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Topic Review
Reliability of Driving Simulator
Despite constant technological innovation, road transport remains a significant source of pollutant emissions, and effective driver-behaviour changes can be considered as solutions that can increase the sustainability of road traffic in a short period. Thus, understanding driver behaviour plays a key role in assessing traffic-related impacts. Since real-world experiments entail some risks and are often not flexible, simulator-based experiments can be relevant to studying vehicle dynamics and driver behaviour. This research seeks to evaluate how reliable a simulator-based experiment can be for assessing the operational and environmental impacts of a typical light-duty vehicle.
  • 578
  • 20 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Resilient Sustainable Built Environments
Achieving sustainability objectives such as the SDGs and climate change targets, will require a more rapid and radical transformation of built environments. The onset of climate change also means that built environments face unprecedented environmental hazards, including hotter temperatures, droughts, storms, and flooding. However, sustainability and resilience objectives often appear to be in conflict. Sustainability is concerned with transformation to achieve a better futures and efficiencies while resilience focuses on the maintenance of existing systems and reliability. A synthesis between these objectives needs to be achieved to enable efficient sustainable development
  • 575
  • 22 Dec 2024
Topic Review
Importance of Sustainable Backup Power Systems
In an era of increasing environmental awareness and technological advancements, the demand for sustainable solutions extends to every facet of our lives. One critical area gaining attention is the need for reliable backup power systems that not only provide energy security but also align with sustainable practices. As the frequency of natural disasters, power outages, and grid instability increases, the importance of backup power has never been more apparent. However, traditional backup power sources, such as diesel generators, come with significant environmental and economic costs. This has led to a growing interest in sustainable backup power systems, which promise a greener, more reliable future.
  • 574
  • 31 Oct 2024
Topic Review
Carbon Footprint Reduction and Climate Change Mitigation
Since the Industrial Revolution, human economic activity and the global development of society in general have been heavily dependent on the exploitation of natural resources. The use of fossil fuels, deforestation, the drainage of wetlands, the transformation of coastal marine ecosystems, unsustainable land use, and many other unbalanced processes of human activity have led to an increase both in the anthropogenic emissions of climate-active gases and in their concentration in the atmosphere. It is believed that over the past ~150 years these phenomena have contributed to an increase in the global average temperature in the near-surface layer of the atmosphere by ~1 °C. Currently, the most pressing tasks facing states and scientific and civil societies are to reduce anthropogenic CO2 emissions and to limit the global air temperature increase. In this regard, there is an urgent need to change existing production systems in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to sequester them.
  • 571
  • 26 Dec 2023
Topic Review
Sustainable Use of Plastics in Horticulture
The sustainable use of plastics in horticulture is investigated based on 4 criteria, the three Rs (reduce, reuse, and recycling) plus a re-place strategy, taking into account possible alternatives to plastics. Hail (and insect) nets made of HD-PE, with their long-term use mostly on apple and polytunnels of LD-PE for cherry and strawberry as well as solarisation mulches (reuse), were found to be relatively sustainable solutions for their needs and are currently without alternatives. In contrast, standard black mulch, with its largest share among horticultural plastics, had the widest range of sustainable alternatives, ranging from biodegradable to spray mulch; few sustainable alternatives are available for fleeces and reflective mulches. For the third sustainable option, pilot recycling schemes were examined, such as PolieCoTM (Italy), MAPLATM (Spain), and ERDETM (Germany); they collect 30–50% of the agricultural plastics used in their respective areas, with a successful retrieval growth rate of ca. 20% per year in the case of ERDETM. For the fourth new R option (replace), future sustainability perspectives for the predominant black mulch are research into and development of better, biodegradable, non-fossilbased plastics, sprayable mulch; microbes for the digestion of deployed polyolefins and, for a certain limited range (on shade tolerant crops or in high-light intensity environment), hail nets and polytunnels that are equipped/substituted by/with solar panels (“agri pv”) for the concomitant sustainable production of green renewable energy.
  • 560
  • 16 Aug 2023
Topic Review
Greenhouse Gases in Wastewater Collection Systems
Wastewater collection systems (WCSs) not only play an indispensable role in urban life but also significantly contribute to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Based on extensive literature research, this study summarizes current research on the production mechanisms, influencing factors, control techniques, and quantitative estimates of GHGs emitted from WCSs and presents initial estimates of total GHG emissions from WCSs in China. A variety of factors affect GHG production, but standard methods are still lacking to quantify GHG emissions from WCSs. China’s WCSs emit approximately 3.86–15.35 Mt of CO2eq annually (equivalent to 5.1–20.2% of the GHG emissions from wastewater treatment). Thus, GHG emissions from WCSs are significant and deserve attention. Control of GHGs in WCSs can be achieved through the application of chemical agents, while the construction of a green stormwater infrastructure can further facilitate GHG reductions. This research provides valuable insights for policymakers to consider in future policy planning related to GHG reduction and the improved operation of WCSs. Future research should focus on quantifying the impacts of various factors and accumulating field data on GHGs in various regions to facilitate the development of standardized calculation methods.
  • 555
  • 11 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Rethinking Economic Growth Policies in Context of Sustainability
Extensive investigation has conclusively demonstrated that a direct and positive correlation exists between population size and energy consumption and the subsequent impact on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Interestingly, there is a negative association between the GDP per capita and CO2 emissions, suggesting the possibility of a decoupling between economic growth and carbon emissions. This might be attributed to the development of cleaner technology and a heightened awareness of environmental concerns. Comprehending these processes is crucial for well-informed policy formulation with the objective of attaining a healthy equilibrium between economic success and environmental sustainability. Further investigation is required to explore these associations in greater depth, considering improvements in technology, the efficacy of policies, and variances across different regions, with the aim of promoting a more environmentally friendly and sustainable future.
  • 555
  • 27 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Nanomaterials and CO2
Since CO2 is an important component of gas emissions, its removal from gas streams is of the utmost importance to fulfill various environmental requirements. The technologies used to accomplish this removal are based mainly on absorption, as well as adsorption and membrane processing. Among the materials used in the above separation processes, materials in nano forms offer a potential alternative to other commonly used macromaterials.
  • 551
  • 11 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Lebanese Landscape Sustainability Assessment
In the absence of a holistic view of landscape sustainability, credible data and consistent information are needed to help decision-making and support adaptive landscape management. This course of events highlights a strong need for a tool (system of standards and controls) that can be used by multiple stakeholders (such as NGOs, public authorities, cooperatives, associations, higher education institutes, etc.) to analyze the state and sustainability of landscapes, predict any impact of new projects on the landscape, and develop urban and peri-urban planning policies.  However, while consolidated tools of assessment exist, they exhibit complexity in their references. Existing assessment tools also lack specificity and are primarily limited to qualitative approaches. Although large sets of indicators are available and can be adopted, it is crucial to select a new set of non-conventional indicators that provide a holistic view of the various dimensions of the landscape.
  • 544
  • 24 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Urban Infrastructure Integration of AI-Driven Energy Solutions
In a rapidly evolving urban landscape, the challenges of energy consumption, sustainability, and efficiency remain critical concerns. Artificial intelligence is a transformative force fundamentally reshaping the way we live, work, and interact with our environment. AI uses advanced algorithms, machine learning, and data analysis to mimic human cognitive functions, enabling machines to perceive, reason, and make decisions. In cities, AI can be used to optimize energy infrastructure and create a more sustainable and resilient urban future.
  • 536
  • 08 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Thermophilic Fungi for Industrial Bio-Methane Production
The novel industrial approach of co-fermenting wood wastes with agricultural wastes that are rich in nitrogen such as animal manures to produce bio-methane (renewable natural gas) fuel via thermophilic anaerobic digestion mimics an analogous process occurring in lower termites, but it relies instead on thermophilic fungi along with other thermophilic microorganisms comprising suitable bacteria and archaea. Wood microbial hydrolysis under thermophilic temperatures (range of 55 °C to 70 °C) and aerobic or micro-aerobic conditions constitutes the first step of the two-step (hydrolysis and fermentation) dry thermophilic anaerobic digestion industrial process, designated as “W2M3+2”, that relies on thermophilic fungi species, most of which grow naturally in wood piles. Eleven thermophilic fungi have been identified as likely agents of the industrial process, and their known growth habitats and conditions have been reviewed.
  • 533
  • 27 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Production of Hydrogen from Lignocellulosic Biomass
Hydrogen is considered one of the most important forms of energy for the future, as it can be generated from renewable sources and reduce CO2 emissions.
  • 528
  • 06 May 2023
Topic Review
Reducing Carbon Emissions from Maritime Tourism
Reducing the carbon emissions from hotels on non-interconnected islands (NII) is essential in the context of a low carbon future for the Mediterranean region. Maritime tourism is the major source of income for Greece and many other countries in the region, as well as hot-temperate and tropical regions worldwide. Like many NIIs, Rhodes attracts a high influx of tourists every summer, doubling the island’s energy demand and, given the high proportion of fossil fuels in the Rhodian energy supply, increasing carbon emissions.
  • 526
  • 15 May 2023
Topic Review
Requirements for Irrigation Water
Access to and the use of irrigation water of adequate quality and targeted nutrient supplementation have become more widespread. Both crop quality and the irrigation system lifetime are affected by the quality of the water used for irrigation.
  • 510
  • 12 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Achieving Climate Neutrality in Europe through Decarbonization Strategies
Various studies have been conducted in the fields of sustainable operations management (SOM), optimization, and wastewater treatment, yielding unsubstantiated recovery. In the context of Europe’s climate neutrality vision, effective decarbonization strategies and sustainable approaches to mitigate carbonization in various sectors such as buildings, energy, industry, and transportation and how these interlink with wastewater management are discussed.
  • 509
  • 13 Dec 2023
Topic Review
Passenger Cars Driven on Hilly Roads in Austria
Previous studies of road or railway infrastructures have shown that traffic emissions outweigh the environmental impacts of the product stage and construction stage over the entire life cycle. Traffic usage is therefore the main emitter over the life cycle (A1–C4). Due to the small number of sustainability assessment systems, the question of how to consider traffic emissions in detail in an integral life cycle assessment has arisen.
  • 505
  • 01 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Advancing Surface Plasmon Enhanced Fluorescence based POC technologies
Point-of-care (POC) diagnostic platforms are globally employed in modern smart technologies to detect events or changes in the analyte concentration and provide qualitative and quantitative information in biosensing. Surface plasmon-coupled emission (SPCE) technology has emerged as an effective POC diagnostic tool for developing robust biosensing frameworks. The simplicity, robustness and relevance of the technology has attracted researchers in physical, chemical and biological milieu on account of its unique attributes such as high specificity, sensitivity, low background noise, highly polarized, sharply directional, excellent spectral resolution capabilities.
  • 503
  • 18 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Biochar Utilization
Carbon (C) in gaseous form is a component of several greenhouse gases emitted during the combustion of fossil fuels. C movement between the atmosphere, land (biosphere and lithosphere), and ocean (hydrosphere) alters the total amount in each pool. Human activities accelerate C movement into the atmosphere, causing increases in temperature.
  • 503
  • 28 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Decarbonisation Policies in Residential Sector and Energy Poverty
 The current study investigates the impact of decarbonisation policies on the EU’s building stock, with a specific focus on Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS), the new Emissions Trading System (ETS2) for buildings, and the phase-out of fossil heating systems.
  • 501
  • 27 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Benefits of Non-Commercial Urban Agricultural Practices
Urban agriculture refers to any type of activity located within or around a city designed to provide ecosystem services. Given the rapid population growth and urbanization, urban agriculture is seen as a potential alternative route to a more sustainable urban food system. Indeed, it has multiple functions, contributing to a variety of outcomes associated with localized urban food systems, including food access, food and agriculture education, community building, and civic engagement. Moreover, implementing non-commercial urban agricultural practices has multifaced social, economic, and environmental benefits, such as improving people’s health, reducing expenditure on food and creating sustainable cities, highlighting the need to recognize the multifaceted role of non-commercial urban agricultural practices in promoting a more sustainable lifestyle and strengthening local communities and engagement.
  • 494
  • 04 Feb 2024
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