Integrating ecodesign by conducting changes in SMEs

Despite the progressive use of ecodesign in the industrial world, taking into account environmental constraints remains problematical for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), which seem to be remaining on the fringe of the movement. Beyond the lack of environmental culture in the enterprises, the problem stems from the ecodesign tools which have not been designed with any thought of integrating them into the enterprises' organisation. There is indeed no method for ecodesign integration in companies. We show in this article that, while in fact there is a thorough and varied set of ecodesign tools available, they will not allow ecodesign to become more widespread while they remain tools for experts. We are therefore putting forward a method to carry out the integration of ecodesign in SMEs during demonstration projects implemented with the assistance of advisory centres specialised in the industrial sector of the company.     

Eco-efficiency and ecodesign in electrical and electronic products

Although it had been about 10 years since eco-efficiency and Factor X were proposed, these concepts were not actually utilized in companies. Accordingly, the author proposed eco-efficiency (Factor X) indicators and has actually utilized them since 2001 in companies, and has conducted many case studies of eco-efficiency and Factor X using these indicators. However, there remains an argument: the improvement of eco-efficiency (Factor X) is due to an improvement in functions and there is still a possibility that environmental impacts increase. So, this paper begins with a brief explanation of the proposed eco-efficiency (Factor X) indicators and the case studies. Next, eco-efficiency and ecodesign are discussed. This paper analyzes the relationship between functions and environmental impacts using results of quantitative evaluations and verifies the argument quantitatively. From this analysis result, the author found that most products improved the product's functions while reducing environmental impacts.     

Economic benefits from decreased mercury emissions: Projections for 2020

Anthropogenic processes have increased the exposure of humans and wildlife to toxic methyl mercury (MeHg). Mercury emissions will increase by about 25% between 2005 and 2020, if the present trajectory is maintained. A global assessment of societal damages caused by the ingestion of methyl mercury, based merely on loss of IQ (Intelligence Quotient), suggests that the annual cost will be approximately US$3.7 billion (2005 dollars) in 2020. The corresponding cost of damages resulting from the inhalation of methyl mercury is estimated at US$2.9 million (2005 dollars). Under a higher degree of emission control such as in the case of the Extended Emission Control (EXEC) and the Maximum Feasible Technological Reduction (MFTR) scenarios, total emissions could decrease in the period 2005–2020 by about 50–60%. The corresponding annual benefits in 2020 are estimated to be about US$1.8–2.2 billion (2005 dollars). Large economic benefits can be achieved by reducing global mercury emissions.     

Economic and health benefits of the co-reduction of air pollutants and greenhouse gases

This study examines the monetary value of social costs—private costs and negative externalities—that could be avoided by energy conservation actions. A novel Air Resource Co-Benefits (ARCoB) model has been developed in this study to assess the comprehensive social benefits of greenhouse gas GHG mitigation policy. The rollback model is used to estimate changes in air pollutant concentrations attributed to the emission reductions. Change in ozone concentration is converted from non-methane hydrocarbons based on the maximum ozone increment reactivity. In addition to saved medical expenditure, years of potential life lost (YPLL) is estimated based on the exposure-response coefficients for mortality and is calculated with abridged life table. Two cases of energy efficiency improvement in different scales are analyzed to estimate the annual co-benefits of abatements of air pollutants and greenhouse gas in 2009: 1) the energy intensity reduction in the industrial sector and 2) energy saving at Taipei Taiwan City Hall. Results indicate the saved energy cost accounted for 66 % and 70 % in the first and second case, respectively, and was a major part of the total benefit from energy conservation. The saved air pollution fee was 7.8–8.5 times lower than the averted health cost of medical expenditure, which was US$10.34 million in the first case, in which there were also averted YPLL of 3,478 person-years or averted deaths of 311 persons per year.     

Assessment of the ecodesign improvement options using the global warming and economic performance indicators

In this paper, an assessment method is proposed for ecodesign improvement options using global warming and economic performance indicators. A reduction in the GHG emissions in the entire life cycle stages of a product was chosen as the global warming performance of the product. The external cost which converts the external effect of global warming into a monetary value was chosen as the global warming performance indicator in order to measure the performance of the GHG reduction of the product. The life cycle cost (LCC) of the product was chosen as the economic performance indicator to measure the performance of the life cycle cost reduction of the product. The assessment method based on the two performance indicators was applied to the liquid crystal display (LCD) panel for a case study.     

Redesign of a component based on ecodesign practices: environmental impact and cost reduction achievements

This paper focuses on ecodesign and its application in the footwear industry aiming to identify how the ecodesign can be applied to the redesign of a shoe component in order to minimize the environmental impact and simultaneously reduce costs of production and assembling. The factors that influence the use of ecodesign, the benefits and the difficulties were also investigated. A longitudinal case study was developed in a company that produces shoe stiffeners. The process of ecodesign implementation and the practices of ecodesign considered during the product redesign were analyzed. A cost reduction of about 10% was observed (in relation to the use of natural fibers and polymers in its composition-31% of biomass and 69% of fossil material). Toxic materials were completely eliminated and a reduction of energy consumption was also noticed (during the injection process). The main contributions of this study are: ecodesign constructs to be further researched the conjoint analysis of technological ability and market potential in a redesign project, and the requirements to gain managerial support for a redesign project.     

Paving the way for the ISO 14006 ecodesign standard: an exploratory study in Spanish companies

A Spanish ecodesign standard (the UNE 150301) is being used as a basic reference point in paving the way for the future ISO 14006 ecodesign standard which may foreseeably be passed in 2011. This article aims to analyze the experience regarding adoption of the UNE 150301 in Spain.Following an analysis of the standard’s structure, its objectives and scope, its real implementation process is then analyzed based on an exploratory qualitative study carried out in four Spanish companies that have been pioneers in adopting this environmental standard. The conclusion is drawn in the article that in all the cases analyzed, the greatest source of impact occurs in the phase in which the product is used and is related to energy consumption. Companies appear to be satisfied with the adoption of this standard and, in particular, point out that they have managed to reduce the environmental impact of their products. However, they draw attention to the fact that, to deal with certain instances of impact that increases in cost entail, administrative bodies need to establish mandatory regulations, as environmentally-friendly companies would otherwise lose competitiveness.     

Groundwater-dependent irrigation costs and benefits for adaptation to global change

The effects of a 1.5 °C global change on irrigation costs and carbon emissions in a groundwater-dependent irrigation system were assessed in the northwestern region of Bangladesh and examined at the global scale to determine possible global impacts and propose necessary adaptation measures. Downscaled climate projections were obtained from an ensemble of eight general circulation models (GCMs) for three representative concentration pathways (RCPs), RCP2.6, RCP4.5, and RCP8.5 and were used to generate the 1.5 °C warming scenarios. A water balance model was used to estimate irrigation demand, a support vector machine (SVM) model was used to simulate groundwater levels, an energy-use model was used to estimate carbon emissions from the irrigation pump, and a multiple linear regression (MLR) model was used to simulate the irrigation costs. The results showed that groundwater levels would likely drop by only 0.03 to 0.4 m under a 1.5 °C temperature increase, which would result in an increase in irrigation costs and carbon emissions ranging from 11.14 to 148.4 Bangladesh taka (BDT) and 0.3 to 4% CO₂ emissions/ha, respectively, in northwestern Bangladesh. The results indicate that the impacts of climate change on irrigation costs for groundwater-dependent irrigation would be negligible if warming is limited to 1.5 °C; however, increased emissions, up to 4%, from irrigation pumps can have a significant impact on the total emissions from agriculture. This study revealed that similar impacts from irrigation pumps worldwide would result in an increase in carbon emissions by 4.65 to 65.06 thousand tons, based only on emissions from groundwater-dependent rice fields. Restricting groundwater-based irrigation in regions where the groundwater is already vulnerable, improving irrigation efficiency by educating farmers and enhancing pump efficiency by following optimum pumping guidelines can mitigate the impacts of climate change on groundwater resources, increase farmers’ profits, and reduce carbon emissions in regions with groundwater-dependent irrigation.     

Renaturing cities using a regionally-focused biodiversity-led multifunctional benefits approach to urban green infrastructure

If a ‘Renaturing of Cities’ strategy is to maximise the ecosystem service provision of urban green infrastructure (UGI), then detailed consideration of a habitat services, biodiversity-led approach and multifunctionality are necessary rather than relying on the assumed benefits of UGI per se. The paper presents preliminary data from three case studies, two in England and one in Germany, that explore how multifunctionality can be achieved, the stakeholders required, the usefulness of an experimental approach for demonstrating transformation, and how this can be fed back into policy. We argue that incorporating locally contextualised biodiversity-led UGI design into the planning and policy spheres contributes to the functioning and resilience of the city and provides the adaptability to respond to locally contextualised challenges, such as overheating, flooding, air pollution, health and wellbeing as well as biodiversity loss. Framing our research to encompass both the science of biodiversity-led UGI and co-developing methods for incorporating a strategic approach to implementation of biodiversity-led UGI by planners and developers addresses a gap in current knowledge and begins to address barriers to UGI implementation. By combining scientific with policy learning and defined urban environmental targets with community needs, our research to date has begun to demonstrate how nature-based solutions to building resilience and adaptive governance can be strategically incorporated within cities through UGI.     

土壤污染治理与开发的环境经济调控对策研究

尝试从环境经济角度出发,对比分析国内外土壤污染治理与开发过程中的经济责任认定体系,指出我国存在着土壤污染责任主体不明确、污染治理费用无人负担、市场化机制有待完善等问题,提出在土壤污染治理与开发过程中明确政府、污染者、新地块开发商以及当地社区和居民的经济责任、建立污染治理基金管理模式以及完善土壤污染治理资金筹措与管理机制等方面的调控对策。     

偏经济平衡分析模型在环境问题中的应用

当前经济研究中对环境问题越来越重视 ,已经有多种不同方法可以用来研究材料和物质流在经济中的运转 ,偏经济平衡分析就是其中一种。将PEA应用于一个单一的、假设的污染问题中 ,这样以实践的方式来评价模型的结果。结果显示 ,PEA模型能够寻找环境问题中最有效益的政策实施方法。     

The benefits of a Brazilian agro-industrial symbiosis system and the strategies to make it happen

Alcohol fuel is generally presented as a sustainable fuel in comparison with other fossil fuel due to lower emissions during production and combustion steps as well as due to its (assumed) closed carbon cycle. However, assessing the Brazilian traditional alcohol production cycle, many social and environmental impacts may still be indicated: burning, pesticides, biodiversity, labor exploration, high water consumption, erosion and others. Based on the strategy of an agro-industrial networking and symbiosis, a project was designed to optimize the system by means of polygeneration and total integration of production steps. The case presented in this paper is the project for a social and ecological agro-industry model, named GERIPA (Geração de Energia Renovável Integrada à Produção de Alimentos), which produces renewable fuel, electricity and organic food. Besides the technical project, an economic evaluation is also presented, resulting into a five year pay back time. In addition, environmental and social aspects were evaluated by means the Emergy Synthesis methodology (Odum, 1996), which assesses the value of all inputs through an estimate of the environmental work directly and indirectly required for their production and sustainable supply. The emergy-based comparison of GERIPA system and a traditional system in Brazil indicates better performance of GERIPA, with an eMergy Sustainability Index of 1.26, much higher than for a traditional system, 0.22. The project is presently under discussion with investors and Government and, if approved, will be carried out in marginal and presently unused land. In addition to providing an environmentally friendly process for food and energy production, the project would generate new jobs opportunities for Brazilian rural workers presently unemployed.     

Evaluating the economic benefits of pesticide usage

In regulating the use of a pesticide, one critical element taken into consideration by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is the magnitude of the benefits provided by the pesticide. A number of alternative, and legitimate, definitions of pesticide benefits are discussed and their implications for the regulatory process identified. Recommendations for improving the regulatory process are proposed.     

水污染造成的环境经济损失分析

立足于我国水资源现状，对造成水污染损失的主要影响因素进行分析。探讨适合于我国国情的水污染损失的计算方法。以南方某市为例，计算该市水污染损失，得到了一些有益的结论．给政府部门提供了一个较为准确的损失数据。通过政府的干预或经济法律手段，加大水资源保护管理工作的力度。     

城市污水处理厂建设的环境经济政策分析

本文首先分析了我国城市污水处理的现状及存在的主要问题、原因,然后对城市污水处理厂建设资金的筹措、建设、 运行等问题进行了较为深入的分析,最后,对与城市污水处理厂建设相关的环境经济政策进行了初步探讨。     

关于促进环保产业发展的经济政策研究

中国目前的经济、政策环境及环保市场决定了环保产业正迎来快速发展的良好契机,但现有对环保产业的经济扶持政策还不完善,存在刺激力度不大、范围较窄、资金缺口大且来源单一等问题。为解决目前中国环保产业所面临的一系列"瓶颈"问题,下一步,应重点从财政、税收、金融以及价格收费等4个方面入手,完善对环保产业的经济扶持政策,直接或间接刺激其快速发展,使其成为支柱性产业。     

建设项目环境影响评价中的经济分析研究

本文分析了当前对“环境影响评价中经济分析”的三种曲解;辨析了建设项目环境影响经济损益分析、建设项目环保措施费用效益分析、建设项目费用效益分析三者的内涵与外延、区别与联系;探讨了环境影响评价中经济分析的内容,建议其中应包括建设项目环境影响经济损益分析和环保措施费用效益分析;并提出了具体的分析步骤与方法。     

JHR-2型节能恒温加热器在COD测定中的应用

依据GB11914-89标准分析方法的原理,在保持实验统一性的条件下,用JHR-2型节能恒温加热器代替标准方法中的加热回流冷凝装置进行化学需氧量(简称COD)的测定,通过重新分析实验的准确性和精密性,来证明此仪器在监测分析中的使用是可靠的,准确的,简便而节能的.     

指标计算法在环境经济损益分析中的应用

以上海市江桥和闸北2座生活垃圾焚烧厂建设项目为例,采用指标计算法对这2家在不同选址区的建设项目环境经济损益进行了分析。结果表明：江桥生活垃圾焚烧厂项目具有较好的环境经济效益,其环保年净效益为670．69万元,效费比达到1．10。闸北生活垃圾焚烧厂项目的环保年净效益为－764．48万元,效费比为0．64,说明其环境污染控制方案存在明显的不经济性。江桥生活垃圾焚烧厂已投入建设。指标法为2个项目的环境经济损益分析提供了货币量化。     

推行生态工业促进云南经济发展

工业发展给人类带来了巨大的进步,同时也给环境造成了严重的破坏,发展生态工业是实现可持续发展的必由之路。云南省正处雀加速工业化进程的新时期,要在资源环境的承载范围内快速、平稳的提高整体经济水平,缩短与发达地区的距离,就必须结合自身优势,努力发展生态工业。本文论述了云南省发展生态工业的必要性,联系生态工业的实现措施,针对云南省工业发展的现状提出了一些建议。