• Energy Research
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The luminescent solar concentrator has the potential of widespread use as a generator of electricity from sunlight well-suited for use in the urban environment owing to its adaptability in shape and coloration. The device performance is heavily dependent on the ability to transport light long distances to the edges. A common organic luminophore used in the device is based on a perylene core. In this work, we describe an overlooked effect of UV illumination on the appearance and efficiency of these devices. An additional absorption peak appears upon polymerization under intense UV in nitrogen atmosphere which significantly reduces the edge emissions from the device. The additional absorbance peak disappears after exposure to air, indicating the presence of a radical anion being formed during the UV light exposure. This suggests newly-produced LSC devices should be allowed to stand a period of time under ambient conditions before their performance characteristics are determined, which could have implications in potential future commercialization of the technology.

This study provides the first comprehensive overview of the sustainability performance of the hotel sector in the Himalayan region: Sagarmatha National Park and Buffer Zone, using both environmental, economic, and technical criteria. In particular, the performance of 45 buildings in this region were measured and quantified in terms of life cycle based carbon footprint, life cycle costs, heat loss rate, number of guests, energy consumption, and area. Buildings were classified into three types: traditional, semi-modern and modern. The statistical analysis included testing for significant differences between such categories by means of ANOVA, and determination of the correlation between the same parameters. Results show a significant difference between the buildings’ total carbon footprint and operation stage carbon footprint while, there is no significant difference between the buildings’ life cycle costs. Traditional buildings have on average the largest carbon footprint and life-cycle cost over the typical building lifespan of 50 years of building lifespan. The ANOVA tests highlight how heat loss rate, size of the building and number of tourists in the hotels are significantly different across the building types. A strong positive correlation is observed between environmental impact, economic impact and energy consumption for the household activities, and a negative correlation with the number of guests and building size. By considering several buildings, this study allows to draw new and more general conclusions about effective sustainability strategies in the whole hotel sector in the Himalayan region. In particular, it shows that reducing impacts in the operation stage should be highly prioritized, focusing on reducing energy consumption and heat loss and shifting to the use of renewable energy sources.