Life-Cycle Energy and GHG Emissions for New and Recovered Softwood Framing Lumber and Hardwood Flooring Considering End-of-Life Scenarios

Author(s):  
Richard D. Bergman ◽  
Robert H. Falk ◽  
Hongmei Gu ◽  
Thomas R. Napier ◽  
Jamie Meil
Author(s):  
Shanshan Wang ◽  
Weifeng Wang ◽  
Hongqiang Yang

Carbon footprint (CF) analysis is widely used to quantify the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of a product during its life cycle. A number of protocols, such as Publicly Available Specification (PAS) 2050, GHG Protocol Product Standard (GHG Protocol), and ISO 14067 Carbon Footprint of Products (ISO 14067), have been developed for CF calculations. This study aims to compare the criteria and implications of the three protocols. The medium-density fiberboard (MDF) (functional unit: 1 m3) has been selected as a case study to illustrate this comparison. Different criteria, such as the life cycle stage included, cut-off criteria, biogenic carbon treatment, and other requirements, were discussed. A cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA) for MDF was conducted. The CF values were −667.75, −658.42, and 816.92 kg of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) with PAS 2050, GHG protocol, and ISO 14067, respectively. The main reasons for the different results obtained were the application of different cut-off criteria, exclusion rules, and the treatment of carbon storage. A cradle-to-grave assessment (end-of-life scenarios: landfill and incineration) was also performed to identify opportunities for improving MDF production. A sensitivity analysis to assess the implications of different end-of-life disposals was conducted, indicating that landfill may be preferable from a GHG standpoint. The comparison of these three protocols provides insights for adopting appropriate methods to calculate GHG emissions for the MDF industry. A key finding is that for both LCA practitioners and policy-makers, PAS 2050 is preferentially recommended to assess the CF of MDF.


2016 ◽  
Vol 78 (7-2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peyman Babashamsi ◽  
Nur Izzi Md Yusoff ◽  
Halil Ceylan ◽  
Nor Ghani Md Nor

As quality aggregate sources are depleted, there is a growing importance given to incorporating recycled co-products and waste materials (RCWMs) in new and rehabilitated pavements. An ideal goal would be using recycled materials to create long-lived, well-performing pavement and then being able to use those materials again at the end of their life to create new pavement, thereby effectively achieving a zero-waste highway construction stream. This would not only produce distinct cost advantages, but it would also significantly reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and eliminate the need for landfill disposal. Drawing from ISO standards and practices, this article reviews the recycling methods and definitions associated with the End-of-Life (EOL) phase and present various EOL considerations for asphalt pavements and the associated challenges to quantify EOL contribution in the pavement life cycle.


Recycling ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 55
Author(s):  
Jaeho Han ◽  
Hiromasa Ijuin ◽  
Yuki Kinoshita ◽  
Tetsuo Yamada ◽  
Shuho Yamada ◽  
...  

The depletion of natural resources and global warming have increased in severity globally. In the industrial field, assembly products, such as electronic products, should be disassembled for recycling and reuse to deal with these problems. Reuse and recycling can contribute to reducing GreenHouse Gas (GHG) emissions and less depletion of natural resources since GHG emissions for virgin material production can be saved using reused components and recycled materials. However, each component of selling revenue and material-based GHG emissions depends on the country because of the different energy mixes of electrical power. Moreover, each collected component embedded in End-of-Life (EOL) products needs to be selected as a life cycle option based on its remaining life. The purpose of this study is to decide life cycle options such as reuse, recycling, and disposal of each component environmentally-friendly and economically in Korea and Japanese cases for computers. Firstly, selecting the life cycle option for each component was formulated by 0–1 integer programming with ε constraints. Next, GHG emissions, profits, and costs in Korea and Japan were estimated and analyzed for each component. Finally, Korean and Japanese cases were analyzed to obtain an economic value in the same material-based GHG saving rate with each component’s life cycle option selection by comparing each EOL product data. In the experiments, GHG recovery efficiency was higher in Japan 43 [g/Yen] than one in Korea 28 [g/Yen]. Therefore, it was better to retrieve and reutilize the components in Korea. However, if the maximum GHG recovery efficiency is desired, Japan is a better option.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra LUCA ◽  
David SANCHEZ DOMENE ◽  
Francisca ARAN AIS

2021 ◽  
Vol 174 ◽  
pp. 105774
Author(s):  
Edward Ren Kai Neo ◽  
Gibson Chin Yuan Soo ◽  
Daren Zong Loong Tan ◽  
Karina Cady ◽  
Kai Ting Tong ◽  
...  

Buildings ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 6
Author(s):  
Daniel Satola ◽  
Martin Röck ◽  
Aoife Houlihan-Wiberg ◽  
Arild Gustavsen

Improving the environmental life cycle performance of buildings by focusing on the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions along the building life cycle is considered a crucial step in achieving global climate targets. This paper provides a systematic review and analysis of 75 residential case studies in humid subtropical and tropical climates. The study investigates GHG emissions across the building life cycle, i.e., it analyses both embodied and operational GHG emissions. Furthermore, the influence of various parameters, such as building location, typology, construction materials and energy performance, as well as methodological aspects are investigated. Through comparative analysis, the study identifies promising design strategies for reducing life cycle-related GHG emissions of buildings operating in subtropical and tropical climate zones. The results show that life cycle GHG emissions in the analysed studies are mostly dominated by operational emissions and are the highest for energy-intensive multi-family buildings. Buildings following low or net-zero energy performance targets show potential reductions of 50–80% for total life cycle GHG emissions, compared to buildings with conventional energy performance. Implementation of on-site photovoltaic (PV) systems provides the highest reduction potential for both operational and total life cycle GHG emissions, with potential reductions of 92% to 100% and 48% to 66%, respectively. Strategies related to increased use of timber and other bio-based materials present the highest potential for reduction of embodied GHG emissions, with reductions of 9% to 73%.


Author(s):  
A-G Lupu ◽  
V M Homutescu ◽  
D-T Bălănescu ◽  
A Popescu

2008 ◽  
Vol 57 (11) ◽  
pp. 1683-1692 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Tilche ◽  
Michele Galatola

Anaerobic digestion is a well known process that (while still capable of showing new features) has experienced several waves of technological development. It was “born” as a wastewater treatment system, in the 1970s showed promise as an alternative energy source (in particular from animal waste), in the 1980s and later it became a standard for treating organic-matter-rich industrial wastewater, and more recently returned to the market for its energy recovery potential, making use of different biomasses, including energy crops. With the growing concern around global warming, this paper looks at the potential of anaerobic digestion in terms of reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The potential contribution of anaerobic digestion to GHG reduction has been computed for the 27 EU countries on the basis of their 2005 Kyoto declarations and using life cycle data. The theoretical potential contribution of anaerobic digestion to Kyoto and EU post-Kyoto targets has been calculated. Two different possible biogas applications have been considered: electricity production from manure waste, and upgraded methane production for light goods vehicles (from landfill biogas and municipal and industrial wastewater treatment sludges). The useful heat that can be produced as by-product from biogas conversion into electricity has not been taken into consideration, as its real exploitation depends on local conditions. Moreover the amount of biogas already produced via dedicated anaerobic digestion processes has also not been included in the calculations. Therefore the overall gains achievable would be even higher than those reported here. This exercise shows that biogas may considerably contribute to GHG emission reductions in particular if used as a biofuel. Results also show that its use as a biofuel may allow for true negative GHG emissions, showing a net advantage with respect to other biofuels. Considering also energy crops that will become available in the next few years as a result of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform, this study shows that biogas has the potential of covering almost 50% of the 2020 biofuel target of 10% of all automotive transport fuels, without implying a change in land use. Moreover, considering the achievable GHG reductions, a very large carbon emission trading “value” could support the investment needs. However, those results were obtained through a “qualitative” assessment. In order to produce robust data for decision makers, a quantitative sustainability assessment should be carried out, integrating different methodologies within a life cycle framework. The identification of the most appropriate policy for promoting the best set of options is then discussed.


Author(s):  
Soumith Kumar Oduru ◽  
Pasi Lautala

Transportation industry at large is a major consumer of fossil fuels and contributes heavily to the global greenhouse gas emissions. A significant portion of these emissions come from freight transportation and decisions on mode/route may affect the overall scale of emissions from a specific movement. It is common to consider several alternatives for a new freight activity and compare the alternatives from economic perspective. However, there is a growing emphasis for adding emissions to this evaluation process. One of the approaches to do this is through Life Cycle Assessment (LCA); a method for estimating the emissions, energy consumption and environmental impacts of the project throughout its life cycle. Since modal/route selections are often investigated early in the planning stage of the project, availability of data and resources for analysis may become a challenge for completing a detailed LCA on alternatives. This research builds on such detailed LCA comparison performed on a previous case study by Kalluri et al. (2016), but it also investigates whether a simplified LCA process that only includes emissions from operations phase could be used as a less resource intensive option for the analysis while still providing relevant outcomes. The detailed LCA is performed using SimaPro software and simplified LCA is performed using GREET 2016 model. The results are obtained in terms of Kg CO2 equivalents of GHG emissions. This paper introduces both detailed and simplified methodologies and applies them to a case study of a nickel and copper mine in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The analysis’ are done for three modal alternatives (two truck routes and one rail route) and for multiple mine lives.


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