scholarly journals System boundaries as epistemological and ethnographic problems: assessing energy technology and socio-environmental impact

2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alf Hornborg ◽  
Gustav Cederlof
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Energy Technology ◽  
System Boundaries

A Heideggerian Analysis of Renewable Energy and The Electric Grid

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 291-315
Author(s):  
Rudy Kahsar ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Commodity Chain ◽  
Energy Technology ◽  
Electric Grid ◽  
On Demand ◽  
Positive Expression ◽  
Energy Needs ◽  
Local Sources ◽  
Minimal Environmental Impact

Renewable energy technology is often seen as a positive expression of technology, meeting energy needs with minimal environmental impact. But, by integrating nature (e.g., wind and sunlight) with the ordering of the electric grid, renewables silently convert that nature into what Martin Heidegger referred to as standing reserve—resources of the technological commodity chain to be ordered, controlled, converted, and consumed on demand. However, it may be possible to mitigate the downsides of this process through a transition to more decentralized, local sources of renewable energy operations and management that maintain awareness of the ways in which energy is generated and distributed.

scholarly journals Comparative life cycle assessment of LED lighting products

2017 ◽  
Vol 50 (6) ◽  
pp. 801-826 ◽  
Author(s):  
JL Casamayor ◽  
D Su ◽  
Z Ren
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Environmental Impact ◽  
End Of Life ◽  
Product Life Cycle ◽  
Functional Unit ◽  
System Boundaries ◽  
Led Lighting ◽  
Life Cycle Stages ◽  
Life Options

The use of LED lighting products is growing rapidly. However, there are no in-depth, updated studies that show how to assess and compare these products for eco-design purposes. This research aims to inform eco-design by assessing and comparing the environmental impact of a new LED eco-lighting product with an existing LED lighting product. A cradle to grave life cycle assessment is conducted. The system boundaries include all product life cycle stages, except the maintenance of the luminaires and the manufacturing of the packaging. A novel functional unit is defined for the assessment, which is more suitable for LED lighting products. Six scenarios are considered, including three probable useful lives of the luminaires (1000, 15,000 and 40,000 hours) and two end of life options (domestic bin and recycling centre). The life cycle assessment results reveal that the new eco-lighting product has about 60% less environmental impact than the existing lighting product in all scenarios. The life cycle stages with the biggest impacts are, in decreasing order: (1) use, (2) manufacturing, (3) end of life and (4) transport. Recommendations for the eco-design of LED lighting products are proposed, and the challenges in applying life cycle assessment for eco-design are discussed.

Reduced environmental impact of a reusable soft mist inhaler

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Hänsel ◽  
T Bambach ◽  
H Wachtel
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Impact
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