Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
6.8
3.3
Journals
Sustainability
Editor’s Choice
sustainability-logo

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Editor’s Choice Articles

Editor’s Choice articles are based on recommendations by the scientific editors of MDPI journals from around the world. Editors select a small number of articles recently published in the journal that they believe will be particularly interesting to readers, or important in the respective research area. The aim is to provide a snapshot of some of the most exciting work published in the various research areas of the journal.

Order results
Result details
Results per page
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
19 pages, 1982 KiB  
Article
Danish PV Prosumers’ Time-Shifting of Energy-Consuming Everyday Practices
by Kirsten Gram-Hanssen, Anders Rhiger Hansen and Mette Mechlenborg
Sustainability 2020, 12(10), 4121; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12104121 - 18 May 2020
Cited by 34 | Viewed by 3860
Abstract
Consumer engagement in the energy system is necessary to ensure a low-carbon transition. However, this has proved difficult because consumers are engaged in pursuing everyday practices rather than focusing on abstract questions of energy. Recent studies have suggested that being a prosumer can [...] Read more.
Consumer engagement in the energy system is necessary to ensure a low-carbon transition. However, this has proved difficult because consumers are engaged in pursuing everyday practices rather than focusing on abstract questions of energy. Recent studies have suggested that being a prosumer can make a difference. This paper builds on survey data from a representative sample of 2505 photovoltaic (PV) owners in Denmark combined with 12 qualitative in-depth interviews. The results indicate that PV owners consider that they have become more concerned about energy consumption and adjust the timing of their everyday practices to their production. Thus, 67% of the households ‘often’ or ‘always’ time-shift the use of washing machines to their production. The extent to which households time-shift is strongly related to their net-metering scheme. Thus, 75% of the households on hourly metering stated that they ‘to some’ or to ‘a great extent’ adjust their consumption, compared to only 26% of the households on annual metering. This financial effect is interpreted in an everyday life context where financial gain transfers meanings of self-sufficiency and sustainability, rather than primarily being viewed as rational economic behaviour. The conclusion discusses the policy implications of methods to engage the consumer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Changing Role of End-Users in the Consumption and Production of Residential Energy)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 930 KiB  
Article
Impact Assessment Model for the Implementation of Cargo Bike Transshipment Points in Urban Districts
by Tom Assmann, Sebastian Lang, Florian Müller and Michael Schenk
Sustainability 2020, 12(10), 4082; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12104082 - 16 May 2020
Cited by 31 | Viewed by 4823
Abstract
Mitigating climate change and improving urban livability is prompting cities to improve sustainability of urban transportation and logistics. Cargo bikes, in combination with urban transshipment points, are gaining momentum as a green last mile alternative. Although a wide body of research proves their [...] Read more.
Mitigating climate change and improving urban livability is prompting cities to improve sustainability of urban transportation and logistics. Cargo bikes, in combination with urban transshipment points, are gaining momentum as a green last mile alternative. Although a wide body of research proves their viability in dense urban areas, knowledge about planning urban transshipment points is very limited. This also entails the siting of such facilities and the assessment of effects on emissions. This study therefore presents a first quantitative scenario-based model that assesses the impacts on a district. It examines different strategies for siting urban transshipment points in a single district and its effect on traffic, the carbon footprint, and air quality to give strategic insights where to create candidate locations for such facilities. Our result contributes to knowledge of planning urban transshipment facilities and assessing the impact of different configurations. The findings demonstrated that the use of cargo bikes to make courier, express, and parcel (CEP) deliveries in urban districts could reduce greenhouse gas (GHG), particulate matter (PM10), and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions significantly. However, the choice of vehicles completing inbound and outbound processes and the strategies for siting urban transshipment points display widely differing and even conflicting potential to reduce emissions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Transportation)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 1987 KiB  
Article
Management Strategies for Wood Fuel Harvesting—Trade-Offs with Biodiversity and Forest Ecosystem Services
by Jeannette Eggers, Ylva Melin, Johanna Lundström, Dan Bergström and Karin Öhman
Sustainability 2020, 12(10), 4089; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12104089 - 16 May 2020
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 6349
Abstract
Bioenergy is expected to contribute to mitigating climate change. One major source for bioenergy is woody biomass from forests, including logging residues, stumps, and whole trees from young dense stands. However, at increased extraction rates of woody biomass, the forest ecosystem, its biodiversity, [...] Read more.
Bioenergy is expected to contribute to mitigating climate change. One major source for bioenergy is woody biomass from forests, including logging residues, stumps, and whole trees from young dense stands. However, at increased extraction rates of woody biomass, the forest ecosystem, its biodiversity, and its ability to contribute to fundamental ecosystem services will be affected. We used simulation and optimization techniques to assess the impact of different management strategies on the supply of bioenergy and the trade-offs between wood fuel harvesting, biodiversity, and three other ecosystem services—reindeer husbandry, carbon storage, and recreation. The projections covered 100 years and a forest area of 3 million ha in northern Sweden. We found that the development of novel and cost-effective management systems for biomass outtake from young dense stands may provide options for a significant supply of bioenergy to the emerging bioeconomy, while at the same time securing biodiversity and important ecosystem values in future stand developments. In addition, there is potential to increase the extraction of harvest residues and stumps while simultaneously improving conditions for biodiversity and the amount of carbon stored in forest ecosystems compared to current levels. However, the projected continuing trend of increased forest density (in terms of basal area) has a negative impact on the potential for reindeer husbandry and recreation, which calls for researching new management strategies on landscape levels. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Sustainability Assessment of Forest Bioenergy Options)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

9 pages, 2210 KiB  
Article
Seawater Fluorescence Near Oil Occurrence
by Emilia Baszanowska and Zbigniew Otremba
Sustainability 2020, 12(10), 4049; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12104049 - 15 May 2020
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2461
Abstract
Petroleum and its related products pose a serious pollution risk to the world’s seas and require a simple, rapid detection method. This is a difficult task if the pollution is under the water surface. One common approach to oil detection is excitation-emission spectroscopy [...] Read more.
Petroleum and its related products pose a serious pollution risk to the world’s seas and require a simple, rapid detection method. This is a difficult task if the pollution is under the water surface. One common approach to oil detection is excitation-emission spectroscopy (EEMs) of seawater exposed to oil for analyzing the fluorometric index (FIo/w) as a potential indicator of oil presence in the marine environment. In this paper, FIo/w was determined for both natural seawater and samples of the same water, but exposed to a relatively small portion of oil. The water samples were collected from the coastal and port waters of the Gdynia region (Southern Baltic Sea) from five stations, four times at two-week intervals. FIo/w indicates the changes between seawater sampled from the marine environment and the same seawater polluted with oil substances. Moreover, the obtained FIo/w values do not depend on the point and time of sampling. In all cases of seawater exposed to oil, significantly higher FIo/w values were observed than for unpolluted seawater. Moreover, the detection of oil by analyzing the value of FIo/w is efficient if the oil-to-water weight ratio is close to or above 5 × 10−6. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Environmental Impacts of Oil and Gas Industry: Potential and Limits of Remote Sensing Methods)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 6697 KiB  
Article
Hepcidin-Expressing Fish Eggs as A Novel Food Supplement to Modulate Immunity against Pathogenic Infection in Zebrafish (Danio rerio)
by Chung-Chih Tseng, Tah-Wei Chu, Ridha Handriany Danata, Yenny Risjani, Hui-Tsu Shih and Shao-Yang Hu
Sustainability 2020, 12(10), 4057; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12104057 - 15 May 2020
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3147
Abstract
Hepcidin antimicrobial peptides are difficult to produce in prokaryotic expression systems due to their complex structure and antimicrobial activity. Although synthetic hepcidin provides an alternative to solve this issue, its high cost limits its practical application in various industries. The present study used [...] Read more.
Hepcidin antimicrobial peptides are difficult to produce in prokaryotic expression systems due to their complex structure and antimicrobial activity. Although synthetic hepcidin provides an alternative to solve this issue, its high cost limits its practical application in various industries. The present study used zebrafish eggs as bioreactors to produce convict cichlid (Amatitlania nigrofasciata) hepcidin (AN-hepc) using the oocyte-specific zona pellucida (zp3) promoter. The expression plasmid pT2-ZP3-AN-hepc-ZP3-EGFP, using EGFP as a reporter of AN-hepc expression, was designed to establish the transgenic line Tg(ZP3:AN-hepc:ZP3:EGFP) for the expression of AN-hepc. The AN-hepc peptide was produced successfully in fertilized eggs, as evidenced by RT-PCR and Western blotting. The AN-hepc-expressing eggs exhibited antimicrobial activity against a variety of aquatic pathogens and antibiotic-resistant pathogens, suggesting that the AN-hepc expressed in fish eggs was bioactive. The immunomodulatory effects of AN-hepc-expressing fertilized eggs on zebrafish innate immunity were evaluated by determining the expression of indicator genes after feeding with AN-hepc-expressing fertilized eggs for two months. Zebrafish supplementation with AN-hepc-expressing fertilized eggs significantly increased the expression of innate immunity-related genes, including IL-1β, IL-6, IL-15, TNF-α, NF-κb, complement C3b, lysozyme and TLR-4a. The zebrafish administered AN-hepc-expressing eggs exhibited higher cumulative survival than fish supplemented with wild-type and control eggs after infection with Aeromonas hydrophila and Streptococcus iniae. In conclusion, the present results showed that supplementation with AN-hepc-expressing fish eggs enhanced zebrafish innate immunity against pathogenic infections, suggesting that fertilized eggs containing AN-hepc have the potential to be developed as a food supplement for improving health status in aquaculture. Full article
(This article belongs to the Collection Aquaculture and Environmental Impacts)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 1139 KiB  
Article
Corporate Social Performance: An Assessment Model on an Emerging Market
by Cătălina Silvia Crișan-Mitra, Liana Stanca and Dan-Cristian Dabija
Sustainability 2020, 12(10), 4077; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12104077 - 15 May 2020
Cited by 59 | Viewed by 5168
Abstract
This paper investigates the priorities governing large companies in an emerging market regarding corporate social performance (CSP). The authors propose profile patterns of responsible managerial behavior and a framework for evaluating CSP relying on stakeholder theory. The study relies on a statistical analysis [...] Read more.
This paper investigates the priorities governing large companies in an emerging market regarding corporate social performance (CSP). The authors propose profile patterns of responsible managerial behavior and a framework for evaluating CSP relying on stakeholder theory. The study relies on a statistical analysis which is designed to examine the significance of corporate social responsibility (CSR) practice as it emerges from company business strategies. Taking the form of an empirical study involving 87 managers, this work relies on the cluster analysis theory, identifying six behavioral patterns when considering CSR practices: “lethargic”, “compliant, “pragmatist”, “auditor”, “formalist”, and “performer”. The cluster typology indicates the complexity of CSR practices and highlights the role of CSR in company strategy development. The proposed assessment model is intended to empower CSP diagnosis, while supporting management towards achieving sustainable growth. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 312 KiB  
Review
A Literature Survey on Market-Based Measures for the Decarbonization of Shipping
by Sotiria Lagouvardou, Harilaos N. Psaraftis and Thalis Zis
Sustainability 2020, 12(10), 3953; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12103953 - 12 May 2020
Cited by 74 | Viewed by 7866
Abstract
This paper aims to conduct an updated literature survey on the Market-Based Measures (MBMs) currently being proposed by various member states and organizations at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) or by the scientific and grey literature as a cost-effective solution to reduce greenhouse [...] Read more.
This paper aims to conduct an updated literature survey on the Market-Based Measures (MBMs) currently being proposed by various member states and organizations at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) or by the scientific and grey literature as a cost-effective solution to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ships. Τhe paper collects, summarizes, and categorizes the different proposals to provide a clear understanding of the existing discussions on the field and also identifies the areas of prior investigation in order to prevent duplication and to avoid the future discussion at the IMO to start from scratch. Relevant European Union (EU) action on MBMs is also described. Furthermore, the study identifies inconsistencies, gaps in research, conflicting studies, or unanswered questions that form challenges for the implementation of any environmental policy at a global level for shipping. Finally, by providing foundational knowledge on the topic of MBMs for shipping and by exploring inadequately investigated areas, the study addresses concrete research questions that can be investigated and resolved by the scientific and shipping community. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decarbonisation of International Shipping: How to Achieve the IMO’s GHG Goals?)
30 pages, 8317 KiB  
Article
Hybrid Renewable Energy Microgrid for a Residential Community: A Techno-Economic and Environmental Perspective in the Context of the SDG7
by Nallapaneni Manoj Kumar, Shauhrat S. Chopra, Aneesh A. Chand, Rajvikram Madurai Elavarasan and G.M. Shafiullah
Sustainability 2020, 12(10), 3944; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12103944 - 12 May 2020
Cited by 134 | Viewed by 8827
Abstract
Energy, being a prime enabler in achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs), should be affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern. One of the SDGs (i.e., SDG7) suggests that it is necessary to ensure energy access for all. In developing countries like India, the progress toward [...] Read more.
Energy, being a prime enabler in achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs), should be affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern. One of the SDGs (i.e., SDG7) suggests that it is necessary to ensure energy access for all. In developing countries like India, the progress toward SDG7 has somewhat stagnated. The aging conventional electric power system has its dominant share of energy from fossil fuels, plagued with frequent power outages, and leaves many un-electrified areas. These are not characteristics of a sustainable and modern system in the context of the SDG7. Promoting renewable-based energy systems, especially in the context of microgrids (MGs), is one of the promising advances needed to rejuvenate the progress toward the SDG7. In this context, a hybrid renewable energy microgrid (HREM) is proposed that gives assurance for energy access to all in an affordable, reliable, and sustainable way through modern energy systems. In this paper, a techno-economic and environmental modeling of the grid-independent HREM and its optimization for a remote community in South India are presented. A case of HREM with a proposed configuration of photovoltaic/wind turbine/diesel generator/battery energy storage system (PV/WT/DG/BESS) was modeled to meet the community residential electric load requirements. This investigation dealt with the optimum sizes of the different components used in the HREM. The results of this model presented numerous feasible solutions. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to identify the best solution from the four optimized results. From the results, it was established that a PV + DG + BESS based HREM was the most cost-effective configuration for the specific location. In addition, the obtained optimum solutions were mapped with the key criteria of the SDG7. This mapping also suggested that the PV + DG + BESS configuration falls within the context of the SDG7. Overall, it is understood that the proposed HREM would provide energy access to households that is affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Scenario in the Context of Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

27 pages, 2029 KiB  
Article
Sustainable Agriculture and Its Implementation Gap—Overcoming Obstacles to Implementation
by Norman Siebrecht
Sustainability 2020, 12(9), 3853; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12093853 - 8 May 2020
Cited by 87 | Viewed by 25972
Abstract
There are numerous studies and publications about sustainable agriculture. Many papers argue that sustainable agriculture is necessary, and analyze how this goal could be achieved. At the same time, studies question the sustainability of agriculture. Several obstacles, including theoretical, methodological, personal, and practical [...] Read more.
There are numerous studies and publications about sustainable agriculture. Many papers argue that sustainable agriculture is necessary, and analyze how this goal could be achieved. At the same time, studies question the sustainability of agriculture. Several obstacles, including theoretical, methodological, personal, and practical issues, hinder or slow down implementation, resulting in the so-called implementation gap. This study addresses potential obstacles that limit the implementation of sustainable agriculture in practice. To overcome the obstacles and to improve implementation, different solutions and actions are required. This study aims to illustrate ways of minimizing or removing obstacles and how to overcome the implementation gap. Unfortunately, the diversity of obstacles and their complexity mean there are no quick and easy solutions. A broader approach that addresses different dimensions and stakeholders is required. Areas of action include institutionalization, assessment and system development, education and capacity building, and social and political support. To realize the suggestions and recommendations and to improve implementation, transdisciplinary work and cooperation between many actors are required. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Suitable Agronomic Techniques for Sustainable Agriculture)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

20 pages, 2732 KiB  
Article
Optimizing Land Use Allocation of Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) to Generate Maximum Ridership
by Mohammed Ali Berawi, Gunawan Saroji, Fuad Adrian Iskandar, Bernard Elpetino Ibrahim, Perdana Miraj and Mustika Sari
Sustainability 2020, 12(9), 3798; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12093798 - 7 May 2020
Cited by 31 | Viewed by 7831
Abstract
Transit-oriented development (TOD) is based around transit stations, with the emphasis on high population density and multifunctional areas in promoting sustainable mobility. This study aimed to develop a TOD model that could achieve an optimum land use allocation to maximize transit ridership. A [...] Read more.
Transit-oriented development (TOD) is based around transit stations, with the emphasis on high population density and multifunctional areas in promoting sustainable mobility. This study aimed to develop a TOD model that could achieve an optimum land use allocation to maximize transit ridership. A critical literature review, an analysis of value engineering through function and benchmarking studies were conducted in order to develop a baseline plan for a TOD model, which was then optimized using linear programming. A total of four light rail transit (LRT) stations located in Jakarta were used as the case study to represent model implementation, ridership evaluation and optimal design. The optimization results showed that office workers constituted the highest number of transit passengers, followed by those working in hotels and commercial/retail and residential users. It was also found that optimizing the design of the TOD can increase the number of daily LRT passengers by up to 55%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Transitions to Sustainable Urban Mobility in Global South Cities: Challenges, Innovations and Opportunities)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 5660 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of the Effect of Dolomitic Lime Application on Pastures—Case Study in the Montado Mediterranean Ecosystem
by João Serrano, Shakib Shahidian, José Marques da Silva, Francisco Moral, Fernando Carvajal-Ramirez, Emanuel Carreira, Alfredo Pereira and Mário de Carvalho
Sustainability 2020, 12(9), 3758; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12093758 - 6 May 2020
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2546
Abstract
The Montado ecosystem, predominant in the Mediterranean region, consists of poor soils, a sparse cover of cork and holm with an understory of natural biodiverse pastures, grazed by animals in extensive regime. The recommended procedure for increasing productivity of these pastures is based [...] Read more.
The Montado ecosystem, predominant in the Mediterranean region, consists of poor soils, a sparse cover of cork and holm with an understory of natural biodiverse pastures, grazed by animals in extensive regime. The recommended procedure for increasing productivity of these pastures is based on the application of phosphate fertilizer. One of the main productivity-limiting factors is, however, associated with soil acidity. The objective of this work was to evaluate the simultaneous effect of the holm oak canopy and the application of dolomitic lime on the productivity and quality of a permanent biodiverse pasture, grazed by sheep, in an acid soil (pH = 5.4 ± 0.3). Pasture was monitored at the end of autumn 2018 and winter and spring 2019. The results show that amendment of soil acidity is a slow and gradual process that improves soil Mg/Mn ratio and has a positive impact on pasture productivity and quality. Pasture crude protein availability (CP, kg·ha−1), which is based on both pasture dry matter yield (kg·ha−1) and quality (CP, %), proved to be a very practical indicator of the contributions of tree canopy and soil acidity correction to the holistic management of the Montado ecosystem. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Livestock Production)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

23 pages, 6459 KiB  
Article
Protocol for Post Occupancy Evaluation in Schools to Improve Indoor Environmental Quality and Energy Efficiency
by Erica Cochran Hameen, Bobuchi Ken-Opurum and Young Joo Son
Sustainability 2020, 12(9), 3712; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12093712 - 3 May 2020
Cited by 26 | Viewed by 5579
Abstract
Research has shown a strong correlation between the performance and health of young students and teachers, and the indoor environmental quality (IEQ) of their schools. A post occupancy evaluation (POE) of a school’s IEQ can help stakeholders understand the current conditions of the [...] Read more.
Research has shown a strong correlation between the performance and health of young students and teachers, and the indoor environmental quality (IEQ) of their schools. A post occupancy evaluation (POE) of a school’s IEQ can help stakeholders understand the current conditions of the building and their impact on occupant wellbeing and productivity. It can also provide pathways for building performance upgrades and resource allocation for school administrations. However, current research on POE in schools frequently omits the contexts of young students during evaluations. Furthermore, there is limited research on guidelines for performing POE and measurements in school facilities. This study adopted the National Environmental Assessment Toolkit (NEAT) and tailored qualitative methods to evaluate eight schools over an eight-year period. The methodology was refined throughout the study to develop a protocol for robust investigation of IEQ conditions in schools. The NEAT was developed by Carnegie Mellon University’s Centre for Building Performance and Diagnostics for measuring the IEQ of office buildings. The paper addresses the challenges that may occur during POE and measurements (POE+M) and the differences between POE+M for offices and schools. It also determines how the POE+M process can be efficiently implemented to include all primary stakeholders in order to improve data collection for IEQ and energy efficiency analysis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Indoor Environmental Quality, Healthiness, and Sustainability of Educational Buildings)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 719 KiB  
Article
Evidence That Forage-Fed Cows Can Enhance Milk Quality
by Hannah Davis, Eleni Chatzidimitriou, Carlo Leifert and Gillian Butler
Sustainability 2020, 12(9), 3688; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12093688 - 2 May 2020
Cited by 26 | Viewed by 5363
Abstract
Researching the distinguishing factors of nutritional milk quality is key to sustainable production and addresses increasing media and scientific scrutiny regarding human health effects and ecological impacts of dairy products. Modern Western diets have high omega-6 relative to omega-3 fatty acid (FA) consumption. [...] Read more.
Researching the distinguishing factors of nutritional milk quality is key to sustainable production and addresses increasing media and scientific scrutiny regarding human health effects and ecological impacts of dairy products. Modern Western diets have high omega-6 relative to omega-3 fatty acid (FA) consumption. This ratio in milk can be manipulated by management practices; increasing forage in dairy diets raises omega-3 in milk. Whilst studies identify higher concentrations of nutritionally beneficial FAs in organic dairy, milk from 100% forage-fed cows in the UK has not been investigated. This study explores differences in FA composition between supermarket conventional and organic and Pasture for Life Association (PFLA) milk, collected in April, July and October, 2017. PFLA milk had higher concentrations of conjugated linoleic acid (+94%) and omega-3 (+92%) than conventional milk. Additionally, concentrations of palmitic acid (+11%), omega-6 (+69%) and the ratio of omega-6/omega-3 (+201%) were higher in conventional than PFLA milk. PFLA milk had higher concentrations of alpha-linolenic acid (+39%), conjugated linoleic acid (+30%) and omega-3 (+21%) and lower concentrations of omega-6 (−36%) and a lower ratio of omega-6/omega-3 (−44%) than organic milk. This supports previous studies and demonstrates the scope to improve milk FA profiles further for potential health benefits through pasture-based management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food Security and Sustainable Rural Development: Exploiting Potential Functional Foods with High Health-Impact as an Example of Biodiversity Integration and Conservation)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 836 KiB  
Article
The Advantages of Industry 4.0 Applications for Sustainability: Results from a Sample of Manufacturing Companies
by Riccardo Brozzi, David Forti, Erwin Rauch and Dominik T. Matt
Sustainability 2020, 12(9), 3647; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12093647 - 1 May 2020
Cited by 128 | Viewed by 9898
Abstract
Far from being exclusively related to economic considerations, the advantages of Industry 4.0 applications also include environmental and social concerns. An increasing amount of scientific publications relate the implementation of the fourth industrial revolution paradigm to sustainability. Several studies reported opportunities of Industry [...] Read more.
Far from being exclusively related to economic considerations, the advantages of Industry 4.0 applications also include environmental and social concerns. An increasing amount of scientific publications relate the implementation of the fourth industrial revolution paradigm to sustainability. Several studies reported opportunities of Industry 4.0 implementation particularly to the environmental dimension of sustainability, e.g., through improved logistics streams and lowered waste from production. The present research aims at providing evidence on whether manufacturing companies consider Industry 4.0 implementation as an advantage contributing to environmental and social sustainability in terms of lower environmental impact of production, as well as higher physical relief for workers and flexibility of work organisation. The results were an attempt to study such relations with company sizes, industry sectors, turnover and self-assessed levels of digitalization varying. The sample encompasses 65 companies located in the Marche region (Italy). The results show that overall the perception of economic opportunities prevail, while the association of a beneficial impact of Industry 4.0 on environmental sustainability is rather low across companies, regardless of their size, turnover and digital level. As for the statistically significant variables, the results suggest a strong association of the size and the digital level to specific Industry 4.0 related advantages, referring to the social and economic dimension of sustainability, respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Industry 4.0 for SMEs - Smart Manufacturing and Logistics for SMEs)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 10606 KiB  
Article
Digital Twin of Experimental Smart Manufacturing Assembly System for Industry 4.0 Concept
by Kamil Židek, Ján Piteľ, Milan Adámek, Peter Lazorík and Alexander Hošovský
Sustainability 2020, 12(9), 3658; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12093658 - 1 May 2020
Cited by 122 | Viewed by 10024
Abstract
This article deals with the creation of a digital twin for an experimental assembly system based on a belt conveyor system and an automatized line for quality production check. The point of interest is a Bowden holder assembly from a 3D printer, which [...] Read more.
This article deals with the creation of a digital twin for an experimental assembly system based on a belt conveyor system and an automatized line for quality production check. The point of interest is a Bowden holder assembly from a 3D printer, which consists of a stepper motor, plastic components, and some fastener parts. The assembly was positioned in a fixture with ultra high frequency (UHF) tags and internet of things (IoT) devices for identification of status and position. The main task was parts identification and inspection, with the synchronization of all data to a digital twin model. The inspection system consisted of an industrial vision system for dimension, part presence, and errors check before and after assembly operation. A digital twin is realized as a 3D model, created in CAD design software (CDS) and imported to a Tecnomatix platform to simulate all processes. Data from the assembly system were collected by a programmable logic controller (PLC) system and were synchronized by an open platform communications (OPC) server to a digital twin model and a cloud platform (CP). Digital twins can visualize the real status of a manufacturing system as 3D simulation with real time actualization. Cloud platforms are used for data mining and knowledge representation in timeline graphs, with some alarms and automatized protocol generation. Virtual digital twins can be used for online optimization of an assembly process without the necessity to stop that is involved in a production line. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Industry 4.0 for SMEs - Smart Manufacturing and Logistics for SMEs)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 3972 KiB  
Article
Evaluating the Traffic and Emissions Impacts of Congestion Pricing in New York City
by Amirhossein Baghestani, Mohammad Tayarani, Mahdieh Allahviranloo and H. Oliver Gao
Sustainability 2020, 12(9), 3655; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12093655 - 1 May 2020
Cited by 41 | Viewed by 14153
Abstract
Traffic congestion is a major challenge in metropolitan areas due to economic and negative health impacts. Several strategies have been tested all around the globe to relieve traffic congestion and minimize transportation externalities. Congestion pricing is among the most cited strategies with the [...] Read more.
Traffic congestion is a major challenge in metropolitan areas due to economic and negative health impacts. Several strategies have been tested all around the globe to relieve traffic congestion and minimize transportation externalities. Congestion pricing is among the most cited strategies with the potential to manage the travel demand. This study aims to investigate potential travel behavior changes in response to cordon pricing in Manhattan, New York. Several pricing schemes with variable cordon charging fees are designed and examined using an activity-based microsimulation travel demand model. The findings demonstrate a decreasing trend in the total number of trips interacting with the central business district (CBD) as the price goes up, except for intrazonal trips. We also analyze a set of other performance measures, such as Vehicle-Hours of Delay, Vehicle-Miles Traveled, and vehicle emissions. While the results show considerable growth in transit ridership (6%), single-occupant vehicles and taxis trips destined to the CBD reduced by 30% and 40%, respectively, under the $20 pricing scheme. The aggregated value of delay for all vehicles was also reduced by 32%. Our findings suggest that cordon pricing can positively ameliorate transportation network performance and consequently, improve air quality by reducing particular matter inventory by up to 17.5%. The results might facilitate public acceptance of cordon pricing strategies for the case study of NYC. More broadly, this study provides a robust framework for decision-makers across the US for further analysis on the subject. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Travel Demand Modelling for Sustainable Transportation)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

24 pages, 1194 KiB  
Article
Strategic Planning Based on Sustainability for Urban Transportation: An Application to Decision-Making
by Mustafa Hamurcu and Tamer Eren
Sustainability 2020, 12(9), 3589; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12093589 - 28 Apr 2020
Cited by 48 | Viewed by 8851
Abstract
Public transportation is one of the main goals of a developing city. This topic includes not only administrators, but also city residents and the environment, with economic, environmental, and social factors. This paper presents a multicriteria decision-making process for prioritizing alternative public transportation [...] Read more.
Public transportation is one of the main goals of a developing city. This topic includes not only administrators, but also city residents and the environment, with economic, environmental, and social factors. This paper presents a multicriteria decision-making process for prioritizing alternative public transportation projects in Kırıkkale, considering the urban type of a developing city. It outlines three planned projects for improvement: “electric municipality bus”, “light rail system”, and the “modernization of existing vehicles and network optimization”. In this study, we use the analytic hierarchy process and fuzzy technique for order preference by similarity to ideal situation (TOPSIS) application to prioritize transportation projects using economic, social, transportation, and environmental sub-criteria. The aim of this study is to select the most suitable project, based on sustainability, for more urban livability in Kırıkkale city. In the strategic decision-making process, the weights of each sustainability criteria have been determined using analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The fuzzy TOPSIS method has been applied for ranking the proposed alternative projects for Kırıkkale. Finally, the analytic decision process results are compared, and the electric municipality bus is selected as the best project alternative. The results of this study can not only offer a solution for current needs related to urban planning, but also ensure as a more transparent decision-making process for developing sustainability in developing cities in the near future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Road Traffic Engineering and Sustainable Transportation)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 454 KiB  
Article
Public Transport Quality, Safety, and Perceived Accessibility
by Margareta Friman, Katrin Lättman and Lars E. Olsson
Sustainability 2020, 12(9), 3563; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12093563 - 27 Apr 2020
Cited by 74 | Viewed by 13411
Abstract
Service quality in public transport is proposed as a key determinant of perceived accessibility, the ease to live the life one wants with the help of the transport system, as low service quality may be a barrier for use, decreasing the ease to [...] Read more.
Service quality in public transport is proposed as a key determinant of perceived accessibility, the ease to live the life one wants with the help of the transport system, as low service quality may be a barrier for use, decreasing the ease to participate in daily activities. The first aim was to validate the direct relationship between public transport quality and perceived accessibility. Secondly, we analyzed the mediating role of safety perceptions to better explain the link between service quality and perceived accessibility. Public transport travelers (n = 4944) from five northern European cities were surveyed. Results from PLS-SEM modeling show that service quality has a significant and direct relationship with perceived accessibility, especially regarding functionality. An indirect relationship through travel safety perceptions was also observed, highlighting information and comfort as main drivers. High car use, low public transport use, increasing age, and being a woman were also associated with greater perceived accessibility. City comparisons yielded a number of significant differences. Our results contribute to the research literature by highlighting the importance of service quality in public transport for perceptions of accessibility in daily travel. In particular, we argue that functionality is the core attribute to focus on, and that attributes related to travel safety perceptions should be carefully considered when planning for sustainable transport. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Improving Quality of Service and Safety Perception in Public Transport Systems)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

31 pages, 1661 KiB  
Review
The Use of Life Cycle-Based Approaches in the Food Service Sector to Improve Sustainability: A Systematic Review
by Berill Takacs and Aiduan Borrion
Sustainability 2020, 12(9), 3504; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12093504 - 25 Apr 2020
Cited by 38 | Viewed by 11377
Abstract
With the prevalence of eating out increasing, the food service sector has an increasing role in accelerating the transition towards more sustainable and healthy food systems. While life cycle-based approaches are recommended to be used as reference methods for assessing the environmental sustainability [...] Read more.
With the prevalence of eating out increasing, the food service sector has an increasing role in accelerating the transition towards more sustainable and healthy food systems. While life cycle-based approaches are recommended to be used as reference methods for assessing the environmental sustainability of food systems and supply chains, their application in the food service sector is still relatively scarce. In this study, a systematic review was conducted to examine the use and effectiveness of life-cycle based interventions in improving the sustainability of food services. This review found that life-cycle based approaches are not only useful for identifying hotspots for impact reduction, but also for comparing the performance of different sustainability interventions. In particular, interventions targeting the production phase, such as promoting dietary change through menu planning in which high-impact ingredients (e.g., animal products) are replaced with low-impact ingredients (e.g., plant foods), had the highest improvement potential. Interventions targeting other phases of the catering supply chain (e.g., food storage, meal preparation, waste management) had considerably lower improvement potentials. This review article provides valuable insights on how the sustainability of the food service sector can be improved without the burden shifting of impacts, which interventions to prioritise, and where knowledge gaps in research exist. A key recommendation for future research is to focus on combined life cycle thinking approaches that are capable of addressing sustainability holistically in the food service sector by integrating and assessing the environmental, social and economic dimensions of interventions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Agriculture)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 1332 KiB  
Article
Seasonality and Efficiency of the Hotel Industry in the Balearic Islands: Implications for Economic and Environmental Sustainability
by Francisco Javier Sáez-Fernández, Ignacio Jiménez-Hernández and María del Sol Ostos-Rey
Sustainability 2020, 12(9), 3506; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12093506 - 25 Apr 2020
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 5389
Abstract
Tourism seasonality generates negative environmental and economic impacts. This paper analyzes the effects of seasonality on the efficiency of the hotel industry in the Balearic Islands (Spain). To that end, a sample of hotel establishments is divided into two groups (those that close [...] Read more.
Tourism seasonality generates negative environmental and economic impacts. This paper analyzes the effects of seasonality on the efficiency of the hotel industry in the Balearic Islands (Spain). To that end, a sample of hotel establishments is divided into two groups (those that close down during the off-season and those that do not). Data envelopment analysis (DEA) is applied to assess the radial efficiency of each of the selected hotels; then, directional distance functions (DDFs) are used to measure the degree of efficiency with which these hotels use each of the inputs that form part of their production process. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that the said technique has been applied to the hospitality industry to examine the effects of seasonality. The results of this study suggest that those establishments that do not close down their operations are markedly more efficient than the ones that do. Moreover, they are more efficient in the use of each input. Therefore, a reduction in the levels of tourism seasonality would improve the economic sustainability of the hotels and reduce the environmental pressure at peak times. Finally, in line with the theoretical hypotheses formulated, the results regarding the specific efficiency levels for each input show that the greater the degree of flexibility with which these inputs are used, the higher the efficiency. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tourism, Economic Growth and Sustainability)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 1376 KiB  
Article
Multi-Depot Green Vehicle Routing Problem to Minimize Carbon Emissions
by Weiheng Zhang, Yuvraj Gajpal, Srimantoorao. S. Appadoo and Qi Wei
Sustainability 2020, 12(8), 3500; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12083500 - 24 Apr 2020
Cited by 41 | Viewed by 4525
Abstract
A Multi-Depot Green Vehicle Routing Problem (MDGVRP) is considered in this paper. In MDGVRP, Alternative Fuel-powered Vehicles (AFVs) start from different depots, serve customers, and, at the end, return to the original depots. The limited fuel tank capacity of AFVs forces them to [...] Read more.
A Multi-Depot Green Vehicle Routing Problem (MDGVRP) is considered in this paper. In MDGVRP, Alternative Fuel-powered Vehicles (AFVs) start from different depots, serve customers, and, at the end, return to the original depots. The limited fuel tank capacity of AFVs forces them to visit Alternative Fuel Stations (AFS) for refueling. The objective is to minimize the total carbon emissions. A Two-stage Ant Colony System (TSACS) is proposed to find a feasible and acceptable solution for this NP-hard (Non-deterministic polynomial-time) optimization problem. The distinct characteristic of the proposed TSACS is the use of two distinct types of ants for two different purposes. The first type of ant is used to assign customers to depots, while the second type of ant is used to find the routes. The solution for the MDGVRP is useful and beneficial for companies that employ AFVs to deal with the various inconveniences brought by the limited number of AFSs. The numerical experiments confirm the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms in this research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Transportation)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

25 pages, 2898 KiB  
Article
Life-Cycle Assessment and Monetary Measurements for the Carbon Footprint Reduction of Public Buildings
by Maria Rosa Trovato, Francesco Nocera and Salvatore Giuffrida
Sustainability 2020, 12(8), 3460; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12083460 - 23 Apr 2020
Cited by 63 | Viewed by 6350
Abstract
Energy consumption in public buildings increased drastically over the last decade. Significant policy actions towards the promotion of energy efficiency in the building sector have been developed involving sustainable low-CO2-emission technologies. This paper presents the results of an economic–environmental valuation of [...] Read more.
Energy consumption in public buildings increased drastically over the last decade. Significant policy actions towards the promotion of energy efficiency in the building sector have been developed involving sustainable low-CO2-emission technologies. This paper presents the results of an economic–environmental valuation of a standard energy retrofit project for a public building in a Mediterranean area, integrating a life-cycle assessment (LCA) into the traditional economic–financial evaluation pattern. The study results show that simple retrofit of sustainable low-CO2-emission strategies such as wooden double-glazed windows, organic external wall insulation systems, and green roofs can reduce energy needs for heating and cooling by 58.5% and 33.4%, respectively. Furthermore, the implementation of an LCA highlights that the use of sustainable materials reduces the building’s carbon footprint index by 54.1% after retrofit compared to standard materials, thus providing an additional increase in the socio-environmental–economic–financial results of 18%. Some proposals are made about the accounting of the replacement costs and the residual value as requested in the logic of life-cycle cost (that is the economic extension of the LCA), namely concerning the method to take into account the replacement costs and the residual value. The economic calculation highlights the fundamental role played by tax benefits supporting the building energy retrofit, also in temperate climate zones, thus allowing the creation of environmental benefits in addition to remarkable cost savings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Application of Renewable Energy in Sustainable Architecture)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 3955 KiB  
Article
Novel Composite Materials for Lake Restoration: A New Approach Impacting on Ecology and Circular Economy
by Miltiadis Zamparas, Grigorios L. Kyriakopoulos, Marios Drosos, Vasilis C. Kapsalis and Ioannis K. Kalavrouziotis
Sustainability 2020, 12(8), 3397; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12083397 - 22 Apr 2020
Cited by 42 | Viewed by 3689
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to promote a new way of application composite materials to restore eutrophic waters. A new sustainable way of application is based on the “teabag” method, in which materials were placed in water-permeable bags and immersed in the [...] Read more.
The purpose of this study is to promote a new way of application composite materials to restore eutrophic waters. A new sustainable way of application is based on the “teabag” method, in which materials were placed in water-permeable bags and immersed in the water column in order to sorb phosphate—one of the main contributory element for the eutrophication problem. Particularly, the two composites materials of Phoslock™ (lanthanum-modified bentonite, LMB) and Bephos™ (Fe-modified bentonite, f-MB) were tested and bench-scale batch experiments were employed to investigate their sorption efficiency in the forms of slurry and teabag. The adsorption kinetics and the relevant adsorption isotherms were deployed, while the effect of the materials on turbidity and their aging were also investigated. Experimental results showed that Phoslock™ and Bephos™ (as teabag), being applied at initial concentration range: 0.05–5 mg/L, they sustained a maximum adsorption capacity of 7.80 mg/g and 25.1 mg/g, respectively, which are considered sufficient rates for P concentrations reported at natural aquatic ecosystems. At the same time this new method did not cause turbidity in the water column, since the material was not released into the water, thus, preventing potential harmful consequences for the living organisms. Moreover, the “teabag” method prevents the material to cover the lake bottom, avoiding the phenomenon of smothering of benthos. Βy teabag method, the materials can be collected for further applicability as soil improver or crops fertilizer. Finally, it was argued that the possibility to recycle LMB and f-MB materials for agricultural use is of paramount importance, sustaining also positive impacts on sustainable ecology and on the routes of circular economy (CE). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eutrophication Control Using Novel Composite Materials)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

25 pages, 2812 KiB  
Article
Analyzing the Role of Resource Factors in Citizens’ Intention to Pay for and Participate in Disaster Management
by Seoyong Kim, Seol A. Kwon, Jae Eun Lee, Byeong-Cheol Ahn, Ju Ho Lee, Chen An, Keiko Kitagawa, Dohyeong Kim and Jaesun Wang
Sustainability 2020, 12(8), 3377; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12083377 - 21 Apr 2020
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3573
Abstract
This study aimed to analyze how resource variables (health status, economic affordability, social network, social capital, and neighborhood environment) influence citizens’ intention to pay for and participate in disaster management and safety activities. We compared four psychometric paradigm variables with five resource variables [...] Read more.
This study aimed to analyze how resource variables (health status, economic affordability, social network, social capital, and neighborhood environment) influence citizens’ intention to pay for and participate in disaster management and safety activities. We compared four psychometric paradigm variables with five resource variables and analyzed how the latter moderate the relationships of the perception variables with intention to pay and to participate. A regression analysis revealed that willingness to pay was mainly explained by trust, followed by social capital, economic affordability, perceived risk, and experience, respectively. Participation was explained by knowledge, social capital, age, trust, and social network, respectively. Gender, trust, and social capital had an influence both on willingness to pay and to participate. Perceived risk, knowledge, and trust had a moderating effect on willingness to pay, but this effect depended on the quality of the neighborhood environment. Trust, knowledge, and stigma had a moderating effect on participation intention, but this effect depended on social capital and the neighborhood environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Developments in the Field of Risk and Crisis Management towards Realization of the Sustainable Development Goals)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

28 pages, 2260 KiB  
Article
Blockchain Based Sustainable Local Energy Trading Considering Home Energy Management and Demurrage Mechanism
by Adamu Sani Yahaya, Nadeem Javaid, Fahad A. Alzahrani, Amjad Rehman, Ibrar Ullah, Affaf Shahid and Muhammad Shafiq
Sustainability 2020, 12(8), 3385; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12083385 - 21 Apr 2020
Cited by 79 | Viewed by 5762
Abstract
With the increase in local energy generation from Renewable Energy Sources (RESs), the concept of decentralized peer-to-peer Local Energy Market (LEM) is becoming popular. In this paper, a blockchain-based LEM is investigated, where consumers and prosumers in a small community trade energy without [...] Read more.
With the increase in local energy generation from Renewable Energy Sources (RESs), the concept of decentralized peer-to-peer Local Energy Market (LEM) is becoming popular. In this paper, a blockchain-based LEM is investigated, where consumers and prosumers in a small community trade energy without the need for a third party. In the proposed model, a Home Energy Management (HEM) system and demurrage mechanism are introduced, which allow both the prosumers and consumers to optimize their energy consumption and to minimize electricity costs. This method also allows end-users to shift their load to off-peak hours and to use cheap energy from the LEM. The proposed solution shows how energy consumption and electricity cost are optimized using HEM and demurrage mechanism. It also provides economic benefits at both the community and end-user levels and provides sufficient energy to the LEM. The simulation results show that electricity cost is reduced up to 44.73% and 28.55% when the scheduling algorithm is applied using the Critical Peak Price (CPP) and Real-Time Price (RTP) schemes, respectively. Similarly, 65.15% and 35.09% of costs are reduced when CPP and RTP are applied with demurrage mechanism. Moreover, 51.80% and 44.37% electricity costs reduction is observed when CPP and RTP are used with both demurrage and scheduling algorithm. We also carried out security vulnerability analysis to ensure that our energy trading smart contract is secure and bug-free against the common vulnerabilities and attacks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Management in a "Smart Home" with Integrated Solar Cells)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

25 pages, 2960 KiB  
Article
Exploiting OLTC and BESS Operation Coordinated with Active Network Management in LV Networks
by Konstantinos Kotsalos, Ismael Miranda, Jose Luis Dominguez-Garcia, Helder Leite, Nuno Silva and Nikos Hatziargyriou
Sustainability 2020, 12(8), 3332; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12083332 - 20 Apr 2020
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3422
Abstract
The large number of small scale Distributed Energy Resources (DER) such as Electric Vehicles (EVs), rooftop photovoltaic installations and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), installed along distribution networks, poses several challenges related to power quality, efficiency, and reliability. Concurrently, the connection of DER [...] Read more.
The large number of small scale Distributed Energy Resources (DER) such as Electric Vehicles (EVs), rooftop photovoltaic installations and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), installed along distribution networks, poses several challenges related to power quality, efficiency, and reliability. Concurrently, the connection of DER may provide substantial flexibility to the operation of distribution grids and market players such as aggregators. This paper proposes an optimization framework for the energy management and scheduling of operation for Low Voltage (LV) networks assuring both admissible voltage magnitudes and minimized line congestion and voltage unbalances. The proposed tool allows the utilization and coordination of On-Load Tap Changer (OLTC) distribution transformers, BESS, and flexibilities provided by DER. The methodology is framed with a multi-objective three phase unbalanced multi-period AC Optimal Power Flow (MACOPF) solved as a nonlinear optimization problem. The performance of the resulting control scheme is validated on a LV distribution network through multiple case scenarios with high microgeneration and EV integration. The usefulness of the proposed scheme is additionally demonstrated by deriving the most efficient placement and sizing BESS solution based on yearly synthetic load and generation data-set. A techno-economical analysis is also conducted to identify optimal coordination among assets and DER for several objectives. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integration and Control of Renewable Energy and Power Electronics for Future Power Systems)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 852 KiB  
Article
The Potential Role of Ammonia as Marine Fuel—Based on Energy Systems Modeling and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis
by Julia Hansson, Selma Brynolf, Erik Fridell and Mariliis Lehtveer
Sustainability 2020, 12(8), 3265; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12083265 - 17 Apr 2020
Cited by 147 | Viewed by 11886
Abstract
To reduce the climate impact of shipping, the introduction of alternative fuels is required. There is a range of different marine fuel options but ammonia, a potential zero carbon fuel, has recently received a lot of attention. The purpose of this paper is [...] Read more.
To reduce the climate impact of shipping, the introduction of alternative fuels is required. There is a range of different marine fuel options but ammonia, a potential zero carbon fuel, has recently received a lot of attention. The purpose of this paper is to assess the prospects for ammonia as a future fuel for the shipping sector in relation to other marine fuels. The assessment is based on a synthesis of knowledge in combination with: (i) energy systems modeling including the cost-effectiveness of ammonia as marine fuel in relation to other fuels for reaching global climate targets; and (ii) a multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) approach ranking marine fuel options while considering estimated fuel performance and the importance of criteria based on maritime stakeholder preferences. In the long-term and to reach global GHG reduction, the energy systems modeled indicate that the use of hydrogen represents a more cost-effective marine fuel option than ammonia. However, in the MCDA covering more aspects, we find that ammonia may be almost as interesting for shipping related stakeholders as hydrogen and various biomass-based fuels. Ammonia may to some extent be an interesting future marine fuel option, but many issues remain to be solved before large-scale introduction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decarbonisation of International Shipping: How to Achieve the IMO’s GHG Goals?)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

32 pages, 525 KiB  
Review
Towards the IMO’s GHG Goals: A Critical Overview of the Perspectives and Challenges of the Main Options for Decarbonizing International Shipping
by Patrizia Serra and Gianfranco Fancello
Sustainability 2020, 12(8), 3220; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12083220 - 16 Apr 2020
Cited by 116 | Viewed by 12463
Abstract
The Initial Strategy on reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ships adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 2018 commits the IMO to reduce total GHG emissions of shipping by at least 50% by 2050. Though the direction of the Strategy [...] Read more.
The Initial Strategy on reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ships adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 2018 commits the IMO to reduce total GHG emissions of shipping by at least 50% by 2050. Though the direction of the Strategy is clear, the path to implementation remains uncertain. The ambitious IMO’s target calls for widespread uptake of lower and zero-carbon fuels, in addition to other energy efficiency measures, including operational and market ones. Using a triangulated research approach, this paper provides a critical overview of the main measures and initiatives the shipping industry can adopt to try to cope with the new IMO’s requirements. The pros and cons of the most popular emission reduction options are investigated along with the main challenges and barriers to implementation and the potential facilitators that could foster a wider application. The framework that is outlined is complex and not without controversy. Research can play a key role as a facilitator of shipping’s decarbonization by providing its contribution to overcoming the existing controversies on various decarbonization options and by developing a wealth of knowledge that can encourage the implementation of low-carbon initiatives. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decarbonisation of International Shipping: How to Achieve the IMO’s GHG Goals?)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

24 pages, 3042 KiB  
Article
Energy-Efficient and Integrated Allocation of Berths, Quay Cranes, and Internal Trucks in Container Terminals
by Ahmed Karam, Amr Eltawil and Kristian Hegner Reinau
Sustainability 2020, 12(8), 3202; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12083202 - 15 Apr 2020
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 4163
Abstract
Despite a significant number of studies that have focused on the operational efficiency of container terminals, existing literature has paid little attention to improving energy efficiency, e.g., energy consumption and negative externalities in container terminals. Most researchers consider energy-saving goals when allocating berths [...] Read more.
Despite a significant number of studies that have focused on the operational efficiency of container terminals, existing literature has paid little attention to improving energy efficiency, e.g., energy consumption and negative externalities in container terminals. Most researchers consider energy-saving goals when allocating berths and quay cranes to vessels, assuming that internal trucks are in sufficient supply. Furthermore, recent studies have revealed that shortage of internal trucks has become an issue that greatly affects the operational and energy efficiencies of container terminals. This work presents a planning model that integrates berth allocation, quay crane assignment, and internal truck assignment problems. The developed model contributes to existing literature by including energy-saving goals in the integrated planning of these problems, as well as including important realistic factors such as shortages of internal trucks and handling time estimations, thus producing a reliable handling plan that achieves energy and cost savings without additional truck investment. To solve realistic problems, a Lagrangian relaxation-based method is developed. Furthermore, the benefits of the developed approach are demonstrated by comparing it to an existing approach. On average, our approach could improve the solutions of the integrated problem with different numbers of internal trucks by 6% compared to the solutions obtained using the existing approach. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Maritime Transportation Management and Policies)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 4482 KiB  
Article
Improving Residential Load Disaggregation for Sustainable Development of Energy via Principal Component Analysis
by Arash Moradzadeh, Omid Sadeghian, Kazem Pourhossein, Behnam Mohammadi-Ivatloo and Amjad Anvari-Moghaddam
Sustainability 2020, 12(8), 3158; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12083158 - 14 Apr 2020
Cited by 44 | Viewed by 3762
Abstract
The useful planning and operation of the energy system requires a sustainability assessment of the system, in which the load model adopted is the most important factor in sustainability assessment. Having information about energy consumption patterns of the appliances allows consumers to manage [...] Read more.
The useful planning and operation of the energy system requires a sustainability assessment of the system, in which the load model adopted is the most important factor in sustainability assessment. Having information about energy consumption patterns of the appliances allows consumers to manage their energy consumption efficiently. Non-intrusive load monitoring (NILM) is an effective tool to recognize power consumption patterns from the measured data in meters. In this paper, an unsupervised approach based on dimensionality reduction is applied to identify power consumption patterns of home electrical appliances. This approach can be utilized to classify household activities of daily life using data measured from home electrical smart meters. In the proposed method, the power consumption curves of the electrical appliances, as high-dimensional data, are mapped to a low-dimensional space by preserving the highest data variance via principal component analysis (PCA). In this paper, the reference energy disaggregation dataset (REDD) has been used to verify the proposed method. REDD is related to real-world measurements recorded at low-frequency. The presented results reveal the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed method in comparison to conventional procedures of NILM. Full article
(This article belongs to the Collection Microgrids: The Path to Sustainability)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 2693 KiB  
Review
How Can Sustainable Agriculture Increase Climate Resilience? A Systematic Review
by Daniel El Chami, André Daccache and Maroun El Moujabber
Sustainability 2020, 12(8), 3119; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12083119 - 13 Apr 2020
Cited by 57 | Viewed by 11163
Abstract
In the last few decades, a great deal has been written on the use of sustainable agriculture to improve the resilience of ecosystem services to climate change. However, no tangible and systematic evidence exists on how this agriculture would participate in alleviating impacts [...] Read more.
In the last few decades, a great deal has been written on the use of sustainable agriculture to improve the resilience of ecosystem services to climate change. However, no tangible and systematic evidence exists on how this agriculture would participate in alleviating impacts on vulnerable rural communities. This paper provides a narrative systematic review (SR) integrated with a bibliometric analysis and a concept network analysis to determine how, in this changing climate, sustainable agriculture can increase the resilience of agrosystems. Our search ranged from the date of the first relevant article until the end of 2018. The results generated demonstrated the following: (a) Only single practices and methods have been studied to assess the impacts on single ecosystem services; (b) Soil quality and health are considered a key indicator of sustainable agriculture; (c) Although the assessed practices and methods were shown to improve the biodiversity of agrosystems, which makes them more resilient to extreme climate events, we are still far from developing interdisciplinary and multidimensional agriculture that integrates all management aspects and generates a full range of ecosystem services. In conclusion, this study addressed the following recommendations for the scientific community and policymakers to orient future research strategies and efforts: (a) The integration of all agrosystem services into sustainable management using an ecosystem-based approach on a life-cycle basis using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method; (b) Improving the scientific understanding of traditional knowledge to facilitate greater synergy and further integration; (c) The unification of assessment methods and indicators for the quantification of impacts; (d) The creation of a platform to share, monitor, screen, and approve assessments and evaluations of sustainable agriculture by region. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Agriculture)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 582 KiB  
Article
Empirical Study on Bikesharing Brand Selection in China in the Post-Sharing Era
by Guangnian Xiao and Zihao Wang
Sustainability 2020, 12(8), 3125; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12083125 - 13 Apr 2020
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 3221
Abstract
With the rapid popularization of mobile Internet technology and smart terminal equipment in recent years, the volume and usage of dockless bikesharing (hereafter referred to as bikesharing), which is green, environmentally friendly and convenient, have grown rapidly, making it one of the China’s [...] Read more.
With the rapid popularization of mobile Internet technology and smart terminal equipment in recent years, the volume and usage of dockless bikesharing (hereafter referred to as bikesharing), which is green, environmentally friendly and convenient, have grown rapidly, making it one of the China’s “new four major inventions.” The development of the bikesharing in China consists of a pre-sharing era and a post-sharing era. In the pre-sharing era, capital-driven vicious market competition and lack of precise control have led to the abuse of urban space. Since the post-sharing era, the industry structure has returned to rationality, and many participants have been forced out of the market. The bikesharing has formed an oligopoly market consisting of head players such as Hellobike, Mobike, and Ofo. Therefore, how to improve the level of refined operations, promote sustainable development, improve cyclist satisfaction, and contribute to China’s strength in transportation have become urgent problems for bikesharing companies and traffic management departments. From the perspective of the cyclist experience, the brand choice of the bikesharing is taken as the research object. An online revealed preference survey is used to collect data on cyclists’ socio-economic attributes and subjective evaluations on the bikesharing. The conditional Logit model is used to explore the important factors that influence cyclists on the choice of bikesharing brands. Research results include: (1) age, occupation type, after-tax monthly income of the faculty group, riding comfort, rent, picking up/returning convenience, word of mouth, and volume have a significant impact on cyclists’ bikesharing brand choices; (2) gender, educational background, monthly living expenses of the student group, appearance, deposit, deposit returning speed, rate of broken bikes, ease of use of software, and rent discount have no significant impact on cyclists’ bikesharing brand choices. The research results are of great significance for improving the service quality of bikesharing companies and promoting the healthy development of the shared economy in China. Based on the results of the study, policy recommendations are made on the improvement for riding comfort, human-centered design, and word of mouth, and the construction of shared facilities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Toward Sustainability: Bike-Sharing Systems Design, Simulation and Management)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 4122 KiB  
Article
A Deep Learning Approach to Forecasting Monthly Demand for Residential–Sector Electricity
by Hyojoo Son and Changwan Kim
Sustainability 2020, 12(8), 3103; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12083103 - 13 Apr 2020
Cited by 35 | Viewed by 3855
Abstract
Forecasting electricity demand at the regional or national level is a key procedural element of power-system planning. However, achieving such objectives in the residential sector, the primary driver of peak demand, is challenging given this sector’s pattern of constantly fluctuating and gradually increasing [...] Read more.
Forecasting electricity demand at the regional or national level is a key procedural element of power-system planning. However, achieving such objectives in the residential sector, the primary driver of peak demand, is challenging given this sector’s pattern of constantly fluctuating and gradually increasing energy usage. Although deep learning algorithms have recently yielded promising results in various time series analyses, their potential applicability to forecasting monthly residential electricity demand has yet to be fully explored. As such, this study proposed a forecasting model with social and weather-related variables by introducing long short-term memory (LSTM), which has been known to be powerful among deep learning-based approaches for time series forecasting. The validation of the proposed model was performed using a set of data spanning 22 years in South Korea. The resulting forecasting performance was evaluated on the basis of six performance measures. Further, this model’s performance was subjected to a comparison with the performance of four benchmark models. The performance of the proposed model was exceptional according to all of the measures employed. This model can facilitate improved decision-making regarding power-system planning by accurately forecasting the electricity demands of the residential sector, thereby contributing to the efficient production and use of resources. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Efficiency and Sustainability in Buildings)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 4627 KiB  
Article
Sustainability Assessment of Goat and Sheep Farms: A Comparison between European Countries
by Christina Paraskevopoulou, Alexandros Theodoridis, Marion Johnson, Athanasios Ragkos, Lisa Arguile, Laurence Smith, Dimitrios Vlachos and Georgios Arsenos
Sustainability 2020, 12(8), 3099; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12083099 - 12 Apr 2020
Cited by 30 | Viewed by 7653
Abstract
European sheep and goat farming faces diverse challenges at global or local scales and constitutes an important sector for many countries, playing important sociocultural, economic and environmental roles. A closer examination of the overall sustainability of the sector is necessary to assess the [...] Read more.
European sheep and goat farming faces diverse challenges at global or local scales and constitutes an important sector for many countries, playing important sociocultural, economic and environmental roles. A closer examination of the overall sustainability of the sector is necessary to assess the performance of different farm types in various geographical settings. This comparative study evaluates the use of a common sustainability assessment (SA) tool for the major European countries in the sheep and goat sector. In particular, the study reports the results of a SA using the Public Goods (PG) Tool, adapted within the Innovation for Sustainable Sheep and Goat Production in Europe (iSAGE) Horizon 2020 project, which includes questions accounting for 13 dimensions of a sheep and goat farm sustainability. In total, 206 farmers from Greece, Italy, Spain, Finland, United Kingdom, France and Turkey were interviewed, all of which were typical of specific types of a pan-European sheep and goat farm typologies elaborated within iSAGE. The study resulted in composite indicators of performance in each dimension for each country. Finland, Italy and the United Kingdom performed better than other countries, while Turkey and Greece performed below average in most categories. The results highlight challenges for each country but also at the European level, the latter mainly relating to generational renewal and an unwillingness to invest in the adoption of a more sustainable approach with long-term results. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Livestock Production)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 4406 KiB  
Article
Proposing a Paradigm Shift in Rural Electrification Investments in Sub-Saharan Africa through Agriculture
by George Kyriakarakos, Athanasios T. Balafoutis and Dionysis Bochtis
Sustainability 2020, 12(8), 3096; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12083096 - 12 Apr 2020
Cited by 43 | Viewed by 4847
Abstract
Almost one billion people in the world still do not have access to electricity. Most of them live in rural areas of the developing world. Access to electricity in the rural areas of Sub-Saharan Africa is only 28%, roughly 600 million people. The [...] Read more.
Almost one billion people in the world still do not have access to electricity. Most of them live in rural areas of the developing world. Access to electricity in the rural areas of Sub-Saharan Africa is only 28%, roughly 600 million people. The financing of rural electrification is challenging and, in order to accomplish higher private sector investments, new innovative business models have to be developed. In this paper, a new approach in the financing of microgrid electrification activities is proposed and investigated. In this approach, agriculture related businesses take the lead in the electrification activities of the surrounding communities. It is shown that the high cost of rural electrification can be met through the increased value of locally produced products, and cross-subsidization can take place in order to decrease the cost of household electrification. The approach is implemented in a case study in Rwanda, through which the possibility of local agricultural cooperatives leading electrification activities is demonstrated. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green, Closed Loop, Circular Bio-Economy)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 724 KiB  
Review
Systematic Mapping of Research on Farm-Level Sustainability in Egg and Chicken Meat Production
by Stefan Gunnarsson, Katarina Arvidsson Segerkvist, Lina Göransson, Helena Hansson and Ulf Sonesson
Sustainability 2020, 12(7), 3033; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12073033 - 10 Apr 2020
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 6179
Abstract
The sustainability of future poultry production needs to be improved in order to meet global challenges. The global chicken population has expanded significantly in recent decades, due to increased human demand for eggs and chicken meat. Therefore, it is critically important to mitigate [...] Read more.
The sustainability of future poultry production needs to be improved in order to meet global challenges. The global chicken population has expanded significantly in recent decades, due to increased human demand for eggs and chicken meat. Therefore, it is critically important to mitigate challenges to the sustainability of modern poultry production, such as pollution, the depletion of finite natural resources and animal welfare issues. This study systematically mapped the scientific literature on farm-level sustainability in egg and chicken meat production. The concept of sustainability was considered holistically, covering its economic, environmental and social dimensions, each consisting of a broad range of different aspects that may contradict or reinforce each other. The literature published between January 2000 and March 2020 with a geographical focus on Europe, North America and Australia–New Zealand, were included. The literature search resulted in a total of 428 hits, but after the exclusion of articles that did not match the scope of the study, only 26 papers remained for the systematic mapping. Of these, only three papers covered all three dimensions of sustainability. Aspects of economic sustainability were addressed in 10 papers, aspects of environmental sustainability in 18 papers, and aspects of social sustainability in 23 papers. The findings in this study are an important foundation for the discussion and prioritisation of future actions to increase knowledge of farm-level sustainability in egg and chicken meat production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Livestock Production)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 8297 KiB  
Article
Energy Efficiency and GHG Emissions Mapping of Buildings for Decision-Making Processes against Climate Change at the Local Level
by Edgar Lorenzo-Sáez, José-Vicente Oliver-Villanueva, Eloina Coll-Aliaga, Lenin-Guillermo Lemus-Zúñiga, Victoria Lerma-Arce and Antonio Reig-Fabado
Sustainability 2020, 12(7), 2982; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12072982 - 8 Apr 2020
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3613
Abstract
Buildings have become a key source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions due to the consumption of primary energy, especially when used to achieve thermal comfort conditions. In addition, buildings play a key role for adapting societies to climate change by achieving more energy [...] Read more.
Buildings have become a key source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions due to the consumption of primary energy, especially when used to achieve thermal comfort conditions. In addition, buildings play a key role for adapting societies to climate change by achieving more energy efficiency. Therefore, buildings have become a key sector to tackle climate change at the local level. However, public decision-makers do not have tools with enough spatial resolution to prioritise and focus the available resources and efforts in an efficient manner. The objective of the research is to develop an innovative methodology based on a geographic information system (GIS) for mapping primary energy consumption and GHG emissions in buildings in cities according to energy efficiency certificates. The developed methodology has been tested in a representative medium-sized city in Spain, obtaining an accurate analysis that shows 32,000 t of CO2 emissions due to primary energy consumption of 140 GWh in residential buildings with high spatial resolution at single building level. The obtained results demonstrate that the majority of residential buildings have low levels of energy efficiency and emit an average of 45 kg CO2/m2. Compared to the national average in Spain, this obtained value is on the average, while it is slightly better at the regional level. Furthermore, the results obtained demonstrate that the developed methodology is able to directly identify city districts with highest potential for improving energy efficiency and reducing GHG emissions. Additionally, a data model adapted to the INSPIRE regulation has been developed in order to ensure interoperability and European-wide application. All these results have allowed the local authorities to better define local strategies towards a low-carbon economy and energy transition. In conclusion, public decision-makers will be supported with an innovative and user-friendly GIS-based methodology to better define local strategies towards a low-carbon economy and energy transition in a more efficient and transparent way based on metrics of high spatial resolution and accuracy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Efficiency and Sustainability in Buildings)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 3203 KiB  
Article
Assessing Sustainability Performance at the Farm Level: Examples from Greek Agricultural Systems
by Irene Tzouramani, Stamatis Mantziaris and Pavlos Karanikolas
Sustainability 2020, 12(7), 2929; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12072929 - 7 Apr 2020
Cited by 24 | Viewed by 5894
Abstract
In recent years, farmers and policymakers have faced ample challenges and have struggled to support the sustainability of the agricultural sector. Sustainable agriculture encompasses multiple concepts, and its performance produces extensive debate about data requirements, appropriate indicators, evaluation methods, and tools. Under the [...] Read more.
In recent years, farmers and policymakers have faced ample challenges and have struggled to support the sustainability of the agricultural sector. Sustainable agriculture encompasses multiple concepts, and its performance produces extensive debate about data requirements, appropriate indicators, evaluation methods, and tools. Under the European Union (EU) financed project FLINT (Farm Level Indicators for New Topics in policy evaluation), detailed data have been collected at the farm level to provide broader coverage of sustainability indicators on a wide range of relevant topics to facilitate the assessment of sustainability performance. The approach has been applied in a pilot network of representative farms at the EU level, considering the heterogeneity of the EU farming sector to provide data infrastructure with up to date information for sustainability indicators. This study aims to assess sustainability performance at the farm level in Greece. Representative and dominant agricultural systems, such as permanent crops, olive trees, arable crops, and livestock (sheep) farms, comprise the Greek sample. It uses the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) methodology and attempts to gain insights into the sustainability performance of agricultural systems. The outcome of the sustainability assessment reveals knowledge and develops support for strategic farm choices in order to support both farmers and policymakers towards more sustainable development plans. The results indicate that three typical Mediterranean farming systems, namely permanent crops, olive trees, and extensive livestock systems (sheep farms), are more sustainable in contrast to intensive and arable crop farms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Agriculture)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

30 pages, 686 KiB  
Review
Expanding the Scope of the Bicycle Level-of-Service Concept: A Review of the Literature
by Khashayar Kazemzadeh, Aliaksei Laureshyn, Lena Winslott Hiselius and Enrico Ronchi
Sustainability 2020, 12(7), 2944; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12072944 - 7 Apr 2020
Cited by 31 | Viewed by 8565
Abstract
Research into the bicycle level-of-service (BLOS) has been extensively conducted over the last three decades. This research has mostly focused on user perceptions of comfort to provide guidance for decision-makers and planners. Segments and nodes were studied first, followed by a network evaluation. [...] Read more.
Research into the bicycle level-of-service (BLOS) has been extensively conducted over the last three decades. This research has mostly focused on user perceptions of comfort to provide guidance for decision-makers and planners. Segments and nodes were studied first, followed by a network evaluation. Besides these investigations, several variables have also been utilized to depict the users’ perspectives within the BLOS field, along with other cycling research domains that simultaneously scrutinized the users’ preferences. This review investigates the variables and indices employed in the BLOS area in relation to the field of bicycle flow and comfort research. Despite general agreement among existing BLOS variables and the adopted indices, several important research gaps remain to be filled. First, BLOS indices are often categorized based on transport components, while scarce attention has been paid to BLOS studies in trip-end facilities such as bicycle parking facilities. The importance of these facilities has been highlighted instead within research related to comfort. Second, the advantages of separated bike facilities have been proven in many studies; however, scarce research has addressed the challenges associated with them (e.g., the heterogeneity within those facilities due to the presence of electric bikes and electric scooters). This issue is clearly noticeable within the research regarding flow studies. Furthermore, network evaluation (in comparison to segment and node indices) has been studied to a lesser extent, whereas issues such as connectivity can be evaluated mainly through a holistic approach to the system. This study takes one step toward demonstrating the importance of the integration of similar research domains in the BLOS field to eliminate the aforementioned shortcomings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Transportation)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 746 KiB  
Article
Technology Characteristics, Stakeholder Pressure, Social Influence, and Green Innovation: Empirical Evidence from Chinese Express Companies
by Hao Zhang, Jie He, Xiaomeng Shi, Qiong Hong, Jie Bao and Shuqi Xue
Sustainability 2020, 12(7), 2891; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12072891 - 5 Apr 2020
Cited by 31 | Viewed by 5182
Abstract
Over the past decade, the rapid development of e-commerce and express industries in China has resulted in huge environmental costs. Compared with manufacturing industries, the values of green innovation are less recognized in logistics industries. To promote the green practices in logistic enterprises, [...] Read more.
Over the past decade, the rapid development of e-commerce and express industries in China has resulted in huge environmental costs. Compared with manufacturing industries, the values of green innovation are less recognized in logistics industries. To promote the green practices in logistic enterprises, it is imperative to have a thorough understanding of the determinants of green innovation adoption. To this end, this paper performs an empirical investigation into the intentions to adopt green innovation from 196 Chinese express companies. The determinant variables were constructed from the perspective of technology characteristics (perceived green usefulness and perceived integration ease of use), stakeholder pressure (government, customer, and platform pressures), and social influence. Then, a 20-item scale was designed based on the literature review and expert opinions. The results revealed the significant positive effects of technology characteristics and social influence on the intentions to adopt green innovation. Meanwhile, only the platform pressure was significant with the adopting intentions among the variables from stakeholder pressure. Moreover, variables from technology characteristics were found to have meditation effects between social influence and adopting intentions. Based on the findings, theoretical and practical implications are proposed to promote the green and sustainable development of express companies in China. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Transportation)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 2655 KiB  
Review
The Mechanisms of Endogenous Fires Occurring in Extractive Waste Dumping Facilities
by Krzysztof Gogola, Tomasz Rogala, Małgorzata Magdziarczyk and Adam Smoliński
Sustainability 2020, 12(7), 2856; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12072856 - 3 Apr 2020
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 2318
Abstract
The processes of hard coal extraction and processing are accompanied by the generation of a considerable amount of post-mining extractive waste, which in most cases is deposited on the ground surface. In the past, such waste was disposed of by deposition in bings [...] Read more.
The processes of hard coal extraction and processing are accompanied by the generation of a considerable amount of post-mining extractive waste, which in most cases is deposited on the ground surface. In the past, such waste was disposed of by deposition in bings and spoil piles of various kinds. The application of modern technologies makes it possible to recycle, reuse or reclaim extractive waste in engineering works or as a substitute of natural aggregates used for the construction of different kinds of banks and embankments. Regardless of whether the waste is deposited or reused, the basic target method of waste management consists of depositing it on the ground surface. This form of extractive waste management is always associated with the risk of the occurrence of coal self-heating phenomena, which may consequently lead to an endogenous fire. Therefore, it is of critical importance to apply appropriate technologies for the construction of coal waste embankments on the one hand, and on the other hand to recognize the mechanisms responsible for the occurrence of fires in extractive waste dumps, which constitutes the subject matter of this paper. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Energy Sustainability)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 1303 KiB  
Article
Trends in the Fashion Industry. The Perception of Sustainability and Circular Economy: A Gender/Generation Quantitative Approach
by Patrizia Gazzola, Enrica Pavione, Roberta Pezzetti and Daniele Grechi
Sustainability 2020, 12(7), 2809; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12072809 - 2 Apr 2020
Cited by 219 | Viewed by 155529
Abstract
The significant changes which have occurred in the competitive scenario in which fashion companies operate, combined with deep transformation in the lifestyles of final consumers, translate into the need to redefine the business models. Starting from a general overview of the emerging trends [...] Read more.
The significant changes which have occurred in the competitive scenario in which fashion companies operate, combined with deep transformation in the lifestyles of final consumers, translate into the need to redefine the business models. Starting from a general overview of the emerging trends today affecting the fashion industry, the paper will devote particular attention to the analysis of the most important phenomena that are influencing this market and the drivers for long-lasting competitiveness: sustainability and attention to the so-called circular economy. According to the literature, from the consumer behavior’s point of view, the younger generations are paying growing attention to these issues. In light of these considerations, this paper aimed to analyze how sustainability and circular economy principles are influencing the perception of the fashion world among the new generations of consumers. After mapping the emerging trends in the fashion industry and analyzing the role of sustainability from both the demand and supply side, this paper presents the results of a survey conducted through an anonymous questionnaire made in collaboration with Insubria University. The results of the survey describe the students’ behaviour as regards fashion’s emerging trends, with particular attention to sustainability issues and the application of circular economy principles. The survey results were analyzed from both a descriptive and quantitative point of view with the aim to check the different perceptions as regards sustainable fashion and circular economy in fashion, focusing mainly on the so-called Generation Z. The results of the analysis proved to be consistent with the theoretical framework and confirm the relevance of sustainability issues in the fashion industry today in driving the demand of Generation Z, by considering a gender perspective. Moreover, the circular economy is descriptively analyzed with the aim to understand the relevance of the different facets for the entire sample of respondents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability in Fashion Brands)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 2753 KiB  
Article
Optimal Placement of TCSC for Congestion Management and Power Loss Reduction Using Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithm
by Thang Trung Nguyen and Fazel Mohammadi
Sustainability 2020, 12(7), 2813; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12072813 - 2 Apr 2020
Cited by 50 | Viewed by 3904
Abstract
Electricity demand has been growing due to the increase in the world population and higher energy usage per capita as compared to the past. As a result, various methods have been proposed to increase the efficiency of power systems in terms of mitigating [...] Read more.
Electricity demand has been growing due to the increase in the world population and higher energy usage per capita as compared to the past. As a result, various methods have been proposed to increase the efficiency of power systems in terms of mitigating congestion and minimizing power losses. Power grids operating limitations result in congestion that specifies the final capacity of the system, which decreases the conventional power capabilities between coverage areas. Flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTS) can help to decrease flows in heavily loaded lines and lead to lines loadability improvements and cost reduction. In this paper, total power loss reduction and line congestion improvement are assessed by determining the optimal locations and compensation rates of Thyristor-Controlled Series Compensator (TCSC) devices using the Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithm (MOGA). The results of applying the proposed method on the IEEE 30-bus test system confirmed the efficiency of the proposed procedure. In addition, to check the performance, applicability, and effectiveness of the proposed method, different heuristic algorithms, such as the multi-objective Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm, Differential Evolution (DE) algorithm, and Mixed-Integer Non-Linear Program (MINLP) technique, are used for comparison. The obtained results show the accuracy and fast convergence of the proposed method over the other heuristic techniques. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integration of AC/DC Microgrids into Power Grids)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 2015 KiB  
Article
An Examination of Last Mile Delivery Practices of Freight Carriers Servicing Business Receivers in Inner-City Areas
by Khalid Aljohani and Russell G. Thompson
Sustainability 2020, 12(7), 2837; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12072837 - 2 Apr 2020
Cited by 28 | Viewed by 13396
Abstract
Freight carriers experience major challenges while operating in highly dense inner-city areas. Timely deliveries are crucial for the success of businesses and for the long-term economic growth of metropolitan areas. Previous freight studies have paid little attention to the characteristics of freight movements [...] Read more.
Freight carriers experience major challenges while operating in highly dense inner-city areas. Timely deliveries are crucial for the success of businesses and for the long-term economic growth of metropolitan areas. Previous freight studies have paid little attention to the characteristics of freight movements in a highly dense urban context. Accordingly, this study sought to quantify the operational practices for freight carriers that deliver light parcels to inner-city business receivers. Direct insights were collected using semistructured interviews and an online survey with freight carriers in Melbourne, Australia. The intent was to describe the delivery trips and vehicle types involved in this unique segment. An assessment of operational challenges to the efficiency of freight carriers is presented in the study. In general, freight deliveries to inner-city receivers are characterised by underutilised transport capacity along with a large number of delivery stops. The findings shed light on the challenges that couriers encounter in congested inner-city areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Last Mile Logistics)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

29 pages, 6024 KiB  
Article
Life Cycle Analysis of a Geothermal Power Plant: Comparison of the Environmental Performance with Other Renewable Energy Systems
by Riccardo Basosi, Roberto Bonciani, Dario Frosali, Giampaolo Manfrida, Maria Laura Parisi and Franco Sansone
Sustainability 2020, 12(7), 2786; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12072786 - 1 Apr 2020
Cited by 58 | Viewed by 10118
Abstract
A life cycle analysis was performed for the assessment of the environmental performances of three existing Italian power plants of comparable nominal power operating with different sources of renewable energy: Geothermal, solar, and wind. Primary data were used for building the life cycle [...] Read more.
A life cycle analysis was performed for the assessment of the environmental performances of three existing Italian power plants of comparable nominal power operating with different sources of renewable energy: Geothermal, solar, and wind. Primary data were used for building the life cycle inventories. The results are characterized by employing a wide portfolio of environmental indicators employing the ReCiPe 2016 and the ILCD 2011 Midpoint+ methods; normalization and weighting are also applied using the ReCiPe 2016 method at the endpoint level. The midpoint results demonstrate a good eco-profile of the geothermal power plant compared to other renewable energy systems and a definite step forward over the performance of the national energy mix. The Eco-Point single score calculation showed that wind energy is the best technology with a value of 0.0012 Eco-points/kWh, a result in line with previously documented life cycle analysis studies. Nevertheless, the geothermal power plant achieved a value of 0.0177 Eco-points/kWh which is close to that calculated for the photovoltaic plant (0.0087 Eco-points/kWh) and much lower than the national energy mix one (0.1240 Eco-points/kWh). Also, a scenario analysis allowed for a critical discussion about potential improvements to the environmental performance of the geothermal power plant. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability of Geothermal Energy Conversion—Life Cycle Analysis)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

19 pages, 1097 KiB  
Article
Electric Bus Selection with Multicriteria Decision Analysis for Green Transportation
by Mustafa Hamurcu and Tamer Eren
Sustainability 2020, 12(7), 2777; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12072777 - 1 Apr 2020
Cited by 63 | Viewed by 7855
Abstract
Multicriteria decision-making tools are widely used in complex decision-making problems. There are also numerous points of decision-making in transportation. One of these decision-making points regards clean technology vehicle determination. Clean technology vehicles, such as electric buses, have some advantages compared to other technologies [...] Read more.
Multicriteria decision-making tools are widely used in complex decision-making problems. There are also numerous points of decision-making in transportation. One of these decision-making points regards clean technology vehicle determination. Clean technology vehicles, such as electric buses, have some advantages compared to other technologies like internal combustion engine vehicles. Notably, electric vehicles emit zero tailpipe emissions, thereby ensuring cleaner air for cities and making these clean technologies preferable to other technologies, especially in highly populated areas for better air quality and more livable cities. In this study, we propose a multicriteria decision-making process using analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) in the context of an electric bus in the center of Ankara. Six potential electric bus alternatives were evaluated under seven specific criteria. Overall, EV-2 electric buses outperformed other electric bus alternatives based on the chosen criteria. In addition, the stability of the results obtained under different scenarios using this method was established via sensitivity analysis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Operations and Logistics)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 4669 KiB  
Article
Comparison of Energy Efficiency Indicators of Road Transportation for Modeling Environmental Sustainability in “Green” Circular Industry
by Teijo Palander, Hanna Haavikko, Emma Kortelainen and Kalle Kärhä
Sustainability 2020, 12(7), 2740; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12072740 - 31 Mar 2020
Cited by 25 | Viewed by 3964
Abstract
The Finnish forest industry is committed to applying novel technologies for increasing carbon-neutral development and environmental sustainability in “green” circular industry. This study compares the energy efficiency indicators of road freight transportation. Additionally, effects of four mass limits of vehicle combinations are analyzed [...] Read more.
The Finnish forest industry is committed to applying novel technologies for increasing carbon-neutral development and environmental sustainability in “green” circular industry. This study compares the energy efficiency indicators of road freight transportation. Additionally, effects of four mass limits of vehicle combinations are analyzed after a three-year adaptation process that took place in a wood procurement region of 100% renewable resources. The wood-based energy efficiency model (load’s wood energy/fossil transport energy) was the most accurate and precise measure as the development indicator. The indicator showed that the transportation systems (60, 64, 68, and 76 t) and (64, 68, and 76 t) were carbon negative (122, 133, 144, and 108) (142, 147, and 133) in 2014 and 2016, respectively. The numbers reveal positive energy ratio of renewable wood and fossil fuels. In comparison to 60 t, the use of 68 t vehicles increased energy efficiency most effectively in the systems, by 18.0% and 20.5%, respectively. The indicator robustly revealed the energy efficiency of a partial system in the smaller supply region, which depended on the region’s transportation conditions. This novel knowledge can be applied for advancing the adaptation toward carbon-neutral supply networks. There is also the development potential of an industrial ecosystem model for optimizing the environmental sustainability of “green” circular industry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Green Circular Economy: Forest and Agriculture Industry)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 1871 KiB  
Review
A Review of the Impact of Green Building Certification on the Cash Flows and Values of Commercial Properties
by Niina Leskinen, Jussi Vimpari and Seppo Junnila
Sustainability 2020, 12(7), 2729; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12072729 - 31 Mar 2020
Cited by 56 | Viewed by 19801
Abstract
This study aims to review empirical research concerning the impact of green certificates on property cash flows and values, particularly from professional property investors’ perspective. The study uses discounted cash flows (DCF), a widely used property valuation method in income-generating properties, as a [...] Read more.
This study aims to review empirical research concerning the impact of green certificates on property cash flows and values, particularly from professional property investors’ perspective. The study uses discounted cash flows (DCF), a widely used property valuation method in income-generating properties, as a methodological framework. In this study, over 70 peer-reviewed studies were identified, categorized, and analyzed in the DCF framework. The reviewed studies indicated that certificates might increase the rental income and decrease the operating expenses, vacancy, and risks of a property. Together with the brand value of certificates, these enhancements should lead to an increase in property value. The number of studies has grown rapidly during the 2010s. Lately, studies have developed from asset-level to portfolio-level examinations. Although the reviewed studies found certification to be beneficial, the range of reported benefits was wide, and over half of the studies concentrated on U.S. commercial real estate markets, with a strong focus on LEED and ENERGY STAR certificates. From a property valuation perspective, applying these results to other markets and certificates might be challenging. Property values that fully reflect the environmental performance of properties would be a key to motivate mainstream investors to adopt sustainable property features. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 1401 KiB  
Article
Spatial Diversity of Tourism in the Countries of the European Union
by Michał Roman, Monika Roman and Arkadiusz Niedziółka
Sustainability 2020, 12(7), 2713; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12072713 - 30 Mar 2020
Cited by 26 | Viewed by 3706
Abstract
The aim of the article is to present the spatial diversity of tourism in the countries of the European Union (EU). The main objective of the article can be divided into three immediate goals, each of which is to determine countries that are [...] Read more.
The aim of the article is to present the spatial diversity of tourism in the countries of the European Union (EU). The main objective of the article can be divided into three immediate goals, each of which is to determine countries that are similar by means of: (1) accommodation base; (2) tourism traffic; and (3) tourism-related expenditures and revenues. In order to group countries, Ward’s cluster analysis method is used. The aim is verified with the use of 2017 United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and Eurostat data. The analysis covers all EU member states. The research conducted confirms, inter alia, the key role of the accommodation base in the development of tourism in those countries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optimal Tourism Development)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 2056 KiB  
Article
Microfinance Institutions Fostering Sustainable Development by Region
by Icíar García-Pérez, María Ángeles Fernández-Izquierdo and María Jesús Muñoz-Torres
Sustainability 2020, 12(7), 2682; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12072682 - 29 Mar 2020
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 8565
Abstract
In the last few years, considerable attention has been paid to microfinance as a relevant participant in the formal financial system, whose target audience is people who are otherwise at risk of financial exclusion. In parallel, sustainability and the promotion of Sustainable Development [...] Read more.
In the last few years, considerable attention has been paid to microfinance as a relevant participant in the formal financial system, whose target audience is people who are otherwise at risk of financial exclusion. In parallel, sustainability and the promotion of Sustainable Development (SD) are imposed as the theoretical frame when facing any study. This, connected with cultural and organizational dimensions theories, are the analytical framework for the analysis of the relationship between the context of performance in which Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) operate and their activity in promoting sustainability. A holistic approach is necessary to make operational these concepts; for that reason, financial, environmental, social and governance dimensions (FESG), and the balance among them, have to be considered. The main objective of the paper is to explore to what extent MFIs are fostering SD, and how this promotion is performed by region. For the analysis, two different sources of information have been studied: sectoral academic literature that focuses on the different sustainability dimensions, and MIX Market sustainability data obtained from the MFIs. A keyword analysis of the selected papers has been executed to be conscious of the most investigated aspects by region; on the data provided by the institutions, a Kruskal-Wallis H test has been performed to learn what the main Sustainability Indicators (SIs) are that are reported affirmatively. To obtain comprehensive research, a comparative study of the results offers the convergences, divergences and gaps of information in each of the regions. The findings show significant differences depending on the region, and confirm that operationalization should be adjusted at the regional context of the MFIs. The paper, with the inherent limitations due to data quality, also offers recommendations for the better promotion of sustainability in each of the regions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microfinance and Sustainable Development)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying article 1651-1700 on page 34 of 45.

Go to page    first_page chevron_left 32 33 34 35 36 chevron_right last_page
Back to TopTop