint report for their fully electric Volvo C40 Recharge and compared it to their internal combustion engine (ICE) equivalent, the XC40. They reported that the production of the electric version generated 26 tonnes of CO2-equivalents compared to 16 tonnes for the ICE model, representing a large increase of almost 70% in the embodied energy of the car. Novel and more sustainable manufacturing processes are urgently needed to reduce as much as possible the embodied energy of Li-ion batteries and make them more sustainable to enable a durable green energy transition.Although the concept of solvent-free processing seems attractive, most of its current development is happening behind closed doors in industry. However, an in-depth characterisation of this new type of electrodes and a comparison with conventional slurry cast electrodes would be beneficial to understand the challenges and opportunities brought by these new systems and help accelerate their development on a larger scale. Within the family of solvent-free processes, three main techniques have emerged: dry painting, powder injection molding and PTFE-fibrillation. Studies dedicated to electrodes based on PTFE-fibrillation are rare and often focused on solid-state systems. In order to dispel some of the mystery surrounding the novel microstructures obtained through the PTFE-fibrillation process and their performance, this work focuses on the characterisation of these new electrodes and investigate the role of the PTFE binder on the microstructure and electrochemical performance of solvent-free electrodes. Our results highlight the crucial importance of the PTFE binder on the mechanical properties of the solvent-free electrodes and reveal how the peculiar mechanical behavior of these composite electrodes during the manufacturing process influences the final microstructure of the electrodes and their electrochemical performance. This work presents a deep insight into PTFE-based solvent-free electrodes by investigating their microstructure, mechanical and electrochemical properties using advanced characterization techniques including High Resolution Analytical Scanning Electron Microscopy, X-Ray Computed Tomography, Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy and mechanical testing.

Incorporating biochar into fuels system of iron and steel industry: carbon emission reduction potential and economic analysis

Biochar as a prospective renewable energy candidate could be incorporated into the iron and steel production system to replace part of fossil fuels and reduce high-intensity greenhouse gas emissions. However, great uncertainties still exist on biochar's emission reduction capacity and economic feasibility, depending on different biochar precursors, substitution scenarios, energy consumption of biochar production and financial cost. This study aimed to explore the optimized substitution strategies concerning the above issues. A systematic carbon accounting was performed by material flow analysis method (MFA). Two biochar incorporated iron and steel production routes, integrated production route (BF-BOF) and short production route (EAF), which took the proportion of 71.5% and 28.2% in worldwide production, were considered. CO2 Supply Curve (CSC) was conducted to carry out a quantitative economic viability analysis of biochar substitution under carbon emission trading schemes (ETS). Results showed that compared with straw-based biochar, wood-based biochar showed stronger carbon reduction capacity of 1.47 t CO2e (CO2-equivalent) /t crude steel, and the reduction potential reached 66.94% mostly. Among all the steel production processes, Blast furnace in BF-BOF route had the largest emission contribution proportion (72.06%), achieving the best GWP100 reduction potential of 73.66%. The incorporation of wood-based biochar in sintering (−0.037 yuan/t CO2e) was selected as the scenario with both reduction potential and economic viability. If the scenario was fully implemented in China, it could reduce 2.01 million tons of CO2e in 2021. This study would play a vital role in guiding iron and steel industry for biochar substituted fuels.

Advancing Sustainability: Effective Strategies for Carbon Footprint Reduction in Seaports across the Colombian Caribbean

Colombian port terminals in the Caribbean are being called upon to increase the sustainability of their operations to better fit with the environmental dynamics of their locations. Within this context, the Palermo Sociedad Portuaria (PSP) has taken a proactive stance in identifying the factors contributing to its CO2 emissions. This study evaluated the CO2 emissions of the PSP in 2019 and 2020 and, through the implementation of sustainable practices (rock dust spreading, composting and reducing the burning of fossil fuels), examined the mitigation of the port’s carbon footprint (CF) in the year 2022. Based on collaborative management results and efforts, a set of viable mitigation strategies adapted to port operations was formulated. Viability was assessed through monitoring of the practical implementations encompassing initiatives such as fuel reduction, waste composting and the application of rock dust. The introduction of the CARE system in the operational equipment led to a reduction in fuel consumption over five periods—amounting to an overall emission decrease of 1629 metric tons of CO2 equivalent (ton CO2 eq). Meanwhile, the strategic composting of waste generated by port activities (including organic waste, hand towels, coffee grounds and landscaping waste) resulted in the potential reduction of 2 metric tons of CO2 annually. The application of rock dust (10 kg m−2) in the available green spaces within the operational areas contributed to a decrease of 0.00080543 ton CO2 eq over 45 days. The implementation of these three key measures over the course of a year has the potential to prevent the release of 37 ton CO2 eq, signifying a 2% decrease in overall CF when compared to the base year of 2020. This investigation was rooted in the current operational reality of the port terminal and its correlated activities. The strategies deployed underscore the feasibility of low-cost solutions that can be emulated across port terminals in pursuit of the holistic aspirations encapsulated in the concepts of a “green port” and a “smart port”.

Techno-economic and emission analysis of solar assisted desiccant dehumidification: An experimental and numerical study

In humid climates, it is challenging to maintain moisture content in the air for human thermal comfort and industrial applications. Commercial dehumidifiers rely on conventional electric heaters to regenerate desiccant material, which accounts for significant energy consumption by such dehumidifiers. As a green solution to this problem, the present study integrates a flat plate solar air collector (FPSAC) with a desiccant dehumidifier to effectively use solar thermal energy and reduce electrical consumption. Performance evaluation of glazed and unglazed FPSAC-assisted desiccant dehumidifier has been conducted at process air flow rates of 33, 51 and 62 m3/h with a constant regeneration flow rate of 42 m3/h. Both glazed and unglazed FPSAC assisted desiccant dehumidification systems had the highest dehumidification effectiveness and percentage increase in temperature at the flow rate of 33 m3/h, while the highest moisture removal capacity was at 51 m3/h. Maximum dehumidification effectiveness, percentage temperature increase, and moisture removal capacity for the glazed case were 0.4, 66.67%, and 6.14 kg/h, respectively. Experimental results showed that the glazed FPSAC-integrated desiccant dehumidification system outperforms unglazed FPSAC in all performance evaluation parameters. Using Transient System Simulation software (TRNSYS), the proposed glazed and unglazed assisted desiccant dehumidification system was modeled and validated with experimental results. Furthermore, a techno-economic analysis of the solar hybrid desiccant dehumidification system has been carried out. The FPSAC used in this study showcased a 33.57% yearly solar fraction with a solar hybrid system having a payback period of 4.23 years. In addition, the hybrid system can reduce greenhouse gas emissions yearly by 0.352 tons of CO2 equivalents.

Greenhouse gas emissions along the value chain in palm oil producing systems: A case study of Cameroon

The agricultural sector is the second most emitting sector globally, contributing about 18% of total global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Multipurpose high in-demand commodities like palm oil contribute significantly to these emissions. The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) with an objective to make the palm oil sector sustainable, developed a new tool to quantify carbon emissions from palm oil mills. The PalmGHG tool has been used in Southeast Asia to measure carbon emissions from palm oil production and for palm oil certification. However, no studies have used the tool to evaluate GHG emissions from palm oil mills in sub-Saharan Africa, which contributes about 24% of global palm oil production and is home to one of the last remaining primary forests in the world. In this study, we quantify GHG emissions along the crude palm oil (CPO) life cycle in a growing palm oil producing region in Cameroon. We use the RSPO PalmGHG accounting tool, to identify sources of CO2 emissions and quantify them in tons of CO2 equivalent. Six mills across the South West and Center regions of Cameroon were sampled. We found that the sources of carbon emissions from our sampled mills in decreasing order of magnitude are land conversion (78%), palm oil mill effluent (21%), fertilizer use (0.9%), mill fuel combustion (0.1%) and grid electricity utilization (0.04%). The average GHG emissions per ton of crude palm oil produced were exceptionally high at 22.3 tCO2e compared to other palm oil producing regions in the world such as Indonesia with only 1.6 tCO2e/ton of CPO. In addition, we found that planting oil palm on previously logged land instead of primary forest conversion could prevent field emissions by up to about 89% and by up to about 69% for replanting old oil palm stands. Intensification measures like improving palm oil mill extraction rates and improving yields would drastically reduce emissions per ton of crude palm oil produced. Although land conversion associated with deforestation remains the major source of palm oil GHG emissions, farm and mill practices such as reduction in fertilizer use, biogas capture and use of clean energy could help reduce emissions in the long run.

Solar-assisted hybrid oil heating system for heavy refinery products storage

The purpose of this study is to investigate the potential use of solar energy within an oil refinery to reduce its fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. A validated ASPEN HYSYS model was used to investigate the products produced from heavy crude oil in the refinery. Using TRNSYS software, the proposed Parabolic Trough Collector (PTC)-based solar heating system paired with the boiler is modelled. Sensible thermal energy storage (TES) system is integrated into the refinery's process heating to handle the intermittent nature of solar energy. It was discovered that 463 m2 of the PTC area coupled with a 15000-L TES tank can result in a maximum life cycle cost savings of 21.046 thousand USD for an annual heat supply of 116,944 MWh to generate steam at a temperature of 200–220 °C. In the proposed hybrid heating system, the yearly solar fraction is determined to be 26.99% and the payback period is 8.77 years with the average solar irradiance of 900 W/m2. In addition, the system can yearly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by about 34.045 tonnes of CO2 equivalents.

Carbon Emissions Due to Construction of Building Using Cement-Stabilized Compressed Earth Bricks and Comparison with Conventional Fired Earth Bricks

Carbon emission from human activities including civil engineering constructions has been a major global environmental issue. The emissions due to the use of conventional fired earth bricks (CFEB) in the construction industry are significantly larger, and a large number of researches have been devoted to developing viable alternatives to the uses of CFEB in the construction industry to achieve a low-carbon society. This research investigated carbon emissions due to the use of cement-stabilized compressed earth blocks (CSCEB) in place of CFEB in the construction of a community building in Bidur Municipality, Nuwakot, using the standard tools and methods by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) guidelines. Also, the Bilan Carbone tool was used. Then the emission results of the two cases (CSCEB and CFEB) were compared from different perspectives. Among the considered major emission sectors, the construction materials sector contributed the highest carbon emissions in both bricks. Results indicate that CSCEB requires lower quantities of cement, sand, and aggregates compared to CFEB. Major construction materials contribute significantly to carbon emissions, with CSCEB showing a 1.7 times lower impact than CFEB. The total carbon emissions for CSCEB and CFEB were 160.97 and 206.42 Tons of CO2 equivalents in this study. That is, the total carbon emission from CFEB construction was about 1.3 times of the CSCEB. Furthermore, the direct emissions in both cases were almost the same, while the 1.4 times larger emission in the case of CFEB was the sole contribution of indirect emissions. The results of this study once again demonstrated that CSCEB can be an alternative to CFEB in the construction industry to achieve the objective of a low-carbon society.

#5120 CARBON FOOTPRINT OF IN-CENTER HEMODIALYSIS: RESULTS OF A FRENCH PILOT STUDY

Abstract Background and Aims Since the beginning of the industrial era, human activities have led to a significant increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere and are the cause of climate change, the negative effects of which on human health are already visible (1). Paradoxically, the health sector also exerts a major pressure on the environment through carbon-based care activities that emit GHGs (2). In this context, a few studies have highlighted the significant carbon footprint associated with hemodialysis (3). However, to date, no similar study has been conducted in France. Method The objective of this work was to evaluate the carbon footprint of a hemodialysis unit in France using the Bilan Carbone ® approach developed by The French Agency for Ecological Transition and the Bilan Carbone Association. Activity data associated with hemodialysis provision at the Charles De Gaulle facility in 2021 was collected and converted to a common measurement unit of tonnes of CO2 equivalents (t CO2-eq) via established emissions factors. This facility, that belongs to the ARTIC 42 association, is located in the town of Saint-Priest en Jarez and provides hemodialysis through a total of 56 hemodialysis generators. Results Over the year 2021, the Charles de Gaulle facility provided a total of 25270 hemodialysis treatments ensuring the care of approximately 162 patients (at a rate of 3 sessions per week). The associated annual carbon footprint for the facility was 1436 t CO2-eq. Annual carbon footprint amounted to 8.9 t CO2-eq/patient/year corresponding to 57 kg CO2-eq /treatment. Emissions were essentially indirect, with more than 90% coming from scope 3. The main sources of emissions were: products and services purchase (30% of total emissions, that is 437 t CO2-eq), patients and staff travels (25% of total emissions, that is 361 t CO2-eq), and fixed assets (21% of total emissions, that is 299 t CO2-eq). Energy consumption (particularly electricity) and waste treatment accounted for a small proportion of GHG emissions (respectively 8% et 6%). Conclusion Our results confirm the high carbon footprint associated with in-center hemodialysis, showing that it is mainly attributable to indirect emissions. These empirical data will serve as a basis for reflection in the development of a strategy to reduce GHG emissions associated with hemodialysis. This work will hopefully be paving the way for the necessary ecological transition of medical practices, focused on the patient and the ecosystems on which he/she depends.

Greenhouse gas emissions from extractive industries in a globalized era

The extractive industry consumes vast amounts of energy and is a major contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, its climatic impacts have not yet been fully accounted for. In this study, we estimated the GHG emissions from extractive activities globally with a focus on China, and assessed the main emission drivers. In addition, we predicted the Chinese extractive industry emissions in the context of global mineral demand and cycling. As of 2020, GHG emissions from the global extractive industry had reached 7.7 billion tons of CO2 equivalents (CO2e), accounting for approximately 15.0% of the global anthropogenic GHG emissions (excluding GHG emissions from land use, land-use change, and forestry activities (LULUCF), with China being the largest emitter, accounting for 3.5% of global emissions. Extractive industry GHG emissions are projected to peak by 2030 or even earlier to achieve low-carbon peak targets. The most critical pathway for reducing GHG emissions in the extractive industry is to control emissions from coal mining. Therefore, reducing methane emissions from mining and washing coal (MWC) should be prioritized.

Evaluating Carbon Footprint of Proton Therapy Based on Power Consumption and Possible Mitigation Strategies

There is increasing concern about rising carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and their hazardous effect on human health. This study quantifies the energy utilization of proton therapy, assesses the corresponding carbon footprint, and discusses possible offsetting strategies toward carbon-neutral health care operations. Patients treated between July 2020 and June 2021 using the Mevion proton system were evaluated. Current measurements were converted to kilowatts of power consumption. Patients were reviewed for disease, dose, number of fractions, and duration of beam. The Environmental Protection Agency calculator was used to convert power consumption to tons of CO2 equivalent (CO2e) for scope-based carbon footprint accounting. There were 185 patients treated and a total of 5176 fractions delivered (average, 28). Power consumption was 55.8 kW in standby/night mode and 64.4 kW during BeamOn, for an annual total of 490 MWh. BeamOn time was 149.6 hours, and BeamOn consumption accounted for 2% of the machine total. Power consumption was 52 kWh per patient (breast, highest at 140 kWh; prostate, lowest at 28 kWh). Annual power consumption of the administrative areas was approximately 96 MWh, for a program total of 586 MWh. The carbon footprint for BeamOn time was 4.17 metric tons of CO2e, or 23 kg per patient course (breast cancer, 60 kg; prostate, 12 kg). The annual carbon footprint for the machine was 212.2 tons CO2e, and for the proton program, 253.7 tons CO2e, with an attributed footprint of 1372 kg CO2e per patient. The corresponding CO2e offset for the program could be 4192 new trees planted and grown for 10 years (23 trees per patient). The carbon footprint varied by disease treated. On average, the carbon footprint was 23 kg of CO2e per patient and 253.7 tons of CO2e for the proton program. There are a number of reduction, mitigation, and offset strategies possible for radiation oncologists that should be explored, such as waste minimization, less treatment commuting, efficient energy use, and renewable electricity power use.

The carbon footprint cost of travel to Canadian Urological Association conferences.

Canadian Urological Association (CUA) conferences are held annually across Canada. Guests from across the world attended, contributing to the overall carbon footprint of the conference with their travel and accommodations. This study identified the carbon footprint of each of the 2016 (Vancouver), 2018 (Halifax), and 2019 (Quebec City) CUA conferences to investigate their carbon footprint and help determine the most eco-friendly location to hold future conferences. Registrant home institution was used to estimate the distance and method of transportation of attendee travel. Carbon footprint was calculated using an online calculator in tons of CO2 equivalents (tCO2). Total attendees, number of attendees driving, number of attendees flying, mean distance travelled per attendee, total carbon footprint, and average carbon footprint per attendee were calculated for each conference. Mean carbon footprint, and mean distance travelled were compared using a Brown-Forsythe ANOVA test, with Dunnett's T3 multiple comparisons test (α=0.05). Vancouver had the largest number of attendees (n=473; 407 flying, 66 driving), followed by Halifax (n=382; 331 flying, 51 driving), and Quebec City (n=362; 265 flying, 97 driving). The mean distance attendees travelled was greatest for the Vancouver CUA (6041 km/roundtrip) compared to Quebec City (3096 km/roundtrip, p<0.0001) and Halifax (2985 km/roundtrip, p<0.0001). There was no difference in mean distance travelled between Halifax and Quebec City (p=0.95). The highest total carbon footprint was seen in Vancouver (tCO2=447.76), followed by Quebec City (tCO2=217.04) and Halifax (tCO2=182.22). The average footprint per attendee was significantly higher in Vancouver (mean tCO2=1.08) compared to both Quebec City (mean tCO2=0.62, p<0.0001) and Halifax (mean tCO2=0.52, p<0.0001). There was no difference in the average footprint between Halifax and Quebec City (p=0.63). The estimated emissions associated with the Vancouver CUA conference is greater than both the Halifax and Quebec City locations combined. In-person conferences provide several benefits to the urological community. Incorporating environmental considerations into conference planning, such as conference location, could reduce the CUA conference's overall carbon footprint, mitigating the contribution to rising temperatures and negative health outcomes.