Miami-Dade County implemented a series of water conservation programs, which included rebate/exchange incentives to encourage the use of high efficiency aerators (AR), showerheads (SH), toilets (HET) and clothes washers (HEW), to respond to the environmental sustainability issue in urban areas. This study first used panel data analysis of water consumption to evaluate the performance and actual water savings of individual programs. Integrated water demand model has also been developed for incorporating property’s physical characteristics into the water consumption profiles. Life cycle assessment (with emphasis on end-use stage in water system) of water intense appliances was conducted to determine the environmental impacts brought by each practice. Approximately 6 to 10 % of water has been saved in the first and second year of implementation of high efficiency appliances, and with continuing savings in the third and fourth years. Water savings (gallons per household per day) for water efficiency appliances were observed at 28 (11.1%) for SH, 34.7 (13.3%) for HET, and 39.7 (14.5%) for HEW. Furthermore, the estimated contributions of high efficiency appliances for reducing water demand in the integrated water demand model were between 5 and 19% (highest in the AR program). Results indicated that adoption of more than one type of water efficiency appliance could significantly reduce residential water demand. For the sustainable water management strategies, the appropriate water conservation rate was projected to be 1 to 2 million gallons per day (MGD) through 2030. With 2 MGD of water savings, the estimated per capita water use (GPCD) could be reduced from approximately 140 to 122 GPCD. Additional efforts are needed to reduce the water demand to US EPA’s “Water Sense” conservation levels of 70 GPCD by 2030. Life cycle assessment results showed that environmental impacts (water and energy demands and greenhouse gas emissions) from end-use and demand phases are most significant within the water system, particularly due to water heating (73% for clothes washer and 93% for showerhead). Estimations of optimal lifespan for appliances (8 to 21 years) implied that earlier replacement with efficiency models is encouraged in order to minimize the environmental impacts brought by current practice.

As ações educativas sobre sustentabilidade ambiental constituem uma ferramenta cujo intuito é aumentar a consciência das pessoas sobre os problemas ambientais e sobre suas consequências para a humanidade. Quando bem estruturadas e aplicadas, elas têm um papel importante na mudança dos hábitos das pessoas. Nesse sentido, as organizações podem contribuir aplicando-as a seus funcionários e a outros stakeholders. Assim, o objetivo desta pesquisa é identificar como as empresas da indústria de defensivos agrícolas e prestadoras de serviço ambiental desenvolvem seus sistemas de treinamento, desenvolvimento e educação (TD&E) relacionados à sustentabilidade ambiental. Para atingir os objetivos propostos, foi realizado um estudo de casos múltiplos em duas empresas. Uma indústria de defensivos agrícolas e uma empresa prestadora de serviços ambientais. Com esses estudos de caso, foi possível entender a interação do departamento de recursos humanos para essas ações de sustentabilidade ambiental, ver como a EA e a EDS são trabalhadas com os funcionários de diferentes níveis organizacionais. Foi possível também entender como as empresas realizam o levantamento de necessidade de treinamento (LNT), como elas planejam e como avaliam as ações educacionais para sustentabilidade ambiental. Como implicações práticas, é possível afirmar que sessões mais curtas (com até duas horas), combinação de técnicas de ensino e uso de estudo de caso ao final da ação educacional como forma de avaliação contribuem para despertar interesse dos aprendizes e fixar o conteúdo com mais facilidade. É importante oferecer ambiente e ferramentas adequados para a realização de ações educativas para sustentabilidade ambiental em ambiente externo (fora das salas de aula). / Educational actions on environmental sustainability are a tool whose aim is to increase the people\'s consciousness about the environment problems and their consequences for mankind. These actions, when well structured and applied, play an important role in changing people\'s habits. In this context, companies can contribute by applying such actions to their employees and other stakeholders. Therefore, the objective of the present work is to identify how crop protection industry and environmental service companies develop their TD&E systems for environmental sustainability. In order to achieve such objectives, a multiple-case study of two companies, one crop protection industry and other providing environmental services, was conducted. With these case studies, it was possible to understand the interaction between human resource department and environmental sustainability actions, including how environmental education (EE) and environmental sustainability education (ESE) are applied to employees at different organizational levels. It was also possible to know how companies perform their training need assessment and how they plan and evaluate educational actions for environmental sustainability. In terms of practical implications, one can state that shorter sessions (up to 2 hours long), combination of teaching techniques, and use of case study as a form of evaluation at the end of the education action contribute to trigger the learners\' interest and fix the content more easily. It is important to offer adequate milieu and tools for conducting education actions for environmental sustainability out of the class room.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-05-02T13:55:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Fabiola Cristina Barros Nogueira-dissertacao.pdf: 3071703 bytes, checksum: 8f8f250797f3f02fbb6ac5e4db662210 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-10-26 / The wastewater presents major environmental risk when improperly released into water bodies. However, when the wastewater is treated in accordance with their chemical, physical and biological characteristics it is possible to pourable it without compromising the process of self-purification of water.The use of natural polymers in technological processes distinguished by treatment efficacy and not compromising the characteristics of the chemical sludge generated.The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the seed of Moringa oleifera Lam as natural coagulant and polymer of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) as adjuvant flocculation in wastewater and industrial wastewater. The moringa´s seeds shelled and ground were added to the wastewater in the following concentrations: (4.0, 5.0, 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, and 9.0 (g L-1)) and thereafter, at the same concentrations were added 0.5 grams of powdered of okra.Tests for coagulation / flocculation, sedimentation and decantation were carried out in bench through Jar Test. After testing the jars´s device was turned off and the sample remained at rest for a period of 40 minutes. Furthermore, were performed physicochemical analyzes for pH and turbidity for all samples. There were performed DBO205 and DQO tests for the raw wastewater and treated. The experiment was conducted using a completely randomized design (CRD) in a 2x6 factorial design. A total of three (03) repetitions, totaling thirty-six (36) plots. It was found that treatment: moringa together with okra provided better results as the density of the flakes, time of coagulation, sedimentation and significantly decrease in the turbidity. For the effluent treated with moringa and okra, was obtained 84.14% efficiency for DBO205 and 84.54% for DQO. These values are within the parameters of effluent discharges into waters Class II. / Os efluentes sanitários apresentam grandes riscos ambientais quando lançados inadequadamente em corpos d água, contudo, quando tratados em conformidade com suas características químicas, físicas e biológicas podem ser vertidos sem comprometer o processo de autodepuração das águas. A utilização de polímeros naturais em processos tecnológicos destaca-se pela eficácia do tratamento e o não comprometimento das características químicas do lodo gerado. Objetivou-se com este trabalho, avaliar a eficácia da semente de Moringa oleifera como coagulante natural e o polímero do quiabo (Abelmoschus esculentus) como coadjuvante de floculação em água residuária de efluente doméstico e industrial. As sementes de moringa com casca e moída foram adicionadas à água residuária nas seguintes concentrações: (4,0; 5,0; 6,0; 7,0; 8,0; e 9,0 g L-1 de efluente) e subsequente, às mesmas concentrações foram acrescidos 0,5 gramas de pó de quiabo. Os testes de coagulação/floculação, decantação e sedimentação foram realizados em bancada por meio de Jar Test. Após os ensaios desligou-se o aparelho jar test e as amostras ficaram em repouso por um período de 40 minutos. Foram realizadas as análises físico-químicas quanto ao pH e Turbidez para todas as amostras. Realizaram-se os testes de DBO205 e DQO para o efluente bruto e tratado. O delineamento experimental conduzido foi o Delineamento Inteiramente Casualizado (DIC) em um esquema fatorial 2x6. Foram utilizadas três (03) repetições, totalizando trinta e seis (36) parcelas experimentais. Constatou-se que o tratamento moringa em conjunto com o quiabo proporcionou melhores resultados quanto ao adensamento dos flocos, tempo de coagulação, sedimentação e redução significativa da turbidez. Para o efluente tratado com moringa e quiabo, obteve-se 84,14% de eficiência para DBO e 84,54% para DQO. Valores os quais se enquadram nos parâmetros de lançamentos de efluentes em águas classe II.

The purpose of the study is to understand the satisfaction of young customers living in Sweden for a long time with the packaging of chips and the impact of packaging on their chip purchase and to discuss corporate social responsibility in connection with environmental sustainability. In this study, theoretical analysis, interviews, and focus groups are used as the research methods. Through the analysis of collected data and combined with the theory to carry out a comprehensive analysis. Through the analysis, it is found that the color, picture, and shape of packaging in the chips market in Sweden are the main factors affecting customers' purchase. It is also found that young customers still attach great importance to the sustainable development of the environment and think that the company should be responsible for this. The findings of this study can be considered to provide customers with real ideas for companies who want to understand the Swedish chip market and help them develop the Swedish market. Due to the lack of research on the packaging market in Sweden, the researchers hope that this study can be helpful to the relevant research.

The textile and fashion industry is one of the most extensive and unsustainable industries in the world. Fast fashion companies, and the consumers purchasing, using and disposing the items, have an especially negative impact on the environment. Previous research does not provide deep knowledge of how environmentally sustainable clothing disposal is performed in word and deed as a part of consumers everyday life. However, this is needed to improve environmental sustainability. This research study aims to contribute to and deepen the existing body of research regarding this, investigating female members of Generation Z in a fast fashion context. Thus, the purpose of the study is to contribute with a current understanding of the practice of sustainable clothing disposal by developing knowledge about how consumers perform disposal activities post-consumption, as well as revealing the meanings driving the behaviour. In order to fulfill the purpose, a qualitative research strategy was used. Empirical material was collected through ten semi-structured interviews with female Generation Z participants. The study uses a practice theory approach, viewing a practice as a complex interaction between what consumers say and do in a specific context. A practice consists of several different activities and is dependent on three elements: competence, material and meaning. Furthermore, the theoretical framework consists of previous research on sustainable clothing disposal behaviour. The findings reveal that the practice of sustainable clothing disposal includes a number of activities performed by the participants in the context in question. Several central tendencies are distinguished; showing how female Generation Z consumers perform the activities under different circumstances, through routinised actions and communication in their everyday lives. In addition, the findings identify five different forms of meaning driving the behaviour. Accordingly, both theoretical and practical contributions are generated. The findings build on the existing body of research, adding deep and current understanding of sustainable clothing disposal behaviour. Furthermore, actors in the textile and fashion industry can interpret the findings of the behaviour and meaning-making, and hence improve their adaptation to the consumer. Ultimately, this can cause a positive impact on environmental sustainability.

Given the increasing demand for energy, climate change, and environmental concern of fossil fuels, it is becoming increasingly significant to find alternative renewable energy sources. Bioethanol as one sort of cellulosic biofuel produced from lignocellulosic biomass feedstocks has shown great potential as a renewable resource. Delivering a competitive, sustainable biofuel product requires comprehensive supply chain planning and design. Developing economically and environmentally optimal supply chain models is necessary in this context. Also, designing biomass bioethanol supply chain (BBSC) models addressing social issues requires using second-generation biomass which is not a source of food for humans. Currently, corn as a first-generation feedstock is the primary source of bioethanol in the United States which has given growth to new social issues such as the food versus fuel debate. Considering incentives for first-generation bioethanol producers to switch to second-generation biomass and associated production technologies will help to address such social issues. The scope of this study focuses on analyzing economic and environmental market incentives for second-generation bioethanol producers while considering different carbon policies as penalties and restrictions for emissions coming from BBSC activities. First, we develop an integrated life cycle emission and energy optimization model for analyzing an entire second-generation bioethanol supply chain using switchgrass as the source of biomass while finding the most appropriate potential locations for building new cellulosic biorefineries in North Dakota. Second, we propose a supply chain model by comparing a first-generation (corn) and a second-generation (corn stover) bioethanol supply chain to analyze how policymakers can incentivize first-generation bioethanol producers to switch their technology and biomass supply from first-generation to second-generation biomass. Third, we develop the model further by investigating the impact of four different carbon policies including the carbon tax, carbon cap, carbon cap-and-trade, and carbon offset on the supply chain strategic and operational decisions. This research will help to design robust BBSCs focused on sustainability in order to optimally utilize second-generation biomass resources in the future. The findings can be utilized by renewable energy policy decision makers, bioethanol producers, and investors to operate in a competitive market while protecting the environment.

The overall objective of the study is to plan and recommend the most appropriate city environment that can foster the dynamic interactions necessary to implement sustainable and adaptable smart city projects for the purpose of enhancing the quality of the natural environment. Specific research approaches have been applied to answer the separate research questions, which is a performance indicator approach combined with a literature review. The Smart City level of Tshwane is measured, and it is further analysed how this contributes towards environmental sustainability on a city level. Even though environmental issues persist in the City of Tshwane, it was observed that there exists a direct correlation between smart city implementations and the improvement of environmental sustainability, from international examples. It is thus evident from the study that smart city initiatives applied in all city activities facilitate the enhancement of resource efficiency within a city. This ultimately contributes to improving the environmental performance, quality, liveability and sustainability within the cityscape. In order to achieve this, the Smart City level of a city needs to be measured and evaluated to establish a baseline supported by existing data to best inform an integrated approach in planning and implementation procedures (Bosch, et al., 2017). Smart city technologies and implementations create the setting for possible significant changes towards environmental sustainability. Key Terms: City of Tshwane, Smart City, ICT, environmental sustainability, environmental performance, evaluation, EUROCITIES CITYkeys’ Key Performance Indicator Framework, Key Performance Indicators, city-level, and literature review. / Mini Dissertation (MA (Environment and Society))--University of Pretoria, 2020. / Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology / MA (Environment and Society) / Unrestricted

Environmental sustainability has long been assumed to be a postmaterialist claim solely granted for affluent countries. This Western perception suggests that African and other developing countries are not capable of successfully dealing with environmental issues due to limited institutional and instrumental resources. Through semi-structured interviews with nine Ethiopian environment experts, and the supplementary method of field observations, this paper demonstrate empirical material from the green state of Ethiopia. Albeit being one of the poorest countries in the world, Ethiopia is displaying capacity to overcome environmental challenges and a willingness to undergo an environmentally sustainable transition process. Ultimately, environmental sustainability in Ethiopia is a possibility that contain challenges. The state have established environmental units, produced the comprehensive Climate Resilient Green Economy (CRGE) strategy and is actively transforming the rain-fed agriculture, investing in infrastructure and renewable energies, providing agricultural extension systems, rehabilitating degraded lands and creating environmental awareness. In addition, the national reforestation program, which includes restoration, creation and conservation of forests, boosts the forest industry and develops eco-system services, such as carbon sinks. However, weak implementation capacity disables the state from following through with ambitious environmental policies, and, in addition, the urge for economic development along an absence of strong regulative mechanisms stimulate the continuing conversion of forests and lands to agriculture.

In South Africa around 23% of emissions are caused by the operation of residential and non-residential buildings. In the last five years building owners and contractors have begun to focus on more environmentally friendly building techniques. This has resulted in an emerging market in South Africa for green buildings. A green building is one that is environmentally responsible, while it is energy and resource efficient. The Green Building Council of South Africa was formed to establish the requirements for qualification as a green building. As green buildings are a fairly new concept in South Africa, an additional allowance will encourage building owners to construct a green building as opposed to an ordinary one. Currently a tax allowance is available under Section 13 of the Income Tax Act for manufacturing and a Section 13quin allowance for newly constructed commercial buildings. In other countries such as the USA, an allowance is obtainable for green buildings under the Federal Tax Code. The first 5-Star Green Star SA Office Design v1 rated building in South Africa was used as a case study to indicate the effect of an additional tax allowance on South Africa. The case study indicated that to be a green building, many requirements have to be met, thus an additional tax allowance would encourage building owners to construct green buildings and in a way it can be seen as an incentive to promote sustainability in the long term. AFRIKAANS : In Suid-Afrika word 23% van kweekhuisgasse veroorsaak deur die bedryf van residensiële en nie-residensiële geboue. In die afgelope 5 jaar het gebou eienaars en oprigters begin fokus op omgewingsvriendelike gebou tegnieke. Gevolglik het dit aanleiding gegee tot ‘n opkomende mark vir groen geboue in Suid-Afrika. ‘n Groen gebou is ‘n gebou wat verantwoordelik is vir die omgewing en ter selfde tyd energie en hulpbron effektief is. Die ‘Green Building Counsel of South Africa’ is gestig om die vereistes om as groen gebou te kan kwalifiseer vas te stel. Groen geboue is ‘n redelike nuwe konsep in Suid-Afrika en dus sal ‘n addisionele belastingtoelaag gebou eienaars aanspoor om eerder ‘n groen gebou op te rig teenoor ‘n gewone gebou. Tans is daar slegs ‘n toelae onder artikel 13 van die Inkomstebelasting Wet vir geboue wat gebruik word in die proses van vervaardiging of artikel 13quin toelae vir nuut en ongebruikte kommersiële geboue. In ander lande soos die VSA is daar reeds belastingtoelae vir groen geboue beskikbaar onder die ‘Federal Tax Code’. Die eerste 5 ‘Star Green Star SA Office Design v1’ gegradueerde gebou in Suid-Afrika is in die gevallestudie gebruik om die effek van addisionele belastingtoelaag aan te dui. Die gevallestudie dui aan dat ‘n groen gebou aan baie vereistes moet voldoen, en dus sal ‘n addisionele belastingtoelaag gebou eienaars aanspoor om ‘n groen gebou op te rig. Die addisionele geboutoelaag kan ook gesien word as aansporing om volhoubaarheid te bevorder. / Dissertation (MCom)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Taxation / unrestricted

The general concert towards environmental sustainability has grown over the last few years. Pressure on firms from lawmakers request conformity with new regulations to ensure environmentally sustainable business operations. This study researches the implementation process of environmental sustainability regulations and the influencing factors in the automotive industry with two exploratory case studies on firms in Germany and Croatia. This research reveals the influencing power firms’ have on the policymakers in their regulations design leading to information inequality among competitors. Also, firms’ different management involvement and structure of the implementation process does not indicate the firms’ sustainability strategy. Environmental sustainability strategy can lead to long term benefits, however requires short-term investments, whereas the industry and competition pressurizes the firms on costs, leading to firms facing a choice between short term competitiveness and environmental sustainability. In order to conform with regulations, firms implement change through modifications and adaptation of products through new technologies.