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BACKGROUND // Climate change is directly related to increasing medical conditions such as cardiovascular, respiratory and/or infectious diseases, as well as malnutrition and mental illness caused by the reduction of available food and the growth of situations with significant emotional impact, respectively. Evidence showed that healthcare services are responsible for 4-5% of the greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. The aim of this study is the development of an assessment tool to evaluate the carbon footprint of emergency departments. METHODS // The development of the proposed assessment tool followed five stages. Firstly, the categories of GHGs to be included in the assessment tool were determined through a literature review. This was followed by establishment of scopes and boundaries, selection of conversion factors, collection of data from the Emergency Department at the Royal Free Hospital in London as a pilot site, and finally, the development of methodology to assess the carbon footprint. RESULTS // The assessment tool was divided in three scopes and each scope included one or more categories containing several items. Data was collected from different sources such as meters invoicing and billing, auditing, and surveys. The tool is presented in a Microsoft Excel document. CONCLUSIONS // This carbon assessment tool offers an opportunity to monitor carbon emissions in emergency departments, aiming to proliferate environmental strategies. The assessment tool seeks to provide a baseline carbon footprint assessment, identifying carbon hotspots within the department. The identification of these areas of intensive carbon emissions can help guide and focus local environmental initiatives that later can be monitored with a follow-up assessment to evaluate their effectiveness., FUNDAMENTOS // El cambio climático está directamente relacionado con el aumento de ciertas patologías como enfermedades cardiovasculares, respiratorias y/o infecciosas, así como con la desnutrición, provocada por la reducción de los alimentos disponibles, y el deterioro de la salud mental. La evidencia ha señalado que los servicios sanitarios son responsables del 4%-5% de las emisiones de gases efecto invernadero en todo el mundo. El objetivo de este estudio fue diseñar una herramienta de evaluación de la huella de carbono de los servicios de Urgencias. MÉTODOS // Se diseñó la herramienta a través de cinco etapas. En primer lugar, se seleccionaron las categorías a incluir en la herramienta desde una revisión de la literatura. Posteriormente, se determinaron el alcance y límites, se seleccionaron los factores de conversión, se recopilaron datos del servicio de Urgencias del Royal Free Hospital de Londres como sitio piloto y se seleccionó el método de cálculo de la huella de carbono. RESULTADOS // La herramienta resultante se dividió en tres ámbitos, y cada ámbito en una o más categorías que contienen varios elementos. Los datos se recopilaron de diferentes fuentes, como facturación, medidores, auditorías y encuestas. La herramienta se presentó en un documento de Microsoft Excel. CONCLUSIONES // Esta herramienta de evaluación de carbono ofrece una oportunidad para monitorear las emisiones de carbono en los servicios de Urgencias. Pretende proporcionar una valoración de la huella de carbono de referencia, identificando puntos críticos de emisión dentro del servicio, que puede dar lugar a iniciativas ambientales locales.

Developing countries, including Pakistan, need a considerable effort to withstand economic growth; however, these countries have to cope with greenhouse gases emission and other environmental concerns. Financial advancement gives rise to modern, sometimes even innovative and energy-efficient technologies and, thus, contributes to a decline in energy usage among market entities: organizations and households. The current study explores the nonlinear asymmetric relationship between economic growth (Y) and the selected exogenous variables in Pakistan by incorporating time series data spanning from 1971 to 2016. Economic growth was considered as a target variable, while energy consumption (EC), electric power consumption (EPC), financial development (FD), and energy imports (EM) were considered independent variables. To investigate cointegration among the given variables, a nonlinear ARDL bound testing approach was employed. BDS independence test was used to check the nonlinearity, and a structural break unit root test was used for testing data stationarity. The findings confirm the presence of co-integration in the selected variables. A symmetric unidirectional significant causality exists running from EPC to Y, while a bidirectional symmetric causality was found between FD and Y. In contrast, any negative shocks in EPC, FD, and EM were found to have a positive asymmetric effect on Y. Meanwhile, a neutral effect was found between EC and Y. The outcomes of this study can provide guidelines for future re-searchers and policymakers. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Integrated design processes are currently pushed forward in order to achieve net-zero energy building designs at affordable cost. Through a case study of a residential building, this paper compares a sequential versus a holistic design approach based on multi-objective optimization. In the holistic approach, 39 design variables related to the architecture and HVAC systems are simultaneously optimized. In the sequential approach, the architecture variables are first optimized; several optimal solutions are then selected for the second phase optimization of the heating system parameters. Carbon footprint, life cycle cost and thermal comfort are optimized by the algorithm NSGA-II. With only 100 computational hours, the holistic approach found 59% of the optimal solutions, whereas it took 765 h to find 41% of the optimal solutions with the sequential approach. This comparison shows the negative effects of making irreversible variable selections in the early phase of a design process, as it reduces the ability to find optimal solutions in the end.

As the world is becoming aware of the impact of global warming reducing greenhouse gases emissions presents itself as a fundamental issue in order to avoid the environmental collapse and its negative consequences. One of the key points of this challenge it’s to make a responsable use of the energy. In European countries, buildings sector consumes around the 40% of the total energy use. Thus ensuring energy efficiency becomes a vital issue in order to reduce energy usage and its environmental impact. This master thesis reports on the energy audit made in Din Hälsocentral. The energy use of the health center is studied through a heat energy balance from September to May (the months when the local district heating network works) with the aim of suggesting cost-effective energy saving measures.The study combines information provided by Din Hälsocentral, data estimated based on the characteristics of the installations and literature review. The energy balance shows that Din Hälsocentral has a heat energy input 595 MWh. This heat is received by the health center through district heating, solar radiation and internal heat generation while it’s lost through transmission losses, mechanical ventilation losses, infiltration heat losses and tap water heating. To decrease the energy use five saving measures have been suggested: the substitution of the health center windows by more efficient ones, the reduction of the indoor temperature, the replacement of the heat exchangers from the mechanical ventilation system, the installation of an aerothermal heating system in order to replace the district heating supply and the improvement of the roof isolation. The implementantion of those different measures would report heat energy savings between the 4% and the 63%, having payback periods between 0 and 7 years. However, the viability of application of aerothermal heating system in the health center installations as well as its maintenance costs must be studied more deeply.

Climate change is real, and we, humans, are responsible for it. Its impact is already evident, both on the Earth system (global warming, sea-level rise, sea-ice melting, more intense and frequent extreme weather events such as heat waves and fires) and on people (famines, health issues, migrations, political tensions and conflicts). We need immediate and concrete mitigation actions aiming to reduce greenhouse gases emissions, and adaptation actions to be able to cope with the increasing changing climate. We have to reach zero-net greenhouse gases emissions as soon as possible, by reducing emissions by at least 5% a year, starting from now. Otherwise the climate change impact will become more and more severe: it will induce more injustice, and it will have a major impact on people health. We have the resources and the technologies to deal with it: we must have the courage to change and transform and deal with it. Addressing climate change is not impossible: to the contrary, it is a ‘possible mission’., Climate change is real, and we, humans, are responsible for it. Its impact is already evident, both on the Earth system (global warming, sea-level rise, sea-ice melting, more intense and frequent extreme weather events such as heat waves and fires) and on people (famines, health issues, migrations, political tensions and conflicts). We need immediate and concrete mitigation actions aiming to reduce greenhouse gases emissions, and adaptation actions to be able to cope with the increasing changing climate. We have to reach zero-net greenhouse gases emissions as soon as possible, by reducing emissions by at least 5% a year, starting from now. Otherwise the climate change impact will become more and more severe: it will induce more injustice, and it will have a major impact on people health. We have the resources and the technologies to deal with it: we must have the courage to change and transform and deal with it. Addressing climate change is not impossible: to the contrary, it is a ‘possible mission’.

Climate change is real, and we, humans, are responsible for it. Its impact is already evident, both on the Earth system (global warming, sea-level rise, sea-ice melting, more intense and frequent extreme weather events such as heat waves and fires) and on people (famines, health issues, migrations, political tensions and conflicts). We need immediate and concrete mitigation actions aiming to reduce greenhouse gases emissions, and adaptation actions to be able to cope with the increasing changing climate. We have to reach zero-net greenhouse gases emissions as soon as possible, by reducing emissions by at least 5% a year, starting from now. Otherwise the climate change impact will become more and more severe: it will induce more injustice, and it will have a major impact on people health. We have the resources and the technologies to deal with it: we must have the courage to change and transform and deal with it. Addressing climate change is not impossible: to the contrary, it is a ‘possible mission’., Climate change is real, and we, humans, are responsible for it. Its impact is already evident, both on the Earth system (global warming, sea-level rise, sea-ice melting, more intense and frequent extreme weather events such as heat waves and fires) and on people (famines, health issues, migrations, political tensions and conflicts). We need immediate and concrete mitigation actions aiming to reduce greenhouse gases emissions, and adaptation actions to be able to cope with the increasing changing climate. We have to reach zero-net greenhouse gases emissions as soon as possible, by reducing emissions by at least 5% a year, starting from now. Otherwise the climate change impact will become more and more severe: it will induce more injustice, and it will have a major impact on people health. We have the resources and the technologies to deal with it: we must have the courage to change and transform and deal with it. Addressing climate change is not impossible: to the contrary, it is a ‘possible mission’.

As the world is becoming aware of the impact of global warming reducing greenhouse gases emissions presents itself as a fundamental issue in order to avoid the environmental collapse and its negative consequences. One of the key points of this challenge it’s to make a responsable use of the energy. In European countries, buildings sector consumes around the 40% of the total energy use. Thus ensuring energy efficiency becomes a vital issue in order to reduce energy usage and its environmental impact. This master thesis reports on the energy audit made in Din Hälsocentral. The energy use of the health center is studied through a heat energy balance from September to May (the months when the local district heating network works) with the aim of suggesting cost-effective energy saving measures.The study combines information provided by Din Hälsocentral, data estimated based on the characteristics of the installations and literature review. The energy balance shows that Din Hälsocentral has a heat energy input 595 MWh. This heat is received by the health center through district heating, solar radiation and internal heat generation while it’s lost through transmission losses, mechanical ventilation losses, infiltration heat losses and tap water heating. To decrease the energy use five saving measures have been suggested: the substitution of the health center windows by more efficient ones, the reduction of the indoor temperature, the replacement of the heat exchangers from the mechanical ventilation system, the installation of an aerothermal heating system in order to replace the district heating supply and the improvement of the roof isolation. The implementantion of those different measures would report heat energy savings between the 4% and the 63%, having payback periods between 0 and 7 years. However, the viability of application of aerothermal heating system in the health center installations as well as its maintenance costs must be studied more deeply.

Climate change is real, and we, humans, are responsible for it. Its impact is already evident, both on the Earth system (global warming, sea-level rise, sea-ice melting, more intense and frequent extreme weather events such as heat waves and fires) and on people (famines, health issues, migrations, political tensions and conflicts). We need immediate and concrete mitigation actions aiming to reduce greenhouse gases emissions, and adaptation actions to be able to cope with the increasing changing climate. We have to reach zero-net greenhouse gases emissions as soon as possible, by reducing emissions by at least 5% a year, starting from now. Otherwise the climate change impact will become more and more severe: it will induce more injustice, and it will have a major impact on people health. We have the resources and the technologies to deal with it: we must have the courage to change and transform and deal with it. Addressing climate change is not impossible: to the contrary, it is a ‘possible mission’., Climate change is real, and we, humans, are responsible for it. Its impact is already evident, both on the Earth system (global warming, sea-level rise, sea-ice melting, more intense and frequent extreme weather events such as heat waves and fires) and on people (famines, health issues, migrations, political tensions and conflicts). We need immediate and concrete mitigation actions aiming to reduce greenhouse gases emissions, and adaptation actions to be able to cope with the increasing changing climate. We have to reach zero-net greenhouse gases emissions as soon as possible, by reducing emissions by at least 5% a year, starting from now. Otherwise the climate change impact will become more and more severe: it will induce more injustice, and it will have a major impact on people health. We have the resources and the technologies to deal with it: we must have the courage to change and transform and deal with it. Addressing climate change is not impossible: to the contrary, it is a ‘possible mission’.

Integrated design processes are currently pushed forward in order to achieve net-zero energy building designs at affordable cost. Through a case study of a residential building, this paper compares a sequential versus a holistic design approach based on multi-objective optimization. In the holistic approach, 39 design variables related to the architecture and HVAC systems are simultaneously optimized. In the sequential approach, the architecture variables are first optimized; several optimal solutions are then selected for the second phase optimization of the heating system parameters. Carbon footprint, life cycle cost and thermal comfort are optimized by the algorithm NSGA-II. With only 100 computational hours, the holistic approach found 59% of the optimal solutions, whereas it took 765 h to find 41% of the optimal solutions with the sequential approach. This comparison shows the negative effects of making irreversible variable selections in the early phase of a design process, as it reduces the ability to find optimal solutions in the end.

This study aimed to identify the determinant factors of greenhouse gases emissions disclosure in Brazilian companies. Therefore, a documental research was conducted, in which we analyzed sustainability reports, GRI-provided data and accounting statements of B3-listed companies that published sustainability reports and accounting statements for the year 2016. This is a descriptive research with quantitative approach. Preliminarily, we identified information about greenhouse gases emissions disclosed by the sample companies by using a check-list developed from GRI guidelines about emissions. Then, we applied the multiple linear regression analysis technique to identify the disclosure determinant factors. Results showed that the companies researched presented, in average, a low level of emissions information disclosure. The regression analysis showed that the variables participation in potentially polluting sectors, participation in the GHG protocol, New Market governance level and sustainability report publication in the GRI model were positively associated with greenhouse gases emissions disclosure, while the company size variable did not show association with statistical significance. Therefore, the results allow us to infer that these variables can be considered determinant factors of greenhouse gases emissions disclosure. In function of research limitations related to sample size, shortage of other variables influencing the disclosure of greenhouse gas emissions, as well as research over the years, it is suggested future research considering a sample with companies from other countries, including other variables and a longitudinal study to compare disclosure in different institutional contexts over the years.

This study aimed to identify the determinant factors of greenhouse gases emissions disclosure in Brazilian companies. Therefore, a documental research was conducted, in which we analyzed sustainability reports, GRI-provided data and accounting statements of B3-listed companies that published sustainability reports and accounting statements for the year 2016. This is a descriptive research with quantitative approach. Preliminarily, we identified information about greenhouse gases emissions disclosed by the sample companies by using a check-list developed from GRI guidelines about emissions. Then, we applied the multiple linear regression analysis technique to identify the disclosure determinant factors. Results showed that the companies researched presented, in average, a low level of emissions information disclosure. The regression analysis showed that the variables participation in potentially polluting sectors, participation in the GHG protocol, New Market governance level and sustainability report publication in the GRI model were positively associated with greenhouse gases emissions disclosure, while the company size variable did not show association with statistical significance. Therefore, the results allow us to infer that these variables can be considered determinant factors of greenhouse gases emissions disclosure. In function of research limitations related to sample size, shortage of other variables influencing the disclosure of greenhouse gas emissions, as well as research over the years, it is suggested future research considering a sample with companies from other countries, including other variables and a longitudinal study to compare disclosure in different institutional contexts over the years.

This study aimed to identify the determinant factors of greenhouse gases emissions disclosure in Brazilian companies. Therefore, a documental research was conducted, in which we analyzed sustainability reports, GRI-provided data and accounting statements of B3-listed companies that published sustainability reports and accounting statements for the year 2016. This is a descriptive research with quantitative approach. Preliminarily, we identified information about greenhouse gases emissions disclosed by the sample companies by using a check-list developed from GRI guidelines about emissions. Then, we applied the multiple linear regression analysis technique to identify the disclosure determinant factors. Results showed that the companies researched presented, in average, a low level of emissions information disclosure. The regression analysis showed that the variables participation in potentially polluting sectors, participation in the GHG protocol, New Market governance level and sustainability report publication in the GRI model were positively associated with greenhouse gases emissions disclosure, while the company size variable did not show association with statistical significance. Therefore, the results allow us to infer that these variables can be considered determinant factors of greenhouse gases emissions disclosure. In function of research limitations related to sample size, shortage of other variables influencing the disclosure of greenhouse gas emissions, as well as research over the years, it is suggested future research considering a sample with companies from other countries, including other variables and a longitudinal study to compare disclosure in different institutional contexts over the years.

This study aimed to identify the determinant factors of greenhouse gases emissions disclosure in Brazilian companies. Therefore, a documental research was conducted, in which we analyzed sustainability reports, GRI-provided data and accounting statements of B3-listed companies that published sustainability reports and accounting statements for the year 2016. This is a descriptive research with quantitative approach. Preliminarily, we identified information about greenhouse gases emissions disclosed by the sample companies by using a check-list developed from GRI guidelines about emissions. Then, we applied the multiple linear regression analysis technique to identify the disclosure determinant factors. Results showed that the companies researched presented, in average, a low level of emissions information disclosure. The regression analysis showed that the variables participation in potentially polluting sectors, participation in the GHG protocol, New Market governance level and sustainability report publication in the GRI model were positively associated with greenhouse gases emissions disclosure, while the company size variable did not show association with statistical significance. Therefore, the results allow us to infer that these variables can be considered determinant factors of greenhouse gases emissions disclosure. In function of research limitations related to sample size, shortage of other variables influencing the disclosure of greenhouse gas emissions, as well as research over the years, it is suggested future research considering a sample with companies from other countries, including other variables and a longitudinal study to compare disclosure in different institutional contexts over the years.

This study aimed to identify the determinant factors of greenhouse gases emissions disclosure in Brazilian companies. Therefore, a documental research was conducted, in which we analyzed sustainability reports, GRI-provided data and accounting statements of B3-listed companies that published sustainability reports and accounting statements for the year 2016. This is a descriptive research with quantitative approach. Preliminarily, we identified information about greenhouse gases emissions disclosed by the sample companies by using a check-list developed from GRI guidelines about emissions. Then, we applied the multiple linear regression analysis technique to identify the disclosure determinant factors. Results showed that the companies researched presented, in average, a low level of emissions information disclosure. The regression analysis showed that the variables participation in potentially polluting sectors, participation in the GHG protocol, New Market governance level and sustainability report publication in the GRI model were positively associated with greenhouse gases emissions disclosure, while the company size variable did not show association with statistical significance. Therefore, the results allow us to infer that these variables can be considered determinant factors of greenhouse gases emissions disclosure. In function of research limitations related to sample size, shortage of other variables influencing the disclosure of greenhouse gas emissions, as well as research over the years, it is suggested future research considering a sample with companies from other countries, including other variables and a longitudinal study to compare disclosure in different institutional contexts over the years.

This study aimed to identify the determinant factors of greenhouse gases emissions disclosure in Brazilian companies. Therefore, a documental research was conducted, in which we analyzed sustainability reports, GRI-provided data and accounting statements of B3-listed companies that published sustainability reports and accounting statements for the year 2016. This is a descriptive research with quantitative approach. Preliminarily, we identified information about greenhouse gases emissions disclosed by the sample companies by using a check-list developed from GRI guidelines about emissions. Then, we applied the multiple linear regression analysis technique to identify the disclosure determinant factors. Results showed that the companies researched presented, in average, a low level of emissions information disclosure. The regression analysis showed that the variables participation in potentially polluting sectors, participation in the GHG protocol, New Market governance level and sustainability report publication in the GRI model were positively associated with greenhouse gases emissions disclosure, while the company size variable did not show association with statistical significance. Therefore, the results allow us to infer that these variables can be considered determinant factors of greenhouse gases emissions disclosure. In function of research limitations related to sample size, shortage of other variables influencing the disclosure of greenhouse gas emissions, as well as research over the years, it is suggested future research considering a sample with companies from other countries, including other variables and a longitudinal study to compare disclosure in different institutional contexts over the years.

Greenhouse gas and criteria pollutants emissions as well as the potential for electric power generation were estimated for four different scenarios of final disposal of solid urban waste (MSW) in San Jose: landfill, incineration, composting and mechanical-biological treatment. Generation and composition waste data reported by the San Jose Department of Environmental Services were used as input for a life cycle analysis as well as the respective materials and energy flows for each proposal, based on the formulation of the respective balances of mass and energy. The final disposal in landfills is the treatment that emits more emissions of greenhouse gases with 532.5 Ton CO2e / d and a potential of electricity generation of up to 73.45 MWh, followed by the incineration of MSW with 401.9 Ton CO2e / d. However, alternative scenarios such as incineration additionally generate significant emissions of air pollutants such as particulates (5.14 Ton / d), NOx (0.75 Ton / d) and CO (0.13 Ton / d)., Se estimaron las emisiones de gases efecto invernadero y contaminantes criterio así como el potencial de generación de energía eléctrica para cuatro escenarios distintos de tecnologías para la disposición final de los residuos sólidos urbanos (RSU) del cantón de San José: relleno sanitario, incineración, compostaje y tratamiento mecánico-biológico. Con este fin, se utilizaron los datos de generación y composición de residuos aportados por el Departamento de Servicios Ambientales del municipio capitalino, los cuales sirvieron de insumo para realizar un análisis de ciclo de vida, así como los respectivos flujos de materiales y energía para cada propuesta, a partir de la formulación de los respectivos balances de masa y energía. La disposición final en rellenos sanitarios es el tratamiento que más emisiones de gases efecto invernadero origina con 532,5 Ton CO2e/d y un potencial de generación de energía eléctrica de hasta 73,45 MWh, seguido por la incineración de RSU con 401,9 Ton CO2e /d. Sin embargo, escenarios alternativos como la incineración genera adicionalmente, importantes emisiones de contaminantes criterio del aire como partículas (5,14 Ton/d), NOx (0,75 Ton/d) y CO (0,13 Ton/d).

Greenhouse gas and criteria pollutants emissions as well as the potential for electric power generation were estimated for four different scenarios of final disposal of solid urban waste (MSW) in San Jose: landfill, incineration, composting and mechanical-biological treatment. Generation and composition waste data reported by the San Jose Department of Environmental Services were used as input for a life cycle analysis as well as the respective materials and energy flows for each proposal, based on the formulation of the respective balances of mass and energy. The final disposal in landfills is the treatment that emits more emissions of greenhouse gases with 532.5 Ton CO2e / d and a potential of electricity generation of up to 73.45 MWh, followed by the incineration of MSW with 401.9 Ton CO2e / d. However, alternative scenarios such as incineration additionally generate significant emissions of air pollutants such as particulates (5.14 Ton / d), NOx (0.75 Ton / d) and CO (0.13 Ton / d)., Se estimaron las emisiones de gases efecto invernadero y contaminantes criterio así como el potencial de generación de energía eléctrica para cuatro escenarios distintos de tecnologías para la disposición final de los residuos sólidos urbanos (RSU) del cantón de San José: relleno sanitario, incineración, compostaje y tratamiento mecánico-biológico. Con este fin, se utilizaron los datos de generación y composición de residuos aportados por el Departamento de Servicios Ambientales del municipio capitalino, los cuales sirvieron de insumo para realizar un análisis de ciclo de vida, así como los respectivos flujos de materiales y energía para cada propuesta, a partir de la formulación de los respectivos balances de masa y energía. La disposición final en rellenos sanitarios es el tratamiento que más emisiones de gases efecto invernadero origina con 532,5 Ton CO2e/d y un potencial de generación de energía eléctrica de hasta 73,45 MWh, seguido por la incineración de RSU con 401,9 Ton CO2e /d. Sin embargo, escenarios alternativos como la incineración genera adicionalmente, importantes emisiones de contaminantes criterio del aire como partículas (5,14 Ton/d), NOx (0,75 Ton/d) y CO (0,13 Ton/d).

The European Union aims to reduce energy use and CO2-emissions by 40 % by the year 2030. The building sector has been identified as having a great potential to reduce emission of CO2 by increasing its energy efficiency. Also, there is a growing concern of the buildings environmental performance, that lead to the development of building environmental assessment tools. However, different types of energy sources and confusing environmental impacts affect the decision making when renovating for improved energy efficiency. This study develops and tests a methodology to help decision-makers when considering major renovation of their building stock when connected to adistrict heating system. The proposed methodology is applied and used to investigate how different renovation scenarios affects the building environmental impacts in terms of CO2 emissions and identify and discuss future improvements of the methodology. The novelty of the method is the expanded system boundaries that include both the distribution and production of district heating and the energy use at a building level. In this way it is possible to compare and weight measures made both at the energy system level and the building level. This work has limited its approach to energy use in buildings, but it is important to bring the life cycle thinking to the methodology. During the choice of the renovation methods it was noticed that the environmental impact of the production of some components in order to reduce the energy use of a building are not insignificant. Even if all the renovation measures considered in this case study are feasible, it is important to determine in which order they are desirable or achievable from an economic point of view. Uncertainty in the future development of energy, and limited economic resources can play an important role in the possibility of energy efficient renovation., Den Europeiska Unionen har som målsättning att minska energianvändning och utsläpp av växthusgaser med 40 % till året 2030 jämfört med 1990. Byggnader har identifierats som ett område med stor potential för utsläppsminskningar om de energieffektiviseras. Användningen av olika energislag och olika sätt att värdera miljöpåverkan påverkar beslutsfattandet i samband med energieffektivisering. I studien utvecklas och testas en metodik som kan hjälpa beslutsfattare vid renovering med energieffektivisering inom fjärrvärmeområdet. Först utvecklades en översiktlig metodik vilken inkluderar både byggnadsenergisimulering och energisystemsimulering. Sen implementerades metodiken genom olika renoveringsscenarier och utsläppen av växthusgaser analyserades. Metodiken visar att det finns en möjlighet att utveckla ett verktyg som kan hjälpa beslutsfattare när energibesparingsstrategier ska implementeras vilka kan bli positiva för både byggnader och fjärrvärmesystemet., REESBE

We propose a metaheuristic for the Time-Dependent Pollution-Routing Problem, which consists of routing a number of vehicles to serve a set of customers and determining their speed on each route segment with the objective of minimizing the cost of driver’s wage and greenhouse gases emissions. The vehicles face traffic congestion which, at peak periods, significantly restricts vehicle speeds and leads to increased emissions. Our algorithm is based on an adaptive large neighborhood search heuristic and uses new removal and insertion operators which significantly improve the quality of the solution. A previously developed departure time and speed optimization procedure is used as a subroutine to optimize departure times and vehicle speeds. Results from extensive computational experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of our algorithm.

The European Union aims to reduce energy use and CO2-emissions by 40 % by the year 2030. The building sector has been identified as having a great potential to reduce emission of CO2 by increasing its energy efficiency. Also, there is a growing concern of the buildings environmental performance, that lead to the development of building environmental assessment tools. However, different types of energy sources and confusing environmental impacts affect the decision making when renovating for improved energy efficiency. This study develops and tests a methodology to help decision-makers when considering major renovation of their building stock when connected to adistrict heating system. The proposed methodology is applied and used to investigate how different renovation scenarios affects the building environmental impacts in terms of CO2 emissions and identify and discuss future improvements of the methodology. The novelty of the method is the expanded system boundaries that include both the distribution and production of district heating and the energy use at a building level. In this way it is possible to compare and weight measures made both at the energy system level and the building level. This work has limited its approach to energy use in buildings, but it is important to bring the life cycle thinking to the methodology. During the choice of the renovation methods it was noticed that the environmental impact of the production of some components in order to reduce the energy use of a building are not insignificant. Even if all the renovation measures considered in this case study are feasible, it is important to determine in which order they are desirable or achievable from an economic point of view. Uncertainty in the future development of energy, and limited economic resources can play an important role in the possibility of energy efficient renovation., Den Europeiska Unionen har som målsättning att minska energianvändning och utsläpp av växthusgaser med 40 % till året 2030 jämfört med 1990. Byggnader har identifierats som ett område med stor potential för utsläppsminskningar om de energieffektiviseras. Användningen av olika energislag och olika sätt att värdera miljöpåverkan påverkar beslutsfattandet i samband med energieffektivisering. I studien utvecklas och testas en metodik som kan hjälpa beslutsfattare vid renovering med energieffektivisering inom fjärrvärmeområdet. Först utvecklades en översiktlig metodik vilken inkluderar både byggnadsenergisimulering och energisystemsimulering. Sen implementerades metodiken genom olika renoveringsscenarier och utsläppen av växthusgaser analyserades. Metodiken visar att det finns en möjlighet att utveckla ett verktyg som kan hjälpa beslutsfattare när energibesparingsstrategier ska implementeras vilka kan bli positiva för både byggnader och fjärrvärmesystemet., REESBE

Greenhouse gas and criteria pollutants emissions as well as the potential for electric power generation were estimated for four different scenarios of final disposal of solid urban waste (MSW) in San Jose: landfill, incineration, composting and mechanical-biological treatment. Generation and composition waste data reported by the San Jose Department of Environmental Services were used as input for a life cycle analysis as well as the respective materials and energy flows for each proposal, based on the formulation of the respective balances of mass and energy. The final disposal in landfills is the treatment that emits more emissions of greenhouse gases with 532.5 Ton CO2e / d and a potential of electricity generation of up to 73.45 MWh, followed by the incineration of MSW with 401.9 Ton CO2e / d. However, alternative scenarios such as incineration additionally generate significant emissions of air pollutants such as particulates (5.14 Ton / d), NOx (0.75 Ton / d) and CO (0.13 Ton / d)., Se estimaron las emisiones de gases efecto invernadero y contaminantes criterio así como el potencial de generación de energía eléctrica para cuatro escenarios distintos de tecnologías para la disposición final de los residuos sólidos urbanos (RSU) del cantón de San José: relleno sanitario, incineración, compostaje y tratamiento mecánico-biológico. Con este fin, se utilizaron los datos de generación y composición de residuos aportados por el Departamento de Servicios Ambientales del municipio capitalino, los cuales sirvieron de insumo para realizar un análisis de ciclo de vida, así como los respectivos flujos de materiales y energía para cada propuesta, a partir de la formulación de los respectivos balances de masa y energía. La disposición final en rellenos sanitarios es el tratamiento que más emisiones de gases efecto invernadero origina con 532,5 Ton CO2e/d y un potencial de generación de energía eléctrica de hasta 73,45 MWh, seguido por la incineración de RSU con 401,9 Ton CO2e /d. Sin embargo, escenarios alternativos como la incineración genera adicionalmente, importantes emisiones de contaminantes criterio del aire como partículas (5,14 Ton/d), NOx (0,75 Ton/d) y CO (0,13 Ton/d)., Foram estimadas as emissões de gases de efeito estufa e contaminantes atmosféricos, assim como o potencial de geração de energia elétrica para quatro cenários distintos de tecnologias para a disposição final dos resíduos sólidos urbanos (RSU) da cidade de San José: aterro sanitário, incineração, compostagem e tratamento mecânico-biológico. Com este fim, foram utilizados os dados de geração e composição de resíduos contribuídos pelo Departamento de serviços Ambientais do município da capital, os quais serviram de entrada para realizar uma análise de ciclo de vida, assim como os respectivos fluxos de materiais e energia para cada proposta, a partir da formulação dos respectivos balanços de massa e energia. A disposição final em aterros sanitários é o tratamento que mais emissões de gases de efeito estufa origina com 532.5 t CO2e/d e um potencial de geração de energia elétrica de até 73,45 MW, seguido pela incineração de RSU com 401,9 t CO2e /d. Porém, cenários alternativos como a incineração gera, adicionalmente, importantes emissões de contaminantes atmosféricos como partículas (5,14 t/d), NOx (0,75 t/d) e CO (0,13 t/d).

We propose a metaheuristic for the Time-Dependent Pollution-Routing Problem, which consists of routing a number of vehicles to serve a set of customers and determining their speed on each route segment with the objective of minimizing the cost of driver’s wage and greenhouse gases emissions. The vehicles face traffic congestion which, at peak periods, significantly restricts vehicle speeds and leads to increased emissions. Our algorithm is based on an adaptive large neighborhood search heuristic and uses new removal and insertion operators which significantly improve the quality of the solution. A previously developed departure time and speed optimization procedure is used as a subroutine to optimize departure times and vehicle speeds. Results from extensive computational experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of our algorithm.

The European Union aims to reduce energy use and CO2-emissions by 40 % by the year 2030. The building sector has been identified as having a great potential to reduce emission of CO2 by increasing its energy efficiency. Also, there is a growing concern of the buildings environmental performance, that lead to the development of building environmental assessment tools. However, different types of energy sources and confusing environmental impacts affect the decision making when renovating for improved energy efficiency. This study develops and tests a methodology to help decision-makers when considering major renovation of their building stock when connected to adistrict heating system. The proposed methodology is applied and used to investigate how different renovation scenarios affects the building environmental impacts in terms of CO2 emissions and identify and discuss future improvements of the methodology. The novelty of the method is the expanded system boundaries that include both the distribution and production of district heating and the energy use at a building level. In this way it is possible to compare and weight measures made both at the energy system level and the building level. This work has limited its approach to energy use in buildings, but it is important to bring the life cycle thinking to the methodology. During the choice of the renovation methods it was noticed that the environmental impact of the production of some components in order to reduce the energy use of a building are not insignificant. Even if all the renovation measures considered in this case study are feasible, it is important to determine in which order they are desirable or achievable from an economic point of view. Uncertainty in the future development of energy, and limited economic resources can play an important role in the possibility of energy efficient renovation., Den Europeiska Unionen har som målsättning att minska energianvändning och utsläpp av växthusgaser med 40 % till året 2030 jämfört med 1990. Byggnader har identifierats som ett område med stor potential för utsläppsminskningar om de energieffektiviseras. Användningen av olika energislag och olika sätt att värdera miljöpåverkan påverkar beslutsfattandet i samband med energieffektivisering. I studien utvecklas och testas en metodik som kan hjälpa beslutsfattare vid renovering med energieffektivisering inom fjärrvärmeområdet. Först utvecklades en översiktlig metodik vilken inkluderar både byggnadsenergisimulering och energisystemsimulering. Sen implementerades metodiken genom olika renoveringsscenarier och utsläppen av växthusgaser analyserades. Metodiken visar att det finns en möjlighet att utveckla ett verktyg som kan hjälpa beslutsfattare när energibesparingsstrategier ska implementeras vilka kan bli positiva för både byggnader och fjärrvärmesystemet., REESBE

The European Union aims to reduce energy use and CO2-emissions by 40 % by the year 2030. The building sector has been identified as having a great potential to reduce emission of CO2 by increasing its energy efficiency. Also, there is a growing concern of the buildings environmental performance, that lead to the development of building environmental assessment tools. However, different types of energy sources and confusing environmental impacts affect the decision making when renovating for improved energy efficiency. This study develops and tests a methodology to help decision-makers when considering major renovation of their building stock when connected to adistrict heating system. The proposed methodology is applied and used to investigate how different renovation scenarios affects the building environmental impacts in terms of CO2 emissions and identify and discuss future improvements of the methodology. The novelty of the method is the expanded system boundaries that include both the distribution and production of district heating and the energy use at a building level. In this way it is possible to compare and weight measures made both at the energy system level and the building level. This work has limited its approach to energy use in buildings, but it is important to bring the life cycle thinking to the methodology. During the choice of the renovation methods it was noticed that the environmental impact of the production of some components in order to reduce the energy use of a building are not insignificant. Even if all the renovation measures considered in this case study are feasible, it is important to determine in which order they are desirable or achievable from an economic point of view. Uncertainty in the future development of energy, and limited economic resources can play an important role in the possibility of energy efficient renovation., Den Europeiska Unionen har som målsättning att minska energianvändning och utsläpp av växthusgaser med 40 % till året 2030 jämfört med 1990. Byggnader har identifierats som ett område med stor potential för utsläppsminskningar om de energieffektiviseras. Användningen av olika energislag och olika sätt att värdera miljöpåverkan påverkar beslutsfattandet i samband med energieffektivisering. I studien utvecklas och testas en metodik som kan hjälpa beslutsfattare vid renovering med energieffektivisering inom fjärrvärmeområdet. Först utvecklades en översiktlig metodik vilken inkluderar både byggnadsenergisimulering och energisystemsimulering. Sen implementerades metodiken genom olika renoveringsscenarier och utsläppen av växthusgaser analyserades. Metodiken visar att det finns en möjlighet att utveckla ett verktyg som kan hjälpa beslutsfattare när energibesparingsstrategier ska implementeras vilka kan bli positiva för både byggnader och fjärrvärmesystemet., REESBE

The European Union aims to reduce energy use and CO2-emissions by 40 % by the year 2030. The building sector has been identified as having a great potential to reduce emission of CO2 by increasing its energy efficiency. Also, there is a growing concern of the buildings environmental performance, that lead to the development of building environmental assessment tools. However, different types of energy sources and confusing environmental impacts affect the decision making when renovating for improved energy efficiency. This study develops and tests a methodology to help decision-makers when considering major renovation of their building stock when connected to adistrict heating system. The proposed methodology is applied and used to investigate how different renovation scenarios affects the building environmental impacts in terms of CO2 emissions and identify and discuss future improvements of the methodology. The novelty of the method is the expanded system boundaries that include both the distribution and production of district heating and the energy use at a building level. In this way it is possible to compare and weight measures made both at the energy system level and the building level. This work has limited its approach to energy use in buildings, but it is important to bring the life cycle thinking to the methodology. During the choice of the renovation methods it was noticed that the environmental impact of the production of some components in order to reduce the energy use of a building are not insignificant. Even if all the renovation measures considered in this case study are feasible, it is important to determine in which order they are desirable or achievable from an economic point of view. Uncertainty in the future development of energy, and limited economic resources can play an important role in the possibility of energy efficient renovation., Den Europeiska Unionen har som målsättning att minska energianvändning och utsläpp av växthusgaser med 40 % till året 2030 jämfört med 1990. Byggnader har identifierats som ett område med stor potential för utsläppsminskningar om de energieffektiviseras. Användningen av olika energislag och olika sätt att värdera miljöpåverkan påverkar beslutsfattandet i samband med energieffektivisering. I studien utvecklas och testas en metodik som kan hjälpa beslutsfattare vid renovering med energieffektivisering inom fjärrvärmeområdet. Först utvecklades en översiktlig metodik vilken inkluderar både byggnadsenergisimulering och energisystemsimulering. Sen implementerades metodiken genom olika renoveringsscenarier och utsläppen av växthusgaser analyserades. Metodiken visar att det finns en möjlighet att utveckla ett verktyg som kan hjälpa beslutsfattare när energibesparingsstrategier ska implementeras vilka kan bli positiva för både byggnader och fjärrvärmesystemet., REESBE

The European Union aims to reduce energy use and CO2-emissions by 40 % by the year 2030. The building sector has been identified as having a great potential to reduce emission of CO2 by increasing its energy efficiency. Also, there is a growing concern of the buildings environmental performance, that lead to the development of building environmental assessment tools. However, different types of energy sources and confusing environmental impacts affect the decision making when renovating for improved energy efficiency. This study develops and tests a methodology to help decision-makers when considering major renovation of their building stock when connected to adistrict heating system. The proposed methodology is applied and used to investigate how different renovation scenarios affects the building environmental impacts in terms of CO2 emissions and identify and discuss future improvements of the methodology. The novelty of the method is the expanded system boundaries that include both the distribution and production of district heating and the energy use at a building level. In this way it is possible to compare and weight measures made both at the energy system level and the building level. This work has limited its approach to energy use in buildings, but it is important to bring the life cycle thinking to the methodology. During the choice of the renovation methods it was noticed that the environmental impact of the production of some components in order to reduce the energy use of a building are not insignificant. Even if all the renovation measures considered in this case study are feasible, it is important to determine in which order they are desirable or achievable from an economic point of view. Uncertainty in the future development of energy, and limited economic resources can play an important role in the possibility of energy efficient renovation., Den Europeiska Unionen har som målsättning att minska energianvändning och utsläpp av växthusgaser med 40 % till året 2030 jämfört med 1990. Byggnader har identifierats som ett område med stor potential för utsläppsminskningar om de energieffektiviseras. Användningen av olika energislag och olika sätt att värdera miljöpåverkan påverkar beslutsfattandet i samband med energieffektivisering. I studien utvecklas och testas en metodik som kan hjälpa beslutsfattare vid renovering med energieffektivisering inom fjärrvärmeområdet. Först utvecklades en översiktlig metodik vilken inkluderar både byggnadsenergisimulering och energisystemsimulering. Sen implementerades metodiken genom olika renoveringsscenarier och utsläppen av växthusgaser analyserades. Metodiken visar att det finns en möjlighet att utveckla ett verktyg som kan hjälpa beslutsfattare när energibesparingsstrategier ska implementeras vilka kan bli positiva för både byggnader och fjärrvärmesystemet., REESBE

Tourism is a key industry in the Spanish economy. Spain was in the World top three ranking by international tourist arrivals and by income in 2015. The development of the tourism industry is essential to maintain the established economic system. However, if the environmental requirements were not taken into account, the country would face a negative effect on depletion of local environmental resources from which tourism depends. This case study evaluates, through a life cycle perspective, the average carbon footprint of an overnight stay in a Spanish coastland hotel by analyzing 14 two-to-five-stars hotels. Inventory and impact data are analyzed and presented both for resource use and greenhouse gases emissions, with the intention of helping in the environmental decision-making process. The main identified potential hotspots are electricity and fuels consumption (6 to 30 kWh/overnight stay and 24 to 127 MJ/overnight stay respectively), which are proportional to the number of stars and unoccupancy rate and they produce more than 75% of the impact. It is also revealed that voluntary implementation of environmental monitoring systems (like EMAS regulation) promotes collection of more detailed and accurate data, which helps in a more efficient use of resources. A literature review on LCA and tourism is also discussed. Spanish hotels inventory data presented here for the first time will be useful for tourism related managers (destination managers, policy makers and hotel managers among others) to calculate sustainability key indicators, which can lead to achieve real sustainable-tourism goals. Further data collection will be needed in future projects to gather representative data from more hotels, other accommodation facilities and also other products/services offered by tourist sector in Spain (like transport of tourists, food and beverage, culture-sports & recreation and others)., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

Greenhouse gas and criteria pollutants emissions as well as the potential for electric power generation were estimated for four different scenarios of final disposal of solid urban waste (MSW) in San Jose: landfill, incineration, composting and mechanical-biological treatment. Generation and composition waste data reported by the San Jose Department of Environmental Services were used as input for a life cycle analysis as well as the respective materials and energy flows for each proposal, based on the formulation of the respective balances of mass and energy. The final disposal in landfills is the treatment that emits more emissions of greenhouse gases with 532.5 Ton CO2e / d and a potential of electricity generation of up to 73.45 MWh, followed by the incineration of MSW with 401.9 Ton CO2e / d. However, alternative scenarios such as incineration additionally generate significant emissions of air pollutants such as particulates (5.14 Ton / d), NOx (0.75 Ton / d) and CO (0.13 Ton / d)., Se estimaron las emisiones de gases efecto invernadero y contaminantes criterio así como el potencial de generación de energía eléctrica para cuatro escenarios distintos de tecnologías para la disposición final de los residuos sólidos urbanos (RSU) del cantón de San José: relleno sanitario, incineración, compostaje y tratamiento mecánico-biológico. Con este fin, se utilizaron los datos de generación y composición de residuos aportados por el Departamento de Servicios Ambientales del municipio capitalino, los cuales sirvieron de insumo para realizar un análisis de ciclo de vida, así como los respectivos flujos de materiales y energía para cada propuesta, a partir de la formulación de los respectivos balances de masa y energía. La disposición final en rellenos sanitarios es el tratamiento que más emisiones de gases efecto invernadero origina con 532,5 Ton CO2e/d y un potencial de generación de energía eléctrica de hasta 73,45 MWh, seguido por la incineración de RSU con 401,9 Ton CO2e /d. Sin embargo, escenarios alternativos como la incineración genera adicionalmente, importantes emisiones de contaminantes criterio del aire como partículas (5,14 Ton/d), NOx (0,75 Ton/d) y CO (0,13 Ton/d)., Foram estimadas as emissões de gases de efeito estufa e contaminantes atmosféricos, assim como o potencial de geração de energia elétrica para quatro cenários distintos de tecnologias para a disposição final dos resíduos sólidos urbanos (RSU) da cidade de San José: aterro sanitário, incineração, compostagem e tratamento mecânico-biológico. Com este fim, foram utilizados os dados de geração e composição de resíduos contribuídos pelo Departamento de serviços Ambientais do município da capital, os quais serviram de entrada para realizar uma análise de ciclo de vida, assim como os respectivos fluxos de materiais e energia para cada proposta, a partir da formulação dos respectivos balanços de massa e energia. A disposição final em aterros sanitários é o tratamento que mais emissões de gases de efeito estufa origina com 532.5 t CO2e/d e um potencial de geração de energia elétrica de até 73,45 MW, seguido pela incineração de RSU com 401,9 t CO2e /d. Porém, cenários alternativos como a incineração gera, adicionalmente, importantes emissões de contaminantes atmosféricos como partículas (5,14 t/d), NOx (0,75 t/d) e CO (0,13 t/d).

The global scientific consensus, made possible by scientific studies since the 1980’s, has demonstrated the reality of climate change and its dramatic socioeconomic consequences. The fight against climate change began as a scientific problem and escalated to a political problem on a global scale. The paper analyses the importance of the global climate governance to fight against climate change trying to reconcile the developed countries and developing countries in shaping common interests in order to reduce greenhouse gases emissions. The success of this governance depends not only on the ambitious participation of all the countries of the world, but also on the increased participation of all non-governmental actors that help to create a global awareness towards concrete and local actions. The object of analysis is also to expose the scientific basis of climate change that legitimizes the beginning of a process of international negotiations on climate change framed within a complex international climate regime. Along the climate summits called Conferences of the Parties, different objectives are decided to engage the commitments of all countries to reduce their emissions and provide funding to developing countries to adapt themselves to the negative impacts of the climate change. The paper points out the negotiation process of the twenty-first Conference of the Parties held in Paris in December 2015 and its subsequent international agreement, seen as a turning point in the international climate regime., El consenso científico mundial, gracias a los numerosos estudios científicos, ha evidenciado la realidad del cambio climático y sus consecuencias socioeconómicas dramáticas. La lucha contra el cambio climático empezó siendo un problema de la ciencia para convertirse en un problema político de escala global. Para que sea efectiva la lucha contra el cambio climático se necesita una gobernanza climática global que trate de conciliar los países desarrollados y los países en desarrollo en torno a un interés común. Su éxito radica en la participación no sólo de los gobiernos de todo el mundo sino también de todos los actores no gubernamentales que ayudan a la toma de conciencia generalizada para emprender acciones locales. Se analiza la base científica que confirma que el cambio climático es una realidad y que legitima el inicio de un proceso de negociación internacional sobre cambio climático enmarcado en un régimen internacional climático complejo. Desde 1992 con la adopción de la Convención Marco de Naciones Unidas sobre el Cambio Climático se conforma este régimen vinculante para reducir las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero. Será a través de la celebración de las llamadas Conferencias de las Partes que se adopten objetivos y en ciertos casos, Acuerdos internacionales que comprometan los países a mitigar el cambio climático y dotarse de financiación que les permita adaptarse a los impactos negativos del cambio climático. Nos detendremos más detenidamente en el proceso de negociación de la vigésimo primera Conferencia de las Partes celebrada en París el pasado diciembre de 2015 en la que se da un nuevo impulso para luchar contra el cambio climático por parte de los Estados y los actores no gubernamentales y es visto como un punto de inflexión en el régimen climático internacional. Su resultado, como punto de inflexión y momento histórico, hace del Acuerdo internacional de París una de las únicas oportunidades para mitigar y adaptarse al cambio climático a nivel, Le consensus scientifique mondial, grâce à de nombreuses études scientifiques, a démontré laréalité du changement climatique et de ses conséquences économiques dramatiques. La lutte contre lechangement climatique a commencé comme un problème de la science pour devenir un problèmepolitique de l'échelle mondiale. Pour être efficace, la lutte contre le changement climatique unegouvernance climatique mondiale tentent de concilier les pays développés et en développement autourd'un intérêt commun est nécessaire. Son succès réside dans la participation non seulement desgouvernements du monde entier, mais aussi de tous les acteurs non gouvernementaux qui aident la prisede conscience générale à entreprendre des actions locales. la base scientifique confirmant que lechangement climatique est une réalité et qui légitimise le début d'un processus de négociationsinternationales sur le changement climatique encadrée dans un régime complexe de climat internationalest analysé. Depuis 1992, avec l'adoption de la Convention-cadre des Nations Unies sur les changementsclimatiques de ce régime contraignant est formé pour réduire les émissions de gaz à effet de serre. Il serapar la tenue de conférences appelle les Parties objectifs sont adoptés et, dans certains cas, des accordsinternationaux qui engagent les pays à atténuer les changements climatiques et a fourni des fonds pourleur permettre d'adapter aux impacts négatifs du changement climatique. Nous nous arrêterons plus endétail dans le processus de négociation de la vingt et unième Conférence des Parties, tenue à Parisdernière Décembre 2015 où un nouvel élan est donné pour lutter contre le changement climatique par lesÉtats et les acteurs non étatiques et il est considéré comme un point dans le régime climatiqueinternational tournant. Son résultat, comme un point tournant et moment historique, fait l'accordinternational à Paris l'une des seules possibilités d'atténuation et d'adaptation au changement climatiqueau niveau mondial. Cel

Municipal solid waste (MSW) can be considered a valid biomass to be used in a power plant. The major advantage is the reduction of pollutants and greenhouse gases emissions not only within large cities but also globally. Another advantage is that by their use it is possible to reduce the waste storage in landfills and devote these spaces to other human activities. It is also important to point out that this kind of renewable energy suffers significantly less availability which characterizes other type of renewable energy sources such as in wind and solar energy.In a gasification process, waste is subject to chemical treatments through air or/and steam utilization; the result is a synthesis gas, called "Syngas" which is principally composed of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. Traces of hydrogen sulfide could also be present which can easily be separated in a desulfurization reactor. The gasification process is usually based on an atmospheric-pressure circulating fluidized bed gasifier coupled to a tar-cracking vessel. Syngas can be used as fuel in different kind of power plant such as gas turbine cycle, steam cycle, combined cycle, internal and external combustion engine and Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC).In the present study, a MSW gasification plant integrated with SOFC is combined with a Stirling engine to recover the energy of the off-gases from the topping SOFC cycle. Detailed plant design is proposed and thermodynamic analysis is performed. Relevant parameters have been studied to optimize the plant efficiency in terms of operating conditions. Compared with modern waste incinerators with heat recovery, the gasification process integrated with SOFC and Stirling engine permits an increase in electricity output up of 50%, which means that the solid waste gasification process can compete with incineration technologies. Moreover waste incinerators require the installation of sophisticated exhaust gas cleaning equipment that can be large and expensive and are not necessar

В работе сделана попытка комплексной оценки качества жизни с позиций «зеленой» экономики (энергоэффективности, экологии, изменения климата). В развитие методики В.В. Бушуева и др. авторами статьи предложен коэффициент качества жизни с учетом перспектив развития «зеленой» экономики. Также представлены социально-психологические методики оценки качества жизни., In the article the attempt of complex assessment of quality of life from a perspective of green economy is made (energy efficiency, ecology, climate change). In furtherance of the methodology of Bushuyev V.V. and others the authors of the article offer the coefficient of quality of life taking into account prospects of green economy development. Social and psychological methodologies of assessment of quality of life are also presented.

В статье рассмотрен опыт наиболее успешных стран мира по созданию высокого качества жизни на основе энергоэффективности и зеленых технологий. Также в работе представлены достижения, планы и проблемы города Екатеринбурга на пути к высокому качеству жизни за счет повышения энергоэффективности зданий и сооружений, снижения выбросов парниковых газов и загрязняющих веществ, благоустройства улиц и др., This article represents some of the most successful experiences of different countries in attempt to create high quality of life in connection to energy efficiency and green technologies. The article also describes the achievements, plans and problems of the city of Yekaterinburg on its way to create high quality of life by improvement of the energy efficiency of buildings, reduction of greenhouse gases and pollutants emission, improvement of public services, streets and other measures.

This paper shows the results of a simplified Life Cycle Assessment, made to determinate the energy and carbon footprint associated to the manufacturing process of a ready-mixed concrete plant in the Region of Biobío, Chile. The energy consumption and CO2 emissions were measured during one year of production and excluding the corporate measure. The used environmental inventory mainly considers major inputs of raw materials transportation, dispensing process, loading and delivery. Applying the life cycle inventory (LCI) as IS0 14040-2006, the study case showed that, it is necessary 342 MJ, with a carbon footprint of 26 Kg/CO2 to produce a cubic meter of ready-mixed concrete. Comparing these results with international databases, the study case proved to be a 37, 5% lower in embodied energy and more than 50% less of CO2 emissions.This investigation concluded that the unitary process with the most environmental impact, considering energy consumption and CO2 emissions, it was related to the indirect transportation of raw materials, mainly aggregates, which represent a 46% of the total system studied., El presente artículo muestra resultados acerca de la determinación de la energía contenida y la huella de carbono asociadas al proceso de fabricación de hormigones, en una planta premezcladora en la región del Biobío, Chile, a través de un Análisis de Ciclo de Vida simplificado. El inventario ambiental consideró primordialmente: transporte de materias primas, proceso de dosificación, carguío y despacho de los principales insumos materiales. Para todas estas actividades se cuantificaron consumos energéticos y emisiones de CO2 durante un año de producción, excluyendo consumo energético y huella de carbono corporativa. Al aplicar el “inventario ciclo de vida” (ICV), según IS0 14.040-2006, el caso de estudio mostró que para producir un metro cúbico de hormigón premezclado se requieren 342 MJ, lo que genera una huella de carbono de 26 Kg/CO2. Al comparar este resultado con bases de datos internacionales, el mismo caso demostró ser un 37,5% más bajo en energía contenida y más de un 50% inferior en emisiones de CO2.Esta investigación permitió concluir que el proceso unitario con mayor impacto ambiental desde el punto de vista del consumo energético y emisiones de CO2, está constituido por los transportes indirectos de las materias primas, principalmente áridos, que representan un 46% del total del sistema estudiado.

The paper aims to evaluate, using different methods, the ecological capacity of the territory and maximum anthropogenic impact that it can withstand as the result of economic activity. Timeliness of the study is determined by the need of Russia transition to the model of sustainable development. In this context, the paper examines the approaches to the estimation of the territory's maximum capacity in relation to anthropogenic impact, methods of quantitative assessments of the environmental capacity of the territory in units and in fuel equivalents (energy approach), and its correlation with the actual anthropogenic impact and energy consumption. © 2014 WIT Press.

This paper shows the results of a simplified Life Cycle Assessment, made to determinate the energy and carbon footprint associated to the manufacturing process of a ready-mixed concrete plant in the Region of Biobío, Chile. The energy consumption and CO2 emissions were measured during one year of production and excluding the corporate measure. The used environmental inventory mainly considers major inputs of raw materials transportation, dispensing process, loading and delivery. Applying the life cycle inventory (LCI) as IS0 14040-2006, the study case showed that, it is necessary 342 MJ, with a carbon footprint of 26 Kg/CO2 to produce a cubic meter of ready-mixed concrete. Comparing these results with international databases, the study case proved to be a 37, 5% lower in embodied energy and more than 50% less of CO2 emissions.This investigation concluded that the unitary process with the most environmental impact, considering energy consumption and CO2 emissions, it was related to the indirect transportation of raw materials, mainly aggregates, which represent a 46% of the total system studied., El presente artículo muestra resultados acerca de la determinación de la energía contenida y la huella de carbono asociadas al proceso de fabricación de hormigones, en una planta premezcladora en la región del Biobío, Chile, a través de un Análisis de Ciclo de Vida simplificado. El inventario ambiental consideró primordialmente: transporte de materias primas, proceso de dosificación, carguío y despacho de los principales insumos materiales. Para todas estas actividades se cuantificaron consumos energéticos y emisiones de CO2 durante un año de producción, excluyendo consumo energético y huella de carbono corporativa. Al aplicar el “inventario ciclo de vida” (ICV), según IS0 14.040-2006, el caso de estudio mostró que para producir un metro cúbico de hormigón premezclado se requieren 342 MJ, lo que genera una huella de carbono de 26 Kg/CO2. Al comparar este resultado con bases de datos internacionales, el mismo caso demostró ser un 37,5% más bajo en energía contenida y más de un 50% inferior en emisiones de CO2.Esta investigación permitió concluir que el proceso unitario con mayor impacto ambiental desde el punto de vista del consumo energético y emisiones de CO2, está constituido por los transportes indirectos de las materias primas, principalmente áridos, que representan un 46% del total del sistema estudiado.

This paper shows the results of a simplified Life Cycle Assessment, made to determinate the energy and carbon footprint associated to the manufacturing process of a ready-mixed concrete plant in the Region of Biobío, Chile. The energy consumption and CO2 emissions were measured during one year of production and excluding the corporate measure. The used environmental inventory mainly considers major inputs of raw materials transportation, dispensing process, loading and delivery. Applying the life cycle inventory (LCI) as IS0 14040-2006, the study case showed that, it is necessary 342 MJ, with a carbon footprint of 26 Kg/CO2 to produce a cubic meter of ready-mixed concrete. Comparing these results with international databases, the study case proved to be a 37, 5% lower in embodied energy and more than 50% less of CO2 emissions.This investigation concluded that the unitary process with the most environmental impact, considering energy consumption and CO2 emissions, it was related to the indirect transportation of raw materials, mainly aggregates, which represent a 46% of the total system studied., El presente artículo muestra resultados acerca de la determinación de la energía contenida y la huella de carbono asociadas al proceso de fabricación de hormigones, en una planta premezcladora en la región del Biobío, Chile, a través de un Análisis de Ciclo de Vida simplificado. El inventario ambiental consideró primordialmente: transporte de materias primas, proceso de dosificación, carguío y despacho de los principales insumos materiales. Para todas estas actividades se cuantificaron consumos energéticos y emisiones de CO2 durante un año de producción, excluyendo consumo energético y huella de carbono corporativa. Al aplicar el “inventario ciclo de vida” (ICV), según IS0 14.040-2006, el caso de estudio mostró que para producir un metro cúbico de hormigón premezclado se requieren 342 MJ, lo que genera una huella de carbono de 26 Kg/CO2. Al comparar este resultado con bases de datos internacionales, el mismo caso demostró ser un 37,5% más bajo en energía contenida y más de un 50% inferior en emisiones de CO2.Esta investigación permitió concluir que el proceso unitario con mayor impacto ambiental desde el punto de vista del consumo energético y emisiones de CO2, está constituido por los transportes indirectos de las materias primas, principalmente áridos, que representan un 46% del total del sistema estudiado.

Cílem bakalářské práce je zmapování potenciálu využití biopaliv pro moderní pístové spalovací motory. Práce se zabývá jednak snižováním ekologické zátěže, tak i možného zvyšování výkonových parametrů a účinnosti motoru, jako je použití paliva se zvýšenou antidetonační odolností u zážehových motorů., The aim of the bachelor thesis is to map the potential use of biofuels for modern piston internal combustion engines. The thesis deals with both reducing the environmental impact and a possible increase in performance parameters and engine efficiency such as the use of fuel with increased anti-knock resistance in spark ignition engines.

Cílem bakalářské práce je zmapování potenciálu využití biopaliv pro moderní pístové spalovací motory. Práce se zabývá jednak snižováním ekologické zátěže, tak i možného zvyšování výkonových parametrů a účinnosti motoru, jako je použití paliva se zvýšenou antidetonační odolností u zážehových motorů., The aim of the bachelor thesis is to map the potential use of biofuels for modern piston internal combustion engines. The thesis deals with both reducing the environmental impact and a possible increase in performance parameters and engine efficiency such as the use of fuel with increased anti-knock resistance in spark ignition engines.

Cílem bakalářské práce je zmapování potenciálu využití biopaliv pro moderní pístové spalovací motory. Práce se zabývá jednak snižováním ekologické zátěže, tak i možného zvyšování výkonových parametrů a účinnosti motoru, jako je použití paliva se zvýšenou antidetonační odolností u zážehových motorů., The aim of the bachelor thesis is to map the potential use of biofuels for modern piston internal combustion engines. The thesis deals with both reducing the environmental impact and a possible increase in performance parameters and engine efficiency such as the use of fuel with increased anti-knock resistance in spark ignition engines.

Cílem bakalářské práce je zmapování potenciálu využití biopaliv pro moderní pístové spalovací motory. Práce se zabývá jednak snižováním ekologické zátěže, tak i možného zvyšování výkonových parametrů a účinnosti motoru, jako je použití paliva se zvýšenou antidetonační odolností u zážehových motorů., The aim of the bachelor thesis is to map the potential use of biofuels for modern piston internal combustion engines. The thesis deals with both reducing the environmental impact and a possible increase in performance parameters and engine efficiency such as the use of fuel with increased anti-knock resistance in spark ignition engines.

Cílem bakalářské práce je zmapování potenciálu využití biopaliv pro moderní pístové spalovací motory. Práce se zabývá jednak snižováním ekologické zátěže, tak i možného zvyšování výkonových parametrů a účinnosti motoru, jako je použití paliva se zvýšenou antidetonační odolností u zážehových motorů., The aim of the bachelor thesis is to map the potential use of biofuels for modern piston internal combustion engines. The thesis deals with both reducing the environmental impact and a possible increase in performance parameters and engine efficiency such as the use of fuel with increased anti-knock resistance in spark ignition engines.

Cílem bakalářské práce je zmapování potenciálu využití biopaliv pro moderní pístové spalovací motory. Práce se zabývá jednak snižováním ekologické zátěže, tak i možného zvyšování výkonových parametrů a účinnosti motoru, jako je použití paliva se zvýšenou antidetonační odolností u zážehových motorů., The aim of the bachelor thesis is to map the potential use of biofuels for modern piston internal combustion engines. The thesis deals with both reducing the environmental impact and a possible increase in performance parameters and engine efficiency such as the use of fuel with increased anti-knock resistance in spark ignition engines.