• Energy Research
• 11. Sustainability close
• 4. Education close
• GB close

Abstract Windows are important in the workplace for both environmental and psychological reasons. Good glazing design can reduce energy outputs by lowering the requirements for heating or cooling; frame design can utilise more sustainable materials and those with lower embodied energy, such as timber and aluminium-clad timber. Windows are also important for the provision of daylight and a view, both of which have known psychological benefits, although glare and passive solar gain can be problematic. Three studies were undertaken to look at sustainability and comfort issues for a number of different types of multi-glazed windows. Focus groups and interviews with professionals were used to examine issues of sustainability and productivity. Four case study buildings were surveyed to examine the level of energy use for different glazing specifications. A post-occupancy survey was then used to examine the level of comfort in these buildings. Results showed that architects consider comfort and productivity in their designs, but consider sustainability less often. Surveys of energy usage showed that building design can influence the efficiency of multi-glazed windows; this result was mirrored in the post-occupancy survey where design factors influenced occupant comfort. The research concludes that comfort and productivity in the workplace is related more to design factors than to sustainability factors.

This paper proposes an innovative framework to describe sustainable transitions of food systems while considering simultaneously socio-economic and environmental issues, in a just transition perspective. This framework (i) describes the structural changes needed for a sustainable transition in food systems; (ii) assess their effects on employment at the farm and processing industry level; (iii) detect the political levers needed to make this transition a just one—that is, preserving jobs and livelihoods for communities. Using the decarbonation pathway for the agricultural sector issued from the French National Low-Carbon Strategy as reference, we developed two scenarios for the French dairy sector which have the same level of climate ambitious, but a different approach to reach the target. Aiming exclusively to achieve a greenhouse gases reduction, the first scenario relies only on supply side measures. This scenario has a negative impact in terms of employment loss at the farm level and in the agri-food sector. In contrast, a multifunctional scenario considering simultaneously climate, biodiversity, health, and employment issues, and playing with policy measures targeting supply, demand and market organisation can maintain jobs in the farm and agri-food sector, contributes to restore the agro-biodiversity and develops food products compatible with healthy nutritional guidelines.

AbstractObjectiveTo model dietary changes required to shift the UK population to diets that meet dietary recommendations for health, have lower greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE) and are affordable for different income groups.DesignLinear programming was used to create diets that meet dietary requirements for health and reduced GHGE (57 and 80 % targets) by income quintile, taking account of food budgets and foods currently purchased, thereby keeping dietary change to a minimum.Setting/ParticipantsNutrient composition, GHGE and price data were mapped to 101 food groups in household food purchase data (UK Living Cost and Food Survey (2013), 5144 households).ResultsCurrent diets of all income quintiles had similar total GHGE, but the source of GHGE differed by types of meat and amount of fruit and vegetables. It was possible to create diets with a 57 % reduction in GHGE that met dietary and cost restraints in all income groups. In the optimised diets, the food sources of GHGE differed by income group due to the cost and keeping the level of deviation from current diets to a minimum. Broadly, the changes needed were similar across all groups; reducing animal-based products and increasing plant-based foods but varied by specific foods.ConclusionsHealthy and lower-GHGE diets could be created in all income quintiles but tailoring changes to income groups to minimise deviation may make dietary changes more achievable. Specific attention must be given to make interventions and policies appropriate for all income groups.

The implications of intensive use of shallow geothermal energy resources in shallow urban aquifers are still not known for waterborne pathogens relevant to human health. Firstly, we hypothesized that waterborne enteric pathogens would be relatively increased in heated groundwater plumes. To prove this, microbiological sampling of 31 piezometers covering the domain of an urban groundwater body affected by microbiological contamination and energetically exploited by 70 groundwater heat pump systems was performed. Mean differences of pathogenic bacteria contents between impacted and non-impacted monitoring points were assessed with a two-tailed independent Student's t-test or Mann-Whitney U and correlation coefficients were also calculated. Surprisingly, the results obtained revealed a significant and generalized decrease in waterborne pathogen contents in thermally impacted piezometers compared to that of non-impacted piezometers. This decrease is hypothesized to be caused by a heat shock to bacteria within the heat exchangers. The statistically significant negative correlations obtained between waterborne pathogen counts and temperature could be explained by the spatial distribution of the bacteria, finding that bacteria start to recover with increasing distance from the injection point. Also, different behavior groups fitting exponential regression models were found for the bacteria species studied, justified by the different presence and influence of several aquifer parameters and major, minor and trace elements studied, as well as the coexistence with other bacteria species. The results obtained from this work reinforce the concept of shallow geothermal resources as a clean energy source, as they could also provide the basis to control the pathogenic bacteria contents in groundwater bodies.

This article presents an assessment of the challenges facing the use of small locally manufactured wind turbines as a rural electrification solution for the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua. Strongly based on the authors work experience at the non-profit, non-governmental organization blueEnergy, this assessment makes an objective analysis of the technical, social, economic and organizational challenges faced by blueEnergy when using small wind turbines for rural electrification. The article provides detail on the challenges faced and puts forward methodologies and technologies to overcome or to detect and avoid these. Based on the challenges faced, a set of key factors that are essential for the success of small wind turbines in other contexts is proposed, together with two methodologies for a preliminary feasibility assessment.

Rapid transit systems play a significant role in supporting rapid social and economic development in large cities all over the world. However, the systems consume a large amount of energy, which brings increasing environmental concerns. A number of energy-saving technologies have been studied on railways. However, few of the outcomes have been tested and evaluated in practice. This paper presents the development of a timetable optimization and trial test on a metro line to reach the full potential of the train regenerative braking system. To achieve this purpose, a timetable optimization algorithm has been developed, and a trial test of the optimal timetable has been arranged on a metro line for a whole day. In the test, all the trains running in the network were organized to operate in accordance with the optimal timetable. The trial test results indicate that by applying the optimal timetable, the regenerative braking energy utilization can be improved, thereby reducing the overall network energy usage.

There is an urgent requirement to minimize food waste and create more sustainable food systems that address global increases in malnutrition and hunger. The nutritional value of brewers' spent grain (BSG) makes it attractive for upcycling into value-added ingredients rich in protein and fiber having a lower environmental impact than comparable plant-based ingredients. BSG is predictably available in large quantities globally and can therefore play a role in addressing hunger in the developing world via the fortification of humanitarian food aid products. Moreover, addition of BSG-derived ingredients can improve the nutritional profile of foods commonly consumed in more developed regions, which may aid in reducing the prevalence of dietary-related disease and mortality. Challenges facing the widespread utilization of upcycled BSG ingredients include regulatory status, variability of raw material composition, and consumer perception as low-value waste products; however, the rapidly growing upcycled food market suggests increasing consumer acceptability and opportunities for significant market growth via effective new product innovation and communication strategies.

In the real world, taxes and cap-and-trade systems are rarely implemented in their pure form. In this paper, we examine a related approach that has been used widely in practice – which we refer to as an “offset.” The idea behind offsets is to encourage firms or entities that may not be a part of the main regulatory system to produce environmental improvements, which can then be used to offset pollution reduction requirements in the main regulatory system.This paper provides a survey and synthesis of the literature on the use of offsets. Examples include offsets for limiting greenhouse gas emissions, maintaining ecosystem services for wetlands, achieving local air pollution goals, protecting water quality, and promoting energy efficiency. The paper reviews how offsets are used in practice and examines what is known about their environmental and economic impacts.Combining insights from the political economy of using offsets with their intrinsic design challenges raises a potentially serious problem – namely, that offsets may often fail to take adequate account of environmental or ecosystem damages. Because this problem can be significant, alternatives should be considered.