• Energy Research
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• 11. Sustainability close
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Olive­mill wastewater (OMWW) is a characteristic by­product of olive­oil production and a major environmental problem in the Mediterranean area due to the high chemical oxygen demand (COD, up to 220 g. L­1) and the high content of polyphenols. OMWW is considered as one of the most polluting agro­industrial effluents and could not be effectively process by classical biological treatment because of its phytotoxicity and antimicrobial properties. In this present work, a combined process consisting on absorption/adsorption of OMWW on sawdust, agropellets production from the OMWW/sawdust blends and energetic valorization via combustion was studied. Gaseous emissions such as CO2, CO and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were measured during the agropellets combustion at temperature range 500­700°C in a fixed­bed reactor. The preliminary results show that the combustion of the impregnated sawdust pellets can be a promising strategy to reduce the amount of OMWW in the environment. Hence, a complete survey is necessary to find the optimal conditions in order to obtain an environment friendly biofuel with low impacts on the environment. Proceedings of the 18th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, 3-7 May 2010, Lyon, France, pp. 1580-1584

Over the past two decades dam removal has emerged as a viable tool for ecological restoration of riverine landscapes, partially as a result of changing societal values toward the ecological trade-offs associated with dammed rivers. Dam condition, purpose and ownership are key factors that determine the legal and political processes that lead to dam removal in most cases. In the United States removals of small, privately owned dams are most common, although the most high-profile removals are associated with large hydropower dams subject to a federal relicensing process. Scholars cite this legal process for periodic re-evaluation of hydroelectric dams as an important window of opportunity for institutionalising adaptive environmental governance toward the renegotiation of social and ecological values associated with rivers. It is clear, however, that this policy process alone is not sufficient to facilitate large-scale dam removal and larger transitions toward adaptive governance. In this paper we review several high-profile cases of dam relicensing and removal in the Pacific Northwest region of the US to better understand the combination of factors that couple with dam relicensing policy to present a window of opportunity for adaptive governance and social-ecological restoration. Examples from the Pacific Northwest reveal patterns suggesting the critical role of endangered species, Native American tribes, local politics and economics in determining the future of large hydropower dams in the United States.

{"references": ["Retrieved on April 12, 2013 from website http://www.peakbagger.com/range.aspx?rid=432", "Alexander, Christopher, \"Notes on the Synthesis of Form, 1st ed.\", Harvard University Press, 1964, pp. 1-224.", "Borucke, Michael, David Moore, Gemma Cranston, Kyle Gracey, Katsunori Iha, Joy Larson, Elias Lazarus, Juan Carlos Morales, Mathis Wackernagel, Alessandro Galli, 2012, \"Accounting for demand and supply of the biosphere's regenerative capacity: The National Footprint Accounts' underlying methodology and framework\", Ecological Indicators 24 (2013) 518\u2013533, Elsevier Ltd.", "Adams, W.M., \"The Future of Sustainability: Re-thinking Environment and Development in the Twenty-first Century\", 2006, Report of the IUCN Renowned Thinkers Meeting, 29\u201331 January 2006.", "Abdaei, Kaveh, Ahadollag Azami, \"Sustainability Analyses of Passive Cooling Systems in Iranian Traditional Buildings approaching Wind-Catchers\", Recent Advances in Energy, Environment and Development, pp.124-129.", "Afrasiabian, Shaghayegh, Mohammadjavad Mahdavinejad, Negar Badri, \"Nature as a Source of Sustainable Design in Architecture of Original Countries (Case Study: Traditional Architecture of Iran)\", Archi-Cultural Translations through the Silk Road 2nd International Conference, Mukogawa Women's Univ., Nishinomiya, Japan, July 14-16, 2012 Proceedings, pp.257-261.", "Azami.A, Y., \"Climate passive architecture in hot and dry regions of iran, Passive and low energy cooling for the built environment\", Greece: Santorini, 2005, pp. 613-617.", "Fardpour, Tohid, \"Analysis of Iranian Traditional Architecture Through the Lens of Kenneth Frampton's \"Critical Regionalism\"\", American Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 2013, 6 (2): 205-210.", "Ghobadian. Vahid, \"Climate Analysis of the Traditional Iranian Buildings\", 5th ed., Tehran: University of Tehran Press, 2008.\n[10]\tKasmai, Morteza, \"Climate & Architecture\", 4nd ed., 2006, pp. 107-130.\n[11]\tKiani, W. K., \"Cultural heritage organization of Iran\", Tehran, 1995.\n[12]\tPourvahidi, Parastoo, \"Bioclimatic Analysis of Vernacular Iranian Architecture\", Master diss., Eastern Mediterranean University, Gazimagusa, North Cyprus, 2010, 1-161.\n[13]\tPourvahidi, Parastoo, Mesut B. Ozdeniz, \"Bioclimatic analysis of Iranian climate for energy conservation in architecture\", Scientific Research and Essays, 2013, Vol. 8(1), pp. 6-16.\n[14]\tShojaei, S.A.R., Zahra khodayari, \"Sustainable Architecture In Arid Regions of Iran\", 5th Symposium on Advances in Science & Technology, May 12-17, 2011.\n[15]\tUtaberta, N., N. Sharifi, M. Surat, A. I. Che-Ani and N.M. Tawil, \"The Experience of Iranian Architecture in Direction of Urban Passages and Forming of Urban Structures to Increase Climatic Comfort\", World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology, 2012, Vol. 67, pp. 637-641.\n[16]\tRetrieved on June 2, 2013 from website http://news.discovery.com/earth/global-warming/hottest-spot-on-earth-120416.htm\n[17]\tAttmann, Osman , \"Green architecture: overview\", Green architecture: advanced technologies and materials. definitions and operationalizations of green architecture, McGraw-Hill Professional, AccessEngineering, ICC (International Code Council), 2010, pp. 1-26.\n[18]\tRetrieved on May 28, 2013 from Website http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=965506\n[19]\tPirnia, Mohammad Karim, Stylistic of Iranian Architecturem, 3rd ed., 1383, pp. 32.\n[20]\tRetrieved on April 18, 2013 from website Website: http://n-a-c.blogfa.com/cat-12.aspx\n[21]\tShokouhian.M, S., \"Enviromental effect of the courtyard in sustainable architecture of Iran\", Tehran: Islamic azad university, 2007.\n[22]\tRetrieved on April 26, 2013 from website http://www.gardenhistorysociety.org/post/agenda/the-gardens-of-persia/\n[23]\tLe Corbusier \"The Modulor: A Harmonious Measure to the Human Scale, Universally Applicable to Architecture and Mechanics\". Basel & Boston: Birkh\u00e4user, (2004) (First published in two volumes in 1954 and 1958.).\n[24]\tRetrieved on May 06, 2013 from website http://ghoolabad.com/index2.asp?id=26"]} Iran Central Plateau encompasses a large proportion of this country. The weather in these flat plains is warm and arid with very little precipitation. Different attempts in architecture have been done to alleviate the weather severity of this area and create a living place compatible with humans’ comfort criteria. Investigations have showed that some of the most successful approaches in traditional architecture of the area has been forgotten or are not being used widely. As sustainability is defined as an appropriate solution for environmental, economical, and social disorders, this research is a try to demonstrate the sustainability in aforementioned architecture and based on these studies, propounds solutions for today architecture in hot arid zones.

During the industrialization era in the U.S., most waterways in urban areas were buried underground. Daylighting, the process of resurfacing and restoring buried aquatic systems, has grown as a planning practice. This practice can bring to communities environmental, economic, and social benefits—making cities more sustainable and livable. City Creek in Salt Lake City will be used as a case study of a future daylighting project in Euclid, a minority and low income neighborhood. In particular, this paper will highlight planning and locally-driven efforts to raise awareness among residents on the importance of conserving and restoring stream ecosystems. The article will discuss what community members involved in a visioning process would like to see in the development of a much-needed recreational trail and why it matters that City Creek becomes a vital community asset. Ultimately, this paper seeks to empower communities to plan and implement daylighting projects at the local level. UPLanD - Journal of Urban Planning, Landscape & environmental Design, Vol 2, No 3: BLUE