Search

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emission mitigation and climate change adaptation in urban communities are urgent. There is enormous potential to improve the GHG inventory at the community level. This research aims to develop a community-scale GHG emission inventory and improve its accuracy and consistency through a bottom-up approach. This study covers direct and indirect emissions categorized into three scopes and selects the Honjo Waseda community in Japan as a case study community. Energy consumption from different sectors (the residential and commercial, transport, and waste management sectors) is evaluated and calculated through Residential Energy Estimation based on the Daily Activities (REEDA) database, National Census, and first-hand field data. The outcome revealed that the residential and commercial sector emissions rank highest in the total GHG emissions of the community, with a value of 39 %. Translated into the scope concept, the emissions under scopes 2 and 3 account for 39 % and 61 %, respectively. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis of the implementation of green technologies to reduce GHG emissions is also conducted. Mechanical biological treatment (MBT) implementation could yield the largest emission reduction (18 %–22 %), followed by implementing electric vehicles, ultralightweight vehicles, photovoltaic systems, and ground heat utilization. [Display omitted] • GHG emission mitigation and climate change adaptation of urban communities are urgent. • Evaluate GHG emission at community level from scope 1–3 through a bottom-up approach. • Develop models for evaluating emissions from residential and commercial transport, and waste management sectors. • Propose scenarios and evaluate sensitivity analysis on green technologies implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The residential sector currently accounts for one fifth of global energy use and corresponding greenhouse gas emissions, largely driven by increasing demand for space heating and cooling. Climate change mitigation action requires these to reduce, but the exact decarbonization strategies, the contribution of demand and supply side measures, and their heterogeneity is unclear. Using a regional energy system model with an explicit representation of residential energy use and building stocks, the contribution of this sector in long-term decarbonization pathways is explored. The projections show that in a 2°C scenario, global heating demand is expected to decrease from current levels by 27% and 66% by 2050 and 2100, respectively. However, due to increasing affluence in warmer regions, cooling demand is expected to increase by 176% and 286% respectively. Yet, direct residential emissions are almost eliminated by 2100 by combining increased envelope efficiency and advanced heating technologies in a synergistic manner, where the adoption of high efficiency heating and cooling reduces the need for increased insulation, and vice versa. By combining these measures with rooftop PV, the net energy demand of many household types approaches zero. The exact residential sector strategies vary across local climate, socio-economic, and building stock characteristics. • Households account for a sizeable portion of energy demand and emissions. • We use a detailed model to investigate regional long-term decarbonization pathways. • Increasing insulation and efficient heating technologies both play an important role. • Combining with rooftop PV contributes to having net-zero buildings. • Contribution of each option depends on local climate and socio-economic setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: As forecasted by the International Energy Agency Energy Technology Perspectives baseline scenario, the largest increment in LDV (light-duty vehicles) stock, travel demand and transport sector energy consumption will take place in the developing world. In the developing countries where the import of used vehicles is allowed, a considerable portion of the LDV stock increment will be realized with used vehicles. In this paper, the analytical framework for assessment of climate change mitigation potential of transport sector in developing countries is adapted in order to incorporate the expected vehicle fleet increase with used vehicles. The evaluation of appropriate mitigation strategies is performed using the GHG Costing Model (GACMO), which compares each mitigation option with the BAU (business-as-usual) option and determines its environmental effectiveness (t CO2 reduced) and economic effectiveness (US$/t CO2 reduced). The adapted analytical framework is applied on the case of transport sector of Macedonia, evaluating appropriate options inline with five mitigation strategies: improvement of vehicle fleet, introduction of low carbon fuels, improvement of travel behaviour, advancement of vehicle equipment and improvement of driver behaviour. The resulting marginal cost curve for the year 2020 indicates a total achievable reduction of 22% with respect to BAU GHG transport sector emissions, with bulk of it at relatively high specific costs of around 90 US$/t CO2. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]