1,721,026 research outputs found
Planning and prioritizing of energy retrofits for the cities of the future
No full textIn the cities of the future, public administrations play a key role both because they implement political and legislative choices, and because they must represent the virtuous example to follow. Related to the planning and prioritizing of public buildings energy retrofits, public administrations must support a transition process. In this viewpoint, authors proposed an approach by defining three postulates, or pillars, based on the concept of transdisciplinary, that is knowledge, planning and sharing of the city. These pillars could have a significant impact and positive effect in a number of areas and could bring to economical, social and environmental sustainability. It also encourages the development and transfer of knowledge and technology in the main topic of the cities of the futures.In the cities of the future, public administrations play a key role both because they implement political and legislative choices, and because they must represent the virtuous example to follow. Related to the planning and prioritizing of public buildings energy retrofits, public administrations must support a transition process. In this viewpoint, authors proposed an approach by defining three postulates, or pillars, based on the concept of transdisciplinary, that is knowledge, planning and sharing of the city. These pillars could have a significant impact and positive effect in a number of areas and could bring to economical, social and environmental sustainability. It also encourages the development and transfer of knowledge and technology in the main topic of the cities of the futures
Cittadinanza europea e mobilità dolce. Dal contesto europeo a quello locale European citizenship and soft mobility. From the European to the local context
No full textThe study of the state of the art regarding green infrastructure for slow mobility, both from a regulatory and research point of view, has highlighted the strong attention that the international context has given to these issues. Probably because the topic of mobility is transversal and multisectoral with direct and indirect impacts on many of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals 2030. Therefore, this article illustrates the most significant initiatives and studies in recent years on slow mobility, both in urban and territorial contexts, from the European to the local context. They have shown the need for a multidisciplinary approach in the design of cycling networks, the involvement of stakeholders in the planning as well as the recognition of the importance of sustainability issues. The conclusion is that a change in direction is certainly underway, but initiatives of greater impact are needed, capable of encompassing all the issues and demands that only in some European countries have already found fertile ground
Circular economy and e-waste: An opportunity from RFID TAGs
Full text linkIn this work, a deep economic and technical analysis for the enhancement of e-waste hierarchy applied to the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags is presented. Nowadays, the RFID technology represents a valuable solution for many applications to improve the quality and efficiency of the supply chain, as well as for enhanced people or object identification and smart devices. This leads to massive usage of such devices that could represent a threat to the environment, since they are often considered as generic waste and no specific e-waste policy has been identified for RFID. For these reasons, the paper presents a study based on the desk research technique to propose several possibilities currently available for producers of different RFID devices in order to mitigate this problem at every e-waste hierarchy stage, i.e., ecological design and prevention, reuse, recycle, and disposal. Moreover, a cost/benefit analysis has been reported in order to highlight the economic advantages related to the RFID tags reuse, as well as environmental impact reduction. Results proved that passive RFID tags represent the major candidate for the e-waste hierarchy enhancement at every level, demonstrating that it is more convenient for the producer to consider an ecologically aware design and promote a take-back system for tags in order to take advantages from the solution proposed for the RFID e-waste hierarchy
A sustainable solution for energy efficiency in Italian climatic contexts
Full text linkIn the European Union, about 40% of energy consumption and 36% of CO2 emissions come from buildings; therefore, the improvement of their energy performance is a strongly focused issue. In particular, the energy efficiency of the building envelope is a very important element to pay attention to. Many studies have been conducted on this field of research, and the study illustrated in this paper also belongs to this topic. In particular, this article presents a multidisciplinary method to find sustainable solutions for energy efficiency in Italian climatic contexts using the Life Cycle Cost Analysis approach. In detail, this paper defines the reference scenario and then deepens the methodology used to determine the economically optimal thickness of a specific insulating material-hemp fiber-applied to a specific type of wall-uninsulated cavity walls made of hollow bricks, which are very widespread in Italy. The analysis is developed in relation to three different regions-Piedmont, Abruzzo, and Campania. The results show that the economically optimal thickness is different for each region analyzed and demonstrates how energy efficiency strategies must be carefully weighed according to the specific conditions of the site
Economic and environmental assessment of thermal insulation. A case study in the Italian context
Full text linkAn analysis of the state of the art has shown how current European policy underpins the importance of assessing the impact of different energy efficiency strategies during the life cycle of buildings. In this study a framework is developed for the identification of the optimal material to be used to achieve the highest level of energy efficiency in building retrofits, taking into account environmental and economic elements and comparing different scenarios. For each of these scenarios the Life Cycle Cost Analysis was applied together with related environmental analysis in terms of the production of CO2. The research was applied to an industrial factory in Italy. Results showed that, among ten material with different origin, namely plant, animal, mineral and fossil origin, the optimal thickness varied between 0.023 m of the line fiber, and 0.082 m of the rock wool. From the economic point of view, saving was between 1.58 €/m2 with the linen fiber, and 9.63 €/m2 with the rock wool. Finally, considering the environmental aspect, savings in terms of CO2 was possible only for three of the ten materials, namely cork, sheep wool and fiber glass, respectively equal to 0.14 Kg/m2, 0.65 Kg/m2 and 0.34 Kg/m2. The study has important implications mainly regarding the issue of energy efficiency. Specifically, the opportunity to analyse and compare economic and environmental aspects of a series of alternative materials to improve energy efficiency may provide stakeholders with calculated and objective input for the support of sustainable actions. Sum up, this research has identified a “result oriented” methodology comparing traditional and sustainable materials and measuring the benefits from the correct insulation of a building. These benefits are mainly of an economic and environmental nature and, in this regard, the study helps to strengthen the leadership of the EU for a sustainable use of natural resources within an efficient bioeconomy, essential to achieve Sustainable Development Goals
Construction Work and Utilities in Historic Centers: Strategies for a Transition towards Fuel-Free Construction Sites
No full textIn historic centers, construction works consist of complex activities that must balance the operative requirements and lower the impacts on a delicate and sensible environment. In this urban system, especially regarding relevant reconstruction processes such as post-natural disaster scenarios, construction operations are performed through the traditional construction processes, using fuel-based generators and vehicles with limited efficiency and with relevant impacts in terms of the consumed energy, noise and vibrations. In the global transition of the construction sectors towards a zero-emission and fuel-free future, construction sites in historic centers represent a particular opportunity where the application of fuel-free strategies is particularly feasible and can provide additional value in terms of the environmental impact, productivity and health and safety. This work addresses the need for a framework to provide the basis for the application of fuel-free principles in construction within historic city centers dealing with two major concepts: the adaptive construction site as a way to reduce the energy demand and the potential adoption of fuel-free machines. The former is derived from the analysis of a real project in the historic city of L’Aquila, while the latter is defined through the identification and categorization of the applicable electric machines, equipment and vehicles and the discussion of the limits, opportunities and added value of the fuel-free strategies
An economic analysis of biogas-biomethane chain from animal residues in Italy
No full textThe green revolution represents a substantial investment plan on renewable energy resources (RESs) reducing the country's dependence on fossil fuels energy. Currently, some resources are not completely exploited and the transformation of waste residues into green energy is able to develop circular economy models. Europe has a great potential coming from animal residues and the transport sector has a weak growth of RESs. Biomethane, also called green gas, is a possible valid solution. This work provides an economic analysis regarding both biogas and biomethane plants that use several typologies of animal residues. Net Present Value (NPV) and Discounted Payback Time (DPBT) are used as indexes. The production of electricity by biogas plants contributes to reducing the levels of emissions, but its upgrading can conduct to increase environmental performance. This is not coupled with an increase in profits. Results of the work define the minimum size in which both biogas and biomethane plants are profitable and the key-role of subsidies trying to provide policy guidance to governments and planners
Modeling optimal investments with portfolio analysis in electricity markets
No full textAnalyses of renewable energy technologies usually focus on static accounting of energy and greenhouse gases balances. The actual energy generation portfolios are based on fossil fuel determining an increased exposure to fluctuations prices, particularly for countries heavily depending on imported energy. In this paper, a model is presented to simulate the evolution of the renewable energy balance. It applies portfolio theory in the Italian electricity market for different energies sources: biomass, wind, hydro and photovoltaic. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the relevance of making a portfolio risk explicit, and, through an optimal generation portfolio, show as such risk can be mitigated by the diversification of investments in renewable energies. Moreover the presented analysis can be useful for energy planners to select future green scenarios finalized to the reduction of energy imports through the increasing use of renewable energy
Technical and economic approach to aim the feasibility of renewables in the Italian context
No full textTo date, despite the existence of the sustainability goals of the 2030 Agenda and the need for an energy transition, the results set is still quite far away from being achieved. The awareness of this situation moves many European countries to promote policies based on the use of renewable sources. This paper is aimed at illustrating the Italian legislative context, evaluating the effectiveness of the introduced incentives, according to parameters that affect the productivity of a photovoltaic system. It is also aimed at helping to bridge the gap linked to the relationship between incentives and energy transition, also with regard to renewables. The research focuses on an evaluation methodology, based on technical and economic standards and it is accompanied by a case-study. In order to analyze the productivity of the photovoltaic system, all the main input factors that could affect the technical and economic performance of the system were investigated. In particular, solar potential analysis, shading elements, installation place, azimuth, tilt of modules and technology. For the economic valuations, the discounted cash flow method was used. The results obtained show that some Italian regions, particularly those in the north, should prefer other forms of renewables, such as hydroelectric and geothermal, and that the FER1 decree is not suitable for the promotion of solar photovoltaics in some areas. The research shows also that policies on renewables should be calibrated according to the intrinsic features of the place where they are located and have to be related to the built heritage they will interface, in the light of technological and plant system aspects
Efficiency and allocation of emission allowances and energy consumption over more sustainable European economies
No full textEfficient use of energy, reduction in fossil fuel dependence and control of CO2 emissions are all fundamental
to development of a sustainable economy. Competitiveness in energy use saves imports of oil and
gas, increases gross domestic product and creates new jobs in the renewable energy and energy efficiency
sectors. This study identifies the more or less competitive European Union member states in terms
of sustainable growth, using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model, and proposes new allocations of
country greenhouse gas limits and energy consumption, using a Zero Sum Gains DEA model. The analysis
of European countries fills a gap in the existing literature and contributes to the discussion on the 2020
e2030 European strategy, proposing an efficiency-based indicator which measures country performance
in terms of economic, social and environmental factors: GDP represents the economic factor, population
represents the social factor, and emissions, final and renewable energy consumption are the environmental
factors. The numerical results show that the initial allocations are inefficient. Applying the
modelled reallocation, the most efficient countries are “rewarded” by potential increases in emission and
energy consumption, while the least efficient countries must bring about decreases to achieve full
efficiency
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