Analysis of Sustainability Based on Life Cycle Assessment： An Empirical Study of Wine Production

The environmental planning and the current policy initiatives in European Union are aimed at continuous improvement of the productive fabric, heading toward a system in which the ＂quality＂ of products will no longer regardless of their environmental impacts. In this context, the methodology of LCA （life cycle assessment） is certainly one of the most innovative methods in the field of environmental protection as it allows evaluating the environmental burdens associated with a product, process or activity by identifying and quantifying material and energy consumption and environmental emissions. The objectives focus on finding the main impacts of the wine life cycle, as well as identifying crucial activities/stages in the wine production which establish the largest impacts. This paper＇s objective is to expose the advantages resulting from the use of the LCA method in the wine production sector, with a specific application to wine production in the Tuscany region.

INFLUENCING PARAMETERS OF THE LIFE CYCLE COST-ENERGY RELATIONSHIP OF BUILDINGS

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.Th e 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,Sociocultural,Technological,Environmental and Legal(PESTEL)analytical framework. is 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.Th e 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.Th e 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.Th e developed model contributes a systemic approach to examining the building’s life cycle economics and energy in a comparative manner.

USING EARLY-STAGE ASSESSMENT TO REDUCE THE FINANCIAL RISKS AND PERCEIVED BARRIERS OF SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS

For sustainable buildings to become mainstream they must demonstrate not only improved environmental performance but also financial performance,benefiting both end users and investors.The perceived financial constraints and risks are often major barriers to sustainable design.This paper discusses the application of a new tool that formalizes the traditionally intuitive-based early-stage decision making processes and assesses the potential for creating a financially feasible best-practice sustainable building across a range of environmental,social and economic parameters,using the limited data available at the outset of a project.It considers the total cost of ownership,demonstrating the link between the recurrent and capital costs.A detailed feasibility assessment of those areas where greatest potential for improving environmental and financial performance exists can then be carried out,saving a considerable amount of time,money and effort otherwise spent on looking at all possible strategies for achieving a sustainable outcome.This approach also identifies areas where incorporating environmental strategies might be financially risky,reassuring investors and developers by reducing investment risks.By reducing some of these risks and perceived barriers to sustainable building development,it is hoped that clients and investors will be further encouraged to adopt a more sustainable approach to their building projects.