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The building sector contributes up to 30% of global annual greenhouse gas emissions and consumes up to 40% of all energy. Failure to encourage energy-efficiency and low-carbon in new builds or retrofitting will lock countries into the disadvantages of poor performing buildings for decades. The journey towards low-carbon and energy efficient buildings starts with good design, commissioning and measuring. The share of energy costs can be up to 50% of all maintenance costs [7] in Finland. In the studied buildings the average costs were 39% for daycare centres and 45% for schools. Since the share of energy costs is remarkable in maintenance, it is important to find out the most concrete indicators to measure energy efficiency in practice. This study explores ways in which building usage and occupancy influences the energy cost in Finnish daycare centres and school buildings. This study shows that energy costs vary a lot between different energy efficiency indicators, i.e. there is great variation in energy costs regardless of the building age and when child or student density varies. Results indicated that actual use of space is profiled in the operational phase where the energy costs variation is remarkable.

Abstract The transportation and electricity sectors are in the midst of leading changes in the endeavor to mitigate climate change and air pollution issues. In future years, traditional fossil-fuelled vehicles are estimated to be substituted with electric vehicles (EVs), resulting in higher electricity demand from the transport sector. Meanwhile, the electricity sector is transforming due to policies to adopt renewable energy resources such as solar, wind, and hydropower in the future. However, there are still societal concerns regarding the environmental benefits of these vehicle technologies and how new energy options and vehicles benefit the 2050 HK Carbon Neutral Plan. To address these concerns, this paper aims to analyse the environmental burdens of current (2019) and future (2050) vehicle scenarios in Hong Kong using a life cycle assessment (LCA). The LCA was performed for internal combustion vehicles (ICEVs) fuelled by diesel and petrol and plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) and EVs with future electricity energy mix scenarios (2025–2050). The results revealed that EVs with the 2050 HK electricity mix are an optimal choice and have the least environmental impact in selected impact categories. Additionally, PHEV with diesel were the second most optimal choice to reduce the environmental impacts in current scenarios. In contrast, the petrol ICEV has the utmost environmental impacts in all damage category results. The study shows that clean energy could decrease the environmental impact and mitigate climate change in Hong Kong.

To achieve a zero-carbon agenda, businesses in emerging economies need to focus on green production resources to develop a circular economy. This study identified the key role of green financing in mobilizing pro-environmental behaviours for achieving sustainable production and a circular economy. The study aimed to study the effect of green financing on the pro-environmental behaviours of educational institutes within China. A quantitative methodology was adopted, and structured questionnaires were used for the collection of data from educational sector employees. The data was collected from both administrators and teachers with a random sampling technique and was later analyzed through SEM. The results showed that green financing aids institutions in the implementation of pro-environmental behaviours and also sustainable policy development was found to mediate the association between low carbon management, carbon asset transactions, and energy saving and emission reduction technologies and green financing. This study makes valuable contributions to the literature on green financing, sustainable development, and pr-environmental behaviours. The findings can help the education sector to adopt sustainable practices. It may also contribute to helping policymakers develop policies related to pro-environmental behaviours. Furthermore, the paper explores the green financial aspect of educational institutes, making it a valuable resource for both theory and practice.

City green infrastructure (CGI) makes cities more resilient and sustainable, as required by the United Nations’ (UN) Sustainable Development Goal 11–Sustainable Cities and Communities. Based on the CGI policies of Beijing, land use/land cover (LULC) changes of two Asian capitals, Beijing, China and Islamabad, Pakistan, are simulated. LULC maps for 2010 and 2015 are developed by applying object-based image analysis (OBIA) to Landsat imagery. Dynamics of land system (DLS) model was used to simulate the LULC changes for 2020 and 2025 under three scenarios: (1) business-as-usual (BAU); (2) urban green space work plan (UGWP); and (3) landscape and greening policies (LGP). Results reveal that DLS is efficient than other simulation models. The BAU scenario predicts an overall expansion in Beijing’s greenery, while Islamabad will encounter a decline by 7.3 km2 per year. Under the UGWP scenario, urban green spaces and other vegetation area of Beijing will expand by 7.6 km2, while, for Islamabad, vegetation degradation rate will slow down to 6.9 km2 per year. The LGP scenario envisage a massive increase of 23.5 km2 per year in green resources of Beijing and Islamabad’s green land loss rate will further slowdown to 6.1 km2 per year. It is inferred from the results that vegetation degradation in Islamabad need to lessen by implementing LGP policy after basic amendments according to the local conditions and available resources.

Abstract The aim of this review is to discuss how quantitative modelling of energy scenarios for sustainable energy transition pathways can be made more realistic by taking into account insights from the socio-technical and related literatures. The proposition is that an enriched modelling approach would focus not just on technology development and deployment, but also on feedback loops, learning processes, policy and governance, behavioural changes, the interlinkages between the energy sector and other economic sectors, and infrastructure development. The review discusses a range of socio-technical concepts with a view to how they can enrich the understanding and modelling of highly complex dynamic systems such as flexible energy systems with high shares of variable renewable energy. In this context, application of system dynamics modelling (SDM) for the analysis of energy transitions is also introduced by describing the differences between SDM and a traditional modelling approach that uses econometric and linear programming methods. A conceptual framework for this type of modelling is provided by using causal loop diagrams. The diagrams illustrate the endogenous approach of SDM – understanding and modelling the structure of a system, which is responsible for its dynamic behaviour. SDM can also capture the co-evolution of economic, policy, technology, and behavioural factors over sufficiently long time periods, which is necessary for the analysis of transition pathway dynamics. In this regard, the review summarises how socio-technical concepts can be approached in SDM and why they are relevant for the analysis of flexibility in energy systems. From a computational point of view, it could be beneficial to combine SDM with technologically detailed energy system optimization models and that could be a way forward for achieving more realistic, non-linear quantitative modelling of sustainable energy transitions.

Les concepts d'opérations de fabrication allégée et de durabilité sont de nature congruente, marqués par la facette de l'amélioration de l'efficacité organisationnelle.Toutefois, seule la définition des déchets fait la différence.Cette définition prend une nouvelle dimension par la durabilité en intégrant la vaste gamme de réductions des conséquences environnementales sous la forme de 6R (réduire, réutiliser, recycler, récupérer, reconcevoir et remanufacturer) ; ce qui nécessite une approche intégrée consolidée.Par conséquent, pour affirmer l'exigence, une revue systématique de la littérature a été effectuée qui a examiné recherches antérieures en raison de leur originalité, de leur méthodologie, de leurs objectifs et de leurs limites. Sur la base de cette étude documentaire, 25 approches les plus connexes (approches intégrées Lean et durables) ont été sélectionnées et leur originalité a été étudiée. L'enquête a révélé que peu d'articles de recherche intègrent des approches Lean et durables. Cette étude identifie l'écart de l'intégration des pratiques Lean avec les 6R et un cadre a été développé qui a été mis en œuvre sur l'étude de cas qui porte la capacité d'atteindre des systèmes de production Lean durables basés sur les 6R. En raison d'une atmosphère plus sociale et respectueuse de l'environnement obtenue grâce à la mise en œuvre basée sur les 6R, les résultats obtenus sont une diminution de 50 % des coûts de chauffage en redessinant les fours (des fours à mazout aux fours à gaz), une amélioration de 36,33 % du temps à valeur ajoutée, de 40,14 % du délai d'exécution et de 22 % de réduction de l'utilisation de la main-d' œuvre. Cette amélioration indique que l'utilisation du cadre intégré proposé est très bénéfique pour tout type de secteur manufacturier. Los conceptos de operaciones de manufactura esbelta y sostenibilidad son de naturaleza congruente, marcados por la faceta de mejorar la eficiencia organizacional. Sin embargo, solo la diferencia radica en la definición de residuo. Esta definición recibe una nueva dimensión por sostenibilidad al incorporar el amplio alcance de las reducciones en las consecuencias ambientales en forma de 6R (reducir, reutilizar, reciclar, recuperar, rediseñar y remanufacturar); lo que requiere un enfoque integrado consolidado. Por lo tanto, para afirmar el requisito, se ha llevado a cabo una revisión sistemática de la literatura que examinó investigaciones anteriores en vista de su originalidad, metodología, objetivos y limitaciones. Con base en este estudio de literatura, se seleccionaron 25 enfoques más relacionados (enfoques integrados Lean y sostenibles) y se investigó su originalidad. La investigación reveló que pocos artículos de investigación están integrando enfoques Lean y sostenibles. Este estudio identifica la brecha de la integración de prácticas Lean con 6R y se desarrolló un marco que se implementó en el estudio de caso que conlleva la capacidad de lograr sistemas de producción Lean sostenibles basados en 6R. Debido a una atmósfera más social y respetuosa con el medio ambiente lograda a través de la implementación basada en 6R, los resultados logrados son una disminución del 50% en el costo de calefacción al rediseñar los hornos (desde hornos de petróleo hasta hornos de gas), una mejora del 36.33% en el tiempo de valor agregado, un 40.14% en el tiempo de entrega y una reducción del 22% en la utilización de la mano de obra. Esta mejora indica que el uso del marco integrado propuesto es altamente beneficioso para cualquier tipo de sector manufacturero. The concepts of lean manufacturing operations and sustainability are congruent in nature, marked by the facet of improving organizational efficiency.However, only difference lies in the definition of waste.This definition is given a new dimension by sustainability by incorporating the extensive scope of reductions in the environmental consequences in the form of 6R (reduce, reuse, recycle, recover, redesign and remanufacture); which requires a consolidated integrated approach.Therefore, as to affirm the requirement, a systematic literature review has been carried out which scrutinized previous researches in view of their originality, methodology, objectives and limitations.Based on this literature study, 25 most related approaches (lean and sustainable integrated approaches) were selected and their originality was investigated.Investigation revealed that few research articles are integrating lean and sustainable approaches.This study identifies the gap of the integration of lean practices with 6Rs and a framework was developed which implemented on the case study that carries ability to attain 6R based sustainable lean production systems.Because of more social and environmentally friendly atmosphere achieved through 6R based implementation, the results achieved are 50% decrease in heating cost by redesigning furnaces (from oil furnaces to gas furnaces), 36.33%improvement in value added time, 40.14% in lead-time and 22% reduction in labour utilization.This improvement indicates that use of proposed integrated framework is highly beneficial for any kind of manufacturing sector. تتطابق مفاهيم عمليات التصنيع الرشيقة والاستدامة بطبيعتها، وتتميز بجانب تحسين الكفاءة التنظيمية. ومع ذلك، يكمن الاختلاف الوحيد في تعريف النفايات. يتم إعطاء هذا التعريف بعدًا جديدًا من خلال الاستدامة من خلال دمج النطاق الواسع للتخفيضات في العواقب البيئية في شكل 6R (التقليل وإعادة الاستخدام وإعادة التدوير والاسترداد وإعادة التصميم وإعادة التصنيع) ؛ الأمر الذي يتطلب نهجًا متكاملًا موحدًا. لذلك، لتأكيد المتطلبات، تم إجراء مراجعة منهجية للأدبيات التي تم فحصها الأبحاث السابقة في ضوء أصالتها ومنهجيتها وأهدافها وقيودها. استنادًا إلى هذه الدراسة الأدبية، تم اختيار 25 نهجًا أكثر صلة (مناهج متكاملة مرنة ومستدامة) وتم التحقيق في أصالتها. وكشف التحقيق عن أن عددًا قليلاً من المقالات البحثية يدمج المناهج الرشيقة والمستدامة. تحدد هذه الدراسة فجوة دمج الممارسات الرشيقة مع 6Rs وتم تطوير إطار عمل تم تنفيذه على دراسة الحالة التي تحمل القدرة على تحقيق أنظمة إنتاج رشيقة مستدامة قائمة على 6R. بسبب تحقيق المزيد من المناخ الاجتماعي والصديق للبيئة من خلال التنفيذ القائم على 6R، تحققت النتائج انخفاض بنسبة 50 ٪ في تكلفة التدفئة عن طريق إعادة تصميم الأفران (من أفران النفط إلى أفران الغاز)، وتحسين بنسبة 36.33 ٪ في وقت القيمة المضافة، و 40.14 ٪ في المهلة الزمنية، وانخفاض بنسبة 22 ٪ في استخدام العمالة. يشير هذا التحسن إلى أن استخدام الإطار المتكامل المقترح مفيد للغاية لأي نوع من قطاع التصنيع.

The European Union is currently in the process of transformation toward a circular economy model in which different areas of activity should be integrated for more efficient management of raw materials and waste. The wastewater sector has a great potential in this regard and therefore is an important element of the transformation process to the circular economy model. The targets of the circular economy policy framework such as resource recovery are tightly connected with the wastewater treatment processes and sewage sludge management. With this in view, the present study aims to review existing indicators on resource recovery that can enable efficient monitoring of the sustainable and circular solutions implemented in the wastewater sector. Within the reviewed indicators, most of them were focused on technological aspects of resource recovery processes such as nutrient removal efficiency, sewage sludge processing methods and environmental aspects as the pollutant share in the sewage sludge or its ashes. Moreover, other wide-scope indicators such as the wastewater service coverage or the production of bio-based fertilizers and hydrochar within the wastewater sector were analyzed. The results were used for the development of recommendations for improving the resources recovery monitoring framework in the wastewater sector and a proposal of a circularity indicator for a wastewater treatment plant highlighting new challenges for further researches and wastewater professionals.

Off-grid electricity generation using renewable energy technologies has become a more reliable source to fulfill the needs of rural areas at limited level without considering conventional resources. The main purpose of this study was to propose an economical and optimized design for electricity generation using hybrid energy source PV/Biomass for an agricultural farm and a residential community centered in a small village of district Layyah in the Punjab province of Pakistan. The electric load data was collected for the irrigation and residential needs. Hybrid Optimization Model for Electric Renewable (HOMER) was used to design and perform techno-economic analysis to meet the load requirements using PV/biomass hybrid configuration. The solar irradiance data and the available biomass potential on the farm was used in the HOMER software to perform the analysis. Total net present cost (NPC) and cost of electricity (COE) were obtained as a solution by the HOMER analysis and then these results were refined further by performing sensitivity analysis. Sensitivity parameter such as biomass potential, biomass price, solar irradiance and variations in loads were used in the sensitivity analysis. This analysis compares the performance of the system and shows that system is techno-economically viable based on the net present cost and cost of energy.