Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Energy sustainability'

The main aim of this thesis is investigating energy sustainability in developing countries using useful indicators. As it is known, serious issues such as global warming and inefficient consumption of energy will lead to severe problems in the future in the world and in particular in developing countries. Those countries which have a proper policy and practical actions by policymakers and energy experts can prevent these problems confidently. For these reasons, the present thesis has focused on developing indicators that can measure the grade of energy sustainability in order to achieve energy sustainability the countries analyzed. In this sense, the thesis starts to investigate the Sustainable Energy Development Index (SEDI) method and improves this method by finding and evaluating the useful indicators to improve and complete the SEDI methodology. In this regard, a numerical analysis of 12 countries has been realized. Following the methodology, new indicators associated with energy are proposed in line with the Habitat III and the SDGs from the UN. Additionally, appropriate strategies to combine the different UN goals are analyzed, and indicators are chosen to provide the best performance of the index. For this research, it is needed to analyze many related data and find novel indicators based on these data that can be obtained and applied by policymakers and energy experts for application in developing countries due to high percentage of energy consumption sector in these communities. Therefore, the main findings of this thesis are proposed indicators for improving the quality life of the inhabitants of different areas in the world with respect with the different aspects of the energy such as access energy, affordable energy and saving energy. For achieving to these goals, is the need to a correct policy, the evaluation of energy sustainability based on energy systems of a country, the close collaboration of policymakers with energy experts, using useful indicators, the balance of the energy supply, equity in access to energy and environmental sustainability of the urban and remote areas. These actions will lead to achieving energy sustainability confidently.
El objetivo principal de esta tesis es investigar la sostenibilidad energética en los países en desarrollo utilizando indicadores efectivos. Como es sabido, problemas como el calentamiento global y el consumo ineficiente de energía conducirán a serios problemas en el futuro del mundo y en particular en los países en desarrollo. Aquellos países que cuentan con políticas adecuadas y acciones efectivas por parte de los legisladores y expertos en energía pueden prevenir estos problemas con confianza. Por estas razones, la presente tesis se ha centrado en desarrollar indicadores que puedan medir el grado de sostenibilidad energética para lograr la sostenibilidad energética que los países analizaron. En este sentido, la tesis comienza a investigar el método del Índice de Desarrollo de Energía Sostenible (SEDI) y mejora este método al encontrar y evaluar los indicadores efectivos para mejorar y completar la metodología SEDI. En este sentido, se realizó un análisis numérico de 12 países. Siguiendo la metodología, se proponen nuevos indicadores asociados con la energía en línea con el Hábitat III y los ODS de la ONU. Además, se analizan las estrategias apropiadas para combinar los diferentes objetivos de las Naciones Unidas y se eligen los indicadores para proporcionar el mejor rendimiento del índice. Para esta investigación, es necesario analizar muchos datos relacionados y encontrar nuevos indicadores basados en estos datos que puedan ser obtenidos y aplicados por los formuladores de políticas y expertos en energía para su aplicación en los países en desarrollo debido al alto porcentaje del sector de consumo de energía en estas comunidades. Por lo tanto, los principales hallazgos de esta tesis son indicadores propuestos para mejorar la calidad de vida de los habitantes de diferentes áreas del mundo con respecto a los diferentes aspectos de la energía, como el acceso a la energía, la energía asequible y el ahorro de energía. Para alcanzar estos objetivos, se necesita corregir las políticas, la evaluación de la sostenibilidad energética basada en los sistemas energéticos de un país, la estrecha colaboración de los encargados de formular políticas con los expertos en energía, utilizando indicadores efectivos, el equilibrio del suministro de energía, la equidad en el acceso a sostenibilidad energética y ambiental de las zonas urbanas y remotas. Estas acciones conducirán a lograr la sostenibilidad energética con confianza.

The increase in the energy consumption of cities forecasted for the coming years makes these urban areas tend to be representative of the energy sustainability of their countries. In this sense, on the basis of the analysis of the management model and technological development "Smart City", the objective of this Thesis is to study the scalability from buildings to country level of the reduction in the energy consumption and the increase of the photovoltaic self-consumption . The contribution of this Thesis is based on its relevance in the process of energy transition towards a decarbonised economy, more specifically,in the study of the flexibilization of the functioning of the electrical system through the empowerment of the consumer. Thus ,through its six chapters ,this Thesis addresses broad research focused on identifying the relationship between energy sustainability and "Smart Cities", based on the study of active demand management and the evaluation of the technical-economic performance of buildings and cities with almost zero energy consumption. Chapter 1 serves as a preface to the research of the Thesis describing the relationship between the study of climate change, energy sustainability and the energy transition under the "Smart City" concept. In Chapter 2,"Contribution of Cities to Transition and Energy Sustainability" presents an analysis of the relationship between both concepts. The main contribution of this chapter is the presentation of the hypothesis of the representativeness of the energy sustainability of cities in the energy sustainability of their countries. In Chapter 3, "Electricity strategic conservation through Smart Meters and Demand Side Response: A review", the contribution of the consumer to the flexibilization of the operation of the electrical system is studied. Based on a systematic review of references ,this chapter analyzes the results of the empirical works on the reduction of electricity consumption in households through the feedback of energy information. Chapter 4,"A model for an economic evaluation of energy systems using TRNSYS", contributes with the description and validation of the economic calculation methodology of a model proposed to evaluate "Nearly Zero Energy Buildings " and distributed generation systems. Continuing with this contribution, in Chapter 5 "Economic evaluation of Nearly Zero Energy Cities", the economic evaluation model is applied to a simulation model of the energy performance of the urban energy self­ consumption, performance which is based on the distribution of energy among consumers, prosumers and energy producers and the increase in the consumption of local renewable energy resources to the detriment of the consumption of external sources. Both of these two Chapters 4 and 5 were published in the scientific journal Applied Energy (Q1). Finally,Chapter 6 presents the conclusions of the research, highlighting among them that to maintain the balance of the security of electricity supply,equity in access to energy and environmental sustainability of the city-country, the evaluation of energy sustainability should be addressed from the effectiveness of the electric systems of "Smart Cities". The research covered in this Thesis opens the possibility of addressing the following three research works in the future. 1) Designing a methodology to assess the energy sustainability of cities, which links the evaluation of the effectiveness of "Smart Energy Systems" with the evaluation of local and national climate targets. 2) Expanding the application of the "Nearly Zero Energy City" model to convert its results into an indicator of the flexibility of urban electrical systems. And 3) evaluating other cities in the world with this model, and including electrical storage systems and urban wind generation .
El aumento del consumo energético de las ciudades previsto para los próximos años hace que estas urbes tiendan a ser representativas de la sostenibilidad energética de sus países. En este sentido, en base al análisis del modelo de gestión y desarrollo tecnológico para áreas urbanas "Smart City", el objetivo de esta Tesis es estudiar la escalabilidad desde edificios hasta el nivel de país, de la reducción del consumo energético y el aumento del autoconsumo fotovoltaico. La contribución de esta Tesis se basa en su relevancia en el proceso de transición energética hacia una economía descarbonizada. Específicamente, en el estudio de la flexibilización del funcionamiento del sistema eléctrico a través del empoderamiento del consumidor. Así, dividida en seis capítulos, esta Tesis aborda un amplio trabajo de investigación centrado en identificar la relación entre la sostenibilidad energética y las "Smart Cities", en base al estudio de la gestión activa de la demanda y la evaluación del desempeño técnico-económico de edificios y ciudades de consumo energético casi nulo. El Capítulo 1 sirve de prefacio a la investigación de la Tesis describiendo la relación entre el estudio del cambio climático, la sostenibilidad energética y la transición energética bajo el concepto "Smart City". En el capítulo 2, "Contribution of Cities to Transition and Energy Sustainability", se presenta el análisis de la relación entre ambos conceptos . La principal contribución de este capitulo es la presentación de la hipótesis de la representatividad de la sostenibilidad energética de las ciudades en la sostenibilidad energética de sus países. En el capítulo 3, "Electricity strategic conservation through Smart Meters and Demand Side Response: A review", se estudia la contribución del consumidor a la flexibilización de la operación del sistema eléctrico. Basado en una revisión sistemática de referencias, este capítulo analiza los resultados de los trabajos empíricos sobre la reducción del consumo eléctrico en los hogares a través de la retroalimentación de la información energética. El Capítulo 4, "A model for an economic evaluation of energysystems using TRNSYS", contribuye con la descripción y validación de la metodología de cálculo económico de un modelo propuesto para evaluar "Nearly Zero Energy Buildings" y sistemas de generación distribuida. Continuando con esta contribución, en el capítulo 5 "Economic evaluation of Nearly Zero Energy Cities", el modelo de evaluación económica es aplicado a un modelo de simulación del desempeño energético del autoconsumo energético de ciudades. Desempeño el cual, se basa en la distribución de energía entre consumidores, prosumidores y productores de energía, y el aumento del consumo de recursos energéticos renovables locales en detrimento del consumo de fuentes externas. Cada uno de estos dos capítulos 4 y 5, fue publicado en la revista científica Applied Energy (Q1). Finalmente, el capítulo 6 presenta las conclusiones de la investigación, destacando entre ellas que para mantener en equilibrio la seguridad del suministro eléctrico, la equidad en el acceso a la energía y la sostenibilidad ambiental del binomio entre ciudad y país, la evaluación de la sostenibilidad energética debe abordarse desde la efectividad de los sistemas eléctricos de las Smart Cities. La investigación cubierta en esta Tesis abre a la posibilidad de abordar los siguientes tres trabajos de investigación en el futuro. 1) Diseñar una metodología para evaluar la sostenibilidad energética de las ciudades que vincule la evaluación de la efectividad de "Smart Energy Systems" con la evaluación de objetivos climáticos locales y nacionales .2) Ampliar la aplicación del modelo "Nearly Zero Energy Cities" para convertir sus resultados en un indicador de la flexibilidad de los sistemas eléctricos urbanos. Y 3) evaluar con este modelo otras ciudades del mundo,

The social, environmental and economic side effects of the street lighting are the foremost concern for this thesis, since the expanding use of light at night, along with an inappropriate design, has led a large energy consumption, light pollution and impact on human health and the environment. With increasing consideration on the negative side-effects, it has introduced new recommendations for energy efficient lighting, indicators, and new energy classifications systems to evaluate the energy performance of lighting systems. According to the literature, the energy classification systems are based on installed power and lighting parameters (luminance or illuminance), which influence by regulating the energy consumption and the light levels entering the eye. However, recent studies on the advances of lighting technologies, i.e. light-emitting diode (LED), control systems and luminaires, and developments in mesopic photometry and its influence in energy reduction and vision performance, demand for new requirements. This implies a new quantification system to measure energy efficiency by incorporating all the elements that affect the overall efficiency of the installation. Within this context, an alternative tool to aid decision-makers in choosing the best energy efficiency system to be implemented and to support evidence on the energy savings on street lighting was proposed. This alternative approach takes into consideration the improvement of visual performance by correcting the standard photometry system (photopic) by the mesopic system recommended within the CIE 191:2010 and the operational hours of the lighting system, which are usually disregarded by the most commonly used energy classification approaches. The research outlined in this thesis proposes to use the value function approach that allowed standardizing the proposed energy consumption indicator within a value scale ranging from 0 to 1, which also represents satisfaction degree: the less energy is consumed the more grade of satisfaction. A case study comprising 13 representative streets of the Eixample District of Barcelona was used to validate the alternative approach proposed, and results were compared with those obtained by considering three energy efficiency classifications currently used in Spain, Netherlands and Italy. For the sample, a systematic procedure was carried out to collect data regarding lighting class and geometrical characteristics of the streets, and to the main characteristics of the lighting system. The results derived from the application of the proposed method can be used straightforwardly to quantify the potential energy savings that can be obtained when using different energy classifications. Moreover, these results provide a critical analysis by pointing out the strengths and weakness of the most significant energy performance indicators along with their corresponding energy classification systems. In conclusion, this thesis constitutes a conceptual and empirical approach to the energy classification systems applied in Europe to the street lighting. Thanks to the methodological contribution and the knowledge obtained, this thesis intends to contribute to improving the energy efficiency-based classification systems, and consequently, to move forward into a sustainable and smart assessment tool.
La principal motivación para el estudio del alumbrado público en este trabajo, radica en la influencia que éste ejerce a nivel social, ambiental y económico. El aumento del consumo energético, la contaminación lumínica y el impacto tanto en la salud como en el medio ambiente, son efectos secundarios causados por el uso excesivo de la luz durante la noche junto con un diseño inadecuado del alumbrado público. Por ello, han surgido recomendaciones en el ámbito de eficiencia energética, indicadores y sistemas de clasificación energética que ayudan a evaluar las mejoras necesarias para obtener una instalación de alumbrado público eficiente. La mayoría de los sistemas de clasificación energética están basados en parámetros como la potencia instalada y los niveles de iluminación. Sin embargo, existen estudios que confirman los recientes avances tecnológicos en iluminación y, en el desarrollo de la fotometría mesópica que influye en la reducción del consumo energético y en el rendimiento visual. Esto pone de manifiesto que la evaluación de eficiencia energética del alumbrado público a través de los sistemas de clasificación energética actuales, no deberían basarse solamente en los parámetros básicos, si no que también deberían considerarse otros parámetros que incidan en la eficiencia global de la instalación y que tomen en cuenta las demandas actuales del sector. En este contexto, se ha propuesto una herramienta alternativa que ayude a los responsables de tomar decisiones a seleccionar e implementar el mejor sistema de eficiencia energética, y a evidenciar los ahorros energéticos en el alumbrado público. Este enfoque alternativo toma en cuenta la mejora del rendimiento visual al corregir el sistema de fotometría estándar (fotópico) por el sistema mesópico recomendado en el reporte técnico CIE 191: 2010, así como las horas de funcionamiento del sistema de iluminación. Estos dos parámetros, generalmente son ignorados por los sistemas de clasificación energética usados comúnmente. Esta investigación propone utilizar la Función de Valor, la cual refleja el grado de satisfacción del indicador de consumo energético a partir de un valor estandarizado en una escala del 0 al 1: menos energía es consumida, mayor es el grado de satisfacción que se obtiene. El nuevo enfoque se ha validado en un caso de estudio conformado por 13 calles representativas del distrito del Eixample de Barcelona, cuyos resultados fueron correlacionados con tres sistemas de clasificación energética utilizados actualmente en España, Países Bajos e Italia. Se llevó a cabo un procedimiento sistemático para la colección de datos del caso de estudio, donde se obtuvieron las características geométricas de las calles y sus respectivas clases de iluminación, así como las características principales del sistema de iluminación. Los resultados obtenidos de la aplicación del método propuesto y de las diferentes clasificaciones energéticas, se pueden utilizar de forma sencilla para cuantificar el ahorro energético. Además, estos resultados proporcionan un análisis crítico al resaltar las fortalezas y debilidades de los indicadores de eficiencia energética junto con sus correspondientes sistemas de clasificación energética. En conclusión, este trabajo constituye un enfoque conceptual y empírico de los sistemas de clasificación energética del alumbrado público aplicados en Europa. Gracias al aporte metodológico y al conocimiento obtenido, este trabajo pretende contribuir a la mejora de los sistemas de clasificación basados en la eficiencia energética y, en consecuencia, avanzar hacia una herramienta de evaluación sostenible e inteligente.

Due to increasing concerns for global climate change, onshore and offshore wind energy technologies have stimulated a tremendous interest worldwide, and are considered as a viable solution to mitigate the environmental impacts related to electricity generation. Although wind energy technologies have been considered as one of the cleanest energy sources, they have a wide range of direct and indirect environmental impacts when the whole supply chain is considered. This study aims to quantify the direct and indirect environmental impacts of onshore and offshore wind power technologies by tracing all of the economy-wide supply chain requirements. To accomplish this goal, we developed a comprehensive hybrid life cycle assessment (LCA) model in which process-based LCA model is combined with the economic input-output (EIO) analysis. The analysis results show that on average, concrete and steel and their supply chains are responsible for 37% and 24% of carbon footprint, consequently. On average, offshore wind turbines produce 48% less greenhouse gas emissions per kWh produced electricity than onshore wind turbines. For the onshore wind turbines, concrete, aggregates, and crushed stone approximately consume 95% of total water in this construction phase. On the other hand, concrete, lead, copper, and aggregate are responsible for around 90% of total water for the offshore wind turbines. It is also found that the more capacity the wind turbine has, the less environmental impact the wind turbine generates per kWh electricity. Moreover, based on the economic and environmental impacts of studied wind turbines and also three more nonrenewable energy sources, this study develops a decision making framework to understand the best energy source mix for a building in the state of Florida. This framework accounts for the uncertainty in the input material by deploying a Monte Carlo simulation approach. The results of decision making framework show that natural gas is a better option among nonrenewable sources. On the other hand, V90-3.0 MW offshore wind turbine is the best source of energy among renewable energy sources for a building. The findings of this research are critical for policy makers to understand the direct and indirect environmental impacts of different onshore and offshore wind energy systems. Also this study furnishes the decision maker with a range of possible energy mixes based on different economic and environmental weights.
M.S.C.E.
Masters
Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering
Engineering and Computer Science
Civil Engineering

Cloud computing promises a new era of service delivery and deployment in such a way that every person can access any kind of services like storage, application, operating system and so on from anywhere any time using any device having internet connection. Cloud computing opens new possibilities approaching sustainable solutions to deploy and advance their services upon that platform. Sustainability of Cloud computing is to be addressed in terms of environmental and economic effects.In this thesis we explore the energy efficient approaches inside data centres from the site and IT infrastructure perspective incorporating Cloud networking from the access network technologies and network equipment point of view to give a comprehensive prospect toward achieving energy efficiency of Cloud computing. Traditional and Cloud data centres would by compared to figure out which one is more recommended to be deployed. Virtualization as heart of energy efficient Cloud computing that can integrates some technologies like consolidation and resource utilization has been introduced to prepare a background for implementation part. Finally approaches for Cloud computing data centres at operating system and especially data centre level are presented and Green Cloud architecture as the most suitable green approach is described in details. In the experiment segment we modelled and simulated Facebook and studied the behaviour in terms of cost and performance and energy consumption to reach a most appropriate solution.

The importance of access to modern energy has been well understood by governments and donor agencies in many developing countries, and significant effort has been made in recent years to address energy access challenges. However, despite these efforts, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has predicted that the energy access problem will remain unresolved by 2030. Therefore, adequate and appropriate action is needed to resolve this problem more quickly. This dissertation analyses policies and their impacts and will help researchers and policy makers in developing countries to (i) understand the impact of policies in the formation of a renewable energy (RE) market, (ii) consider the determinants of technological choices when promoting access to energy services and, (iii) better appreciate the sustainability performance of rural energy. For the purpose of analysis, several country cases from Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa region were carried out as these are the two main regions where the energy access problem are most acute. To understand the impact of policies in the formation of RE based rural electrification market, a case study was conducted in Nepal. The study has shown that rural electrification has been expanding as a consequence of market-oriented policies. When it comes to selection of electrification path-ways, different technological alternatives are analysed in Afghanistan and Nepal, taking levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) as the means to select cost effective options. The analysis has presented best-fit conditions for these various technological pathways in the two countries and verified whether they are following the appropriate and cost effective course in their efforts to expand rural electrification. For understanding the determinants of cooking fuel choices and to analyse policy implications in the transition of large populations from traditional to modern fuels, fuel choices are modelled in the case of China. Choices are modelled (using MESSAGE–ACCESS mod-el) with standard economic variables such as income, technology costs and fuel prices, along with some unique variable such as inconvenience costs. Future access scenarios are designed considering different policy options to accelerate the transition. Sustainability is one of the key concerns in terms of energy access. This dissertation introduces methods for evaluating (i) the sustainability performance of energy technologies and (ii) the status and progress of developing countries in providing sustainable energy access. Different sets of sustainability indicators are considered for the rural energy sector and aggregated to form a single composite index. The energy technology sustainability index (ETSI) is used for assessing the performance of different energy technological systems in the case of India. The analysis reveals that mature technologies such as biomass gasifiers, biogas and micro hydro have relatively better sustainability performance among the options considered, while solar and wind, though showing fairly good improvement in sustainability performance, still have difficulties competing with more mature and conventional technologies without policy support. The Energy Sustainability Index (ESI) has been applied to China, India, South Africa, Sri-Lanka, Bangladesh and Ghana between 1990 and 2010 to evaluate the status and progress made by these countries in rural energy sustainability. The analysis suggests that South Africa’s rural energy sustainability index is highest followed by China, Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh and Ghana respectively. The rural energy sustainability has improved relatively over time in all countries except Ghana. The dissertation shows that policies are helping the rapid expansion of the RE market though with uneven penetration in rural Nepal. Access to credit and cumbersome subsidy delivery mechanism are perceived as the major factors affecting the expansion of rural electrification, requiring innovation. The electrification pathways taken by Nepal seem functional and moving in the right direction but some flaws in the delivery mechanisms require attention. Meanwhile in Afghanistan, pathways are not well defined and the country lacks a clear-cut national policy framework for the expansion of rural electrification. The analysis on fuel transition shows that even a fast developing country such as China will continue to have serious problems guaranteeing the access to solid fuels for cooking for one third of its rural population by 2030. The problem could be more severe in poorer nations. There-fore, further policy intervention addressing the high implicit discount rate of the poorer section of the population, reducing the upfront cost of more efficient technology (stoves) or the costs of cleaner fuels with subsidies must be considered to promote energy transition. Overall, this dissertation has analysed key issues in the global discussion about sustainable energy access. The methods for sustainability assessment suggested have been specially designed for rural settings in developing countries and are instrumental to assess the performance of rural energy technologies and track the progress of sustainable energy access efforts among rural households.

QC 20140210

The safety performance of nuclear power reactors is a very important factor in evaluating nuclear energy sustainability. Improving the safety performance of nuclear reactors can enhance nuclear energy sustainability as it will improve the environmental indicator used to evaluate the overall sustainability of nuclear energy. Great interest is given now to advanced nuclear reactors especially those using passive safety components. Investigation of the improvement in nuclear safety using advanced reactors was done by comparing the safety performance of a conventional reactor which uses active safety systems, such as Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR), with an advanced reactor which uses passive safety systems, such as AP1000, during a design basis accident, such as Loss of Coolant Accident (LOCA), using the PCTran as a simulation code. To assess the safety performance of PWR and AP1000, the “Global Safety Index” GSI model was developed by introducing three indicators: probability of accident occurrence, performance of safety system in case of an accident occurrence, and the consequences of the accident. Only the second indicator was considered in this work. A more detailed model for studying the performance of passive safety systems in AP1000 was developed. That was done using SCDAPSIM/RELAP5 code as it is capable of modelling design basis accidents (DBAs) in advanced nuclear reactors.

The Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems defines sustainability or industrial ecology as ?the wise use of resources through critical attention to policy, social, economic, technological, and ecological management of natural and human engineered capital so as to promote innovations that assure a higher degree of human needs fulfilment, or life support, across all regions of the world, while at the same time ensuring intergenerational equity? (Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems 1998). Developing and integrating sustainable energy systems to meet growing energy demands is a daunting task. Although the technology to utilize renewable energies is well understood, there are limited locations which are ideally suited for renewable energy development. Even in areas with significant wind or solar availability, backup or redundant energy supplies are still required during periods of low renewable generation. This is precisely why it would be difficult to make the switch directly from fossil fuel to renewable energy generation. A transition period in which a base-load generation supports renewables is required, and nuclear energy suits this need well with its limited life cycle emissions and fuel price stability. Sustainability is achieved by balancing environmental, economic, and social considerations, such that energy is produced without detriment to future generations through loss of resources, harm to the environment, etcetera. In essence, the goal is to provide future generations with the same opportunities to produce energy that the current generation has. This research explores sustainability metrics as they apply to a small modular reactor (SMR)-hydrogen production plant coupled with wind energy and storage technologies to develop a new quantitative sustainability metric, the Sustainability Efficiency Factor (SEF), for comparison of energy systems. The SEF incorporates the three fundamental aspects of sustainability and provides SMR or nuclear hybrid energy system (NHES) reference case studies to (1) introduce sustainability metrics, such as life cycle assessment, (2) demonstrate the methods behind exergy and exergoeconomic analyses, (3) provide an economic analysis of the potential for SMR development from first-of-a-kind (FOAK) to nth-of-a-kind (NOAK), thereby illustrating possible cost reductions and deployment flexibility for SMRs over large conventional nuclear reactors, (4) assess the competitive potential for incorporation of storage and hydrogen production in NHES and in regulated and deregulated electricity markets, (5) compare an SMR-hydrogen production plant to a natural gas steam methane reforming plant using the SEF, and (6) identify and review the social considerations which would support future nuclear development domestically and abroad, such as public and political/regulatory needs and challenges. The Global Warming Potential (GWP) for the SMR (300 MWth)-wind (60 MWe)-high temperature steam electrolysis (200 tons Hydrogen per day) system was calculated as approximately 874 g CO2-equivalent as part of the life cycle assessment. This is 92.6% less than the GWP estimated for steam methane reforming production of hydrogen by Spath and Mann. The unit exergetic and exergoeconomic costs were determined for each flow within the NHES system as part of the exergy/exergoeconomic cost analyses. The unit exergetic cost is lower for components yielding more meaningful work like the one exiting the SMR with a unit exergetic cost of 1.075 MW/MW. In comparison, the flow exiting the turbine has a very high unit exergetic cost of 15.31, as most of the useful work was already removed through the turning of the generator/compressor shaft. In a similar manner, the high unit exergoeconomic cost of $12.45/MW*sec is observed for the return flow to the reactors, because there is very little exergy present. The first and second law efficiencies and the exergoeconomic factors were also determined over several cases. For the first or base SMR case, first and second law efficiencies of 81.5% and 93.3% were observed respectively. With an increase in reactor outlet temperature of only 20?C, both the SMR efficiencies increased, while the exergoeconomic factor decreased by 0.2%. As part of the SMR economic analysis, specific capital and total capital investment costs (TCIC) were determined in addition to conditional effects on the net present value (NPV), levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), and payback periods. For a 1260 MWe FOAK multi-module SMR site with 7 modules, the specific capital costs were 27-38% higher than that of a 1260 MWe single large reactor site. A NOAK site, on the other hand, may be 19% lower to 18% higher than the large reactor site, demonstrating that it may break even or be even more economical in average or favorable market conditions. The NOAK TCIC for single and multi-module SMR sites were determined to be $914-$1,230 million and $660-$967 million per module, respectively, reflecting the substantial savings incurred with sites designed for and deployed with multiple modules. For the same NOAK 7-unit multi-module site, the LCOE was calculated as $67-$84/MWh, which is slightly less than that of the conventional large reactor LCOE of $89/MWh with a weighted average cost of capital of 10%, a 50%-50% share of debt and equity, and a corporate tax rate of 35%. The payback period for the SMR site, however, is 4 years longer. Construction delays were also analyzed to compare the SMR and large reactor sites, demonstrating the SMR NPV and LCOE are less sensitive to delays. For a 3 year delay, the SMR NPV decreased by 22%, while the large reactor NPV decreased by 34.1%. Similarly the SMR and large reactor LCOEs increased by 7.8% and 8.1%, respectively. An NHES case with hydrogen production and storage was performed, illustrating how the profit share of revenue is improved with the addition of hydrogen production. Although the costs are increased with the addition, 78% of the hydrogen revenue is profit, while only 50% of the electricity generation revenue is profit. A second NHES case study was analyzed to assess the NPV, LCOE, and payback differences in deregulated and regulated electricity markets. For a 60 year lifetime, Case C (with nuclear, wind, and hydrogen production) is economical in the deregulated market with an NPV of ~$66.3 million and a payback period of 10 years, but not in the regulated one with an NPV of approximately -$115.3 million and a payback period of 11 years. With either market type, the plants levelized costs remain $82.82/MWh, which is still reasonable with respect to prior LCOE values determined for SMR and large reactor sites. Utilizing all the methodology and results obtained and presented in this thesis, the SEF may be calculated. The NHES SEF was determined to be 18.3% higher than that of natural gas steam methane reforming, illustrating a higher level of sustainability. The SEF quantitatively uses the exergoeconomic cost and irreversibilities obtained from the exergy analysis, the GWP obtained from the life cycle assessment and costs/fees associated with emissions and pollutants, and relevant economic data obtained from an economic analysis. This reflects the environmental, socio-political, and economic pillars of sustainability.

The increasing world energy demand has become the need of achieving energy efficiency and sustainable practices a key element in order to ensure the future of the societies. In Sweden, buildings accounts for 40% of total energy consumption. Within a sector that consumes almost half of the energy in the country it is possible to identify a group of buildings which generally presents a higher consumption and bigger problems, the historic and protected buildings. There is big room for improvement in the field of achieving sustainability in historic building although most of this improvements are constrained by limitations and protections due to their condition. Studying this limitations and needs for improvement of these buildings it is possible to come up with energy efficient solutions according with the regulations. The aim of this report will be achieving sustainability in Swedish historic/protected buildings, while respecting the applicable law to ensure that heritage and cultural value is respected, by proposing energy efficiency improvement measures that requires a feasible investment with a reasonable pay-back time.

Rural energy access has been a persistent issue in India causing the country to become one of the most energy poor nations of the world. Despite the launch of several heavily funded programs for the provision of electricity and modern fuels to rural areas, majority of the country‘s village households remain neglected and deficient in energy. Calls have been made for the reconstruction of policies, programs and institutional frameworks that engage in dispersion of energy to the rural poor. Such policies, programs and institutional frameworks vary across different states within India. These differences need to be understood in depth to formulate suitable mechanisms for energy access. In particular, social and economic aspects of energy access need to be studied to overcome barriers in providing energy to the rural poor. This study discerns how different states are performing in terms of providing sustainable energy access to rural people. It conducts an analysis of the socio-economic sustainability of energy access to the rural household in six states of the country (Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan and West Bengal) over the course of two time periods(1996-2002, 2005-2011), with the aid of key performance indicators. Results indicate that all the states have improved their energy access conditions over the past few decades. However, the rates of growth are vastly different and some states still continue to remain highly inadequate in their performances. Punjab has consistently been the most successful state while West Bengal continues to be the most energy-poor state despite a reasonable growth in energy sustainability. The possible reasoning behind these disparities could be dissimilarity in economic development between the states, size and population density of the states, isolation of villages and ineffectiveness and inequity of subsidy schemes. These needs further exploration at individual state level. Transition to less-expensive and easily installable renewable technologies, communicating benefits of modern energy to rural population and channeling subsidies towards lower income groups can improve reach of modern energy towards the rural poor of India.

Thesis (PhD (School of Public Leadership))--University of Stellenbosch, 2012.
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ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Technology assessment has changed in nature over the last four decades. It changed from an analytical tool for technology evaluation, which depends heavily on quantitative and qualitative modelling methodologies, into a strategic planning tool for policy-making concerning acceptable new technologies, which depends on participative policy problem analysis. The goal of technology assessment today is to generate policy options for solutions of organisational and societal problems, which at the operational level, utilise new technologies that are publicly acceptable; that is, viable policy options. Energy technology assessment for sustainability is inherently a complex and dynamic process that requires a holistic and transdisciplinary approach. In the South Africa context, specifically, there is no formal and coherent approach to energy technology assessment from a sustainability perspective. Without a formal comprehensive or well integrated technology assessment approach to evaluate the sustainability of any technology, the policy-makers, technology designers, and decision-makers are faced with difficulty in terms of making reasoned decisions about the appropriate technology options. This study developed a framework that incorporates a technology assessment approach, namely, system dynamics, within the broader scope of technology development for sustainability. The framework, termed the Systems Approach to Technology Sustainability Assessment (SATSA), integrates three key elements: technology development, sustainable development, and a dynamic systems approach. The study then provides a guiding process of applying the framework to energy technology assessment theory and practice within the context of sustainable development. Biodiesel, a cleaner burning replacement fuel, argued to potentially contribute to sustainable development, is used for the demonstration. Biodiesel development entails complex interactions of actors such as the technology developers, government at different levels, communities, as well as the natural environment. Different actions or responses in the greater system might hinder or undermine the positive effects of such a development. Based on the SATSA framework, a Bioenergy Technology Sustainability Assessment (BIOTSA) model was developed. The BIOTSA model was used to test the outcomes of a proposed biodiesel production development in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa on selected sustainability indicators. In addition, some policy scenarios were tested to compare how they assist in improving the selected indicators. The BIOTSA model results are useful in comparing dynamic consequences resulting from a proposed biodiesel production development and the respective policies and decisions that may arise from such a development. The testing and validation of the BIOTSA model was carried out based on structural validity, behavioural validity, and expert opinion. Potential policy scenario outcomes and their implication, on the selected sustainability indicators, were also tested. The opinions of the selected stakeholders indicated that the BIOTSA model was useful in providing an understanding of the potential impacts of the biodiesel development on selected sustainability indicators in the Eastern Cape Province. Thus, the SATSA framework can be applied for assessing sustainability of other renewable energy technologies. In addition, system dynamics provide a useful and a feasible dynamic systems approach for energy technology sustainability assessment. Finally, the model building process and transdisciplinary nature of this study enabled the identification of the potential problems that could arise during the biodiesel production development. In addition, gaps in data and knowledge were identified and the recommendation for future work in this field is highlighted. Nevertheless, the findings of the BIOTSA model could inform policy- and decision-making in biodiesel production development in South Africa. The development of similar models for other renewable energy development efforts is thus recommended. The current efforts to facilitate the large-scale roll out of concentrated solar thermal technologies in Southern Africa, for example, would require the development of a Solar Thermal Technology Sustainability Assessment (SOTTSA) model.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die aard van tegnologie assessering het in die afgelope vier dekades verander. Dit het verander ten opsigte van ’n analitiese hulpmiddel vir tegnologie evaluering, wat hoofsaaklik staatmaak op kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe modelleringsmetodiek, na ’n strategiese beplanningshulpmiddel vir beleidvorming met betrekking tot nuwe aanvaarbare tegnologieë, wat afhanklik is van ’n deelnemende beleidsprobleem analise. Vandag se doel vir tegnologie assessering is om beleidsopsies vir oplossings van organisatoriese en sosiale probleme te genereer, wat op operasionele vlak gebruik maak van nuwe tegnologieë wat deur die publiek aanvaar is; met ander woorde, lewensvatbare beleidsopsies. Energie tegnologie assessering vir volhoubaarheid is sonder twyfel ’n komplekse en dinamiese proses wat ’n holistiese en transdisiplinêre benadering benodig. In die Suid- Afrikaanse konteks is daar geen formele en samehangende benadering tot tegnologie assessering vanaf ’n volhoubaarheidsperspektief nie. Beleidsmakers, tegnologie ontwerpers en besluitnemers mag sukkel om beredenerende besluite te neem oor die toepaslike tegnologie opsies sonder ’n formele omvattende of goed geïntegreerde tegnologie assesseringsbenadering om die volhoubaarheid van enige tegnologie te evalueer. Hierdie studie het ’n raamwerk ontwerp wat die tegnologie assesseringsbenadering inkorporeer binne die breë bestek van tegnologiese ontwikkeling vir volhoubaarheid naamlik, stelsel dinamika. Die raamwerk, genoem die Sisteem Benadering tot Tegnologie Volhoubaarheidsassessering (SBTVA) integreer drie sleutelelemente: tegnologiese ontwikkeling, volhoubaarheidsontwikkeling, en ʼn dinamiese stelsels benadering. Verder verskaf die studie ’n leidende proses te opsigte van die toepassing van die raamwerk tot energie tegnologie assesseringsteorie en praktyk binne die konteks van volhoubaarheidsontwikkeling. Biodiesel word gebruik vir die demonstrasie omdat dit gereken word as ’n skoner plaasvervanger vir brandstof en daar aangevoer word dat dit ’n potensiële bydraer tot volhoubaarheidsontwikkeling is. Die ontwikkeling van biodiesel behels komplekse interaksie tussen verskeie akteurs soos tegnologiese ontwikkelaars, die regering op verskillende vlakke, gemeenskappe asook die natuurlike omgewing. Verskeie aksies of reaksies in die groter sisteem mag dalk die positiewe effek van so ontwikkeling ondermyn of verhinder. ’n Biodiesel Tegnologiese Volhoubaarheidsassessering (BIOTVA) model is ontwerp gebaseer op die SBTVA raamwerk. Die BIOTVA model is gebruik om die uitkomste op geselekteerde volhoubaarheidsaanduiders van ’n voorgestelde biodiesel produksie ontwikkeling in die Oos- Kaap Provinsie van Suid-Afrika te toets. Buiten vir die voorafgaande is sekere beleidtoekomsblikke ook getoets om te vergelyk hoe hulle sal help om die geselekteerde aanwysers te verbeter. Die BIOTVA model resultate is behulpsaam in die vergelyking van dinamiese gevolge wat voortspruit uit die voorgestelde biodiesel produksie ontwikkeling asook die onderskeie beleide en besluite wat mag ontstaan van so ’n ontwikkeling. Die toetsing en bekragtiging van die BIOTVA model was uitgevoer gebaseer op strukturele geldigheid, gedragsgeldigheid, en kundige opinie. Potensiële beleidtoekomsblikke uitkomste en die nagevolge, ten opsigte van die geselekteerde volhoubaarheidsaanduiders, is ook getoets. Die opinies van die geselekteerde aandeelhouers het aangedui dat die BIOTVA model bruikbaar is om ’n beter begrip te verskaf ten opsigte van die potensiële impak wat die biodiesel ontwikkeling op geselekteerde volhoubaarheidsaanduiders in die Oos-Kaap Provinsie sal hê. As gevolg hiervan kan die SBTVA raamwerk toegepas word om die volhoubaarheid van ander herwinbare energie tegnologieë te assesseer. Buiten die voorafgaande kan stelsel dinamika ’n bruikbare en uitvoerbare dinamiese stelselbenadering vir energie tegnologie volhoubaarheidsassessering verskaf. Ten slotte, die model bouproses en transdisiplinêre aarde van die studie het gehelp om potensiële probleme wat kan voorkom tydens die biodiesel produksie ontwikkeling te identifiseer. Daarby is gapings in data en kennis ook geïdentifiseer en die aanbevelings vir verdere studie in die veld is uitgelig. Nieteenstaande kan die bevindings van die BIOTVA model beleidmakers en besluitnemers in die biodiesel produksie ontwikkeling van Suid- Afrika inlig. Die ontwikkeling van soortgelyke modelle vir ander herwinbare energie ontwikkelingspogings word aanbeveel. As voorbeeld sal die huidige pogings om die grootskaalse uitrol van gekonsentreerde son termiese tegnologieë in Suider-Afrika te fasiliteer die ontwikkeling van ’n Son Termiese Tegnologie Volhoubaarheidsassesering (SOTTVA) model benodig.

Energy is one of the most important sectors for sustainable development of any country; however, its generation and consumption lead to environmental, economic, and social consequences, including climate change, pollution and energy poverty. Currently, there is much discussion and activity at the international level aimed at identifying sustainable energy options for the future. In an attempt to contribute to the debate in this area, the main objective of this research has been to develop a methodology to help assess the sustainability of energy systems with the view of identifying more sustainable energy options. The methodology has been applied to the energy system of Nigeria. However, the methodology is generic and can be applied to any energy system in any country.

The drive to meet climate change and energy security targets has led the UK government to incentivise microgeneration, with 2 GW now installed, the vast majority of which is solar PV. However, this only represents 0.2% of UK energy supply and greater uptake is not guaranteed since FIT rates were cut for solar PV in 2012, reducing the financial incentive to install. Thus, other consumer motivations must be focussed on by industry and the government in order to further increase uptake. Additionally, microgeneration may be able to contribute to a sustainable and reliable UK energy mix, but such a contribution is not guaranteed. For example, there is concern that above 10 GW of installed solar PV, the electricity grid will experience balancing problems due to uncontrolled exporting to the grid. With higher intermittent solar PV generation, there will a greater load requirement on variable-load plants such as coal and gas generation plants. This research investigates the above issues by contributing to the question: How can microgeneration contribute further to UK climate change and energy security targets? Firstly, this research determines the consumer motivations and barriers associated with the decision whether or not to install microgeneration, in order to find ways of further improving uptake. A comprehensive literature review was carried out, followed by a survey using the ‘best-worst scaling’ approach to determine the relative importance of each motivation and barrier across existing adopters, those currently considering installing and those who have decided not to, rejecters. The most important motivations were to earn money, to increase self-sufficiency and to guard against future energy bill increases. The greatest barriers were high capital costs, not earning enough money and the risk of losing money if they moved home. Whilst the Green Deal was designed to remove the capital cost and risk of losing money barriers, it may actually increase the risk of losing money if they moved home as homebuyers are reluctant to purchase a house with an attached Green Deal loan. The desire for self-sufficiency is more important for considerers and rejecters than adopters and greater emphasis on increasing self-sufficiency could help improve uptake. Secondly, an option to increase household energy self-sufficiency whilst mitigating the grid balancing problems associated with solar PV exports was investigated: a combined solar PV, Stirling engine CHP (SECHP) and lead-acid battery household system was simulated and used to carry out a cost-benefit analysis and life cycle assessment compared to a conventional household system using the electricity grid and gas boiler for heating. The system provides 72% of a household’s energy demand and reduces grid demand variations by 35% with a 6 kWh battery. However, the system is only cost-effective for households with large electricity demand, 4,300 kWh/yr. If uptake of such a system is to be encouraged, it must be incentivised: a 24% capital grant would be required for the average household (£3,600). The environmental impacts of the system are reduced by 35-100% compared to the conventional system for 9 out of 11 impacts. However, depletion of elements is 42 times higher largely due to the use of antimony for the battery manufacture. Environmental benefits vary greatly across households and those with the largest energy demand achieve the greatest benefits from the system. Appropriate battery sizing is essential in order to maximise environmental benefits, with 10–20 kWh capacity being optimum for the households considered. Overall, this research has identified numerous ways to increase microgeneration uptake, but this is likely to be at a cost to the government and, ultimately, the tax payer. UK microgeneration policy over the last decade has frequently changed and created uncertainty for consumers and the industry. A more continuous, simple and transparent policy environment would provide security for both industry and consumers, allowing more stable growth in a quickly maturing market.

Rising consumption of oil and natural gas inside the six Gulf Arab monarchies threatens to displace hydrocarbon exports that have long provided a large source of GDP. This trend is, in large part, a result of subsidized energy pricing and distribution, practices which form an integral part of rentier structures of political control. However, these practices are insufficiently analyzed in the rentier literature. This dissertation addresses this shortfall by incorporating the theoretical significance of energy as a physical commodity – rather than as a source of rent – into the rentier literature. Energy subsidization has fostered within these states a structural dependence that has driven choices in industrialization, city design, technology preference and use, and personal habits. These subsidies have also helped build and maintain public support for unelected regimes, alongside the well-known role of energy rents. Energy thus has a conflicting dual role in the rentier state that contributes to the difficulty of subsidy reform. Externally, energy exports are the main source of state revenue; but domestically, energy is an important source of political support. The literature’s portrayal of subsidies as unreformable citizen entitlements conflicts with the increasing economic imperative of reforming these distribution practices. Since rentier consumption patterns threaten the flow of rents, the self-defeating nature of domestic resource distribution is emerging as a long-term weakness within rentier theory. I present evidence that reforms have already taken place, despite theoretical predictions to the contrary, and demonstrate the economic imperatives that make further reforms likely in at least two of the six states: Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. I also show that citizen understanding of energy subsidies is more nuanced than the entitlement portrayals found in the literature. This dissertation suggests revising the theory to accept a more flexible interpretation of subsidies as customary privileges, which allows for reform of these practices. Reforms in rentier monarchies’ energy policies are important not just because they challenge the most important theories of governance of these states, but because examining these reforms allows for understanding the difficult tradeoffs between politics and economics that underlie the survival of these peculiar regimes.

Article
The vision of CUT as a sustainable university is to become a teaching, research and learning environment which maximizes and mainstreams environmental, economic and social sustainability in all its operations and educational activities. In driving this process, the university established a Sustainable Development Project to facilitate, oversee and report on the roll-out of this project.

Sustainable Built Environments Senior Capstone Project
This study is an analysis and definition of green building design and zero energy building. This distinguishes the different components that go into net zero building, and the feasibility of making it happen on current buildings, as well as ones in design. The study identifies a building currently in construction on the University of Arizona campus, and identifies its possibility of zero energy and how zero energy would affect the cost and performance of the building. Ultimately it is found that net zero is feasible for the Environmental Natural Resources Building 2 and the University of Arizona, and should be a component in the design and building process of future buildings on campus.

Managers at automotive manufacturers are seeking ways to reduce energy consumption, costs, carbon emissions, and waste from production processes. Researchers and practitioners perceive energy efficiency as the least expensive and most effective way to deal with issues related to climate change, but adoption of energy efficiency measures has been slow among industrial facilities. The topic of this research study was the decision-making process for energy efficiency projects in the U.S. automotive manufacturing industry. Flaws in this decision-making processes are preventing changes that can dramatically reduce energy usage, cost, and pollution. The study was grounded in the theories of energy management, organizational learning, systems thinking, and strategic management. Data is from open-ended question interviews and questionnaires of 21 decision makers in automotive manufacturing companies in the United States about their perception and experiences regarding the decision-making process for energy efficiency projects. The data were coded to identify themes. The findings indicated that organizational leaders with responsibility over energy management should include energy management standards and frameworks such as ISO 50001, Six Sigma DMAIC, and Energy Star as guidelines for selecting energy efficiency projects. Decision makers may find these results useful in improving their decision-making processes for evaluating energy efficiency projects. This research has the potential to promote positive social change in the automotive industry by reducing energy consumption and business costs, and it could benefit communities by reducing pollution through increasing energy efficiency in the automotive manufacturing industries.

In 2007, vacation rental properties in the United States accounted for more than 22% of the domestic lodging market. These properties are a unique segment of the lodging industry due to their residential design and commercial use. Coastal vacation rental properties represent the largest supply, demand and value of the nation's vacation rental supply. In the case of North Carolina's Outer Banks, tourism is the area's largest source of income, with vacation real estate agencies being the largest accommodation provider. This study uses a multiple regression analysis to investigate the energy consumption of 30 vacation rental homes on Hatteras Island. Hatteras Island's abundant supply of vacation rental homes provided a diverse sample to study energy consumption with a wide range of houses regarding size, age, and location. Since very little research has been conducted on the energy consumption of vacation rental homes, this study aims to contribute detailed information regarding the energy consumption of unique accommodation sector.

Energy benchmarking and disclosure policies exist in several local and state governments to manage the energy consumption of existing buildings and encourage energy efficient retrofits and upgrades, yet little is known about whether these efforts have improved overall energy efficiency. The purpose of this repeated-measures study was to examine the influence of New York City's (NYC's) Benchmarking Law (LL84) on the energy performance of the city's existing commercial buildings through investigating whether the energy performance of the city's existing commercial buildings significantly improved after the implementation of this policy. The study was based on Ostrom's institutional analysis and development framework. Paired-sample t tests were performed to statistically analyze the annually disclosed energy benchmarking data for 1,072 of NYC's existing commercial buildings that were benchmarked in both 2011 and 2016. Compared to 2011, the study results revealed statistically significant improvements in the energy performance of NYC's commercial buildings by 2016. On average, their site energy use intensity (EUI) significantly reduced by 5%, source EUI significantly decreased by 10%, greenhouse gas emissions significantly dropped by 12%, and ENERGY STAR performance rating significantly improved by 5%. However, these improvements were primarily achieved in 2012, 1 year after the city's energy benchmarking data were publicly disclosed. Additional measures should be considered to maintain continuous energy savings and greenhouse gas mitigation patterns. Positive social change implications include the potential to promote energy-efficient upgrades and inspire the adoption of sustainable building concepts.

The built environment puts the greatest pressure on the natural environment out of all human activities, so it has a fundamental obligation to be environmentally sustainable. Carbon dioxide (CO2) or carbon emissions is a significant greenhouse gas that is inevitably associated with energy use when energy is produced via the combustion of fuels. Total life cycle energy, embodied and operational energy over a building's lifetime, creates significant environmental impacts through the production of CO2. By keeping and reusing existing and historic buildings rather than discarding them and building new, the embodied energy, or the energy that is locked up, can help to mitigate future damage. These buildings already exist, which indicates that the energy consumed to build them has been applied and the carbon associated with their construction has been released. The greenest buildings are ones that are already built. They are inherently more sustainable than any new buildings even with green and zero net energy systems and can be retrofitted to become more energy efficient. To demonstrate this thesis specifically, a design project engages with an abandoned late nineteenth-century bank building in Philadelphia and transforms it into a high-performance building that is prepared for long-term use. For the immediate next use, the project creates a work environment and a new vertical expansion of residential units. The preservation field always confronts the challenge of bridging the gap between embodied energy and operational energy. In the abandoned bank, there are some aspects of this building that are near permanent and define its character, such as brick walls with masonry ornament, two bank vaults, Wissahickon Schist foundation wall, and ceiling trusses. This thesis explores new approaches to leverage the embodied energy of the permanent parts of the abandoned bank and transform it into a high-performance building. A lot of energy of the abandoned bank, the building's material, and thermal mass is still actively performing. The building's envelope, the thick masonry wall, provides a moderately good insulating effect that will temper the indoor air that also preserves its historical character both inside and outside. The embodied energy of the building's envelope is leveraged by pairing it with localized heating and cooling using a radiation and conduction system. Other approaches that increase energy performance in the existing building, include the use of phase-change material for cooling the process water, solar hot water, creating drinking water via a solar still in the skylight, and distilled water from radiant cooling surfaces. In the new construction, a thermal switch facade and double-skin facade for the residential units are proposed, along with providing flexible space with thick mobile interior wall units.
Master of Architecture
Global warming as a problem of the twenty-first-century increase concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere due to human actions like burning fossil fuels. The built environment puts the greatest pressure on the natural environment of all industrial parts, and it has a fundamental role to manage the environment sustainably. Total life cycle energy, embodied and operational energy over the lifetime of the buildings, creates significant environmental impacts through the production of CO2. Embodied energy is the whole amount of energy applied to extract the raw materials, manufacture, transport, install, and use the product across its life cycle. Assessments of the embodied energy of historic and existing buildings are helping to mitigate future damage to resources. These buildings already exist, which indicates that the energy consumed to build them has been applied and the carbon associated with their construction has been released. The greenest buildings are ones that are already built. They are inherently sustainable and can be retrofitted to become more energy efficient. Specifically, this design engages with an abandoned late nineteenth-century bank building in Philadelphia and transforms it into a high-performance building that is prepared for long-term use. For the immediate next use, the project creates a work environment and in a new vertical expansion, residential units. In the abandoned bank, there are some aspects of this building that are near-permanent and define its characters, such as brick walls with masonry ornament, two bank vaults, Wissahickon Schist wall, and ceiling trusses. This thesis explores the new approaches to leverage the embodied energy of the permanent parts of the abandoned bank and transform it into a high-performance building. This is achieved through various means such as providing localized heating and cooling by using a radiation and conduction system, the use of phase-change material for cooling the process water, solar hot water, creating drinking water via a solar still in the skylight and distilled water from radiant cooling surfaces. In the new construction, a thermal switch facade and double-skin facade for the residential units are proposed, along with providing flexible space with thick mobile interior wall units.

The University of Manchester,Mohamad Farizal RAJEMI,Doctor of Philosophy,Energy analysis in turning and milling,2010.Energy generation as driven by consumption demand is a key contributor to carbon dioxide emissions and climate change. Hence reducing energy usage is an essential consideration in sustainable manufacturing. In addition, the world is experiencing a higher demand and cost of energy, hence reducing energy usage is an important factor for cost control and economic sustainability. Energy availability and security is now recognised as a key aspect to the socio-political sustainability of nations. Thus, reducing energy demand can be associated with the three; economic, environmental and social sustainability pillars. The manufacturing sector is a key industry that relies on the use of energy in driving value adding manufacturing processes. A widely used process is mechanical machining. This PhD was focussed on an investigation of energy consumption in machining processes and the energy footprints of machined products. A literature review had indicated that despite decades of optimising of machining operations based on cost and productivity, optimising energy use had not received significant attention. In the study a current monitoring device was used to evaluate current requirements and hence power and energy needs for machining processes. The study was done for (i) a range of workpiece materials and (ii) the turning and milling process. This enabled the definition of energy distribution for a machining process and identification of key areas of focus in order to reduce the energy used by a machine tool. The study was then focused on an energy intensive material in terms of machining requirements (titanium alloys) and an in-depth characterisation of the impacts of conventional compared to high speed machining was undertaken. From the study it was clear that a methodology was needed to ensure that energy use can be reduced or optimised. Thus an energy footprint model for a machined component was developed. This model was then used to derive an optimum tool life equation that satisfies the minimum energy criterion. A methodology for selection of optimum cutting conditions was then developed and tested on a component. Thus, the Thesis presents a new and novel model and methodology for selecting optimum cutting conditions for machining, based on minimum energy requirements. The energy savings associated with using such methodologies are quantified and found to be very significant. This work makes a distinct and important contribution to the machining science for reducing the energy and carbon footprints of machined products.

This thesis examines community energy planning in Sweden and Canada with the aim of revealing strategies that move communities towards energy sustainability. Unsustainable energy activities are identified as major threats on both local and global levels. The challenges for energy systems are discussed and a possible scenario of a future community with sustainable energy production and consumption is presented. The literature review examines community energy planning guidebooks and key theoretical and methodological concepts including ingenuity, soft energy paths and backcasting from socio-ecological principles of sustainability. Following an analysis of energy supply and demand in a broad systems context, and a review of policies and programs supporting or hindering community energy planning, energy plans from eleven Swedish and eleven Canadian communities are evaluated. Characteristics of progressive energy planning as uncovered in the literature review form a framework for evaluating the visions, strategies and actions described in the plans. Sweden is recognized as an early player in community energy planning. Although Swedish energy plans do not contain all of the identified progressive strategies, national leadership and funding have played a role in Sweden’s successes. More recent Canadian plans are found to be highly progressive, suggesting that Canadian communities who follow their plans can too be successful in transforming their energy systems towards sustainability.

Kerly Acosta, email: kerly_a@yahoo.com Arash Sangari, email: arash@stechpartner.com Jessica Webster, email: jess_violet@hotmail.com

O objetivo deste trabalho é apresentar uma análise dos aspectos regulatórios e de comercialização sob a visão da sustentabilidade, com foco na questão de como a participação crescente das fontes consideradas incentivadas na matriz elétrica brasileira pode proporcionar benefícios energéticos e de redução nas emissões de gases de efeito estufa, contemplando possíveis aperfeiçoamentos regulatórios que possam vir a ser definidos pelas instituições do setor elétrico que detém essa competência. Destaca-se a seqüência de fatos que contribuíram para a ampliação da oferta das fontes alternativas (FA\'s), sublinhando: (i) a criação do Programa de Incentivo às FA\'s (PROINFA); (ii) o regramento para a comercialização de Energia Incentivada; (iii) o Mecanismo de Realocação de Energia (MRE); (iv) facilidades para compra de Geração Distribuída pelas distribuidoras, mitigar o risco de variação de mercado; (v) Leilões de Fontes Alternativas e (vii) Leilões de Energia de Reserva (LER). Nesse âmbito de análise, inclui-se uma aferição de risco de comercialização da Energia Incentivada e de como esse risco pode ser mitigado através de hedge contratual entre fontes incentivadas. Para avaliar e qualificar a sinergia entre energia eólica e da biomassa, que tem perfil de produção complementar às Pequenas Centrais Hidrelétricas (PCH\'s), foram realizadas simulações de análise de complementariedade de geração para identificar a melhor estratégia de contratação de energia, a fim de buscar a máxima receita líquida possível, atendendo restrições de risco. Finalmente, são apresentadas propostas de alterações regulatórias e comerciais que estão sendo discutidas no setor e que ainda não estão aprovadas, porém são consideradas relevantes e impactantes no que diz respeito à energia incentivada, destacando-se a possibilidade de cessão de energia excedente pelos consumidores livres e especiais; a criação de penalidades por alavancagem; a proposta de criação do Comercializador varejista; e dos certificados de energia (CEE\'s).
This work is aiming at to present an analysis of the regulatory aspects and commercialization, under sustainability point of view, focusing with special emphazis the question on how the increasing of incentivized sources participation in the Brazilian energy matrix can provide energy benefits and reduction of greenhouse emissions, considering possible regulatory improvements that may be defined by the adequate institutions of the Brazilian electrical sector (BES). Highlighting the sequence of events that contributed to increase the expansion of alternative sources (FA\'s), it should be worthwhile to stress: (i) the creation of the Incentive Program for FA\'s (PROINFA); (ii) the rules for the commercialization of the Energy with Incentive; (iii) the Energy Reallocation Mechanism (MRE); (iv) facilities for the purchase of Distributed Generation by distributors having the purpose of mitigating the market risk represented by the exposure to the short term market price (Market Cleasing Price); (v) Energy Auctions of Alternative sources (vii) Energy Auctions Reserve (LER). The context of the analysis carried out includes the assessment of commercialization risk affecting FA\'s and how this risk can be mitigated through of \"hedge\" contracts between different FA\'s. To evaluating and qualify the synergy between Wind and biomass plants, which has production with complementary profile to the Small Hydro Power (PCH\'s), simulations were performed to identify the best strategy to energy contracting, considering the objective of maximum profit under riskconstraints. Finally, some proposals of commercial and regulatory changes are presented, being important to emphasize that the quoted proposals are now in a discussion process in the BES, meaning that they are not approved yet. However, it is relevant to consider these news possibilities, as they impact the economic feasibility of incentivized energy, highlighting the possibility of to sell eventual surplus in the short term marketby free consumer; the creation of penalties for leverage; the creation of an agent focused on small free consumers (special consumers) commercialization, and energy certificates (CEE\'s).

The trend for the next generation of cellular network, the Fifth Generation (5G), predicts a 1000x increase in the capacity demand with respect to 4G, which leads to new infrastructure deployments. To this respect, it is estimated that the energy consumption of ICT might reach the 51% of global electricity production by 2030, mainly due to mobile networks and services. Consequently, the cost of energy may also become predominant in the operative expenses of a Mobile Network Operator (MNO). Therefore, an efficient control of the energy consumption in 5G networks is not only desirable but essential. In fact, the energy sustainability is one of the pillars in the design of the next generation cellular networks. In the last decade, the research community has been paying close attention to the Energy Efficiency (EE) of the radio communication networks, with particular care on the dynamic switch ON/OFF of the Base Stations (BSs). Besides, 5G architectures will introduce the Heterogeneous Network (HetNet) paradigm, where Small BSs (SBSs) are deployed to assist the standard macro BS for satisfying the high traffic demand and reducing the impact on the energy consumption. However, only with the introduction of Energy Harvesting (EH) capabilities the networks might reach the needed energy savings for mitigating both the high costs and the environmental impact. In the case of HetNets with EH capabilities, the erratic and intermittent nature of renewable energy sources has to be considered, which entails some additional complexity. Solar energy has been chosen as reference EH source due to its widespread adoption and its high efficiency in terms of energy produced compared to its costs. To this end, in the first part of the thesis, a harvested solar energy model has been presented based on accurate stochastic Markov processes for the description of the energy scavenged by outdoor solar sources. The typical HetNet scenario involves dense deployments with a high level of flexibility, which suggests the usage of distributed control systems rather than centralized, where the scalability can become rapidly a bottleneck. For this reason, in the second part of the thesis, we propose to model the SBS tier as a Multi-agent Reinforcement Learning (MRL) system, where each SBS is an intelligent and autonomous agent, which learns by directly interacting with the environment and by properly utilizing the past experience. The agents implemented in each SBS independently learn a proper switch ON/OFF control policy, so as to jointly maximize the system performance in terms of throughput, drop rate and energy consumption, while adapting to the dynamic conditions of the environment, in terms of energy inflow and traffic demand. However, MRL might suffer the problem of coordination when finding simultaneously a solution among all the agents that is good for the whole system. In consequence, the Layered Learning paradigm has been adopted to simplify the problem by decomposing it in subtasks. In particular, the global solution is obtained in a hierarchical fashion: the learning process of a subtask is aimed at facilitating the learning of the next higher subtask layer. The first layer implements an MRL approach and it is in charge of the local online optimization at SBS level as function of the traffic demand and the energy incomes. The second layer is in charge of the network-wide optimization and it is based on Artificial Neural Networks aimed at estimating the model of the overall network.
Con la llegada de la nueva generación de redes móviles, la quinta generación (5G), se predice un aumento por un factor 1000 en la demanda de capacidad respecto a la 4G, con la consecuente instalación de nuevas infraestructuras. Se estima que el gasto energético de las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación podría alcanzar el 51% de la producción mundial de energía en el año 2030, principalmente debido al impacto de las redes y servicios móviles. Consecuentemente, los costes relacionados con el consumo de energía pasarán a ser una componente predominante en los gastos operativos (OPEX) de las operadoras de redes móviles. Por lo tanto, un control eficiente del consumo energético de las redes 5G, ya no es simplemente deseable, sino esencial. En la última década, la comunidad científica ha enfocado sus esfuerzos en la eficiencia energética (EE) de las redes de comunicaciones móviles, con particular énfasis en algoritmos para apagar y encender las estaciones base (BS). Además, las arquitecturas 5G introducirán el paradigma de las redes heterogéneas (HetNet), donde pequeñas BSs, o small BSs (SBSs), serán desplegadas para ayudar a las grandes macro BSs en satisfacer la gran demanda de tráfico y reducir el impacto en el consumo energético. Sin embargo, solo con la introducción de técnicas de captación de la energía ambiental, las redes pueden alcanzar los ahorros energéticos requeridos para mitigar los altos costes de la energía y su impacto en el medio ambiente. En el caso de las HetNets alimentadas mediante energías renovables, la naturaleza errática e intermitente de esta tipología de energías constituye una complejidad añadida al problema. La energía solar ha sido utilizada como referencia debido a su gran implantación y su alta eficiencia en términos de cantidad de energía producida respecto costes de producción. Por consiguiente, en la primera parte de la tesis se presenta un modelo de captación de la energía solar basado en un riguroso modelo estocástico de Markov que representa la energía capturada por paneles solares para exteriores. El escenario típico de HetNet supondrá el despliegue denso de SBSs con un alto nivel de flexibilidad, lo cual sugiere la utilización de sistemas de control distribuidos en lugar de aquellos que están centralizados, donde la adaptabilidad podría convertirse rápidamente en un reto difícilmente gestionable. Por esta razón, en la segunda parte de la tesis proponemos modelar las SBSs como un sistema multiagente de aprendizaje automático por refuerzo, donde cada SBS es un agente inteligente y autónomo que aprende interactuando directamente con su entorno y utilizando su experiencia acumulada. Los agentes en cada SBS aprenden independientemente políticas de control del apagado y encendido que les permiten maximizar conjuntamente el rendimiento y el consumo energético a nivel de sistema, adaptándose a condiciones dinámicas del ambiente tales como la energía renovable entrante y la demanda de tráfico. No obstante, los sistemas multiagente sufren problemas de coordinación cuando tienen que hallar simultáneamente una solución de forma distribuida que sea buena para todo el sistema. A tal efecto, el paradigma de aprendizaje por niveles ha sido utilizado para simplificar el problema dividiéndolo en subtareas. Más detalladamente, la solución global se consigue de forma jerárquica: el proceso de aprendizaje de una subtarea está dirigido a ayudar al aprendizaje de la subtarea del nivel superior. El primer nivel contempla un sistema multiagente de aprendizaje automático por refuerzo y se encarga de la optimización en línea de las SBSs en función de la demanda de tráfico y de la energía entrante. El segundo nivel se encarga de la optimización a nivel de red del sistema y está basado en redes neuronales artificiales diseñadas para estimar el modelo de todas las BSs

Dans le but de faire face aux défis interdépendants en termes d’épuisement des ressources énergétiques, de dégradation environnementale et des préoccupations de santé publique dans le contexte chinois en réponse au développement durable, nous nous concentrons sur l'étude des politiques en matière d’énergie, d’environnement et de santé en Chine. Dans le chapitre 1, nous donnons un aperçu des politiques chinoises en matière d’énergie, d’environnement et de santé au cours des 20 dernières années afin de connaître les orientations politiques futures auxquelles le gouvernement n'a pas donné une attention suffisante. Dans les trois chapitres suivants, nous proposons une série d'études empiriques afin de tirer quelques implications politiques utiles. Dans le chapitre 2, nous étudions l'impact de l'urbanisation, de l'adaptation de la structure industrielle, du prix de l'énergie et de l'exportation sur les intensités énergétiques agrégés et désagrégés des provinces. Dans le chapitre 3, nous étudions les facteurs qui expliquent la transition énergétique vers des combustibles propres des ménages ruraux. Dans le chapitre 4, nous examinons les effets conjoints des risques environnementaux, du revenu individuel, des politiques de santé sur l'état de santé des adultes chinois. En particulier, nos résultats empiriques suggèrent d’intégrer le développement urbain dans la stratégie d'économies d'énergie; de considérer des substitutions/complémentarités complexes parmi les sources d'énergie et entre l'énergie et l’alimentation pour les ménages ruraux; d’aligner les politiques environnementales, énergétiques et alimentaires avec les politiques de santé
With the purpose of coping with the intertwined challenges of energy depletion, environmental degradation and public health concerns in the Chinese-specific context in response to sustainable development, we focus on investigating China’s energy, environment and health policies. In chapter 1, we provide an overview of China’s energy, environment and health policies over the past 20 years in order to know about the future policy directions to which the government has not given a sufficient attention. In the following three chapters, we provide a series of empirical studies so as to derive some useful policy implications. In chapter 2, we investigate the impact of urbanization, industrial structure adjustment, energy price and export on provincial aggregate and disaggregate energy intensities. In chapter 3, we study the factors explaining the switches from dirty to clean fuel sources in rural households. In chapter 4, we examine the joint effects of environmental hazards, individual income and health policies on the health status of Chinese adults. Our empirical findings particularly suggest integrating urban development into the strategy of energy saving; considering the complex substitutions/complementarities among energy sources and between energy and food for rural households; aligning the environment, energy and food policies with health policies

Composite materials are widely used in various sectors such as aerospace, automotive and wind energy. Global increase of demand, particularly for fibre reinforced plastic (FRP) composites, unavoidably lead to high volumes of manufacturing and end of life waste. Currently, the most common disposal route for composite waste is through landfill. However, current and impending legislations such as Directive on Landfill of Waste (1999/31/EC) and End of Life Vehicle (ELV) Directive (2000/53/EC), have limited the amount of composite waste permitted for landfilling. In addition, production of virgin composite materials requires higher energy input in comparison to other counterpart materials such as steel and aluminium. This calls for an urgent need for composite waste to be recycled and reused in close loop and cross sector applications. The composite materials have a heterogeneous nature. Thermoset matrixes, which are used in most high grade applications, have three dimensional cross-linked structures which make melting and remoulding impossible. Such complex nature requires appropriate composite recycling technologies, a number of which are currently under research and development. At this early stage it is important to select and develop sustainable solutions in terms of economic performance and reduced environmental impact. Unfortunately at present, there is limited high integrity environmental related data in literature to help assess the life cycle benefits of composite recycling. This information is vital in exploring environmental credentials of composite recycling processes, and to ensure resource efficient use of manufacturing and end of life composite waste. The work reported in this PhD thesis deals with the investigation of energy demand of composite recycling processes. Composite waste and demand in the UK market was captured through Sankey diagrams. The diagrams, combined with environmental footprints of virgin material and recycling processes, were used to identify resource benefits of composite recycling initiatives. Furthermore, environmental data for mechanical recycling of glass fibre composites was derived through new and novel bottom up process science inspired mathematical energy modelling approaches. It was found that the process specific energy demand is dependent on the processing rate. The effects of key process variables in mechanical recycling on process energy demand and recyclate quality were also investigated. This study highlights the importance of selecting the right conditions for running recycling processes and generating recyclate with a high market value. Potential of new recycling techniques, namely high voltage fragmentation, was also assessed. Performance of the method, which was originally developed for fracturing rocks, was compared to the mature mechanical recycling process. The final part of this study used a life cycle assessment method to evaluate end of life options for an automotive composite product with the highlights on positive environmental impacts of recycling scenarios. Collectively, the findings from this study have brought together considerations on environmental and maturity status of composite recycling processes, into a comprehensive and updated analysis. The vision is that the knowledge integration between environmental and performance aspects will promote the concept of sustainable use of composite materials and a circular economy. The new datasets developed will enable end of life options for composite waste to be evaluated in life cycle assessment. In the absence of such information, the life cycle impact of composite material use in products cannot be fully or correctly evaluated.

State energy plans are created at the request of a sitting governor or State Legislature in order to provide guidance set goals for the state’s energy sector. These plans will be critical indicators of energy trends such as the future market share of coal, natural gas, and renewables. If the future of energy in the United States is to be remotely sustainable, low-carbon policies must headline state plans. The strength of a state’s energy plan in terms of sustainability is directly related to that state’s willingness to prioritize and commit to incorporating energy sources that produce negligible carbon emissions. Questions about the role of efficiency can be answered by the political need for short-run payoffs that do not necessarily align with the long-term goals of sustainability (Kern & Smith, 2008). The nature of the American political system is that representatives want to be able to bring immediate results to their constituents, results that are usually shown in the short-run by efficiency programs. While the state energy plans in question (California, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Iowa, South Carolina, and Virginia) engage with sustainability at varying levels of strength, they deal mostly in weak sustainability by failing to commit to renewables. Historical reliance on energy efficiency and its accompanying theories of growth has created a climate in which state energy plans do not generally realize their enormous potential to lead the national transition away from fossil fuels.

Small businesses provide 48% of private-sector jobs in the United States and play a vital role in the country's economic growth and development. Only half of U.S. small businesses survive for longer than 5 years. The purpose of this qualitative multiple-case study was to explore sustainability strategies managers of small oilfield service companies used to sustain their business for longer than 5 years. Data were collected from semistructured interviews with 10 managers--one manager from each of 10 different oilfield service companies located in the Rocky Mountain region of the United States and from review of publicly available documents and archived records. The conceptual framework for this study was the dynamic capability theory. Data analysis was conducted using Yin's 5-step data analysis process and methodological triangulation. Four themes emerged from the study: networking or relationship strategies, financial planning strategies, differentiation strategies, and education and experience strategies. The implications of this study for positive social change include the potential for small business managers to use these findings to develop strategies for profitability and sustainability resulting in job creation, poverty reduction, and socioeconomic development.

The thesis begins with a discussion of the concept of sustainability, green buildings and the traditional valuation approach. Then valuable information are extracted from the reports of IMMOVALUE project, which is aiming to improve the market impact of energy certification by introducing energy efficiency and life cycle cost into property valuation practice. A survey collecting Swedish valuers‟ opinion towards the sustainability issue is implemented and some results from early surveys are also employed for exploring this research area.Energy efficiency/Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is a breakpoint for the integration of green issues into property valuation practice. This is the most feasible way to quantify the effects of green features into property. Some modified methodologies based on the three traditional valuation approaches are proposed and the income related approach is the most suitable one here. For a good market acceptance of green buildings, the valuation of green issues must be taken.At the very early stage of the process of integrating green features into property valuation, this thesis explores the result from IMMOVALUE project and other researches. A close review of the process has been made and this may give valuers guidance of how to take green features into account not only in a qualitative, but also in a quantitative way.

Achieving the balance between the three sustainability aspects i.e., environmental, social, and economic has been a problem for many companies, where many of them still prioritize the economic aspect over the environmental and social aspects. Currently, many companies and energy utilities are going through major changes in their energy systems, and to be able to stay in the market and be competitive, they need to have clear and effective policies and a clear purpose. To examine the challenges that energy utilities are going through and are restraining them from balancing between the three pillars, a qualitative method has been used. Additionally, the solutions to these challenges and which organizations can help were also examined by interviewing two Swedish companies. The findings revealed that the challenges energy utilities were going through were related to knowledge (e.g., customer acceptance, cost, waste reduction, and consuming energy without exhausting the earth's resources). On the other hand, the solutions were knowledge, educating customers, citizens, and companies, getting help from the governments and politicians, such as encouraging the implementation of CSR, laws, and financial incentives. Knowledge has been perceived as the biggest challenge and solution for almost all companies, where increasing awareness and education campaigns would play a big role in solving the problems that companies are going through.

Information technology plays an increasingly important part in representing, managing, and driving the field of sustainable energy. However, current paradigms for representing much of this information can be fragmented, singular, and extremely domain focused. Linkage with wider concepts, for example between energy supply and demand data, can be minimal. This dissertation investigates ways in which such data linkages can be expanded upon, applying the latest concepts of Semantic Web technology to the area. This dissertation examines the role of the Semantic Web in representing information relevant to sustainable energy, with a particular focus on energy policy, energy supply, and the demands of the built environment. An approach for representing such information is outlined in the dissertation, which introduces new ontologies for representing energy policy and building information data and methodologies for modelling such data. Existing ontologies for representing energy supply are discussed, as are common connections between these areas and a server platform for knowledge storage and presentation. Additionally, some focus is directed towards the usability and accessibility of such data and the implementation of proof of concept applications targeted at specific areas within sustainable energy are presented. Using the outlined approach, energy information can be interlinked to allow multilevel data navigation from international policy data, through energy infrastructure, to individual energy demands, and ultimately to extremely detailed building component levels of granularity. Such data can be interlinked into wider linked data initiatives, increasing usefulness and expanding the scope for increased analysis. The implications of the outlined approach are discussed and evaluated with regard to various identified use cases requiring different levels of data granularity, in addition to impact on the wider domain of information management. This dissertation demonstrates, at a proof of concept level, that Semantic Web technology can be of significant benefit across the domain of sustainable energy.

This Master’s Thesis / Professional Project is a Sustainability Plan developed for the City of Patterson, California. The Patterson Sustainability Plan (PSP) was developed concurrently with the General Plan Update, and will be presented to the City for adoption within a year. The Sustainability Plan will help inform decision-making by way of its Goals and Actions for implementation to improve community sustainability. Before the plan was developed, background research was conducted that included a Best Practices Review to assess what other cities are doing to address sustainability, a Needs Assessment to evaluate existing conditions in Patterson and determine its unique strengths and challenges to improving sustainability, and a Policy Audit which includes an inventory and analysis of existing General Plan goals, objectives, policies, and programs supporting sustainability.

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2008.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 80-82).
Semiconductors have propelled an incredible revolution in the way we generate, access, store, and communicate information; the effects of this revolution have transformed culture, society, and the economy. At the same time, there have been increasingly portentous signs of the extent to which people are overtaxing their planet and its resources. This study is conducted in the context of both of these upheavals with the goal of better understanding how and how much energy and material are used in semiconductor manufacturing. The results of a case study of the Analog Devices Micromachined Products Division (MPD) fabrication facility are presented in support. In it, energy consumption is examined both from a top-down (fab-level) and bottom-up (equipment-level) perspective. Total fab material use is also presented. We find that the facility currently uses roughly 1.53 kWh of electricity and 35 grams of chemicals per square centimeter of product wafer. Electrical energy consumption is further broken down by facility systems and then by process areas. To give additional insight into the energy and materials intensity of semiconductor manufacturing, results from the monitoring of specific processes are presented. In order to provide structure to the method of evaluating the efficiency of these processes, a thermodynamic model of manufacturing is first introduced. The study concludes with a look at the fundamental reasons why the industry is so energy intensive and changes that Analog Devices could make to reduce their fab's energy intensity.
by Matthew S. Branham.
S.M.

Thesis: M.C.P., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Urban Studies and Planning, 2016.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 33-34).
Cities around the world are actively aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in an effort to combat the negative consequences associated with anthropogenic climate change. The City of Boston is no exception-in 2011, then-mayor Tom Menino established the rigorous goals of reducing city-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2020 and by 80% below 2005 levels by 2050. Given the realities of finite time and resources, it's critical to identify the most effective strategies to achieving energy efficiency in order to meet these objectives. This thesis explores how urban building energy modeling (UBEM) can be utilized to develop high-impact community-led energy efficiency programs. UBEM is a recently developed type of bottom-up energy modeling that presents a number of advantages over past urban energy modeling methods- namely, the ability for comparing complex scenarios, and the ability to generate hourly load profiles for individuals buildings. In addition, literature suggests that community-based energy efficiency programs achieve higher participation rates than traditional information-based programs. This thesis combines the technical benefits of UBEM with the practical advantages of community-led energy efficiency programs to develop a context-specific and community-based energy efficiency program for the Dudley Triangle neighborhood of Boston. It then explores how this type of a program can achieve the triple bottom line objectives of creating high quality local jobs, reducing environmental impacts, and supporting a local economy.
by Jamie Bemis.
M.C.P.

This thesis aims to make a proposal for an economically and socially justified and environmentally sustainable of a small-scale hybrid energy generation system for a community of ten houses. The work was performed in frames of the Renewable Community Empowerment in Northern Territories (RECENT) project, financed by the Northern Periphery and Arctic Programme. The aim of the project was to improve the energy efficiency and self-sufficiency of northern communities by utilizing local energy sources. The chosen pilot site of this work was the conceptual eco-district of Päivänpaisteenmaa, to be built in Muhos. In the theoretical part of this thesis, the concept of sustainability is explored as a goal set for human systems from global to local levels. Constituents of human well-being and intergenerational equity are also explored. Importance of ecosystem services is explained as the fundamental condition to continue supporting life on Earth. Further, the modern energy situation is discussed as an anthropogenic activity in urgent need for change, due to the limited nature of fossil fuel resources and the consequences of CO₂ emissions on our climate. The role of distributed energy generation for sustainability and energy security is explained. Additionally, policy and actions made on different levels to build capacity for sustainable development are reviewed. As part of the RECENT project, guidelines and templates on assessing the sustainability of community renewable energy projects have been made. For this, nine indicators were selected, an evaluation scale suggested, and the use of templates was tested for the concept plan of Päivänpaisteenmaa eco-district. The practical part of the work explores the feasibility of energy generation and efficient technologies in the pilot site. Comparison of different options was done, their shortcomings and possible synergy advantages, as well as environmental, economic and social impacts were also assessed. The system was sized in order to meet peak energy needs and considering the Northern locale of the pilot site. The key research questions of the work were; What is the technical feasibility of renewable energy generation by ground source heat pump, solar photovoltaic and solar thermal systems in the pilot site? Will the renewable energy investment have a positive social and environmental impact while it is able to return the initial costs of the system? What are the potential savings in CO₂ emissions when adapting these technologies? The work suggested adapting comprehensive energy solution for the family houses including energy efficient building, using heat-storing fireplace, avoid use of electric saunas, ground source heat pump and a shared solar PV system. The payback time calculated was 10 years on average, provide for the families’ hot water needs, 26% of electricity needs and would result in 70% savings in CO₂ emissions
Tämän diplomityön tavoitteena oli tehdä taloudellisesti ja sosiaalisesti perusteltu sekä ympäristön kannalta kestävä ehdotus hybridienergiajärjestelmästä kymmenen talon yhteisölle. Työ on tehty osana RECENT (Renewable Community Empowerment in Northern Territories) -projektia, jonka rahoittajana toimii Pohjoinen periferia ja Arktinen -ohjelma. Tämän työn tavoitteena oli parantaa pohjoisten yhteisöjen energiatehokkuutta ja energiaomavaraisuutta hyödyntämällä paikallisia energialähteitä. Työhön valittu pilottikohde oli Päivänpaisteenmaan ekokortteli, joka on suunniteltu toteutettavaksi Muhoksen kunnassa. Tämän työn teoriaosuudessa kestävä kehitys on esitetty päämääränä, jonka tavoitteena on turvata niin ihmisten kuin luonnon järjestelmien hyvinvointi, sekä paikallisella että maailmanlaajuisella tasolla. Kestävään kehitykseen liittyen työssä on käsitelty yksilön ja yhteisön hyvinvoinnin perusehtoja sekä yli sukupolvien ulottuvia tasa-arvokysymyksiä. Ekosysteemipalveluiden tärkeys on esitetty perustavanlaatuisena ehtona monipuolisen elämän jatkuvuudelle. Lisäksi fossiilisten polttoaineiden rajallisuutta ja hiilidioksidipäästöjen vaikutuksia ilmastolle on käsitelty nykyisen, kestämättömän energiantuotannon näkökulmasta. Hajautetun energiantuotannon rooli on käsitelty kestävän kehityksen sekä energiaturvallisuuden näkökulmista. Myöskin kestävää kehitystä edesauttavia, eri tasoilla vaikuttavia lainsäädäntöjä sekä paikallisia toimia on esitelty. Osana RECENT-projektia työssä luotiin lomakkeet sekä ohjeistus yhteisöjen uusiutuvan energian projektien kestävyyden arvioimiseksi. Arviointia varten valittiin yhdeksän kestävyysindikaattoria, joiden antamat tulokset suhteutettiin esitytetyllä mitta-asteikolla. Kestävyysarviointilomakkeet testattiin suunnitellulla Päivänpaisteenmaan ekokorttelilla. Työn käytännön osuudessa käsitellään energiantuotanto- sekä energiatehokkuusteknologioiden soveltuvuutta pilottikohteelle. Näiden teknologiavaihtoehtojen synergiaetuja ja vajaavaisuuksia vertailtiin soveltuvuuden selvittämiseksi. Pilottikohteen energiajärjestelmän taloudellisia, sosiaalisia ja ympäristöllisiä vaikutuksia arvioitiin. Järjestelmä mitoitettiin ottaen huomioon pilottikohteen pohjoinen sijainti sekä pilottikohteen energian huippukulutukset. Avaintutkimuskysymykset olivat; Mikä on maalämpöpumpun, aurinkosähkö- sekä aurinkolämpöjärjestelmien tekninen soveltuvuus uusiutuvan energian tuotannossa? Onko uusiutuvan energian investoinnilla positiivinen sosiaalinen sekä ympäristöllinen vaikutus, ja kykeneekö se samalla palauttamaan alkuperäisen investoinnin arvon. Työssä ehdotettiin pilottialueen omakotitaloille laajamittaisen energiaratkaisun käyttöön ottamista, johon sisältyy mm. energiatehokkaan rakentamisen toteuttaminen, varaavien tulisijajärjestelmien käyttäminen, sähkökiukaiden välttäminen, maalämpöpumppujärjestelmän hyödyntäminen sekä yhteisaurinkosähköjärjestelmän hankkiminen. Hankintojen keskimääräinen takaisinmaksuaika laskettiin olevan 10 vuotta, tuottaen kotitalouksien kuuman veden, 26 % vuotuisesta sähköntarpeesta sekä saavuttaen 70 % säästön hiilidioksidipäästöissä

Energy production systems are essential for human progress. They fuel the technologies that underpin economic growth and are prerequisite for efficient food production, education and healthcare. On the flip side, they also incur substantial eco-social costs. Hence, finding and promoting sustainable means of energy production is a key topic within the Environmental Sciences. This thesis examines the sustainability of nuclear power, by comparing its social, economic and ecological impacts to those of wind and solar power. The assessment is performed using Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA), with a Weighted Sum scoring system and a Distance-To-Target weighting scheme. The selection and the weighting of the indicators are grounded in the Planetary Boundaries framework, the Oxfam Doughnut Economics model and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, and the technologies are compared on 9 axes of evaluation; greenhouse gas emissions, land-take requirements, material throughput, non-recyclable wastes, toxic and radioactive wastes, negative health impacts, economic costs, intermittency and energy return on energy invested. The thesis finds nuclear power to be the most sustainable option according to all but three indicators, and in the unified analysis, it outcompetes wind and solar by a factor of 2 and 3 respectively. Also notable is that solar power does not excel in a single impact category; it has the highest greenhouse gas emissions, the largest land-take, and it is costly, intermittent and energy-inefficient. It is also a source of toxic pollution, the effects of which cannot yet be determined. Although wind is more competitive, it consumes vast amounts of physical resources, generates a lot of waste, and its land-take is at least 10 times higher than that of nuclear power. In addition to the MCA, the thesis investigates three perceived threats that are often raised in criticisms of nuclear power; the risk of nuclear fuel depletion, the risk of nuclear weapons proliferation and the risk of catastrophic nuclear accidents. The results show that many popular arguments against the technology are loosely aligned with reality, and the thesis as a whole presents a challenge to the notion that nuclear power is a dangerous and unsustainable energy source.

A vital part of sustainable development and solving the sustainability challenge is to reduce the environmental and social impact of multinational organizations caused by their potentially unsustainable energy consumption. The focus of this study is to create an energy management system for organizations to strategically transform their energy resources and energy consumption to reduce their socioecological impact. It is important to ask what are the critical elements that would hinder or allow for the shift to renewable energy and energy efficiency?  It is also important to question how can those elements be integrated together to address the sustainability challenge with the energy consumption of multinational manufacturers? A case study on an organization was done to identify some of the barriers and drivers, for them to implement sustainable energy management systems, and to modify the sustainable energy management system that propose strategies around synergy between energy efficiency and renewable energy, to make it a decision-making tool focused on energy planning. The construction of the tool, with the help of the case study organization and its decision makers, allowed the design of a more overarching tool that includes sustainability concepts and ensures the sustainability approach in its scheme and implementation

Understanding the factors which influence adopting sustainability practices in IHE is an important issue to develop more effective sustainability's methods and policies. The focus of this research is to find out a meaningful relationship between adopting sustainability practices and some of the characteristics of institutions of higher education (IHE). IHE can be considered as the best place to promote sustainability and develop the culture of sustainability in society. Thus, this research is conducted to help developing sustainability in IHE which have significant direct and indirect impact on society and the environment.

First, the sustainability letter grades were derived from "Greenreportcard.org" which have been produced based on an evaluation of each school in nine main categories including: Administration, Climate Change & Energy, Food & Recycling, etc. In the next step, the characteristics of IHE as explanatory variables were chosen from "The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System" (IPEDS) and respective database was implemented in STATA Software. Finally, the "ordered-Probit Model" is used through STATA to analyze the impact of some IHE's factor on adopting sustainability practices on campus.

The results of this analysis indicate that variables related to "Financial support" category are the most influential factors in determining the sustainability status of the university. "The university features" with two significant variables for "Selectivity" and "Top 50 LA" can be classified as the second influential category in this table, although the "Student influence" is also eligible to be ranked as the second important factor. Finally, the "Location feature" of university was determined with the least influential impact on the sustainability of campuses.

Lack of energy access in developing countries remains a major barrier in the economic development of rural communities. Worldwide, about 1.3 billion people lack access to modern energy services, and there is a need to pursue ways other than grid extension due to the remoteness of most of these communities from national grids. Following the Sustainable Energy For All (SE4ALL) initiative of the United Nations, the role of decentralised solar generation systems has been acknowledged to meet rural energy objectives. The initiative has also resulted in growing participation of private sectors in the rural energy field for boosting project execution and delivery.   To evaluate the success of private entrepreneurs operating rural energy projects, the research has proposed a decision support sustainability assessment framework for evaluating performance of operational decentralized rural solar energy projects. A rural electrification project is said to be performing sustainably when it reliably ensures access to its services for productive uses, while engaging and gaining acceptance of the community and which operates within socio-ethical norms maintaining its financial gains as well as maintaining the local environment. Based on this definition and the multi-criteria Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), 15 energy indicators have been proposed to evaluate sustainability performance of existing projects.  These indicators are spread over the standard three pillar approach – capturing economic, social, environmental dimensions, along with the contribution of a fourth ethical dimension of sustainability. Multiple stakeholder groups including 16 project planners, evaluators, advisors and investors have been consulted in applying the multi criteria Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). Organisations consulted include University of Oslo, Aalto University, Institute for Energy Technology (IFE), Multiconsult AS, Micro-energy International, African Solar Designs (ASD), SunErgy AS, RVE.SOL, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), Foundation of Rural Energy Services (FRES), Alliance of Rural Electrification (ARE), and Fortum Corporation. The outcome from two rounds of consultation surveys have yielded highest priority to economic dimension (33,18%), followed by social (27,55%) and ethical (23,17%) dimensions, and lastly the environment (16,18) dimension. With these prioritisations, the framework has been used to evaluate the performance of  rural decentralised solar projects in Kenya and Malawi. Results of this framework yielded average performance of Kenya and Malawi in the economic dimension – in Kenya being driven by a competitive O&M cost and delivery of project services to businesses; and in Malawi through a low rate of payment defaults and ability to increase tariffs with inflation.  In assessing the Kenya case study, a higher score in the social dimension was attributed to the range of services on offer resulting in better involvement of the community in the project as compared to the Malawian case study. However, a limited number of services in Malawi have ensured a more transparent and accountable management structure resulting in a higher score in the ethical evaluation. For both projects, environmental performance has been average due to lack of solid policies for waste treatment, end-use recycling of batteries, and some recorded negative impacts on the local bio-diversity-  Outcomes of the framework suggest a applicability of the framework in addressing concerns of multiple stakeholder groups including project planners, evaluators, advisors and investors in understanding operational challenges of rural solar projects. Insights from the case studies point towards the strength of  solar electrification as a means rather than the ultimate goal of rural development, the necessity of economic and social sustainability synergies during project operation, and the importance of affordable energy pricing and payment methods.
Bristande tillgång energi i utvecklingsländerna fortfarande ett stort hinder för den ekonomiska utvecklingen av landsbygden. 1,3 miljarder människor saknar tillgång till moderna energitjänster, och det finns ett behov av att föra andra än grid förlängning sätt på grund av de stora avstånden för de flesta av dessa samhällen från nationella elnät. Efter hållbar energi för alla (SE4ALL) initiativ av UN, har betydelsen av decentraliserade sol generationens system erkänt att uppfylla målen på landsbygden energi. Initiativet har också resulterat i ökande deltagande privata sektorn på landsbygden energi fältet för att öka projektgenomförande och leverans. För att utvärdera framgången med privata entreprenörer som arbetar på landsbygden energiprojekt har forskning föreslagit en ramverk för att utvärdera prestanda för operativa decentraliserade landsbygden solenergiprojekt hållbarhetsbedömning beslutsstöd. En elektrifiering av landsbygden projekt sägs att utföra ett hållbart sätt när det på ett tillförlitligt sätt säkerställer tillgång till sina tjänster för produktiva ändamål, samtidigt bedriva och få acceptans i samhället och som arbetar inom socioetiska normer behålla sin ekonomiska vinster samt att upprätthålla den lokala miljön. Baserat på denna definition och flera kriterier Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), har 15 indikatorer energi föreslagits för att utvärdera hållbarhetsprestanda av befintliga projekt. Dessa indikatorer är spridda över tre pelare strategi standard - fånga ekonomiska, sociala, miljömässiga dimensioner, tillsammans med bidrag från en fjärde etisk dimension hållbarhet. grupper Flera intressenter inklusive 16 projektplanerare, utvärderare, rådgivare och investerare har hörts vid tillämpningen av flera kriterier Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). Organisationer som rådfrågats inkluderar University of Oslo, Aalto-universitetet, Institutet för energiteknik (IFE), Multi-Consult AS, Micro-Energy International, African Solar Designs (ASD), Sunergy AS, RVE.SOL, Styrelsen för internationellt utvecklingssamarbete (Sida), Foundation of Rural Energy Services (FRES), Alliance of Rural Electrification (ARE), och Fortum Corporation. Utfallet från två omgångar av undersökningar samråds har gett högsta prioritet åt ekonomisk dimension (33,18%), följt av social (27,55%) och etisk (23,17%) dimensioner och slutligen miljön (16,18) dimensionera. Med dessa prioriteringar har ramverket använts för att utvärdera landsbygdens decentraliserade solenergiprojekt i Kenya och Malawi. Resultaten av denna ramverket gav genomsnittliga resultat i Kenya och Malawi i den ekonomiska dimensionen - i Kenya drivs av ett konkurrenskraftigt O & M kostnader och leverans av projekttjänster till företag; och i Malawi genom en låg betalnings och förmåga att höja tullarna med inflation. Vid bedömningen av Kenya fallstudie ades en högre poäng i den sociala dimensionen hänföras till utbudet av tjänster som erbjuds resulterar i bättre medverkan av samhället i projektet jämfört med den malawiska fallstudie. Emellertid har ett begränsat antal tjänster i Malawi säkerställt en mer öppen och ansvarsfull förvaltning struktur resulterar i en högre poäng i den etiska bedömningen. För båda projekten har miljöprestanda varit genomsnittliga grund av brist på fasta principer för avfallshantering, slutanvändning återvinning av batterier och några inspelade negativa effekter på de lokala bio-diversity- Resultat av ramverket föreslå en tillämpning av ramverket för att ta itu oro flera intressegrupper inklusive projektplanerare, utvärderare, rådgivare och investerare att förstå operativa utmaningar på landsbygden sol projekt. Insikter från fallstudierna pekar mot styrkan i solar elektrifiering som ett medel snarare än det yttersta målet för landsbygdsutveckling, behovet av synergier ekonomisk och social hållbarhet under projektets drift och vikten av överkomliga priser energi och betalningsmetoder.