This paper presents results concerning energy efficiency of wheat production considered in the context of specific energy input variation in different climatic conditions of Europe as well as case studies on implement...This paper presents results concerning energy efficiency of wheat production considered in the context of specific energy input variation in different climatic conditions of Europe as well as case studies on implementation of selected energy saving measures in practice. The source data collected from the six european union （EU） countries represent five agricultural regions of continental Europe and three climates： continental, temperate and Mediterranean. The life cycle assessment （LCA） methodology was applied to analyze the data excluding of pre-farm gate activities. The total primary energy consumption was decomposed into main energy input streams and it was regressed to yield. In order to compare energy efficiency of wheat production across the geographical areas, the data envelopment analysis （DEA） was applied. It was shown that the highest wheat yield （6.7 t/ha to 8.7 t/ha） at the lowest specific energy input （2.08 GJ/t to 2.56 G J/t） is unique for temperate climate conditions. The yield in continental and Mediterranean climatic conditions is on average lower by 1.3 t/ha and 2.7 t/ha and energy efficiency lower by 14% and 38%, respectively. The case studies have shown that the energy saving activities in wheat production may be universal for the climatic zones or specific for a given geographical location. It was stated that trade-offs between energy, economic, and environmental effects, which are associated with implementation of a given energy saving measure or a set of measures to a great extent depend on the current energy efficiency status of the farm and opportunity for investment, which varies substantially across Europe.展开更多
In the current scenario of global competition and short product life cycles, customer-defined satisfaction has attracted interest in artifact design. Accordingly, intelligent decision-making through multi-objective op...In the current scenario of global competition and short product life cycles, customer-defined satisfaction has attracted interest in artifact design. Accordingly, intelligent decision-making through multi-objective optimization has been proposed as an efficient method for human-centered manufacturing. However, previous vast researches on optimization have been mainly focused on optimization theory and optimization techniques and paid little interests on the process of problem formulation itself. In this paper, therefore, the authors present a total framework for supporting multi-objective decision making. Then, the authors try to solve the formulated multi-objective optimization problem that involves both qualitative and quantitative performance measures as a general consequence from the above procedure. Taking especially quality as a qualitative measure, the authors gave a new idea to evaluate the quality quantitatively. Additionally, to facilitate the portability of the proposed method in multidisciplinary decision-making environments, the authors implement the proposal algorithm in an Excel spreadsheet and validate the effectiveness of the approach through a case study.展开更多
This paper presents a conceptual framework of integrated waste management which focuses on all stages of product life cycle. A mechanism of resource recovery motivating from waste in economic system （designers, produ...This paper presents a conceptual framework of integrated waste management which focuses on all stages of product life cycle. A mechanism of resource recovery motivating from waste in economic system （designers, producers, consumers, stakeholders in the field of disposal of the product） is suggested. The classification of institutional and economic instruments in the field of waste management as recoverable resources is developed. The author has proposed a scientific and methodical approach to the formation of an integrated waste management as recoverable resources, which is based on a set of methods of economic incentives at all stages of product life cycle and ensures the maximum possible and the environmentally safe management of wastes containing valuable resource components.展开更多
Input-output analysis is widely employed to analyze inventories of a product＇s embodied energy and environmental burdens. However, input-output analysis focuses only on the production stage and ignores other life cyc...Input-output analysis is widely employed to analyze inventories of a product＇s embodied energy and environmental burdens. However, input-output analysis focuses only on the production stage and ignores other life cycle phases. Input-output analysis is not exactly a LCA （life cycle assessment） method in the strict sense of ISO 14040 standards, which must cover all stages of a product＇s life cycle, ＂from the cradle to the grave＂, so to speak. A tiered hybrid LCA is a useful tool that covers all life cycle stages by combining a process analysis with the input-output analysis method. This study aims to extend input-output analysis to the use, disposal, and recycling stages by using matrix-based method. The new method is applied to the analysis of the embodied CO2 emissions of a refrigerator as a case study. The entire life cycle C02 emissions are estimated to be 2.9 tons, including indirect emissions, and the reduction in CO2 emissions due to recycling steel scrap is calculated as 48.5 kg. The authors conclude that the new method enables a consistent inventory analysis for all life cycle stages by combining process and input-output methods.展开更多
文摘This paper presents results concerning energy efficiency of wheat production considered in the context of specific energy input variation in different climatic conditions of Europe as well as case studies on implementation of selected energy saving measures in practice. The source data collected from the six european union （EU） countries represent five agricultural regions of continental Europe and three climates： continental, temperate and Mediterranean. The life cycle assessment （LCA） methodology was applied to analyze the data excluding of pre-farm gate activities. The total primary energy consumption was decomposed into main energy input streams and it was regressed to yield. In order to compare energy efficiency of wheat production across the geographical areas, the data envelopment analysis （DEA） was applied. It was shown that the highest wheat yield （6.7 t/ha to 8.7 t/ha） at the lowest specific energy input （2.08 GJ/t to 2.56 G J/t） is unique for temperate climate conditions. The yield in continental and Mediterranean climatic conditions is on average lower by 1.3 t/ha and 2.7 t/ha and energy efficiency lower by 14% and 38%, respectively. The case studies have shown that the energy saving activities in wheat production may be universal for the climatic zones or specific for a given geographical location. It was stated that trade-offs between energy, economic, and environmental effects, which are associated with implementation of a given energy saving measure or a set of measures to a great extent depend on the current energy efficiency status of the farm and opportunity for investment, which varies substantially across Europe.
文摘In the current scenario of global competition and short product life cycles, customer-defined satisfaction has attracted interest in artifact design. Accordingly, intelligent decision-making through multi-objective optimization has been proposed as an efficient method for human-centered manufacturing. However, previous vast researches on optimization have been mainly focused on optimization theory and optimization techniques and paid little interests on the process of problem formulation itself. In this paper, therefore, the authors present a total framework for supporting multi-objective decision making. Then, the authors try to solve the formulated multi-objective optimization problem that involves both qualitative and quantitative performance measures as a general consequence from the above procedure. Taking especially quality as a qualitative measure, the authors gave a new idea to evaluate the quality quantitatively. Additionally, to facilitate the portability of the proposed method in multidisciplinary decision-making environments, the authors implement the proposal algorithm in an Excel spreadsheet and validate the effectiveness of the approach through a case study.
文摘This paper presents a conceptual framework of integrated waste management which focuses on all stages of product life cycle. A mechanism of resource recovery motivating from waste in economic system （designers, producers, consumers, stakeholders in the field of disposal of the product） is suggested. The classification of institutional and economic instruments in the field of waste management as recoverable resources is developed. The author has proposed a scientific and methodical approach to the formation of an integrated waste management as recoverable resources, which is based on a set of methods of economic incentives at all stages of product life cycle and ensures the maximum possible and the environmentally safe management of wastes containing valuable resource components.
文摘Input-output analysis is widely employed to analyze inventories of a product＇s embodied energy and environmental burdens. However, input-output analysis focuses only on the production stage and ignores other life cycle phases. Input-output analysis is not exactly a LCA （life cycle assessment） method in the strict sense of ISO 14040 standards, which must cover all stages of a product＇s life cycle, ＂from the cradle to the grave＂, so to speak. A tiered hybrid LCA is a useful tool that covers all life cycle stages by combining a process analysis with the input-output analysis method. This study aims to extend input-output analysis to the use, disposal, and recycling stages by using matrix-based method. The new method is applied to the analysis of the embodied CO2 emissions of a refrigerator as a case study. The entire life cycle C02 emissions are estimated to be 2.9 tons, including indirect emissions, and the reduction in CO2 emissions due to recycling steel scrap is calculated as 48.5 kg. The authors conclude that the new method enables a consistent inventory analysis for all life cycle stages by combining process and input-output methods.
