• Energy Research

We present a thermodynamic analysis of the sustainable use of resources in the province of Modena, focusing the attention on the district of Sassuolo. The methodology that is used is the emergy evaluation. The analysis shows that the Sassuolo district represents the peak of non-sustainability of the whole area, with a huge consumption of non-renewable primary resources, both imported and local. The role of the ceramic tile industry is relevant in the consumption of energy and materials. Different types of factories for ceramics production are compared, representing a good sample of different methods of production. Emergy analysis shows which of these has higher levels of sustainability with respect to the others.

We present a thermodynamic analysis of the sustainable use of resources in the province of Modena, focusing the attention on the district of Sassuolo. The methodology that is used is the emergy evaluation. The analysis shows that the Sassuolo district represents the peak of non-sustainability of the whole area, with a huge consumption of non-renewable primary resources, both imported and local. The role of the ceramic tile industry is relevant in the consumption of energy and materials. Different types of factories for ceramics production are compared, representing a good sample of different methods of production. Emergy analysis shows which of these has higher levels of sustainability with respect to the others.

This paper investigates the coherence of the relationship between indicandum (the subject to be indicated) and indicator (how the subject is effectively indicated) in the framework of the Ecological Footprint (EF). In this case, the indicandum is potential overuse of regenerative capacity measured by the indicator EF. According to the latest definition, EF measures the area of biologically productive land and water required to produce all the resources consumed and to absorb the waste (in particular the carbon dioxide) generated, considering prevailing technology and resource management practices. The term “prevailing technology” replaces “sustainable way” in the definition. This creates confusion and prevents the indicator from fully representing the indicandum. A correction factor in the classical EF formulation is proposed to restore coherence of the indicandum–indicator relationship. The correction factor is particularly relevant for cropland and fishing grounds.

This paper investigates the coherence of the relationship between indicandum (the subject to be indicated) and indicator (how the subject is effectively indicated) in the framework of the Ecological Footprint (EF). In this case, the indicandum is potential overuse of regenerative capacity measured by the indicator EF. According to the latest definition, EF measures the area of biologically productive land and water required to produce all the resources consumed and to absorb the waste (in particular the carbon dioxide) generated, considering prevailing technology and resource management practices. The term “prevailing technology” replaces “sustainable way” in the definition. This creates confusion and prevents the indicator from fully representing the indicandum. A correction factor in the classical EF formulation is proposed to restore coherence of the indicandum–indicator relationship. The correction factor is particularly relevant for cropland and fishing grounds.

AbstractThis paper presents the application of the eMergy evaluation, introduced by H.T. Odum as an efficient methodology of environmental accounting. The results of this analysis are a part of a wider sustainability assessment for the Province of Venice realized in 2003. Within a territorial sustainability analysis, it is necessary to implement an environmental accounting method, which is able: to precisely consider the boundaries of the investigated system (spatial scale); to arbitrarily separate the life of the investigated system into periods (temporal scale); to account for both economic and natural support to a given territorial system in order to implement a sustainable management of resources; to assess all the items supporting the system on the basis of a physical unit that is objective (while the traditional economic evaluation method is based on individual preferences, hence it is subjective). The Province of Venice is a very complex system due, on one hand, to the heavy and consolidated presence of industrial activity since the beginning of the 20th century and, on the other hand, to the principal natural ecosystem which characterizes it: the lagoon, the largest wetland in the Mediterranean Sea. The role of the lagoon, as a provider of resources and services is represented by the analysis of two aspects: the lagoon as an ecosystem on the basis of the evaluation of all flows that cyclically support its biotic activity and the lagoon as a productive system on the basis of the contribution of both natural and “economic” inputs that support human activity. In particular, the case of clam fishing will be presented to put on evidence the importance of natural inputs that are systematically neglected by the traditional accounting methodologies.

AbstractThis paper presents the application of the eMergy evaluation, introduced by H.T. Odum as an efficient methodology of environmental accounting. The results of this analysis are a part of a wider sustainability assessment for the Province of Venice realized in 2003. Within a territorial sustainability analysis, it is necessary to implement an environmental accounting method, which is able: to precisely consider the boundaries of the investigated system (spatial scale); to arbitrarily separate the life of the investigated system into periods (temporal scale); to account for both economic and natural support to a given territorial system in order to implement a sustainable management of resources; to assess all the items supporting the system on the basis of a physical unit that is objective (while the traditional economic evaluation method is based on individual preferences, hence it is subjective). The Province of Venice is a very complex system due, on one hand, to the heavy and consolidated presence of industrial activity since the beginning of the 20th century and, on the other hand, to the principal natural ecosystem which characterizes it: the lagoon, the largest wetland in the Mediterranean Sea. The role of the lagoon, as a provider of resources and services is represented by the analysis of two aspects: the lagoon as an ecosystem on the basis of the evaluation of all flows that cyclically support its biotic activity and the lagoon as a productive system on the basis of the contribution of both natural and “economic” inputs that support human activity. In particular, the case of clam fishing will be presented to put on evidence the importance of natural inputs that are systematically neglected by the traditional accounting methodologies.

This paper presents a theoretical thermodynamics-based viewpoint on buildings that is synthetically explained through an energy systems diagram. Considering that buildings, and also historical buildings, can be conceived in terms of energy and material fl ows and stocks, we discussed here two methods for assessing environmental resource use due to building construction, maintenance and use. In a sustainability framework, outcomes provide information about some common activities and practices related to buildings and housing ‐ such as planning practices based on physical limits to the construction of new buildings or more practical activities of restoration of existing buildings, including cultural heritage ‐ in terms of energy, emergy and ecological footprint. A new research is thus needed in order to stimulate good practices such as conservation of historical buildings and the defi nition of new thermodynamics-based urban indexes for regulating building construction in contemporary cities.

This paper presents a theoretical thermodynamics-based viewpoint on buildings that is synthetically explained through an energy systems diagram. Considering that buildings, and also historical buildings, can be conceived in terms of energy and material fl ows and stocks, we discussed here two methods for assessing environmental resource use due to building construction, maintenance and use. In a sustainability framework, outcomes provide information about some common activities and practices related to buildings and housing ‐ such as planning practices based on physical limits to the construction of new buildings or more practical activities of restoration of existing buildings, including cultural heritage ‐ in terms of energy, emergy and ecological footprint. A new research is thus needed in order to stimulate good practices such as conservation of historical buildings and the defi nition of new thermodynamics-based urban indexes for regulating building construction in contemporary cities.

Overtopping breakwater systems are among the most promising technologies for exploiting wave energy to generate electricity. They consist in water reservoirs, embedded in piers, placed on top of ramps, higher than sea-level. Pushed by wave energy, seawater fills up the reservoirs and produces electricity by flowing back down through low headhydro turbines. Different overtopping breakwater systems have been tested worldwide in recent years. This study focuses on the Overtopping BReakwater for Energy Conversion (OBREC) system that has been implemented and tested in the harbor of Naples (Italy). The Life Cycle Assessment of a single replicable module of OBREC has been performed for analyzing potential environmental impacts, in terms of Greenhouse Gas Emissions, considering construction, installation, maintenance, and the operational phases. The Carbon Footprint (i.e., mass of CO2eq) to build wave energy converters integrated in breakwater systems has been estimated, more specifically the “environmental investment” (i.e., the share of Carbon Footprint due to the integration of wave energy converter) needed to generate renewable electricity has been assessed. The Carbon Intensity of Electricity (i.e., the ratio between the CO2eq emitted and the electricity produced) has been then assessed in order to demonstrate the profitability and the opportunity to foster innovation in the field of blue energy. Considering the impact for implementing an operational OBREC module (Carbon Footprint = 1.08 t CO2eq; Environmental Investment = 0.48 t CO2eq) and the electricity production (12.6 MWh/year per module), environmental benefits (avoided emissions) would compensate environmental costs (i.e., Carbon Footprint; Environmental Investment) those provided within a range of 25 and 13 months respectively.