| 1. |
- Beheshtinia, Mohammad Ali, et al.
(author)
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Prioritizing healthcare waste disposal methods considering environmental health using an enhanced multi-criteria decision-making method
- 2023
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In: Environmental Pollutants and Bioavailability. - : Taylor & Francis Group. - 2639-5932 .- 2639-5940. ; 35:1, s. 250-269
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The Healthcare Waste Disposal Method Selection (HCWDMS) is a complicated problem due to multiple and often contradictory criteria with different importance degrees. Thus, decision-makers are restored to multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods to prioritize and select the best HCW disposal methods. This study introduces an enhanced MCDM method to deal with the HCWDMS problem. To address the problem, a comprehensive list of criteria and HCW disposal methods are identified. All the criteria are categorized into four main criteria, and Fuzzy Analysis Hierarchy Process is used to determine the weights of considered criteria and sub-criteria. The study results show that environmental, economic, technical, and social criteria are the most important in selecting disposal methods, respectively. Moreover, the sub-criteria of ‘Health Risk’, ‘Release with health effects’, and ‘Capital cost’ have the highest importance, respectively. Additionally, the methods of ‘Microwave’, ‘Sterilization by autoclave’, and ‘Reverse polymerization’ have the highest priority, respectively.
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| 2. |
- Eriksson, Mattias, et al.
(author)
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Mapping of food waste quantification methodologies in the food services of Swedish municipalities
- 2018
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In: Resources, Conservation and Recycling. - : ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV. - 0921-3449 .- 1879-0658. ; 137, s. 191-199
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Since food waste valorisation measures, like energy recovery, have limited possibilities to fully recover the resources invested in food production, there is a need to prevent food waste. Prevention is most important at the end of the value chain, where most sub-processes have already taken place, like in catering facilities. In Sweden, the public catering sector serves a large number of meals through municipal organisations, including schools, preschools and elderly care homes. Many of these organisations quantify food waste, but since Sweden has 290 municipalities with a high degree of independence, the possible variation is significant. This study therefore investigated how food waste is quantified, in order to help formulate a national standard for food waste quantification. Mapping of food waste quantification practices was conducted using a questionnaire and follow-up telephone calls, achieving a response rate of 93%. Of the 290 Swedish municipalities, 55% replied that they quantify food waste on central level. The most common practice at present is to quantify plate- and serving waste from school lunches during two weeks per year, and to compile waste data in spreadsheets and compare the values against the number of plates used, giving a result in grams per portion served. There are many similarities between municipalities, so there is great potential to implement a common standard that many municipalities already fulfil. This is important in order to gain acceptance and fast implementation, thereby speeding up the process of establishing a benchmark for food waste in the Swedish public sector catering sector.
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| 3. |
- Eriksson, Mattias, et al.
(author)
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The tree structure : A general framework for food waste quantification in food services
- 2018
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In: Resources, Conservation and Recycling. - : Elsevier BV. - 0921-3449 .- 1879-0658. ; 130, s. 140-151
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Food waste in the food services industry has been identified as an important unsustainability hotspot, but standardised methods for food waste quantification are lacking. Existing studies on waste quantity assessments have several limitations, such as short and infrequent quantifications times, large methodological variations ranging from physical measurements to visual observations, and lack of comparability across catering unit types. Since lack of comparable waste figures can lead to error-prone analysis, a general framework is needed for waste quantification in food services. This paper presents one such framework that allows data comparisons when overlapping observations are included. The framework was tested in six case studies in professional (public and private) catering units in Sweden. Data were collected from different schools, elderly care homes and hotels and fitted into the framework. The results from these case studies indicate that the framework enables catering units to focus waste quantification on their individual problem areas. It also provides the possibility to extend waste quantification over time without any loss of generalisability. A graphical representation of the framework fits the traditional tree structure and was found to act as a suitable foundation for food waste quantification in food services by structuring collected data. In order to fully utilise the potential of the tree structure, it should be supplemented with precise definitions to create a catering food waste quantification standard.
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| 4. |
- Gunnarsson, Matilda, et al.
(author)
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Estimating environmental and societal impacts from scaling up urine concentration technologies
- 2023
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In: Journal of Cleaner Production. - : Elsevier. - 0959-6526 .- 1879-1786. ; 382
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- There is a growing trend for nutrient recovery from wastewater as part of the transition to a circular economy. Most nutrients in household wastewater originate from urine and one way to facilitate reuse of these nutrients is to concentrate the urine into fertiliser products. Urine concentration technologies are still in the development phase and not implemented at scale. The aim of this study was to provide guidance to technology developers and policymakers by assessing the environmental and societal impacts of urine concentration technologies. In particular, it includes practical aspects such as worker safety, space availability and local fertiliser needs that have not been included in previous studies. Future scenarios on implementing three different urine concentration technologies (alkaline dehydration, nitrification-distillation, ion-exchange with struvite precipitation) in a planned residential area in Malmö, Sweden, were developed. The technologies were evaluated using multi-criteria assessment (MCA), with environment, technical, economic and health sustainability criteria derived from the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It was found that all urine concentration technologies performed well against many of the sustainability criteria examined and can contribute to achieving SDGs, especially regarding nitrogen recovery. Specific areas for further development were identified for each technology. An impact assessment on scaling up demonstrated that nitrogen emissions to surface water were significantly reduced when more than 60% of urine in Malmö city was subjected to urine concentration. Nitrogen and phosphorus recovered from recycling only 15–30% of urine in Malmö could supply 50% of Malmö municipality's fertiliser demand.
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| 5. |
- Isaksson, Raine, et al.
(author)
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Supplementary Cementitious Materials in Building Blocks—Diagnosing Opportunities in Sub-Saharan Africa
- 2023
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In: Sustainability. - : MDPI. - 2071-1050. ; 15:7
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Sustainable building should at least be affordable and carbon neutral. Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is a region struggling with housing affordability. Residential buildings are often constructed using block-based materials. These are increasingly produced using ordinary Portland cement (PC), which has a high carbon footprint. Using alternative Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCMs) for block production might reduce the footprint and price. The purpose is to assess the level of information for SCM use in blocks in SSA and to use this information for Diagnosing the improvement potential as part of an Opportunity Study. Results from the scoping review show that aggregated information on SCMs and the quantities available is limited. Diagnosing the theoretical improvement potential in using cassava peel ash, rice husk ash, corn cob ash, volcanic ash and calcined clays, indicates that SCMs could represent a yearly value of approximately USD 400 million, which could be transferred from buying cement to local production. The use of SCMs could save 1.7 million tonnes of CO2 per year and create some 50,000 jobs. About 5% of the PC used for block production could be substituted, indicating that, in addition to using SCMs, other solutions are needed to secure production of sustainable blocks.
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| 6. |
- Widdicks, Kelly, et al.
(author)
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Systems thinking and efficiency under emissions constraints: Addressing rebound effects in digital innovation and policy
- 2023
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In: Patterns. - : Elsevier BV. - 2666-3899. ; 4:2
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Innovations and efficiencies in digital technology have lately been depicted as paramount in the green transition to enable the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, both in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector and the wider economy. This, however, fails to adequately account for rebound effects that can offset emission savings and, in the worst case, increase emissions. In this perspective, we draw on a transdisciplinary workshop with 19 experts from carbon accounting, digital sustainability research, ethics, sociology, public policy, and sustainable business to expose the challenges of addressing rebound effects in digital innovation processes and associated policy. We utilize a responsible innovation approach to uncover potential ways forward for incorporating rebound effects in these domains, concluding that addressing ICT-related rebound effects ultimately requires a shift from an ICT efficiency-centered perspective to a “systems thinking” model, which aims to understand efficiency as one solution among others that requires constraints on emissions for ICT environmental savings to be realized.
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| 7. |
- Beheshtinia, Mohammad Ali, et al.
(author)
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Identifying and prioritizing marketing strategies for the building energy management systems using a hybrid fuzzy MCDM technique
- 2023
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In: Energy Science & Engineering. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 2050-0505. ; 11:11, s. 4324-4348
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Preventing energy waste in residential and office buildings has emerged as a critical issue in both developed and developing countries over recent decades. The growing demand for oil and energy reserves has amplified the urgency of this concern. The deployment of building energy management systems (BEMSs) can lead to timely responses to changes in environmental conditions, the prevention of energy wastage, a reduction in CO2 emissions, and an increase in the longevity of building equipment. Despite the undeniable benefits of BEMSs, their market size remains small, creating challenges for providers in reaching potential customers. This research seeks to identify and prioritize the marketing strategies for BEMSs. A case study was conducted, employing the “Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats” analysis as a tool for identifying marketing strategies related to BEMSs. This method resulted in the identification of 18 distinct marketing strategies. These strategies were subsequently prioritized using a novel fuzzy multicriteria decision-making technique, VIkor-topSIS, considering six specific criteria. The findings of the study suggested a hierarchical influence of six criteria on the BEMS market, arranged in the following order of significance: effectiveness, cost, attainability, complexity, timing, and popularity. Furthermore, the top three marketing strategies for BEMSs were found to be internet advertising strategies, discounts to consumers, and online sales. The analysis of the results has also offered valuable insights into the strengths and weaknesses of the studied BEMS provider, as well as the opportunities and threats present within the BEMS market.
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| 8. |
- Davidsson, Simon, et al.
(author)
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A review of life cycle assessments on wind energy systems
- 2012
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In: The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0948-3349 .- 1614-7502. ; 17:6, s. 729-742
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- PurposeSeveral life cycle assessments (LCA) of wind energy published in recent years are reviewed to identify methodological differences and underlying assumptions.MethodsA full comparative analysis of 12 studies were undertaken (10 peer-reviewed papers, 1 conference paper, 1 industry report) regarding six fundamental factors (methods used, energy use accounting, quantification of energy production, energy performance and primary energy, natural resources, and recycling). Each factor is discussed in detail to highlight strengths and shortcomings of various approaches.ResultsSeveral potential issues are found concerning the way LCA methods are used for assessing energy performance and environmental impact of wind energy, as well as dealing with natural resource use and depletion. The potential to evaluate natural resource use and depletion impacts from wind energy appears to be poorly exploited or elaborated on in the reviewed studies. Estimations of energy performance and environmental impacts are critically analyzed and found to differ significantly.Conclusions and recommendationsA continued discussion and development of LCA methodology for wind energy and other energy resources are encouraged. Efforts should be made to standardize methods and calculations. Inconsistent use of terminology and concepts among the analyzed studies are found and should be remedied. Different methods are generally used and the results are presented in diverse ways, making it hard to compare studies with each other, but also with other renewable energy sources.
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| 9. |
- Good, Clara, et al.
(author)
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Scenario-based modelling of the potential for solar energy charging of electric vehicles in two Scandinavian cities
- 2019
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In: Energy. - : Elsevier BV. - 0360-5442 .- 1873-6785. ; 168, s. 111-125
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In order to contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, electric vehicles (EVs) should be charged using electricity from renewable energy sources. This paper describes a study of photovoltaics (PV) utilization for EV charging in two Scandinavian cities: Tromsø in Norway and Uppsala in Sweden, with the objective to evaluate self-sufficiency and self-consumption.The suitable areas for PV were determined using building area statistics and utilization factors. The PV yield was simulated for integration scenarios of 10%-100% of the suitable area. EV charging patterns were generated using a stochastic model based on travel survey data. The scenarios include EV penetration of 10%-100% of the personal vehicle fleet.The results show that the PV energy yield could cover the EV load in most of the scenarios, but that the temporal load match could be improved. The energy balance was positive for all seasons and EV levels if the PV integration was over 50%. The highest self-sufficiency was achieved in Tromsø during summer, due to the longer days. For high EV penetration and low PV integration, the self-sufficiency was higher in Uppsala, indicating that installed PV power is more important than yield profile above a certain number of EVs.
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| 10. |
- Höök, Mikael, 1982-, et al.
(author)
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Coal-to-Liquids : viability as a peak oil mitigation strategy
- 2012
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In: Twenty Ninth Annual International Pittsburgh Coal Conference.
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Converting coal to a liquid, commonly known as coal-to-liquids (CTL), can supply liquid fuels and has been successfully used in several countries, particularly in South Africa. However, it has not become a major contributor to the global oil supply. Increasing awareness of the scarcity of oil and rising oil prices has increased the interest in coal liquefaction. This paper surveys CTL technology, economics and environmental performance. Understanding the fundamental aspects of coal liquefaction technologies is vital for planning and policy-making since future CTL production will be integrated in a much larger global energy and liquid fuel production system.The economic analysis shows that many CTL studies assume conditions that are optimistic at best. In addition, the strong risk for a CTL plant to become a financial black hole is highlighted. This helps to explain why China has recently slowed down the development of its CTL program.The technical analysis investigates the coal consumption of CTL. Generally, a yield of between 1–2 barrels/ton coal can be achieved while the technical limit seems to be 3 barrels/ton coal. This puts a strict limit on future CTL capacity imposed by future coal production, regardless of other factors such as economic viability, emissions or environmental concern. For example, assuming that 10% of world coal production can be diverted to CTL, the contribution to the liquid fuel supply will be limited to only a few million barrels per day (Mb/d). This prevents CTL from becoming a viable mitigation plan for liquid fuel shortage on a global scale.However, it is still possible for individual nations to derive a significant share of their fuel supply from CTL but those nations must also have access to equally significant coal production capacity. It is unrealistic to claim that CTL provides a feasible solution to liquid fuels shortages created by peak oil. At best, it can be only a minor contributor and must be combined with other strategies to ensure future liquid fuel supply.
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