Role of conductive spreader layer in reducing surface temperature of HMA pavements

Rutting is a common type of shear failure-related deformation in asphalt (hot mix asphalt, HMA) pavements. It occurs over time as a result of slow, repeated heavy loads from vehicles moving along the wheel path. This problem is most noticeable when the pavement is at a high temperature and its stiffness is the lowest. Previous investigations have concluded that flowing water in pipes embedded in the pavement leads to a reduction in surface temperature, and consequently rutting. However, the thermophysical properties of HMA limit the cooling effect to a small region immediately around the pipe. It is proposed that the area of cooling be enhanced by adding a highly conductive spreader layer below the pavement in conjunction with the pipe. A theoretical design optimisation has been carried out by exploring different aspects of the spreader layer–pipe spacing (W), depth of the pipe–spreader (D), spreader thickness (t _s), thermal conductivity (k _s) and variation in the boundary conditions. Finite element modelling predicts that a properly designed, highly conductive spreader layer will lead to a significant reduction in surface temperature with a minimal piping network leading to an extended functional life of the HMA pavement.     

Carbon footprint of recycled biogenic products: the challenge of modelling CO2 removal credits

Current carbon footprinting (CF) and life cycle assessment (LCA) methods do not treat recycled biogenic carbon adequately, because the calculation rules for recycled products and biogenic carbon stored in products are defined independently from each other. Therefore, an improved and consistent calculation rule for the CF of product systems containing both recycling processes and carbon stored in products is proposed. The methodological approach consists of the application of the same allocation principles for both greenhouse gas (GHG) releases and GHG removals: (1) explicit accounting of inputs (GHG removals) and outputs (GHG releases) of biogenic carbon flows instead of assuming carbon neutrality per se; (2) consistent application of allocation rules for environmental benefits and environmental burdens. It is shown that the different modelling approaches (e.g. polluter pays, conservative or partitioning) lead to different results in LCA and CF calculations, e.g. the GHG emissions of first life cycle of the product system calculated here range between ? 1.6 units in the polluter pays approach and 4 units in the conservative approach. It is shown that the currently common modelling is an average approach for primary biogenic material, a worst-case approach for recycled biogenic material and a best-case approach for disposed biogenic material. This paper proposes to improve the currently developed standards for CF by adding a requirement to the goal and scope definition phase that ensures the consistent and transparent documentation, how biogenic carbon removal credits are allocated between life cycles.     

Performance evaluation of solar photovoltaic electricity-generating systems: an Indian perspective

The present work seeks to assess the sustainability of different solar photovoltaic (SPV) electricity-generating systems based upon energy, environment and economics. The sustainability indicators evaluated for energy, environment and economics are electrical output, life-cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and life-cycle cost of electricity generated per kilowatt hour. The selected SPV-based electricity generation technologies for sustainability evaluation are amorphous, monocrystalline and polycrystalline at different locations and tilt angles across India. For SPV systems, most of the emissions are the result of electricity use during manufacturing. In these cases, an average grid mix for the region of manufacture is typically used to calculate energy use and emissions. Based upon these three indicators, a figure of merit (FM) has been proposed. The results proposed that polycrystalline gives the maximum electrical output, minimum GHG emission, minimum cost and maximum FM at a radiation level of 6 kWh/m²/day with latitude and tilt angle of 34° and 35°, respectively. This work will be helpful to users of solar energy, academicians, researchers and other concerned persons, in understanding the importance, severity and benefits obtained by the application and implementation of the SPV electricity-generating systems.     

Effect of Diversification of Operation Cost on Infrastructure BOT Project Investment Decision and Analysis of Option Game

According to the option characteristic of environmental protection infrastructure build-operate-transfer (BOT) project, this paper sets the concession term as the government's decision variable and adopts option game method to analyze the investment behavior of the project company under the condition that the government makes the concession term certain, and establishes the decision-making models both for the concession term and the investment cost of environmental protection infrastructure. The result shows that to introduce the growth option makes the concession term more reasonable, and the project company enhances the investment in construction cost to benefit itself. Consequently, the time of government operating the environmental protection infrastructure will be lengthened.     

环保基础设施BOT项目特许权期的期权博弈分析

针对环保基础设施BOT项目的期权特性。以特许权期作为政府决策变量．采用期权博弈方法分析项目公司在政府确定特许权期条件下对BOT项目的投资行为．建立了特许权期决策模型以及环保设施建设成本投入决策模型。结果表明，增长期权的引入使得特许权期的确定更合理．项目公司为保证自身利益而提高建设成本投入，从而延长政府对环保基础设施的运营期。     

Technological feasibility and costs of achieving a 50 % reduction of global GHG emissions by 2050: mid- and long-term perspectives

In this article we examine the technological feasibility of the global target of reducing GHG emissions to 50 % of the 1990 level by the year 2050. We also perform a detailed analysis of the contribution of low-carbon technologies to GHG emission reduction over mid- and long-term timeframes, and evaluate the required technological cost. For the analysis we use AIM/Enduse[Global], a techno-economic model for climate change mitigation policy assessment. The results show that a 50 % GHG emission reduction target is technically achievable. Yet achieving the target will require substantial emission mitigation efforts. The GHG emission reduction rate from the reference scenario stands at 23 % in 2020 and 73 % in 2050. The marginal abatement cost to achieve these emission reductions reaches 150/tCO < sub > 2 < /sub > -eq in 2020 and150/tCO₂-eq in 2020 and 600/tCO₂-eq in 2050. Renewable energy, fuel switching, and efficiency improvement in power generation account for 45 % of the total GHG emission reduction in 2020. Non-energy sectors, namely, fugitive emission, waste management, agriculture, and F-gases, account for 25 % of the total GHG emission reduction in 2020. CCS, solar power generation, wind power generation, biomass power generation, and biofuel together account for 64 % of the total GHG emission reduction in 2050. Additional investment in GHG abatement technologies for achieving the target reaches US6.0 trillion by 2020 and US 6.0 trillion by 2020 and US 73 trillion by 2050. This corresponds to 0.7 and 1.8 % of the world GDP, respectively, in the same periods. Non-Annex I regions account for 55 % of the total additional investment by 2050. In a sectoral breakdown, the power generation and transport sectors account for 56 and 30 % of the total additional investment by 2050, respectively.     

Sectoral marginal abatement cost curves: implications for mitigation pledges and air pollution co-benefits for Annex I countries

Using the GAINS (Greenhouse Gas–Air Pollution Interactions and Synergies) model, we derived Annex I marginal abatement cost curves for the years 2020 and 2030 for three World Energy Outlook baseline scenarios (2007–2009) of the International Energy Agency. These cost curves are presented by country, by greenhouse gas and by sector. They are available for further inter-country comparisons in the GAINS Mitigation Efforts Calculator—a free online tool. We illustrate the influence of the baseline scenario on the shape of mitigation cost curves, and identify key low cost options as well as no-regret priority investment areas for the years 2010–2030. Finally, we show the co-effect of GHG mitigation on the emissions of local air pollutants and argue that these co-benefits offer strong local incentives for mitigation.     

Motivation of Japanese companies to take environmental action to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions: an econometric analysis

To analyze the motivations of Japanese companies to take environmental actions to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, we used FY2006 research data and questioned Japanese industries regarding their reduction of GHG emissions. Empirical investigations revealed that voluntary targets set by industry organizations, government requirements, and advance responses to possible future regulations can positively influence environmental actions for GHG emission reduction; however, cost reductions and corporate social responsibility fulfillment cannot.

Multiobjective optimisation method for life-cycle design of mechanical products

Manufacturing that minimises the exhaustion of natural resources, energy used and deleterious environmental impact is increasingly demanded by societies that seek to protect global environments as much as possible. To achieve this, life-cycle design (LCD) is an essential component of product design scenarios; however, LCD approaches have not been well integrated in optimal design methods that support quantitative decision-making. This study presents a method that yields quantitative solutions through optimisation analysis of a basic product design incorporating life-cycle considerations. We consider two types of optimisation approaches that have different aims, namely, (1) to reduce the use of raw materials and energy consumption and (2) to facilitate the reuse of the product or its parts when it reaches the end of its useful life. We also focus on how the optimisation results differ according to the approach used, from the viewpoint of the 3R concept (Reduce, Reuse and Recycling). Our method obtains optimum solutions by evaluating objectives fitted to each of these two optimisation approaches with respect to the product's life-cycle stages, which are manufacturing, use, maintenance, disposal, reuse and recycling. As an applied example, a simple linear robot model is presented, and Pareto optimum solutions are obtained for the multiobjective optimisation problem whose evaluated objectives are the operating accuracy of the robot and the different life-cycle costs for the two approaches. The characteristics of the evaluated objectives and design variables, as well as the effects of using material characteristics as design parameters, are also examined.     

Selection of green product design scheme based on multi-attribute decision-making method

The function, cost and environmental performance are the primary decision-making factors for scheme selection in green design. For the comprehensive and accurate decision-making in selecting green product design scheme, a quantitative analysis method of multi-attribute decision-making (MADM) is presented. With analysing the multi-attribute of scheme selection, the MADM model is established, which takes environmental impact of materials, disassembly performance, recycling performance, energy efficiency, noise, pollutants to environmental and functional values. Fuzzy technique for order performance by similarity to ideal solution method is applied to solve this model for the feasible solutions. Finally, a case study is given to validate the application of this methodology as a useful design guideline for scheme selection in green design.     

评析中国现行环境保护投资体制

本文通过对我国近15年环保投资相关数据的分析,揭示了现行环保投资体制失灵的一个重要因素是结构上失衡,在环保投资中没有体现环保设施运营费用,直接影响了环保投资的效益,其次,一些指标的设计严重偏离了现实,影响了环保投资的有机构成,也导致环境政策的失效,在此基础上,结合实际,提出初步的改革设想。     

Evaluation of the potential of harvesting heat energy from asphalt pavements

The potential of harvesting heat energy from asphalt pavement using a piping network with fluid flowing through it needs to be evaluated before spending a significant amount of time on planning details of design and construction. The key factors involved in this evaluation include the temperature of the pavement at the depth at which the system is being considered, as well as the temperature of the fluid used for harvesting the heat energy. Costs include those required for the system such as pumps and pipes, and cost of energy required for pumping. Taking all of the factors into consideration, a macro-enabled spreadsheet has been developed that allows the user to input air temperature data as well as pipe location and cost parameters. The end results are data on flow rate versus yearly savings and payback period. From these data, a user can easily determine whether the payback period is reasonable or not and could also evaluate the effect of the different parameters on the payback period. Examples of the results of analysis for different cities in four different parts of the USA and Singapore and Chennai, India, are presented. The payback period shows a good relationship with the latitude of the location – the period increases with an increase in latitude. The public domain location from where the spreadsheet can be downloaded is provided.     

负外部成本内部化约束下的煤炭开采税费水平研究

煤炭开采中面临严重的代际负外部性和生态环境负外部性问题,分别运用使用者成本法和直接市场法测算了煤炭资源开采中的代际负外部成本和生态环境负外部成本。根据两个负外部成本充分内部化的要求,提出煤炭开采中税费水平的调整目标。以2008年为例,煤炭开采中资源税的征收标准应由目前的从量0.3-5元/t(约从价1%)提至从价10%;开采吨煤应交的生态环境费用标准应由目前的24元/t提至64.23-68.47元/t,即每吨提高40.23-44.47元。综合资源税和生态环境费用的提高幅度,煤炭开采活动中的税费水平应提高约21-22个百分点;通过比较现行税费制度下煤炭开采企业实交的资源税费、生态环境税费总额与企业应交的资源、生态环境费用总额之间的差距,指出目前我国政府对开采企业隐性税费补贴的规模水平,根据价差法计算得出取消此部分税费补贴将可以削减3 653.69万tCO2排放。     

An integrated approach for the benchmarking of production facilities’ environmental performance: data envelopment analysis and life cycle assessment

Environmental impacts have become an important consideration in the manufacturing industry due to increasing public pressure for environment protection and the requirements of recently launched legislations. Data envelopment analysis (DEA) is a widely adopted methodological approach for the benchmarking of the relative efficiency of different production units. Changes in production efficiency may affect environmental impacts. DEA can be used for identifying the most efficient production facility and hence, the environmental impacts generated from the different production lines can then be benchmarked. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is carried out to quantify the full environmental impacts of a product from ‘cradle to grave’. The integration of LCA with DEA, efficiency and environmental impact of different production processes for a certain family of products can be evaluated and benchmarked. The proposed two-stage approach can help to reduce the aggregate environmental impacts of the manufacturing phase and is used to benchmark the environmental performance of several production lines in a manufacturing company.     

排污补贴视角下的养殖户环保投资影响因素研究——基于沪、苏、浙生猪养殖户的调查分析

随着畜牧业的发展,畜牧业污染问题日益突出。解决污染问题的关键是增强养殖户参与,鼓励他们自发进行环保投资,而政府补贴对于具有外部性的生产投资活动均具有刺激作用。为了量化分析影响农户环保投资行为的各因素的作用程度,特别是政府补贴的激烈效果,本文运用调查结合实证的研究方法,在农户模型的分析框架上,以沪、苏、浙地区394户生猪养殖户的调查数据为基础,应用有序logit模型验证排污补贴、养殖户生产经营特征、环保需求特征对养殖户环保投资的作用。研究表明除了政府补贴会刺激养殖户的环保投资外,养殖规模对环保投资有激励作用,而养殖年限却会抑制环保投资。养殖户的个人特征,对污染的认知及参与污染治理的意愿也对环保投资水平有正的影响,但作用效果不明显。在此基础上,本文提出了合理制定和推进排污补贴政策,以"离牧补助"等形式促使养殖规模和环保要求不符的养殖户退出养殖业,加大畜牧业污染危害的宣传力度以及政府加强对污染处理技术的研发投资,从而降低处理成本等政策建议。     

A hybrid approach for environmental impact evaluation of design options

The strengthened environmental regulatory requirements and general awareness of the need for environmental conservation worldwide, design for environment has become a key design criterion in new product development processes. Due to their resources-consuming attribute and the prerequisite expert knowledge in environmental sciences for the impacts interpretations, the existing forms of product-oriented environmental impact assessment methods are impractical to be adopted by product designers in small-and-medium enterprises. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a generally accepted quantitative approach to assess a product’s environmental impact. However, a full LCA study often requires a considerable amount of data and therefore, it is regarded as not a handy tool for product design evaluations particularly at the initial design stage. This leads to our intention to develop an immediately applicable approach for decision-makers to evaluate the design options. The proposed approach integrates Analytic Hierarchy Process and Fuzzy Theory, with Evidential Reasoning (ER) to support the environmental impact evaluations of design options. A case study is carried out to demonstrate its applicability to prioritize the environmental impact of various design options. A symmetrical triangular distribution is introduced for calculating the expected utility and for testing the sensitivity of results.     

A test of environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) for carbon emission and potential of renewable energy to reduce green house gases (GHG) in Malaysia

This study investigates the presence of environmental kuznets curve (EKC) for green house gases (GHG) measured by CO₂ emission in Malaysia for the period 1970 to 2011. The study also examines the potential of the renewable source of energy to contain GHG. The long-run significant positive coefficient of GDP indicates that the GHG are increasing with economic growth while the insignificant coefficient on GDP square rejects the EKC transition. These results indicate a high GDP level for the EKC turning point for Malaysia. Therefore, it can be stated that only economic growth cannot reverse the environmental degradation in Malaysia. The government should have to come up with some policy measures to achieve CO₂ emission reduction targets that Malaysia has pledged to achieve in Paris Submit (2015). The renewable energy production is found to have significant negative effect on CO₂ emission. So government should focus on the renewable source of energy production and should frame a special policy for renewable energy production.     

高炉渣资源化生产绿色建材的环境效益评估——基于生命周期的视角

高炉渣是钢铁厂高炉炼铁产生的矿渣,具有较高的资源化价值,可用于生产多种绿色建材产品。熔融高炉渣经水急冷后形成的粒化高炉矿渣,粉磨成矿渣微粉可作为水泥混合材和混凝土掺合料。以高炉渣资源化过程为研究对象,采用生命周期清单分析方法,并基于GaBi 4软件平台,对我国某建材企业综合利用高炉渣生产矿渣硅酸盐水泥和商品混凝土全过程的能源消耗、原材料消耗和温室气体排放进行了分析,进而从节能、降耗和碳减排三方面评估其环境效益。结果表明,与普通硅酸盐水泥相比,矿渣硅酸盐水泥可分别实现节约能源1 911 MJ/t(节能26%),降低原材料消耗1 158 kg/t(降耗27%),减少碳排放236 kg/t(碳减排26%);与复合硅酸盐水泥相比,矿渣硅酸盐水泥可实现节约能源352 MJ/t(节能6%),降低原材料消耗278 kg/t(降耗8%),减少碳排放47 kg/t(碳减排7%)。与不掺加矿粉的普通商品混凝土比较,掺矿粉的商品混凝土可实现节约能源97 MJ/m3(节能5%),降低原材料消耗7 kg/m3(降耗0.3%),减少碳排放12 kg/m3(碳减排5%)。高炉渣资源化生产矿渣硅酸盐水泥和商品混凝土具有明显的环境效益。     

基于熵权的山区公路自然环境影响多目标评价

科学合理地进行公路建设自然环境影响评价是正确处理公路建设和自然环境保护之间关系、实施可持续发展的前提。分析了现行公路设计相关规范,提出了适用于公路设计方案比选需求的自然环境影响评价指标体系和评价方法。采用公路路线设计、桥梁设计、隧道设计、防护工程和临时工程5个方面共17个指标进行评价,并在规范和一定数据统计的基础上,给出了各个评价等级的标准。用层次分析法(AHP)确定子系统的权重,熵值法确定评价指标的权重,以求同时反映评价分级的主观性和实测数据的客观性。以常吉高速公路为实例,分析结果表明：该公路自然环境影响等级属于“良好”级偏“中”;与实际情况相符,表明评价方法可行     

Environmental impact assessment of a ceramic tile supply chain – a case study

The beginning of the twenty-first century saw a surge in the growth of construction industry, particularly the housing sector in India. This led to the growing demand of ceramic tiles. This growth is responsible for large-scale consumption of natural resources and generation of solid waste. The objective of this paper is to assess the environmental impact of vitrified ceramic floor tile supply chain by performing life cycle assessment (LCA) following international standards of ISO 14040 series guidelines. The impact has been determined by conducting a LCA using Umberto NXT software (eco-invent 3.0 database) with ReCiPe endpoint and midpoint methods. It has been found that the manufacturing stage of supply chain is generating highest impact on environment in all the categories. Impact analysis of different input resources/material shows that red oxide used in glaze preparation, electricity in manufacturing, packaging material, distribution by trucks, installation of tiles using concrete and disposal of packaging material are responsible for most of the environmental impact. This study will offer the essential quantitative assessment to recognise the phases and materials which are highly responsible for the degradation of environment so that appropriate interventions by the different stakeholders can be planed.