Environmental performance assessments of different methods of coal preparation for use in small-capacity boilers: experiment and theory

The purpose of this article is to receive environmental assessments of combustion of different types of coal fuel depending on the preparation(unscreened,size-graded,briquetted and heat-treated)in automated boilers and boilers with manual load-ing.The assessments were made on the basis of data obtained from experimental methods of coal preparation and calculated methods of determining the amount of pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions,as well as the mass of ash and slag waste.The main pollutants from coal combustion are calculated:particulate matter,benz(a)pyrene,nitrogen oxides,sulfur dioxide,carbon monoxide.Of the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide is calculated.As a result of conducted research it is shown that the simplest preliminary preparation(size-graded)of coal significantly improves combustion efficiency and environmental performance:emissions are reduced by 13%for hard coal and up to 20%for brown coal.The introduction of automated boil-ers with heat-treated coal in small boiler facilities allows to reduce emissions and ash and slag waste by 2-3 times.The best environmental indicators correspond to heat-treated lignite,which is characterized by the absence of sulfur dioxide emissions.

Eco-city Planning and Practices from the Perspective of Environmental Performance Evaluation

By reviewing researches on environmental performance evaluation of current eco-city construction, this paper analyzed characteristics and deficiencies of the evaluation methods and index systems, and took Haizhu Eco-city for example to assess the environmental performance of eco-city construction from the perspectives of land, water environment, regional weather, and biodiversity. On this basis, a scientific, objective and feasible evaluation method and index system was basically formed so as to demonstrate the efficiency of eco-city construction, and to provide scientific support for the dynamic adjustment and optimization of eco-city construction.

A Simulation Model for Road and Maritime Environmental Performance Assessment

The White Paper published in 2011, Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area [1], urges on a 30% modal shift of road freight over 300 km to other modes (rail, maritime and inland waterways) by 2030, and more than 50% by 2050. However the environmentally friendly performance of maritime transport regarding air pollutant emissions in comparison with road transport is in doubt. This paper presents a three dimension simulation model, in which performed transport work, arisen emissions and produced impact are estimated and inter-related for the assessment of the environmental performance of both road and maritime transport. The simulation model will be a valuable decision making tool for policymakers as it enables the precise assessment of considered transport alternatives in the EU27 until 2020, and hence supports the design of future intervening actions.

Environmental Impact Assessment of Onshore Wind Farms in the Region of Central Greece Using a Modified RIAM Method

Wind energy is one of the most basic forms of renewable energy,which shows an increasing rate of development worldwide and also at the European level.However,this rapid deployment of wind farms makes the need for an impact assessment of this type of projects on the natural and man-made environment imperative.The present paper aims to identify and assess the environmental impacts of wind farm projects in the Region of Central Greece.A modified Rapid Impact Assessment Matrix(RIAM)method is used for this purpose.The methodology includes the identification of the existing onshore wind farm projects in the study area,the appropriate modifications of the RIAM method to respond to the characteristics of the projects and the study area,the qualitative assessment of their potential impacts during construction and operational phases and the computation of the Environmental Performance Grade(EPG)of projects based on the pro-posed modified RIAM method.The results reveal that although there are some slight negative impacts on the natural environment of the study area,the examined wind farms contribute positively both to the atmosphere and to the socio-economic environment of the study.This study extends the potential for using RIAM as a tool in environmental impact assessment studies of renewable energy projects.

Influence of International Openness on Corporate Environmental Performance in China

This paper examines how international openness influences China＇s corporate environmental performance. A unique firm-level dataset is constructed by combining two databases： the Annual Industrial Survey and the China Green Watch Program Rating System. The empirical results obtained from a series of ordered probit models indicate that openness has a positive relation to corporate environmental performance in China. However, the two main market- opening strategies in China, exporting and attracting foreign investment, have different effects on environmental performance. The results reveal that foreign investment plays a substantial andpositive role that can support the environmental spillovers in China. However, the effect of exporting is insignificant. The environmental pressure from foreign customers to improve Chinese firms＇ environmental performance presents a challenge. Our study indicates that China could make environmental quality improvements through increased international openness, as is likely the case for other developing countries.

Measuring Environmental Performance of Provincial Thermal Power Plants in China:A Malmquist DEA Approach with Fixed-Sum Undesirable Outputs

With the development of China’s economy,environmental pollution has become cumulatively serious.The primary source of environmental pollution is thermal power generation,which has attracted the attention of governments and academia in recent years.To effectively reduce environmental pollution,research should study how to constrain the undesirable output of thermal power plants,that is,to limit the total undesirable output of the plants to a certain fixed sum.However,few studies have suggested that these undesirable outputs should be fixed-sum outputs.Moreover,no previous research publication about thermal power plants has analyzed their environmental performance changes.To address these gaps,a novel Malmquist-DEA approach is proposed for evaluate the environmental performance of thermal power plants in this paper.This approach generalizes the equilibrium efficient frontier DEA model with fixed-sum undesirable outputs and incorporates the model into the Malmquist productivity index(MPI).The authors apply this approach to the analysis of provincial thermal power plant environmental performance in China and analyze such plants’trends based on panel data from2011 to 2014.The empirical research shows that the environmental performance of regional thermal power plants was positively affected by efficiency change and negatively affected by technical change.Finally,the authors provide policy suggestions based on our findings.

BASF Issues First Report on Economic,Environmental,and Social Performance

Seven key indicators standardize and integrate transparency BASF, the world’s leading chemical company, will enhance its transparency in Greater China by reporting annually on seven key financial, social and environmental indicators: sales, number of employees,

Research and Application of Recycled Concrete Technology in Prefabricated Buildings

The utilization of waste concrete as a raw material for recycled concrete in the domain of prefabricated components is garnering greater interest.This paper delineates and examines the concept,categorization,methodologies of preparation,applicable sectors,and evaluative metrics of recycled concrete technology,highlighting its prospective benefits.Nonetheless,for the successful integration of recycled concrete technology into prefabricated component applications,it is imperative to systematically enhance its physical,mechanical,and attributes,as well as its environmental efficacy.Moreover,to foster the continued advancement of recycled concrete technology,innovative initiatives,standardization,educational programs,demonstration projects,and collaborative efforts are crucial to promote broader adoption and realize improved outcomes within the realm of prefabricated components.In conclusion,recycled concrete technology is poised to play a pivotal role in prefabricated construction,offering robust support for propelling the construction industry towards a sustainable future.

Calculation of Water Pollution Control Performance Index:A Case Study of Beijing City

To explore water pollution control level in Beijing,performance evaluation index system of water pollution control in Beijing was constructed based on DPSR framework.Taking driving force,pressure,state and response as primary indexes,25 secondary indexes were established.The combined weighting of the index system was conducted by entropy weight method,coefficient of variation method and CRITIC method.The performance index of water pollution control in Beijing from 2010 to 2018 was calculated,and its dynamic change trend was analyzed.The results showed that the performance index of water pollution control in Beijing was low from 2010 to 2014,but increased year by year from 2015 to 2018,with a good trend.

The Impact of Lean Manufacturing Practices on Sustainability Performance:A Natural Resource-Based View

Drawing upon a Natural Resource-Based View(NRBV),this paper aims to propose a quantitative model that could be used to investigate whether Lean Manufacturing(LM)practices/tools can improve the three aspects of corporate sustainability performance(economic,environmental,and social).This paper is based on a theoretical study to develop a new model by reviewing the literature and proposing new ideas according to the Natural Resource-Based View(NRBV).Reviewing the literature showed that there is a significant association between LM practices/tools implementation and the improvement on three aspects of corporate sustainability performance(economic,environmental,and social).This paper provides insights to manufacturing managers about the ability of LM practices to reduce cost of operations and maximize the value provided to customers.Further,it highlighted the importance of LM practices implementation to manage organizations’activities responsibly in terms of their environmental,social,and economic effects.By proposing such a quantitative model according to a NRBV,this study contributes to a broader understanding of how LM practices affect three pillars of sustainability.

The impact of OFDI on firm pro-environmental behavior:Evidence from China

Outward Foreign Direct Investment(OFDI)is a crucial decision in the internationalization strategy of firms and they confront diversified environmental policies and practices of host countries,when engaging in cross-border investments.However,there is a lack of research to investigate whether foreign direct investment(OFDI)is an important factor affecting the environmental commitment of firms.This study aims to empirically analyze the impact and mechanism by which firm outward foreign direct investment(OFDI)influences pro-environmental commitments,utilizing data collected from Chinese listed companies between 2010 and 2020.The results show:1)there is a significant positive relationship between firm OFDI and pro-environmental commitments;2)mechanistic tests show that the OFDI can promote pro-environmental commitments through two channels:public attention and technological learning capacity;3)heterogeneity analysis reveals that the green effects of OFDI are more pronounced firms with institutional investors and state ownership,as well as in firms situated in host countries with more stringent environmental regulations;4)further analysis reveals OFDI-induced greater green commitments generated real environmental and economic outcomes:firms invested more in environmental protection and reduced CO_(2)emissions.In the meantime,they experienced lower excessive debt risk and higher innovative performance.The findings have positive implications for the promotion of firms’pro-environmental behavior and sustainable development.

Data-driven placemaking: Public space canopy design through multi-objective optimisation considering shading, structural and social performance

In the context of ongoing densification of cities and aging urban populations,public spaces are a crucial infrastructure to support the physical and mental wellbeing of urban residents.The design of public space furniture elements is often standardised,and not considered in relation to environmental conditions and mechanisms of social interaction.This article presents a digital workflow to generate site-specific designs for shaded public seating,considering the relationships of local public places to their surroundings.A strategy for customised and site-specific design is developed through the use of multiple software tools,employing evolutionary algorithms and multi-objective optimisation.The method is applied to a small public space canopy prototype installed within a public housing estate in Hong Kong,incorporating additional criteria to achieve a low-cost and light-weight structure.Through multiple stages of refinement and optimisation,a material,structural and social performance-driven outcome was achieved that creates a shaded space for public seating,people watching and social interaction.As part of a larger research agenda exploring architectural form-finding and environmental psychology,the project represents potential new applications in the emerging field of socially driven computational design.

Performance analysis of ghost imaging lidar in background light environment

The effect of background light on the imaging quality of three typical ghost imaging(GI) lidar systems(namely narrow pulsed GI lidar, heterodyne GI lidar, and pulse-compression GI lidar via coherent detection) is investigated. By computing the signal-to-noise ratio(SNR) of fluctuation-correlation GI, our analytical results, which are backed up by numerical simulations, demonstrate that pulse-compression GI lidar via coherent detection has the strongest capacity against background light, whereas the reconstruction quality of narrow pulsed GI lidar is the most vulnerable to background light. The relationship between the peak SNR of the reconstruction image andσ(namely, the signal power to background power ratio) for the three GI lidar systems is also presented, and theresults accord with the curve of SNR-σ.

A Current Perspective on the Renewable Energy Hydrogen Production Process

Hydrogen is a type of clean energy which has the potential to replace the fossil energy for transportation,domestic and industrial applications.To expand the hydrogen production method and reduce the consumption of fossil energy,technologies of using renewable energy to generate hydrogen have been developed widely.Due to the advantages of widespread distribution and various hydrogen production methods,most of the research or review works focus on the solar and biomass energy hydrogen production systems.To achieve a comprehensive acknowledge on the development state of current renewable energy hydrogen production technology,a review on hydrogen production systems driven by solar,wind,biomass,geothermal,ocean and hydropower energy has been presented.The reaction process,energy efficiency,exergy efficiency,hydrogen production rate,economic and environmental performance of these systems have been evaluated.Based on the analysis of these different systems,the challenge and prospects of them are also analyzed.

Material selection combined with optimal structural design for mechanical parts

To reduce the environmental impact of mechanical parts, an approach integrating structural design and material selection was studied. Adding the discrete variable of material, a hybrid optimization model was built with the aim of minimizing environmental impact and based on an ordinary structure optimization model. An optional material set was built by combining measures of qualitative and quantitative screening, while the lifecycle environmental impact of the materials was quantified using the method of Eco-indicator 99. Two groups of structurally optimal solutions were calculated with ideal and negative-ideal materials selected respectively, and then the hybrid model was simplified by comparing the solutions. A material environmental performance index was calculated using an analytic method. By comparing this index for every material in the optional material set, the optimal material can be found and the structural solutions calculated. This method was applied to a dowel bar design process as a case study. The results show that the environmental impact of each material has a significant effect on the optimal structural solution, and it is necessary to study the integration of structural design and material selection.

Role of solar power in shifting the Turkish electricity sector towards sustainability

This work covers a three-stage evaluation:cradle-to-grave life-cycle assessment(LCA)of polycrystalline silicon(pc-Si)and monocrys-talline silicon(mc-Si)solar photovoltaics(PVs)as on-grid utility-scale energy options;environmental-impact distribution of pc-Si and mc-Si combinations under local conditions in Turkey;and assessment of the role of solar power in improving the environmental per-formance of the Turkish electricity mix.In LCA,mc-Si panels are found to have 4.47-9.16%higher environmental impacts than pc-Si panels in absolute terms.However,the higher efficiency and slower degradation rate of mc-Si panels make them have lower impacts on a kWh electricity basis.For the solar PV combination,the global-warming potential(GWP)and human-toxicity potential(HTP)re-sults are found to be significantly lower than that of home-scale pc-Si systems(27.1-34.4 g versus 33.7-59.9 g CO_(2) equivalent(eq)/kWh 30.6-38.9 g versus 65.9-117 g 1-4 dichlorobenzene(g 1-4 DB)eq/kWh)operating in Turkey due to the higher capacity and efficiency of the utility-scale system.This result reveals the advantage of utilizing solar power as a centralized energy option for the country.All of the eight impacts that we evaluated reduce increasingly with increasing solar percentage in the electricity mix.The general ten-dency is that each percentage increase in solar electricity in the mix reduces each impact by~1.0%.With a conservative assumption,if the solar power ratio in the mix increases to 15%by 2030,a GWP reduction of 31.3 million tons can be achieved.This corresponds to 12.7%of the greenhouse-gas mitigation commitment(246 million tons CO_(2) eq)made by Turkey under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.With the Turkish electricity sector being dominated by imported coal and natural gas,the obtained results reveal the potential of solar power in improving the environmental performance of the electricity mix in Turkey.

Policy Diffusion in Leadership Transfer Networks

Although some emerging research has recognized the significance of the network perspective in policy diffusion, our understanding of how the policy network structure affects policy diffusion’s process and performance is limited. This article uses the method of social network analysis, focusing on network structure indicators, to investigate the impact of centrality and structural holes in the municipal leadership transfer networks on policy diffusion’s performance. Furthermore, from the cross-layer network perspective, we assume that provincial leadership transfer networks’ centrality and structural holes moderate the above relationship. Employing the panel data from an environmental field of 292cities in China from 2003 to 2018, we find the relationship in the form of an inverted U-shape between centrality, structural holes in the municipal leadership transfer networks and the diffusion performance of environmental policies. High levels of centrality and structural holes in the provincial leadership transfer networks steepen the double inverted U-shaped relationship.