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Abstract This paper presents a new methodology for impact assessment—SIAM (Spatial Impact Assessment Methodology)—which is based on the assumption that the importance of environmental impacts is dependent, among other things, on the spatial distribution of the effects and of the affected environment. The information generated by the use of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) in impact identification and prediction stages of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is used in the assessment of impact significance by the computation of a set of impact indices. For each environmental component (e.g., air pollution, water resources, biological resources), impact indices are calculated based on the spatial distribution of impacts. A case study of impact evaluation of a proposed highway in Central Portugal illustrates the application of the methodology and shows its capabilities to be adapted to the particular characteristics of a given EIA problem.

Abstract The need to generate thermal and electrical energy, global warming caused by increased emissions of greenhouse gases, rising fossil fuel prices and demand for energy independence, have created a new industry focused on energy production through the use of renewable sources. Among the different options, biomass is the third most important source for obtaining electricity, and is the main source for the production of thermal energy. However, problems related to the low density of the different types of biomass, and the difficulty of transportation and storage, have led to the need to find solid fuels with higher density and greater hardness, known as pellets and briquettes. This paper seeks to develop an analysis of the current situation of the production of pellets, mainly with mixed biomass types, and the possible uses they have, with the main emphasis on the review of different combustion processes.

Abstract Molten salts are a very relevant member of industrial fluids for high temperature applications, such as catalytic medium for coal gasification, molten salt oxidation of wastes, heat transfer fluids or latent, sensible heat storage and solar (CSP) or nuclear power station operations. Available data on thermophysical properties, applications and a discussion of the state of the art for molten alkali carbonates and its mixtures like pure Li2CO3, Na2CO3 and K2CO3, mixtures of Li2CO3-Na2CO3, Li2CO3-K2CO3 (binary eutectics) and Li2CO3-Na2CO3-K2CO3 (ternary eutectic) and nanofluids based in these carbonate melts are presented. These melts are especially suitable for application at higher temperature regimes, like those involving high temperature energy storage, coolants or molten salts oxidations of wastes and therefore the accurate knowledge of their most important thermophysical properties is essential for efficient energy transfer and storage, because of their impact on energy efficiency, namely in energy savings and decrease of carbon footprint. From the analysis performed it can be concluded that the scatter of data found for molten alkali carbonates, added to present and future applications, still justifies further studies on these systems, to support their application as alternative engineering fluids. Additionally, some comments on how to improve present situation of methods and measurements are made, especially in the area of thermal conductivity.

In the steel industry, the iron making system deals with large quantities of materials and energy and so it can play a critical role in reducing emissions and production costs. More specifically, excess by-product gases should be used for electricity generation; otherwise, they lead to pollution. A life cycle analysis is performed to compare the environmental impact of an iron making system with a combined cycle power plant (CCPP), to a system producing the same amount of electricity in a coal power plant. The results for a Chinese steel plant show a 33% reduction in the energy conservation and emission reduction potential for the CCPP system, which is thus more environmentally friendly. A mathematical programming formulation is then proposed for optimal scheduling. It incorporates key technological constraints and is sensitive to hourly changing electricity prices. The outcome is a 19% increase in revenue from electricity sales compared to a schedule that does not dynamically adjust to the price profile. The results also show that emissions from by-product gases can be avoided completely. The paper ends with a sensitivity analysis to evaluate the impact of changes in product demand, gas storage and CCPP capacity, and emission cost.

ScopeThis study was designed to evaluate the influence of ethanol on the bioavailability of blackberry anthocyanins.Methods and resultsA total of 18 participants were recruited to consume 250 mL of a blackberry puree (650 mg of anthocyanins) without (BBP) or with 12% ethanol (BBP 12%). Venous blood was collected from participants at baseline and at 15, 30, 60, and 120 min after puree ingestion. Urine samples were collected at baseline and at 120 min. Plasma and urine concentration of anthocyanins and anthocyanin conjugates were quantified by HPLC‐DAD. Methyl‐cyanidin‐glucuronide (Me‐Cy‐Glucr) and 3′‐methyl‐cyanidin‐3‐glucoside (3′‐Me‐Cy3glc) were the main anthocyanin conjugates detected in all plasma and urine samples. Urinary concentration of these anthocyanin conjugates were positively correlated with their plasma concentration. Ethanol increased plasma Cmax of Me‐Cy‐Glucr and 3′‐Me‐Cy3glc. Participants were then stratified according to their body mass index (BMI) and body fat mass. After BBP consumption, plasma Cmax of Me‐Cy‐Glucr and 3′‐Me‐Cy3glc tended to be decreased in overweight/obese participants, in comparison to normal weight participants. The increase on plasma Cmax of Me‐Cy‐Glucr and 3′‐Me‐Cy3glc induced by ethanol was more pronounced in the group of overweight/obese participants.ConclusionsEthanol seems to enhance Cy3glc metabolism that appears to be compromised in overweight and obese individuals.

Abstract The study of sustainable energy systems is an interdisciplinary endeavour which entails the analysis of a large amount of diverse data and complex interactions that are better understood if developed from first principles. This paper reviews the approaches to this analysis and presents as a general case study, a fossil free imaginary island whose electricity, heat and mobility demand are fulfilled with sustainable and renewable energies only. The detailed hourly balance between supply and demand highlights the importance of energy storage, which is achieved by reversible hydropower and storage in electric vehicles.

Abstract Europe is a consolidated continent, characterized by a wide range of ancient buildings that urgently need refurbishments, especially in seismic zones such as Portugal, where structural reinforcement is imperative. However, demolishing and reconstructing also contributes to real estate renovation. In these cases it is simpler to build earthquake safe buildings that comply with current standards of comfort and quality. The question now is whether refurbishment (and what type) is environmentally and/or economically profitable or needed compared with new construction. To answer this question, this work used the life cycle approach in two complementary approaches: a literature review that theoretically compares different LCA works for refurbished and new buildings; and a real LCA and LCC case study for a classified ancient Portuguese building located in Lisbon, where real refurbishment is compared with hypothetical demolition, followed by complete reconstruction on the same site, respecting the same architecture, constraints and demands, and using reinforced concrete and clay brick walls. This issue is very urgent in Portugal, because of its extensive stock of ancient buildings needing refurbishment works. Moreover, there are few studies reporting whether the refurbishment can be economically and environmentally more efficient, according to the Portuguese economic environment. Thus, this study mostly contributes to this debate, first at a national level, and then as a new case study reporting this kind of benchmarking, and its significance is related to the actual results measured at the construction site for the traditional refurbishment works made in Portugal. This comparison showed that structural refurbishment seems to be environmentally more positive. Nevertheless, in the case-study gains were not as high as commonly suggested, mainly because of the massive use of structural steel and shotcrete required for the seismic and structural strengthening of the ancient building. Finally, as far as the economic approach is concerned, this paper concludes that in those conditions rebuilding would make more economic sense than refurbishing. These conclusions indicate that an integrated decision-making process is needed and also stress the development of new financial facilities for refurbishment and, especially, the development of less costly solutions that could save scarce resources and incentives.

In the Mediterranean area most of the public authorities need to enhance their institutional capacity in the field of Energy Efficiency (EE) and use of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) in order to contribute to the Energy Performance of Buildings and the Energy Efficiency Directives, developing solutions suited to various regional contexts. The PrioritEE project, funded by the Interreg MED programme, aims at reinforcing the capacities of public administrations in selecting and implementing eco-friendly and cost-effective energy planning measures. This paper aims to describe the main efforts carried out by local public authorities and professional institutions from five MED countries (Italy, Portugal, Spain, Greece and Croatia) in order to reduce energy consumption and prioritize EE investments in Municipal Public Buildings (MPBs). In particular, it focuses on the methodological framework describing the main components of the proposed toolbox, the main objectives and expected outcomes but also the current achievements and the way forward.

River ecosystems are most often subject to multiple co-occurring anthropogenic stressors. Mediterranean streams are particularly affected by water scarcity and organic loads that commonly lead to a simultaneous reduction in flow and increasing depletion of dissolved oxygen. In the present study, the single and combined effects of water scarcity (flow velocity reduction) and dissolved oxygen depletion were used to evaluate alterations of drifting macroinvertebrates on a channel mesocosm system, by employing a multiple trait-based approach. Our main findings confirmed that the impact of the two combined stressors can be implicated in alterations of ecosystem functions as result of the changes in proportions of biological traits. Overall, our results showed that, individually, flow velocity reduction and a severe oxygen depletion promoted a shift in community traits. In more detail, biological traits describing the dispersal of organisms and their respiration showed the strongest responses. The respiration mode responded to low flow with drift increase of gill breathers and decrease of individuals with tegument, whereas dispersal was clearly affected by the combination of stressors. Resistance through eggs was higher with the single effect of flow reduction, while swimmers´ relative abundance increased in individuals that drift after exposure to the combination of stressors. Thus, while flow reduction alone is expected to specifically filter out the gill breathers and the egg producers, the combination of stressors will impact more drastically organism's dispersal and swimmers. Such changes in biological traits can result in variations in ecosystem functioning through, for example, local changes in biomass, secondary production, stream metabolism as well as resulting in biodiversity losses or alterations of its distribution patterns.