Sustainable development and the water–energy–food nexus: A perspective on livelihoods

The water–energy–food nexus is being promoted as a conceptual tool for achieving sustainable development. Frameworks for implementing nexus thinking, however, have failed to explicitly or adequately incorporate sustainable livelihoods perspectives. This is counterintuitive given that livelihoods are key to achieving sustainable development. In this paper we present a critical review of nexus approaches and identify potential linkages with sustainable livelihoods theory and practice, to deepen our understanding of the interrelated dynamics between human populations and the natural environment. Building upon this review, we explore the concept of ‘environmental livelihood security’ – which encompasses a balance between natural resource supply and human demand on the environment to promote sustainability – and develop an integrated nexus-livelihoods framework for examining the environmental livelihood security of a system. The outcome is an integrated framework with the capacity to measure and monitor environmental livelihood security of whole systems by accounting for the water, energy and food requisites for livelihoods at multiple spatial scales and institutional levels. We anticipate this holistic approach will not only provide a significant contribution to achieving national and regional sustainable development targets, but will also be effective for promoting equity amongst individuals and communities in local and global development agendas.     

Parameterization of Albedo over Heterogeneous Surfaces in Coupled Land-Atmosphere Schemes for Environmental Modeling. Part I: Theoretical Background

In grid-based environmental models, the underlying surface consists of patches of solid and liquid parts and different plant communities, creating a very heterogeneous picture in the grid cell. In these cases, numerical modelers usually use a simple arithmetic average to determine the grid-cell albedo, a key variable in the parameterization of the land-surface radiative transfer over the grid cell. The object of this paper is to consider the assumptions for aggregating the albedo over a very heterogeneous surface where various surfaces occur at different heights, and, then propose a method for deriving a general expression for it. The suggested expression for the albedo is compared with the conventional approach, for the two-patches grid-cell with a simple geometrical distribution and different heights of its components. A numerical test is performed to compare the two approaches by numerical simulation of the evolution of the surface temperature over the particular grid-cell. Specifically, a one-dimensional land-surface model was applied to an isolated rocky grid-cell with a hole in the center; the model was forced with meteorological observations taken on July 17, 1999 in Philadelphia, PA.     

Innovative policy practices to advance building energy efficiency and retrofitting: Approaches,impacts and challenges in ten C40 cities

This study examines ten programmes to advance energy efficiency and retrofitting of existing, private sector buildings in C40 cities in Asia-Pacific and USA. We set out to identify differing policy approaches, together with potential impacts and implementation challenges for each. Findings unearthed six policy models – both mandatory and voluntary – with unique impacts and challenges. We demonstrate that innovation occurs without new policy inventions and largely by necessity, as new features are added and generic models are adapted to local circumstances. Our sample demonstrated experimentation with benchmarking in the USA, comprehensive regulation in Asia, and voluntary approaches in Australia. Overall, environmental impacts are particularly slow to emerge and plagued with attribution challenges. We found limited evidence of benchmarking programme effectiveness in reducing energy consumption in the short-term, but some indication of mid-term outcomes. Driven by unique local circumstances, the cap-and-trade model stood out by fostering large, sustained and attributable GHG emission reductions and retrofitting. Market and social impacts are highly significant across all programmes, highlighting needs to consider non-environmental impacts in policy evaluation. We emphasise the complementary potential of voluntary and regulatory approaches to advancing energy efficiency and climate resilience. We also underscore the potential for reporting or benchmarking programmes to later transition to models mandating performance improvements, such as cap-and-trade.     

Energy metabolism and growth of Monoporeia affinis Lindstr. in the Northern Lake Krivoe (Karelia)

The physiological method for estimating production based on the relationship between growth and energy metabolism has been used for calculating model growth curves for the amphipod Monoporeia affinis and comparing them with the results of field studies. Calculations demonstrated that the physiological growth curves fit the results of field observations best under certain conditions which have zoological sense: the growth curve should reflect the actual maximum body size of an animal in the given population, the duration of the life cycle, and the time required for reaching the reproductive size.     

开发和建设西南能源基地是解决我国能源短缺的重要途径

西南地区是我国第二大能源基地，水能蕴藏可开发年发电量１．０３万亿ｋｗ·ｈ，占全国的５４％，煤炭保有储量７７０亿ｔ左右，占全国的１０％。和以山西为中心的能源基地一起，形成了“北煤南运”和“西电东送”两个格局。但是西南能源基地的水能资源开发程度很低，按发电量计算，仅占水电可开发总量的１．３％。目前能源短缺已成为我国工业发展中的突出问题。因此，合理布局、综合开发和建设西南能源基地，是解决我国能源短缺的重要途径。     

活性污泥对四环素的吸附性能研究

通过批量平衡法研究了四环素在活性污泥上的吸附行为.结果表明,污泥混合液浓度和四环素初始浓度对吸附平衡时间、污泥吸附量和污泥吸附率均有较大影响.伪二级反应动力学模型较伪一级反应动力学模型更符合本吸附实验.在10、25℃条件下,四环素在活性污泥上的吸附行为较符合Langmuir模型,最大吸附量分别是31.14、70.95 mg.g-1;在40℃下,符合Henry模型.应用D-R模型判定吸附类型,10℃(平均吸附能为9.13 kJ.mol-1)下,化学吸附占主导;40℃(平均吸附能为7.07 kJ.mol-1)下,物理吸附占主导.温度升高,污泥对四环素的吸附能力增大.离子交换是四环素在活性污泥上吸附的一种机制.四环素的初始浓度为5、10、20 mg.L-1,钠离子浓度由0 mol.L-1增加到0.1 mol.L-1时,吸附量分别下降15.32%、15.00%、20.12%.当pH在5～10之间时,pH为6的条件下污泥对四环素的吸附量最大.     

废弃混凝土对C_3S形成动力学的影响

废弃混凝土中石灰石的含量比较稳定,适合取代天然石灰石作为钙质原料配制水泥生料,并含有少量的SiO2,可以起部分硅质原料的作用。硬化的水泥浆体在高温下脱水形成氧化钙、氧化铝和氧化铁等氧化物,都是制造水泥所必须的氧化物。实验室利用20%和40%的废弃混凝土代替部分石灰石制备水泥熟料。研究了废弃混凝土对硅酸盐水泥熟料形成动力学的影响。用快速滴定法测定了不同熟料中f-CaO含量,根据文章提出CaO反应生成C3S的转化率,并用Amhenius公式计算了熟料中C3S形成反应的表观活化能。研究表明:废弃混凝土能改善生料的易烧性,并能降低熟料的烧成温度。     

废弃电路板湿法破碎能耗试验研究

采用Design-Expert 7.1软件对废弃电路板湿法冲击式破碎机能耗试验进行了方案设计和结果分析;拟合出了能耗与试验影响因素之间的定量关系模型,给出了能耗的残差分布以及不同操作变量之间的等高线和三维响应关系;利用Design-Expert 7.1对电路板破碎能耗试验的条件进行了优化,获得了最佳的操作指标。     

中国石灰生产和能源消耗分析

基于全国涉及石灰生产的企业全口径统计数据,分析中国2007年石灰生产的基本特征,探讨了石灰产量统计的不确定性和来源。2007年,中国石灰生产的企业共6 154家,涉及9 327座石灰窑。总产能为2.27亿t,共生产石灰1.06亿t,企业平均产量为4 000 t/a,企业生产每吨石灰平均能耗水平为163 kg标准煤。中国约有两千八百多万吨的石灰生产很难通过正规渠道统计上来,也意味着这些产量很可能是基于非常简易和高能耗的石灰土窑生产的。     

浅论通风隔声窗的发展

分析当前通风隔声窗的现状,以及通风隔声窗发展中的几个关键点,即:安静、节能、智能、清新空气、美观;结合正升声学公司开发的通风隔声窗产品讨论通风隔声窗在未来住宅建筑中的应用。