Article
Construction & Building Technology
Keivan Bamdad
Summary: Cool roofs provide a passive solution to reduce cooling demand, but they may increase heating demand. The energy-saving potential of cool roofs depends on climate characteristics and may change due to global warming. Evaluating the impact of cool roofs under present and future climates is important for understanding their energy-saving potential.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Karina Krause, Annette Hafner
Summary: This article presents an approach to compare the material intensity of residential buildings with different construction types. The methodology involves calculating material intensities based on the working drawings of the buildings. The results show that using wood instead of mineral materials can significantly improve resource efficiency in construction.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Ramon Hingorani, Nils Dittrich, Jochen Kohler, Daniel B. Muller
Summary: This study quantifies the future stocks and flows of structural materials and their embodied emissions in German residential buildings using dynamic material flow analysis. The results show that emission mitigation measures, such as the replacement of masonry structures with timber structures and downsizing of structural material quantities, could contribute significantly to achieving emission neutrality.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Thermodynamics
Muhammad Bilal Siddique, Claire Bergaentzle, Philipp Andreas Gunkel
Summary: Energy consumption in buildings contributes significantly to European CO2 emissions. This study highlights the importance of utilizing metered heat demand data and detailed building archetypes for accurate subsidy allocation, leading to maximum decarbonization impact.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alessio Mastrucci, Bas van Ruijven, Edward Byers, Miguel Poblete-Cazenave, Shonali Pachauri
Summary: This study examines the global evolution of building stock and energy demand, presenting predictions for heating and cooling demand under different scenarios. The results suggest a focus on energy efficiency and electrification in the building sector in order to reduce CO2 emissions in the future.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Md Jaynul Abden, Zhong Tao, Mohammad A. Alim, Zhu Pan, Laurel George, Richard Wuhrer
Summary: This paper evaluates the use of phase change materials (PCM) and thermal insulation in the building envelope of a typical Australian house to promote energy efficiency and cost savings. The results demonstrate that this combination significantly improves the energy ratings and saves costs, depending on the climate zone. This indicates that employing PCM materials and thermal insulation in residential buildings is an effective way to enhance energy efficiency.
JOURNAL OF ENERGY STORAGE
(2022)
Article
Thermodynamics
Piero Bevilacqua, Roberto Bruno, Jerzy Szyszka, Daniela Cirone, Antonino Rollo
Summary: Passive solutions, such as Trombe walls, are gaining renewed attention for their potential in energy savings. This study presents an innovative configuration of a modular Trombe wall that can be used in a Mediterranean climate to achieve energy savings in both winter and summer seasons. Simulation results show that proper ventilation strategies can significantly reduce energy consumption and provide a payback period of less than 6 years.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Sajith Wijesuriya, Ravi Anant Kishore, Marcus V. A. Bianchi, Chuck Booten
Summary: This study investigates the benefits and limitations of implementing radiative coatings on the building envelope of residential buildings in the United States. The analysis compares the performance of ideal and realistic radiative coatings and shows that energy savings differ based on geographical location and climate conditions.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Gamal Ali Mohammed, Mahmoud Mabrouk, Guoqing He, Karim I. Abdrabo
Summary: Under the pressure of urbanization-induced global warming and resource depletion, there is a growing global interest in zero-energy building (ZEB) and zero-emission building (ZEB) technologies to improve energy performance in homes and create sustainable cities. Despite the release of strategies and standards by several countries to promote ZEBs, construction projects are still limited. This paper reviews global ZEB activities and state-of-the-art technologies for energy-efficient residential buildings, finding that solar PV and advanced cooling technologies are widely used in different climates.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Sajad M. R. Khani, Fariborz Haghighat, Karthik Panchabikesan, Milad Ashouri
Summary: The study uses a data mining-based framework to provide practical insights into occupants' energy behavior in residential buildings, introducing new indicators OAI and REII, and demonstrating its utility in a three-bedroom apartment.
JOURNAL OF BUILDING ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Thermodynamics
Moncef Krarti
Summary: The paper systematically evaluates the optimal optical characteristics of smart windows for residential buildings to maximize energy efficiency benefits. It considers various design specifications and operation conditions, including building orientation, window sizes, and climatic zones. Through integrated analysis, the optimal design and control settings are determined for two types of smart windows. Results show that the required design specifications for smart windows depend on climate characteristics and window features. Smart windows can achieve significant energy savings compared to static fenestration systems, ranging from 21% in cold climates to 5% in warm climates. Stepped controls can be used to set the tint levels of smart windows, while gradual controls can provide additional savings for smart glazing with intermediate tint levels.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Alessio Miatto, Ygor Fasanella, Marta Mainardi, Paolo Borin
Summary: This study generates 3D models of five typical residential building archetypes based on Italian housing data to explore the variance of material intensities. Results show a strong correlation between concrete usage and building size, while other materials exhibit significant variation across sizes and typologies.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2023)
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Wu Wei, Harrison M. Skye
Summary: Advancements in residential net-zero energy buildings (NZEBs) are crucial for reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, with design considerations including energy infrastructure connections, renewable energy sources, and energy-efficiency measures. A systematic literature review focused on recent progress in residential NZEBs is lacking, making this work aiming to provide references and support for wider and more successful implementation of residential NZEBs worldwide. The discussed categories include energy infrastructure connections like electrical grids and energy storage options, renewable energy sources such as solar and wind, and energy-efficiency measures like improved building designs and efficient HVAC systems. This paper highlights technology options to achieve residential NZEBs globally.
RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Gyanesh Gupta, Sanjay Mathur, Jyotirmay Mathur, Bibhu Kalyan Nayak
Summary: Building energy consumption forecasting is crucial for energy managers and policymakers, especially for energy efficiency benchmarking. This paper proposes an energy benchmarking framework for residential buildings based on blending techniques of multiple approaches. Over 3000 datasets from Jaipur, India were collected and analyzed to accurately forecast energy consumption.
ENERGY AND BUILDINGS
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Humphrey Adun, Hamagham Peter Ishaku, Ogungbemi Ayomide Titus, Ali Shefik
Summary: This study aims to address Nigeria's energy crises and famine by simulating the performance of a photovoltaic/thermal system in different regions. The findings show that Maiduguri has the highest yield, while Port Harcourt has the lowest. The northeast region has the best annual production.
ENERGY SOURCES PART A-RECOVERY UTILIZATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xiaoxiong Wang, Tong Wang, Tianyuan Zhang, Lea R. Winter, Jinghan Di, Qingshi Tu, Hongying Hu, Edgar Hertwich, Julie B. Zimmerman, Menachem Elimelech
Summary: Conventional phototrophic cultivation for micro-algae production lacks efficiency due to limited light transmission. In contrast, the use of cellulosic hydrolysate offers a cost-effective and sustainable method for heterotrophic cultivation, resulting in high algal growth rate. Techno-economic analysis and life cycle assessment show that cellulosic hydrolysate-mediated heterotrophic cultivation is competitive with phototrophic cultivation, with the added benefit of reducing environmental impacts and producing high-value co-products. This study demonstrates the economic and environmental feasibility of heterotrophic microalgae production based on renewable bio-feedstocks.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Francisco Martin del Campo, Simron Jit Singh, Tomer Fishman, Adelle Thomas, Dominik Noll, Michael Drescher
Summary: Resource-use patterns can pose systemic risks and cascade effects, hindering the delivery of socioeconomic services. Identifying these patterns and reshaping their combinations is crucial for achieving a sustainable and resilient system. Using an island context, the article examines resource throughput and identifies risks and cascading effects in The Bahamas.
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Linbin Tang, Peng Wang, Zijie Ma, Stefan Pauliuk, Wei-Qiang Chen, Tao Dai, Zipeng Lin
Summary: International trade is essential for balancing the supply and demand of critical raw materials such as tungsten, which are geographically unevenly distributed. However, the trade flows and networks linking participating nations have been largely unexplored, causing concerns for materials' criticality and supply risks. This study analyzes the global trade flows of tungsten and explores the evolving roles of participating countries in the trade networks. The findings demonstrate the need for cooperative actions and targeted supply chain management to secure the sustainability of the global tungsten cycle.
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Jan Streeck, Stefan Pauliuk, Hanspeter Wieland, Dominik Wiedenhofer
Summary: Dynamic Material Flow Analysis (dMFA) is a commonly used method for modeling stock-flow dynamics. To accurately represent material lifetimes, recycling potentials, and service provision, dMFA requires data on the allocation of material consumption to different end-use products or sectors. Previous estimates of this allocation have been limited in terms of time, geography, and product groups. Recently, several methods for estimating end-use product allocation in dMFA have been proposed, but a systematic comparison is lacking. In this study, we review and systematize five methods for tracing material consumption into end-use products and discuss their strengths and limitations. We find that Monetary Input-Output Tables (MIOTs) can provide valuable data for approximating material end-uses, and we compare and evaluate four distinct MIOT-based methods.
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Edgar Hertwich
Summary: False narratives hinder our comprehension of Europe's energy crisis and its connection to climate change and climate policy. An unbiased understanding, grounded in factual knowledge and scientific research, can resolve the perceived conflict between supply security, affordability, and environmental sustainability.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
T. Reed Miller, Marian Chertow, Edgar Hertwich
Summary: The potential climate benefit of liquid hydrogen jet fuel depends on the hydrogen fuel pathway and contrail cirrus impacts. The aviation industry faces challenges to reduce its climate impact while accommodating growth. Liquid hydrogen is considered as an alternative jet fuel due to its carbon dioxide-free combustion. A life cycle assessment was conducted to evaluate CO2 emissions and non-CO2 climate impacts for different hydrogen production routes. The study found that contrail cirrus contributes more to the climate impacts of LH2 compared to conventional jet fuel, indicating the need for further research to reduce uncertainties.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Kajwan Rasul, Edgar G. Hertwich
Summary: This study examines the impact of technological and socioeconomic drivers on the carbon footprint of primary metals. By analyzing historical data from 1995 to 2018, the study uses a multiregional input-output model to understand the changes in emissions from metal production. The results show that while high-income countries have managed to decrease emissions through reduced metal consumption and improved energy efficiency, emerging economies have seen an increase in emissions due to higher metal consumption intensity and affluency.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Correction
Engineering, Environmental
Tong Wang, Peter Berrill, Julie B. Zimmerman, Edgar G. Hertwich
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Aishwarya V. Iyer, Narasimha D. Rao, Edgar G. Hertwich
Summary: Urbanization, slum redevelopment, and population growth will drive a surge in residential building construction in low-and middle-income countries. However, previous studies on residential building life-cycle assessment (LCA) have largely ignored these countries, particularly informal settlements where over 800 million people live. This study addresses the data deficiency and lack of transparency in LCA studies and identifies three building types - formal, semiformal, and informal - that comprehensively represent residential buildings in low-and middle-income countries. The study also highlights the need to study current traditional buildings to establish benchmarks for future energy and material efficiency strategies.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Francisco Martin del Campo, Simron Jit Singh, Tomer Fishman, Adelle Thomas, Michael Drescher
Summary: Recent research shows that a significant amount of global resources are used for creating and maintaining material stocks that provide societal services. However, extreme events and sea-level rise pose threats to the integrity of built environments and the ability of the system to continue providing services. Understanding the dynamics of material stocks and environmental threats is crucial for sustainable development.
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Jan Streeck, Hanspeter Wieland, Stefan Pauliuk, Barbara Plank, Kenichi Nakajima, Dominik Wiedenhofer
Summary: Modeling pathways toward sustainable production and consumption requires improving coverage of end-use product stocks in terms of space, time, and materials. Current studies on inflow-driven, dynamic material flow analysis (dMFA) extrapolate limited information on material end-use shares across longer time periods and global regions. In this work, we reviewed five methods to derive material end-use shares using industry shipment data and monetary input-output tables (MIOTs), and applied these methods to the United States and the multi-regional input-output model EXIOBASE3. We proposed the end-use transfer method to better align MIOT and dMFA definitions. Despite mixed results, combining MIOT-based end-use shares with industry shipments and country-level data could improve temporal, geographical, and end-use resolution. However, data scarcity, documentation, and quality are key limitations for more accurate and detailed end-use shares. This article met the requirements for a gold-gold data openness badge.
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Thi Cuc Nguyen, Alessio Miatto, Tomer Fishman, Junbeum Kim
Summary: An efficient transport infrastructure is crucial for connecting markets and people, and it has a positive impact on economic activity, development, and growth. However, little research has been conducted on the interaction between the material resources of in-use stocks of transport infrastructure and their service provision. This study quantifies the mass of materials in the European transport sector and analyzes the interactions between in-use stocks and service provision, contributing to a better understanding of the relationship between resource use and provided services.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Stefanie Klose, Stefan Pauliuk
Summary: We evaluate the effectiveness of resource efficiency strategies for copper and find that final global copper demand will increase under the SSP2-RCP2.6 scenario. Copper demand for vehicles and transportation infrastructure will quadruple. However, improved scrap sorting and higher collection rates can decrease primary copper production in 2050. With ambitious material efficiency and demand-side sufficiency, it is possible to return to the primary copper production levels of 2020.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Sahin Akin, Chibuikem Chrysogonus Nwagwu, Niko Heeren, Edgar Hertwich
Summary: This paper explores the characteristics of residential buildings in all GCC countries and reveals that Kuwait has the highest energy use per capita and Saudi Arabia has the highest energy use overall. Cooling loads represent the largest energy demand in all GCC countries. The study also uncovers the patterns and trends of residential material use in GCC countries.
ENERGY AND BUILDINGS
(2023)
Correction
Energy & Fuels
Kavya Madhu, Stefan Pauliuk, Sumukha Dhathri, Felix Creutzig
