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To enhance residential sustainability by providing decarbonized and locally produced energy to a residential district, the relevance of a grid-connected multi-energy system, including PV panels, a battery, an electrolyzer, a hydrogen tank, and a fuel cell, is studied. A model is developed that creates high-resolution, continuous yearly profiles. The model is then utilized in a metaheuristic multi-objective optimization based on total cost and life cycle greenhouse gas emissions to highlight sizing trends. In the results, the most cost-efficient solutions rely mostly on PV power with minimal battery storage capacity, whereas hydrogen systems are necessary to achieve the best emission reductions. The analysis does not identify a promising prospect for seasonal energy storage with the current tank and battery lifetime emissions. Producing more than 65 % of the energy demand locally is not deemed beneficial. [Display omitted] • Modeling of annual stochastic, high-resolution, and coherent domestic load profiles. • Modeling of a multi-energy system directly coupled with the domestic load model. • Metaheuristic cost and emission optimization of a hydrogen-based multi-energy system. • Seasonal energy storage does not perform well on the life cycle emission side. • Hydrogen systems perform well on the emission side but are not currently cost-effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weigh-in-motion (WIM) technology provides accurate information about road network traffic, including vehicle class and speed, vehicle count, gross vehicle weight (GVW), wheel and axle weights, axle spacing, date, and time of each vehicle passage over WIM sensors. Several factors can affect the WIM system accuracy (i.e., measurement error). The potential site-related influences include road geometry, pavement stiffness, surface distresses, roughness, and climate. Further, the WIM calibration and equipment-related factors also have a substantial effect, including sensor type and array, calibration speed, and speed points used by the WIM controller. The long-term pavement performance (LTPP) database was used to study the relative importance of these factors. The WIM calibration data were available for bending plate (BP), load cell (LC), quartz piezo (QP), and polymer piezo cable (PC) sensors. The representative values of GVW measurement errors were estimated using WIM equipment calibration data for all sensors. The BP sensor showed the lowest errors, followed by LC and QP sensors. The PC sensor indicated the highest WIM measurement errors among all sensor types. Decision tree models developed in this paper illustrate a potential for estimating the expected WIM measurement error range using information about the WIM site and sensor-related factors. The results show that the sensor array and types are the most important predictors, followed by WIM controller functionality (speed points). The data analysis and results also show that for some sensor types, the climate is important. One can integrate this information with equipment installation and life cycle costs to determine the most reliable and economical equipment while also considering WIM data accuracy requirements by WIM data users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of corrosion in the serviceability state and capacity state on the failure contingency, life cycle cost (LCC) and optimum repair time (ORT) of reinforced concrete beams were evaluated. Gradual corrosion-induced crack widths were obtained using the cohesive crack model. Deterioration of flexural capacity was examined through a simplified three-dimensional finite-element model. Considering the crack width and capacity as random variables in the gamma process, the LCC and ORT were investigated using a renewal process. Analysis of the effective parameters indicated that the corrosion rate in the serviceability state and the tensile rebar ratio in the capacity state had the most significant effects on the probability of failure (PoF), the LCC and the ORT. With a decrease in the corrosion rate, the PoF reduced and the ORT increased. With an increase in the aspect ratio of the section, the LCC increased and the ORT declined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of integrated sustainable product design has recently emerged, aiming to incorporate downstream life cycle performance into the initial product design to enhance sustainability. Various sustainable product design tools based on life cycle assessment or quality function deployment have been established while the impact of reliability on circular practices has received limited attention. Recognizing the critical role of product reliability in post-design performance, this paper develops a product design optimization model that considers the warranty performance and the effect of end-of-use options. The model takes into account the effect of uncertain operating conditions on product reliability. Two optimization goals including the minimization of expected unit life cycle cost and environmental impact are achieved by the model. To demonstrate the benefits of the integrated approach, the model is applied to an electric motor design problem. The results highlight that integrating end-of-use options in the early design phase leads to adjustments in component selection and reliability design. Moreover, the circular utilization of used products enables cost savings throughout the product's life cycle and contributes to environmental impact reduction. Lastly, the study analyzes the effects of operating conditions, warranty policies, and take-back prices for used products on design decisions, providing valuable insights for product designers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies demonstrated that high-frequency earthquakes have the most effect on the economic losses during seismic events. However, code-based seismic design criteria mainly aim to provide the occupants' life safety. In this regard, code-compliant structures may result in significant economic losses during their life span. These damages contribute to the higher repair costs and lengthy functional disruptions of these structures. Improving the seismic behaviour of the structures by control devices could be one of the most efficient solutions. On this subject, applying fluid viscous dampers (FVDs) is an economical and reliable method. Optimizing the properties of these devices contributes to more efficient seismic behaviour of the structures. In this study, the key design parameters of viscous dampers, including damping coefficient and velocity exponent, are considered as optimization variables to achieve minimum life cycle cost (LCC) using the genetic algorithm (GA). To investigate the efficiency of the proposed approach, four-, eight- and twelve-story structures in high-seismic regions are investigated to consider different assumptions. The Endurance Time method (ETM) is adopted to conduct nonlinear analysis due to its high computational cost-efficiency and reliability. The results show that the nonlinear viscous dampers would decrease the total seismic loss of the structures by up to 40% in comparison with linear dampers. The optimal amount of velocity exponent is also obtained as a function of variation with the height and seismic region of the structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wind energy is widely deployed and will likely grow in service of reducing the world's dependency on fossil fuels. The first generation of wind turbines are now coming to the end of their service lives, and there are limited options for the reuse or recycling of the composite materials they are made of. Current literature has verified that there is no existing recycling pathway (i.e., mechanical, chemical, thermal methods of recovery, etc.) for end-of-life materials in wind blades that can meet cost parity with landfilling in the US. However, to the authors' knowledge there is no study to date that uncovers the cost structures associated with repurposing wind turbine blades in the US. Repurposing could offer a cost-competitive advantage through displacement of higher-value products, rather than materials or chemical constituents alone. This study implements life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle cost analysis (LCC) to assess the environmental and financial implications at each stage of repurposing wind turbine blades as the primary load-carrying elements for high-voltage transmission line structures in the United States. This case study contribution to knowledge is based on the successful management of construction waste by analyzing an application for repurposing construction demolition waste. Specifically, this study presents an environmental and financial analysis of repurposing wind turbine blades as transmission line poles. Under this case study, our results show that BladePoles have lower greenhouse gas emissions than steel poles, and we anticipate BladePoles will be less costly than steel poles. Overall emissions are most sensitive to combustion emissions, driven primarily by transportation distance and hours of required crane operations during the installation process. Compared to other evaluated recycling methods, repurposing wind blades as BladePoles has the least overall global warming potential. As renewable energy production grows, managing infrastructure at its end-of-life is increasingly relevant—for example, wind turbine blades. This case study presents a financial and environmental analysis of repurposing decommissioned wind turbine blades as transmission poles, called BladePoles. This paper presents the cost and associated greenhouse gas emissions at each stage of the process. The case study also compares this reuse application to typical steel pole deployment, finding that for the same 60-year life span and 161 kV, 230 kV, and 345 kV transmission line poles, the BladePole cost is lower than the steel pole. Greenhouse gas emissions are most sensitive to transportation distance from the wind farm to the transmission project and the time of crane use for installation are key parameters in this case study and reducing them directly reduces the total greenhouse emissions overall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A sustainability assessment of SCCA produced from bio-wastes has been performed. • CAFIPLA reduces the environmental impact and social risk of the benchmark technology. • The plant is profitable as long as the product is sold above 0.49 €/kg. Bio-based products are a fast-growing market due to increasing consumer consciousness for sustainability. Although this is per se a positive trend, it leads to a higher demand for organic feedstocks which normally comes from primary agricultural sources and can lead to undesired deforestation or other land use changes to farmland. At the same time, Europe is facing another challenge related with the treatment of organic wastes. In this context, the project CAFIPLA developed an integrated process to convert heterogeneous organic materials to building blocks for the bio-based economy. This study performs a life cycle sustainability assessment (life cycle assessment, life cycle costing and social life cycle assessment) of the production of short chain carboxylic acids (SCCA) employing municipal bio-wastes as a feedstock. In addition to a hot-spot identification to detect the main sources of impact, a comparison of the novel technology with the current benchmark is carried out applying a cradle-to-gate approach and using 1 kg of SCCA as a functional unit. Results show the great performance of CAFIPLA in all the environmental categories analysed. Furthermore, the profitability of the plant is also verified, reaching a payback period below 6 years as long as the product is sold above 0.49 €/kg. Finally, the potential social risk associated to the supply chain is also improved with CAFIPLA technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solvents have a significant impact on the efficiency and performance of chemical production. A large amount of solvent disposed after chemical production negatively impacts the environment and the economy. This study presents a solvent selection method based on a conceptual process design, which includes solvent processes used in chemical synthesis and waste solvent treatment. The proposed method is demonstrated with Suzuki-Miyaura coupling as a model reaction. The results show that solvent recycling costs and CO2 emissions were lower than those observed for incineration. Importantly, if the appropriate solvent is selected, the cost and CO2 emissions can be reduced by up to 67% and 70%, respectively, even with similar yields in the reaction. These results suggest that solvent selection combined with conceptual process design is the key to developing sustainable chemical production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As global temperatures rise as a result of climate change, there is an urgent need to find ways to keep buildings cool without increasing energy demand, especially in the residential sector. This is especially true in hot climate regions, where demand for air-conditioning drives high household electricity consumption rates, and, in some cases, overburdens the energy supply. This study evaluates the impact of thermal insulation type, thickness, and location on reducing the annual energy consumption in a representative low-rise residential building in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, using the DesignBuilder energy simulation tool. The most effective materials and locations are identified, and the life cycle cost model is used to establish the optimum thickness in each location. Reductions in energy demand, CO2 emissions, and cost savings are also calculated, and these are shown to exceed those made by applying current Saudi building standards. The findings reveal that applying the optimal thickness of thermal insulation to the walls and roof of a two-storey villa significantly enhances its thermal performance and reduces total costs, cutting overall energy consumption, and carbon emissions by up to 42.5% compared with the base case model, with a cost savings of 33% over 30 years, life cycle savings of 86.1 USD/m2, and a payback period of 7.98 years. This study demonstrates the positive impacts of thermal insulation from both an environmental and an economic perspective, with the aim of increasing its application. Its findings are immediately applicable in other hot-arid regions, notably other Gulf states, and its focus on the importance of ensuring that building regulations that mandate thermal insulation are properly enforced gives it wider relevance in other climate regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most significant damages of reinforced concrete is caused by chloride attacks. Solutions including the use of coatings or special concrete with low permeability have been proposed to promote concrete durability in previous research. Geopolymer mixes is a viable alternative in this context. Notwithstanding the advantages of geopolymer, problems with quick setting, shrinkage, increased cost, etc., may make its use problematic. Using permanent formworks (PFs) will therefore be a solution in this respect. PFs can be used both during the construction and during the repair of the structures. In this study, the considerations of fabricating PFs as well as their on-site implementation are examined. Compressive strength, impact resistance during transportation and installation, chloride ions penetration depth, and capillary absorption (from the seams and bulk) are among the experiments which are carried out to assess the performance of PFs. The significant increase in the service life of structures under chloride attack, the elimination of a part of the molding process in the construction of new structures, and the minimization of the low quality of execution are among the advantages of using PFs. The results reveal that the performance of PFs under harsh environmental conditions is appropriate. Although the use of polyurethane mastic in the seams has favorable results, reducing the number of seams decreases the probability of PFs damage. Although the implementing cost of PFs is slightly higher than conventional concrete (~ 37%), the life cycle cost assessment of the structure shows economic savings if PFs are applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The environmental and economic performance of Know-as-you-throw (KAYT) is unknown. • Four pilot KAYT schemes were implemented across Spain and Italy from 2019 to 2022. • KAYT reduced unsorted waste generation from 17 to 10% across pilots. • KAYT reduced the carbon footprint of waste management from 46 to 19% across pilots. • KAYT can notably reduce the carbon footprint of waste management at low cost. Considerable resources are spent globally on actions to improve the separate collection of municipal waste aiming to minimise the environmental and economic impacts of municipal waste management. One of such actions are know-as-you-throw (KAYT) schemes, which aim to change the behaviour of waste generators through tailored communication of information. KAYT schemes offer a relatively uncontroversial and simple tool, yet their environmental and economic performance remains unknown due to their limited implementation. To fill this gap, the LIFE-funded REthinkWASTE project applied a novel KAYT scheme in four pilot areas in Italy and Spain. The results of such pilots were evaluated in terms of carbon footprint and life-cycle costs of municipal waste management. The carbon footprint was notably reduced in all pilot areas, ranging from a 46% to 19% reduction, mainly due to notable reductions in unsorted waste (between 10 and 17% reduction) and subsequent lower treatment impacts. Life-cycle costs slightly increased overall, ranging from 4.6% to a −0.4% change. In addition to various sources of uncertainty, self-selection and recency biases are highlighted as major sources for potentially overestimating the benefits of KAYT in the context of large-scale and long-term KAYT implementation. The results however consistently show that the additional carbon footprint from KAYT actions can be offset with less than a 5% reduction in unsorted waste, well below the observed values. The results robustly reveal the potential of KAYT to notably reduce the carbon footprint of waste management systems with limited investment of economic resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of sustainable materials in road construction has been gaining popularity to provide a better future for the next generations. This study investigates the possible use of two common sustainable road construction materials, recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) and recycled tire rubber (RTR), for pavement maintenance applications. Mixtures were produced either with combined RAP and RTRs or 100% RAP with petroleum-based (RAP-A) and bio-based (RAP-B) rejuvenating oils. Because pavement maintenance applications such as pothole patching have traditionally been performed with cold mixtures (CM), a typical cold patching mixture was also investigated along with six hot asphalt mixtures. RTR mixtures were produced using different rubber modification technologies. They were manufactured using crumb rubber wet (WET), crumb rubber dry (DRY), devulcanized rubber (DEV), and crumb rubber terminal blend (TB) technologies. Each RTR-modified mixture included 40% RAP and approximately 12% rubber content by weight of the binder. The performance of the mixtures was compared using dynamic modus (DM) testing for linear viscoelastic characterization, flow number (FN) testing for rutting potential, and tensile strength ratio (TSR) testing for moisture susceptibility. The cost-effectiveness of different mixtures was performed using the life cycle cost analyses (LCCA) approach for bituminous materials. The results showed that any recycled hot-mix asphalt outperformed the CM. The 100% hot RAP mixture with petroleum-based rejuvenator performed as well as any combined RTR-RAP mixtures, and it became the most cost-effective alternative for pavement maintenance applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the influence of fuel sources on entransy-based environmental impact and life cycle cost (LCC) analysis while determining the optimum insulation thickness (OIT) has been investigated. Analyses are carried out for the province of Istanbul, Turkey, considering energy demand in the heating period. Hydrogen, methanol, ethanol, natural gas, diesel fuel, and lignite are chosen as fuel sources, while glasswool is selected as the insulation material. The environmental and economic OIT, the total environmental impact and net environmental savings, the entransy loss and net savings in entransy, fuel consumption, CO2 emissions, fuel costs, insulation costs, total costs, and net savings in entransy costs are evaluated. The optimum environmental and economic glasswool insulation thicknesses are calculated to be: i) for hydrogen 0.297 m and 0.0855m, ii) for methanol 0.211 m and 0.0044m, iii) for ethanol 0.226 m and 0.0419m, iv) for natural gas 0.126 m and 0.0026 m, v) for diesel 0.185 m and 0.0287 m, vi) and for lignite 0.138 m and 0.0230 m. According to the environmental and economic evaluation made in this study, it is understood that natural gas comes to the fore and that our domestic lignite resources can be an alternative to this. In addition, in order to reduce the environmental impact factor of hydrogen, which is a pure carbon-free fuel, green and low-cost hydrogen production methods should be preferred. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Offshore wind farms are great options for addressing the world's energy and climate change challenges, as well as meeting rising energy demand while taking environmental and economic impacts into account. Floating wind turbines, in specific, depict the next horizon in the sustainable renewable energy industry. In this study, a life-cycle cost analysis for floating offshore wind turbines is developed by combining the most recent data and parametric formulas from databases and relevant papers. The cost analysis models focused on cost minimization with special emphasis on Operation and Maintenance Cost (OPEX), Decommissioning Cost (DECOM), and Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE), which are important factors in wind power economy. Given that floating wind energy is still developing, the presented scenarios should be beneficial in making future decisions. The cost analysis scenarios include on-site and off-site maintenance scenarios for OPEX. In addition, four alternative scenarios for DECOM have been examined: mechanical recycling, mechanical-incineration, incineration processes, and landfill. According to the findings of these scenarios, OPEX varies from 16.89 to 19.93 £/MWh and DECOM between 3.47 and 3.65 £/MWh, whilst the total LCOE varied from 50.67 to 66.73 £/MWh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the article was to describe the importance of a good technically and economically planned process for purchasing a rail vehicle. Compliance with this process with safety standards and energy efficiency is crucial regarding effectiveness in the long-life cycle cost of a rail vehicle. Methods that were used focused on audit and document analysis. In the result based on a specific audit of a railway company, some non-compliances were found, and it was methodically proven that they are significant risk factors in terms of performing such processes in the future. Major conclusions regarded the importance of fulfilling legal requirements of SMS for purchase purposes, involvement of a safety engineer post in this process, and usage of technical feedback regarding previous operation of railway vehicles and operational findings from the past. The transport policy of the EU and other developed countries sets ambitious goals for reducing energy consumption in transportation activities, which is linked to the aim of reducing environmental burdens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses carbon emissions and value-added embodied in trade between two large developed countries, South Korea and the United States, during 2000-2014. Using multi-regional input-output (MRIO) tables, our analysis reveals that carbon emissions and value-added embodied in exports grew by 19% and 101% for South Korea but shrank by 43% and 7% for the United States. As a result, South Korea experienced a 40% increase in net carbon exports and 243% increase in net valueadded exports. At the industry level, the primary drivers of changes in carbon exports were electricity and basic materials. The majority of industries in witnessed improvements in carbon intensities suggesting improved environmental efficiency. While both countries achieved a decoupling of carbon emissions from value-added exports, substantial year-to-year and sectoral variations were observed. Finally, structural decomposition analysis indicates that domestic supply-side factors played a role in decreasing emissions whereas foreign demand-side factors contributed to emissions increases. In line with the main findings, various implications for policy and future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Commercial harvesting of snow crabs (Chionoecetes opilio) began in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, in 1967. Today, the fishery consists of 2188 active fishing licenses and has grown into the province's most economically valuable fishery. Snow crabs are captured using conical traps consisting of a mild carbon steel frame, hard plastic entry funnel and a jacket of polyethylene netting. The frames of these traps corrode over time, which is expedited by being deployed in marine environments and stored on land near the ocean when not in use. As a result, there is interest within the community to increase the longevity of crab traps. One solution is to galvanize the steel frames prior to installing the funnel and netting. However, before harvesters transition to galvanized traps, two questions must be answered. Will the use of galvanized steel negatively impact catch rates? Will the life cycle of a crab trap be extended sufficiently to justify the additional cost of galvanizing? This study employed a generalized linear mixed model to evaluate the catch of legal-sized male crabs (CPUE) during the commercial fishery as a function of three trap frame treatments (old traditional, new traditional and new galvanized). We also assessed the economic viability of galvanizing trap frames by evaluating the life cycle cost (LCC) of traditional and galvanized traps to the harvester. The LCC was calculated over a range of inflation (0–6%) and discount (3–20%) rates. Our results found no significant difference in CPUE between new traps (traditional vs. galvanized) and concluded that except during instances of very high discount rates (12.9–19.9%), it is economically favourable to galvanize crab trap frames. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to investigate potential strategies to reduce energy consumption and environmental impacts of a recently converted rural complex into an agri-spa in a high environmental value area within the province of Viterbo (Italy). Actual operational data on appliances, climate, and energy consumption are employed for the energy audit. While this analysis generally provides energy-saving solutions, such options are not examined for their life cycle environmental impacts. The current article is based on the experimentation of a consolidated methodological approach in the scientific literature, integrating the energy audit, life cycle assessment (LCA), and economic analysis (Life Cycle Cost) to assess a series of energy-efficiency measures designed for the new wellness centre function. The combined use of these well-established procedures provides a comprehensive assessment of intervention scenarios for a particularly energy-intensive type of case study, not yet widely documented in the literature. The results reveal that energy consumption related to heating/cooling is marginal compared to the actual electrical consumption in the specific case study. Therefore, the most efficient scenarios involve installing photovoltaic systems and replacing gas boilers with high-efficiency heat pumps, especially with economically advantageous insulation. This leads to a 51% reduction in energy consumption and an 81% decrease in heating, DHW, and electricity costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) is the European Union's main policy instrument for reducing the built environment's contribution to climate change. Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) are a tool of this policy, providing buildings with a performance rating. In the UK these have become the benchmark by which the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) are judged, rendering residences lower than an E illegal to rent out. This has pushed property owners to undertake energy retrofitting interventions to ensure compliance. In traditional buildings this is potentially problematic. Buildings of this type rely on permeability to control moisture dynamics; the insertion of less permeable barriers can interrupt their internal hygrometry leading to condensation, damp and decay. As a result, subsequent damage to the building fabric can bring energy policy into conflict with heritage conservation. Existing frameworks that attempt to mitigate the tension within these agendas often fall short in explicitly considering the the problem holistically. This research first asks if pressure from policy is leading to incompatible retrofits. Secondly, it aims to develop a holistic framework that unites heritage and energy agendas with current policy. An inductive, pragmatic approach was undertaken. Using a historic estate's residential portfolio as a case study, condition surveys were carried out to assess whether properties retrofitted with secondary glazing were experiencing problems with condensation. The results of this were significant, supporting the argument that energy policy is driving incompatible retrofitting interventions. Exploratory data analysis was carried out on an existing EPC dataset to highlight inconsistencies with the EPC methodology. Finally, these findings were combined with questionnaire survey results, targeted at both professionals and occupants, to inform a decision-making framework that incorporated energy efficiency, heritage values, life cycle cost analysis (LCC), building assessment, occupant behaviour, with a feedback loop promoting a bottom-up approach to policy. This issue contains Part 2 which will deal with the methodology and results. Part 1 in the previous issue set the scene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, due to the insufficient resources of renewable natural gas, the development of renewable pathways to integrate into the natural gas-industry portfolio can reduce many concerns about the reserves depletion and the environmental crises. In the present article a structure-oriented framework for gas networks is developed to compare and prioritize different investment scenarios for renewable natural gas production projects. In this regard, different pathways to produce renewable natural gas through the waste-to-natural gas process were discussed and compared based on different waste feedstocks. To discuss and compare different pathways, a decision-making structure and framework under life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) and life cycle environmental analysis (LCEA) is employed to choose the appropriate pathway for the waste-to-natural gas process. The optimal pathway is identified through different multi-variable decision-making scenarios (under different geographical conditions, access to different feedstocks, and different interests of stakeholders). From the outcomes, under the neutral and Pro-economic scenarios, the renewable natural gas production pathway driven by landfill gas integrated with the pressure swing adsorption- biogas upgrading unit is the optimal and desirable option. While under an Eco-friendly scenario, the pathway driven by animal manure integrated with the pressure swing adsorption-upgrading unit is an optimal and desirable pathway. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last decade, restructuring of railway systems has resulted in infrastructure management assets demanding increased performance and reliability while adopting budget limits and reduced time available for maintenance. In fact, the current routine and major programmed maintenances are such capital-intensive activities that transport operating companies always attempt to optimise the operational procedures and related assets' performances towards minimising the costs. Characteristically, the use of macro synthetic fibre reinforcement is proposed to improve the structural performances and service life of the sleeper component. Accordingly, this study addresses the economic feasibility of implementing macro synthetic fibre reinforced concrete (MSFRC) as an alternative material for railway sleeper applications. Through a life cycle costing (LCC) approach, the study evaluates the impact of different asset phases such as acquisition, operation and maintenance, and end-of-life towards a cost comparison of MSFRC with conventional sleeper materials. Hence, the most financially viable option is identified, although key economic parameters are varied to simulate future market values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An innovative process layout for sludge waste management based on chemical looping combustion and flue gas methanation is analyzed in this work. The technical performance of the system was assessed by considering that the flue gas is first purified and then mixed with a pure hydrogen stream sourced from an array of electrolysis cells to produce methane. The life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle cost (LCC) methodologies were applied to quantify the environmental and economic performances of the proposed process, and a hotspot analysis was carried out to recognize its most critical steps. The proposed system was then compared with a reference system that includes both the conventional waste management pathways for the Italian context and methane production. Finally, to account for the variability in the future economic climate, the effects of changes in landfill storage costs on sewage end-of-life costs for both the proposed and reference systems were evaluated. With respect to 1 kg/h of sewage sludge with 10%wt of humidity, the analysis shows that the proposed system (i) reduces landfill wastes by about 68%, (ii) has an end-of-life cost of 1.75 EUR × kg−1, and (iii) is environmentally preferable to conventional sewage sludge treatment technologies with respect to several impact categories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an impetus to decarbonize transportation sector and mitigate climate change. This study examines the effect of adopting hydrogen (H 2) as a fuel for Dubai Buses at different penetration scales on carbon dioxide (CO 2) emissions reduction. A H 2 supply-chain system dynamics model is developed to conduct life cycle cost and environmental analysis and evaluate the efficacy of different carbon prices and subsidies. Gray, green and mixed H 2 production scenarios were considered. The results show that gray hydrogen reduces 7.1 million tons of CO 2 , which is half of green hydrogen buses. Replacing diesel fleet at end of lifetime with mixed hydrogen bus fleet was the optimal approach to promote green hydrogen at pump reaching $4/kg in a decade. This gradual transition reduces 62% of the well-to-wheel CO 2 emissions of the new bus fleet and creates mass for economies of scale as carbon prices and subsidies cannot promote green hydrogen alone. • Subsidies alone cannot commercialize green hydrogen as a fuel for public transport. • Trade-offs between cost and CO 2 reductions using green, gray and mixed hydrogen. • Mixed hydrogen in Dubai buses create a scale to lower cost and emissions. • Integrated approach from government, policy makers, and industries generate demand. • At large scale and in the long term, full green hydrogen transport is economical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen is a versatile energy carrier which can be produced from variety of feedstocks, stored and transported in various forms for multi-functional end-uses in transportation, energy and manufacturing sectors. Several regional, national and supra-national climate policy frameworks emphasize the need, value and importance of Fuel cell and Hydrogen (FCH) technologies for deep and sector-wide decarbonization. Despite these multi-faceted advantages, familiar and proven FCH technologies such as alkaline electrolysis and proton-exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) often face economic, technical and societal barriers to mass-market adoption. There is no single, unified, standardized, and globally harmonized normative definition of costs. Nevertheless, the discussion and debates surrounding plausible candidates and/or constituents integral for assessing the economics and value proposition of status-quo as well as developmental FCH technologies are steadily increasing—Life Cycle Costing (LCC) being one of them, if not the most important outcome of such exercises. To that end, this review article seeks to improve our collective understanding of LCC of FCH technologies by scrutinizing close to a few hundred publications drawn from representative databases—SCOPUS and Web of Science encompassing several tens of technologies for production and select transportation, storage and end-user utilization cases. This comprehensive review forms part of and serves as the basis for the Clean Hydrogen Partnership funded SH2E project, whose ultimate goal is the methodical development a formal set of principles and guardrails for evaluating the economic, environmental and social impacts of FCH technologies. Additionally, the SH2E projects will also facilitate the proper comparison of different FCH technologies whilst reconciling range of technologies, methodologies, modelling assumptions, and parameterization found in existing literature. • Literature review with 141 publications on LCC of FCH technologies was carried out. • The number of relevant publications has been increasing since 2011. • Production and utilization of hydrogen were most frequently analysed (>60%). • 33 different tools and 32 different databases were used in LCC of FCH technologies. • The Levelized Cost method was mostly used in the reviewed publications (>40%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Construction and infrastructure projects account for a large share of global greenhouse gas emissions. Included in these projects are geotechnical engineering works, which cause environmental impact and costs throughout their life cycle. In the geotechnical design process, the geotechnical engineer often has design choices where different methods and materials can be used. If assessments of environmental impact and costs were to be integrated into the geotechnical design process, the geotechnical work could be made more sustainable. As a result of this, there is a need for research on integrating the assessments of environmental impact and costs into the geotechnical design process. This paper, therefore, presents a methodology showing how life-cycle assessment and life-cycle cost analysis could be integrated into the geotechnical design process. The presented methodology is then illustrated in a practical example for assessing the climate impact and costs of high-speed railway embankment fill methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Irrigation plays a vital role in sustaining agricultural production during periods of low rainfall. While ensuring increased productivity and economic profitability, irrigation is associated with high electrical energy consumption. In 2018, Brazilian Decree 9642 eliminated discounts for rural consumers, established in 2013. Leveraging renewable energy sources for irrigation can mitigate nonrenewable energy dependence and reduce the electricity costs for irrigators. This study aimed to nationally compare the economic viability of on-grid photovoltaic systems as an alternative to conventional grid energy for agricultural irrigation, both pre- and post-Brazilian Decree 9642. We conducted a comprehensive life cycle cost (LCC) analysis for both systems before and after discount termination, facilitating more informed economic decisions. The LCC of the conventional grid energy increased by over 40% after the Decree, whereas the photovoltaic system saw a modest increase of 12%. The solar system's 28% cost advantage over the conventional grid post-Decree underscores its resilience to regulatory changes. The photovoltaic system demonstrated viability when its LCC was equal to or lower than the comparator system's LCC. Notably, the economic viability of the photovoltaic system extended across all geographic regions for the grid-connected system. This study highlights the competitive pricing, versatility, and economic impact of photovoltaic systems in the context of changes in Brazilian tariff legislation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The characterization of electric vehicles as environmentally friendly means of transportation hinges, on the one hand, upon the manner in which the energy for their charging is generated and, on the other hand, on the recyclability of the materials composing them, with primary emphasis on the recycling of batteries. Given that we are still in the early stages of electrification in road transportation, it can be argued that at least a decade is required for the development of a sustainable battery recycling industry. Conversely, the progressively increasing number of electric vehicles makes the necessity of charging them with clean, green energy imperative. In this context, this study examines the energy and economic aspects of replacing 50% of the public passenger vehicle fleet, which currently relies on internal combustion engines, with electric vehicles on the island of Zakynthos, Greece. Specifically, it calculates the energy needs of these vehicles and proposes methods for environmentally friendly electricity generation to meet the electrical demand. To assess the benefits for the owners of the charging stations and the electric vehicles, the Life-Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) method is employed for various scenarios regarding (a) the pricing of the supplied electrical energy for electric vehicle charging and (b) the evolution of fossil fuel prices. The study concludes by highlighting the environmental advantages of such an investment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transformer is a fundamental piece of equipment for power grids. The analysis and optimization of their life-cycle costs are of great importance to reinforce the economic efficiency of electrical networks. This paper constructs a comprehensive transformer life-cycle cost (LCC) model by fusing life-cycle cost theory with relevant transformer expenditure. It proceeds to examine the life-cycle cost aspects of the transformer, delving into its cost dynamics under various influencing factors, establishing interconnections between these factors and analyzing the cost relationship. By employing MATLAB software (Matlab 2021a) along with the whale optimization algorithm (WOA) this paper optimizes the objective function. Through this, it establishes the LCC model for 20 power transformers, obtaining the optimal objective function curve and the maximum value for LCC optimization of the transformer. Unlike previous research, this study adds a detailed analysis of several factors that influence LCC. At the same time, it develops a more complete, scientific and rational LCC optimization model. An illustrative example validates the model and the superiority of the whale optimization algorithm. The algorithm not only shows its scientific basis and superiority, but also serves as a guiding mechanism for LCC management in transformer engineering practices. Ultimately, it emerges as a fundamental tool to improve the efficiency of power grid asset management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat pumps are currently one of the most frequently applied heat sources in residential buildings. Ground source heat pumps are more reliable than air source heat pumps in terms of energy efficiency, especially in colder climates. However, they are more expensive and involve increased material inputs; therefore, multi-criteria analyses taking into account environmental and economic aspects seem necessary for the green design of these systems. The aim of this work was to analyze the environmental and economic impacts of the ground source heat pump providing heating for a family house located in eastern Poland, cooperating with three types of ground heat exchangers (each in two sizing options): helix, vertical and horizontal. The multi-criteria analysis was based on the life cycle assessment methodology using IMPACT 2002+ and life cycle costs methods. The lowest environmental impact was reported for the variants with vertical ground heat exchangers, mainly due to their high efficiency in the operation stage. On the other hand, the lowest economic impact was observed for the horizontal heat exchangers, which are not demanding in terms of material and construction costs. Final recommendations based on multi-criteria analysis propose the vertical probes as a sustainable solution, with a weighted sum indicator in the range 0.085–0.297 on 0–1 scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We propose an advanced model to assess municipal waste management impacts. • We propose an approach to improve data reporting on generated waste amounts. • The C-footprint varies from a burden of 539 to a saving of 490 kg CO 2 -eq. t−1. • The cost of managing municipal waste in EU27 averages 162 EUR t−1. • The Full-Environmental-Cost of managing municipal waste in EU27 averages 109 EUR t−1. The Monitoring Framework proposed in the EU27 New Circular Economy Action Plan comprises two mass-based indicators, namely overall recycling rate and recycling rate for specific waste streams. Yet, to monitor and assess the impacts of circular economy, indicators cannot be limited to mass-based indicators; we argue assessments should also include environmental and economic effects. Towards this end, these impacts can be quantified by an advanced model based on life cycle thinking, entailing the use of life cycle assessment and costing (LCA/LCC). Calculating these effects for municipal waste management is challenging due to gaps in available data for estimating generated waste. We propose a methodology to estimate more finely the amounts of waste generated in the Member States, complemented with LCA/LCC. The results highlight that important inconsistencies in municipal waste data reporting exist and that recycling rates calculated from these are lower than hitherto estimated. The impacts quantification shows great performance variation across EU27, with C-footprint ranging from −490 to 539 kg CO 2 -eq. t−1. Potentials for improvement are substantial and can bring up to 103 Mt CO 2 -eq. additional annual saving, reducing costs (calculated as Full Environmental LCC) of waste management by 8.4 billion EUR and bringing 206,100 new jobs in the sector. The approach presented highlights the rationale for improved data management on waste statistics and the potential for harmonised models. It also paves the way for more sophisticated impact analyses relevant for policymaking, by bringing a richer perspective to the environmental and economic impacts of waste management on top of tracking generated, collected and recycled waste flows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Selected 37 typical data comparing the industry's eight MW disposal technologies. • The average disposal of 1 ton of MW produces 0.94–1.2 tons of CO 2. • LCC and NPV results showed that steam sterilization with landfill is the best. • The environmental and economic impacts of MW disposal in 10 megacities were studied. • 10 megacities employ MS-MSWI technology to reduce 279,000 tons of CO 2 emissions. Medical waste (MW) is exploding due to the COVID-19 pandemic, posing a significant environmental threat, and leading to the urgent requirement for affordable and environmentally friendly MW disposal technologies. Prior research on individual MW disposal plants is region-specific, applying these results to other regions may introduce bias. In this study, major MW disposal technologies in China, i.e., incineration technologies (pyrolysis incineration and rotary kiln incineration), and sterilization technologies (steam sterilization, microwave sterilization, and chemical disinfection) with residue landfill or incineration were analyzed from an industry-level perspective via life cycle assessment (LCA), life cycle costing (LCC) and net present value (NPV) methods. Life cycle inventories and economic cost data for 4–5 typical companies were selected from 128 distinct enterprises and academic sources for each technology. LCA results show that microwave sterilization with residue incineration has the lowest environmental impact, emitting only 480 kg CO 2 eq. LCC and NPV analyses indicate that steam sterilization with landfilling is the most economical, yielding revenues of 1,210 CNY/t and breaking even in the first year. Conversely, pyrolysis and rotary kiln incineration break even between the 4th and 5th years. Greenhouse gas emissions from the MW disposal in ten cities with the largest MW production in 2020 increased by 7% over 2019 to 43,800 tons and other pollutants increased by 6% to 12%. Economically, Shanghai exhibits the highest cost-effectiveness, while Nanjing delivers the lowest. It can be observed that the adoption of optimal environmental technologies has resulted in a diminution of greenhouse gas emissions by 279,000 tons and energy conservation of 1.76 billion MJ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen is central to meeting the challenge of climate change. The lack of infrastructure to produce, store, and deliver hydrogen is a significant obstacle to transitioning toward a hydrogen economy. For two decades, researchers have been interested in modeling the hydrogen supply chain network to provide managerial insights for decision-makers. We contribute to this research domain by introducing the life cycle optimization (LCO) modeling framework into the hydrogen supply chain network design (HSCND). Specifically, the life cycle costing (LCC) methodology and the life cycle assessment (LCA) approach are integrated through a bi-objective optimization. The two objectives are levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) and global warming potential (GWP) intensity. The problem is solved by implementing an ε -constraint method. The developed LCO framework is applied to a case study in Franche-Comté, France. Results obtained suggest that the introduction of LCC has a major impact on capital costs. The LCA, especially the life cycle inventory (LCI) approach, enables the LCO model to estimate emissions reasonably. The Pareto front obtained by solving the bi-objective model provides a holistic view of turning points. It is concluded that the modeling framework proposed in the paper can provide decision-makers with (i) comprehensive reflection of hydrogen supply network costs; (ii) a detailed description of hydrogen supply chain network-related emissions; and (iii) the quantification and visualization of the trade-off between costs and emissions. • The life cycle costing is applied within hydrogen supply chain network design. • The life cycle inventory for the hydrogen supply chain network is illustrated. • A life cycle optimization framework for hydrogen supply chain network is developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the past few decades, thousands of experiments have been performed to characterize urban waste and biomass to estimate their bioenergy potential and product identification. There is a need to develop an integrated process model based on the experimental literature, as well as simulations to obtain suitable products. In this study, municipal solid waste (MSW), including paper and plastic characterization and an integrated process model, were developed to optimize the final products in a reactor system. The process model has two modes, R&D and reactor control (RC), to obtain suitable products including bio-oil, char, and gases. A database was integrated based on thermokinetics, machine learning, and simulation models to optimize product efficiency. The experimental data include those obtained by thermogravimetric analysis and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, which were linked to a pyrolysis experimental setup. Feedstock product mapping models were incorporated into the database along with the temperature, heating rates, elemental analysis, and final product concentration, which were utilized for the pyrolysis reactor setup. Product feasibility was conducted based on life cycle cost, affordability, and product efficiency. The present work will bridge the gap between experimental studies and decision-making based on obtained products under several experimental conditions around the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study verified the technological and economic feasibility of converting urban air mobility (UAM) to a fuel cell–battery hybrid propulsion system from an existing battery–only propulsion system. The battery–fuel cell hybrid propulsion UAM was conceptually designed through reverse engineering and redesigned of the existing battery–only propulsion UAM. Under various design conditions, the economic feasibility of the hybrid propulsion system was verified through life cycle cost (LCC) analysis. Hybrid propulsion UAMs designed with appropriate hybridization ratios had 10% lower life cycle costs than battery-only propulsion UAMs. In particular, this cost–saving effect was more noticeable when UAM's flight distance became longer. The life cycle cost increased proportionally as the number of UAM passengers increased, but was relatively unrelated to energy storage technology improvements. Considering the current electricity and hydrogen price changes, the economic feasibility of fuel cell–battery hybrid UAM is expected to continue to improve in the future compared to batteries alone. • The technical and economic feasibility of the fuel cell-battery hybrid propulsion UAM was verified. • The fuel cell-battery hybrid propulsion UAM was conceptually designed through reverse engineering technology. • A properly designed hybrid propulsion UAM had a 10% lower life cycle cost than a battery-only propulsion UAM. • Considering energy price trends, the economics of hybrid UAM are expected to continue to improve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This literature review presents a comprehensive review of life Cycle Assessmernt (LCA), as an emerging tool in the field of cultural heritage research and demonstrate how this tool could be useful to support the development of green heritage science into an environmentally responsible field of scientific endeavour. LCA is a standardised, structured, comprehensive, international environmental assessment tool and a rapidly evolving field of research that leverages and harmonises efforts across many sectors to inform environmentally-friendly solutions and choices. LCA has been growing in importance as an evidence-based tool in the field of heritage science, being used as a decision-support tool at micro level (typically for questions related to specific products/processes) and macro levels (e.g. strategies, scenarios, and policy options). This review explores applications of LCA (and the complementary Life Cycle Cost Assessment (LCC), and Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA)) to a wide array of conservation and preservation actions. The paper also examines challenges associated with the application of these life cycle-based methods in heritage science, in order to put forward a set of recommendations to guide the domain of heritage science towards greener and more sustainable practices and impacts. Based on a review of the principles of green chemistry, green analytical chemistry, green engineering, and nature conservation, the paper also attempts to formulate nine principles of green heritage science, taking into account the complexity of research challenges and the environmental and socio-economic sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a comprehensive analysis of an Alkaline Water Electrolysis System (AWES) for hydrogen production, focusing on thermal balance, operating conditions, efficiency, and lifecycle cost. A thermal balance model was developed and further refined using machine learning techniques based on experimental data, to accurately calculate electrolysis power, cooling requirements, and temperature maintenance, enabling cost-effective operation. This study provides insights for optimizing AWES performance and economic feasibility in hydrogen production. Selecting appropriate operating conditions considering current density, inlet temperature, and electricity price is crucial. Implementing these optimizations improves energy efficiency, reduces lifecycle hydrogen production costs, and enables integration with renewable energy systems. • An overall understanding of the alkaline electrolyzer operating conditions and performance is provided. • A universal modeling method based on thermal-balance model for operation optimization is proposed. • Machine learning approach is applied to calibrate model accuracy. • Mapping of hydrogen production efficiency and cost effectiveness is produced for full operation range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Health care is a major contributor to climate change, and critical care is one of the sector's highest carbon emitters. Health economic evaluations form an important component of critical care and may be useful in identifying economically efficient and environmentally sustainable strategies. The purpose of this scoping review was to synthesise available literature on whether and how environmental impact is considered in health economic evaluations of critical care. Methods: A robust scoping review methodology was used to identify studies reporting on environmental impact in health economic evaluations of critical care. We searched six academic databases to locate health economic evaluations, costing studies and life cycle assessments of critical care from 1993 to present. Results: Four studies met the review's inclusion criteria. Of the 278 health economic evaluations of critical care identified, none incorporated environmental impact into their assessments. Most included studies (n = 3/4) were life cycle assessments, and the remaining study was a prospective observational study. Life cycle assessments used a combination of process-based data collection and modelling to incorporate environmental impact into their economic assessments. Conclusions: Health economic evaluations of critical care have not yet incorporated environmental impact into their assessments, and few life cycle assessments exist that are specific to critical care therapies and treatments. Guidelines and standardisation regarding environmental data collection and reporting in health care are needed to support further research in the field. In the meantime, those planning health economic evaluations should include a process-based life cycle assessment to establish key environmental impacts specific to critical care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the continuous development of large-scale wind and photovoltaic power worldwide, the net load fluctuation of systems is increasing, thereby imposing higher demands for power supply assurance and new energy consumption capacity within emerging power systems. It is imperative to establish a quantifiable and efficient model for planning new power systems, to propose an analytical approach for determining optimal evolutionary paths, and to advance research on flexible resource planning across wide areas. In this paper, based on the simplified operating characteristics of multi-type flexible resources, a source-grid-load-storage collaborative planning and evolution analysis framework is established. Secondly, the lowest total cost of the whole life cycle of the system is taken as the optimization goal, the multiple flexible resource investment decisions and production operation constraints of various flexible resources on all sides of the system are considered, and the source-grid-load-storage planning model is established. Then, through the investment decision-making strategy setting of the system in different planning level years, the evolutionary path analysis method of the whole life cycle economy and weighted environmental protection benefit of the system is given. Finally, by taking the sending-end power grid in Gansu Province as an example, a case study is carried out. Calculations of new energy, key channels within the province, energy storage capacity, and load-side response capacity requirements for 2025, 2030, and 2060 are optimized. Based on the above analysis, the optimal evolution path of the power grid is proposed. When considering the weighted benefits of economy and environmental protection, the greater the weight of environmental protection benefits, the greater the possibility of choosing a radical scheme. The model and method proposed in this paper can provide technical reference for the future development planning and evolution analysis of new power systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]