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Unwanted deposit formation on heat and/or mass transfer surfaces (fouling) also leads to problems during operation of columns. Column fouling thus also contributes to global warming through increased energy demand and operational disturbances. The newly developed standard apparatus for investigating column fouling, which was developed as part of the SAMARA joint project funded by the BMWK, makes it possible to clarify the processes involved in the formation and prevention of fouling in columns and to take targeted countermeasures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waste heat is one of the major problems associated with the energy system. This paper discusses an energy, exergy, and emissions approach for the hybrid system by utilizing waste heat to the maximum extent. A thermoelectric generator (TEG) is incorporated to utilize the low-temperature waste heat from a hybrid model of a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) and a combined heat and power (CHP) system. SOFC is an electrochemical cell that generates power at high temperatures through an electrochemical reaction. The high-temperature, unutilized fuel leaves the SOFC, which is burned in the afterburner. The afterburner temperature controls the operating temperature of SOFC. Here, three recuperators are used to utilize this high-temperature waste heat to improve the performance of SOFC and simultaneously generate heat power from the water or gas recuperator. TEG is an auxiliary power production technology that converts waste heat into energy. A novel integration of TEG with SOFC–CHP hybrid system to utilize the low temperature waste heat, is employed. The main goal of this study is to analyze a novel SOFC–CHP-TEG hybrid system in terms of its thermodynamics and emissions. A Two stage TEG is integrated with the SOFC–CHP hybrid system. The simulation model of high temperature fuel cell (SOFC) is developed on MATLAB and validated with published results. This study analyses the impact of pressure ratio and afterburner temperature on the performance of SOFC–CHP-TEG. To do this, perform energy and exergy assessments using the principles of the first and second laws of thermodynamics. A novel exergy-based sustainability index with emissions analysis for the proposed SOFC–CHP is presented. The achieved overall energy efficiency is 62.54% at a pressure ratio of 12 and an afterburner temperature of 1000 K. With an increase in pressure ratio and temperature, the level of CO emissions reduces significantly. [Display omitted] • A novel energy exergy for SOFC–CHP-TEG system is presented. • Exergy based performance is compared and achieve 56.62. • Utilization of waste heat via TEG. • Energy efficiency of SOFC–CHP-TEG is 62.54% at rp = 12 and afterburner temperature of 900 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe dendrite growth on Zn anodes poses a significant challenge to the development of Zn‐based batteries. An effective strategy for inhibiting the formation of Zn dendrites involves electrode modification. In this study, hollow nitrogen‐doped carbon spheres (HNCS) are synthesized and used as electrodes to regulate Zn deposition in Zn‐based flow batteries. The electrochemical performance of HNCS reveals that the pyrrole nitrogen of HNCS changes the electrode surface state. Therefore, HNCS can inhibit the hydrogen evolution reaction and achieve uniform Zn deposition. HNCS can effectively inhibit dendrite growth and improve the reversibility of the Zn plating/stripping process to regulate the reversibility of Zn‐based batteries. The zinc‐bromine redox flow battery assembled with HNCS significantly reduces the hydrogen evolution reaction and exhibits a coulombic efficiency of 90 % and energy efficiency of 73 % at a current density of 60 mA cm−2. Similarly, an alkaline zinc‐iron flow battery can maintain high Coulombic efficiency and energy efficiency of 83 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the temperature control function, the unit energy consumption of cold chain transportation is more than that of ordinary transportation. Although rail transportation is known as an energy-efficient means, little attention has been given to the energy efficiency of railway cold chain transportation (RCCT). To address this gap, in this research, detailed waybill data for China's railway cold-chain is applied. First, we investigate the RCCT market in China and provide an energy consumption calculation method for RCCT. Then, the provincial energy consumption and the efficiency of RCCT are compared based on a DEA-SBM model. Finally, the Tobit model is utilized to assess how various factors influence energy efficiency. The findings could provide support for energy-saving policy-making in the cold chain transportation sector at the national and regional level, which has been discussed in scenario analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comprehensive energy audit of a light rail maintenance facility was performed to assess its energy performance and identify potential scope for improvements. The facility's energy use intensity (EUI) for 2022 was 404 kWh/m2—more than double the benchmark EUI for maintenance facilities (151 kWh/m2) recommended by EnergyStar. Furthermore, the load factor was 0.22—significantly lower than the recommended minimum of 0.75 for an efficient building. The energy audit encompassed an in-depth evaluation of the facility's structural and operational characteristics, comprising HVAC systems, lighting, the building envelope, and energy-intensive machinery. An energy model of the facility was developed to emulate the facility's energy performance in 2022. Following the energy model's validation, an analysis was conducted to identify opportunities for improving energy efficiency. Post-implementation of energy efficiency measures for the facility, the projected annual reductions are 1086 MWh of electricity, 5034 GJ of natural gas, utility savings of USD 162,402, and net GHG emissions reductions of 584 metric tons of CO2e. A subsequent 30% reduction in EUI to 283.6 kWh/m2 could be achieved with an 86% improvement in load factor, that is, increasing it from 0.22 to 0.41. This study emphasizes the need for energy audits and modeling for maintenance facilities to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research problem of this paper is related to numerous open questions in the field of energy, its understanding, its use, and the challenges of the energy future. After the introductory part, in which a brief historical overview of energy literacy is provided, the paper focuses on energy literacy, its emergence, and the different approaches to its definition and measurement. The paper analyzes the energy literacy of students at the Faculty of Economics in Rijeka based on their cognitive, affective, and behavioral skills. Their knowledge about energy, energy processes, and the energy efficiency of the objects they encounter on a daily basis is examined. Their personal attitudes and values are examined through various forms of personal initiatives and active participation in energy sustainability projects. Finally, the habits and behavioral patterns that the respondents have in their daily lives and their tendencies to save energy resources and find energy-efficient solutions are examined. Despite some positive findings, the current results are not satisfactory and point to the creation of adequate public policies with a particular focus on education and the role of the corrective mechanisms of the state, but also the need for joint negotiations between policy makers, regulators, scientists, representatives of civil society, and the business community. The particular contribution of this work is reflected in being the first research of its kind conducted among Croatian economics students, as well as among Croatian students in general; in the creation of a research instrument that is conceptually consistent with the findings from the existing literature, but with an original set of questions within each energy literacy skill adapted to the cultural and sociological background of the respondents; and in a kind of progress from previous research by taking into account the quantitative aspect (in addition to the qualitative) assessment of the respondents' energy literacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid growth in computing and data transmission has significant energy and environmental implications. While there is considerable interest in waste heat emission and reuse in commercial data centers, opportunities in academic data centers remain largely unexplored. In this study, real-time onsite waste heat data were collected from a typical academic data center and an analysis framework was developed to determine the quality and quantity of waste heat that can be contained for reuse. In the absence of a comprehensive computer room monitoring system, real-time thermal data were collected from the data center using two arrays of thermometers and thermo-anemometers in the server room. Additionally, a computational fluid dynamics model was used to simulate temperature distribution and identify "hot spots" in the server room. By simulating modification of the server room with a hot air containment system, the return air temperature increased from 23 to 46 °C and the annual waste heat energy increased from 377 to 2004 MWh. Our study emphasizes the importance of containing waste heat so that it can be available for reuse, and also, that reusing the waste heat has value in not releasing it to the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scientific community has shown considerable interest in Industry 4.0 due to its capacity to revolutionise the manufacturing sector through digitalisation and data-driven decision-making. However, the actual implementation of Industry 4.0 within complex industrial settings presents obstacles that are typically beyond the scope of mainstream research articles. In this paper, a comprehensive case-study detailing our collaborative partnership with a leading medical device manufacturer is presented. The study traces its evolution from a state of limited digitalisation to the development of a digital intelligence platform that leverages data and machine learning models to enhance operations across a wide range of critical machines and assets. The main business objective was to enhance the energy efficiency of the manufacturing process, thereby improving its sustainability measures while also saving costs. The project encompasses energy modelling and analytics, Fault Detection and Diagnostics (FDD), renewable energy integration and advanced visualisation tools. Together, these components enable informed decision making in the context of energy efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we improve networks' spectral efficiency (SE), extend networks' lifetime, and maximize networks' energy efficiency (EE) of two-way full-duplex (FD) relay networks. Firstly, to improve networks' SE and to extend networks' lifetime simultaneously, we design a two-way FD relay transmission strategy with simultaneous wireless information and power transfer and direct links (DLs). The designed transmission strategy can complete a bidirectional communication in only one time slot with the exists of DLs and the energy-constrained relay node. With the designed transmission strategy, we further give the characteristics of relay amplification factor, the analysis of the designed transmission strategy, and the EE analysis of traditional half-duplex two-way amplify-and-forward relaying. Secondly, to maximize networks' EE, we present both the EE maximization problems and analyses of the designed transmission strategy with equal power allocation and optimal power allocation. To solve the EE maximization problems, we further propose the alternating optimal algorithm and give complexity analysis of the algorithm. Simulations show that our designed transmission strategy can improve the SE and EE of the networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractIn this paper I discuss a case of ‘green’ redevelopment of a social housing complex in former East Germany, and unpack the key elements that have led to its comprehensive regeneration without widespread negative social externalities. In Drewitz, a former GDR housing estate in the Berlin/Brandenburg metropolitan region, it has been possible to preserve existing social housing units, achieve high standards of energy efficiency, expand public green space and provide improved opportunities for education and health. I identify the key factors that have enabled this ‘renovation without renoviction’: 1) redevelopment has been undertaken by a municipal housing company under public control; 2) the scheme has benefited from EU, national and local funding; 3) phased retrofit has made the scheme financially viable, while reducing the incidence of forced relocations; 4) community participation has led to greater acceptance and buy-in of the plan. Based on in-depth interviews with longstanding residents and local stakeholders, I assess the community’s response to the regeneration plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Network security is one of the primary concerns when deploying IoT applications. A proper authentication scheme can strengthen network security and resilience against malicious attacks. The quantitative comparison among authentication schemes is rarely found. Thus, it is difficult to choose the appropriate authentication scheme objectively. This paper presents a quantitative comparison of three authentication schemes, including blockchain‐based authentication, a widely discussed new approach for IoT security. This paper focuses on network‐level simulation instead of the protocol, providing a different angle when evaluating an authentication scheme. The simulations include five common topologies in IoT networks under five different attack strategies. The results show that the blockchain‐based scheme has the most substantial resilience compared to PKI‐based and PSK methods, while the computational cost is 1% less than the PKI‐based method. In addition, the PSK method is most energy efficient as its computational cost is only around 1% of PKI‐based and blockchain‐based methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural resources are vital in alleviating the effects imposed by human activities on the environment. For this reason, the preservation and wise utilization of natural resources has been emphasized and some laws toward ensuring that natural resources are not wasted have been put in place. However, high rents on natural resources are not sustaining. By following the STIRPAT model, this research seeks to assess the role played by natural resources rent, the rule of law, and renewable energy in alleviating the damage caused to the environment by human activities. The present research furthers the growing body of literature on the topic, which constitutes its primary contribution. To attain this goal, the dataset of the top 10 natural resource‐rich African countries, for the time range 1990 to 2021 is used. The dynamic Cross‐sectional Autoregressive Distributive Lag (CS‐ARDL) which overcomes heterogeneity, cross‐sectional dependence (CD), and dynamics is used in the analysis of the research model. The Augmented Mean Group (AMG) and the dynamic Common Correlated Estimator Mean Group (CCEMG) methods are employed to check the robustness of CS‐ARDL results. The findings illustrate that economic growth, natural resources rent, and energy intensity promote environmental damage, while renewable energy (RE) and the rule of law lessen it. This research advocates for the reduction and stabilization of natural resources rent, extensive use of RE, and improvements in the rule of law to alleviate environmental damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Double skin facades (DSF) aim to save energy reducing the heat losses in buildings. They are visually appeal while allowing to use daylight efficiently. Such facade systems can reduce glare and distribute daylight evenly in the interior when compared to conventional facade systems. That is a result of cavities between two glass facades and locating sun shading elements in them, although this system provides a high level of transparency. As their primary purpose of application is to ensure thermal performance and ventilation, most studies in literature have focused on these. This study started with the hypothesis that studies examining daylight performance in DSFs are more limited than studies examining thermal performance and that daylight optimization methods are not used sufficiently in DSFs. In this context, the study aims to analyze studies focusing on daylight performance of DSFs. The review targets results of such current studies to guide future ones providing feedback knowledge. This may help to better technical developments in such facades and make them prevail in constructions or in retrofitting So, it contributes to literature in this sense. Recent studies are shown in tabulated form and interpreted in detail with graphics. considering their methodologies, daylight parameters and findings. Results show that the daylight parameter is one of the most important issues that architects or designers should consider from the moment they start the design, and they should make their designs based on the optimum penetration of daylight into the building. Consequently, this review presents that the use of daylight optimization has started to be used in recent studies dealing with DSFs. A DSF design can optimally get daylight into the interior can be made by using this method more frequently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After the settlement textures were designed and constructed, they continue to exist without any change for years, and they have considerable effects on building energy consumption and the natural environment. With the changes in our lives following the COVID-19 global pandemic, employers have adopted working from home in many sectors, and energy expenditures in residences are increasing even more. The decrease of energy usage is a top objective in the design of the settlements from an economic and environmental standpoint. Also, while known energy modeling methods require extra expertise, labor and time in the integration of energy efficient design strategies into design processes, BIM systems have a significant potential in the evaluation of building energy efficiency. In this study, for the comprehensive evaluation of design parameters, different settlement texture alternatives, have been developed and building design parameters determined. These settlement textures were interpreted based on their annual energy consumption. By comparing the results, optimum values were sought for the settlement texture design parameters which are H/W, orientation, building height, and form factor. In addition, energy modelling and simulations were carried out with BIM software, and the use, advantages and capabilities of BIM systems were tested in the energy efficient design for reducing energy consumption. As a result, energy consumption in buildings get changes greatly in regard to combination of settlement scale design parameters. Alternative with form factor 3.00,10 storey, directed to east-west, and H/W 0.5 showed best performance and provided 7% to %17 energy reduction according to different parameter combinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study addresses the integration of environmental accounting into business practices, highlighting its potential to foster sustainable development and its associated challenges. Through a comprehensive literature review in academic databases, sources discussing both the implementation and effects of environmental accounting on operational efficiency, product innovation, and stakeholder relationship management were analyzed. The findings reveal that while environmental accounting significantly improves energy efficiency and reduces costs, it also drives the development of eco-friendly products and strengthens corporate image. However, it faces challenges such as resistance to change, technological adaptation needs and lack of specific competencies. The discussion emphasizes the need to overcome these obstacles through investment in technology, staff training and the establishment of clear policies that promote a culture of sustainability. In conclusion, despite the challenges, the benefits of environmental accounting justify its adoption. Closer collaboration between academia, industry and regulators is suggested to facilitate its effective implementation, thus improving corporate sustainability and competitiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cooling equipment is widely used in industry, commerce and households. Due to their widespread use, they are responsible for the consumption of a significant amount of electricity. They are subject to degradation and various types of damage. Most often, their energy efficiency decreases and electricity consumption increases. Practice shows that even a specialist service is unable to diagnose damage at an early stage of its development. The paper presents a comparison of continuous monitoring of the temperature of the cooling chamber as a utility standard, with constant monitoring of the temperature of the cooling chamber and electricity consumption of a professional refrigeration cabinet with a built-in condensing unit. The comparative analysis was intended to confirm the thesis about unconscious waste resulting from assessing the correct operation of the device based on limited information. The experiment showed an increase in daily electricity consumption on average by over 30% during the period of unconscious exploitation of the device in a state of failure and an increase in daily electricity consumption on average above 300% during the period of conscious exploitation of the device in a state of failure, but still at an acceptable level of temperature of cooling chamber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of molecular hydrogen (H2) in the energy sector faces several technical and economic hurdles related to its chemical and physical properties, particularly volumetric energy density and mass. The production, transport and storage of hydrogen, both in gas and liquid form, are intrinsically inefficient and expensive. Moreover, the mass production of green hydrogen would preferably use surpluses of renewable electricity that will be largely available not before the next decade. To fulfill the great potential of H2 in the decarbonization of the global economy – which should greatly accelerate – applications must be carefully selected, favoring for instance hard-to-abate sectors with respect to low-temperature residential heating or long-distance transportation versus light duty vehicles. In the meantime, research on production, transportation and storage of H2 must substantially leap forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to build a bounded optimized energy recovery system from the compressed air system's excess heat. It is important to concentrate on the use of products that satisfy the requirements for performance and sustainability, as well as the need for energy that will be optimized. Purposive sampling is used to select the respondents, using quantitative research, specifically both descriptive and developmental methods. The researcher utilized a decision support tool developed by Kolaitis et al., (2020) as the primary research instrument of the study. The adopted tool was slightly modified to suit the assessment needs of the developed energy utilization system. All the main criteria components are interpreted as highly sustainable. The researcher utilized log sheets to determine the performance of the study. Finally, paired t-test was used to determine whether there was a significant difference in the performance of the study. The performance of the optimized energy after the implementation of the project was statistically higher than the performance of the optimized energy before the implementation of the project. The researcher concluded that the performance of the optimized energy recovery system from excess heat of a compressed air system after the installation and operation was effective and efficient based on the ratings of respondents and descriptive measures on the log sheet. For this kind of innovation, the manufacturing company with the same equipment should adopt and sustain it for potential energy savings and protect mother nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adoption of growth strategies based on foreign trade, especially in the previous century when liberal policies began to dominate, is one of the main reasons for the increase in output and indirectly for environmental concerns. On the other hand, there are complex claims about the environmental effects of liberal policies and thus of globalization. This study intends to analyze the effects of global collaborations involving 11 transition economies that have completed the transition process on the environmentally sustainable development of these nations. In this direction, the effects of financial and commercial globalization indices on carbon emissions are investigated. The distinctions of globalization are used to distinguish the consequences of the two types of globalization. In doing so, the de facto and de jure indicator distinctions of globalization are used to differentiate the consequences of two types of globalization. In addition, the effects of real GDP, energy efficiency, and use of renewable energy on environmental pollution are dissected. For the main purpose of the study, the CS-ARDL estimation technique that allows cross-sectional dependency among observed countries is used to separate the short and long-run influences of explanatory variables. In addition, CCE-MG estimator is used for robustness check. According to the empirical findings, the economic growth and increasing energy intensity increases carbon emissions, but the increase in renewable energy consumption improves environmental quality. Furthermore, trade globalization does not have a significant impact on the environment in the context of globalization. On the other hand, the increase in de facto and de jure financial globalization indices results in an increase in carbon emissions, but de jure financial globalization causes more environmental damage. The harmful impact of de jure financial globalization on environmental quality suggests that the decreasing investment restrictions and international investment agreements of transition countries have been implemented in a manner that facilitates the relocation of investments from pollution-intensive industries to these countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The peak demand for railway power occurs when trains operate at full capacity, which calls for the need of facilities that can handle such peaks. These expansive railway power facilities, which cover vast areas, result in increased maintenance and management costs while affecting the power supply to traction substations (TSs). Herein, we investigated the load leveling of TSs using energy storage systems (ESSs). Most of the studies that have been conducted on the use of ESSs in electric railways have focused on high‐speed railways and urban lines. The application of ESSs to local lines is expected to be highly effective in reducing the capacity of power facilities using the load leveling of TSs. However, the introduction of ESSs to such local lines has not yet been discussed in detail. Hence, we focused on the relationship between ESS specifications (battery capacity, kWh) and load peak reduction (kW) and proposed a method to determine the ESS specifications by simultaneous optimization using linear programming. Numerical calculations were performed based on measured data from a real line, and the proposed method was verified in terms of battery capacity, load peak reduction, and ESS operation ratio. The numerical results indicate that the maximum load of the TS can be reduced by 98.7% and 91.1% using 380 kWh and 65.42 kWh ESS, respectively, considering its cooling time. This highlights the potential of Energy Storage Systems (ESSs) to balance TS (Time‐of‐Use) loads and consequently reduce power facility requirements. © 2024 The Authors. IEEJ Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Engineering published by Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study we test if electricity consumption has asymmetric effects on carbon dioxide emissions in Kuwait, over the period 1971–2018. The study applied the recently developed nonlinear autoregressive distributed lags model of Shin et al. (Festschrift in honor of Peter Schmidt. Springer, New York, 2014) that allows for estimating asymmetric long-and short-run effects. The asymmetric effect was introduced via decomposing the electricity consumption into positive and negative changes. The findings of the nonlinear autoregressive distributed lags model show evidence of asymmetric long-run effect, where the long-run effect of the electricity consumption increase was significantly positive, but the long-run effect of the electricity consumption decrease was not significant. Furthermore, asymmetric short-run effect was found as well. In addition, the modified method of the Granger causality test; namely Toda and Yamamoto (Journal of Econometrics 66:225–250, 1995), shows bidirectional causality between carbon dioxide emissions and both electricity consumption increase and decrease. In view of the empirical outcomes, some policy implications have been drawn. One suggested important implication is moving to use more clean energy sources (wind, solar, hydropower) in electricity production, given that Kuwait has sufficient economic and technological capacity to develop and promote new energy sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasma spraying is characterized by high flexibility, but has challenges of high energy consumption and oxidation of the metallic spray particles. Modified plasma spraying processes using a gas or solid shroud have been developed to address these challenges, which aim to reduce the introduction of ambient air into the plasma jet and improve the process efficiency. Prior research mainly focused on single-cathode plasma generators, and the use of a shroud in multi-arc plasma spraying systems has not been thoroughly explored. The primary goal of this study is to analyze the effects of a solid shroud as a nozzle extension on the plasma jet of a three-cathode plasma generator numerically and experimentally. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is used to simulate a solid shroud, and the resulting design is constructed for experimental analysis. The experimental setup includes a nozzle extension with a transparent window for diagnostic measurements by a high-speed camera. To isolate the effects of the solid shroud from fluctuations in the power input, current, and voltage measurements are carried out synchronized with the high-speed recordings. Particle diagnostics are also conducted to analyze the properties of the in-flight particles without and with the solid shroud. The developed numerical model can be further used to optimize the shroud geometry for different process parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laser Wakefield Acceleration (LWFA) has emerged as a groundbreaking approach for generating ultra-high energy electron beams over short distances, revolutionizing the field of particle acceleration. In this paper, we investigate the novel concept of employing sin-Gaussian laser pulse for enhanced LWFA performance. sin-Gaussian pulses combine the advantageous features of both sinusoidal and Gaussian pulse shapes, offering unique opportunities for generating the plasma wakefield and optimizing electron acceleration. We present a comprehensive theoretical analysis of the interaction between a sin-Gaussian laser pulse and an underdense plasma medium, elucidating the intricate dynamics of the wakefield excitation and electron acceleration. Through analytical study, we demonstrate that the sin-Gaussian pulse configuration leads to a significant energy gain (Maximum gain of 2.06 GeV with chosen parameters) for plasma electrons. Furthermore, we explore the effects of varying key parameters such as the laser electric field amplitude and beam waist on the acceleration performance. Our findings reveal the underlying physics governing the interplay between these parameters and the resulting electron energy spectra for LWFA outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A collection of sensor nodes called a wireless sensor network is used to track and document the physical parameters of the surrounding area. The design of network clustering approaches has a big problem when it comes to extending the lifetime of wireless sensor networks (WSNs) and improving energy usage by making sure Both the processing speed and the batteries have a lengthy lifespan. This study presents a framework for machine learning-based channel property variation tracking and learning that is based on a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN)—Long Short-Term Memory (Convolutional-LSTM) network. Our hybrid technique improves sensor connectivity and lowers power consumption, Wireless sensor network longevity is increased. These algorithms are evaluated in a wireless sensor network: Harris Hawks Optimisation (HHO), Coyote Optimisation Algorithm (COY), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Genetic Algorithm (GA). As for nodes analysis and energy consumption, the article concludes demonstrates the CNN-LSTM technique under consideration outperforms other algorithms. The learning authentication system's robustness and detection performance are thoroughly examined, and exhaustive simulations and testing reveal a notable improvement in the detection accuracy in time-varying scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy is one of the most important elements for countries to exist in the competitive market in social, economic, technological and international areas. With the developing technology and increasing energy consumption, the importance of energy efficiency comes to the fore. In this context, the automotive industry, which is an important part of the industrial sector where energy is used intensively, was preferred in the study. Besides the automotive industry's need for energy, its interaction with other industries is the reason for preference. In the study, Energy Efficiency Strategy criterion weights in the Automotive Industry were calculated by using Multi-Criteria Decision Making methods. As a result of the literature research, nine main criteria and thirty-three sub-criteria were determined. The criteria weights of the Energy Efficiency Strategy in the automotive industry are analyzed separately with AHP, which is frequently used in the literature, and BEST & WORST, which is newly introduced to the literature. Comparing the solution results of the two methods is the aim of the study. In the light of the results obtained, it has been determined that the AHP and BEST & WORST methods give close results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hospital Pneumatic Systems, specializing in pneumatic systems, are among the most essential components for hospitals. It offers efficient and cost-effective solutions to problems related to the transportation of various materials in hospitals. However, in existing systems, the need for compressed air is met without worrying about cost control and without depending on the sample transported, and this not only makes the system inefficient but also may cause sample degradation. The main purpose of this study is to provide speed/pressure control according to the type of material transported to eliminate the disadvantages of existing systems such as energy use and sample degradation. In this study, a new mathematical model is presented that can be used to make more energyefficient hospital pneumatic systems. Although there are many studies on various pneumatic systems in the literature, there is not enough for the control of hospital pneumatic systems. According to the results obtained in this study, the system parameters were determined and the mathematical model of the system was obtained by using the Multivariate nonlinear regression method. A genetic algorithm was used to test the validity of the obtained mathematical model and to optimize the coefficient of the input parameters of the model. It is expected that this proposed model will contribute to the use of hospital pneumatic systems and provide a scientific and practical solution to the proposed mathematical model. The proposed mathematical model provides up to 43% more efficient transportation over the currently used system that has been tested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing secure data aggregation protocols are weaker to eliminate data redundancy and protect wireless sensor networks (WSNs). Only some existing approaches have solved this singular issue when aggregating data. However, there is a need for a multi-featured protocol to handle the multiple problems of data aggregation, such as energy efficiency, authentication, authorization, and maintaining the security of the network. Looking at the significant demand for multi-featured data aggregation protocol, we propose secure data aggregation using authentication and authorization (SDAAA) protocol to detect malicious attacks, particularly cyberattacks such as sybil and sinkhole, to extend network performance. These attacks are more complex to address through existing cryptographic protocols. The proposed SDAAA protocol comprises a node authorization algorithm that permits legitimate nodes to communicate within the network. This SDAAA protocol's methods help improve the quality of service (QoS) parameters. Furthermore, we introduce a mathematical model to improve accuracy, energy efficiency, data freshness, authorization, and authentication. Finally, our protocol is tested in an intelligent healthcare WSN patient-monitoring application scenario and verified using an OMNET++ simulator. Based upon the results, we confirm that our proposed SDAAA protocol attains a throughput of 444 kbs, representing a 98% of data/network channel capacity rate; an energy consumption of 2.6 joules, representing 99% network energy efficiency; an effected network of 2.45, representing 99.5% achieved overall performance of the network; and time complexity of 0.08 s, representing 98.5% efficiency of the proposed SDAAA approach. By contrast, contending protocols such as SD, EEHA, HAS, IIF, and RHC have throughput ranges between 415–443, representing 85–90% of the data rate/channel capacity of the network; energy consumption in the range of 3.0–3.6 joules, representing 88–95% energy efficiency of the network; effected network range of 2.98, representing 72–89% improved overall performance of the network; and time complexity in the range of 0.20 s, representing 72–89% efficiency of the proposed SDAAA approach. Therefore, our proposed SDAAA protocol outperforms other known approaches, such as SD, EEHA, HAS, IIF, and RHC, designed for secure data aggregation in a similar environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oil shale is a potential strategic resource with large reserves and widespread application potential, and in situ combustion is an effective method to exploit oil shale. However, the interaction mechanism between pyrolysis and combustion reaction is still not clear; hence, the evolution of components and temperature in the reservoir is hard to describe, limiting the application of in situ combustion in oil shale. In this paper, we established a comprehensive reactive flow model to describe the in situ combustion in oil shale, and the in situ combustion process is analyzed in detail. During the in situ combustion, only pyrolysis reactions occur in the matrix system, while combustion reactions only occur in the fracture system. Under the interaction mechanisms of these two kinds of chemical reactions, in situ combustion upgrading can be carried out continuously. The produced oil and hydrocarbon gas per unit volume of oil shale are 0.06 m3/m3 and 12.5 m3/m3 , respectively, but about 83.3 m3/m3 of CO2 is produced that needs to be stored subsequently when air is directly injected into the reservoir to maintain the combustion reactions. Increasing oil content and air injection rate can increase the cumulative oil and gas production, but there are optimal values above which the increase rate slows down. The energy conversion efficiency of in situ combustion is 49.5, and it is much higher than the energy conversion efficiency in other in situ upgrading methods for oil shale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Addressing the optimization problem during the simultaneous energy and information transmission stage in the simultaneous wireless information and power transfer (SWIPT), an optimal energy efficiency strategy based on mmWave cooperative communication small cell is proposed to maximize the link energy efficiency. This strategy, under the joint constraints of minimum link transmission rate and minimum collected energy, employs a power splitting mode at the receding end of energy-constrained user devices. By optimizing transmit power control and power splitting factors, it aims to maximize the systems link energy efficiency. Recognizing the original problem as a nonconvex fractional programming problem with NP-hard characteristics, the Dinkelbach method is utilized to transform the objective function into a convex optimization problem that is easier to solve. An iterative algorithm is designed to find the optimal solution through cross iterations. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed strategy outperforms traditional power control methods and maximum transmit power approaches in optimizing system energy efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As demands for the quality of living environments increase, thermal comfort in furniture design is garnering attention. Studies indicate that furniture should not only meet basic functional and aesthetic requirements but also influence indoor thermal environments and interact with human thermal exchanges, which are crucial for optimizing living comfort. This research aims to explore how thermal comfort in furniture design can be integrated with the building thermal environment to enhance indoor comfort and energy efficiency. Existing studies predominantly focus on surface treatments of furniture, with a lack of comprehensive analysis on the material's contact thermal sensation, the thermal properties of furniture, and their performance under varying building thermal conditions. Addressing this gap, this paper proposes a comprehensive research framework consisting of three main components: first, analyzing the impact of the building thermal environment on furniture thermal comfort; second, designing furniture with consideration for material's contact temperature sensation; and finally, developing furniture heat release rate curves suitable for different building thermal environments. This series of studies not only enhances the scientific and practical aspects of furniture design but also provides new theories and methods for the field of architectural design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficiency of evaporative media typically ranges from 80% to 90%. The most effective systems can reduce the temperature of dry air to 95% of the wet-bulb temperature, while the least effective systems can only accomplish 50%. The rate of evaporation efficiency experiences little decline over time. The climate in Iraq has a more extended period of summer in comparison to other nations. The ambient temperature during this season exceeds 50oC, making the evaporative cooling system appropriate for this region. The evaporative cooler in this study is created by incorporating multiple heat exchanger stages (water-air) to cool the input air indirectly and indirectly before cooling directly inside the traditional evaporative cooler. When compared to compression refrigeration systems, the multistage evaporative cooler helps to reduce energy use, environmental pollution, the effects of global warming, and manufacturing costs. The multistage evaporative cooler is appropriate for use in homes and sizable structures with high relative humidity and temperatures. The developed evaporative cooler's experimental findings demonstrated that the addition of a cooling stage to a conventional cooler reduces the out-dry bulb temperature by about 50% and the specific humidity by about 80%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limiting CO2 emissions is crucial for sustainable development, environmental protection, and climate change mitigation, ensuring a more resilient and cleaner future. Prioritizing sustainable urbanization renewable energy, and energy efficiency is vital for achieving this prosperous and sustainable future. As a result, we adopt the Fourier testing approach for stationary, cointegration, estimator, and causality, to scrutinize the role of renewable energy, energy efficiency, and urbanization on CO2 emissions in Finland over the period between 1990 and 2020, controlling economic growth and trade openness. The empirical analysis of the Fourier ARDL estimator establishes that energy efficiency measures such as gas and oil efficiency exhibit an adverse effect on CO2 emissions, so energy efficiency mitigates CO2 emissions. Similarly, the study also found that urbanization and renewable energy reduce CO2 emissions. Conversely, economic growth and trade openness induce CO2 emissions. Additionally, the Fourier-Toda-Yamamoto method provides robust evidence regarding the long-term implications of the examined factors. Based on this result, the study emphasizes that implementing a regulatory framework to enhance energy efficiency, promote renewable energy adoption, and support sustainable urban development will be an essential strategy in the global effort to attain the net-zero emissions target, which offers valuable insights to other countries seeking to transition towards cleaner and more sustainable energy sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilization of organic wastewater for hydrogen production has dual advantages of clean energy generation and bioremediation, which is sustainable for a longer period. To maximize the energy recovery from starch rich wastewater, a two stage system comprising of thermophilic dark fermentation coupled with microbial fuel cell was employed. A single parameter optimization strategy was implemented for the operation of the batch system. The maximum cumulative hydrogen production obtained was 2.56 L L−1 with a 48% reduction in COD under the optimal conditions of 35 g L−1 initial substrate concentration (COD), temperature 60 °C, and pH 6.5. The H2 yield and H2 production rate were 6.8 mol H2/kg CODreduced and 731.3 mL L−1 h−1, respectively. The effect of the organic loading rate (OLR) on H2 production rate was studied in a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR). A maximum hydrogen production rate of 913 mL L−1 h−1 was observed at an OLR of 5.6 g L−1 h−1. Effluent recycle played an important role in the improvement of H2 production. A maximum H2 production rate of 1224 mL L−1 h−1 was observed at a recycle ratio of 0.6. Power density of 4.2 W m−3 was observed with MFC using the dark fermentative spent media neutralized with carbonate buffer at an optimal pH of 7. A total COD reduction of 86% was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the findings of fifteen energy audits conducted on industrial sites in Canada's Greater Toronto Area (GTA). The audits covered a range of industries including food processing, packaged goods, and finishing processes (powder-coating). The primary focus of the audits was to analyze the natural gas consumption and the performance of major-gas-consuming equipment. The audits identified natural-gas-consuming equipment that could be optimized to yield energy and operational cost savings and greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction opportunities. Food production plants' energy intensity ranges from 5.59 m3/ft2 to 17.73 m3/ft2. Therefore, there is a significant opportunity to improve energy consumption through better technology integration. The results of the audits indicate a trend of an increase in the percentage of non-productive consumption with non-productive time. The proposed energy-saving measures include reducing non-productive natural gas consumption, gas-fired equipment tune-up, optimizing boiler loads, and reducing oven exhaust by using variable frequency drives (VFDs). The findings of this study could be used to develop a demand-side management program specifically for small- and medium-sized industrial facilities in the Greater Toronto Area and other parts of Canada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on a specific method of heat recovery in combustion systems especially dedicated to wet biomass. Solid biofuels such as woodchips or bark are sources of renewable energy, a substitute of fossil fuels, of dynamically growing importance due to the energy transformation towards a zero-emission economy. Various solutions are generally known, in particular those based on absorption and compressor heat pumps. The solution presented here eliminates the need for such expensive equipment while maintaining very high efficiency. It involves a system of several suitably configured scrubbers. Chemcad 8 simulation shows how the fluid flow rates affect the efficiency of the proposed solution. Optimal configuration of the system and adjustment of the process parameters (flow rates of water in scrubbers circuits) result in a thermal efficiency as high as 108.2%, close to the maximum theoretically achievable efficiency (111%). The system was compared with other existing solutions for efficiency. The performance of the system was examined under different operating conditions to determine the optimum. The effect of an increased fuel moisture content on efficiency was determined. It was shown that the key to achieving significant cost benefits for such a solution is to optimise the flow rates of the circulating fluids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small nuclear power plants can provide a stable, carbon-free energy supply to civil infrastructure and industrial enterprises in remote regions isolated from unified energy systems. More than 70 projects of small modular reactors are currently being developed by IAEA member countries; several low-power power units are already supplying thermal and electrical energy to consumers. One of the main limitations standing in the way of widespread dissemination of this technology is the high specific capital cost of a low-power nuclear power plant; therefore, new scientific and technical solutions are needed in this industry. Increasing the thermodynamic efficiency of power cycles of small modular reactors can become a driver for reducing the cost of supplied electrical energy. This paper presents the results of a comprehensive thermodynamic analysis of existing and promising power cycles for small modular reactors. In addition to traditional steam power cycles, cycles using non-traditional working fluids, including carbon dioxide, freons, and helium cycles, are considered. Optimal sets of thermodynamic parameters were determined to ensure maximum net efficiency of electricity production. For water-cooled reactor plants, a maximum efficiency of 33.5% at an initial temperature of 300 °C could be achieved using a steam turbine cycle. It was revealed that for reactor plants with liquid metal and liquid salt coolant in the range of initial temperatures above 550–700 °C, the maximum thermal efficiency was provided by the Brayton recompression cycle with a carbon dioxide coolant: the net electrical efficiency exceeded the level of steam turbine plants, with intermediate superheating of the steam, and could reach a value of 49.4% at 600 °C. This makes the use of these cycles promising for low-power nuclear power plants with a high initial temperature. In small gas-cooled reactor plants with a helium coolant, the use of a binary cycle consisting of a helium Brayton cycle and a steam-powered Rankine cycle provided an efficiency of 44.3% at an initial helium temperature of 700 °C and 52.9% at 1000 °C. This was higher than in the Brayton cycle with a recuperator, with a minimum temperature difference in the heat exchanger of 20 °C: the efficiency was 40.2% and 52%, respectively. Also, the transition to power cycles with non-traditional working fluids will lead to a change in the operating conditions of turbomachines and heat exchangers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The circular economy model is based on the 4R framework—reduce, reuse, recycle, and recover. While recycling was the primary focus in the past, the shortage of raw materials and the desire to reduce carbon footprints have led to a change in focus: end-of-life materials are now considered resources rather than waste. When discharged, end-of-life materials still possess properties that can be exploited. For this reason, a comprehensive characterization of reusable materials is mandatory to reduce waste and increase material availability. The reuse of waste materials, such as surgical masks, is of particular interest in giving people in disadvantaged contexts the opportunity to self-produce and self-install panels within their homes, with the dual result of improving indoor comfort and increasing human capital. This paper focuses on the identification of a possible second application for surgical face masks through experimental characterization. Panels made of masks were tested for water vapor permeability, thermal conductivity, and fire resistance and their use as insulating material in the building sector was discussed. Based on the results, surgical face masks are suitable as thermal insulating materials, do not pose safety concerns, and can reduce energy consumption and improve thermal comfort when installed indoors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy efficiency of existing buildings is a crucial factor in addressing energy consumption challenges in European countries, accounting for nearly 40% of the total energy usage. One such country is Cyprus, which faces significant challenges in transforming its existing building stock into energy-efficient and sustainable structures. To face this situation, extensive focus has been made by the government on the energy-efficient retrofit of non-residential public buildings erected before 2010, which lack any energy efficiency measures. This study examines the case of the Pano Polemidia Cultural Hall (PPCH), which represents the building stock of that period. Through the simulation of two scenarios, before and after the adoption of retrofit measures, the existing energy performance is initially evaluated and then the adoption of sustainable solutions, which improve substantially the energy efficiency and can be easily adopted from the relevant authorities, is explored. These retrofit measures include installation of HVAC system, covering of the shell of the building with external thermal insulation, lighting replacement with LED devices, installation of PV system and solar panels, and replacement of the external openings with aluminum windows. The results derived show that the energy consumption of the building was reduced from 468 to 218 kWh/m2·yr, with renewable energy sources (RESs) contributing 177 kWh/m2·yr, the CO2 emissions were reduced from 136.73 to 11.5 kg/m2·yr, while the reduction in energy consumption per sector ranged from 25% in lighting to 83% in hot water. Therefore, it is evident that a comprehensive retrofitting plan can transform the PPCH into a near-zero energy consumption building that also provides value to the local community and can act as a successful example for any other non-residential buildings with similar characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: What are the main findings? The use of machine learning algorithms in energy management services can lead to a significant increase in the implementation rate of energy performance, power quality and renewable energy sources projects; Integrating machine learning algorithms in the process of assessing the energy saving potential can accelerate the deployment of energy performance contracting; What is the implication of the main finding? Digitization of the energy services sector could support end-users in achieving their targets regarding the transition towards environmental sustainability Policy makers could also use the proposed methodology to evaluate the global energy performance of the relevant energy sectors, thus increasing the performance of the available financing mechanisms. Current targets, which have been set at both the European and the international level, for reducing environmental impacts and moving towards a sustainable circular economy make energy efficiency and digitization key elements of all sectors of human activity. The authors proposed, developed, and tested a complex methodology for real-time statistical analysis and forecasting of the following main elements contributing to the energy and economic performance of an end user: energy performance indicators, power quality indices, and the potential to implement actions to improve these indicators, in an economically sustainable manner, for the end user. The proposed methodology is based on machine learning algorithms, and it has been tested on six different energy boundaries. It was thus proven that, by implementing an advanced energy management system (AEMS), end users can achieve significant energy savings and thus contribute to the transition towards environmental sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this work is the energy characterisation and evaluation of the energy efficiency potential of the rubber manufacturing industry in Italy, exploiting the detailed data included in energy audits by large and energy-intensive companies. This sector is divided into two sub-activities: the manufacture of rubber products and the production of tyres. Existing studies are focused mainly on tyre production, and there is a lack of quantitative evaluation of energy indicators that can provide guidance for improving process efficiency. In this work, updated global and specific energy performance indicators (EnPIs) related to the production process and to the auxiliary and general services are defined and evaluated. At the same time, targeted actions and interventions to improve the energy efficiency of the sector are analysed, showing the role of different intervention areas and their cost-effectiveness. The analysis is based on 100 Italian mandatory energy audits of the sector collected according to Art.8 EU Directive 27/2012. The applied methodology made it possible to calculate specific energy performance indicators by considering the overall and sub-process energy consumption of different production sites. Based on a detailed database containing real data from recent energy audits, this study provides an up-to-date and reliable benchmark for the rubber industry sector. In addition, the analysis of energy audits allows the identification of the most effective energy efficiency interventions for the rubber industry in terms of cost-effectiveness and payback time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In one of the largest demand-side energy efficiency programs at the time, the Mexican government supported more than 11 million, mostly low-income households in replacing their old light bulbs and appliances with more efficient models. Previous evaluations of this program focused exclusively on appliances, which made up almost 90 per cent of the total program cost, and found modest benefits in terms of energy savings. This study compares the respective effects of replacing light bulbs and appliances simultaneously in a single econometric framework, using data from nationally representative household surveys and a difference-in-differences approach which exploits geographical variation in treatment intensities. Despite using different sources and types of data, our results for the appliances replacement intervention are largely in line with the estimates of previous studies. In addition, we find that the impact on energy consumption (proxied by the amount paid for electricity) of replacing light bulbs was of comparable magnitude as that of replacing appliances, although the average cost per participating household was much smaller. Overall, our results suggest that low-cost investments that help poor households reduce their energy consumption for lighting can have high returns on energy efficiency in the residential sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy efficiency (EE) is our “first fuel” and an essential resource in reaching climate goals, reducing dependence on fossil fuels, increasing security of supply, and many other “Multiple Benefits.” However, by their nature, savings are intangible. Demand-side EE measures are typically decentralized, heterogeneous, and small-scale opportunities. The difficulties in measurement and verification (M&V) of “Negawatts” are an important and often overlooked barrier to their greater application. M&V is a prerequisite to assess the performance of any energy, water, or CO2-saving measure, and to quantify the savings into physical and monetary units for reporting, re-financing, GHG accounting, or other purposes. However, in practice, M&V is often perceived (particularly by clients) as cumbersome, incomprehensible, and costly. In the broader context, energy cost savings alone are often not a sufficiently strong project driver because they lack strategic relevance for decision makers. As “Multiple Benefits” of EE become better understood, the value of quantifying savings to a high degree of accuracy may be declining, creating opportunities for more flexible M&V standards. As a new methodology, this conceptual paper proposes to combine simplified M&V (sM&V) for individual EE measures with quality assurance instruments (QAIs) to verify functionality. This “sM&V + QAI” approach is less cumbersome, less costly, and easier to comprehend than standard M&V approaches, particularly by clients, financiers, and other non-M&V experts. It has been reviewed by international experts and successfully tested and evaluated in the field. Multiple case studies are reported to verify its practical feasibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the problem of attribution in the evaluation of energy efficiency program impact. The methodological problem concerns the observability of consumer behavior under the baseline condition of no program intervention. The statistical solution to the problem, which entails randomized exposure of targeted individuals to program influence, is not a viable alternative in most applications. Randomized opt-in and randomized encouragement designs do not conform to this requirement because all targeted individuals are encouraged to participate in the program, resulting in negative exposure bias. Quasi-experimental methods which utilize non-targeted individuals or targeted nonparticipants as baseline surrogates are further subject to selection bias of unknown magnitude and direction. Valid attribution in the general case of unrestricted eligibility depends on prior knowledge of the determinants of measure adoption and program participation. In default of such knowledge, evaluators must rely upon structural assumptions that have no foundation in empirical science. On the other hand, established measurement and verification methods which exploit scientific knowledge of the determinants of end-use energy consumption should be utilized to obtain unbiased estimates of individual measure and gross program energy savings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Russian invasion of Ukraine that started on 24 February 2022 has had a dramatic impact on the energy policy of the European Union and its member states. Nonetheless, not all EU members have radically overhauled their energy sectors and policies. Looking at the period between February 2022 and December 2023, this paper argues that Slovakia’s energy sector has remained unchanged in comparison to developments within the EU and beyond. Slovakia has continued to purchase natural gas from Russia, having negotiated an exemption from the EU sanctions on Russian oil, and gas consumption decreased only minimally in the winter of 2022/2023. Furthermore, it maintained at best a lukewarm position on renewable energy sources and even struggled to implement those energy efficiency measures that were included in the post-pandemic recovery plans. Slovakia also did not reconsider its coal phase-out deadline of 2023 and its (already very supportive) nuclear policy. We explain this policy persistence with the help of a revised lock-in concept which, in the case of Slovakia, is mostly connected to nuclear energy (ʻnuclear lock-in’), which locks out alternative energy sources, especially renewables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following the invasion of Ukraine and the associated energy policy tensions with Russia, the EU began looking at how it could replace Russian energy sources. One of the proposed solutions is to decrease energy consumption. Buildings have been the principal target, owing to their high energy usage – especially of natural gas, which the EU is particularly keen on reducing. This literature review article summarises existing knowledge on the potential energy savings that can be made through energy efficiency improvements to existing buildings in Central and Eastern Europe. The countries in this region share common traits due to their Communist past and associated legacy of poor energy efficiency, both generally and in buildings in particular. At the same time, Central and Eastern Europe contains a range of geographical and climatic regions, and so, the findings of this paper are applicable to other regions. This bibliometric analysis identifies three main areas (insulation, heating source and policy) in which the academic literature has identified potential for energy efficiency improvements to buildings. On the basis of these findings, this paper looks at the policy implications for reducing energy consumption in buildings and thus helps the EU to become less dependent on energy supplies from Russia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Municipal governments, often in collaboration with utilities, have implemented a range of energy efficiency programs to encourage homeowners and businesses to adopt energy efficiency upgrades. Energy efficiency holds promise to reduce energy consumption, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve public health, and reduce energy bills. However, these programs often suffer from poor participation and have typically had limited success. In this analysis, we use novel data to understand the relationship between social norms, pro-environmental identity, and household finances to understand program participation and retrofit decision-making. We find that the variables that predict retrofit decision-making do not explain a household’s initial decision to contact an energy efficiency program. We suggest that the processes that drive households to contact energy efficiency programs—a necessary first step in improving energy efficiency—are different from the processes that explain why households decide to upgrade their homes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is important to make improvements for the optimum operation of water pumping stations in order to reduce energy costs while meeting water demand continuously. In this article, a new algorithm (OSDPA-optimal simplified dynamic programming algorithm) has been developed by optimizing the previously developed SDPA (simplified dynamic programming algorithm) approach. The SDPA approach is most effective with straightforward systems, whereas the OSDPA approach is versatile, suitable for optimizing both simple and multi-stage, complex pumping systems. A water supply system with a multi-stage structure for Sakarya Water and Sewerage Administration (SASKİ) in Turkey has been used as a case study. The results show that the OSDPA approach can be quite successful in shifting the loads in the time period (peak) where the unit price is expensive to the time periods (night and day) where the unit price is cheaper. When compared with the conventional water level control (CWLC) approach, while SDPA saves about 18% for pump C in the second stage, about 22% for pump B, and about 19% for pump A in the first stage; OSDPA saved 39% for C pump, 41% for B pump and 24% for A pump. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal characteristics of combined compressor - ejector refrigeration/heat pump systems applied in heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC&R) of buildings are investigated. An original model for estimation of the thermal characteristics of the combined cycles is developed, to determine the influence of the evaporation, interstage, condensation, and generating temperature conditions on mechanical and thermal COP of the combined system, and to optimize the thermal parameters of the cycle. Results are presented for different temperature conditions, with R134a as a suitable refrigerant. A comparison between the thermal characteristics of the simple mechanical vapor compression cycle, the simple ejector thermocompression cycle, and the combined compressor - ejector refrigeration/heat pump cycle is given. The benefits of implementation of combined compressor - ejector refrigeration/heat pump cycles in HVAC&R systems are discussed. The temperature lift or temperature difference between condensing temperature and interstage temperature significantly influences the thermal (ejector) COP. If temperature lift is between 10 K and 20 K, high values of thermal COP can be achieved (0.5-1.0, for generating temperature equal to 80 °C; 1.0-1.8, for generating temperature equal to 120 °C). If temperature lift is between 30 K and 40 K, very low values of COPth can be obtained (0.05-0.3). High values of mechanical COP can be achieved (24.8-6.9), for compressor stage temperature lift 10-30 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) are the future communication infrastructure for all devices that operate without the elaborate design found in wired infrastructure networks. Constructing a routing protocol that helps MANETs to achieve (QoS). It is quite challenging to achieve energy-efficient routing, due to its limited resources and node mobility concerns, which would impact node resource stability and lead to congestion and lower user QoS. A novel Trustworthy Energy Efficient AODV protocol has been proposed for improving path selection and locating trusted stations to maximize QoS. This approach employs location data, transmission speed, and directions to estimate the energy usage and trustworthiness of distinct nodes. The proposed TEE-AODV protocol includes two new control information namely Trust Request packet and Trust Reply. (T-RREP) AODV's packet includes a neighbor list and channel trustworthiness. The number of working neighbors in every path is counted, and this information is used to efficiently choose paths. The TEE-AODV calculates a QoS supporting metric for each detected route to identify a traffic-free path at any moment and determines whether it is a trusted route. The NS-2 simulator has been used to assess the suggested approach in terms of specific characteristics, including energy consumption (EC), (PDR), end-to-end delay (), and number of dead nodes. According to the experimental results, the suggested framework enhances reliable route selection while lowering e nd-to-end latency and improving energy efficiency. The experimental findings indicate that the suggested TEE-AODV protocol achieves high energy efficiency rate in the selection of trustworthy route and minimizing the $ {E_D} $ ED. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A systematic evaluation of deploying Ga x Ce y O z passivation layer (PL) on Si substrate subjected to postdeposition annealing in forming gas-oxygen-forming gas ambient at different temperatures (600–900 °C) was carried out. The inclusion of hydrogen and/or nitrogen ions, in addition to their attachment to oxygen vacancies and Si dangling bonds, has been reported. The attachment became more prominent at 600 and 700 °C while oppositely, the incoming oxygen ions acquired adequate energy to break the attachment at/beyond 800 °C. Therefore, it is conceivable that the Ga x Ce y O z PL annealed at/beyond 800 °C have attained a thicker interfacial layer (IL). The acquisition of a higher N ss has been attributed to the de-passivation of Si dangling bonds by the excessive hydrogen ions present at the interface. The potential of utilizing Ga x Ce y O z PL annealed at 700 °C as a PL for metal-oxide-semiconductor applications was inferred through a thorough electrical analysis conducted in this work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]