The residential sector is recognized as a major energy consumer and thus a significant contributor to climate change. Rather than focus only on current energy consumption and the associated emissions, there is a need to broaden sustainability research to include full life cycle contributions and impacts. This thesis looks at houses from the perspective of the Ecological Footprint (EF), a well-known sustainability indicator. The research objective is to integrate EF and Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) measures to provide an enhanced tool to measure the sustainability implications of residential energy retrofit decisions. Exemplifying single-detached houses of the early 20th century, the century-old REEP House (downtown Kitchener, Canada), together with its high performance energy retrofits, is examined in detail. This research combines material, energy and carbon emission studies. Its scope covers the life cycle of the house, including the direct and indirect consumption of material and energy, and concomitant carbon emissions during its stages of material extraction, transportation, construction, operation, and demolition. The results show that the REEP House had a significant embodied impact on the environment when it was built and high operating energy and EF requirements because of the low levels of insulation. Even though the renovations to improve energy efficiency by 80% introduce additional embodied environmental impacts, they are environmentally sound activities because the environmental payback period is less than two years.

Gas turbine engines for aircraft applications are required to meet multiple performance and sizing requirements, subject to constraints established by the best available technology level. The performance requirements and limiting values of constraints that are considered by the cycle analyst conducting an engine cycle design occur at multiple operating conditions. The traditional approach to cycle analysis chooses a single design point with which to perform the on-design analysis. Additional requirements and constraints not transpiring at the design point must be evaluated in off-design analysis and therefore do not influence the cycle design. Such an approach makes it difficult to design the cycle to meet more than a few requirements and limits the number of different aerothermodynamic cycle designs that can reasonably be evaluated. Engine manufacturers have developed computational methods to create aerothermodynamic cycles that meet multiple requirements, but such methods are closely held secrets of their design process. This thesis presents a transparent and publicly available on-design cycle analysis method for gas turbine engines which generates aerothermodynamic cycles that simultaneously meet performance requirements and constraints at numerous design points. Such a method provides the cycle analyst the means to control all aspects of the aerothermodynamic cycle and provides the ability to parametrically create candidate engine cycles in greater numbers to comprehensively populate the cycle design space from which a "best" engine can be selected. This thesis develops the multi-design point on-design cycle analysis method labeled simultaneous MDP. The method is divided into three different phases resulting in an 11 step process to generate a cycle design space for a particular application. Through implementation of simultaneous MDP, a comprehensive cycle design space can be created quickly for the most complex of cycle design problems. Furthermore, the process documents the creation of each candidate engine providing transparency as to how each engine cycle was designed to meet all of the requirements. The simultaneous MDP method is demonstrated in this thesis on a high bypass ratio, separate flow turbofan with up to 25 requirements and constraints and 9 design points derived from a notional 300 passenger aircraft.

Les piles à combustible (PAC) de type PEMFC permettent d’assurer la conversion d’énergie chimique en énergie électrique en utilisant de l’hydrogène pouvant être produit à partir de sources renouvelables. La catalyse des réactions mises en jeu lors de cette conversion d’énergie nécessite l’utilisation de platine, dont les ressources sont faibles et la production (extraction et raffinage) complexe. De plus, du fait de son prix élevé, ce métal représente une part importante du coût de production des PEMFC. Aujourd’hui, le prix de cette technologie doit être réduit pour qu’elle soit économiquement compétitive et puisse être commercialisée à grande échelle. En outre, les charges en platine dans les électrodes de piles à combustible ne peuvent être réduites significativement sans altération de la performance et de la durabilité de ces systèmes. Donc, le développement d’une filière de recyclage pour assurer la récupération du Pt en fin de vie des PAC pourrait permettre une réduction du coût de production des PEMFC.Cette thèse a consisté à mettre en place une voie de recyclage du platine d’assemblages membrane-électrodes (AME) de PEMFC. Un procédé hydrométallurgique composé des étapes suivantes : (i) lixiviation, (ii) séparation et (iii) récupération du platine a été développé. Différentes alternatives de lixiviation (HCl/H2O2, HCl/HNO3), de séparation (par résine ou solvant), de récupération (sous forme de nanoparticules ou de sel) ont été testées. Le fonctionnement de ces processus de récupération du platine a alors été optimisé à partir de produits modèles (Pt/C et solutions synthétiques). Le choix de ces derniers a ensuite été orienté grâce à une étude d’analyse du cycle de vie (ACV) réalisée à l’échelle de l’AME.Enfin, 76% du platine contenu dans des AME composées de catalyseurs Pt-Co a pu être récupéré. Ce rendement a pu être obtenu après mise en place du procédé composé des étapes suivantes : (i) dissolution du Pt par lixiviation avec le mélange HCl/H2O2, (ii) séparation du cobalt sur résine échangeuse d’ions, (iii) récupération sous forme de nanoparticules par la voie polyol. Les résultats finaux d’ACV ont montré que le recyclage du platine permettrait une nette réduction des impacts environnementaux du cycle de vie d’AME de PEMFC. / The proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) can be used to convert chemical energy into electrical energy using hydrogen which can be produced from renewable sources. Platinum (Pt) is the best catalyst used to perform PEMFC electrochemical reaction catalysis. However Pt resources are low and his production (extraction and refining) is complex. Moreover the platinum price represents an important part of the PEMFC stack cost. Nowadays this technology is too expensive to be competitive with conventional energy conversion systems, and cannot be commercialized at a large scale. In addition, PEMFC electrode platinum loading could not be reduced without affecting the system performance and durability. Thus PEMFC production cost could be reduced by recovering platinum from used fuel cells.The main goal of this thesis was to develop a platinum recovery way from fuel cells membrane electrodes-assemblies (MEAs). In order to achieve this objective the following steps were combined in a hydrometallurgical process: (i) leaching, (ii) separation, (iii) recovery. Several alternatives were tested for each step: leaching (HCl/H2O2, HCl/HNO3), separation (resin or solvent), and platinum recovery (as nanoparticles or as a complex). These platinum recovery steps were optimized using Pt/C catalysts and synthetic solutions. Then life-cycle analysis (LCA) methodology has been used to help with the process selection.Finally, about 76% of the platinum contained in multi-metallic catalysts (PtCo/C) MEAs has been recovered. The following path has been followed in this case: (i) dissolution in HCl/H2O2 solution, (ii) separation from cobalt with an ion exchange resin, (iii) recovery has nanoparticles using the polyol process. The LCA study final results showed that a significant reduction of PEMFC MEA life-cycle environmental impact could be achieved by recycling Pt at these systems end-of-life.

Det här   examensarbetet har Östersunds kommuns nya stadsdel Storsjö Strand i fokus,   där arbetet går ut på att utvärdera hur kommunens hållbarhetsprogram har   fallit ut för de två första husen på Storsjö Strand och varför, samt att   undersöka vilka drivande faktorer som finns bakom byggnadernas miljöbelastning.   Hållbarhetsutvärderingen görs genom intervjuer med berörda byggherrar samt   Östersunds kommun, och drivande faktorer till miljöbelastning undersöks genom   att utföra en livscykelanalys där ingående material kopplas till en   resulterande miljöbelastning för respektive hus. Då   hållbarhetsutvärderingen utgår från intervjuer finns risk att   intervjuobjekten kan försköna fakta, vilket är en viktig begränsning vid   utläsning av resultatet. Resultatet från hållbarhetsutvärderingen   visar att trots att Östersunds kommun helt släppt sin egen utvärdering av   byggherrarna har byggherrarna ändå följt hållbarhetsprogrammet till stor del.   Slutsatserna avseende hållbarhetsprogrammet gäller främst kommunen, där dessa   hade gagnats av att förtydliga krav och mål, och kontraktera dessa krav i   markanvisningsavtal för att ge önskad effekt. För livscykelanalysen begränsas   denna främst av att alla steg i en livscykel inte är inkluderade, utan   primärt analyseras de inledande stegen. Resultatet visar för båda husen att   det till allra största del är metaller och legeringar som driver   miljöbelastning i störst grad per kubikmeter material, medan de   material som driver minst miljöbelastning är rena icke processade   naturmaterial såsom skiffer, grus och kalksten. Därutöver resulterar   konstruktionsmaterialen i den största miljöbelastningen   när hela mängden tas hänsyn till, vilket hade kunnat undersökas djupare med   snävare livscykelanalyser. / This thesis revolves around the district Storsjö   Strand, an area in Östersund which is developing to a new residential area   with high sustainability visions. The work consist of two parts; one where   the outcome of the municipality’s sustainability program is evaluated and one   where the two first buildings in the area is investigated regarding what   causes their environmental impact. The evaluation of the sustainability   program is made by interviews with the constructors and representatives from   the municipality, and the two buildings environmental impact is investigated   by performing a life cycle analysis where building material is connected to a   resulting environmental impact for each house. Since the evaluation of the   municipality’s sustainability program is based on interviews, there could be a risk for bias. The results from the   evaluation shows that both constructors have followed the sustainability   program to great extent, even though the municipality itself have dropped all planned follow-up. The conclusions   from the evaluation is that the municipality would be benefit from clarifying   goals and demands in the sustainability program, and transfer the clarified   demands to their land agreements. The limitations for the life cycle analysis is   mainly that all steps in the life cycle of a building is not included in the   analysis – only the initial steps are included. The   results for both buildings show that it is mainly metals and alloys that   drives environmental impact per cubic meter of material. The materials that   causes the smallest environmental impact per cubic meter is natural materials   that have not been processed, i.e. shale, limestone and gravel. The   construction materials will always result in the largest environmental impact   for the total quantity, simply because these materials are the largest   quantities represented in the building, and alternations of these   construction materials should be further investigated. / <p>Betyg 170707, H14.</p>

abstract: An eco-industrial park (EIP) is an industrial ecosystem in which a group of co-located firms are involved in collective resource optimization with each other and with the local community through physical exchanges of energy, water, materials, byproducts and services - referenced in the industrial ecology literature as "industrial symbiosis". EIPs, when compared with standard industrial resource sharing networks, prove to be of greater public advantage as they offer improved environmental and economic benefits, and higher operational efficiencies both upstream and downstream in their supply chain. Although there have been many attempts to adapt EIP methodology to existing industrial sharing networks, most of them have failed for various factors: geographic restrictions by governmental organizations on use of technology, cost of technology, the inability of industries to effectively communicate their upstream and downstream resource usage, and to diminishing natural resources such as water, land and non-renewable energy (NRE) sources for energy production. This paper presents a feasibility study conducted to evaluate the comparative environmental, economic, and geographic impacts arising from the use of renewable energy (RE) and NRE to power EIPs. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, which is used in a variety of sectors to evaluate the environmental merits and demerits of different kinds of products and processes, was employed for comparison between these two energy production methods based on factors such as greenhouse gas emission, acidification potential, eutrophication potential, human toxicity potential, fresh water usage and land usage. To complement the environmental LCA analysis, levelized cost of electricity was used to evaluate the economic impact. This model was analyzed for two different geographic locations; United States and Europe, for 12 different energy production technologies. The outcome of this study points out the environmental, economic and geographic superiority of one energy source over the other, including the total carbon dioxide equivalent emissions, which can then be related to the total number of carbon credits that can be earned or used to mitigate the overall carbon emission and move closer towards a net zero carbon footprint goal thus making the EIPs truly sustainable. / Dissertation/Thesis / LCOE calculation charts / Gabi Life-cycle analysis / Masters Thesis Mechanical Engineering 2014

abstract: In vitro, or cultured, meat refers to edible skeletal muscle and fat tissue grown from animal stem cells in a laboratory or factory. It is essentially meat that does not require an animal to be killed. Although it is still in the research phase of development, claims of its potential benefits range from reducing the environmental impacts of food production to improving human health. However, technologies powerful enough to address such significant challenges often come with unintended consequences and a host of costs and benefits that seldom accrue to the same actors. In extreme cases, they can even be destabilizing to social, institutional, economic, and cultural systems. This investigation explores the sustainability implications of cultured meat before commercial facilities are established, unintended consequences are realized, and undesirable effects become reified and locked in. The study utilizes expert focus groups to explore the social implications, life cycle analysis to project the environmental implications, and economic input-output assessment to explore tradeoffs between conventionally-produced meat and factory-grown food products. The results suggest that, should cultured meat be widely adopted by consumers, food is likely to be increasingly a product of human design, perhaps becoming integrated into existing human institutions such as health care delivery and education. Environmentally, cultured meat could require smaller quantities of agricultural inputs and land than livestock. However, those avoided costs could come at the expense of more intensive energy use as biological processes are replaced with industrial systems. Finally, the research found that, since livestock production is a driver of significant economic activity, shifting away from traditional meat production in favor of cultured meat production could result in a net economic contraction. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Civil and Environmental Engineering 2014

A indústria da construção civil é uma das principais fontes emissoras de poluição devido ao alto consumo de energia em seu ciclo de vida. Além da energia empregada na construção do edifício, durante sua operação, diversos sistemas também a utilizam, entre os quais se destaca, o sistema de condicionamento de ar. O consumo de energia por esse sistema está relacionado, entre outras coisas, com a temperatura do ar no ambiente externo e a requerida internamente pelo edifício. As fachadas são os elementos pelos quais se dá a maior parcela de transferência de calor do ambiente externo para o interno em edifícios altos. Assim, o tipo de fachada influi no consumo de energia no ciclo de vida dos edifícios e, conseqüentemente, contribui também para a emissão de CO2 pelos edifícios, pois a emissão deste gás está diretamente ligada ao consumo de energia. Desse modo, o objetivo deste trabalho é contribuir para o desenvolvimento da metodologia de avaliação das emissões de CO2 geradas durante o ciclo de vida das fachadas de edifícios de escritório. Os resultados, para os parâmetros considerados neste trabalho, mostram que as fachadas em structural glazing com vidro incolor são as que mais emitem CO2 ao longo de seu ciclo de vida, seguidas das fachadas em alvenaria e revestidas com painéis de alumínio composto ou ACM (Aluminium Composite Material), fachadas em structural glazing com vidro refletivo e fachadas em alvenaria revestidas com argamassa. Por fim, realizou-se uma análise para se avaliar a incerteza dos resultados deste estudo. / The construction industry is one of the main sources of pollution due to high energy consumption in its life cycle. Besides the energy used in the construction of the building during its operation, many systems also use, mainly, the air conditioning system. The energy consumption of the air conditioning system is related, among others things, with the outdoor air temperature and the indoor required air temperature. The façades are the elements in which the transference of heat happens from the outdoor environment to the indoor environment in high buildings. So, the façade typologies contribute to the energy consumption in the life cycle of the buildings and to CO2 emissions, because the emission of this gas is linked directly to the energy consumption. The objective of this work is to contribute to the development of evaluation methodology of CO2 emissions generated during the life cycle of the façades of office buildings. The results for the parameters considered in this work show that the façades in structural glazing with colorless glass are those that emit more CO2 throughout its life cycle, followed by the façades in masonry and coated with ACM (Aluminium Composite Material), façades in structural glazing with reflective glass and façades in masonry coated with mortar. Finally, an analysis was made to evaluate the results uncertainty.

Orientadores: Luis Augusto Barbosa Cortez, Marcelo Pereira da Cunha / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Agrícola / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-25T21:19:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Cardoso_TerezinhadeFatima_D.pdf: 3738702 bytes, checksum: e368bb547a1651b00f2e7c3133f1f8aa (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014 / Resumo: A colheita de cana crua, sem queima, tem sido imposta principalmente por questões ambientais e com vistas ao aproveitamento integral da cana-de-açúcar. Questões econômicas, ambientais e sociais induzem à mecanização da colheita, o que pode proporcionar melhores condições de trabalho e o aproveitamento da palha, com a eliminação da queima prévia. Parte da palha pode ser utilizada para cobertura do solo, melhorando o reciclo de nutrientes, a retenção de água e redução da erosão. Outra parte da palha poderá ser recolhida, enviada para a indústria e utilizada para geração de eletricidade e/ou para produção de etanol de 2ª geração. Este trabalho, com auxílio da Biorrefinaria Virtual de Cana-de-açúcar (BVC/CTBE), empregou as metodologias de insumo-produto e análise de ciclo de vida (ACV) para analisar os impactos socioeconômicos e ambientais do recolhimento e aproveitamento da palha de cana-de-açúcar no setor sucroenergético, considerando (i) a tecnologia de colheita existente (colhedora Convencional) e em desenvolvimento (Estrutura de Tráfego Controlado ¿ ETC, proposta de mecanização com redução e controle do tráfego), (ii) a parcela de palha recolhida, (iii) a forma de recolhimento e transporte e (iv) seu uso. Avaliou-se, também, a viabilidade econômica de cada rota tecnológica considerada. Verificou-se que a colheita integral é economicamente vantajosa na fase agrícola e que a redução da densidade de carga pode ser compensada com menor perda de colmos, devido à redução de potência dos extratores da colhedora. O enfardamento apresenta custos elevados para pequenas frações de recolhimento devido à redução na capacidade operacional das máquinas. A análise do modelo verticalizado de produção (fase agrícola e industrial) mostrou que a baixa eficiência da estação de limpeza a seco interfere diretamente nos rendimentos da indústria, diminuindo a vantagem da colheita integral. A proposta de recolher palha através de colheita integral com palha repicada apresentou bons resultados nas simulações, reduzindo o custo de transporte e melhorando a eficiência de separação da palha na indústria. Considerando o modelo verticalizado de produção, fardos 7,5 t/ha (com colhedora convencional) e Integral sem ponteiro repicada (ETC) apresentam maiores valores para TIR, 12,0% e 14,2%, respectivamente. A fase agrícola responde por 80% a 90% dos impactos ambientais, variando de acordo com o cenário e a categoria de impacto analisada. O uso e produção de fertilizantes e corretivos são os itens que mais ocasionam os impactos ambientais, seguidos de uso de óleo diesel. Em termos socioeconômicos, a colheita integral apresenta maior valor de produção e PIB; já os cenários com fardos apresentam maior remuneração mensal média por emprego e número de empregos gerados em função do maior número de operações mecanizadas demandando mais mão de obra. O resultado principal do estudo mostra que os cenários com ETC apresentam maior eficiência econômica e a proposta de recolhimento através de colheita integral com palha sem ponteiro e repicada apresentou maior atratividade econômica com menores impactos ambientais. Esta pesquisa demonstra a importância de desenvolvimento de tecnologias que permitam melhor aproveitamento da biomassa / Abstract: Harvesting of green sugarcane, without burning, has been imposed mainly by environmental issues and aiming to take full advantage of sugarcane. Economic, environmental and social issues induce mechanical harvesting, which can provide better working conditions and the use of straw, with the elimination of the previous burning. Part of the straw can be used for soil coverage, enhancing the recycling of nutrients, water retention and reducing erosion. Another part of the straw can be collected, sent to the industry and used for bioelectricity generation or production of 2nd generation ethanol. This paper, with the support of Virtual Sugarcane Biorefinery (VSB), applied input-output and life cycle analysis methodologies to analyze the socioeconomic and environmental impacts of collection and utilization of straw sugarcane, considering (i) harvesting of sugarcane existing (conventional harvester) and developing (ETC - Controlled Traffic Structure ¿ proposed mechanization of reduction and traffic control) technologies, (ii) fraction of gathered straw, (iii) form of collection and transportation and (iv) use of straw. It was also evaluated economic viability of each technological route considered. It was found that the integral harvest system is economically advantageous in the agricultural phase, and that the load density reduction is almost matched with lower loss of stalks due to the reduced power of the harvesters¿ exhauster. The baling system shows higher costs of small fractions straw recovery due to reduction of the machines operational capacity. The verticalized production model analysis (agricultural and industry fases) showed that the low efficiency of dry cleaning station directly interferes with the industry output, reducing the advantage of the integral harvest system. The proposal to collect straw through integral harvest with chopping presented good results in simulations, reducing the cost of transport of straw and improving industrial productivity with better separation of straw. Considering the verticalized production model, 7,5 ton/ha baling (with conventional harvester) and integral harvest system chopped without tops (ETC) present higher values of IRR, 12,0% and 14,2%, respectively. Regarding environmental impacts, it was found that agricultural phase represents 80% ¿ 90% of the environmental impacts, varying according to the analyzed scene and the impact category. The use and production of fertilizers and soil correctors are the items that cause the most environmental impacts followed by the use of diesel. In socioeconomic terms the integral harvest system presents higher production value and GDP (Gross Domestic Product); the baling scenes present higher average monthly income per job and number of generated jobs due to higher number of mechanized operations requiring more manpower. The main result of this study shows that ETC scenes present higher economic efficiency and the recovery proposal of integral harvest system chopped without tops presented higher economic prospects with lower environmental impacts. This paper shows the importance of technology development which permits better use of biomass / Doutorado / Maquinas Agricolas / Doutora em Engenharia Agrícola

In order to extend ecological footprint analysis (EFA) to electronic products, new methods had to be developed which associate the world average bioproductive space per capita and year - the fair Earth share - with an individual product. The problem analysed in this thesis is the need for an environmental assessment tool for electronic products, which uses natural capital accounting. This need arose because so far, electronic products were mainly assessed using life cycle analysis with a focus on toxicity. Since the ecological footprint (EF) is a sustainability indicator, the sustainability discussion and in particular its relevance and implications with regard to the EF is reviewed. The electronic products assessed in this thesis are a personal computer (PC) in an exploratory study, and three mobile phones (two main case studies and one updated case study). To establish the land areas used by the mined materials used in electronic products, a database was developed based on site specific data found in the literature, and on approximations from the density of materials and their overburden. A life cycle energy approach was used to determine the burdens from producing and using a mobile phone. In order to estimate energy requirements for materials for which no data was available, the relationship between abundance and rucksack / overburden values was used in a regression analysis. Direct land use data and results from the energy analysis were used as an inventory for the subsequent EFA. An EF time series was applied to represent a more accurate picture of PC and phone use. This was also necessary since the EF reflects the instantaneous rate (a snapshot) of resource consumption. Key results are that the EF of electronic products are much larger than their actual size and that different electronic products have different EF. Our methodology proved sensitive enough to reveal differences even in small electronic products, given the high benchmark of a fair Earth share, and useful in monitoring space-efficient technology.

Liquid biofuels are being produced to displace fossil fuels for transportation, with bioethanol and biodiesel being the primary biofuels produced for this purpose in the world today. While there is consensus on the need for a sustainable biofuels industry, there is little consensus on how to proceed to avoid environmental and social degradation with global biofuel production. A literature review of Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) data, and the generic Strategic Life-Cycle Management (SLCM) and Template for Sustainable Product Development (TSPD) approaches, helped to inform the creation of a specific tool for sustainable industrial biofuels development, called the TSPD for biofuels. Other data collection involved expert and industry dialogue, as well as stakeholder feedback, on the content of the TSPD. Results showed a variety of sustainability challenges and opportunities, the most significant of which concerns agricultural production. Compelling measures for a sustainable biofuels industry include: cooperation among all stakeholders using a systems approach based on strategic sustainable development, sustainable biofuels certification; and government policies to stimulate research into new technologies and feedstocks, as well as to reduce consumption and increase efficiency. / <p>skiingkyle@yahoo.ca, csrlevy@terra.com.br, Kate_maddigan@yahoo.com</p>