Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Eco efficiency'

The term eco-efficiency was coined by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) in its 1992 publication "Changing Course". It is based on the concept of creating more goods and services while using fewer resources. When you are citing the document, use the following link http://essuir.sumdu.edu.ua/handle/123456789/31066

Eco-efficiency improvements in manufacturing is a controversial subject for researchers, practitioners as well as policy makers. The widely accepted definition of "doing more with less" is not accurate enough to guide the design of improvements that can deliver products in a sustainable way. The outcome of these challenges is evident through significant environmental performance variations across various levels of manufacturing operations. The study is driven by the complexity of manufacturing systems and sought to offer design support for practitioners that aim to improve eco-efficiency. A maturity model has been developed in this work that simulates the influence of manufacturing practices on eco-efficiency. The model takes the form of a maturity grid (PMGE) that overlooks practices at process, management systems and top-management levels and incorporates 15 dimensions of performance overall. Evidence shows that practices tend to evolve from reactive to proactive as manufacturing systems mature and embrace eco- efficiency as a systemic property. It was also found that mature companies achieve improvements in energy and resources by relying on existing internal capabilities. Tools to facilitate research and intervene with practitioners in real-life problems were developed and tested. The researcher combined research findings and tools into a maturity-based method (PMGEM) for eco-efficiency improvements. The method intends to help practitioners plan and design eco- efficiency improvements aligned to existing internal capabilities and adopt a more proactive behaviour to environmental challenges. PMGEM was ultimately applied in two case studies with ultimate goal to help practitioners resolve real-life challenges. The applications were positively commented and encourage further work in this field. The researcher envisages that methods such as PMGEM are deeply needed in manufacturing to support practitioners approach complex concepts such as eco-efficiency. Simplification and decomposition techniques with a clear intended use can facilitate the implementation of ambitious improvement strategies for sustainable development.

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development guideline ‘reduce toxic dispersion’ is the weakest formulation of the seven and reflects the vigour with which some branches of the global industry have defended their products in spite of their prevalent unsafe for environment. Clean production is one way in which eco-efficiency has been put into effect. Yet the pressure to develop green chemicals and alternative non-toxic products has been intense and increasingly successful. When you are citing the document, use the following link http://essuir.sumdu.edu.ua/handle/123456789/8141

2013 - 2014
This thesis deals empirically with various research questions in environmental economics. In particular the issues of sustainability and eco-efficiency are approached on three different data-sets. The first paper deals with the analysis of eco-efficiency for 103 provincial (NUTS 3 - Nomenclature of Units for Territorial Statistics 3) capitals of Italy throughout 2000-2008. It focuses on the link among economic growth, energy consumption and air pollution, modeling cities as territorial units that ought to promote growth, while at the same time minimising its environmental impact. Subsequently, the eco-efficiency of this panel of provincial capitals is measured through panel estimates of an input-distance function. Within this procedure, considering some environmental control variables, the paper evaluates if environmental best practices correspond either to those municipalities that adopt environment-friendly policies or to cities characterised by a particular urban context. The evidence points to the existence of a significant link between economic development, energy consumption and air pollution at the provincial capital level. The most ecoefficient provincial capitals are also among the wealthier, which is consistent with an Environmental Kuznets Curve. The second paper investigates the Ecological Footprint indicator by focusing on the notion of sustainable development and then of carrying capacity of land. The impact of man on nature is explored through an empirical analysis of the growth rate of population, and the percentage of urban and rural population, in Europe. The level of CO2 emissions per inhabitant in the EU is compared with that of developing countries. Through a sectoral approach, the total CO2 emissions per capita from fuel combustion, electricity and heat production, manufacturing industries and construction, transport and other sources are separately appraised. The third paper studies the relationship between rice production and methane emissions. Rice farming is believed to be a major anthropogenic source of methane emissions, which are measured emissions at both country and world levels of aggregation. It presents a quantitative estimation of the statistical relationship between rice production dynamics and methane emissions with regression estimates computed (country-wise and globally) over a large set of countries. The evidence only partly validates the expectation of a positive statistical influence of rice production on methane emissions. In fact a Kuznetstype evidence shows up: increasing rice production is correlated with fewer emissions. This negative relationship holds for a measure of countries sufficient to emerge significantly also at the world level. [edited by Author]
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In the modern world businesses are seen more often not only as carriers of technological development, innovations, capital investments and profit makers. The present-day situation with growing ecological problems has put a high demand on organizational environmental responsibility of small, medium, large and transnational enterprises all over the world. IKEA is a well known furniture and textile retailer operating worldwide. The company has received a great amount of publicity concerning its leadership in adopting more environmentally friendly measures in manufacturing process and operations. The company issues its global sustainability report yearly and is very popular with the media; however, the actual environmental impact of IKEA’s production and operation may be more damaging than it is usually perceived. The following research work aims to provide the answer whether IKEA is really eco-efficient and looks with more detail to its operation in Russia. A sound theoretical background is provided concerning the definition and means of measuring eco-efficiency, as well as its place in the concept of sustainable development. A great emphasis is placed on comparing IKEA initiatives worldwide and in Russia, as well as discussing their actual environmental impact. Finally, barriers and challenges IKEA faces when implementing its environmental policy in Russia are defined and conclusions are drawn.

This master thesis is investigating environmental performance of different alternatives for Combined Heat and Power (CHP) production from Natural Gas (NG) at Mongstad oil refinery. An important objective is to evaluate CHP plants with Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), and the performance of these compared to a conventional CHP without such application. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is the applied methodology for environmental assessment. The LCA results are used to inspect changes in eco-efficiency at the refinery with introduction of a CHP plant.Three CHP configurations have been assessed: 1.Conventional CHP2.Conventional CHP with Post-Combustion (PC) CCS3.Autothermal Reforming (ATR) plant; CHP with pre-combustion CCSThe three alternatives are denoted Conventional, PC and ATR in the following.Global Warming Potential (GWP) emissions per MWh exergy produced from the three CHP’s are 56, 100 and 337 kg CO2-equvivalents for the PC, ATR and Conventional respectively. It is concluded that up-and downstream emissions do not undermine the environmental benefit of applying CCS regarding GWP impacts.The CCS systems have significantly higher impacts of Human Toxicity (HTP), Acidification (AP) and Eutrophication Potentials (EP). HTP impacts are over 50% higher for CCS systems compared to Conventional. Increased NH3 and NOx emissions make up much of the 100-150% rise in AP and EP impacts. It is considered possible that flue gas handling can mitigate a substantial fraction of the increased AP and EP impacts. The system expansion reveal that building a Conventional CHP at Mongstad will not lead to global CO2 reductions if it substitutes renewable electricity production. The CCS systems unreservedly give net global CO2 reductions, disregarding alternative electricity production technology.The GWP eco-efficiency at Mongstad is defined as total LCA emissions from refinery output products divided by the economic value of the products. Introducing a CHP with CCS would significantly improve the eco-efficiency. Installing a Conventional plant, however, would deteriorate eco-efficiency. Installing a CHP with CCS is hence considered a significant step towards a sustainable development at Mongstad refinery. Given improved flue gas handling of NOx and NH3, additional environmental effects are not considered to have potential of jeopardizing this conclusion.

In a market economy, the behaviour of firms determines the extent and type of anthropogenic impacts that affect natural ecosystems. As such it is critical that the regulation of corporate behaviour is closely appraised. All economic production systems use natural resource inputs and release waste emissions to environmental sinks; they also contribute to sustainability in terms of income generation. The analysis of economic efficiency is thus coined in terms of juxtaposing and balancing these effects and the role of regulation is to intervene so that the outcome (in terms of corporate behaviour) approximates to this theoretical social optimum. Determining optimal regulation is the core focus of this thesis. The role of environmental regulation has become prominent of late owing to developments in the science (and social science) of climate change and ecosystems functioning. It has also been strongly influenced by the Porter Hypothesis (PH) which challenges the non-interventionist doctrine of neo-classical economics in favour of stricter environmental regulation, based on the presumption that significant pollution offsets are available if and only firms are forced to search for eco-innovations. In order to progress the argument vis-à-vis optimal regulation it is first essential to explore the role of the firm in society, i.e. what the responsibilities of industry ought to be with respect to the sustainability agenda. I juxtapose and critically appraise functionalist theory and its associated utilitarian ethic with social permission theory; the outcome of this analysis is the contention that ‘I&We’ deontological theory is the most defensible alternative and as such a firm’s fiduciaries ought to balance the conflicting claims of stakeholders, i.e. shareholders are important but not paramount. Given this outcome, the role of the regulator is to intervene when the market for ‘green’ corporate behaviour does not function. There are various reasons outlined as to why such intervention might be required. On the demand side, evidence is presented of consumers’ willingness-to-pay for perceived environmental quality. This product attribute is typically a credence attribute and there is asymmetric information; there is an incentive for ‘greenwashing’, i.e. false or misleading environmental marketing claims. The strategic behavioural model developed herein implies that the status quo is potential sub-optimality in that consumers play a mixed strategy and, over time, there is the potential for a vicious cycle in that progressively less and less ‘green’ marketing claims are genuine. On the supply side, firms may be ‘satisficing’ as opposed to optimising with respect to eco-innovations; a firm’s search for and selection of innovation is path-dependent, i.e. the history of innovations is influential. This supports the PH in that stimulating a shift to an eco-innovation trajectory realises benefits not only in the current time period but into the future. I also demonstrate that firms may be ‘locked in’ to technological paths that are sub-optimal (and environmentally damaging) owing to ‘coordination effects’ and as such there is a further role for economically efficient regulatory intervention on the supply side. Well-designed regulation can improve economic welfare in that it might propagate a shift in (as opposed to movement along) abatement cost curves. This in turn implies a convergence between the ‘best’ level of pollution for the polluter and for society, therein ameliorating the potential deadweight losses from the strategic interaction between the polluter and the regulator.

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 127-135).
Eco-efficiency has been proposed by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development as a performance indicator framework that contributes to sustainability by assisting corporate decision makers improve the environmental performance of their operations and processes, while also extracting additional economic value. Given the emergent importance of eco-efficiency within the business community and the urgency with which environmental impacts generated by the minerals industry need to be mitigated, it becomes apparent that there is a need to assess whether eco-efficiency indicators can drive environmental sustainability performance improvement during process design within the minerals industry. This thesis aims to respond to this research need by assessing the strengths and limitations of eco-efficiency indicators as performance metrics in guiding decision making during minerals process design in the interests of environmental sustainability. The ultimate aim of this thesis is to contribute towards improved guidance for process design engineers in the selection of the appropriate tools for more environmentally sustainable design of minerals beneficiation processes.

The goal of the thesis is to analyze an existing Axial Flux Permanent Magnet motor used for Shell Eco Marathon from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). The existing machine has been analysed and modified to achieve improved power density at high efficiency with lowered weight.A detailed literature study on AFPM machine topologies, winding and magnet arrangements is covered. The magnet arrangement of the existing machine has been transformed from conventional North-South to Halbach array. The preliminary analytical calculations were done by using analytical expressions. After that, for an improved design, an efficiency-based optimization has been used to improve the obtained parameters from analytical calculation. This optimization has been performed with the help of fmincon solver in the Matlab optimization tool. The optimized values after being compared with the analytical calculation, has been used to run Finite Element Method simulations.The new design with optimum performance parameters displays an improvement of overall efficiency with decreased weight in comparison. The new machine has a 97.2% efficiency and weights only 6.24 kg. In comparison with the existing machine, the weight of the new machine is almost half with improved efficiency.KeywordsAxial Flux, Permanent Magnet, Synchronous Motor, Ironless Stator, Halbach.

Para que a sustentabilidade seja gerenciada e praticada de maneira efetiva, ela deve ser mensurada, utilizando-se de métodos de avaliação da sustentabilidade. Estão disponíveis diferentes métodos de avaliação, que geralmente reduzem o resultado desse levantamento à indicadores de desempenho ambiental, econômico e social (POPEA; ANNANDALE; MORISON-SAUNDERSB, 2004). Uma das denominações mais bem aceitas e difundidas para a conjunção da dimensão ambiental e econômica é conhecida por avaliação de eco eficiência (AEE). Eco eficiência é o \"aspecto da sustentabilidade que relaciona o desempenho ambiental de um sistema de produto ao valor do sistema de produto\" (ISO, 2012). Estão disponíveis diferentes métodos de AEE, porém sem evidência das suas semelhanças e particularidades e como essas características influenciam na escolha do método mais adequado de AEE em relação às potenciais aplicações O objetivo desta pesquisa é, portanto, analisar e indicar os tipos de métodos de avaliação de eco eficiência (AEE) mais adequados para ações gerenciais nas quais caibam tais abordagens. Foram selecionados onze métodos de AEE, a partir do estabelecimento de critérios de caracterização desses métodos, a saber: BASF, Bayer, EcoWater, Hahn et al., Kuosmanen e Kortelainen, MIPS, NRTEE, UN ESCAP, UN, TU Delft, e WBCSD. Identificaram-se, ainda, quatro potenciais aplicações: (i) Monitoramento de processo com vistas à melhoria contínua; (ii) Selecção e classificação de produtos; (iii) Atendimento a requisitos legais e outros requisitos; e, (iv) Marketing, rotulagem de produtos e comunicação ambiental. A partir dos elementos metodológicos estabelecidos pela norma ISSO 14045 (2012) e do conhecimento obtido dos métodos de AEE, determinaram-se quatro requisitos pelos quais os métodos e os potenciais aplicações foram avaliados: (i) Tipo de indicador de desempenho ambiental; (ii) Tipo de indicador de valor de sistema de produto; (iii) Abrangência de aplicação; e, (iv) Tipo de indicador de eco eficiência. Aplicando-se estes requisitos nos métodos de AEE e nos potenciais usos, concluiu-se que quanto à aplicações em termos de monitoramento de processos com vistas à melhoria continua os métodos de AEE recomendados foram Bayer, NRTEE, WBCSD e UN. Para situações de seleção e classificação de produtos os métodos BASF, EcoWater, Kuosmanen e Kortelainen, MIPS, Hahn et al., TU Delft, UN ESCAP e UN demonstraram ter boa aderência. No que se refere a usos voltados ao atendimento de requisitos legais e/ou de outras naturezas, os métodos NRTEE, WBCSD e UN são os mais indicados. Em aplicações de marketing, rotulagem e comunicação foram indicados os métodos BASF, EcoWater e MIPS. Finalmente, concluiu-se que, para a escolha adequada da metodologia para uma AEE, conhecimento prévio das características de cada abordagem é necessário.
It is necessary to measure sustainability to effectively manage and practice it. This measurement is possible by using sustainability assessment methods. Different evaluation methods are avalible, which generally result in environmental, economic and social performance indicators (POPPEA; ANNANDALE; MORISON-SAUNDERSB, 2004). The eco-efficieny assessment (EEA) is one of the most accepted and disseminated donominations of the conjunction of environmental and economic dimensions. Eco-efficiency is the \"aspect of sustainability relating the environmental performance of a product system to its product system value\" (ISO, 2012). Different EEA methods are available, however lack evidence of their similarities and particularities and how these features influence the choice of the most appropriate EEA method for certain potential applications. The objective of this research is therefore to analyze and indicate the types of EEA methods most suitable in management applications. Eleven EEA methods were selected by the establishment of characterization criterias of these methods: BASF, Bayer, EcoWater, Hahn et al., Kuosmanen and Kortelainen, MIPS, NRTEE, UN ESCAP, UN, TU Delft, and WBCSD. Four potential applications were also identified: (i) process monitoring for continuous improvement; (ii) product selection and classification; (iii) compliance to legal and/or other requirements; and (iv) marketing, product labeling and environmental communication. Based on the methodological elements set out by the standard ISO 14045 and the knowledge obtained from EEA methods, four requirements were determined for which the methods and potential applications were evaluated: (i) Type of environmental performance indicator, (ii) Type of product value system indicator, (iii) Scope of application Scope; and (vi) Type indicator of eco-efficiency. The application of the requirements to the AEE methods and potential uses led to the conclusion that for monitoring of processes for continuous improvement the recommended EEA methods are Bayer, NRTEE, WBCSD and UN. For the product selection and classification situations methods BASF, EcoWater, Kuosmanen and Kortelainen, MIPS, Hahn et al., TU Delft, UN ESCAP and UN have shown to be most suitable. Regarding the use aimed at complying with legal and/or other requirements, methods NRTEE, WBCSD and UN are most indicated. In marketing, labeling and communication application the methods BASF, EcoWater and MIPS were recommended. Finally, it was concluded that for an appropriate EEA method choice previous knowledge on the methods approach is necessary.

In this paper we propose one approach to implement environmental standards into Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and in this way to measure its regulatory impact on eco-efficiency of firms. As one basic feature of DEA models lies in the exogeneity of inputs, desirable and undesirable outputs, it is not possible to introduce environmental constraints for these parameters directly into existing DEA models. Therefore, we implement the environmental standard in a bounded-variable way, which allows constraints on the efficiency frontier. The regulatory impact is assessed as difference in eco-efficiency scores before and after fictive introduction of an environmental standard. Furthermore, we distinguish between weak and strong disposability of undesirable outputs and develop according models. Assessing the regulatory impact of environmental standards in advance provides support for environmental policy makers in choosing appropriate instruments and in adjusting the intensity of regulation. Moreover, the procedure can be applied in a wide range of markets, as the proposed model framework offers several options. Policy makers can choose between different environmental standards and different disposability assumptions. (author's abstract)
Series: Working Papers / Research Institute for Regulatory Economics

In 2011 Lubna Nasrin designed an optimized in-wheel axial flux motor for the competition Shell Eco-Marathon. A motor was built for the 2012 competition by Fredrik V. Endresen. Testing of this motor showed however that the performance was nothing like the one anticipated by Nasrin?s. The conclusion was that the production methods were not good enough and this was the main reason for the poor result.A new motor was built for use in the 2013 competition. Several design improvements over the old motor which was built in 2010 has been made. Litz wire is used in the stator and Halbach array permanent arrangement in the rotors. Rims, axle and other mechanical parts have also been made brand new this year to try to make the best possible design.The assembly didn?t go without problems, but in the end the motor was fit to the car and tested. It was used in the competition where the team ended up with a third place in the battery electric class.Several tests were performed on the motor to identify how well it performed compared to the FEM results. Question marks have however been raised when it comes to the results of the test due to problems aligning the motor in the test bench. The results indicate rather high rotational losses, but also an induced voltage 35% lower than anticipated. This should not be critical though as the theoretical efficiency, rotational losses discarded, still is 99% with this value.The high eddy current and friction losses measured do however ruin the real efficiency of the machine.

In this paper we propose an approach to implement environmental standards into Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and in this way to measure their regulatory impact on eco-efficiency of firms. As one standard feature of basic DEA models (as e.g. CCR from Charnes et al. (1978)) lies in the exogeneity of inputs, desirable and undesirable outputs, it is not possible to introduce environmental constraints for these parameters directly into basic DEA models. Therefore, we use a bounded-variable way, which allows constraints on the efficiency frontier. The regulatory impact is assessed as difference in eco-efficiency scores before and after fictive introduction of an environmental standard. Furthermore, we distinguish between weak and strong disposability of undesirable outputs and develop corresponding models. Assessing the regulatory impact of environmental standards in advance provides support for environmental policy makers in choosing appropriate instruments and in adjusting the intensity of regulation. (authors' abstract)

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Este estudo tem como objetivo propor um instrumento de diagnóstico de ecoeficiência. Trata-se de um mecanismo para obtenção de dados para a análise qualitativa da performance ambiental. A pesquisa é motivada pelo fato de que as preocupações atuais se sobrepõem às inquietações relativas aos impactos ecológicos e aos danos causados à natureza, e evidenciam o anseio da sociedade à melhoria da qualidade e preservação da vida humana. Considerando que a melhor solução para os impactos ambientais será sempre a prevenção, oportunizou-se este estudo focado no desenvolvimento de um instrumento para o diagnóstico do uso da ecoeficiência. A partir da revisão bibliográfica estabeleceram-se as características da ecoeficiência, as quais compuseram o instrumento proposto. Foram feitas duas aplicações piloto em empresas produtoras de móveis estofados, produtos que têm gerado, ao longo e no final de suas vidas, uma considerável parcela de resíduos a serem descartados no meio-ambiente, grandes desperdícios com a produção inefic

This thesis studies the Danish and Norwegian recycling systems for construction and demolition (C&D) waste. The architectural, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry is a major contributor to societies waste production; accounting for approximately 40% of the waste production. It is therefore important to manage the C&D waste effectively to move society towards sustainability.

This study applies the Industrial Ecology paradigm. This involved multidisciplinary approach, spanning the fields of Industrial Ecology, Systems Engineering and Organizational and Social Studies.

The scope of this thesis is threefold. The first scope is to get a better understanding of the processes that are taking place within the socio-technical sphere of a recycling system. Second, what is the nature of the C&D waste and what are the environmental impacts from the various waste fractions. Third, how can this information be used to improve recycling systems for C&D waste.

The study show that the suggestions in the National Action Plan and the corresponding policies are eco-effective, but that the environmental impact is very transport dependent. The study also shows that there is a great need to focus on future waste composition in the design of recycling systems for C&D waste. However, such waste projections are difficult to perform due to poor data availability.

There is a need for making more qualified decisions on environmental issues, with regard to long term management of such recycling systems. Long term models combined with environmental and economic information can make a powerful tool for such analysis.

International awareness and demands for the protection of the environment by the public on industry has only been pushed into the limelight in the past couple of decades. Prior to this it could be argued that it was accepted that environmental protection and economic development were at odds. However it has since been recognised that there is a need to achieve environmental sustainability, the concept of which was released in the 1987 Brundtland Report released by the United Nations. There are a number of ways that industry can reduce its impact on the environment and thus help reach this goal. While some advocated that stricter legislation would result in greater innovation by industry in “cleaning-up” its act, such as the Porter Hypothesis, there were also a number of new concepts and voluntary industry codes being developed. These new practices and codes have been promoted by organisations such as the International Chamber of Commerce and include technological improvements within organisations and improved resource productivity. The aim of this case study research was to find out what the environmental policy and related performance of Summerpride Foods Ltd, a pineapple processing factory in East London was and does an understanding of its environmental performance provide insights for improved efficiency. This involved the identification and analysis of what resources were used during the processing of pineapples as well as making recommendations that would result in increased efficiencies of their use. Due to the number of resources identified, only the use of water and coal which were ranked as having the highest impact were investigated further. The literature review showed that there are industry moves to applying cleaner production and eco-efficiency concepts as a means to attaining environmental sustainability. There are a number of voluntary environmental management system standards and codes that organisations can subscribe to with most probably the ISO 14001 standard being the most internationally recognised. There are many benefits to organisations adopting such standards. The use of lifecycle assessments is a useful tool that can be used to assess the environmental impact of a product through its entire life and thus enable one to identify all resources used and their impact, as well as to provide the information required to quantify areas where the greatest improvements can be made. The results of this research showed that at the start of the study, there was no formal environmental policy in place at Summerpride Foods Ltd and that this was starting to become a requirement with some customers. The detailed results which focused on water and coal usage showed that current operating methods do not recognise the importance of any wastage and that there are a number of changes that could be made that would not only result in better efficiency of use but would also result in substantial financial savings to the organisation. Summerpride Foods Ltd currently has a number of systems in place that help reduce its impact on the environment but these are not formally recorded. Summerpride Foods Ltd should adopt the principles of eco-efficiency and record all systems that impact on the environment. This would be the first step to attaining a formal environmental management system accreditation which due the increasing competitiveness of the international market in which Summerpride Foods Ltd operates, would give it a degree of advantage over those competing pineapples processing factories that do not have such accreditation.

A investigação buscou conhecer como a medição da ecoeficiência pode contribuir para as empresas com ações ecoinovadoras. Desenvolveu-se primeiramente a pesquisa do referencial teórico em caráter descritivo sobre inovação, ecoinovação e ecoeficiência. Posteriormente, realizou-se um estudo de caso com a medição da ecoeficiência de uma empresa brasileira do setor de óleo e gás. Das cinco proposições do estudo empírico três foram confirmadas: medir a ecoeficiência das empresas ecoinovadoras associa-se positivamente à sobreposição das barreiras a ecoinovação; para implementar ações ecoeficiêntes é necessário aplicar ações ecoinovadoras; e ações ecoeficientes levam ao reconhecimento do mercado. As duas não confirmadas foram: empresas que desenvolvem ações ecoinovadoras são ecoeficientes; e ações e investimentos em ecoinovação determinam a ecoeficiência empresarial ao longo de um determinado período. Concluiu-se que os investimentos em ecoinovação são importantes para a ecoeficiência, contudo não são fatores exclusivos para a ecoeficiência, inclusive para sua ocorrência a médio e a longo prazo; ABSTRACT: The research attempted to know how Eco-efficiency measurement can contribute to the Ecoinnovation action companies. At first, a theoretical framework was developed on descriptive approach concerning about Innovation, Eco-innovation and Eco-efficiency. Then, a case study was undertaken to Eco-efficiency measurement in a Brazilian oil and gas company. Among five proposals of the empirical study, three of them were confirmed that: to measure Ecoefficiency of Eco-innovation companies attend positively to overlapping events towards Eco-innovation; to implement Eco-efficient actions is necessary to apply Eco-innovation actions; and Eco-efficient actions lead to the acknowledgment of market. Two other proposals were not confirmed: companies that develop Eco-innovation actions are Eco-efficient; and actions and investments in Eco-innovation decide the business Eco-efficiency throughout specific period. Finally, it was concluded that investments in Eco-innovation are important to Eco-efficiency, however those factors are not exclusively for Eco-efficiency, taking into account circumstances in medium long run.

The purpose of this thesis is to contribute to the development and understanding of ecoefficiency assessments for extended supply chains. Using a methodological approach, the main outcome is a consistent methodology to assess the eco-efficiency for extended supply chains. The methodology allows comparisons both between different extended supply chains, e.g. the life cycle of different products, and also within an extended supply chain to reveal which processes are the most important for the value performance and the environmental performance, and to determine the contributions of supply chain partners to this performance. The methodological development also includes a proposal for how land use impacts on biodiversity should be included in the environmental assessments.

The methodological approach is used to reveal regulatory and organizational implications for the extended supply chains. In a case study on furniture production the assessments of eco-efficiency are used in two ways: to provide recommendations about new regulations that could motivate improvements in eco-efficiency performance of the products; and, to suggest organizational changes that could and should be performed to realize the potential for improvement.

This thesis demonstrates that the methodological, regulatory and organizational aspects of eco-efficiency are closely interlinked and must be used in combination to realize the potential for improvement.

The methodological recommendations are believed to be valid for all extended supply chains, while the regulatory and organizational implications are case specific. The approach used to derive with the recommendations should be transferable to other extended supply chains.

This thesis shows how measures of eco-efficiency can be used in the search for a path to sustainability. However, eco-efficiency must not be misinterpreted as sustainability since eco-efficiency only deals with relative and not absolute values, and does not incorporate social issues.

Paper I is reprinted with kind permission of Elsevier,Sciencedirect.com

Esta dissertação tem como objetivo principal a avaliação do desempenho dos sistemas de gestão de qualidade, saúde ocupacional, segurança e meio ambiente de uma empresa. Utiliza-se, para tal fim, o método de estudo de caso, levando em consideração a aplicação do conceito de eco-eficiência e seus benefícios econômicos e ambientais pelos sistemas de gestão da qualidade e meio ambiente da empresa, e tendo como base o conceito de produção mais limpa. Como objetivo secundário está à análise da coerência e a da eficiência dos indicadores empregados, seu inter-relacionamento e sua complementaridade. Entre os principais resultados obtidos, destaca-se a identificação das vantagens na aplicação de indicadores operacionais com uma abordagem individualizada de entradas e saídas nas operações que compõem o processo de uma empresa. O emprego desses indicadores, aliado à identificação de indicadores de custos de resíduos, pode facilitar a definição de objetivos e metas para a não geração e minimização de resíduos baseados em critérios econômicos, técnicos e de impactos ambientais. Como resultado global da avaliação pode-se comentar que o programa de gestão da qualidade implantado na empresa atende aos princípios da serie de normas da qualidade NBR ISO 9000:2000, ainda que entendamos que outras medidas são necessárias para a manutenção integral do meio ambiente.
This thesis aims to evaluate quality, occupational health, safety and environment systems of a company. In order to do so, it employs the study case method, taking into consideration the application of the concept of eco-efficiency, its economical and environmental benefits by the company’s environment management systems. This work is based on the concept of cleaner production for the identification of the relationship between some quality indicators and the environment management systems as a secondary aim. Among the main results obtained, is the identification of the advantages in the application of operational indicators with an individual approach of inputs and outputs in the operations that composes the process according to what establishes the NBR ISO 14031:2004. The application of these indicators allied to the identification of waste cost indicators can facilitate the definition of objectives and targets for a non-generation and minimization of waste based on economic, technical and environmental impact criteria. As a global result of the evaluation, we observed that the quality management program implanted in the company, which served as object of study, complies with the principles of the quality Norm NBR ISO 9000:2000, but some improvements are still needed for the full maintenance of environment.

Desenvolvimento Sustentável, Responsabilidade Social Corporativa e Sustentabilidade Empresarial são conceitos que convergem para o mesmo objetivo: integrar os aspectos econômicos, sociais e ecológicos dos negócios. A eco-eficiência pode ser utilizada para integrar desempenho econômico e ecológico. Há no mercado divulgação de empresas que mantém ações que visam à proteção ambiental. No entanto, para contribuir para a sustentabilidade do negócio essas atividades devem convergir para a eco-eficiência. Para isso, a ação ecológica empresarial deve atuar sobre os resíduos emitidos pelas operações da própria empresa e os gastos nelas incorridos devem resultar em benefícios econômico-financeiros ao negócio. Nesse contexto, este estudo identifica a seguinte pergunta de pesquisa: em termos contábeis, como podem ser categorizadas as ações ecológicas empresariais para fornecer informações sobre eventos relacionados com a eco-eficiência do negócio? O objetivo desta dissertação é: categorizar as ações ecológicas empresariais visando o fornecimento de informações econômico-financeiras sobre eventos relacionados com a eco-eficiência do negócio. Este trabalho, por meio de um estudo de corte transversal, análise de conteúdo, pesquisa exploratória, descritiva, básica e indutiva, identifica 608 exemplos de ações ecológicas mantidas por empresas, das quais 450 atuam sobre elementos não relacionados com os próprios detritos por meio de programas de desenvolvimento sustentável, educação ambiental, reciclagem, preservação e recuperação; e 158 sobre os resíduos emitidos pela própria companhia durante o processamento de seus produtos e serviços em quatro direções: I. reduzir o consumo de insumos, substituir os não-renováveis por renováveis, reciclados ou retirados de forma ecológica; II. transformar resíduos em insumos; III. transformar resíduos em produtos; IV. promover a coleta seletiva de lixo, reduzir a emissão de resíduos, neutralizar o efeito tóxico dos resíduos e cumprir com obrigações contratuais. Há duas categorias para as ações ecológicas empresariais. As que podem aumentar a eco-eficiência do negócio ficam separadas dos programas voltados ao desenvolvimento sustentável da sociedade, mas externos ao negócio da empresa. Isso organiza os gastos e resultados incorridos nas ações ecológicas empresariais e gera informação sobre o caminho para a empresa integrar desempenho ecológico e econômico. O objetivo deste trabalho foi alcançado, pois identifica uma forma de organização capaz de favorecer o processo de fornecimento de informações sobre os fluxos monetário e físico envolvidos com inputs e outputs do sistema empresa e o efeito das ações ecológicas nesses fluxos. Esse tipo de informação é útil para os executivos da gestão ambiental administrarem a eco-eficiência do negócio e pode ser fornecida pelo subsistema da ciência contábil chamado de Contabilidade Ambiental ou Contabilidade da Gestão Ambiental. Por fim, a pesquisa resulta em um sistema de gestão da eco-eficiência empresarial e aponta caminhos para futuros estudos.
Sustainable Development, Corporative Social Responsibility and Enterprise Sustainability are concepts that converge the same to objective: to integrate the economic, social and ecological aspects of the businesses. The eco-efficiency can be used to integrate economic and ecological performance. It has in the market spreading of companies that keeps actions that aim at the environmental protection. However, to contribute for the sustainability of the business these activities they must converge to the eco-efficiency. For this, the enterprise ecological action must act on the residues emitted for the operations of the proper company and the expenses in incurred them must result in economic-financial benefits to the business. In this context, this study it identifies the following question of research: in accounting terms, how can be categorized the enterprise ecological actions to supply information on events related with the eco-efficiency of the business? The objective is: to categorize the enterprise ecological actions being aimed at the supply of information economic-financiers on events related with the eco-efficiency of the business. This dissertation, by means of study of transversal cut, content analysis, explorer, descriptive, basic and inductive research, identifies 608 examples of ecological actions kept by companies, of which 450 act on elements unrelated to the debris of the proper firm by means of programs of sustainable development, environmental education, recycling and preservation and recovery; and 158 act on the residues emitted for the proper company during of the processing of its products and services in four directions: I. to reduce the consumption of raw materials, to substitute not renewed them for renewed, recycled or removed of ecological form; II. to transform residues into raw materials; III. to transform residues into products; IV. to promote the garbage collection selective, to reduce the emission of residues, to neutralize the toxic effect of the residues or to fulfill with contractual obligations. It has two categories for the enterprise ecological actions. The ones that they can increase the eco-efficiency of the business are separate of the programs directed to sustainable development of the society, but external to business of the company. This organizes the expenses and results incurred into the enterprise ecological actions and generates information on the way it company to integrate ecological performance and economic. The objective of this work was reached, therefore it identifies a form of organization capable to favor the process of supply of information on the monetary and physical flow involved with inputs and outputs of the system company and on the effect of the ecological actions in these flows. This type of information is useful for the executives of the environmental management to manage the eco-efficiency of the business and can be supplied by the subsystem of accounting call of Environmental Accounting or Environmental Management Accounting. Finally, the research results in a enterprise eco-efficiency management system and points a way with respect to future studies.

This Ph. D. project is aimed to improve the efficiency and the sustainability of microalgal cultivation in view of large-scale biofuels production. Experiments as well as modeling and process simulation were used to investigate: i) the light utilization efficiency in algal photobioreactors and ii) different strategies for the recovery and recycling of nutrients. First of all, microalgal growth in continuous photobioreactors is modeled in order to identify optimum working conditions that allow maximum productivity, accounting for light intensity and regime, as well as for axial dispersion. Then, the integration of photovoltaic (PV) technologies with photobioreactors is studied as a possible technical solution to improve the photons utilization per surface area. In this regard, experiments applying either standard, low-cost silicon solar cells or a novel organic dye-sensitized semi-transparent photovoltaic module on the reactor surface are reported. An energetic and economic analysis of microalgal cultivation in a photovoltaic greenhouse, with the roof partially covered by PV panels is also presented. Two different strategies for nutrients recovery and recycling are investigated, namely flash hydrolysis (FH) of whole algal biomass and anaerobic digestion (AD) of lipid-extracted residues. The nutrients-rich aqueous phases produced by FH of two different algal species (Scenedesmus sp. and Nannochloropsis gaditana) are used to assess the growth performances of the respective algae in this medium. As an alternative to the direct recycling of the aqueous hydrolysate, the possibility of precipitating the nutrients in stable fertilizers is also reported. The biogas production from AD of lipid-extracted microalgae is evaluated, and the subsequent growth rate in the liquid digestate was compared to that obtained in standard synthetic medium. Finally, the experimental data gained from FH and AD are used to implement process simulations with the aim of evaluating the material and energy balances and to assess the feasibility on a large-scale.
Questa tesi di dottorato ha come obiettivo il miglioramento dell'efficienza e della sostenibilità dei processi di coltivazione di microalghe per la produzione di biocarburanti su larga scala. Approcci di tipo sperimentale, modellistico e di simulazione di processo sono stati impiegati per valutare: i) l'efficienza di utilizzo della luce in fotobioreattori per la produzione microalgale e ii) diverse strategie per il recupero e il riciclo dei nutrienti. In primo luogo, la crescita microalgale in fotobioreattori di tipo continuo è modellata al fine di identificare le condizioni ottimali che consentono di ottenere la massima produttività, considerando l'effetto dell'intensità e regime luminoso, uniti alla dispersione assiale. Successivamente, l'integrazione di tecnologie fotovoltaiche con i fotobioreattori è studiata come una possibile soluzione pratica per migliorare l'efficienza di utilizzo dei fotoni per unità di area superficiale. A tal proposito, sono dunque riportati esperimenti svolti applicando pannelli solari, sia di tipo convenzionale al silicio che un nuovo modulo "DSC" semi-trasparente, sulla superficie del reattore. Inoltre, è presentata un'analisi energetica ed economica di un sistema di coltivazione di microalghe in una serra fotovoltaica, il cui tetto è parzialmente coperto da pannelli fotovoltaici. Due diverse strategie per il recupero e riciclo dei nutrienti sono state prese in considerazione: flash hydrolysis (FH) della sospensione microalgale a valle del reattore, e digestione anaerobica (AD) della biomassa residua a valle dell'estrazione dei lipidi. La fase acquosa ricca di nutrienti prodotta dalla FH di due diverse specie microalgali (Scenedesmus sp. e Nannochloropsis gaditana) è impiegata per analizzare la crescita delle corrispondenti microalghe in tale substrato. Inoltre, la possibilità di precipitare i nutrienti dall'idrolizzato sotto forma di fertilizzanti stabili è valutata come alternativa al riciclo diretto. Viene studiata la produzione di biogas dalla AD di microalghe a valle dell'estrazione dell'olio, e successivamente la crescita nel digestato liquido viene comparata con quella ottenuta in terreni di coltura standard. Infine, i dati sperimentali ottenuti da FH e AD sono utilizzati per implementare delle simulazioni di processo, al fine di svolgere i bilanci di materia ed energia e di valutare le performance di questi processi su larga scala.

Pressure is mounting in the construction industry to adopt more environmentally sustainable methods to reduce CO2 emissions. Portland cement (PC) often constitutes to more than two-thirds of the embodied energy of concrete, and its production generates 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. One efficient strategy to reduce the cement content without sacrificing performance is the use of particle packing models (PPM) to mix- proportion concrete mixtures with low cement content, the so-called low cement content (LCC) concrete. If on the one hand LCC was seen to be an effective sustainable alternative to the construction industry, its mechanical behaviour, durability and long-term performance are still under debate and thus further research is needed in the area. In this project, continuous PPM theories were used to mix- design structural concrete mixes presenting distinct mechanical properties (i.e. 25 & 35 MPa) and cement contents. Their performance was evaluated in the fresh and hardened states, and gaps, recommendations, and further needs were highlighted. Results show that the use of PPM enables the development of LCC systems, showing impressive hardened state performance (i.e. higher compressive strength and modulus of elasticity and lower electrical resistivity) and low carbon footprint. However, challenges in the fresh state were faced, which may be potentially solved with the use of chemical admixtures, fillers and/or supplementary cementing materials (SCMs).

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O uso racional de materiais na construção civil e a responsabilidade deste setor com o meio ambiente têm sido objetos de pesquisa no meio acadêmico. As certificações ambientais surgiram neste cenário para orientar os envolvidos no processo afim de reduzir os impactos ambientais causados pelo setor. Neste contexto, a eco-eficiência e a eco-eficácia apresentam diferentes abordagens a este tema e fundamentam as análises da certificação LEED realizada neste trabalho. O trabalho tem como objetivo geral analisar a atualização dos critérios ao longo das versões de um programa de certificação ambiental de prédios (LEED) a partir dos conceitos de eco-eficiência e eco-eficácia. Como objetivos específicos, esta pesquisa analisa: (i) a atualização dos critérios do programa de certificação para as fases de projeto e de uso ao longo do tempo; (ii) a pontuação de um prédio certificado, considerando os critérios na versão atual da certificação; (iii) o prédio certificado a partir dos conceitos de eco-eficiência e eco-eficácia. Para avaliar a atualização dos critérios da certificação ao longo do tempo foram realizadas análises de cada requisito das certificações de projeto e operação das versões v3 (2009) e v4 (2016). Esta etapa resultou em macro alterações na certificação, como o surgimento de novas tipologias, do Processo de Projeto Integrado e a criação de uma categoria exclusiva para Localização e Transportes. A avaliação do prédio na versão mais atual da certificação v4 (2016), foi realizada através de visitas à edificação e entrevistas com os operadores da mesma. Esta etapa resultou no decréscimo da pontuação da edificação para a certificação de projeto na v4 (2016). Porém, a certificação de operação atingiu classificação máxima (Platina), com 82 pontos, pelo fato de os operadores já praticarem diversas ações que a certificação exige, independente da certificação de projeto. Por fim, foram avaliados como a certificação e o prédio certificado atendem aos conceitos de eco-eficiência e eco-eficácia, afim de verificar se produzem impactos positivos no meio ambiente ou apenas os reduzem. O estudo revelou que a certificação está em busca da produção de impactos positivos no meio ambiente e de inovações tecnológicas, apesar de ainda estarem presentes em um pequeno número de créditos.
The rational use of materials in the construction industry and the responsibility this sector has towards the environment has been object of research in the academia over the past few decades. In this context, the environmental certifications have arisen to guide the involved in the processes, seeking to reduce the environmental impacts caused by this sector. The analysis conducted in this study is based on the different approaches the concepts of eco-efficiency and eco-effectiveness brought on the subject. The main goal of this essay is to analyze, at the light of eco-efficiency and eco-effectiveness, the criteria evolution of an environmental certification program designed for buildings (LEED) over the course of time. As specific objectives, this study evaluates: (i) the updates of the certification program criteria for the design stage and operations and maintenance stage from version v3 (2009) to version v4 (2016); (ii) the comparison between the score achieved by a certificated building, taking in consideration the criteria of the certification program’s current version and its previous version; (iii) the aspects of eco-efficiency and eco-effectiveness of the certificated building. Each of the conditions of versions v3 (2009) and v4 (2016) of both the design certification and operations and maintenance certification has been analyzed in order to evaluate the updates over the course of time. This analysis showed significant changes in the certification, with the inclusion of new typologies and important concerns, such as the Integrative Process and the establishment of a new category exclusively for Location and Transportation. The evaluation of the building under the conditions of the latest version of the program was performed through visits and interviews with its operators. A comparison between the building scores obtained in versions v3 (2009) and v4 (2016) showed a decrease in the latter. The building achieved a total of 82 points on the operations and maintenance certification, reaching the Platinum category, despite the lower score on the design certification, due to the practices required by the program already being performed by its operators. Finally, the certification and certified building were evaluated against the aspects of eco-efficiency and eco-effectiveness in order to verify if the generation of good impacts on the environment are taken into consideration or if they rely solely on the reduction of bad impacts. The study revealed that the certification analyzed is seeking the generation of good impacts and technology innovation, although these concepts are still verified in a just few credits.

Design of products permits to yield goods and services to produce satisfaction on customers, which is measured as value. However, it is at this stage in which most of the environmental impact, from a lifecycle perspective, is added to the product. Eco-design aims at increasing value of products while reducing the burdens on the environment by means conscious design towards efficient use of resources. That efficiency, referred to as eco-efficiency, can be increased in a number of manners within environmental engineering. Traditionally, different fields have tackled materials, energy flows and products from different angles or approaches. In this thesis we describe Functional Sales (FS) and Industrial Ecology (IE) as examples of these. Within this latter, we put emphasis on Industrial Symbiosis (IS) and Eco-effectiveness. We consider these approaches are suitable to work in the framework of eco-design to increase ecoefficiency. By adding services to material products, and managing material and energy flows with a more ecological consciousness, we expect to increase value of products while reducing the impact on the environment.

To analyse this potential improvement, we developed a method involving a new eco-efficiency index (VERI), that recursively intends to ease decisions on possible eco-efficient alternatives. This index and its method are applied to a case study on management of olive oil supply in region of Murcia, Spain. Here, we propose three scenarios that will involve the implementation of FS and IE to compare the outcomes in value and environmental performance against an idealised current supply chain. The results obtained, although not accurate, suggest that FS and EI should be more taken into account in eco-design and, this latter, to also consider holistic viewpoints to find more eco-efficient alternatives for a product development.

Thesis (MA (School of Public Management and Planning))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005.
It is generally agreed that the concept of sustainability should play an increasing role in future urban development world-wide. In order to ensure ecological sustainability, cities around the world have to decrease their environmental footprint. Two aspects are important in this regard: the decrease of energy consumption and the decrease of waste products and its subsequent management.

Every year the automotive industry strives to increase fuel efficiency in vehicles. When most vehicles are designed, fuel efficiency cannot always come first. The Shell Eco-marathon changes that by challenging students everywhere to develop the most fuel-efficient vehicle possible. There are many different factors that affect fuel efficiency, and different teams focus on different vehicle parameters. Currently, there is no straightforward design tool that can be used to help in Shell Eco-marathon vehicle design. For this reason, it is difficult to optimize every vehicle parameter for maximum fuel efficiency. In this study, a simulation is developed by using basic vehicle models and experimental data to accurately represent any prototype-class vehicle in the Shell Eco-marathon. This simulation is verified using different experimental data from an on-vehicle data acquisition system. An easy-to-use design tool is developed, and this tool is used to optimize driving strategy and final drive ratio to maximize fuel efficiency.

Avec l’apparition des différentes normes et règlementations telles que les normes ISO 14001, les préoccupations industrielles y compris ferroviaires sont de plus en plus orientés vers l’éco-conception. La problématique la plus importante dans l’éco-conception des produits ferroviaires est de réduire leurs impacts environnementaux tout en maintenant leurs performances fonctionnelles et en maitrisant le coût. La solution pour surmonter ce problème est de trouver un ensemble de compromis entre les deux objectifs (impacts et coût).L’éco-conception des produits ferroviaires présentent plusieurs difficultés parce que, d’une part, leur analyse de cycle de vie est très lourde. D’autre part, l’intégration de leurs impacts dans la phase de conception est délicate vu leur nombre. Enfin, ces composants ont parfois différents types de modèles à exploiter car ils présentent des compromis entre la précision et le temps de calcul. Pour surmonter ces problèmes nous avons présenté dans cette thèse une méthode qui consiste premièrement, à alléger l’ACV à l’aide d’un logiciel de gestion environnementale et d’en profiter pour construire un modèle malléable pour calculer les différents impacts. Deuxièmement, à agréger ces impacts pour obtenir un seul indice qui sera considéré comme notre critère environnemental. Pour exploiter les outils d’optimisation, le problème d’éco-conception est traduit par un problème d’optimisation. Les algorithmes d’optimisation sont capables de trouver l’ensemble de compromis optimaux entre le critère environnemental et la masse (coût) sous forme d’un graphe appelé front de Pareto. Certains algorithmes ont été adaptés pour mieux servir dans l’éco-conception
With the introduction of different environmental standards like ISO 14001, concerns of manufacturers in railway industry are more and more oriented to the design of green products. One important issue when designing such products is the control of the cost impact and the evaluation of the price which consumers agree to pay for a reduced environmental footprint.Eco-design of railway train presents several challenges for the designer. The first one is the complexity of the life cycle analysis of such components. The second challenge is the necessity of consideration of several environmental impacts in design stage given the number of impacts. Finally, railway components have different models with different granularity which can be used in the process of eco-design. To overcome these problems we propose in this work a method which involves two steps. The first one is to simplify the LCA of the railway train using environmental management software and take the opportunity to build a malleable model to calculate eleven impacts. The second step, is to aggregate these impacts for a single indicator which is considered later as environmental criterion in the eco-design process. In order to investigate optimization tools, the eco-design problem is expressed into an optimization problem. Optimization algorithms are able to solve this problem and to find the optimal set of compromises between environmental criterion and the cost of the railway product. The set of compromises is given as a graph called the Pareto front. In our work the cost is expressed by the mass of the component and some optimization algorithms have been adapted in this work to serve in the process of eco-design

El creixement de les ciutats arreu del món porta associat un increment en la demanda d’infraestructures de sanejament i drenatge. Combinat amb els efectes del canvi climàtic, la situació d’aquests sistemes en entorns urbans és crítica. Bona part dels sistemes de clavegueram existents requereixen una renovació urgent, d’altres han de ser construïts en zones en creixement, mentre que l’escolament superficial d’aigua pluvial esdevé una amenaça quant a inundacions degut a la impermeabilització del sòl. En aquest context, cal determinar quines són les millors pràctiques per reduir aquestes problemàtiques i al mateix temps adaptar les ciutats al canvi climàtic. En resposta a aquestes demandes, aquesta tesi estudia l’ecoeficiència dels sistemes de sanejament i drenatge urbà per determinar les millors alternatives en diferents contextos urbans. Així, es fa ús del marc de l’ecologia industrial, tot aplicant mètodes específics com l’anàlisi del cicle de vida (ACV), l’anàlisi dels costos del cicle de vida (ACCV) i l’ecoeficiència. Aquesta recerca interdisciplinària requereix mètodes addicionals, com ara estudis estadístics o anàlisis experimentals. El cicle de vida de les xarxes de clavegueram ha estat àmpliament analitzat i s’ha pogut observar que els materials de la canonada no són els únics determinants de l’impacte ambiental d’una solució constructiva per clavegueram. En alguns casos, la contribució de la rasa pot representar fins un 80% dels impactes ambientals de l’etapa constructiva, fet rellevant de cara a la presa de decisions. Mitjançant un estudi estructural paramètric s’han trobat les solucions constructives equivalents amb menor impacte ambiental. Així, reduir l’ús de formigó en les rases i reutilitzar els materials del sòl excavats pot significar una millora ambiental. Per altra banda, l’etapa d’operació mostra reptes en l’àmbit del planejament urbà. S’han comparat el municipi costaner de Calafell (Espanya, clima mediterrani) i Betanzos (Espanya, clima atlàntic). La ubicació de l’estació depuradora de Calafell a una cota més elevada que el municipi fa que el consum d’energia de bombeig (0.47 kWh/m3) sigui major que a Betanzos (0.11 kWh/m3), on l’aigua circula per gravetat. A més, s’han observat emissions gasoses al clavegueram a través de campanyes de mostreig. Principalment es van detectar majors emissions durant l’estiu associades a les elevades temperatures i en zones de turbulència del clavegueram. A més, mitjançant un estudi d’ecoeficiència, es van comparar els resultats ambientals i econòmics del cicle de vida del clavegueram i es va trobar que, independentment del clima i l’estructura urbana del municipi, l’etapa d’operació és la que genera més impactes ambientals (fins el 74% dels impactes), mentre que la instal·lació (és a dir, la rasa) contribueix als costos econòmics (70-75%). El debat de la centralització vers la descentralització de les infraestructures s’ha estudiat en un entorn insular (Menorca, Espanya) amb problemàtica turística. Ambientalment, sembla que un escenari centralitzat en què es connecta l’assentament a una depuradora de gran capacitat és beneficiós degut a les economies d’escala. Aquest escenari generaria un 12% menys impacte que descentralitzar parcialment amb fosses sèptiques o un 36% respecte a tractar el flux estacional en uns aiguamolls construïts. En general, els resultats depenen de la duració de l’època turística. En l’àmbit de la prevenció d’inundacions, s’aporta una nova visió, doncs es tracta d’un dels primers estudis que integra l’impacte ambiental i econòmic d’invertir en mesures preventives amb els danys evitats. Aquests són de gran interès per a la planificació urbana. En base a dos climes i sistemes diferents, s’han analitzat les rieres del Maresme (Catalunya) i un sistema verd implantat al Brasil. Des d’una perspectiva metodològica, els estudis d’inundacions aporten una discussió en l’àmbit de les metodologies d’ACV i en com abordar les conseqüències de les inundacions des d’un punt de vista integrador.
El crecimiento de las ciudades alrededor del mundo lleva asociado un incremento en la demanda de infraestructuras de saneamiento y drenaje asociadas al ciclo del agua. Combinado con los efectos del cambio climático, la situación de estos sistemas en entornos urbanos es crítica. Buena parte de las redes de alcantarillado existentes requieren una renovación urgente, otras han de ser construidas en zonas en crecimiento, mientras que la escorrentía superficial de agua pluvial es una amenaza en cuanto a inundaciones debido a la impermeabilización del suelo. En este contexto, se debe determinar a través de una nueva visión ambiental y económica cuáles son las mejoras prácticas para reducir estas problemáticas y al mismo tiempo adaptar a las ciudades al cambio climático. En respuesta a estas demandas, esta tesis estudia la ecoeficiencia de los sistemas de saneamiento y drenaje urbano para determinar las mejores alternativas en diferentes contextos urbanos. Así, se usó el marco de la ecología industrial, aplicando métodos específicos como el análisis del ciclo de vida (ACV), el análisis de costes del ciclo de vida (ACCV) y la ecoeficiencia. Esta investigación interdisciplinaria requiere métodos adicionales, como estudios estadísticos o análisis experimentales. El ciclo de vida de las redes de alcantarillado fue ampliamente analizado y se observó que los materiales de la tubería no son los únicos determinantes del impacto ambiental de una solución constructiva. En algunos casos, la contribución de la zanja representa hasta un 80% de los impactos ambientales de la etapa constructiva, hecho relevante para la toma de decisiones. Mediante un estudio estructural paramétrico encontraron las soluciones constructivas equivalentes con menor impacto ambiental. Así, reducir el uso de hormigón en las zanjas y reutilizar los materiales del suelo excavado puede significar una mejora ambiental. Por otro lado, la etapa de operación presenta retos en el ámbito del planeamiento urbano. Se compararon el municipio costero de Calafell (España, clima mediterráneo) y Betanzos (España, clima atlántico). La ubicación de la estación depuradora de Calafell a una cota más elevada que el municipio hace que el consumo de energía de bombeo (0.47 kWh/m3) sea mayor que en Betanzos (0.11 kWh/m3), donde el agua circula por gravedad. Además, se observaron emisiones gaseosas del alcantarillado a través de campañas de muestreo. Principalmente se detectaron mayores emisiones durante el verano asociadas a las elevadas temperaturas y en zonas de turbulencia del alcantarillado. Adicionalmente, mediante un estudio de ecoeficiencia se compararon los resultados ambientales y económicos del ciclo de vida del alcantarillado y se encontró que, independientemente del clima y la estructura urbana, la etapa de operación es la que genera más impactos ambientales (hasta el 74% de los impactos), mientras que la instalación (es decir, la zanja) contribuye a los costes económicos (70-75%). El debate de la centralización frente a la descentralización de las infraestructuras se estudió en un entorno insular (Menorca, España) con problemática turística. Ambientalmente, parece que un escenario centralizado en el que se conecta el asentamiento a una depuradora de gran capacidad es beneficioso debido a las economías de escala. Este escenario generaría un 12% menos impactos que descentralizar parcialmente con fosas sépticas o un 36% respecto a tratar el flujo estacional en un humedal construido. En general, los resultados dependen de la duración de la época turística. En el ámbito de la prevención de inundaciones, se aporta una nueva visión, pues se trata de los primeros estudios que integran el impacto ambiental y económico de invertir en medidas preventivas con los daños evitados. Estos estudios son de gran interés para la planificación urbana. En base a dos climas y sistemas diferentes, se analizaron las rieras del Maresme (Catalunya) y un sistema verde implantado en Brasil. Desde una perspectiva metodológica, los estudios de inundaciones aportan una discusión en el ámbito de las metodologías de ACV y en cómo abordar las consecuencias de las inundaciones desde un punto de vista integrador.
The growth of cities worldwide is associated with an increasing demand for sanitation and drainage infrastructure in the context of the water cycle. Combined with the effects of climate change, the situation of these systems in urban environments is critical. Part of the existing sewer networks require an imminent renovation, others must be constructed in developing areas, whereas stormwater runoff becomes a threat in terms of flooding because of the soil imperviousness. In this context, we must determine the best practices aimed at reducing these issues from an innovative environmental and economic viewpoint and at the same time adapt cities to climate change. In response to this demand, this dissertation assesses the eco-efficiency of urban sanitation and drainage systems to determine the best alternatives in different urban contexts. To this end, the industrial ecology framework is used by applying specific methods such as life cycle assessment (LCA), life cycle costing (LCC) and eco-efficiency. This interdisciplinary research requires additional methods, such as statistical studies or field experimental analyses. The life cycle of sewers was widely analyzed and it was observed that pipe materials are not the only factors that determine the environmental impacts of a sewer constructive solution. In some cases, the trench might contribute to 80% of the environmental impacts of the construction phase, which is a relevant issue to consider in decision-making. Through a structural parametric study, we found the equivalent constructive solutions that generate the lowest environmental impact. Reducing the use of concrete or reusing the excavated soil might entail environmental improvements. On the other hand, the operation stage is challenging in the context of urban planning. The coastal city of Calafell (Spain, Mediterranean climate) was compared with the city of Betanzos (Spain, Atlantic climate). The location of Calafell’s wastewater treatment plant at a higher elevation than the city resulted in Calafell consuming more pumping energy (0.47 kWh/m3) than Betanzos (0.11 kWh/m3), where wastewater flows gravitationally. Additionally, gas emissions were found in the sewer through sampling campaigns. The largest emissions were mainly detected during the summer due to high temperature, and in turbulent areas of the sewer. Furthermore, through an eco-efficiency assessment, the environmental and economic results of a sewer’s life cycle were compared. Regardless of climate and urban form, results show that the operation stage generates the largest environmental impacts (up to 74%), whereas the installation (i.e., the trench) mostly contributes to the economic costs (70-75%). The infrastructure centralization versus decentralization debate was studied in an insular context (Minorca, Spain) with a tourist-related issues. It seems that a centralized scenario that connects the settlement to an existing treatment plant with a large treatment capacity is environmentally beneficial due to economies of scale. This scenario entails a 12% impact reduction with respect to partial decentralization through septic tanks, or 36% reduction with respect to treating seasonal wastewater at a constructed wetland. In general, results depend on the duration of the seasonal period. In the field of flood prevention, this thesis provides a new vision, as these are the first studies that integrate the avoided impacts of damage prevention into the environmental and economic effects of investing in preventive measures. These analyses are of interest in the framework of urban planning. Based on two different climates and systems, ephemeral streams in the Maresme region (Catalonia, Spain) and a green system implemented in Brazil were assessed. From a methodological perspective, flooding analyses provide some ideas in the field of LCA methods and discuss how to deal with the consequences of flooding from an integrated viewpoint.

The objective of this thesis is to analyse driving behaviour and to characterize the effectsof an efficient way of driving, termed eco-driving, that enables the driver to reduce fuelconsumption and CO2emissions.The approach used to assess driving style is a collection of data from a CAN bus of acar equipped with OBD-II (on-board diagnostic) system. The driving experiment wasperformed for nine drivers who drove in a normal way or regular driving style and onedriver was an eco-driver who drove in an economical driving style. The driving routewas approximately 18.7 kms (which took between 25 to 30 minutes) in Halmstad city,Sweden.The drivers are compared using a statistical analysis of the driving parameters such as,speed, accelerator (gas pedal) and brake pressure, which are obtained from CAN busdata. A hierarchical clustering algorithm also used to classify the drivers based on theaverage result of the signals.In the results, a driving difference between the eco-driver and the normal drivers is visi-ble, most of the normal drivers have more or less similar behaviour. The average speed ofthe eco-driver lower than the normal drivers and the accelerator (gas pedal) result is alsoshown less usage by the eco-driver than the normal drivers. On the other hand, the eco-driver has braked more often than the normal drivers, but gently. Nevertheless, differenttraffic conditions during the experiment obstructs comparisons between the drivers.

The Norwegian system for depositing and recycling of PET bottles (Resirk/PET system)started in May 2000, and is based on Norsk Resirk's mission of improving cost- and environmental efficiency of this system. Has this been achieved? What can explain the changes that occurred in the system during recent years? I have found that the eco-efficiency of the Resirk/PET system increased considerably every year between 2000 and 2003. The net greenhouse gas (GHG emission was improved from -562 kg CO2e (562 kg CO2 equivalents avoided generated) for waste management of one tonne consumed bottles in 2000 to -1442 kg CO2e per tonne in 2003, while the net cost was reduced from 4062 €/tonne in 2000 to 2683 €/tonne in 2003. This eco-efficiency improvement was very much driven by the increased volume and return rate of PET bottles during this period. The environmental performance of the Resirk/PET system was high compared to other waste management systems for PET bottles, while the economical performance was considerably lower. The interactive development of the bottled non-carbonated mineral water Imsdal contributed significantly to the increase of the Resirk/PET system’s volume and return rate and hence the system’s improved eco-efficiency. A white spirit sabotage on Imsdal in August 2002 contributed to the development of Imsdal as well as the Resirk/PET system’s change of the design and material specification for participating PET bottles. By combining the quantitative eco efficiency framework with the qualitative framework of interactive resourced development, information about how much eco-efficiency of a defined system has changed, as well as an understanding of reasons for changes within the system, has been acquired. Such a combination should be possible to apply for analysis of other systems as well, and may be a valuable contribution to the field of industrial ecology since the methods complement each other in a fruitful way. The eco-efficiency of the Resirk/PET system can be improved further by:

- Regarding used PET bottles as a resource to be applied for production

- Reducing packaging tax for PET bottles

- Increasing the bottle deposit

- Keeping the PET specification updated

- Improving collection efficiency

- Improving cost efficiency of marketing and information

- Increasing compaction and filling degree of reverse vending machines

- Considering automatic sorting

- Keeping focus on producing high quality PET flakes.

In addition to having showed that the approaches of eco-efficiency and interactive resource development can be combined, this thesis may have implications on how ecoefficiency can be quantified in waste management systems, and how the concepts of adaptation and friction in resource structures are dealt with.

Sustainable production and consumption, as well as decoupling environmental impact from economy growth are one of the main goals for countries with transition economies. Lithuania, as other Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) countries experienced changes in political, social and economic life in relative short time after the collapse of Soviet Union. Because of an essentially reduced production, use of natural resources and environmental pollution decreased respectively. However, present pronounced growth of transition countries and demand for better quality of life could lead to the increase in material and energy consumption. Such increase would have two implications: firstly, increasing pressure on the environment and health in enlarged EU and could outweigh achievements in Western Europe, and secondly, such increase could impede to reach foreseen objectives to decouple resource consumption from economic growth. The aim of the research was to analyze the main trends of production and consumption and their environmental impact in Lithuania and to assess eco-efficiency of production and consumption and its main determinants. Research on eco-efficiency and the course of decoupling of environmental impact from economy growth in Lithuania is relatively rare and is mostly based on energy issues or covers only one sector. In this study, the eco-efficiency of production and consumption in Lithuania is analyzed jointly for the first time. For the better interpretation of ongoing... [to full text]
Darnios gamybos ir vartojimo siekimas, o tuo pačiu ir poveikio aplinkai atsiejimas nuo ekonomikos, yra vienas pagrindinių darnaus vystymosi tikslų pereinamosios ekonomikos šalims. Lietuva, kaip ir kitos posovietinės šalys, po Sovietų Sąjungos griūties paveldėjo imlų ištekliams ir neefektyvų ūkį. Ūkio restruktūrizavimas lėmė transformacinį ūkio nuosmukį ir jį sekusį išteklių naudojimo ir aplinkos teršimo sumažėjimą. Tačiau dabartinis spartus pereinamosios ekonomikos šalių, kurių dauguma jau tapo ES narėmis, augimas ir geresnės gyvenimo kokybės siekimas gali lemti didesnes medžiagų ir energijos sąnaudas, o tai savo ruožtu sąlygotų didėjantį poveikį aplinkai ir žmonių sveikatai išsiplėtusioje Europos Sąjungoje ir atsvertų kai kuriuos ES šalių senbuvių pasiekimus bei trukdytų pasiekti numatytus išteklių naudojimo atsiejimo nuo ekonomikos augimo tikslus. Darbo tikslas - išanalizuoti Lietuvos gamybos, vartojimo ir jų poveikio aplinkai kitimo tendencijas, ekologinio veiksmingumo pokyčius ir nustatyti jį lemiančius veiksnius. Ekologinio veiksmingumo bei poveikio aplinkai atsiejimo nuo ekonomikos augimo tyrimai Lietuvos mastu palyginti mažai vykdyti ir dažnai apsiriboja tik energetinių išteklių naudojimo veiksmingumo analize arba skirti tik atskiriems sektoriams. Darbe pateikiama dvigubo atsiejimo koncepcija, numatanti būtinybę atsieti gamtos išteklių naudojimą nuo ekonomikos augimo ir aplinkos teršimą nuo gamtos išteklių naudojimo bei sudaranti galimybes detaliau įvertinti... [toliau žr. visą tekstą]

This thesis deals with energetical and efficiency comparison of two tractor transmission types, used by the Zetor company. The description of transmission construction types of various tractor producers is given, with focus on Zetor tractors transmission construction. The laboratory methodology and operating tractor and tractor sets measurement is described. The individual results are introduced in tables and graphs and subsequently evaluated.

Abstract According to the EU’s strategy and the corresponding Finnish national strategy on waste materials, all kinds of waste must be utilised primarily as material (reuse, recycling) and secondarily as energy, and at the lowest level of waste hierarchy is their disposal using environmentally friendly methods. Today material efficiency is an essential topic in promoting sustainable use of natural resources, industrial by-products and waste material. The present goal proposed by the EU sets the target for the total proportion of renewable energy as high as 38% by 2020 in Finland. Up to 20 million tonnes of waste wood biomass per year are left unused in Finland, mainly in the forests during forestry operations, because supply and demand do not meet. As a consequence of high heat energy prices, the looming threat of climate change, the greenhouse effect and global as well as national demands to considerably increase the proportion of renewable energy, Finland currently has a tremendous interest in increasing decentralised pellet production alongside of large-scale factories. The aim of this thesis is to promote the development of eco-, material- and cost-efficient Nordic wood-based pellet production and utilisation of pellet bio-ash by means of chemical research. Using Finnish wood (sawdust and shavings) as a model raw material, the total functionality of a pilot-scale pellet facility combined with an extensive chemical toolbox was tested in this study to promote development of an eco-, material- and cost-efficient wood-based pellet production chain. The chemical toolbox includes measurements of moisture content, density, heat value, mechanical durability and particle size distribution, TG analysis and elementary analysis, as well as new applications for pellet biodegradation using BOD OxiTop equipment and optical microscopic staining methods. To improve the quality of pellets, considering the profitability of production and occupational safety factors (wood dust exposure, fire and explosion risk), it is profitable to use different binding agents, especially industrial by-products and locally utilisable residuals. Thus, lignosulphonate, residual potato flour and potato peel residue were used and tested as model adhesive binding agents. The results showed that binding agents increased the quality of pellets and changed their inorganic characteristics, but did not have a significant effect on their calorimetric heat values. Lignosulphonate even increased the rate of production. To characterise different starch-containing binding agents, a new specific optical microscopic staining method was developed and tested, and the initial results are presented in this thesis. Wood pellet ash has potential as a liming agent, in soil remediation, as a soil fertilizer, and in granulated form, in new applications such as road construction and waste water purification. Valuable information about raw materials, binding agents and the pelletizing process is necessary when developing good-quality pellets—a prime biofuel—from non-utilised low-value and/or moist biomass that has undergone a cost-efficient drying process. This way pellet production will have more essential importance in energy policy, especially in the European forest belt
Tiivistelmä Vallitsevan EU:n sekä Suomen kansallisen lainsäädännön mukaan kaikenlainen jäte täytyy hyödyntää ensisijaisesti materiaalina (uudelleenkäyttö, kierrätys), toissijaisesti energiana ja jätehierarkiassa alimpana tasona on sen hävittäminen ympäristöystävällisin keinoin. Materiaalitehokkuus on nykyään välttämätön aihe edistettäessä luonnonvarojen, teollisuuden sivutuotteiden ja jätemateriaalien kestävää käyttöä. EU-strategian mukainen tavoite uusiutuvan energian osuudelle kaikesta energiantuotannosta Suomessa on 38 % vuoteen 2020 mennessä. Jopa 20 miljoonaa tonnia jätepuubiomassaa vuodessa jää käyttämättä Suomessa lähinnä metsänharvennustöiden yhteydessä, koska kysyntä ja tarjonta eivät kohtaa. Seurauksena korkeista lämpöenergiahinnoista, uhkaavasta ilmastonmuutoksesta, kasvihuoneilmiöstä sekä globaalisista ja kansallisista vaatimuksista lisätä uusiutuvan energian osuutta, Suomessa on viime aikoina noussut voimakas kiinnostus lisätä hajautettua pellettituotantoa suurten pellettilaitosten rinnalle. Väitöskirjan tarkoituksena on edistää ja kehittää pohjoismaista eko- ja kustannustehokasta puupellettituotantoa ja pellettibiotuhkan hyötykäyttöä kemiallisen tutkimuksen avulla. Käyttäen suomalaista puuta (sahanpurua ja kutterinlastua) malliraaka-aineina, tässä tutkimuksessa testattiin pilot-mittakaavan pellettilaitoksen toimivuutta yhdistettynä laajaan kemialliseen ”työpakettiin”, edistämään tulevaisuuden eko-, materiaali- ja kustannustehokkaan pellettituotantoketjun kehittämistä. Kemiallinen työpaketti sisältää kosteuden, tiheyden, lämpöarvon, mekaanisen kestävyyden ja partikkelikokojakauman määritykset, TG- ja alkuaineanalyysin, kuten myös uudet sovellukset pellettien ja niiden sideaineiden biohajoavuuden määrittämiseksi BOD OxiTop -laitteistoilla sekä optisen mikroskooppivärjäysmenetelmän. Pellettien laadun kohottamiseksi, ottaen huomioon myös tuotannon kannattavuuden ja työterveydelliset ongelmat (puupölylle altistuminen, tulipalo- ja räjähdysvaara), on perusteltua käyttää sideaineita, erityisesti teollisuuden sivutuotteita ja paikallisesti hyödynnettävissä olevia jätemateriaaleja. Täten lignosulfonaattia, jäteperunajauhoa ja perunankuorijätettä käytettiin ja testattiin liimaavina mallisideaineina. Tulokset osoittivat, että sideaineet nostivat pellettien laatua ja muuttivat niiden epäorgaanisia ominaisuuksia, mutta niillä ei ollut merkittävää vaikutusta määritettyihin lämpöarvoihin. Lignosulfonaatti lisäsi selvästi pelletoinnin tuotantonopeutta. Työssä kehitettiin pelleteille uusi spesifinen optinen mikroskooppivärjäysmenetelmä erilaisten tärkkelystä sisältävien sideaineiden karakterisointiin ja ensimmäiset tulokset on esitetty tässä väitöskirjassa. Puupellettituhka on potentiaalinen kalkitus- ja maanparannusaineena, lannoitteena sekä rakeistettuna uusissa sovelluksissa, kuten tierakentamisessa ja jäteveden puhdistuksessa. Arvokas informaatio raaka-aineista, sideaineista sekä pelletöintiprosessista on välttämätöntä kehitettäessä tulevaisuudessa hyvälaatuisia pellettejä, ”priimaa” biopolttoainetta, hyödyntämättömästä huonolaatuisesta ja/tai kosteasta biomassasta, joka on ennen pelletointia käynyt läpi kustannustehokkaan kuivausprosessin. Täten voidaan olennaisesti lisätä pellettituotannon merkitystä energiapolitiikassa, erityisesti Euroopan metsävyöhykkeellä

碩士
淡江大學
會計學系碩士班
100
This study adds new insights to analyses the correlation of environmental performance, eco-innovation and financial performance by focusing on the concept of eco-efficiency from 2006 to 2008. We report that eco-efficiency relates positively to operating performance and market value. Moreover, our results suggest that eco-innovation play an important role to moderate the relation between eco-efficiency and financial performance. On the same level of eco-efficiency, high environmental innovation enterprises compared to the low environmental innovation trend have better financial performance. We believe the results of this paper have implications for both managers and investors. Managers do not have to overcome a tradeoff between eco-efficiency and financial performance. Investment in eco-innovation exist its value. And for investors, who can exploit environmental information for investment decisions. For investors, eco-efficiency is a potential source of information that helps them generate superior excess returns. An important avenue for further research would be find a better way to measure environmental performance construct on the concept of eco-efficiency. This paper proposes many methods to measure eco-efficiency and try to supply a general conclusion.

碩士
國立成功大學
土木工程學系碩博士班
101
In the new trend of sustainable development, eco-efficiency, which is a description of interaction between environment and economy, has emerged as an indicator used for assessing sustainability of products or processes. The aggregation of eco-efficiency indicators is needed to implement the synthesis of existing indicators and to help highlight the significance of eco-efficiency data. The aim of this study is to develop aggregated eco-efficiency indicators (based on an eco-efficiency analysis method called BASF) of roadways by using a highway project as a case. The aggregated eco-efficiency indicators are calculated and presented in ratios or two-dimension graph as eco-efficiency portfolios. It is useful to provide the results for comparison. The aggregated eco-efficiency indicators are compared at the project and its component levels for four stages of material production, construction, maintenance, and disposal/recycling. Among the four stages, disposal/recycling stage has the most eco-efficiency with ratio of 9.35 in the case roadway project, while material consumption is the least eco-efficient stage with ratio of 0.16. With regard to component level, the eco-efficiency of the pavement (17.83) is higher than that of the earthwork (4.39) and the bridges (4.9). The total eco-efficiency of the project is 12.27. Moreover, air emission and energy consumption indicators are assessed as the most dominant and the major reasons affecting eco-efficiency.

碩士
明志科技大學
環境與資源工程研究所
102
Eco-efficiency (EE) is measured as the ratio between the value of what has been produced and the environmental impacts of the product or service. In this study, life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) is an assessment method for environmental impacts, including of three tools, Eco-indicator 99, IMPACT 2002 and ReCiPe. The optimization of EE is reaching to "move towards to the maximum environmental improvement, in the meantime get the minimum cost ".In this study, it is applied to a real example of environmental impact assessment(EIA). When EIA committee recommends the development units to promise to improve environment and reduce pollution, an important problem emerge out.How to choose the best pollution reduction strategy based on the EE? In this study the linear programming (LP) and fuzzy linear programming (FLP) are used to be the tools of environmental improvement strategy for EE.LP of environmental improvement strategy is according to the rank of each pollutant EE factor, reducing pollution from high to low. But it does not consider the simultaneous improvement of each environmental impact categories.Therefore, only single environmental impact category is improved, for example climate change. Differently, FLP of environmental improvement strategy should simultaneously take into account all environmental impact categories for of maximum decrease satisfaction at first step. Then, according to EE factor ranks to reduce pollution from high to low. Furthermore, since the LCA assessment has many uncertainties (fuzzy and probability) may result in the chain reaction,therefore, this study also discusses the reciprocal effect of uncertainties in thisframework.

碩士
國立臺灣大學
環境工程學研究所
93
In the 21st Century environmental concerns become global one of most important issues. Business put their attention on their product and their green procurement processes. Customers are also more critical about the products that there are purchased. Green marketing and green consumption are more emphasized each day through business practice. Global business through supply chain green procurement processes requires make systemic changes to meet their competition in their markets. We need good Eco-efficiency information in order to evaluate such as clean production technology adaptation, compute products’ Eco-efficiency as well as future investment decisions among others. This paper based on the concept of “Eco-efficiency” framework, to evaluate both the economic performance and the environmental performance of Automobile Industry. This study consists of literature review, data research, and case study to reveal and understand the status of Eco-efficiency development, current status and future development. This research also provides systematic thinking for Eco-efficiency and construct Automobile Industry Eco-efficiency indicator. Taiwan Kuozui Motors (Toyota) were selected for the case study. The study shows the following results: The eco-efficiency ratios calculated from the data provided by the company showed that these ratios could be used for companies to track their performance and to set the priority with TPS (Toyota Production System) for future improvement, as well as to be the internal and external communication tool.

碩士
國立成功大學
土木工程學系碩博士班
100
A prerequisite to project-level sustainability appraisal is to develop indicators. The eco-efficiency indicator is recognized as an effective tool to measure sustainability. This study derived indicators to measure eco-efficiency at project and component levels during the roadway life cycle. Conventional cost and environmental cost are two economic performance metrics adopted. Environmental management accounting (EMA) approach is used to identify environmental costs for the roadway project and its components of earthwork, pavement and bridges. For eco-efficiency analysis, conventional cost over energy consumption and conventional cost over GHG emissions are the two most prominent indicators to assess eco-efficiency in the material production stage, whereas conventional cost over solid waste is the most prominent in the disposal/recycling stage. Conventional cost over material consumption is the most prominent in construction and maintenance stages at the levels of project, pavement, and bridges. Conventional cost over energy consumption and conventional cost over GHG emissions are appropriate for earthwork’s construction stage. The data from Hanoi-Langson (HL) highway project in Vietnam were used to calculate economic performance, environmental impacts and eco-efficiency. In the four stages, HL highway maintenance spent the largest conventional cost per unit of materials (US$114/ton of materials), energy (US$352/GJ), GHG emissions (US$5,099/ton-CO2e), and solid waste (US$12,426/ton of waste). HL highway’s pavement achieved better eco-efficiency than bridges in the material production, construction and maintenance stages.

碩士
國立成功大學
土木工程學系碩博士班
100
The green building isa revolution in the construction industry in recent years. The concerns of green buildings are the environmental impacts and economic benefits to the human world. Eco-efficiency integrates the two concerns as one indicator to assess the greenness and economic efficiency for buildings. This research developed the eco-efficiency indicators for green buildings. Four environmental impacts are energy, water, waste and recycle and CO2 emissions. Four economic costs of design, construction, operation and green are the economic components. From analyzing the characteristics of buildings, three prominent indicators are determined: (1) construction cost/energy consumption, (2) operation cost/CO2 emissions, and (3) green cost/CO2 emissionsreduction. Eco-efficiency calculations were performed from the data of 9 LEED buildings. The first two indicators point out different strategy options for the ‘greenness” of buildings. For example, higher construction cost maybe for the platinum buildings resultin higher value of construction cost/energy;the lower operation costforagreener building brings smallervalue of operation cost/CO¬2. The values of eco-efficiency can be increased or decreased to mean better performance. In the third indicator, with lower green costs, the certified buildings have the best eco-efficiency in CO2 emissions reduction. Although the energy consumption and CO2 emissions of LEED gold buildings are smaller, the green cost of these buildings is much higher. Therefore, the gold building’s eco-efficiency is not better than those with lower certified levels.

碩士
國立成功大學
土木工程學系碩博士班
100
Sustainable development is one considerable issue in many industrial sectors. Eco-efficiency is a tool that can help companies to measure sustainability. This study derived eco-efficiency indicators to measure eco-efficiency for construction companies. Economic and environmental performance disclosures (the two components of eco-efficiency) from the CSR reports of eight construction companies were adopted to develop eco-efficiency indicators. 20 possible eco-efficiency indicators were derived for construction companies, but the number of indicators needs to be reduced to see more prominent ones. This selection is made clearer by comparing the indicators between manufacturing and construction companies. The prominent eco-efficiency indicators for construction companies are revenue, cost of sales, and environmental investments as economic performance, and energy consumption, CO2 emissions, and waste disposal as environmental impact. The developed indicators were analyzed to evaluate the eco-efficiency for contractors, developers, and material suppliers. Comparing the eco-efficiency values of the three types of companies, the contractor has the largest value in revenue/CO2 emissions with US$522,111 per ton CO2 eq; the developer and material supplier have the largest values in revenue/waste disposal with US$89,353 and US$43,681 per waste disposal. Eco-efficiency indicators provide another aspect to look at sustainability. Construction companies can benefit from pursuing environmental performance without losing track of cost expenditures.

碩士
國立中興大學
資源管理研究所
87
This study intends to investigate methodologically the definition and implementation of a novel management concept -- eco-efficiency. The major research tasks include review of related literature, theoretical study of eco-efficiency from the aspects of economics, a survey of existing case studies, and discussion of the implementation. In this study, we development the definition of marginal rate of "eco" substation (MRES) from the viewpoints of Pareto optimality among economic, social welfare, and environmental protection. As a result, we look forward to the further development and implementation of the innovative management thinking that incorporates sustainability into business administration.

碩士
中興大學
環境工程學系所
95
Ecological Industry is the inevitable way to accomplish sustainable development for industry. Besides utilizing resources and energy best outside through the industry, the goal to best use resources and energy by utilizing the network with resources and energy circulation among industries should be the greatest common understanding among industries and environmental protection. This research tries to use five indicators to evaluate the ecological performance of steel industry and use this assessment to be the basis of self assessment for the steel industry. Those indicators are Best Available Technology, resources and energy utilizing indicator, pollutant indicator, recycle indicator, and environmental management etc. This assessment can help maximizing three things during steel production, i.e., maximizing the resources usage reduction, circulation and reuse (also includes effective usage of resources), and the waste discharge & recycling. Through resource, environment, and ecological cycle viewpoint, wish that all walks of life knows that steel industry plays an important role in the industrial ecology cycle within the whole society. Thus all walks of life will re-recognize what kind of social economical role which steel industry plays.

碩士
淡江大學
會計學系碩士在職專班
99
Recently in response to global public opinion, global environmental trend and international market requirement, carbon reduction and energy saving has become the focus of global concern, forming a model in the adjustment and transformation of consumption and production pattern for other countries. The purpose of many cities implementing environmental policies aims to achieve sustainable development while creating value and reducing impacts on the environment at the same time. Facing with global climate change challenges, nations over the world have proposed the vision of zero-carbon eco-city. Many large cities also expand alliance and the market foundation for green buildings and green industries. Many cities in Taiwan also realize their responsibilities and take initiatives in actions to reduce greenhouse gas emission. The “Sustainable Development and Strategic Planning Report" proposed by most counties and cities emphasize on the 3 dimensions, environment and ecology, society and economics, for corresponding sustainable management policies. The study probes into the environmental protection events and city sustainable development from the perspective of eco-efficiency. The purpose of ecosystem and environment refers to the economic value of maximized product and currently the minimized environmental impacts. To discuss the impact assessment on the carbon emission from all counties and cities under the governmental advocacy activities for energy saving and carbon reduction, the study conducted Data Envelopment Analysis in the assessment, using year 2008 and year 2009 as the longitude and the 25 countries and cities of Taiwan as the latitudes, to propose the direction and range for improvement between input and output, as well as examining the consistence between benchmark counties and cities with excellent performance and the efficiency of advocacy activities for environmental protection. It is expected to provide advocacy efficiency for improvement to counties and cities through the empirical analysis and results from Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and slack Variable and thereby to make contributions to the sustainable development and objectives of the city.