• Energy Research
• 13. Climate action close
• 11. Sustainability close
• 12. Responsible consumption close
• Catalan; Valencian close

Reliance on new technologies for road transport is increasing, both on the road and in the car. While some may still need to be perfected, several current devices are presented to show how they can clearly be of help to drivers. The influence of new technologies on road signane is also examined, in the light of a hypothesis that illustrates how road signs could evolve if designers took such technologies as their starting point.

Se estima el valor promedio de la emisión de contaminantes de la Central Termoenergética (CTE) JoséMartí al utilizar como combustible la mezcla de petróleo crudo nacional en la década del 90 y el perjuicioeconómico que estas provocan, a partir de la estimación estadística de los parámetros característicos deeste combustible reportados en la literatura consultada, obteniéndose a partir de este resultado un índiceespecífico para calcular la emisión de los contaminantes atmosféricos de este combustible y el efectoeconómico de dichas emisiones. In this work is estimated the medium value of the contaminant emission in the CTE José Martí to use themixture of the national oil PCNm in the decade of 90 using the statistic estimation of the characteristicparameters of this oil reported in the literature, obtaining specific indices to the contamination emission ofthis oil and the economic effect of this emission.

This paper uses the possibilities provided by the regression-based inequality decomposition (Fields, 2003) to explore the contribution of different explanatory factors to international inequality in CO2 emissions per capita. In contrast to previous emissions inequality decompositions, which were based on identity relationships (Duro and Padilla, 2006), this methodology does not impose any a priori specific relationship. Thus, it allows an assessment of the contribution to inequality of different relevant variables. In short, the paper appraises the relative contributions of affluence, sectoral composition, demographic factors and climate. The analysis is applied to selected years of the period 1993-2007. The results show the important (though decreasing) share of the contribution of demographic factors, as well as a significant contribution of affluence and sectoral composition.

Background: Biodiesel represents an interesting alternative to fossil fuels. Traditionally the standard method for biodiesel production from oils is alkaline-catalyzed transesterification. Chemical catalysis can be replaced by enzymatic catalysis using lipases (EC 3.1.1.3, triacylglycerol acyl hydrolases), obtained from plants, animals or microorganisms. Enzymatic catalysis has important advantages compared to chemical catalysis, as lower energy consumption and undesirable side-reactions do not occur originating pure compounds. However, some problems should be overcome to achieve a real alternative to chemical catalysis, such as the prize, the stability, and the reutilization of the biocatalyst. -Results: The review consists of an update of the state of the art of enzymatic biodiesel production, including legislation, feedstocks, lipases used for biodiesel synthesis, the role of acyl acceptors and strategies to avoid lipase inactivation, the mechanisms proposed for biocatalysis and the enzymatic bioreactors used. In addition, the economics of the bioprocess is also presented. - Conclusion: Nowadays, there are already some examples of enzymatic processes for biodiesel production implemented at industrial scale and the number of pilot and industrial scale plants has greatly increased in the recent years. In spite of this trend, the chemical catalysis process still remains the most popular on an industrial scale mainly due to the high cost of commercial lipases. Thus, it is necessary to improve the enzymatic technology, increasing the productivity of the bioprocess and reducing the cost of the bioprocess. To attain this goal, it is necessary to act in a multidisciplinary approach of Genetic engineering, Bioprocess engineering, including the production of recombinant lipase in the most adequate cell factory, Enzyme engineering and applied Biocatalysis. It is a fact that the approach to "create" by genetic engineering, a lipase with a high tolerance to methanol, high biocatalyic performance and high resistance to work at higher temperatures and under harsh conditions is not corresponding with the important advances as compared to the other aspects. Also, the use of low cost non-commercial biocatalysts, presenting both high transesterification activity and operational stability, as an alternative to commercial biocatalysts, is a solution to reduce enzymatic biodiesel production costs, making it competitive with chemical processes. The price of biodiesel is highly affected by the market price fluctuation of oil feedstock. Thus the commercial efficiency and competitiveness of biodiesel market needs the development of high-valued product from the FAMEs as rawmaterial, under the concept of a biodiesel refinery. Other approach to minimize the cost of the global process is the production of heterologous lipases, using the crude glycerol obtained in the same biodiesel industry, without high purification, as carbon source. The presence of low methanol concentration and other possible contaminants jointly in the matrix of crude glycerol is not a problem for P. pastoris, one of the most popular cell factories to produce recombinant lipases. In conclusion, enzymatic biodiesel, as a green alternative to chemical biodiesel, has a potential economic growth in the near future.

[CA] El present Treball de fi de grau plasma el projecte tècnic en el qual es desenvolupa el procés de reforma i modernització d’una vivenda, abastant tots els aspectes necessaris per a la seua correcta execució. Aquest a vivenda es troba dins del marc d ́un edifici de vivendes plurifamiliars, la construcció del qual és de 1977. El immoble al qual intervenim en aquesta reforma està situat al barri de Benimaclet, al costat de la caserna del destacament de la Guardia Civil a València, situada en aquest barri. L’objecte del projecte tracta de fer negoci en base a l’adquisició d’una vivenda pel seu valor de taxació, realitzar un estudi per a la seua reforma i millorar el seu disseny i qualitats per a que acabada l’operació esta vivenda es revaloritze i poder vendre-la com a mínim per el seu valor de taxació obtingut després de la reforma i millores realitzades. Primerament, es procedirà a realitzar una taxació immobiliària de la vivenda citada i realitzar la certificació energètica, amb la finalitat d ́obtindre el seu valor de mercat actualitzat, per a posteriorment realitzar-li una reforma degudament estudiada, planificada i documentada amb la finalitat de revaloritzar el bé immoble, que després caldrà veure reflectida a la taxació immobiliària que es farà posteriorment. Conseqüentment, tindrem en compte diversos aspectes com el control de qualitat, seguretat i salu t en l ́obra amb la seua documentació corresponent, també aspectes com la gestió de residus i el plec de condicions. Es reflectirà un pla de temps i activitats pròpies de l ́obra que anem a realitzar, mitjançant un diagrama de Gantt. Es realitzarà un pressup ost de tots els treballs, element essencial, per tal de ser sabedors de la inversió que estem fent-li a la vivenda per millorar-la . El pas final, serà la de tornar a taxar la vivenda i tornar a realitzar la certificació energètica a la fi nalització de l’ obra per tal de poder contrastar els resultats obtinguts. Analitzar bé aquests objectius serà la clau per a que aquest projecte puga aconseguir l’èxit perseguit. [ES] El presente Trabajo de fin de grado plasma el proyecto técnico en el cual se desarrolla el proceso de reforma y modernización de una vivienda. Se abarcan todos los aspectos necesarios para su correcta ejecución. Esta vivienda se encuentra dentro del marco de un edificio de viviendas plurifamiliares, cuya construcción es de 1977. El inmueble sobre el cual se interviene en esta reforma, está situado en el barrio de Benimaclet, justo enfrente del Cuartel de la Guardia Civil del destacamento de València, que está situada en este barrio.El objeto del proyecto es hacer negocio en base a la adquisición de la vivienda por su valor de tasación, realizar un estudio para su reforma y mejorar su diseño y calidades, para que una vez acabada la operación, esta vivienda se revalorice y así poderla vender, como mínimo por su valor de tasación, obtenido después de la reforma y mejoras realizadas. Primeramente, se procederá a realizar una tasación inmobiliaria de la vivienda citada y realizar una Certificación Energética, con la fina lidad de obtener su valor de mercado actualizado, para posteriormente realizarle una reforma debidamente estudiada, planificada y documentada. Todo, con la finalidad de revalorizar el bien inmueble, que después habrá de verse reflejada en la tasación inmob iliaria que se haga a posteriori. Consecuentemente, tendremos en cuenta diversos aspectos como el control de calidad, la seguridad y salud en la obra, con su documentación correspondiente, también aspectos como la gestión de residuos y el pliego de condi ciones. Se reflejará un plan de tiempo y de actividades propias de la obra que vamos a efectuar, mediante un diagrama de Gantt. Se realizará un presupuesto de todos los trabajos, elemento esencial, con la finalidad de saber de la inversión económica que es tamos haciéndole a la vivienda para su mejora. El paso final, será el de volver a tasar la vivienda y volver a realizar la Certificación Energética a la finalización de la obra, de esta manera podremos contrastar los resultados obtenidos. Analizar bien e stos objetivos será la llave para que este proyecto pueda conseguir el éxito perseguido [EN] This end-of-degree project embodies the technical project in which the process of reforms and modernization of a flat is developed, which covers all the aspects necessary for its proper execution. This flat is part of a multifamily housing building, whose construction is from 1977. The estate object of this work is located in the Benimaclet district, next to the Civil Guard headquarters in Valencia. The purpose of the project is to do business based on the acquisition of a home due to its evaluation value, to carry out a study for its reform and to improve its design and qualities so that the operation of this flat can be revalued and can s ell it for at least its appreciation value obtained after the reform and improvements made. Firstly, a property valuation of the mentioned flat will be done, and then do the energy certification, in order to obtain its updated market value, and subsequent ly carry out a duly studied, planned and documented reform in order to revalue the property, which will then have to be reflected in the real estate appraisal that will be made later. Consequently, we will take into account various aspects such as quality control, safety and health in the work with its corresponding documentation, as well as aspects such as waste management and specifications. A plan of time and activities, typical of the work that we are going to perform, will be reflected by means of a G antt diagram. A budget of all the works, a main aspect, will be carried out in order to be aware of the investment that we are doing in the flat in order to improve it. The final step, will be to do the property valuation again, and do the same with the e nergy certification at the end of the work to be able to contrast the results obtained. Analyzing these goals well will be the key to achieving the goals pursuit in this project

Abies alba Mill. (European silver fir) and Fagus sylvatica L. (beech)are Eurosiberian species dispersed over the Iberian Peninsula. Climate change predictions indicate a rise in temperature and a decrease in precipitation in this region, threatening the future existence of these species. In the present study we analyzed the future topo-climatic suitability of Abies alba and Fagus sylvatica and the mixed forests of these two species, using the General Linear Models technique and data from the third National Forest Inventory (Ministerio de Agricultura PyA 2007). We considered two modeling approaches based on niche theory: modeling community (Abieti-Fagetum) and overlapping individual species models. General trends showed an overall decrease in both species' topo-climatic suitability and indicated that the Pyrenees will play a crucial role as a climatic refuge. The modeling approaches markedly differed, however, in their current and future spatial agreement. Despite good accuracy results, community modeling through co-occurrence do not encompass the environmental space of individual species prejudicing future assessments in new environmental situations, suggesting a need for future studies in community modeling.

[CA] El present projecte està realitzat com a Treball Fi de Grau d’Enginyeria Mecànica i es fonamenta en el disseny d'un element metàl·lic de cobriment per a vehicles. El propòsit d’aquest projecte és, a partir d’un estudi de mercat, redissenyar i millorar un element estructural, concretament una marquesina de les que es troben a qualsevol pàrquing. Per a aconseguir-ho, la millor forma és mitjançant la innovació, per tant, es tractarà de crear un producte modular, de manera que aquest element puga ampliar-se i obtindre les dimensions necessàries. Durant el disseny d’aquest producte, es tindran en compte tots els aspectes constructius relacionats amb aquest, des del tipus de material utilitzat fins a totes les seues sol·licitacions estructurals. A més, un dels requisits per a la realització d’aquest nou producte, és incloure al seu disseny la tecnologia solar fotovoltaica, la qual donarà un valor afegit a aquest producte. Gràcies a aquesta tecnologia es podrà obtindre una quantitat d’energia a partir d’una superfície desaprofitada, obtenint així un producte sostenible amb el medi ambient. [ES] El presente proyecto está realizado como Trabajo Fin de Grado de Ingeniería Mecánica y se fundamenta en el diseño de un elemento metálico de cubrición para vehículos. El propósito de este proyecto es, a partir de un estudio de mercado, rediseñar y mejorar un elemento estructural, concretamente una marquesina de las que se encuentran en cualquier parking. Para conseguirlo, la mejor forma es mediante la innovación, por lo tanto, se tratará de crear un producto modular, de manera que este elemento pueda ampliarse y obtener las dimensiones necesarias. Durante el diseño de este producto, se tendrán en cuenta todos los aspectos constructivos relacionados con este, desde el tipo de material utilizado hasta todas sus solicitaciones estructurales. Además, uno de los requisitos para la realización de este nuevo producto, es incluir en su diseño la tecnología solar fotovoltaica, la cual aportará un valor añadido al producto. Gracias a esta tecnología se podrá obtener una cantidad de energía a partir de una superficie desaprovechada, obteniendo así un producto sostenible con el medio ambiente. [EN] This project is carried out as a Bachelor¿s Degree Final Project of Mechanical Engineering and is based on the design of a metallic covering element for vehicles. The purpose of this project consists on doing a market study in order to redesign and improve a structural element, specifically a roof of any car park. To achieve it innovation is needed, therefore, we will try to create a modular product so that, this element can be expanded and obtain the necessary dimensions. During the design of this product, all the constructive aspects related to it will be taken into account, from the type of material used to all its structural stresses. In addition, one of the requirements for the realization of this new product is to include in its design photovoltaic solar technology, which will add value to this product. Thanks to this technology, an amount of energy can be obtained from a surface that is not used, obtaining a sustainable product with the environment.

Nesting bird trends 2002-2008 in Sant Lloren�� del Munt i l���Obac Natural Park: a tool to assess the effects of climate change.- In 2002, the Catalan Ornithological Institute and the Ministry for the Environment and Housing of the Government of Catalonia gave impetus to monitoring common birds in Catalonia (SOCC) in order to determine common bird population trends. Thanks to this initiative, this protected natural area is among those showing better SOCC coverage today. This has facilitated the analysis of bird trends in the natural park as well as an analysis of their evolution with regard to environmental changes ��� particularly those caused by the climate change. A first insight into the effect of this change on bird populations in the massif of Sant Lloren�� del Munt i l���Obac and its comparison with the whole of Catalonia is presented.

This article is focused on analysing the current situation of timber high-rise construction. It begins with a historical review from the traditional Pagodas (up to 63 m tall) to visions of the future that rises to 350 m. It states the technical development that has led mass timber to today’s engineered products and its researches. It displays timber’s behaviour to fire and its properties as a structural material compared to others more commonly used in high-rise construction. It proves to be as mechanically competitive as concrete or high strength steel. Different strategies can be used against horizontal forces to obtain maximum slenderness. However, its main advantage, from an ecological point of view, is its capacity to absorb CO2, which, along its high degree of prefabrication, makes it a sustainable alternative with an increasing acceptance.

Aquest treball afronta un fenomen emergent caracteritzat pel canvi i l’experimentació continus: la creació col·laborativa de continguts audiovisuals online. L’anàlisi se centra a analitzar quins són els models de sostenibilitat d’aquest tipus de creació, i presta una atenció particular a diferents modalitats d’ús de la publicitat. La unitat d’anàlisi són casos de comunitats de creació online (CCO) que prenen com a node o seu central d’activitat el territori català. A partir de 21 casos seleccionats, la metodologia combina l’anàlisi qualitativa estructurada, a través d’un qüestionari subministrat al total dels casos, i l’anàlisi qualitativa, mitjançant entrevistes presencials en 8 casos d’estudi considerats més significatius. La recerca ens duu a concloure que la sostenibilitat dels projectes depèn en gran mesura de relacions de confiança i d’interdependència voluntàries entre diferents agents, contribucions i retribucions de caràcter no-monetari, així com de recursos i d’infraestructures que en permeten l’ús lliure. La publicitat sembla que ja no parteix d’un esquema de comunicació lineal, sinó que es difumina a través de l’exercici col·laboratiu. Tot plegat ens duu a entendre que és i serà un tema molt rellevant en el futur dels continguts audiovisuals i la seva sostenibilitat, la qual cosa haurà d’implicar canvis en les polítiques que els regulen. Quaderns del CAC, Vol. 16, Núm. 39 (2013): Quaderns del CAC