scholarly journals Modelling Environmental Burdens of Indoor-Grown Vegetables and Herbs as Affected by Red and Blue LED Lighting

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (15) ◽  
pp. 4063 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuseppina Pennisi ◽  
Esther Sanyé-Mengual ◽  
Francesco Orsini ◽  
Andrea Crepaldi ◽  
Silvana Nicola ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Electricity Consumption ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Environmental Pressures ◽  
Light Emitting ◽  
Led Lighting ◽  
Life Cycle Perspective ◽  
Electronic Elements

Notwithstanding that indoor farming is claimed to reduce the environmental pressures of food systems, electricity needs are elevated and mainly associated with lighting. To date, however, no studies have quantified the environmental and economic profile of Light Emitting Diodes (LED) lighting in indoor farming systems. The goal of this study is to quantify the effect of varying the red (R) and blue (B) LED spectral components (RB ratios of 0.5, 1, 2, 3 and 4) on the eco-efficiency of indoor production of lettuce, chicory, rocket and sweet basil from a life cycle perspective. The functional unit of the assessment was 1 kg of harvested fresh plant edible product, and the International Reference Life Cycle Data System (ILCD) method was employed for impact assessment. Even though most of the materials of the LED lamp and electronic elements were imported from long distances (14,400 km), electricity consumption was the largest contributor to the environmental impacts (with the LED lamps being the main electricity consumers, approximately 70%), apart from the resources use indicator, where the materials of the lamps and the mineral nutrients were also relevant. RB0.5 was the most energy-efficient light treatment but had the lowest eco-efficiency scores due to the lower crop yields.

scholarly journals Sustainable Personal Transport Modes in a Life Cycle Perspective—Public or Private?

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (24) ◽  
pp. 7092 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajib Sinha ◽  
Lars E. Olsson ◽  
Björn Frostell
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Public Transport ◽  
Travel Behavior ◽  
Environmental Pressures ◽  
Environmental Footprints ◽  
Passenger Travel ◽  
Life Cycle Perspective ◽  
Private Car ◽  
Transport Modes ◽  
Public Versus Private

Life cycle-based studies endorse public transport to cause lower environmental pressures compared to a private car. However, a private car can cause lower environmental pressure when a public vehicle (bus or train) runs on a lower occupancy during an off-peak hour. This fact should be the basis for a more profound debate regarding public versus private transport. Many transport interventions are striving to reduce the number of car transports. To reach this goal, passengers need attractive alternatives to their reduced number of car travels (i.e., attractive public transport). This study aimed to develop a model allowing us to estimate potential environmental gains by changing travel behavior. A passenger travel model was developed based on life cycle inventories (LCI) of different travel modes to calculate environmental footprints. The model was applied in an intervention of public transport through temporary free public transport. The intervention was successful in significantly reducing the number of car transports (12%). However, total passenger kilometer travelled (PKT) increased substantially more, mainly by bus, but also train, bicycle and walking. The total energy, carbon and nitrogen oxide footprints were slightly increased after the intervention. If the commuters were assumed to travel during peak hours or the number of public transports were not affected by the increased number of commuters, the overall environmental footprints decreased. Our conclusions are that transport interventions are very complex. They may result in desired changes, but also in altered travel behavior, increasing overall impact. Thus, a very broad evaluation of all transport modes as well as potential positive social influences of the transport intervention will be necessary.

scholarly journals A method to estimate savings of led lighting instalation in public buildings: The case study of secondary schools in Serbia

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (6 Part B) ◽  
pp. 2931-2943 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mladen Josijevic ◽  
Dusan Gordic ◽  
Dobrica Milovanovic ◽  
Nebojsa Jurisevic ◽  
Nikola Rakic
Keyword(s):  
Cost Reduction ◽  
Light Emitting Diode ◽  
Electric Energy ◽  
Light Flux ◽  
Electricity Consumption ◽  
Maintenance Cost ◽  
Light Emitting ◽  
Led Lighting ◽  
Lighting Systems

This paper examines the potentials of saving electric energy in school lighting by replacing the existent systems of lighting with more adequate ones which are based on light-emitting diode technology. Our primary goal is to present the methodology used in this analysis since it can be used to determine potential savings in lighting systems of any public building. We have performed the detailed analysis of nine high schools located in Kragujevac, Serbia. The first step was to collect the data about the numbers and types of systems utilized, as well as about the habits of their users. This has revealed the share of electricity consumption for lighting in total electricity consumption. The replacements for each existent light source have been proposed taking into consideration the projected value of light flux depending on the purpose of each room. The calculations of potential savings through the replacement of lighting systems have been conducted taking into consideration not only the savings in electric energy but also the savings made through the maintenance cost reduction. Based on the results, the potential savings range from 53-62% while the payback period for the analysed schools is about four years in average.

scholarly journals Life Cycle Assessment of Honey: Considering the Pollination Service

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ioannis Arzoumanidis ◽  
Andrea Raggi ◽  
Luigia Petti
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Electricity Consumption ◽  
Impact Category ◽  
Natural Ecosystems ◽  
Pollination Service ◽  
Economic Allocation ◽  
Natural Land

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has been increasingly used for the improvement of the environmental performance of products and services, including food systems. Amongst them, however, honey appears to have been rarely analysed. Furthermore, the pollination by honeybees can be regarded as one of the functions of an apiculture system and is of utmost importance both for natural ecosystems and agriculture. When implementing an LCA of an apiculture system, the pollination service can and should be considered as one of the functions of a multifunctional system and the issue of how to deal with this multifunctionality in the modelling of that system should be considered carefully. The aim of this paper is to explore the economic value of pollination as a potential basis for managing multifunctionality in LCA modelling as well as its implementation in a case study. Economic allocation was performed between the pollination service and honey production. The results demonstrated that the production phase is the most impactful one for most of the environmental categories (due to the use of glass for the honey jars and electricity consumption during the storage of supers in refrigerator rooms), followed by the distribution phase. Finally, the most affected environmental impact category appeared to be natural land transformation, followed by marine ecotoxicity, freshwater eutrophication and human toxicity.

scholarly journals Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of Refrigerator Modelled with Application of Various Electricity Mixes and Technologies

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (17) ◽  
pp. 5350
Author(s):  
Anna Lewandowska ◽  
Przemysław Kurczewski ◽  
Katarzyna Joachimiak-Lechman ◽  
Marek Zabłocki
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Electricity Generation ◽  
Electricity Consumption ◽  
Tracking Systems ◽  
Life Cycle Perspective ◽  
Environmental Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Electricity Systems

Improving national electricity mixes and increasing a share of renewable energy covered by credible and reliable tracking systems are vital topics, also in a context of life cycle assessment. There are many publications devoted to the relevance of energy in the life cycle of products, but only few LCA examples applying residual mixes have been found in the literature. The paper presents the results of an LCA study for a refrigerator calculated with using different electricity mixes and technologies. The life cycle was divided into eight stages and the electricity consumption was modelled as renewable energy, national residual mix, or national supplier mix. Electricity mixes for three different countries were selected and used. The study aimed to answer the following questions: “what are the most relevant elements in the life cycle of the analysed refrigerator?”, “do the elements change if various electricity mixes are applied?”, and “what differences are there in the environmental impact of electricity generation modelled as residual and supplier mixes?”. From the life cycle perspective, not only may differences in national electricity systems between countries turn out to be important, but equally significant may be the choice between different types of mixes for a certain country.

scholarly journals Climate Impact of China’s Promotion of the Filling Mining Method: Bottom-Up Estimation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Underground Metal Mines

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (11) ◽  
pp. 3273
Author(s):  
Yang Liu ◽  
Congrui Zhang ◽  
Yingying Huang ◽  
Zhixiong Xiao ◽  
Yaxuan Han ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Underground Mining ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Electricity Consumption ◽  
Climate Impact ◽  
Bottom Up ◽  
Metal Mines ◽  
Life Cycle Perspective ◽  
Filling Method

China recently implemented a “Green Mine” policy focused on promoting the filling method, aiming to mitigate the environmental impacts of underground mining; nevertheless, quantitative inventories have rarely been provided to support or negate such promotion, especially from a life-cycle perspective. Accordingly, this paper proposes a bottom-up model for estimating life-cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from underground metal mines using either filling or caving methods. Two filling-based (Luohe and Longtangyan) and two caving-based (Maogong and Xiaowanggou) iron mines were studied; their direct GHG emissions were 0.576, 0.278, 2.130, and 1.425 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per kiloton-extracted ore (t CO2 eq/kt), respectively. When indirect GHG emissions were considered, the results increased to 17.386, 15.211, 5.554, and 5.602 t CO2 eq/kt, respectively. In contrast to popular belief, such results demonstrate that promoting the filling method can potentially raise the overall GHG emissions. Although filling-based projects generate less direct GHG emissions, the emissions are transferred to upstream sectors, especially the cement and power sectors. The additional electricity consumption in the haulage and backfilling stages is primarily responsible for the greater GHG emissions occurring in filling-based projects. Some mitigation approaches are suggested, such as backfilling the subsidence pit, using industrial waste as cementing materials, employing energy-efficient pumps, and further developing hauling systems.

Managing Water for Food and Agricultural Transformation in Africa

2019 ◽  
pp. 469-487
Author(s):  
Timothy O. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Integrated Management ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Rural Transformation ◽  
Agricultural Transformation ◽  
Development Agenda ◽  
Policy Measures ◽  
Technical Solutions ◽  
Food Value

This chapter examines the links between water, food and society in Africa. Agricultural transformation to promote growth, eliminate poverty and hunger and sustain ecosystems is one of the central pillars of current development agenda in Africa. Achievement of this agenda will crucially depend on sustainable water management. However, agri-food systems and water resources are under greater pressure than ever before due to demographic, economic and climatic changes. The nature and scale of these changes suggest that only a holistic and integrated management of all shades of water resources, green, blue and grey, will allow Africa to eliminate hunger and poverty. Research-based technical solutions as well as institutional and policy measures are proposed that would allow available water resources to be sustainably used to promote climate-resilient farming systems, improve agricultural productivity and food security and spur the development of viable food value chains needed for agricultural and rural transformation.

scholarly journals A global database of diversified farming effects on biodiversity and yield

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah K. Jones ◽  
Andrea C. Sánchez ◽  
Stella D. Juventia ◽  
Natalia Estrada-Carmona
Keyword(s):  
United Nations ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Convention On Biological Diversity ◽  
Sustainable Food ◽  
Global Database ◽  
Diversified Farming Systems

AbstractWith the Convention on Biological Diversity conference (COP15), United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), and United Nations Food Systems Summit, 2021 is a pivotal year for transitioning towards sustainable food systems. Diversified farming systems are key to more sustainable food production. Here we present a global dataset documenting outcomes of diversified farming practices for biodiversity and yields compiled following best standards for systematic review of primary studies and specifically designed for use in meta-analysis. The dataset includes 4076 comparisons of biodiversity outcomes and 1214 of yield in diversified farming systems compared to one of two reference systems. It contains evidence from 48 countries of effects on species from 33 taxonomic orders (spanning insects, plants, birds, mammals, eukaryotes, annelids, fungi, and bacteria) of diversified farming systems producing annual or perennial crops across 12 commodity groups. The dataset presented provides a resource for researchers and practitioners to easily access information on where diversified farming systems effectively contribute to biodiversity and food production outcomes.

scholarly journals Towards DC Energy Efficient Homes

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (13) ◽  
pp. 6005
Author(s):  
Daniel Villanueva ◽  
Moisés Cordeiro-Costas ◽  
Andrés E. Feijóo-Lorenzo ◽  
Antonio Fernández-Otero ◽  
Edelmiro Miguez-García
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Electric Vehicles ◽  
Energy Efficient ◽  
Electricity Consumption ◽  
Real Data ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Led Lighting ◽  
Shed Light

The aim of this paper is to shed light on the question regarding whether the integration of an electric battery as a part of a domestic installation may increase its energy efficiency in comparison with a conventional case. When a battery is included in such an installation, two types of electrical conversion must be considered, i.e., AC/DC and DC/AC, and hence the corresponding losses due to these converters must not be forgotten when performing the analysis. The efficiency of the whole system can be increased if one of the mentioned converters is avoided or simply when its dimensioning is reduced. Possible ways to achieve this goal can be: to use electric vehicles as DC suppliers, the use of as many DC home devices as possible, and LED lighting or charging devices based on renewables. With all this in mind, several scenarios are proposed here in order to have a look at all possibilities concerning AC and DC powering. With the aim of checking these scenarios using real data, a case study is analyzed by operating with electricity consumption mean values.

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