“Analisi del ciclo di vita applicata alla produzione delle tegole “coppi siciliani”: confronto tra due processi produttivi”

LCA APPLICATA ALLE TECNOLOGIE ALIMENTATE DA FONTI RINNOVABILI DI ENRGIA

Life cycle assessment of a solar thermal collector: sensitivity analysis, energy and environmental balances

Abstract Starting from the results of a life cycle assessment of solar thermal collector for sanitary warm water, an energy balance between the employed energy during the collector life cycle and the energy saved thanks to the collector use has been investigated. A sensitivity analysis for estimating the effects of the chosen methods and data on the outcome of the study was carried out. Uncertainties due to the eco-profile of input materials and the initial assumptions have been analysed. Since the study is concerned with a renewable energy system, attention has been focused on the energy indexes and in particular the “global energy consumption”. Following the principles of Kyoto Protocol, …

Dichiarazione Ambientale di Prodotto applicata ai Materiali Bioedili

Life Cycle Assessment of repurposed electric vehicle batteries: an adapted method based on modelling energy flows

Abstract After their first use in electric vehicles (EVs), the residual capacity of traction batteries can make them valuable in other applications. Although reusing EV batteries remains an undeveloped market, second-use applications of EV batteries are in line with circular economy principles and the waste management hierarchy. Although substantial environmental benefits are expected from reusing traction batteries, further efforts are needed in data collection, modelling the life-cycle stages and calculating impact indicators to propose a harmonized and adapted life-cycle assessment (LCA) method. To properly assess the environmental benefits and drawbacks of using repurposed EV batteries …

Valutazione energetica degli edifici – il bilancio energetico nel ciclo di vita

Energy performances and life cycle assessment of an Italian wind farm

Abstract Renewable energy sources are often presented as “ clean ”. A more correct definition is that they are “cleaner” than ones based on fossil fuel conversion. When the energy consumption and the environmental impacts related to the plant's life-cycle are considered, a more comprehensive assessment of these technologies can be carried out. This paper aims to evaluate the energy and the environmental performances of the electricity production of a wind farm. The impacts related to all the phases of the wind farm construction and operation have been compared to the environmental benefits due to the “green” electricity generation during its useful life. In other terms, the goal is to trace…

Analisi del ciclo di vita nel settore delle costruzioni e database ambientali

Il tecnico di fronte alla sostenibilità ambientale degli edifici

From the LCA of food products to the environmental assessment of protected crops districts: A case-study in the south of Italy

In the present study, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology was applied to evaluate the energy consumption and environmental burdens associated with the production of protected crops in an agricultural district in the Mediterranean region. In this study, LCA was used as a ‘support tool’, to address local policies for sustainable production and consumption patterns, and to create a ‘knowledge base’ for environmental assessment of an extended agricultural production area. The proposed approach combines organisation-specific tools, such as Environmental Management Systems and Environmental Product Declarations, with the environmental management of the district. Questionnaires were distribute…

Le certificazioni ambientali nel settore delle costruzioni

Life Cycle Assessment of Solar Technologies

This chapter analyses the most common solar technologies and assesses their energy and environmental performance, based on a life cycle perspective. After a preliminary description of the main technologies, the chapter presents a review of studies on solar plants, as published in scientific journals in the past decade. Successively, the chapter assesses solar plants in comparison to other renewable and non-renewable based technologies, including a discussion of uncertainties and criticalities in the assessment

POEMS: A Case Study of an Italian Wine-Producing Firm

Over the last decade, researchers paid much attention to concepts such as Design for Environment, Extended Producer Responsibility, Responsible Chain Management, and Eco-design. Many management tools and standards (such as EMAS, ISO 14001, LCA, EPD, Ecolabel) have been developed to support companies in the evaluation and management of their environmental performance and to pursue continual environmental improvement. The more recent development of the aforesaid fields looks at interorganizational environmental management. Such an approach can complement the more traditional intraorganizational corporate environmental management approaches and tools. A typical example of this new trend is the…

LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT-DRIVEN SELECTION OF INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY STRATEGIES

The paper presents an application of the Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) to the planning and environmental management of an ‘‘eco-industrial cluster.’’ A feasibility study of industrial symbiosis in southern Italy is carried out, where interlinked companies share subproducts and scraps, services, structures, and plants to reduce the related environmental impact. In particular, the research focuses on new recycling solutions to create open recycling loops in which plastic subproducts and scraps are transferred to external production systems. The main environmental benefits are the reduction of resource depletion, air emissions, and landfilled wastes. The proposed strategies are also economically…

I database ambientali per l’edilizia

Application of Sustainable building indexes in the Mediterranean Constructions

Strumenti per la valutazione ambientale degli edifici

Energy and Environmental Analysis of an Italian Wind Farm

Building Energy Performance: A LCA Case Study of kenaf-fibres insulation board

Abstract The paper presents a life cycle assessment of a kenaf-fibre insulation board following the international standards of the ISO 14040 series. Each life-cycle step has been checked, from kenaf production and board manufacture by an Italian firm, to use and disposal. The aim is to assess the board eco-profile and to compare, on the basis of a life-cycle approach, the energy and environmental benefits and drawbacks related to its employment into a typical residential dwelling. A comparison among various insulating materials has been carried out. The study focuses also on processes and input materials which cause the main environmental impacts of the product, and points out critical issu…

L'ANALISI DEL CICLO DI VITA APPLICATA AGLI EDIFICI RESIDENZIALI: IL CASO STUDIO DI UN EDIFICIO MONOFAMILIARE

Life cycle assessment of a solar thermal collector

Abstract The renewable energy sources are often presented as ‘clean’ sources, not considering the environmental impacts related to their manufacture. The production of the renewable plants, like every production process, entails a consumption of energy and raw materials as well as the release of pollutants. Furthermore, the impacts related to some life cycle phases (as maintenance or installation) are sometimes neglected or not adequately investigated. The energy and the environmental performances of one of the most common renewable technologies have been studied: the solar thermal collector for sanitary warm water demand. A life cycle assessment (LCA) has been performed following the inter…

Efficienza energetica ed ambientale delle aree industriali- un caso studio di simbiosi industriale nella provincia di Palermo

Uno strumento di supporto alla decisione nel campo dei software per la simulazione termica degli edifici in regime vario

La Metodologia dell'Analisi del Ciclo di Vita (LCA) Applicata alle Tecnologie per le Energie Rinnovabili

Hidden energy and environmental loads of solar thermal collectors: A case study.

The general aim of this work was to investigate a solar thermal collector and the energetic and environmental impacts related to this renewable technology. It was realised an eco-profile of an exemplary equipment, calculating the Cumulative Energy Demand (CED) and the Cumulative Emissions related to the production and use of a collector and the energy (or emissions) saved employing the renewable technology.

LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT OF PROTECTED CROPS: AN ITALIAN CASE STUDY

La direttiva EUP per la progettazione ecocompatibile dei prodotti che consumano energia

ANALISI DEL CICLO DI VITA DEL MICROELICO: UN CASO STUDIO IN SICILIA

Life Cycle Assessment of a building insulating biomaterials. A case study on the Kenaf-fibre thermo insulating board

Energy and environmental benefits in public buildings as a result of retrofit actions

Abstract The paper presents the results of an energy and environmental assessment of a set of retrofit actions implemented in the framework of the EU Project “BRITA in PuBs” (Bringing Retrofit Innovation to Application in Public Buildings – no: TREN/04/FP6EN/S07.31038/503135). Outcomes arise from a life cycle approach focused on the following issues: (i) construction materials and components used during retrofits; (ii) main components of conventional and renewable energy systems; (iii) impacts related to the building construction, for the different elements and the whole building. The results are presented according to the data format of the Environmental Product Declaration. Synthetic indi…

Requisiti di qualità dei dati negli studi di Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) e nelle Dichiarazioni Ambientali di Prodotto (DAP)

The product oriented environmental Management Systems (POEMS): an experience in the Sicilian agricultural and food context

Data Least Squares solution of the inventory problem in Life Cycle Assessment

Eco-sustainable energy and environmental strategies in design for recycling: the software “ENDLESS”

Abstract This paper describes a model, named “ENDLESS”, useful to address the design process towards more eco-compatible solutions. In particular, this tool can support the designer in the choice of the product with an higher recyclability potential from a set of different alternatives. The model takes into consideration a Multi-Attribute Decision-Making method and allows calculating a “Global Recycling Index” (GRI) starting from a set of energy, environmental, technical and economic indicators. A weight is assigned to each parameter following the experience of the designer; a sensitivity analysis is then performed to state how the different assumptions can affect the final results. The mod…

F.A.L.C.A.D.E.: A fuzzy software for the energetic and environmental balances of products

It is generally well known that the reliability of Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) studies depends upon exact, complete and sharp input data that, unfortunately, are not always available. Furthermore, when available, the input data are affected by uncertainty whose importance is not always adequately taken into consideration. This paper describes the software F.A.L.C.A.D.E. (Fuzzy Approach to Life Cycle Analysis and Decision Environment): a tool designed for the calculation of the eco-profile of products, based on a fuzzy logic approach. The originality of the method already treated in other papers is to use the fuzzy representation to manage the complex relationships that arise in compiling an e…

Energy and environmental assessment of a traction lithium-ion battery pack for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles

Abstract Traction batteries are a key factor in the environmental sustainability of electric mobility and, therefore, it is necessary to evaluate their environmental performance to allow a comprehensive sustainability assessment of electric mobility. This article presents an environmental assessment of a lithium-ion traction battery for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, characterized by a composite cathode material of lithium manganese oxide (LiMn2O4) and lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide Li(NixCoyMn1-x-y)O2. Composite cathode material is an emerging technology that promises to combine the merits of several active materials into a hybrid electrode to optimize performance and reduce cost…

Energy and environmental analysis of a mono-familiar Mediterranean house

F.A.L.C.A.D.E.: a fuzzy software for the energy and environmental balances of products

Abstract It is generally well known that the reliability of Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) studies depends upon exact, complete and sharp input data that, unfortunately, are not always available. Furthermore, when available, the input data are affected by uncertainty whose importance is not always adequately taken into consideration. This paper describes the software F.A.L.C.A.D.E. (Fuzzy Approach to Life Cycle Analysis and Decision Environment): a tool designed for the calculation of the eco-profile of products, based on a fuzzy logic approach. The originality of the method already treated in other papers is to use the fuzzy representation to manage the complex relationships that arise in compi…

Valutazione energetica degli edifici – caso studio: collettore solare termico lca

Multidiscipline LCA application to an experience of industrial symbiosis in South of Italy

The paper presents an application of the Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) to the planning and environmental management of an “eco-industrial cluster.” A feasibility study of industrial symbiosis in southern Italy is carried out, where interlinked companies share subproducts and scraps, services, structures, and plants to reduce the related environmental impact. In particular, the research focuses on new recycling solutions to create open recycling loops in which plastic subproducts and scraps are transferred to external production systems. The main environmental benefits are the reduction of resource depletion, air emissions, and landfilled wastes. The proposed strategies are also economically v…

A Decision Support System applied to the Italian national allocation plan for the reduction of the GHGs emissions

Il metodo delle funzioni di trasferimento applicato ad un singola zona termica

Nel lavoro viene presentato un algoritmo basato sull’utilizzo dell’operatore Z-Trasformata per lo studio della trasmissione del calore all’interno di una singola zona termica costituita da pareti multistrato. L’algoritmo utilizzato è molto versatile e potrebbe venire utilizzato per il calcolo dei coefficienti delle funzioni di trasferimento nella simulazione del comportamento termico di un ambiente in free floating. Noti i coefficienti delle funzioni di trasferimento è possibile simulare in regime dinamico il profilo della temperatura di ciascuna superficie interna e dell’aria interna all’ambiente analizzato. L’algoritmo viene descritto in maniera completa in tutte le sue parti. Per valutar…

Life cycle assessment of a solar thermal collector

LIFE CYCLE BALANCES OF SOLAR COOLING SYSTEMS

LIFE CYCLE BALANCES OF SOLAR COOLING SYSTEMS

Task 38 Solar Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration “Life Cycle Assessment of Solar Cooling Systems” A technical report of subtask D Subtask Activity D3

Renewable energy (RE) systems can certainly allow reducing the use of fossil fuels and the related environmental impacts for building air-conditioning. It is more and more clear that good design of the system and appropriateness of the technology are a key issues on the way to maximise the benefits. Therefore, for systems dealing with solar thermal systems, it has been experienced that wrong choices among RE technologies to meet specific applications could also lead to negative effects in terms of Primary Energy (PE) saving.