• Energy Research
• 11. Sustainability close
• 6. Clean water close
• University of North Texas close

A residential and industrial water-conservation scenario for California is constructed in which water consumption is disaggregated by residential end use, industrial sector, and hydrologic study area (HSA). The energy use associated with this water use was estimated for surface and groundwater delivery, distribution, heating, and waste-water treatment. For each end use and sector, water-conservation measures were delineated and their potential savings in terms of both water and attendant energy use were estimated. This material is combined to estimate the total water and energy savings potential by end use, sector, and HSA. This potential is then compared with the reported water savings to date, and finally, some conclusions and policy implications are drawn from the results. The general findings are discussed first, followed by a listing of the more important detailed results.

Abstract Beginning in the 2000s, the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan region became home to the world's largest and longest experiment in urban shale gas production, with 25,182 drilling permits issued from 2000 to 2016 in the Barnett Shale. Urban hydrocarbon governance centered on establishing statutory setback distances between drilling sites and nearest houses or other protected uses. Here we analyze qualitative interview data obtained with a rigorous sampling frame to examine processes and outcomes of municipal-level hydrocarbon governance. We find that early municipal responses (2001–2002) revealed lack of technical expertise to respond to unconventional drilling and production. Controversial wells, which residents considered too close to houses, focused governance debates in several municipalities. Municipal policymakers reported that protecting public health and safety were top priorities in determining setbacks. After 2003, policymakers copied ordinance language from neighboring municipalities and established task forces and working groups to reduce political tensions. The role of the hydrocarbon industry included frequent claims seeking to exploit the longstanding separation of mineral and property estates, which encouraged municipalities to reduce setbacks and lower potential exposure to regulatory takings lawsuits. Over time, municipal regulatory power in hydrocarbon governance decreased while industry power increased, offering several implications for corporate responsibility and social license debates.

This report characterizes the ammonia industry operations, reviews current knowledge of ammonia release and subsequent impacts, summarizes the status of release prevention and control methods and identify research and development needs for safety and environmental control. Appendices include: accidental spills and human exposure; adiabatic mixing of liquid nitrogen and air; fire and explosion hazards; and environmental impact rating tables. (PSB)

Passive and low energy applications in buildings have become a topic of worldwide interest within the last few years. It has now been demonstrated very clearly that indoor comfort can be maintained with an expenditure of only 10 to 20% of the energy often required by modern buildings. This is accomplished through a combination of conservation measures to minimize the load, passive use of solar energy for heating, natural cooling, and daylighting. The major research emphasis has been on devising mathematical models to characterize heat flow within buildings, on the validation of these models by comparison with test results, and on the subsequent use of the models to investigate the influence of both design parameters and weather on system performance. Design guidelines have been developed, and simplified methods of analysis have been promulgated. Performance has been monitored in test modules, test buildings, and many residential and commercial buildings. The results both confirm good performance and establish the accuracy of model predictions. A significant change in the research picture has been seen in the last 4 years; whereas the major effort was originally in the United States, research is now being conducted in many countries throughout the world as many people have realized that passive and low energy methods are appropriate in virtually every climate and are well suited to economic, convenient, and reliable building construction and operation.

This paper contributes an inclusive review of scientific studies in the field of sustainable human building ecosystems (SHBEs). Reducing energy consumption by making buildings more energy efficient has been touted as an easily attainable approach to promoting carbon-neutral energy societies. Yet, despite significant progress in research and technology development, for new buildings, as energy codes are getting more stringent, more and more technologies, e.g., LED lighting, VRF systems, smart plugs, occupancy-based controls, are used. Nevertheless, the adoption of energy efficient measures in buildings is still limited in the larger context of the developing countries and middle income/low-income population. The objective of Sustainable Human Building Ecosystem Research Coordination Network (SHBE-RCN) is to expand synergistic investigative podium in order to subdue barriers in engineering, architectural design, social and economic perspectives that hinder wider application, adoption and subsequent performance of sustainable building solutions by recognizing the essential role of human behaviors within building-scale ecosystems. Expected long-term outcomes of SHBE-RCN are collaborative ideas for transformative technologies, designs and methods of adoption for future design, construction and operation of sustainable buildings.

Solar Decathlon 2005: The Event in Review is a technical report describing the 2005 Solar Decathlon, an event sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy wherein 18 collegiate teams competed in 10 contests to design, build, and operate an attractive, efficient, entirely solar-powered home. The report gives an overview of the competition, including final results, team strategies, and detailed descriptions the 18 homes.

Large quantities of energy can be conserved by recycling municipal solid waste. Reductions in the costs associated with waste disposal such as by landfilling can also be accrued. While uses for recycled ferrous and non-ferrous metals are apparent, uses for the glass fraction which constitutes approximately 10% of municipal solid waste, have not been developed. As a result, a program to develop methods for incorporating waste glass into composites which can be used for construction materials was started in July 1976. Since that time the properties of glass polymer sewer pipe have been measured and field testing of full-scale specimens has been initiated. To date, the results indicate that high-strength durable materials can be produced. Conservative estimates indicate that the energy value for glass polymer pipe is up to 16% less than that for vitrified clay pipe. Work accomplished during the period April 1 to June 30, 1977 is described.

Calistoga has long been known for having moderate (270/sup 0/F maximum) hydrothermal deposits. The economic feasibility of a geothermal heating and cooling district for a portion of the downtown commercial area and city-owned building was studied. Descriptions of existing and proposed systems for each building in the block are presented. Heating and cooling loads for each building, retrofit costs, detailed cost estimates, system schematics, and energy consumption data for each building are included. (MHR)

“Rethinking learning in the digital age” was the theme of EDUsummIT 2017, which was held in Borovets, Bulgaria in September, 2017. Approximately 100 policy makers, practitioners and researchers met to discuss key topics in nine Thematic Working Groups. These topics were: (1) education systems in the digital age: the need for alignment; (2) informal learning with technology; (3) professional development for technology-enhanced learning leaders; (4) digital agency to empower equity in the classroom; (5) formative assessment supported by technology; (6) developing creativity in teachers and learners; (7) learning from national policy experiences;(8) upbringing in a digital world: opportunities and possibilities of schooling, and (9) sustainability and scalability of technology integration initiatives. In this special issue we present the scholarly articles that were written after EDUsummIT 2017, based on discussions within the Thematic Working Groups during the meeting itself. We also present the Call to Action that was consolidated from the closing statements of the nine EDUsummIT 2017 Thematic Working Groups.