Syfte: Detta examensarbete behandlar integrering av miljöbelastning och kostnader vid projektering av byggnader. Enligt tidigare forskning och svenska rapporter är användningen av livscykelkostnader och livscykelanalyser begränsad inom byggsektorn. Än mer begränsad är sammanvägning av dessa analyser för optimering av byggdelar och hela byggnadsverk. Målet med detta examensarbete är därför att testa en konceptmodell vilken syftar till att integrera miljöbelastning och kostnader under en hellivscykel. Frågeställningarna som besvaras är ”Hur kan fasadmaterial utvärderas utifrån miljömässiga och ekonomiska aspekter?” och ”Hur kan kostnader och miljöbelastning sammanvägas för att skapa beslutsunderlag för val avfasadmaterial?”. Metod: Konceptmodellen prövas genom en fallstudie där ett antal fasader utgör fallet. Dessutom jämförs resultaten från fallstudien med inhämtade data från genomförd litteraturstudie. Resultat: Studien visar att den testade konceptmodellen fungerar med hjälp av relativt enkla verktyg. En multikriterieanalys genomförs på resultaten från LCA och LCC vilket genererar jämförbara slutvärden för fasaderna. Konsekvenser: Slutsatser som kan dras utifrån studien är att LCA och LCC är relativt enkla att genomföra i tidiga skeden om schablonvärden för livslängder kan nyttjas och modellinläsning mot en färdig miljödatabas finns tillgänglig. Vidare visar studien att multikriterieanalysen COPRAS är lämplig för integrering av miljöpåverkan och kostnader. Vidare studier på konceptmodellen bör genomföras med hjälp av intervjuer i branschen. Begränsningar: Studiens resultat begränsas av det faktum att den genomförs som en fallstudie där författarna bedömer huruvida konceptmodellen går att använda eller ej. För större förståelse kring hur användbar den är i praktiken och vilka modifieringar som bör genomföras måste branschens åsikter beaktas, exempelvis med hjälp av intervjuer.

In order to perform the environmental analysis and find the best management in the wastewater treatment processes using life cycle assessment (LCA) method, uncertainty in LCA has to be evaluated. A qualitative and quantitative procedure was constructed to deal with uncertainty for the wastewater treatment LCA studies during the inventory and analysis stages. The qualitative steps in the procedure include setting rules for the inclusion of inputs and outputs in the life cycle inventory (LCI), setting rules for the proper collection of data, identifying and conducting data collection analysis for the significant contributors in the model, evaluating data quality indicators, selecting the proper life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) method, evaluating the uncertainty in the model through different cultural perspectives, and comparing with other LCIA methods. The quantitative steps in the procedure include assigning the best guess value and the proper distribution for each input or output in the model, calculating the uncertainty for those inputs or outputs based on data characteristics and the data quality indicators, and finally using probabilistic analysis (Monte Carlo simulation) to estimate uncertainty in the outcomes. Environmental burdens from the solids handling unit at Bissell Point Wastewater Treatment Plant (BPWWTP) in Saint Louis, Missouri was analyzed. Plant specific data plus literature data were used to build an input-output model. Environmental performance of an existing treatment scenario (dewatering-multiple hearth incineration-ash to landfill) was analyzed. To improve the environmental performance, two alternative scenarios (fluid bed incineration and anaerobic digestion) were proposed, constructed, and evaluated. System boundaries were set to include the construction, operation and dismantling phases. The impact assessment method chosen was Eco-indicator 99 and the impact categories were: carcinogenicity, respiratory organics and inorganics, climate change, radiation, ozone depletion, ecotoxicity, acidification-eutrophication, and minerals and fossil fuels depletion. Analysis of the existing scenario shows that most of the impacts came from the operation phase on the categories related to fossil fuels depletion, respiratory inorganics, and carcinogens due to energy consumed and emissions from incineration. The proposed alternatives showed better performance than the existing treatment. Fluid bed incineration had better performance than anaerobic digestion. Uncertainty analysis showed there is 57.6% possibility to have less impact on the environment when using fluid bed incineration than the anaerobic digestion. Based on single scores ranking in the Eco-indicator 99 method, the environmental impact order is: multiple hearth incineration > anaerobic digestion > fluid bed incineration. This order was the same for the three model perspectives in the Eco-indicator 99 method and when using other LCIA methods (Eco-point 97 and CML 2000). The study showed that the incorporation of qualitative/quantitative uncertainty analysis into LCA gave more information than the deterministic LCA and can strengthen the LCA study. The procedure tested in this study showed that Monte Carlo simulation can be used in quantifying uncertainty in the wastewater treatment studies. The procedure can be used to analyze the performance of other treatment options. Although the analysis in different perspectives and different LCIA methods did not impact the order of the scenarios, it showed a possibility of variation in the final outcomes of some categories. The study showed the importance of providing decision makers with the best and worst possible outcomes in any LCA study and informing them about the perspectives and assumptions used in the assessment. Monte Carlo simulation is able to perform uncertainty analysis in the comparative LCA only between two products or scenarios based on the (A-B) approach due to the overlapping between the probability distributions of the outcomes. It is recommended to modify it to include more than two scenarios.

abstract: 'Attributional' Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) quantitatively tracks the potential environmental impacts of international value chains, in retrospective, while ensuring that burden shifting is avoided. Despite the growing popularity of LCA as a decision-support tool, there are numerous concerns relating to uncertainty and variability in LCA that affects its reliability and credibility. It is pertinent that some part of future research in LCA be guided towards increasing reliability and credibility for decision-making, while utilizing the LCA framework established by ISO 14040. In this dissertation, I have synthesized the present state of knowledge and application of uncertainty and variability in ‘attributional’ LCA, and contribute to its quantitative assessment. Firstly, the present state of addressment of uncertainty and variability in LCA is consolidated and reviewed. It is evident that sources of uncertainty and variability exist in the following areas: ISO standards, supplementary guides, software tools, life cycle inventory (LCI) databases, all four methodological phases of LCA, and use of LCA information. One source of uncertainty and variability, each, is identified, selected, quantified, and its implications discussed. The use of surrogate LCI data in lieu of missing dataset(s) or data-gaps is a source of uncertainty. Despite the widespread use of surrogate data, there has been no effort to (1) establish any form of guidance for the appropriate selection of surrogate data and, (2) estimate the uncertainty associated with the choice and use of surrogate data. A formal expert elicitation-based methodology to select the most appropriate surrogates and to quantify the associated uncertainty was proposed and implemented. Product-evolution in a non-uniform manner is a source of temporal variability that is presently not considered in LCA modeling. The resulting use of outdated LCA information will lead to misguided decisions affecting the issue at concern and eventually the environment. In order to demonstrate product-evolution within the scope of ISO 14044, and given that variability cannot be reduced, the sources of product-evolution were identified, generalized, analyzed and their implications (individual and coupled) on LCA results are quantified. Finally, recommendations were provided for the advancement of robustness of 'attributional' LCA, with respect to uncertainty and variability. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Sustainability 2016

abstract: Healthcare infection control has led to increased utilization of disposable medical devices, which has subsequently led to increased adverse environmental effects attributed to healthcare and its supply chain. In dental practice, the dental bur is a commonly used instrument that can either be reused or used once and then disposed. To evaluate the disparities in environmental impacts of disposable and reusable dental burs, a comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) was performed. The comparative LCA evaluated a reusable dental bur (specifically, a 2.00mm Internal Irrigation Pilot Drill) reused 30 instances versus 30 identical burs used as disposables. The LCA methodology was performed using framework described by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14040 series. Sensitivity analyses were performed with respect to ultrasonic and autoclave loading. Findings from this research showed that when the ultrasonic and autoclave are loaded optimally, reusable burs had 40% less of an environmental impact than burs used on a disposable basis. When the ultrasonic and autoclave were loaded to 66% capacity, there was an environmental breakeven point between disposable and reusable burs. Eutrophication, carcinogenic impacts, non-carcinogenic impacts, and acidification were limited when cleaning equipment (i.e., ultrasonic and autoclave) were optimally loaded. Additionally, the bur's packaging materials contributed more negative environmental impacts than the production and use of the bur itself. Therefore, less materially-intensive packaging should be used. Specifically, the glass fiber reinforced plastic casing should be substituted for a material with a reduced environmental footprint. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Civil and Environmental Engineering 2013

abstract: Overall, biofuels play a significant role in future energy sourcing and deserve thorough researching and examining for their best use in achieving sustainable goals. National and state policies are supporting biofuel production as a sustainable option without a holistic view of total impacts. The analysis from this research connects to policies based on life cycle sustainability to identify other environmental impacts beyond those specified in the policy as well as ethical issues that are a concern. A Life cycle assessment (LCA) of switchgrass agriculture indicates it will be challenging to meet U.S. Renewable Fuel Standards with only switchgrass cellulosic ethanol, yet may be used for California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard. Ethical dilemmas in food supply, land conservation, and water use can be connected to biofuel production and will require evaluation as policies are created. The discussions around these ethical dilemmas should be had throughout the process of biofuel production and policy making. Earth system engineering management principles can help start the discussions and allow anthropocentric and biocentric viewpoints to be heard. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Civil and Environmental Engineering 2014

No description available.

O handebol é um esporte onde há mistura de velocidade, potência, resistência e, principalmente, de mudanças rápidas de direção, mudanças essas que são responsáveis por um número elevado de lesões. A ruptura do ligamento cruzado anterior (LCA) é frequente em atletas e pode ocorrer de duas maneiras: com ou sem contato direto. As lesões no LCA sem contato direto (LCASC) representam de 70 a 85% das lesões em atletas, normalmente em mudanças de direção denominadas \"sidestep\" (SID). Entender os fatores de risco e os mecanismos das lesões são algumas das etapas do processo de prevenção. O presente estudo tem como objetivo analisar as variáveis biomecânicas na articulação do joelho durante a mudança de direção seguida de um arremesso em atletas profissionais e universitárias de handebol com e sem informação visual. Participaram do estudo 14 atletas de nível profissional (GP = 21,5 ± 2.58) e 15 de nível universitário (GU = 22,4 ± 2,63), do sexo feminino. Foram posicionados 25 marcadores refletivos no tronco e membros inferiores da participante além de 10 eletrodos posicionados em: glúteo médio, bíceps femoral, reto femoral, gastrocnêmio e tibial anterior. Os valores angulares foram calculados pelos ângulos de Euler e a velocidade angular foi calculada pelos quatérnions. As participantes realizaram o sidestep cutting SID, sidestep cutting com bola (SIDB), sidestep cutting com luz (SIDluz) e sidestep cutting com bola e luz (SIDBluz). Foram encontrados maiores valores de flexão nos momentos CI e 40ms para GU em SID, SIBD e SIBluz. GP apresentou maiores valores de rotação em 100ms após o CI na maioria dos testes. GP apresentou maiores valores de velocidade angular (quatérnions) em 100ms em SID, SIDluz e SIDBluz. GP também apresentou maiores velocidade angulares na execução dos testes: SIDlu, SIDB e SIBluz. GU apresentou. GP apresentou melhor razão de co-contração (CC) quando comparado GU no SIDluz, e GU apresentou melhor CC em SID. GP apresentou maior tempo de contato (TC) SIDluz, SIDBluz e SID. Conclui-se que atletas universitários e profissionais apresentam padrões cinemáticos diferentes durante a execução de tarefas de mudanças de direção / Handball is a sport where there is mixture of speed, power, resistance, and especially the fast changes of direction. These changes are responsible for a high incidence of injuries in handball players. The rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is common in athletes and can occur in two different ways: with contact and non-contact. The ACL injuries non-contact (LCASC) represent 70 to 85% of injuries in athletes typically in the change of direction called \"sidestep\" (SID). Understand the risk factors and mechanisms of injury are some of the steps to prevent them. This study aims to analyze the biomechanical variables in the knee joint during the change of direction then a pitch in professional and college athletes of handball with and without visual information. All participants were female, 14 professional athletes (GP = 21.5 ± 2:58) and 15 the college athletes (GU = 22.4 ± 2.63). In total, 25 reflective markers were positioned on the trunk and lower limbs of the participant along with 10 electrodes placed on: gluteus medius, biceps femoris, rectus femoris, gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior. The angles were calculated by Euler angles and the angular velocity were calculated from the quaternions. The participants performed the SID, sidestep cutting Ball (SIDB), sidestep cutting with light (SIDluz) and sidestep cutting with ball and light (SIDBluz). We found greater flexion values in the CI and 40ms moments for GU in SID, SIDB and SIDBluz. GP has higher rotation values in 100ms after the IC in most tests. GP pointed high values of angular velocity (quaternions) in 100ms in SID, SIDluz and SIDBluz. GP also had higher angular speed in carrying out the tests: SIDluz, SIDB and SIDBluz. GU presented better rate of cocontraction (CC) compared GP in SIDluz, and GU pointed better CC in SID. GP presented greater contact time (TC) in SIDluz, SIDBluz and SID. Concludes that college and professional athletes have different kinematic patterns during the execution in changes of direction tasks

No description available.

The food industry has an essential role in society and in the global economy. Nowadays, modernlifestyle demands convenience, which is driving the development of the food sector. This isparticularly evident with convenience food, especially ready-made meals, industrially preparedfood, which only requires a short preparation time at home by consumers, but has very complexand diverse supply chains and is associated with a range of sustainability issues. Therefore, theaim of this research is to evaluate the environmental, economic and social sustainability in theready-made meals sector with the focus on the UK market. A life cycle approach has been used forthese purposes, using life cycle assessment (LCA) as the tool for the environmental analysis, lifecycle costing (LCC) for the economic aspects and social sustainability indicators (SI) for the socialissues. Different types of ready-made meal from different cuisines have been considered, includingthe British, Italian, Chinese and Indian. The highest environmental impacts are found for the Italian and Indian cuisines, while Chinesemeals are environmentally most sustainable, followed by the British. At the sectoral level, theresults suggest that from ‘cradle to retailer’ the British ready-made meal sector contributes 4.45 Mtof CO2 eq. annually, which represents ~4% of the GHG emissions of the food and drink sector and~1% of the UK GHG emissions. Of this, 3.16 Mt of CO2 eq. is emitted by chilled and 1.28 Mt of CO2eq. by the frozen ready-made meals. The total life cycle costs at the sectoral level from ‘cradle tograve’ are estimated at £2.1 bn, with the chilled ready-made meals market contributing £1.42 bnand the frozen £676 million. The life cycle costs from ‘cradle to retailer’ are £1.02 bn, with the valueadded of £958 million. The common environmental and cost hotspot for all the meals studied is rawmaterials. In particular, the meat, fish and seafood are the greatest contributors. For theenvironmental impacts, the manufacturing and distribution stages are also important, while theconsumption stage is the largest contributor to the costs. The major social aspects are the foodrelated health issues and food security, in particular food affordability. In the supply chainagriculture, wholesale and retailers show high risk for indicators such as wages and employmentwhile the manufacturing presents high risk in fatal injuries. The study also shows that consumer choices play an important role for the economic andenvironmental impacts; therefore, educational programmes and better communicational strategiesshould be implemented by the industry, the government and consumers groups. Moreover, toensure a sustainable development of the ready-made meals sector, future policies and industrialinitiatives should consider a life cycle approach including relevant economic, environmental andsocial aspects.

In an attempt to meet its ambitious climate change targets, the UK government has decided to incentivise the uptake of bioenergy. However, the full economic costs and environmental impacts of this decision have not yet been quantified at a national level. This is the topic of this research which evaluates the life cycle environmental and economic sustainability of different options for electricity and heat generation using biomass available in the UK, notably waste wood, agricultural residues and wastes, straw, municipal solid waste (MSW), food waste, and energy crops. These results are then used to evaluate the environmental impacts and costs for the whole bioenergy sector in the UK.The results suggest that the environmentally and economically most sustainable electricity generating options are, in descending order: manure/agricultural residue anaerobic digestion (AD) combined heat and power (CHP), Miscanthus co-firing with coal, and chicken litter gasification CHP. The most sustainable heat-generating systems are manure/agricultural residue ADC CHP, waste wood gasification CHP, and chicken litter gasification CHP. However, the use of these technologies is limited by the availability of their respective feedstocks. The research finds that there is currently 30.4 million odt of biomass produced annually in the UK which could be used for electricity and heat generation and that potentially 77.8 million odt could be produced if greater amounts of energy crops are grown. Dry biomass makes up the largest proportion of available biomass, which itself largely consists of wood wastes and energy crops. Dry biomass can therefore make the largest contribution of electricity or heat to potential bioenergy sectors. The electricity-generating biotechnologies identified as those which would make the most sustainable use of wood wastes and energy crops are biomass power plants and co-firing plants. Heat would be most sustainably generated from these feedstocks using biomass gasification CHPs and biomass boilers. According to the results, it is more sustainable to use the UK’s current and potential biomass resources for generating electricity, rather than for producing heat. Electricity from biomass has higher potential for reducing the majority of environmental impacts compared to the current UK electricity grid. Despite this, some impacts are expected to increase, including eutrophication, terrestrial ecotoxicity, depletion of elements and acidification. Furthermore, the economic sustainability of most biomass options is often dependent on subsidies being available, mainly because of the high capital costs. It is recommended that the government look beyond climate change and consider full life cycle impacts when deciding which technologies to incentivise to avoid solving the one problem at the expense of others. It is also advised that subsidies be tied to the sustainability of the feedstock, incentivising the use of waste over energy crops (at least in the short term) and encouraging the displacement of coal and oil. Furthermore, the government should consider scaling the FIT and RHI subsidies smoothly with capacity and consider scaling ROC payments which are currently not linked to capacity at all. Improvements to the environmental sustainability of bioenergy could be gained by funding research into cleaning emissions from biomass combustion, enforcing strict regulation of ash disposal and digestate treatment, and encouraging the reuse and recycling of rare elements.