Epidemiological research has shown that there is a positive correlation between the incidence of disease and mortality in humans and the mass concentration of particulate matter. An average 1 g of suspended dust emitted in a room results in the same exposure as 1 kg emitted to the outside air. In this study, the authors described the state of knowledge on dust pollution inside and outside buildings (I/O ratios), and methods of testing the PM infiltration process parameters. According to the law of indoor−outdoor particle mass balance and the physical basis of aerosol penetration theory, a relatively simple but new method for estimating the penetration factor P was tested. On the basis of the curve of dynamic changes of internal dust concentration in the process of particle concentration decay and next of the followed curve of dynamic rebound of particle concentration, authors measured penetration factor of ambient PM2.5 through building envelope. Authors modification of the method is t... [more]

Islands are widely recognised as ideal pilot sites that can spearhead the transition to clean energy and development towards a sustainable and healthy society. One of the assumptions underpinning this notion is that island communities are more ready to engage with smart grids (SGs) than people on the mainland. This is believed to be due to the high costs of energy on islands and the idea that the sense of community and collective action is stronger on islands than on the mainland. This paper presents findings from a survey conducted to assess people’s perception of, and readiness to engage with, SG and demand response (DR) in the communities of three islands taking part in a H2020 project called REACT. The main objective of the survey, conducted in 2020, was to inform the recruitment of participants in the project, which is piloting different technologies required for SGs and DR with communities on the three islands. The results show that many island residents are motivated to take par... [more]

Air pollution, which causes over seven million deaths per year, is the most significant and specifically related to health impacts. Nearly 90% of the urban population worldwide is exposed to pollution not meeting the World Health Organization guidelines for air quality. Many atmospheric carbon oxides, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter emitting sources, such as inefficient energy and polluting transportation, directly impact health. Natural gas maritime transport from various parts of the world (carbon supplied to consuming areas) has become more critical. Natural gas liquefaction offers a cleaner and more efficient transportation option and also increases its storage capacity. It is expected that natural gas will reduce the human health impact compared with other traditional fuels consumed. This research establishes a life cycle assessment model of air emission and social human health impact related to LNG maritime transport to investigate the impact of each type of fuel used for... [more]

The paper presents a new, unconventional energy harvesting (EH) method for supplying low-power devices on electrified railway lines that utilises stray currents and the non-zero potential of the rails to the ground. The EH device gathers the energy and stores it in batteries. It could even work in extremely unfavourable weather conditions and could be easily placed in almost any location. The presented real-life data show that the average available power is less than 250 mW and the average useful power is about 100 mW. This is enough to supply ultra-low power microcontrollers, which only occasionally use energy-consuming modules to perform measurements or communicate. The disadvantage of the EH method is the introduction of resistance between the rail and the earth, which increases stray currents and could increase the electrochemical corrosion of the rail. To reduce the impact of this resistance, a method for balancing the flowing charge is proposed. After balancing, the average of th... [more]

Failure behavior of pillars in deep mines is affected by various cyclic loads that cause initial pre-damage. Pillars will be further damaged and developed in the long-term compressive stress until they are destroyed. To reveal the strength characteristics and crack damage fracture laws after rock pre-damage, uniaxial compression tests were carried out on granite specimens damaged by cyclic loading using the digital speckle correlation method. The experimental results indicate that the mechanical properties of pre-damaged specimens show large damage differences for different cycles. The damage variable of the pre-damaged specimens increases with the increase of cycle number and confining pressure. The damage of specimens is primarily due to the strength weakening effect caused by cycle numbers, and the confining pressure restriction effect is not obvious. The evolution laws of uniaxial compression damage propagation in the pre-damaged specimens show differences and obvious localization... [more]

Determining the spatial position of wind turbines is the initial and most important phase in the development of a wind farm project. In this sensitive phase, all potential problems that may arise in the later stages of project development should be prevented by means of spatial and urban planning instruments. This makes it possible to achieve maximum use of the potential of wind in a particular space and, thus, fulfil the technical and economic requirements of the project while respecting the goals of environmental protection in that same area, through preventive protection. Therefore, it is essential, even at the earliest planning and development stage of a wind farm project, for the requirements that are important for optimal spatial solutions to be balanced. In this process, strategic environmental assessment (SEA) is a support to the planning process and an invaluable instrument for finding optimal spatial solutions for the possible key spatial impacts of wind power with regard to... [more]

The most recent research confirms that airborne transmission may be the dominant mode of SARS-CoV-2 virus spread in the interior spaces of buildings. Consequently, based on some prescriptions that implemented natural ventilation during face-to-face lessons in a university centre, an experimental characterization of several complementary options aimed at reinforcing the prevention and safety of the occupants was carried out. The action protocol adopted was based on the combination of mandatory natural ventilation, a maximum contribution of outdoor air supply in the air conditioning system, and the use of filtering devices located inside the classroom. All the strategies were incorporated concomitantly with necessary compliance with the basic conditions of social distance, occupation, use of masks and guidelines for use and cleaning within educational buildings. The suitability of this protocol was further evaluated throughout the teaching day with students and teachers by measuring the... [more]

According to one definition, Smart City is an administrative unit that uses data and digital technology to improve the decision-making processes and well-being of its inhabitants. Smart Cities use modern, intelligent technologies to forecast future changes, optimize city functions, gain a better understanding of current conditions, and deliver solutions. To make the city smart, multiple connected sensors, smartphones and other IoT devices are needed. As part of the research conducted at the Technical University in Vienna, six key dimensions (categories) of smart cities have been identified and characterized: Smart Economy, Smart Mobility, Smart Environment, Smart People, Smart Living, and Smart Governance. The aim of the paper is to present the concept of the smart cities, the implemented innovative solutions and the issue of electricity saving in Smart Cities. The theoretical considerations were expanded of the presentation of selected smart city projects in Polish cities. The conside... [more]

The consequence of the current economic development model is the generation of large amounts of waste and energy losses. One way to change this negative trend is a more rational use of raw materials reducing the amount of generated wastes. Biowaste, which may be divided into garden and kitchen waste, constitutes the main part of municipal waste. At the household level, it can be managed through composting—the most sustainable way of biowaste management. In this context, this paper aims to assess the economic and environmental effects of implementing the home composting incentive program introduced by one of the municipalities near Warsaw (Poland). The study is based on the estimation of the amount of biowaste generated in the commune, as well as on the number of households with the potential to compost biowastes. The effects of implementing the composting program were evaluated at different participation levels. The cartographic-based methods (GIS) were used in the analyses. Additional... [more]

The overarching goal of agricultural sciences is to optimize production technology to rationalize the use of production resources, energy, and space. Due to its high fertilization and water requirements, the vine is a plant with a high potential for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The modifying factor in the production technology is plantation management. To reach the assumed goal, a field experiment was conducted in the years 2001−2020, and the following training systems were used: multi-arm fan system (A) trunk height <30 cm, (B) 80 cm, (C) 120 cm, one-side multi-arm, paired planting (D) 120 cm, (E) 140 cm. The total amount of GHGs emitted in vine cultivation was calculated according to ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 standards. The system boundaries were: establishing the plantation, the production and use of fertilizers and pesticides, energy consumption for agricultural treatments, and gas emissions from the soil. The amount of GHG emissions for cultivation using the systems A, B, C ra... [more]

The air quality in a street canyon seriously affects the exposure level of pollutants for pedestrians and is directly related to the indoor air quality (IAQ) of surrounding buildings. In order to improve the street canyon environment, it is necessary to clarify the distribution and dispersion characteristics of pollutants. Through field tests, wind tunnel experiments, and numerical simulation, the current research studied the nature of pollutants in street canyons and provided some improvement measures. This paper comprehensively introduces the characteristics of pollutants in street canyons and reviews past studies on the following parts: (a) the dispersion principle and main impact factors of pollutants in street canyons, (b) the spatial and temporal distribution of pollutants in street canyons, (c) the relationship between pollutants in street canyons and indoor air quality, and (d) improvement measures of the street canyon environment. The dispersion of pollutants is dominated by t... [more]

The main aim of this paper is to assess sustainable transport development, particularly in Polish voivodeships, as well as to identify underdeveloped geographical areas. In order to deal with this research topic, both classical and multivariate order statistical measures were implemented into the research process. The source of information for the research was the data drawn from BDL (Bank of Local Data) Statistics Poland. The rankings of Polish voivodeships were obtained for sustainable transport development and its individual components in the form of three orders: environmental, social and economic. This allowed us to identify underdeveloped regions in the area of transport sustainability and its particular aspects. It should be noted that we applied both the original set of diagnostic variables and their classification into particular orders. However, the choice of variables was mostly conditioned by the availability of data. Furthermore, this was the first time that the taxonomic... [more]

China currently adopts voluntary principles to disclose sustainable development information, and so considerable numbers of listed companies have chosen not to disclose such information. Since disclosure and non-disclosure groups face different production opportunities, this research uses the meta-frontier framework to completely analyze sustainable development practices of China’s artificial intelligence (AI) industry. Empirical results show that the disclosure group outperforms the non-disclosure group in operating scales, efficiencies, and technologies, while the superior efficiency of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) comes entirely from the non-disclosure group. Hence, the government should mandate or actively encourage capable corporations, especially SOEs, to disclose sustainable development information, as doing so improves the overall sustainable development of society and also enhances these firms’ performance. Finally, the authority can formulate a nationwide disclosure policy... [more]

Environmental problems of urban and rural areas are now high on the agenda of industrialized countries, becoming a key challenge for regional-level policymaking. The mutual influence of population growth, economic and technological development, and the anthropogenic pressure on the environment is still insufficiently studied in many countries, including Russia. In this paper, this relationship is studied for the municipalities of Angara−Yenisey Siberia using an ensemble of the STIRPAT-like regression models, adapted according to the available data. We found that population size and gross municipal product were positively associated with pollutant emissions (p < 0.01), while energy efficiency had no significant impact on air pollution. In addition to the poor national data quality and completeness issues, which can distort statistical conclusions, the cause of the observed lack of spatial correlation between energy efficiency and air pollutant emissions may be path dependence and an... [more]

Meeting the increasing global energy demand in a sustainable way is a major challenge for humanity. One of the solutions in the transportation sector is ethanol, which is currently the only economically viable direct fuel substitute. In addition to the first-generation technology, which provides the vast majority of production, better results can be continuously realized by using advanced technologies. This study aims to investigate the economic aspects and sustainability issues of ethanol production with a systematic literature review. During the selection process, 64 studies from a total of 16,141 identified articles were analyzed in-depth. There is a consensus that first-generation production methods cannot result in a long-term solution. However, advanced technologies are currently immature, and ethanol production is more expensive with them. The use of wastes/residues and coproducts can improve both the economic outlook and sustainability of the advanced technologies. Overall, the... [more]

Global warming has led to rising electricity demands due to soaring cooling load, resulting in different technologies being implemented with renewable energy options. Renewable energy has been used to partially or fully operate these cooing systems through different technology routes in both conventional and hybrid modes. The feasibility of a particular cooling process is influenced by several technological, economic, environmental and other related factors. Selection of the appropriate route also requires consideration of external factors such as local weather, cooling load requirements and the potential of possible renewable energy. Multi-criteria decision analysis is a useful tool to systematically arrive at the right option from several possible options. This tool is used to assess the feasibility of eight technology routes for three different climatic conditions. Other than the direct cooling processes, two routes of renewable energy utilization, namely, the solar photovoltaic sys... [more]

The purpose of this study was to apply new methods of econometric models to the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of physical assets, by integrating investments such as maintenance, technology, sustainability, and technological upgrades, and to propose a means to evaluate the Life Cycle Investment (LCI), with emphasis on sustainability. Sustainability is a recurrent theme of existing studies and will be a concern in coming decades. As a result, equipment with a smaller environmental footprint is being continually developed. This paper presents a method to evaluate asset depreciation with an emphasis on the maintenance investment, technology depreciation, sustainability depreciation, and technological upgrade investment. To demonstrate the value added of the proposed model, it was compared with existing models that do not take the previously mentioned aspects into consideration. The econometric model is consistent with asset life cycle plans as part of the Strategic Asset Management Plan of t... [more]

Global warming is accelerating due to the increase in greenhouse gas emissions. Accordingly, research on the use of biomass as energy sources, is being actively conducted worldwide to reduce CO2 emissions. Although the production of agro-byproducts is vast, their utilization for energy production has not been fully investigated. This study suggests an optimal torrefaction process condition for agro-byproducts, such as grape branch and perilla, that have moisture content but low calorific values. To determine whether these agro-byproducts can be used for energy sources as substituents of fossil fuels, a mass reduction model was established and validated via experimental results. Thermogravimetric analysis was conducted for different heating rates, and the activation energy and frequency factor were derived through the analysis. The model was developed by changes in rate constants, moisture content, ash content, and lignocellulose content in biomass. To ascertain the optimal torrefaction... [more]

The world is looking to reduce carbon emissions, prevent global warming, and become more energy sustainable. Despite the various strategies for mitigating climate change, the fact remains that 80% of greenhouse gas emissions are attributable to activities associated with the built environment, and this is where a concentrated focus is needed. Moreover, most buildings are residential, not commercial or industrial. In essence, ways must be found to reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions from existing houses and apartments globally if sustainability is to be realised. The recognised way to achieve this is through the retrofitting of existing residential buildings. Studies in this area have increased in recent times, but the extent of the work remains unmapped and undescribed. If further progress is to be made in this field, researchers’ knowledge domain so far must be documented. This literature review delivers that goal. A scientometric evaluation of research on residential retrofit... [more]

The Anthropocene thesis poses new challenges to human activity on the planet. These challenges also apply to the built environment. Climate change will increase existing threats, and create new ones, for both human and natural systems. Above all, the built environment is expected to provide structural stability, access to water necessary for life, and safe production of clean energy. This research-by-design was focused on designing an adaptive built environment for Anthropocene societies and the maintenance of their well-being, and on envisioning and conceptualizing new architectural solutions based on multidisciplinary knowledge and CAD parametric design methods and tools. The conceptual designs are the result of these studies. These visions show how wind loads can be reduced, water can be stored, diverse energy sources can be integrated into one work of architecture, and thermal comfort can be provided to support local communities and the life of the environment in the belief that th... [more]

For the validation of vehicular Electrical Distribution Systems (EDS), engineers are currently required to analyze disperse information regarding technical requirements, standards and datasheets. Moreover, an enormous effort takes place to elaborate testing plans that are representative for most EDS possible configurations. These experiments are followed by laborious data analysis. To diminish this workload and the need for physical resources, this work reports a simulation platform that centralizes the tasks for testing different EDS configurations and assists the early detection of inadequacies in the design process. A specific procedure is provided to develop a software tool intended for this aim. Moreover, the described functionalities are exemplified considering as a case study the main wire harness from a commercial vehicle. A web-based architecture has been employed in alignment with the ongoing software development revolution and thus provides flexibility for both, developers a... [more]

The world of energy is on the cusp of profound transformation. Hydrogen or hydrogen-containing fuel mixtures in the form of synthesis gas, as carriers of clean energy, will be in the short term among the most efficient solutions to pressing environmental problems, reducing the amount of greenhouse gases as well as pollution of cities and dependence on oil-based fuels. Carbon dioxide conversion of methane is the most promising method for the production of synthesis gas due to the simultaneous consumption of two greenhouse gases and, accordingly, a successful solution to environmental problems. Ni/Mn-based catalysts have been prepared by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) for this process. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and nitrogen porosimetry. The effects of the catalysts’ composition on activity, selectivity, and product yield were investigated. The influence of the content of Ni, Mn on the behavior of catalysts has be... [more]

Crowdfunding has been part of sharing economy for a few decades. Research into crowdfunding usually concerns its relation to sustainable development and corporate social responsibility, influencing investment decisions, psychological, organizational and financial aspects or the success evaluation of individual campaigns or platforms. Recent research includes empirical case studies, e.g., evaluation of the crowdfunding for minor coarse cereal products through evolutionary game analysis, or the impact of crowdfunding on the willingness to visit local festivals. There is, however, no comprehensive cross-sectional approach to crowdfunding attributes that considers data from various categories. The authors aimed to analyze selected attributes of crowdfunding, namely project categories, the number of backers, campaign duration and profitability, and to classify these attributes. A novelty is the use of the term “social energy” in a different sense than previously found in the scientific lite... [more]

Peat is the main type of peloid used in Polish cosmetic/healing spa facilities. Depending on treatment and origin, peat waste can be contaminated microbiologically, and as a result, it must be incinerated in medical waste incineration plants without energy recovery (local law). Such a situation leads to peat waste management costs increase. Therefore, in this work, we checked the possibility of peat waste upcycling to carbonized solid fuel (CSF) using torrefaction. Torrefaction is a thermal treatment process that removes microbiological contamination and improves the fuel properties of peat waste. In this work, the torrefaction conditions (temperature and time) on CSF quality were tested. Parallelly, peat decomposition kinetics using TGA and torrefaction kinetics with lifetime prediction using macro-TGA were determined. Furthermore, torrefaction theoretical mass and energy balance were determined. The results were compared with reference material (wood), and as a result, obtained data... [more]

Sustainable investing allocates investments based on environmental, social and governance factors (ESG). The societal value of sustainable investment is becoming progressively relevant as investors are increasingly recognizing the importance of investing in companies that seek to combat climate change, environmental destruction, while promoting corporate responsibility. Environmental policy and sustainable growth initiatives at a country-level are also being influenced by the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Situated within the current trend of declining foreign direct investment flows (FDI), our study examines the role of ESG factors in attracting FDI and enabling progress toward SDGs. We econometrically examine the linkages between ESG and FDI inflows for a sample of 161 counties. We also focus on low- and middle-income emerging economies and low- and middle-income commodity exporters as these countries face unique challenges of mobilizing financing to achieve SDGs and gene... [more]