Journal articles on the topic 'Water consumption – Economic aspects – Australia'
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1
Bi, Kanglei, and Lili Rong. "A research on the effectiveness of agricultural water rights allocation based on market orientation." E3S Web of Conferences 199 (2020): 00004. http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202019900004.
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There are some problems in China’s agricultural water resources, such as low per capita consumption and uneven spatial and temporal distribution. It is urgent to speed up the reform of water rights trading mode. Based on the market orientation and the experience of the United States and Australia, this paper studies the effectiveness of China’s agricultural water rights trade. Firstly, the characteristics of “quasi-market” should be clarified. Secondly, under the market mechanism, this paper analyzes the mechanism of the impact of economic incentives of trading subjects, reasonable delimitation of trading prices and multiple participation of institutions and departments. Furthermore, the factors that affect the efficiency are deeply analyzed. At last, the paper provides some suggestions on the construction of a trading mechanism with Chinese characteristics from the aspects of right confirmation registration, pricing mechanism and supervision regulations, to provide decision support for agricultural water rights management system.
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Murphy, Margot, Raymond Watson, and Susan Moore. "Encouraging Water Saving: the Role of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Intention." Australian Journal of Environmental Education 7 (January 1991): 71–78. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0814062600001877.
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Few would doubt the need, in today's world, to promote behaviours that actively conserve environmental resources. At a general level, this often involves encouraging behaviours that involve a short-term cost for the individual in order to avoid a long-term negative outcome for the community. Examples of such behaviour are, taking the trouble to turn off lights to save electricity and fixing leaking taps to conserve water. It is these latter kinds of behaviours, namely those associated with the efficient use of water resources, which are the focus of this paper.Faced with the high economic and practical costs of attempting to supply unlimited amounts of water for the Melbourne metropolitan area, the Board of Works has sought, by a number of means, to persuade its consumers to use water more efficiently. One aspect of its strategy was to promote water conservation within the educational curriculum by designing various educational materials and programs for different school levels. These and other promotional materials were made available to schools in the Melbourne metropolitan area in 1988. Prior to the distribution of this material, the data reported in this paper were gathered as the first stage of a longitudinal evaluation of the Board's education strategy.The assumption underlying the Board of Works' educational program was that behaviour change is preceded by changes in knowledge. For example, it was assumed that a person, knowing something about the water cycle, and the system by which water is fed into our taps, would believe that it is important not to waste water. The result would be active water conservation in daily life. Some basis for this assumption has been provided by the report on domestic water use in Perth, Western Australia (Metropolitan Water Authority, 1985), where knowledge and attitudes were found to be predictors of actual water consumption. Such an assumption is based in a general way on a cognitive or information processing model of behaviour change, in which changes in behaviour are seen as proceeding from changes in relevant information or knowledge. This cognitive model is the basis for many social education programs both in schools and in the community. For example, the Quit Campaign and the AIDS campaign have both used strategies that aimed to inform the public about particular health-related behaviours.
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Reutter, Beatriz, Paul A. Lant, and Joe L. Lane. "Direct and indirect water use within the Australian economy." Water Policy 20, no. 6 (September 24, 2018): 1227–39. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wp.2018.055.
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Abstract We present the first analysis of water use in the Australian economy to account for inter-state trade, exports and consumption patterns, across all economic sectors and incorporating a temporal analysis. This is achieved by using the environmentally extended input-output technique, combining state-level input-output and water accounts from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Results show that the three big eastern economies (New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland) rely mostly on water used within their jurisdictions. Approximately one-third of water consumption is for exported commodities, with the biggest export flows of virtual water being associated with agricultural production. Comparing results across the years (2000–2011), the water consumption associated with the provision of goods and services has decreased by 32% for exports, and by 38% for domestic markets. To date in Australia, the focus for improved trans-boundary water management (within Australia) has been on improved mechanisms for sharing physical allocation of water; these results provide the trans-boundary economic dependencies related to water availability. Recent innovations in the compilation of economic input-output models create an opportunity to progress this analysis, exploring in detail the economy–water interlinkages. It is our intention that the paper shows the value of analysing water flows using the multi-regional input-output techniques.
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Meggeneder, M., and K. H. Rosenwinkel. "Water management of big events." Water Supply 3, no. 1-2 (March 1, 2003): 477–82. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/ws.2003.0141.
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Highly frequented big events play an increasing role in modern, leisure-oriented society. If you wish to host world exhibitions, trade fairs, sports events or other fairs you not only have to aim for sufficient visitors to match your economic expectations. As well as extensive use of service industries, the provision of a sufficient and reliable water supply, a wastewater disposal and sanitary equipment is crucial. In this article advice to prepare for big events and performance indicators for the consumption of venues will be given. Furthermore predictions on water consumption, ways to reduce the consumption and contractual aspects will be touched on.
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Bacal, Petru, and Nicolae Boboc. "Economic and Financial Aspects of Water Management in the Dniester Basin (The Sector of the Republic of Moldova)." Present Environment and Sustainable Development 9, no. 1 (May 1, 2015): 33–45. http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/pesd-2015-0002.
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Abstract The main topics presented in this paper are following:1 Essence and the tools of the economic mechanism of management of water resources; 2 Taxes on water consumption; 3 Tariffs for services of water supply and sewerage; 4 administrative penalties for infringements of use and protection of water resources; 5 The grants for the rational use and protection of water. In the Dniester Basin have been concentrated the majority of water resources, of urban, industrial and agricultural centers. Thus, this basin holds over 90% of water consumption, most of which are captured from surface sources and used by industrial enterprises from the left bank of Dniester, especially by Thermoelectric Plant (TEP) from Dnestrovsk. On the right bank of Dniester it is noted communal enterprises, agricultural and food industry, and in most of the localities water is captured from groundwater sources. Actual amount of water tax is very low, which conditioned the increased of water consumption and irrational use of these limited resources
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Jia, Ling, Hong Gan, and Chang Hai Qin. "Review of Research on Water Accounting." Applied Mechanics and Materials 522-524 (February 2014): 911–15. http://dx.doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.522-524.911.
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Current progress of water accounting was reviewed systematically in the paper. The result of water accounting is outstanding in some countries abroad, like Australia, South Africa, and European Union (EU) countries. In China, the exploratory research appeared in the 1990s. The study showed that theoretical framework of water resource accounting is basically formed, and research on physical accounting of water resources is abundant. However, some aspects, such as estimate of value, compilation of water economy accounts, and coupling between water resources accounting and national economic accounting system need improvement, which can provide methodological support for the water accounting system and valuable reference for integrated environmental economic accounting system (SEEA).
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Kychko, Iryna. "RATIONAL WATER USE AND WATER CONSUMPTION IN THE PROCESS OF INTENSIFICATION OF AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES: ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC ASPECTS." Problems and prospects of economics and management, no. 2(30) (2022): 54–63. http://dx.doi.org/10.25140/2411-5215-2022-2(30)-54-63.
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Abstract. Within the article, the sources of water pollution of Ukraine as a result of the intensification of agricultural activities in Ukraine are systematized and substantiated, adjusting measures on water use to prevent the deterioration of water quality, negative consequences of irrational use of water resources by the agricultural sector are considered. It is argued that deterioration factors of the hydrosphere state as a result of the agricultural sector can be significantly reduced by using the following actions: combination of crop production with animal production, which eliminates the problem of waste, promotes more efficient use of the fodder use; circulating water supply system, in which the used water after cleaning is not discharged into the environment, but is used repeatedly; local seeds for crops production and local breeds in animal husbandry; bans or restrictions on the use of the plants’ protection products insanitary zones of the water supply sources; limiting the maximum rates of the pesticides consumption, frequency and timing of their application in organic production; drip irrigation; collecting rainwater for irrigation from built in own reservoirs; cultivation of agricultural crops that are suitable for the climate; practicing a mulching system to preserve moisture in the soil; actual functioning of water protection zones along rivers and water objects, reduction of water losses during transportation to water consumers, creation of artificial reserves of underground water due to filtration losses near bulk reservoirs and main channels, which should increase the productivity of water intakes, etc. It is determined that for the introduction of rational waterconsumption and water use in long term, the improvement of the environment quality is possible by greening the needs in order to eliminate the deformed value system. The pace, structure and culture of the consumption should be formed in accordance with ecological restrictions, reducing the load on the ecosystem, balanced consumption, finding a balance between the economic well-being of the current generation and the availability of quality water resources for future generations
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Sasana, Hadi, Panji Kusuma Prasetyanto, and Nuwun Priyono. "Industrialization and Consumption of Fossil Energy are the Main Determinants of Environmental Degradation in Water Catchment Areas in Indonesia." International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy 12, no. 6 (November 28, 2022): 168–74. http://dx.doi.org/10.32479/ijeep.13546.
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Economic growth is the main goal of the global economy. However, increasing economic growth often results in increased CO2 emissions and encourages environmental degradation. This study analyzes the impact of industrialization, consumption of fossil energy, economic growth, and population activities on CO2 emissions in upland water catchment areas. Data analysis using panel data regression, in a span of 20 years. The results of the study show that economic factors, namely industrialization and consumption of fossil energy, are the main determinants of increasing CO2 emissions. Meanwhile, social aspects such as education, waste generation, and population have no effect on CO2 emissions.
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Pervov, Alexey G., Tatiana N. Shirkova, and Dmitriy V. Spitsov. "Economic aspects of landfill leachate treatment using reverse osmosis membranes." Vestnik MGSU, no. 6 (June 2021): 698–719. http://dx.doi.org/10.22227/1997-0935.2021.6.698-719.
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Introduction. Landfill leachates contain highly concentrated organic products of waste degradation and mineral salts. Concentrations of organic matter demonstrate high COD values up to 5,000 mg/l, concentrations of ammonium ions reach 2,500 mg/l, while the total salt content may reach 15,000 mg/l. Two to three reverse osmosis treatment stages may be needed to produce the water that meets effective regulations governing the composition of water discharged into the environment. Also, high salt content and COD values dramatically reduce the membrane capacity. The co-authors explored the use of nanofiltration membranes at the first stage of the leachate treatment in an effort to reduce membrane operation costs.
Materials and methods. The experiments, conducted within the framework of this research undertaking, allowed to identify a change in the concentrations of contaminants, dissolved in the leachates of reverse osmosis and nanofiltration membranes, as well as the reduced capacity of membranes at each stage of treatment. The co-authors have studied the alternative methods that may ensure maximal reduction of the concentrate consumption in the process of leachate treatment. Principal dependencies, derived as a result of the research, enabled the co-authors to identify the concentrate consumption rates depending on the extent of treatment focused on ammonium ions. The co-authors describe the methodology employed to identify the area of membranes at each treatment stage depending on the leachate composition.
Results. Calculations of operating costs are provided for three compositions of leachates, typical for the Moscow region, depending on the treatment methodology and further recovery of membrane concentrates.
Conclusions. Nanofiltration membranes can be used at the first stage of the landfill leachate treatment in the case of high COD and salt content. The application of nanofiltration membranes allows to reduce the concentrate consumption rate and cut operating costs. A new technology is developed to split the concentrate into two flows: the flow that has a high organic matter content, and the flow that has a high content of mineral salts, sodium and ammonium chlorides in order to facilitate the recovery of the concentrate.
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Miller, Caroline, Kerry Ettridge, Melanie Wakefield, Simone Pettigrew, John Coveney, David Roder, Sarah Durkin, Gary Wittert, Jane Martin, and Joanne Dono. "Consumption of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages, Juice, Artificially-Sweetened Soda and Bottled Water: An Australian Population Study." Nutrients 12, no. 3 (March 19, 2020): 817. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/nu12030817.
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Reducing consumption of free sugars, such as those found in high concentrations in manufactured products such as sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and 100% fruit juices, is a global public health priority. This study aimed to measure prevalence of widely available pre-packaged non-alcoholic water-based beverages (carbonated sodas, sports drinks, energy drinks, artificially-sweetened sodas, fruit juices (any type), and bottled water) and to comprehensively examine behavioral, environmental, current health, and demographic correlates of consumption. A cross-sectional, nationally-representative population survey of 3430 Australian adults (18+ years) was conducted using computer-assisted telephone (mobile and landline) interviewing. Past week prevalence of pre-packaged drinks containing free sugar was 47.3%; daily prevalence was 13.6%. Of all the pre-packaged drinks assessed, consumption of fruit juices (any type) was the most prevalent (38.8%), followed by bottled water (37.4%), soda (28.9%), artificially-sweetened soda (18.1%), sports drinks (8.1%), and energy drinks (4.2%). Higher soda consumption was associated with males, younger age, socio-economic disadvantage, frequent takeaway food consumption, availability of soda in the home, obesity, and a diagnosis of heart disease or depression. A diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes was associated with increased likelihood of consuming artificially-sweetened sodas and decreased likelihood of consuming sugar-sweetened soda. SSB consumption is prevalent in Australia, especially among young adults and males, foreshadowing continued population weight gain and high burdens of chronic disease. To reduce consumption, Australia must take a comprehensive approach, incorporating policy reform, effective community education, and active promotion of water.
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Bogdanowicz, R., J. Drwal, Z. Maksymiuk, and A. Osinski. "Water quality management in the coastal city in the period of considerable water consumption decrease." Water Science and Technology 44, no. 2-3 (July 1, 2001): 337–42. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wst.2001.0787.
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Gdansk water supply system belongs among the oldest in Continental Europe. In 1992 one of the first joint-venture water companies was established in the city. Under a contract concluded between the firm and the municipality, the company was obliged to secure quick and considerable improvement of drinking water quality. At the same time a considerable water consumption decrease was observed. The drop entails new environmental, technical and economic problems. The biggest threat to the supplies of safe and good quality water is the phenomenon of secondary pollution of water resulting from the overdimensioning of the water supply network. Positive aspects of water consumption decrease are related to the opportunity of more rational and sustainable water resources management. The solutions adopted in Gdansk can serve as a starting point for working out the best model for water quality management in the coastal cities.
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Baneshi, Mehdi, and Seyed Amir Bahreini. "Impacts of hot water consumption pattern on optimum sizing and techno-economic aspects of residential hybrid solar water heating systems." Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments 30 (December 2018): 139–49. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.seta.2018.09.008.
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Perkhach, O., and D. Rypych. "Ecological-geographic aspects of water consumption and guard of waters in river basin of Luga in the Volyn area." Visnyk of the Lviv University. Series Geography, no. 45 (May 20, 2014): 210–16. http://dx.doi.org/10.30970/vgg.2014.45.1167.
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The concept of small rivers and their natural, economic and ecologo-geographical contents is examined. The works of that kind problematic in this region are analyzed. The aspects of water consumption and guard of waters are investigated in a river basin of Luga, tributary of West Bug in the south-west Volyn area. Measures of effective guard and renovation of small rivers are offered. In text is placed the work out cartographical model. Key words: small rivers, river basin, water consumption, guard of waters.
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Fornarelli, R., M. Anda, S. Dallas, M. Schmack, F. Dawood, J. Byrne, G. M. Morrison, and K. Fox-Reynolds. "Enabling residential hybrid water systems through a water credit–debit system." Water Supply 19, no. 7 (June 27, 2019): 2131–39. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/ws.2019.093.
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Abstract Smart metering and data analytics enable the implementation of a range of on-site infrastructures for energy, water and waste management to demonstrate the interconnected infrastructure of future smart cities. A research project in Western Australia is integrating smart metering technology, household participation and data analytics. An improved understanding of hybrid water systems at residential scale, as socially accepted solutions to promote water efficiency and economic savings, within the traditional centralized urban water network is achieved. An integrated water model and a system of water credits and debits are developed and tested on a case study for which 10-minute logged water consumption data of its hybrid water system are available for 1 year. The model is shown to provide a full characterization of the relationship between the household and the water resources, thus assisting with improved urban water management which promotes the rollout of decentralized hybrid water systems whilst accounting for the impacts on the aquifer as an ecosystem service provider.
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Guo, Ting, and Huiying Yu. "Evaluation of Ecological Water Consumption in Yanhe River Basin Based on Big Data." Computational Intelligence and Neuroscience 2021 (November 30, 2021): 1–12. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/2201964.
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Starting from the main eco-environmental problems faced by water environment, taking Yanhe River Basin as an example, this paper discusses the theoretical connotation and evaluation calculation method of eco-environmental water consumption. In order to study the eco-environmental water consumption of Yanhe River Basin, a runoff driving factor mining method based on big data analysis is established in this paper. Aiming at the problem that the statistical law and genetic law of runoff change frequently in changing environment, the mining technology method of runoff key driving factors is proposed by combining traditional methods with big data analysis. The characteristic factors that have no significant impact on runoff change are removed, the implicit characteristic factors affecting runoff change are extracted, the driving relationship of hydrological, meteorological, and vegetation characteristic factors on ecological water consumption change is identified, and the key driving factors of ecological water consumption change are extracted, which lays a data foundation for ecological water consumption prediction based on machine learning. The economic water consumption based on eco-environmental water consumption in Yanhe River Basin in the future is predicted (including water demand in three aspects of industry, agriculture, and life); that is, the prediction is to meet the economic water demand on the basis of ensuring that the water consumption of ecological environment will not be occupied, which can effectively ensure the improvement of ecological environment function in Yanhe River Basin and is conducive to the sustainable utilization of water resources in Yanhe River Basin. The research is only based on a small watershed such as Yanhe River Basin, and the purpose of the research is to provide a reference for ecological environment protection and sustainable utilization of water resources in the Loess Plateau, even in the arid, semiarid, and semihumid areas of North China.
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Vanitha, S. "CONSUMER’S AWARENESS AND ATTITUDE TOWARDS PACKAGED DRINKING WATER IN THOOTHUKUDI DISTRICT." International Journal of Research -GRANTHAALAYAH 5, no. 1(SE) (January 31, 2017): 47–57. http://dx.doi.org/10.29121/granthaalayah.v5.i1(se).2017.1921.
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Today, one million people are drinking unhealthy water in the world. Each year 5 million people worldwide die due to the diseases caused by unhealthy drinking water. Unhealthy water creates a great risk, especially for children because of their undeveloped immune system (G8 Action Plan Decisions, 2003)1. Indeed, the World Health Organization estimates that 4.1 million children die from diarrhea, which can be inhibited by healthy water (WHO, 2010)2.
In developed countries, it is observed that water is not only a basic consumption food, but also a lifestyle product. As mentioned in the Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, packaged water consumption reflects the choices related to the lifestyle as well as being a basic need at the bottom of the pyramid (Sipos, et al., 2007)3. Water is increasingly becoming an important economic resource, and its public distribution is being privatized in many countries (e.g., France, England, Brazil, Australia, Bolivia and, recently proposed in Italy), opening new market opportunities for private investors. The consumption of bottled mineral water is significantly increasing worldwide and has become an important factor both for economic and health issues (King, 2008)4. Natural mineral water means microbiologically wholesome water, originating in an underground water table or deposit and emerging from a spring tapped at one or more natural or bore exits. This type of water cannot be sterilized, pasteurized or otherwise treated to remove or destroy microorganisms (European Commission, 2009)5. Hence, the researcher has made an attempt to find out the existing awareness and attitudes of consumers towards using packaged drinking water in Thoothukudi District.
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Hristov, Jordan, Aleksandra Martinovska-Stojcheska, and Yves Surry. "The Economic Role of Water in FYR Macedonia: An Input–Output Analysis and Implications for the Western Balkan Countries." Water Economics and Policy 02, no. 04 (December 2016): 1650025. http://dx.doi.org/10.1142/s2382624x16500259.
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Sustainable management of water resources is imperative in the Western Balkan (WB) region, due to the seasonal, spatial and quality distribution of these resources. This paper analyzed water consumption and associated relationships between the economic sectors in Macedonia in 2005, based on input–output (IO) analysis. Using an environmentally extended IO framework, water consumption was investigated by developing several indicators. Disaggregation of the agriculture sector into 11 sub-sectors, combined with backward and forward linkage analysis, allowed us to identify rice, fruits, grapes and wine, other crop and cattle production as key water-consuming sub-sectors. The developed indicators revealed a high proportion of direct water consumption in agriculture and some other non-agricultural sectors such as mining and quarrying, other mining and quarrying products, food products and beverages as well as electrical machinery, which imposed significant pressure on natural water resources in Macedonia. Therefore, changes in production technology and specializations in Macedonia toward less water-intensive options are needed to ease the pressure on natural water resources. Extending the existing water pricing policy to capture economic, social and environmental aspects should also be considered. Moreover, the development and construction of water accounts and the disaggregation procedure have valuable implications for the WB countries. Applications elsewhere following this Macedonian example can provide a meaningful understanding of the role of water and interdependencies at regional level and increase awareness of the water resource availability at trans-boundary scale.
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Mykhailenko, O., and K. Budnikov. "Economic aspects of introducing pumped-storage hydroelectric power plants into the mine dewatering system for distributed power generation." IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science 1049, no. 1 (June 1, 2022): 012055. http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1049/1/012055.
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Abstract The paper examines the pumped hydroelectric energy storage potential of mine dewatering system for power generation in a distributed power system. Based on the water inflows that can be used to fill the drainage basins, the following options for pumped-storage hydroelectric power plants (PSHPP) are considered: when groundwater is discharged from only one mine, one hydraulic turbine is installed on the horizon below the surface; with additional discharge of groundwater from neighboring mines – installation of two or four hydraulic turbines at the drainage stages closest to the surface. Comparison was made with grid only system. It is based on net present value (NPV) and levelized cost of energy (LCOE) criteria. Variable parameters were hydraulic turbine water flow and mine power consumption. Also, for a certain combination of parameters, the optimal mine power system was determined. The area of use of the PSHS is estimated. It was found that the smallest economic effect is achieved when the power generation of one hydraulic turbine is close to the power consumption. The area of expedient use of the PSHPP within the limits of parameter variation is 17.2%, 19.6% (base and peak costs of power). This is because power generation drops when the water flow decreases. It does not cover the needs of the mine and there is a power shortage. Thus, the mine power system autonomy is very low. With an increase in water inflow and the number of hydraulic turbines, first up to two and then up to four units, the area of expedient use of PSHPP increases to 51.5%, 55.9% and 50.6%, 72.8%, respectively. However, with low energy consumption and a low water flow, it is still rational to receive electricity from the grid. This is due to a sharp drop in the efficiency of hydraulic turbines and high costs for maintenance and repair of PSHPP equipment, which are not comparable to the cost of purchasing power. So it was noted that with the base cost of electricity and an increase in the number of hydro turbines from two to four, the area of conditions under which the use of PSHPP is justified even decreased by 0.9%. At peak cost, the area increases by 16.9%. The mine power system autonomy is not achieved. In general, the efficiency of using PSHPP for mine dewatering systems is high, but the feasibility of their use should be studied for specific conditions of use.
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Santos, Eleonora, António Albuquerque, Inês Lisboa, Patrick Murray, and Hande Ermis. "Economic Assessment of Energy Consumption in Wastewater Treatment Plants: Applicability of Alternative Nature-Based Technologies in Portugal." Water 14, no. 13 (June 26, 2022): 2042. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w14132042.
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Understanding how to address today’s global challenges is critical to improving corporate performance in terms of economic and environmental sustainability. In wastewater treatment systems, such an approach implies integrating efficient treatment technologies with aspects of the circular economy. In this business field, energy costs represent a large share of operating costs. This work discusses technological and management aspects leading to greater energy savings in Portuguese wastewater treatment companies. A mixed methodology, involving qualitative and quantitative aspects, for collecting and analysing data from wastewater treatment plants was used. The qualitative aspects consisted of a narrative analysis of the information available on reports and websites for 11 wastewater management companies in Portugal (e.g., technologies, treated wastewater volumes and operating costs) followed by a review of several international studies. The quantitative approach involved calculating the specific energy consumption (kWh/m3), energy operating costs (EUR/m3) and energy operating costs per population equivalent (EUR/inhabitants) using data from the literature and from Portuguese companies collected from the SABI database. The results suggested that the most environmentally and economically sustainable solution is algae-based technology which might allow a reduction in energy operating costs between 0.05–0.41 EUR/m3 and 15.4–180.8 EUR/inhabitants compared to activated sludge and other conventional methods. This technology, in addition to being financially advantageous, provides the ability to eliminate the carbon footprint and the valorisation of algae biomass, suggesting that this biotechnology is starting to position itself as a mandatory future solution in the wastewater treatment sector.
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Samaranayake, Premaratne, Weiguang Liang, Zhong-Hua Chen, David Tissue, and Yi-Chen Lan. "Sustainable Protected Cropping: A Case Study of Seasonal Impacts on Greenhouse Energy Consumption during Capsicum Production." Energies 13, no. 17 (August 30, 2020): 4468. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/en13174468.
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Sustainable food production in protected cropping is increasing rapidly in response to global climate change and population growth. However, there are significant knowledge gaps regarding energy consumption while achieving optimum environmental conditions for greenhouse crop production. A capsicum crop cultivated in a high-tech greenhouse facility in Australia was analysed in terms of relationships between key environmental variables and the comparative analysis of energy consumption during different seasons. We showed that daily energy consumption varied due to the seasonal nature of the external environment and maintenance of optimal growing temperatures. Total power consumption reported throughout the entire crop cycle for heating (gas hot water system) and cooling (pad and fan) was 12,503 and 5183 kWh, respectively; hence, heating consumed ca. 70% of the total energy requirement over the 8-month growing period (early spring to late autumn) in the greenhouse facility. Regressions of daily energy consumption within each season, designated either predominantly for heating or cooling, indicated that energy consumption was 14.62 kWh per 1 °C heating and 2.23 kWh per 1 °C cooling. Therefore, changing the planting date to late spring is likely to significantly reduce heating energy costs for greenhouse capsicum growers in Australia. The findings will provide useful guidelines to maximise the greenhouse production of capsicum with better economic return by taking into consideration the potential optimal energy saving strategy during different external environment conditions and seasons.
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Ross, Tara T., Mohammad A. Alim, and Ataur Rahman. "Community-Scale Rural Drinking Water Supply Systems Based on Harvested Rainwater: A Case Study of Australia and Vietnam." Water 14, no. 11 (May 30, 2022): 1763. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w14111763.
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Rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems can be used to produce drinking water in rural communities, particularly in developing countries that lack a clean drinking water supply. Most previous research has focused on the application of RWH systems for individual urban households. This paper develops a yield-after-spillage water balance model (WBM) which can calculate the reliability, annual drinking water production (ADWP) and benefit–cost ratio (BCR) of a community-scale RWH system for rural drinking water supply. We consider multiple scenarios regarding community aspects, including 150–1000 users, 70–4800 kL rainwater storage, 20–50 L/capita/day (LCD) drinking water usage levels, local rainfall regimes and economic parameters of Australia (developed country) and Vietnam (developing country). The WBM analysis shows a strong correlation between water demand and water supply with 90% system reliability, which allows both Australian and Vietnamese systems to achieve the similar capability of ADWP and economic values of the produced drinking water. However, the cost of the Vietnamese system is higher due to the requirement of larger rainwater storage due to larger household size and lower rainfall in the dry season, which reduces the BCR compared to the Australian systems. It is found that the RWH systems can be feasibly implemented at the water price of 0.01 AUD/L for all the Vietnamese scenarios and for some Australian scenarios with drinking water demand over 6 kL/day.
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Chernova, Maria A. "ASSESSMENT OF CURRENT AND POSSIBLE PROSPECTIVE WATER CONSUMPTION FROM SURFACE RUNOFF SOURCES OF THE TAMBOV REGION." Географический вестник = Geographical bulletin, no. 2(61) (2022): 48–60. http://dx.doi.org/10.17072/2079-7877-2022-2-48-60.
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Climate change makes significant adjustments to the scenarios of socio-economic development of territories, including their hydrological aspects. The world population growth and the industrial development, the acute problem of water scarcity and the interseasonal redistribution of runoff – all this also puts direct pressure on water resources. Assessment of water consumption prospects appears to be a highly relevant issue. Within the framework of this study, possible prospective water consumption was assessed for the territory of all administrative districts of the Tambov region. The calculations were made on the basis of the annual flow volume of 75% and 95% of the water supply sufficiency and correlated with the annual water consumption in the region. The work is based on the data on the use of surface water resources in the Tambov region for the period from 2003 to 2020, as well as materials on the region’s major water users, provided by specialized organizations. The results obtained made it possible to assess the possible prospective water consumption and make a conclusion about a high water management potential of the majority of administrative districts of the Tambov region. Bondarsky, Gavrilovsky, Inzhavinsky, Kirsanovsky, Mordovsky, Muchkapsky, Rasskazovsky, Rzhaksinsky, Tokarevsky, Umetsky districts appear to be particularly promising from this perspective, while the prospects for the development of water consumption from surface sources in the Sampursky district can be assessed as poor.
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Crawford, P. M. "Optimizing Polymer Consumption in Sludge Dewatering Applications." Water Science and Technology 22, no. 7-8 (July 1, 1990): 261–67. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wst.1990.0253.
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As we move into the 1990's, upgrading of existing wastewater treatment plants is becoming a very important consideration. Although upgrading can take many forms, one of the most economic is to optimize the performance of the existing equipment and structures. In the realm of sludge dewatering, also an increasingly important topic, an area which has received little attention in the past is the control of the sludge conditioning process prior to dewatering. In conjunction with the Wastewater Technology Centre in Burlington, Canada, ZENON Water Systems Inc. has developed the Sludge Conditioning Controller (SCC) to fulfill this need in the wastewater marketplace. A description of both the hardware and software aspects of the SCC are presented. In addition, typical operating performance of the microprocessor-based system is shown. Experience with full scale systems has revealed that the benefits associated with the SCC far exceed the original objective of saving polymer. The others include automation of the dewatering device operation, increased capacity, and more uniform performance of the dewatering machine.
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Soto Rios, Paula, Tariq Deen, Nidhi Nagabhatla, and Gustavo Ayala. "Explaining Water Pricing through a Water Security Lens." Water 10, no. 9 (September 1, 2018): 1173. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w10091173.
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Can water security serve as a platform for developing a long-term solution to ongoing water crises? Many regions around the world are experiencing severe water problems, including water scarcity, water-borne diseases, water-related natural hazards, and water conflicts. These issues are expected to increase and intensify in the future. Both developed and developing economies face a water supply and demand imbalance that will potentially influence their water pricing structures. Institutions and policies that govern the pricing of this natural capital remain crucial for driving food production and providing services. The complex and multifaceted issues of sustainable water management call for a standard set of tools that can capture and create desired water security scenarios. Water pricing is an important contributing factor for achieving these scenarios. In this paper, we analyze how water pricing can be used as a tool to enact the water security agenda. This paper addresses these issues from three facets: (1) Economic aspects—the multiple processes through which water is conceptualized and priced; (2) analysis of water pricing considering its effect in water consumption; and (3) arguments for assessing the potential of water pricing as a tool to appraise water security.
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Martínez-Castrejón, Mariana, Jazmin A. López-Díaz, Omar Solorza-Feria, Oscar Talavera-Mendoza, América L. Rodríguez-Herrera, Osbelia Alcaraz-Morales, and Giovanni Hernández-Flores. "Environmental, Economic, and Social Aspects of Human Urine Valorization through Microbial Fuel Cells from the Circular Economy Perspective." Micromachines 13, no. 12 (December 16, 2022): 2239. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/mi13122239.
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Population growth increases the challenge of meeting basic human needs, such as water, a limited resource. Consumption habits and water pollution have compromised natural resources to unsustainable levels. Sustainable effluent treatment practices, such as decentralized systems focused on energy, nutrients, and water recovery, have attracted the attention of the scientific community. Human urine (HU) is a physiological liquid waste whose main component is water (~95%). HU has a significant amount of nutrients, such as N, P, K, and organic matter, which are usually lacking in fecal coliforms. Therefore, the possibility exists of recovering nutrients and energy from HU using sustainable and non-sustainable technologies. Treating HU in bioelectrochemical systems (BES) is a novel alternative to obtaining byproducts from this effluent more sustainably than in electrochemical systems. Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are an interesting example, contributing to HU revalorization from unwanted waste into a valuable resource of nutrients, energy, and water. Even when urine-operated MFCs have not generated attractive potential outputs or produced considerable amounts of bioelectricity, this review emphasizes HU advantages as nutrients or water sources. The aim of this review was to analyze the current development of BES for HU treatment based on the water circular economy, discussing challenges and perspectives researchers might encounter.
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Schusser, Sandra, and Goran Bostedt. "Green behavioral (in)consistencies: are pro-environmental behaviors in different domains substitutes or complements?" Environmental Economics 10, no. 1 (June 20, 2019): 23–47. http://dx.doi.org/10.21511/ee.10(1).2019.03.
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Households’ consumption patterns and behaviors have profound influence on natural resources and environmental quality. This paper explores whether environmental behaviors and willingness to pay (WTP) in the household domains transport, energy consumption and water consumption are substitutes or complements. Using a cross-country data set from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Survey on Environmental Attitudes and Behavior from 2008, a random-effects (ordered) probit model is used to answer this question for the following countries: Australia, Canada, France, Mexico, Italy, and South Korea. It is found that in most countries, actual environmental behaviors are substitutes, while WTP for environmental public goods in different domains is mostly complementary. Grounding in these results, policies aiming to encourage overall environmentally friendly lifestyles should therefore be all-encompassing of several public domains, instead of individual ones, to avoid the risk of negative spillovers.
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Cooke, B. D. "Daily food intake of free-ranging wild rabbits in semiarid South Australia." Wildlife Research 41, no. 2 (2014): 141. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr14003.
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Context Although the daily food intake of wild rabbits is broadly known, precise field estimates have not been made. Moreover, regressions based on metabolic body size and food intake of grazing herbivores in general are too imprecise to provide close predictions. Using such values could result in substantial errors when estimating grazing equivalents to sheep or cattle and resultant economic losses, or estimating the numbers of rabbits per hectare based on rates of deposition of faeces. Aim To re-analyse previously collected data on estimated food digestibility and food intake of rabbits, and provide a framework for better estimating economic and conservation losses attributable to wild rabbits. Methods Food intake of wild free-ranging rabbits was calculated from past measurements of water turnover obtained from dilution of injected tritiated water and estimates of the water content and digestibility of the food eaten. Key results During spring, male rabbits were estimated to eat 65.7 ± 12.5 g dry matter per corrected bodyweight (W–0.75) per day and lactating females ate 97.0 ± 19.4 g dry matter W–0.75 day–1. Similar results were obtained on repetition of trials at a second field site and from wild rabbits held in captivity. Conclusions The estimates of food digestibility and intake obtained, although not precise, are an improvement on theoretical expectations alone and help put previously published data in better perspective. Implications Improved estimates of food consumption provide more confidence in estimates of rabbit grazing pressure. Even moderate densities of rabbits (5 rabbits per ha) could remove about half the pasture produced in an average year in Australia’s arid-zone.
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Jiménez-Arias, David, Alba E. Hernándiz, Sarai Morales-Sierra, Ana L. García-García, Francisco J. García-Machado, Juan C. Luis, and Andrés A. Borges. "Applying Biostimulants to Combat Water Deficit in Crop Plants: Research and Debate." Agronomy 12, no. 3 (February 25, 2022): 571. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12030571.
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Climate change has increased the severity of drought episodes by further reducing precipitation in vulnerable zones. Drought induces a substantial decrease in agricultural water, reducing crop yields. Consequently, addressing water consumption can increase farmers’ profits. This work describes lab-to-field research in Zea mays, using two biostimulants: glycine betaine (GB) and L-pyroglutamic acid (PG). The biostimulant optimal dosages were selected using a hydroponic system with 20% polyethylene glycol and nursery experiments under water-deficit irrigation. The established dosages were evaluated in field trials in which irrigation was reduced by 20%. Laboratory biostimulant optimisation showed in stressed treated seedlings (GB 0.1 mM; PG 1 mM) an increased dry weight, relative growth rate and water use efficiency, reducing seedling growth loss between 65 and 85%, respectively. Field trials using a GB-optimised dosage showed an increase in plants’ growth, grain yield and flour Ca content. In addition, grain flour carbohydrate content and protein remained similar to control well-watered plants. Finally, the economic aspects of biostimulant treatments, water consumption, water sources (ground vs. desalinated) and grain biomass were addressed. Overall, GB treatment demonstrated to be a valuable tool to reduce water consumption and improve farmers’ earnings.
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Buzard, Kristy, and Tania Voon. "How Trade-Restrictive Is Standardized Packaging? Economic and Legal Implications of the WTO Panel Reports in Australia–Tobacco Plain Packaging." World Trade Review 19, no. 2 (April 2020): 267–81. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1474745620000051.
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AbstractThe lengthy and long-awaited WTO Panel Reports in Australia–Tobacco Plain Packaging contain a host of material for reflection, particularly in relation to the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) and the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights. While two of the Panel Reports proceed to appeal, we consider with respect to the two adopted Panel Reports the Panel's reasoning in relation to Article 2.2 of the TBT, focusing on the meaning of trade-restrictiveness. This concept central to WTO law has been under-examined to date, and these Panel Reports demonstrate some of the complexities in identifying trade-restrictive measures, particularly where they are non-discriminatory. The Panel found that Australia's measures restrict trade because they contribute to their objective of reducing tobacco consumption. Therefore, any equally effective alternative will similarly restrict trade. This curious result under TBT Article 2.2 may be particular to non-discriminatory measures that target ‘socially bad’ products such as tobacco.
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Bernabé-Crespo, Miguel Borja, Encarnación Gil-Meseguer, and José M. Gómez-Espín. "Desalination and water security in Southeastern Spain." Journal of Political Ecology 26, no. 1 (September 19, 2019): 486. http://dx.doi.org/10.2458/v26i1.22911.
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<p>The Segura Hydrographic Demarcation (DHS), in Southeastern Spain, is an area of hydric deficit caused by low and irregular rainfall and a dense population. In this region water scarcity is a burning issue that polarizes society for or against different models of ensuring water supply. Given the current demand for water throughout Spain, desalination has been used to increase water supply, and as insurance against drought. Ten seawater desalination plants and hundreds of brackish aquifer desalination plants treat water in the Southeast of the Iberian Peninsula, both for human consumption and for irrigation, contributing to economic, energetic, processual and economic aspects of territorial organization in the Southeast of Spain. This article reviews debates over desalination, water transfers, and the best way to meet water demands in that region. While desalination allows an increase in water supply, dependence on that source increases energy costs and may lead to mistaken assumptions among users about water scarcity and availability.</p><p><strong>Keywords: </strong>seawater desalination, brackish aquifer desalination, human water supply, social debate, irrigation, Southeast of Spain</p>
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Boyden, B. H., L. Nador, S. Addleman, and L. Jeston. "The economic pre-treatment of coal mine drainage water with caustic and ozone." Water Science and Technology 76, no. 5 (May 5, 2017): 1022–34. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wst.2017.263.
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Coal mine drainage waters are low in pH with varying amounts of iron and manganese and are generally brackish. The Austar Coal Mine in NSW, Australia, sought alternatives to their current lime dosing as the pre-treatment before the downstream reverse osmosis plant. Undesirable operating aspects of the current system include manganese and gypsum scaling/fouling, the need for anti-scalants and reduced water recovery. Thirteen processes for acid mine drainage were initially considered. The preferred process of caustic and ozone for Mn(II) oxidation was pilot tested at up to 0.74 kL/hr at the mine site. Under proper conditions and no aeration, about 81 per cent of the Fe could be removed (initially at 156 mg/L) as green rust. Supplemental aeration followed first-order kinetics and allowed 99.9 per cent Fe(II) oxidation and removal but only with a hydraulic residence time of about 47 minutes. The addition of supplemental Cu catalyst improved Fe removal. Ozone applied after caustic was effective in stoichiometrically oxidising recalcitrant Mn(II) and any remaining Fe(II). Control of the ozonation was achieved using the oxidation reduction potential during oxidation of the Mn(II) species. The use of caustic, followed by ozone, proved economically comparable to the current lime pre-treatment.
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Cherednichenko, Oleksandr, Valerii Havrysh, Vyacheslav Shebanin, Antonina Kalinichenko, Grzegorz Mentel, and Joanna Nakonieczny. "Local Green Power Supply Plants Based on Alcohol Regenerative Gas Turbines: Economic and Environmental Aspects." Energies 13, no. 9 (May 1, 2020): 2156. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/en13092156.
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Growing economies need green and renewable energy. Their financial development can reduce energy consumption (through energy-efficient technologies) and replace fossil fuels with renewable ones. Gas turbine engines are widely used in transport and industry. To improve their economic attractiveness and to reduce harmful emissions, including greenhouse gases, alternative fuels and waste heat recovery technologies can be used. A promising direction is the use of alcohol and thermo-chemical recuperation. The purpose of this study is to estimate the economic efficiency and carbon dioxide emissions of an alcohol-fueled regenerative gas turbine engine with thermo-chemical recuperation. The carbon dioxide emissions have been determined using engine efficiency, fuel properties, as well as life cycle analysis. The engine efficiency was maximized by varying the water/alcohol ratio. To evaluate steam fuel reforming for a certain engine, a conversion performance factor has been suggested. At the optimal water/methanol ratio of 3.075 this technology can increase efficiency by 4% and reduce tank-to-wake emission by 80%. In the last 6 months of 2019, methanol prices were promising for power and cogeneration plants in remote locations. The policy recommendation is that local authorities should pay attention to alcohol fuel and advanced turbines to curb the adverse effects of burning petroleum fuel on economic growth and the environment.
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Dall-Orsoletta, Alaize, Mauricio Uriona-Maldonado, Géremi Dranka, and Paula Ferreira. "review of social dynamics in complex energy systems models." International Journal of Sustainable Energy Planning and Management 36 (December 14, 2022): 33–52. http://dx.doi.org/10.54337/ijsepm.7478.
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The problem of techno-economic approaches to evaluating energy transition pathways has been constantly reported in the literature. Existing research recognises the critical role played by social aspects in energy systems models. System dynamics (SD) has been pointed out among modelling techniques as a suitable tool to evaluate the interdisciplinary nature of energy transitions. This paper explores how energy system-related SD models have incorporated social aspects through a literature review. Models were assessed based on their geographical resolution, time horizon, methodological approach, and main themes: supply-demand, energy-economy-environment (3E), energy-transport, water-energy-food (WEF) nexus, and consumer-centric and socio-political dynamics. Social aspects considered include behaviour and lifestyle changes, social acceptance, willingness to participate, socio-economic measures, among others. As expected, the representation of social aspects was not standard among the papers analysed. Socio-economic aspects were most commonly included in supply-demand and 3E models. Energy-transport and WEF models mainly incorporated changes in travel and consumption habits, respectively. The last theme had a more diverse approach to social aspects that deserves further attention, especially for energy access and justice issues. Other research lines include modelling approaches combination, enhanced participatory and transparent processes during model development, and use of SD models in policy-aiding and stakeholders’ information processes.
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Kovalenko, Vitalii, Nataliya Kovalenko, Oleksandr Labenko, Oleksandr Faichuk, and Olha Faichuk. "Bioenergy sustainable development: achieving the balance between social and economic aspects." E3S Web of Conferences 154 (2020): 07008. http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202015407008.
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At the beginning of the third Millennium, humanity is forced to face a new surge of tensions and contradictions between different countries and peoples, between different parties and faiths, as well as the growth of environmental, economic and social problems both in different regions of the world and on a global scale. These phenomena are the result of the exhaustion of socio-economic forms of development of society within the existing natural resource and environmental conditions. An increasing number of people and states are experiencing an acute shortage not only in quality food, but also in quality water, clean air, energy, land, biological and other resources. After all, according to some scientists over the past hundred years, the consumption of natural resources by mankind has increased almost 100 times. For the first time in the history of mankind, resource and environmental crises have reached the biosphere borders and there is a danger to the existence of civilization. Humanity faces a global challenge, the correct solution of which will result on the lives of our descendants in the future. The common task for all is to preserve the biosphere as the habitat of mankind. Further increase of material and energy flows becomes impossible, as well as further satisfaction of the needs of new billions of people who will be added to the total population. Humanity is on the threshold of a new socio-economic formation, as neither a centrally managed economy nor a market economy has been able to solve the global environmental problems of our planet.
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Hernández-Chover, Vicent, Lledó Castellet-Viciano, and Francesc Hernández-Sancho. "A Tariff Model for Reclaimed Water in Industrial Sectors: An Opportunity from the Circular Economy." Water 14, no. 23 (December 1, 2022): 3912. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w14233912.
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The growth of the world’s population is associated with an increase in demand for water. The consequences of this increase are twofold: On the one hand, it endangers the water balance of the ecosystem, and on the other hand, it considerably increases the volume of wastewater generated. In this sense, wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) play a fundamental role since their objective is to guarantee the quality of the effluents discharged into the environment. Moreover, current treatment systems allow for the subsequent use of the effluent. Thus, the wastewater treatment sector can be seen as an unconventional source of water, acquiring a special importance in the framework of the circular economy. In this context, water reclamation and reuse are identified as key components of water resource management. However, the economic aspects, in terms of tariff design and cost recovery, represent a major barrier to incentivizing its use. In this paper, the authors analyze these aspects and propose a tariff that combines the cost recovery, an incentive to use reclaimed water and other relevant aspects that guarantee the success of water reuse projects. With this objective, three industrial sectors are evaluated. For the first sector, the user industries would achieve a saving of approximately 10% by changing the consumption of conventional water to reclaimed water; in the second sector, they would achieve a saving of 18% and in the third sector a saving of approximately 16%. In addition to guaranteeing sustainability in the consumption of reclaimed water in industry, the viability of the supplying company is ensured. This research offers valuable results that will be useful for establishing future strategies aimed at encouraging the use of reclaimed water in industrial environments.
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Moutopoulos, Dimitrios K., Vasileios Minasidis, Athina Ziou, Alexandra S. Douligeri, George Katselis, and John A. Theodorou. "Investigating the Acceptance of a New Bivalve Product in the Greek Shellfish Market: The Non-Indigenous Pearl Oyster Pinctada imbricata radiata." Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 10, no. 2 (February 12, 2022): 251. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/jmse10020251.
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Greece exhibits the lowest seafood per capita consumption amongst European Mediterranean countries, and the investigation of consumer attitudes to new seafood products would bridge the gap among producers and consumers by promoting the vertical integration of the supply chain. However, limited information exists about consumer preferences for bivalves in the Mediterranean and for wild bivalves in particular. The present study aims to investigate, for the first time, consumers’ attitudes towards the purchase and consumption of bivalves, and more specifically, towards the edible pearl oyster Pinctada imbricata radiata, in the Greek shellfish market. Adult participants from the entire country completed a questionnaire covering the basic marketing aspects of bivalve and pearl oyster consumption, such as choice, purchase, reasons for consuming bivalves, confidence in product’s hygiene certification, media influence, etc. Data analysis included uni- and multi-variate statistics to examine the possible relations between the consumers’ demographics and socio-economic characteristics, and bivalve marketing aspects. Results showed that the majority of Greek consumers chooses traditional shellfish shops for purchasing pearl oysters, prefers a certification of quality, and trusts the confirmation provided by the veterinary authorities. Consumers’ attitudes vary considerably according to their demographics and socio-economic characteristics. Multivariate models revealed that the married, highly educated consumers that live in urban places were more reluctant to try new shellfish products and to accept an innovative way of market supply. The results reflect the positive attitude of Greek consumers towards the consumption of pearl oyster, a fact that would be helpful for decision makers in the planning of production, which in turn would promote bivalve consumption in the Greek shellfish market.
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Gupta, Rakesh, Kejia Yan, Tarlok Singh, and Di Mo. "Domestic and International Drivers of the Demand for Water Resources in the Context of Water Scarcity: A Cross-Country Study." Journal of Risk and Financial Management 13, no. 11 (October 29, 2020): 255. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/jrfm13110255.
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Global warming, while increasing human demand for water, is reducing water availability by reducing runoff flows and the effective amount of water between seasons, making water scarcity a growing problem globally. Water management plays an important role in mitigating global warming, improving the water cycle, reducing carbon emissions, and providing clean energy, and pricing water is considered a good approach to water management. Pricing water needs to take into account all sectors and aspects of society, such as domestic water, food and agriculture, energy, transport, industry, urban provision, human health, ecosystems, and the environment, and their interrelationships through water, within the context of the fundamental human rights to water and sanitation. This requires that every stakeholder should contribute to the development of water-related policies at every stage of the water interrelationship. This study investigated the relationship between water demand across different sectors of the economy using indicators for China, Australia, Japan, and the UK. Using panel analyses, this study finds that economic growth and population expansion increases the demand for water in all aspects. These findings have significant policy implications for water management. Because water prices can have an impact on global trade and, more importantly, are a major solution to global warming, water management policies should be considered at the global level, not only at the national level.
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Jeder, Houcine, Emna Ben Hamza, and Hatem Belhouchette. "AN OPTIMAL PRICE FOR SUSTAINABLE IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE IN CENTRAL-EASTERN TUNISIA." New Medit 18, no. 2 (June 15, 2019): 3–14. http://dx.doi.org/10.30682/nm1902a.
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Increasing pressures on water resources are causing many countries in Mediterranean to (re)consider various mechanisms to improve water use efficiency for agricultural like Tunisia country. The price mechanism remains the most appropriate instrument to allocate this water resource, but the search for the optimal price of water that reconciles different aspects economic and environmental is the most important issue to rise. In this paper, we will show that the search for a compromise between farm income and water consumption is possible through an optimal price applying both the entropy maximization approach and the multiobjective optimization. The results show that the use of Generalised Maximum Entropy (GME) approach is able to calibrate the model. Once the model is calibrated, a Multi-Objective Programming (MOP) was used to determine the optimal price using the compromise method. This optimal price determined has resulted to a slight economic decline in agricultural income against an immediate environmental gain of water saving. This compromise is a way to ensure the sustainability of irrigated agriculture and the preservation of water resources in Tunisia.
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Morales Rojas, Eli, Edwin Adolfo Díaz Ortiz, Cesar Augusto Medina Tafur, Ligia García, Manuel Oliva, and Nilton B. Rojas Briceño. "A Rainwater Harvesting and Treatment System for Domestic Use and Human Consumption in Native Communities in Amazonas (NW Peru): Technical and Economic Validation." Scientifica 2021 (October 19, 2021): 1–17. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/4136379.
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The inhabitants of Tunants and Yahuahua face water supply problems in terms of quantity and quality, leading to socio-environmental and health impacts in the areas. The objective of this research, therefore, is to determine the technical and economic feasibility of a proposal for a rainwater harvesting and treatment system for human consumption in the native communities. For the technical feasibility, monthly water demand per family was compared with the amount of water collected in the rainy and dry seasons. In addition, 16 physical, chemical, and microbiological parameters were evaluated at the inlet and outlet of the water system. The economic feasibility was determined by the initial investment and maintenance of the systems; with the benefits, we obtained the net present social value (NPSV), social internal rate of return (SIRR), and cost-effectiveness (CE). Technically, oxygenation and chlorination in the storage tanks allowed for water quality in physical, chemical, and microbiological aspects, according to the D.S. N° 031-2010-SA standard, in all cases. Finally, with an initial investment of S/2,600 and S/70.00 for annual maintenance of the system, it is possible to supply up to six people per family with an average daily consumption of 32.5 L per person. It is suggested that the system be used at scale in the context of native communities in north-eastern Peru.
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Mikkelsen, P. S., O. F. Adeler, H. J. Albrechtsen, and M. Henze. "Collected rainfall as a water source in Danish households - what is the potential and what are the costs?" Water Science and Technology 39, no. 5 (March 1, 1999): 49–56. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wst.1999.0221.
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The water resource, energy and economy aspects of rainwater collection are assessed to evaluate rainfall collection as an alternative option for sustainable water supply. A maximum of 229 million m3/year of rainwater can be collected from Danish roofs, provided that all possible surfaces are used and all rain falling on the surfaces is collected. This is equivalent to 24% of the total present production of drinking water, which is mainly based on groundwater. From household roofs 64.5 million m3/year can be collected if used for toilet flushing and washing of clothes. This is 68% of the actual demand for toilet flushing and washing of clothes in households and 22% of the total water consumption in households, but only 7% of the total present drinking water production in Denmark. From the society point of view there is neither an environmental nor an economic reason to systematically promote rainfall collection on a larger scale in Denmark. Thus it is important to see rainfall collection in a local context, and in each case to evaluate whether there are cheaper alternative water sources or options for minimising the water consumption.
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FAYVISHENKO, Diana. "FACTOR DETERMINANTS OF CONSUMER DEMAND MINERAL WATER." "EСONOMY. FINANСES. MANAGEMENT: Topical issues of science and practical activity", no. 2 (52) (June 26, 2020): 93–104. http://dx.doi.org/10.37128/10.37128/2411-4413-2020-2-8.
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In a highly competitive business environment, research into the determinants of consumer choice is a key challenge in formulating a brand development and management strategy. It is the formation of the concept of strategic management that emphasizes the central role of factors in making major decisions, the synthesis of the concept of brand positioning and its value attributes, purposefully influences the consumer's conscience and determines his demand as a whole. The purpose. Analysis of factor determinants of consumer choice of brands in the mineral water market, justification of the decision-making process. Methods of the research is based on theoretical and methodological aspects of the analysis of factors of consumer demand and choice of brands in the market of mineral water, analytical data of market analysis and water consumption. The article emphasizes that consumption has always been an integral part of society's development, driven by the influence of social, cultural, economic and psychological processes. Both consumer’s choice issue and analysis of the main groups of factors that influence purchasing behavior when forming a brand management strategy in the mineral water market remain quite relevant and require a detailed analysis. Factor determinants of consumer demand of mineral water were revealed, the main factors that influence the consumer's choice were analyzed, his perception of the brand, was formed and also value aspects were emphasized, taking into account force majeure in managing the brand. It is concluded that the integrated demand factors, specific position, attributive and cognitive characteristics of the brand, a clearly constructed model of brand management, a complete presentation of the goals and tools to achieve them, corporate influence the consumer demand of mineral water, taking into account the purchasing power of the consumer audience, seasonality of the product responsibility of all staff. Prospects for further research are the development of consumer behavior models and its adaptation in the system of strategic brand management.
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Bdour, Ahmed N., Noor Al-Sadeq, Muna Gharaibeh, Angeles Mendoza-Sammet, Maria D. Kennedy, and Sergio G. Salinas-Rodriguez. "Techno-Economic Analysis of Selected PV-BWRO Desalination Plants in the Context of the Water–Energy Nexus for Low–Medium-Income Countries." Energies 15, no. 22 (November 18, 2022): 8657. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/en15228657.
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Jordan was late in adopting seawater and brackish water desalination as a source until the late 1990s and early 2000s. However, ongoing studies are still discussing the technical, economic, and socio-political aspects of brackish water reverse osmosis (BWRO) desalination plants. In this study, the water–energy nexus was considered, in order to highlight the main challenges facing BWRO desalination. We discuss the use of photovoltaic (PV) technology, together with BWRO desalination, as an approach to compensate for ecological, financial, and social challenges in Jordan. For this purpose, the performance of nine existing BWRO desalination plants in the agricultural, domestic, and industrial sectors is assessed. The water performance is assessed based on water consumption, safe yield extraction, plant recovery rate (R, %), and compliance to local and international water quality standards; the Specific Energy Consumption (SEC, kWh/m3) is taken as the main evaluation criterion to assess the energy performance of the BWRO desalination plants; and economic performance is assessed based on the overall cost of water produced per cubic meter (USD/m3). The main environmental component is the brine disposal management practice utilized by each plant. Based on this assessment, the main challenges in BWRO desalination are the unsustainable patterns of water production, mismanaged energy performance, low recovery rates, and improper brine disposal. The challenges in domestic and industrial BWRO desalination, which are completely dependent on the electricity grid, are associated with critical energy and costs losses, as reflected by the high SEC values (in the range of 2.7–5.6 kWh/m3) and high water costs per cubic meter (0.60–1.18 USD/m3). As such, the use of PV solar panels is suggested, in order to reduce the electricity consumption of the assessed BWRO plants. The installation of PV panels resulted in significantly reduced energy costs (by 69–74%) and total costs (by 50–54%), compared with energy costs from the electricity grid, over the lifetime of the assessed BWRO desalination plants.
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Manera, Carles, Eloi Serrano, José Pérez-Montiel, and Màrian Buil-Fabregà. "Construction of Biophysical Indicators for the Catalan Economy: Building a New Conceptual Framework." Sustainability 13, no. 13 (July 4, 2021): 7462. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su13137462.
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The main objective of this work is to create an environmental vision of the Catalan economy based on various indicators. To do this, we started from the fundamental idea of obtaining new metrics to measure impacts on the economy. The methodology used is focused on the systematization of descriptive statistics and econometric review. In this sense, GDP and GDP per capita are valued as chrematistic units, and biophysical variables are incorporated. For the period 2000–2016, the figures for energy consumption, CO2 emissions, energy intensity of the economy and water consumption were collected. In addition, demographic evolution and the Gini index were also ordered as factors that contribute to explaining not only population trajectory but also some of the social factors. Greater technological efficiency in regard to environmental aspects is intuited as sensitive to the economic cycle. The study is novel in the panorama of the regional economy of Spain, by incorporating biophysical variables to the applied economic analysis.
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Antipenko, Maria Ivanovna, Anatoly Nikolaevich Minin, Anna Borisovna Petrova, and Lyudmila Mikhailovna Kavelenova. "Ecological aspects of regional fruit production development in the Samara Region." Samara Journal of Science 10, no. 3 (September 1, 2021): 10–18. http://dx.doi.org/10.17816/snv2021103101.
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Fruits and berries previously perceived as a pleasant addition to the main human meal are considered today as a leading component of a healthy diet, a source of various vitamins, minerals, biologically active secondary plant metabolites, which are components of functional food products. Until now, the per capita consumption of fresh fruits by the population of our country remains insufficient, the predominance of imported fruits in the diet has not stopped. In the Samara Region private gardens rather than industrial orchards (for which the unambiguous predominance of the apple tree is inherent) remain the main producers of fruits (cherries, plums, apricots, etc.) and raspberries. Further development of regional fruit growing in the Samara Region has undoubted prospects. In the presence of weather features that negatively affect the development of fruit crops, the climate of the region is characterized by a sufficient level of heat supply, localities suitable for fruit crops cultivation are presented in its soil cover, and their assortment recommended for the Middle Volga region is quite diverse and continues to expand. The authors of the paper using materials from foreign scientific publications demonstrated examples of the analysis of processes used in modern literature that combines ecological and economic approaches in relation to agroecosystems activities (ecological footprint EF, carbon footprint CF and water footprint WF). The use of approaches to assessing the water and carbon footprint of agroecosystems, which have not yet become widespread among specialists in our country, opens up prospects for analyzing the existing conditions and developing a strategy for ecological and economic extension of regional fruit growing.
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Kalair, Ali Raza, Mehdi Seyedmahmoudian, Muhammad Shoaib Saleem, Naeem Abas, Shoaib Rauf, and Alex Stojcevski. "A Comparative Thermal Performance Assessment of Various Solar Collectors for Domestic Water Heating." International Journal of Photoenergy 2022 (June 16, 2022): 1–17. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/9536772.
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Growing population, depleting fossil fuels, economic expansions, and energy intensive life style demand are resulting in higher energy prices. We use energy as of heat and electricity, which can directly be obtained from sun using thermal collectors and solar cells. Solar thermal systems are gaining attention for water and space heating applications due to green aspects of solar energy. A solar thermal collector is a vital part of solar thermal energy system to absorb radiant energy from the sun. In this study, a solar water heating (SWH) system has been designed and simulated in the TRNSYS ® software using thermal and chemical properties of heat transfer fluids using REFPROP for dwellings located on ±31° latitudes (+31 Lahore in Pakistan and -31° Perth in Australia). We present an efficiency parametric optimization-based model for water and space heating. Simulation results for four types of solar thermal collectors are presented, and performance is analyzed on the basis of output temperature ( T out ), solar fraction ( f ), and collector efficiency ( η ). This study evaluates the comparative performance of evacuated tube collector (ETC), flat-plate collector (FPC), compound parabolic concentrator (CPC), and thermosiphon-driven systems. Our findings conclude the evacuated glass tube collector achieves the highest solar fraction, i.e., 50% of demand coverage during August in Pakistan and February in Australia, with an overall average of 43% annually.
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Wang, Jie, and Wei Pan. "INFLUENCING PARAMETERS OF THE LIFE CYCLE COST-ENERGY RELATIONSHIP OF BUILDINGS." Journal of Green Building 13, no. 4 (September 2018): 103–21. http://dx.doi.org/10.3992/1943-4618.13.4.103.
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Buildings contribute around 45% of the world's energy consumption. Reducing energy demand in buildings therefore plays a vital role in addressing the depletion of energy resources and associated environmental issues. Previous research explored the optimisations of the costs and energy consumption of buildings, but often overlooked the connections, tradeoffs and synergies between them. The aim of this paper is thus to develop a theoretical model of the influencing parameters of the life cycle cost-energy relationship (LCCER) of buildings using the Political, Economic, Socio-cultural, Technological, Environmental and Legal (PESTEL) analytical framework. This study was carried out through a critical literature review, model development and validation through case studies with four zero or nearly zero energy building projects carefully selected from the European Union and Australia. The developed model addresses the buildings' LCCER by identifying the key influencing parameters and explicating the mechanisms (namely, the simultaneous and unilateral effects) by which the identified parameters affect such relationship. The important influencing parameters were found to reside in two aspects: (1) internal project designs covering building characteristics, building structure and function, and construction process, and (2) external environments covering climate, economic condition, occupant behaviour, policy and regulation, and buildings' lifespan focused in the studies. Various statistical correlations were found to exist between the costs and energy consumption of the studied cases. It is summarised that these correlations may be attributable to the synergy between the simultaneous and unilateral effects of the identified parameters. The developed model contributes a systemic approach to examining the building's life cycle economics and energy in a comparative manner.
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Paula Micou, Ana, Gordon Mitchell, and Adrian McDonald. "Sustainable homes: a methodology for assessing influence on regional water demand." Water Supply 12, no. 2 (March 1, 2012): 140–47. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/ws.2012.124.
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Growth in population and households, and lifestyle changes are factors placing water resources under increasing stress in some parts of the UK. The Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH), a government regulation defining performance standards for new dwellings, is one measure that may act to counter rising domestic water demand. One goal of the CSH is to reduce potable water use per capita in each home through implementation of water conservation measures. This paper reports on work in progress that aims to understand the likely impact of the CSH on regional and national water demand. A spreadsheet model is being developed to assess domestic water demand under a range of CSH uptake scenarios, as well as a range of demographic, technical, economic and behavioural aspects of water consumption and conservation. The paper discusses the model development and presents some preliminary results for the Yorkshire region.
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Branca, Teresa Annunziata, Ismael Matino, Valentina Colla, Alice Petrucciani, Amarjit Kuor Maria Singh, Antonella Zaccara, Teresa Beone, et al. "Paving the way for the optimization of water consumption in the steelmaking processes: barriers, analysis and KPIs definition." Matériaux & Techniques 108, no. 5-6 (2020): 510. http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/mattech/2021006.
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The efficient use of water resources is one of the main challenges of the steel sector, according to the European Union water policy. On this subject, monitoring and optimization systems, linked to the innovative water treatments, represent important tools to improve water management and the related energy use. The present paper describes a part of the work developed in the early stage of the project entitled “Water and related energy Hub Advanced Management system in steelworks – WHAM”, which is co-funded by the Research Fund for Coal and Steel. The project aims at optimizing water consumption in the steelworks through a holistic combination of on-line monitoring and optimisation and innovative water treatment technologies. As different aspects affect water use in the steelmaking processes, in the first part of the paper, the main technical barriers and factors, that can impact on reuse and recirculation of wastewater and energy efficiency, are analysed. The main constraints on water management in the steel sector, such as fresh water availability, its quality and local legal requirements, were considered in order to maximise the water reuse and recycling. Furthermore, the main barriers, such as environmental issues and several costs, were investigated. In the second part of the paper, a set of Key Performance Indicators are listed. They aim at assessing and monitoring the water management sustainability in a holistic way, both in terms of environmental and economic performances, as well as of new water treatments efficiency and their economic viability. Key Performance Indicators will be used to monitor the efficiency of water management, aiming at achieving significant increase of performances. On the other hand, some of these indicators will be used as objective functions for problems optimization. The computation of the selected Key Performance Indicators will take into account both industrial data and results from simulations that will be carried out after the development of suitable tools in order to assess the feasibility of some relevant process modifications or the applications of new technologies.
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Schestak, Isabel, Jan Spriet, David Styles, and A. Prysor Williams. "Introducing a Calculator for the Environmental and Financial Potential of Drain Water Heat Recovery in Commercial Kitchens." Water 13, no. 24 (December 7, 2021): 3486. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w13243486.
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Food service providers like restaurants, cafes, or canteens are of economic importance worldwide, but also contribute to environmental impacts through water and energy consumption. Drain water heat recovery from commercial kitchens, using a heat exchanger, has shown large potential to decarbonise hot water use across food services, but is rarely deployed. This work translates previous findings on the technical feasibility and heat recovery potential for commercial kitchens into a publicly available calculator. It facilitates decision-making towards recovery and reuse of the freely available heat in kitchen drains by estimating both financial costs and payback time, as well as environmental burdens associated with the installation and environmental savings from avoided energy consumption. Environmental burdens and savings include, but are not limited to, carbon emissions. Further, the tool highlights key aspects of the technical implementation to understand installation requirements. The tool is freely available and could contribute to the uptake of heat recovery in the food service sector, ideally in conjunction with policy support through financial incentives or subsidies.
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Alderwish, Ahmed M., and Fayad A. Alderwish. "Environmental Aspects of the Accelerated Urbanization in Sana’a, Yemen." Sultan Qaboos University Journal for Science [SQUJS] 16 (December 1, 2011): 1. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/squjs.vol16iss0pp1-12.
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From an environmental viewpoint, the prevailing health problems must be a “first priority” in all major development projects. Public water supply provides only 36% of domestic water. Disinfection of public water supply from the south well field is essential to avoid health problems. About 60% of the drinking water sold by ‘hygienic’ stations is of questionable quality. Expansion and upgrading in hospitals, pharmacies and industries (waste producers) will have an immediate impact on the amount of hazardous waste that will have to be disposed of. To achieve a sustainable urban development and to avoid environment/resources degradation, care should be taken now to monitor and improve handling and management of hazardous waste. Initiating management programs for reducing or preventing the generation of waste during production processes or other operations would be the first step to an economically and environmentally sound way of dealing with hazardous wastes. As complete elimination cannot be realized, ways to recycle the wastes should be sought. Major air pollutants in Sana’a include dust and SPM, carbon monoxide, photochemical oxidants, hydrogen sulfide and ammonia, sulfur oxides and hydrocarbons. The main sources of pollution in the cities are the mobile sources. The emissions of gases from oil consumption are exceeding the permissible level and it is essential that the gases be monitored, at least in the congested areas of the cities. Integration of environmental concerns with economic growth in Yemen should occur at the planning stage, adopting a positive approach and focusing on improvement in the health and welfare of the residents of the program area. Mitigating measures relating to the protection of the urban environment and improving public health must be primary objectives of EIA investigation for any upgrading project within urban areas and any other projects impacting on an urban environment.