Data center servers located in thermal hotspot regions receive inlet air at a higher than the set temperature and thus generate comparatively high outlet temperature. Consequently, there is a rise in energy that is consumed to cool down the servers that otherwise would undergo reliability hazards. The workload deployment across the servers should be resilient to thermal hotspots to ensure smooth performance. In a heterogeneous data center environment, an equally important fact is the placement of the servers in a thermal hotspot-aware manner to lower the peak outlet temperatures. These approaches can be applied proactively with the help of outlet temperature prediction. This paper presents the hotspot adaptive workload deployment algorithm (HAWDA) and hotspot aware server relocation algorithm (HASRA) based on thermal profiling regarding outlet temperature prediction. HAWDA deploys workload on servers in a thermal-efficient manner and HASRA optimizes the server location in thermal hotsp... [more]

This paper presents a literature review of recent research on introducing the Industry 4.0 approach to improving energy efficiency, especially in the wood industry. While researchers focus on processes, service, and customer concepts, the effect on energy consumption is less addressed in these studies and applications. This paper focuses on previous works that discuss how to apply Industry 4.0 concepts to energy issues, such as to achieve better efficiency and performance for the industry in general and the wood industry in particular. The complexity of the study requires a multistep development. First, we define each concept separately and the relationships between them. Second, we apply a search algorithm to find related articles with specific terms, and then use the PRISMA method to select the most important ones, eliminating duplicates and excluding articles that do not mention energy efficiency and Industry 4.0 in the manufacturing or wood industry. Third, we explain and categoriz... [more]

In the context of smart cities, sustainability is an essential dimension. One of the ways to achieve sustainability and reduce the emission of greenhouse gases in smart cities is through the promotion of sustainable energy. The demand for affordable and reliable electrical energy requires different energy sources, where the cost of production often outweighs the environmental factor. This paper aims to investigate the ways smart cities promote sustainability in the electricity sector. For this, a systematic literature review using the PRISMA protocol was employed as the methodological approach. In this review, 154 journal articles were thoroughly analyzed. The results were grouped according to the themes and categorized into energy efficiency, renewable energies, and energy and urban planning. The study findings revealed the following: (a) global academic publication landscape for smart city and energy sustainability research; (b) unbalanced publications when critically evaluating geog... [more]

This article reviews the accomplishments of studies in which optimization tools were used to develop energy-efficient and sustainable construction schedules. With the increase in global awareness of environmental issues, the construction industry has been forced to explore innovative techniques to make the building process more energy-efficient and sustainable. Project managers can use optimization tools in their scheduling procedures to address these issues in the early stages of the project. Therefore, this paper examines different optimization-based construction scheduling methods and their impact on schedule energy efficiency and the three key sustainability goals: economic viability, social equity, and environmental protection. Such a review has not yet been conducted to the best of our knowledge. This research aims to fill the gap and contribute to understanding advanced optimization tools that can pave the way to energy-efficient and sustainable scheduling practices. After a bri... [more]

The article uses the case study of a polycentric metropolitan area as a starting point for a debate about the available tools for managing the network aspects of intelligent cities. We show that the construction of talents, the development of knowledge among officials and inhabitants, and technological tools such as Hubgrade (which allows for heat delivery process control, supervision, inspection, and results in emission reduction) are prerequisites for the sustainable development of cities. It is critical to understand that technological solutions are insufficient to accomplish such a task. Relevant stakeholders need to consciously take advantage of technological tools and build and utilise 4T potential and the self-learning capabilities of the organisations. An inherent feature of an organisation, such as a city, is cooperation between the people who build it. The main challenges of cities includes the reduction of pollutants resulting from the use of transport, heat sources, or ener... [more]

The study presents an investigation of thermal energy consumption for heating in an educational building located in the north-eastern part of Poland in 2017−2020, after deep thermomodernization. An evaluation of the actual energy effects was made based on measurements carried out over a 4-year operational period. They were compared with the results of theoretical calculations included in the energy audit and an attempt was made to describe the reasons for the discrepancies. The planned and achieved economic efficiency indicators were assessed and the amount of reduction of pollutant emissions was determined. The performed analysis allowed for an assessment of the impact of deep thermomodernization in terms of reducing heat energy consumption for central heating purposes, as well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions such as CO2, SOx, NOx and benzo(a)pyrene to the atmosphere. The implementation of thermomodernization in buildings led to savings of about 43% in terms of heat energy consum... [more]

Space cooling demand is increasing globally due to climate change. Cooling has also been linked to all 17 sustainable development goals of the United Nations. Adequate cooling improves productivity and thermal comfort and can also prevent health risks. Meanwhile, policy initiatives such as the European Union’s Green Deal require participants to cut greenhouse gas emissions and reduce energy use. Therefore, novel cooling systems that are capable of efficiently producing high levels of thermal comfort are needed. Radiant cooling systems provide a design capable of fulfilling these goals, but their application in hot and humid climates is limited due to the risk of condensation. In this study, we compare the performances of radiant cooling systems with and without dehumidification. The studied systems are supplied by geothermal energy. The study is conducted using building energy models of a small office building belonging to a three-building school complex located in Sant Cugat near Barc... [more]

This study examines the sources of energy related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, the hazards of climate change and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the global solar energy potential, renewable energy sustainability indicators, impediments, and the environmental implications of fossil fuels. The purpose of this study is to investigate viewpoints on solar energy technologies for sustainable development, with a particular emphasis on photovoltaic (PV), as well as the literature on solar energy technology performance, in order to ascertain worldwide solar energy adoption trends. The discussions address the solar industry’s fundamental ideas, the global energy scenario, the highlights of research conducted to improve the solar industry, prospective applications and future challenges for a more efficient solar industry that may help alleviate the energy crisis. A review of the framework and development of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) and Renewable Energy Laws (REL) on a global scale was co... [more]

The penetration of e-mobility is growing thanks to the European guidelines on climate preservation regarding the reduction in CO2 emission. Governments are adapting their economic policies with the aim to incentivize e-mobility. At the same time, with a view to equality and accessibility, countries are working to introduce e-mobility services also for people with disabilities in order to improve the quality of their lives. The paper reports the deployment of an e-mobility service for persons with disabilities carried out in a project financed by Sapienza University of Rome. The project includes a feasibility study and a cost−benefit analysis in order to identify the optimal solution from a technical and environmental point of view for a sustainable e-mobility service for people with reduced mobility. A methodology to design a service based on optimal routes and electric vehicles with respect to energy consumption, time travel, energy and vehicle costs and quality of service is proposed... [more]

Despite the huge current challenges in sewage sludge treatment and disposal in China, anaerobic sludge stabilisation (AnSS) is still not a state-of-the-art process in WWTP in the country. However, the potential benefits of anaerobic sludge stabilisation may outweigh the drawbacks. One of these drawbacks is the backload from the sludge liquor that increases the nutrient load in the biological treatment stage. This work shows via computer modelling that not only can the sludge production and disposal costs be significantly reduced, but also that, with sensible automation and operational strategies (e.g., bypass of primary clarifiers, use of a centrate dosing strategy, incorporation of ammonium nitrogen sensors, etc.), the effects of the backload can be counteracted for nitrogen removal, even considering that wastewater in China often has an unfavourable C/N ratio for nitrogen removal. The tested strategies would even improve the overall plant performance in terms of norm compliance, slud... [more]

Multi-skin ventilated facades with integrated building elements that respond to climatic conditions (mechanized openings and automatic shading with intelligent control) present the potential of improving overall annual energy savings by adapting the thermal properties of buildings. This paper presents a literature review on multi-skin adaptive ventilated facades. Additionally, this article presents a literature review on building envelopes that contain inner-air layers. The operation modes of the air layer used in building enclosure structures are classified and summarized and the thermal performance and benefits of climate-adaptive facades are discussed and reviewed. The existing operation modes of the air layer used in building envelopes are summarized, outlined and roughly classified into the following types: the enclosed type, the naturally ventilated type and the mechanically ventilated type. One of the sustainable development trends is the investigation and application of energy-... [more]

Work processes and sociological structures can differ significantly between organizations. These organizational aspects determine user behavior, which in turn exerts considerable influence on the key performance indicators of artificial lighting systems. Accordingly, the use of generalized assumptions about user behavior in the building design phase can lead to large discrepancies between design and operation. In the following work, the possible influences of different occupancy schemes, an essential aspect of user behavior and shaped by the organization, on energy demand and workplace-related daylight dose are evaluated. For this purpose, calculations are made based on real measurement data of an open-plan office with zoned lighting. Multi-level calculation models are used to determine improved user distributions in the room to ensure optimization according to the desired target criteria. The results show that occupancy schemes have a significant impact on energy demand, contributing... [more]

Consolidation with European social, economic and environmental programmes in the framework of Ukraine’s integration into the European energy space has become extremely important given the growing threats to energy security and should become the basis for greening regional and national innovation systems in the context of decarbonisation, the minimisation of carbon emissions and the transition to alternative energy sources. The comparison of the regions of the country by the level of enterprise innovation and the extrapolation of these results to the share of such enterprises in the total number of industrial entities in the regions helped identify their lack of correlation and emphasised the lack of stable dependence between industrial development and innovation activity. The methodology of the article includes a number of general scientific, special and interdisciplinary methods that allowed the screening of areas for the most favourable economic development, taking into account the s... [more]

The use of electric vehicles (EVs) provides a pathway to sustainable transport, reducing emissions and contributing to net-zero carbon aspirations. However, consumer acceptance has been limited by travel range anxiety and a lack of knowledge about EV technology and its infrastructure. This is especially the case in hot and oil-rich areas such as Kuwait, where transport is predominantly fossil fuel-driven. Studying the effects of high ambient temperature on EV efficiency and range is essential to improve EV performance, increase the user base and promote early adoption to secure more environmental benefits. The ability to determine the energy consumption of electric vehicles (EVs) is not only vital to reduce travel range anxiety but also forms an important foundation for the spatial siting, operation and management of EV charging points in cities and towns. This research presents an analysis of data gathered from more than 3000 journeys of an EV in Kuwait representing typical vehicle us... [more]

Encouraged by the European Union, all European countries need to enforce solutions to reduce non-renewable energy consumption in buildings. The reduction of energy (heating, domestic hot water, and appliances consumption) aims for the vision of near-zero energy consumption as a requirement goal for constructing buildings. In this paper, we review the available standards, tools and frameworks on the energy performance of buildings. Additionally, this work investigates if energy performance ratings can be obtained with energy consumption data from IoT devices and if the floor size and energy consumption values are enough to determine a dwellings’ energy performance rating. The essential outcome of this work is a data-driven prediction tool for energy performance labels that can run automatically. The tool is based on the cutting edge kNN classification algorithm and trained on open datasets with actual building data such as those coming from the IoT paradigm. Additionally, it assesses th... [more]

Considering increasingly ambitious pledges by countries and various forms of pressure from current international constellations, society, investors, and clients further up the supply chain, the question for companies is not so much whether to take decarbonisation action, but what action and by when. However, determining an ideal mix of measures to apply ‘decarbonisation efficiency’ requires more than knowledge of technically feasible measures and how to combine them to achieve the most economic outcome: In this paper, working in a ‘backcasting’ manner, the author describes seven aspects which heavily influence the composition of an ‘ideal mix’ that executive leadership needs to take a (strategic) position on. Contrary to previous studies, these aspects consider underlying motivations and span across (socio-)economic, technical, regulatory, strategic, corporate culture, and environmental factors and further underline the necessity of clarity of definitions. How these decisions influence... [more]

The farmers’ welfare and its interlinkages to energy efficiency and farm sustainability has attracted global scientific interest within the last few decades. This study examines the contribution of Agriculture 5.0 to the prosperity of the farmers in the post-pandemic era and the gradual transition to an energy-smart farm. To obtain an insight into the attributes of Agriculture 5.0 and the emerging technologies in the field, Bibliometrix analysis with the use of an R package was conducted based on 2000 data consisting of peer-reviewed articles. The data were retrieved from the Scopus database. A bibliometric approach was employed to analyze the data for a comprehensive overview of the trend, thematic focus, and scientific production in the field of Agriculture 5.0 and energy-smart farming. Emerging technologies that are part of Agriculture 5.0 in combination with alternative energy sources can provide cost-effective access to finance, weather updates, remotely monitoring, and future ene... [more]

This work is aimed at solving the problem of converting diesel power drives to diesel−hydrogen fuels, which are more environmentally friendly and less expensive alternatives to diesel fuel. The method of increasing the energy efficiency of diesel fuels has been improved. The thermochemical essence of using methanol as an alternative fuel to increase energy efficiency based on the provisions of thermotechnics is considered. Alternative methanol fuel has been chosen as the initial product for the hydrogen conversion process, and its energy value, cost, and temperature conditions have been taken into account. Calculations showed that the caloric effect from the combustion of the converted mixture of hydrogen H2 and carbon monoxide CO exceeds the effect from the combustion of the same amount of methanol fuel. Engine power and fuel energy were increased due to the thermochemical regeneration of engine exhaust gas heat. An experimental setup was created to study the operation of a converted... [more]

Building fabric retrofitting is an important first step in improving building energy efficiency. The United Kingdom’s (UK) housing stock is one of the most inefficient in Europe, and Northern Ireland has the second-highest level of fuel poverty in the UK. This Northern Irish case study developed three fabric retrofit scenarios that estimate potential demand reductions, CO2 emissions removals and retrofit costs. The first scenario reduces domestic demand by 10% and removes 6% of domestic emissions. The second scenario is more ambitious than the first, and results in an 18% reduction in demand and 12% of emissions removed. The third scenario proposes fabric retrofitting to PassivHaus standard and results in a 42% reduction in demand and 27% of emissions removed. Furthermore, retrofit schemes can provide up to approximately 350,000 jobs annually between 2022 and 2050 for the Northern Irish population. This study demonstrates how fabric retrofit scenarios can be streamlined to the unique f... [more]

This article approaches the optimal solution of energy sustainability based on the use of artificial intelligence (AI). The application of renewable energy sources (RES) and unit commitment (UC) is the basic idea of this concept. Therefore, a new approach to solving the UC problem is introduced. The proposed method has a simple procedure to obtain the popular solutions in an acceptable time interval, by creating a basic model of the schedule of the state of energy units RES. It is obvious that individual consumer units, of an operational nature, take hourly performance values by performing economic evaluations on them in the sense of cost optimization. This is conducted through an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm by optimizing the dedicated cost function, simulated by annealing. Despite the acceptable solution obtained from these two steps, another shift is proposed, called the TDD process in a given consumer area. This process in the application of AI in the system of selection... [more]

Sustainable City solutions can become an essential element of the development of contemporary urban communities. This development path can also provide opportunities for organisations operating in cities and metropolises. An inherent feature of the organisation which a city constitutes is that it enables the people who make it up to cooperate. Climate packages, including the Green Deal and Fit for 55, are implemented in Europe, while in Poland decarbonisation processes are underway. The main challenges in this area include, on the one hand, a search for savings of energy consumed, and, on the other hand, a reduction in pollution resulting from the use of transport or heat or energy sources. Cities and metropolises will become green only when they manage to cope with these problems. The article aims at showing various facets of sustainable smart city management. With relations, information and knowledge gaining importance as the key organisational resource, cities have become, as organi... [more]

Dynamic adaptive streaming over HTTP (DASH) technique, the most popular streaming method, requires a large number of hard disk drives (HDDs) to store multiple bitrate versions of many videos, consuming significant energy. A solid-state drive (SSD) can be used to cache popular videos, thus reducing HDD energy consumption by allowing I/O requests to be handled by an SSD, but this requires effective HDD power management due to limited SSD bandwidth. We propose a new SSD cache management scheme to minimize the energy consumption of a video storage system with heterogeneous HDDs. We first present a technique that caches files with the aim of saving more HDD energy as a result of I/O processing on an SSD. Based on this, we propose a new HDD power management algorithm with the goal of increasing the number of HDDs operated in low-power mode while reflecting the heterogeneous HDD power characteristics. For this purpose, it assigns a separate parameter value to each I/O task based on the ratio... [more]

In this paper, driving strategy optimization for a track is proposed for an energy efficient battery electric vehicle dedicated to the Shell Eco-marathon. A measurement-based mathematical vehicle model was developed to simulate the behavior of the vehicle. The model contains complicated elements such as the vehicle’s cornering resistance and the efficiency field of the entire powertrain. The validation of the model was presented by using the collected telemetry data from the 2019 Shell Eco-marathon competition in London (UK). The evaluation of applicable powertrains was carried out before the driving strategy optimization. The optimal acceleration curve for each investigated powertrain was defined. Using the proper powertrain is a crucial part of energy efficiency, as the drive has the most significant energy demand among all components. Two tracks with different characteristics were analyzed to show the efficiency of the proposed optimization method. The optimization results are compa... [more]

In Europe, the recent application of regulations oriented to zero-energy buildings and climate neutrality in 2050 has led to a reduction in energy consumption for heating and cooling in the construction sector. The thermal insulation of the building envelope plays a key role in this process and the requirements about the maximum allowable thermal transmittance are defined by country-specific guidelines. Typically, high insulation values provide low energy consumption for heating; however, they may also entail a risk of overheating in summer period and thus negatively affect the overall performance of the building. In addition, the embodied energy and related emissions caused by the manufacturing and transportation processes of thermal insulation cannot be further neglected in the evaluation of the best optimal solution. Therefore, this paper aims to evaluate the influence in terms of embodied and operational energy of various walls’ thermal insulation thicknesses on residential buildin... [more]

Our goal is to examine the efficiency of different intraday electricity markets and if any of their price prediction models are more accurate than others. This paper includes a comprehensive review of Germany, France, and Norway’s (NOR1) day-ahead and intraday electricity market prices. These markets represent different energy mixes which would allow us to analyze the impact of the energy mix on the efficiencies of these markets. To draw conclusions about extreme market conditions, (i) we reviewed the market data linked to COVID-19. We expected higher volatility in the lockdowns than before and therefore decrease in the efficiency of the prediction models. With our analysis, (ii) we want to draw conclusions as to whether a mix based mainly on renewable energies such as that in Norway implies lower volatilities even in times of crisis. This would answer (iii) whether a market with an energy mix like Norway is more efficient in highly volatile phases. For the analysis, we use data visual... [more]