Article
Construction & Building Technology
Robert Phillips, David Fannon, Matthew J. Eckelman
Summary: Dynamic modeling of building performance is crucial for predicting future changes, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and improving occupant comfort.
ENERGY AND BUILDINGS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Ryan E. Liu, Arvind P. Ravikumar, Xiaotao Tony Bi, Siduo Zhang, Yuhao Nie, Adam Brandt, Joule A. Bergerson
Summary: Despite limited understanding of Western Canadian greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, a case study on Seven Generation Energy Ltd.'s operations shows that company-provided data closes most of the gaps. It is recommended to collect and present more detailed government-reported data to improve GHG emissions intensity estimates and understand potential mitigation strategies.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chan Guo, Xufei Liu, Xuefei He
Summary: The study collected 174 studies from 16 countries to determine appropriate nitrogen fertilization rates for enhancing crop yield while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Results showed positive effects on crop yield and negative effects on greenhouse gas intensity, with recommendations for specific application strategies in different regions.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Josefine A. A. Olsson, Sabbie A. A. Miller, Mark G. G. Alexander
Summary: Growing urban populations and deteriorating infrastructure are driving demands for concrete, which has no alternative that matches its functional capacity. Concrete production is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, but the potential emissions reduction from efficient structural design decisions is not well understood. This study demonstrates that a combination of manufacturing and engineering decisions can significantly reduce GHG emissions from cement and concrete production, while also improving resource utilization and reducing other environmental burdens.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Izhar Hussain Shah, Sabbie A. Miller, Daqian Jiang, Rupert J. Myers
Summary: Population and development trends will drive the growth of cement production, but the availability of traditional secondary cementitious materials is declining. By maximizing the use of these materials to substitute for cement clinker, a significant reduction in CO2 emissions can be achieved. Most cement-producing countries have the potential to locally generate and use these materials as substitutes for cement clinker.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Basak Topcu, Goretty M. Dias, Sadaf Mollaei
Summary: This study evaluated the changes in the global warming potential (GWP) of diets in Ontario, Canada and found that diets containing beef had the biggest decrease in GWP over time, although they still had the highest GWP. Plant-based proteins contributed less to GWP compared to meat and fish. Major dietary shifts are needed to meet climate change and sustainability goals.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mohammad S. Masnadi, Giacomo Benini, Hassan M. El-Houjeiri, Alice Milivinti, James E. Anderson, Timothy J. Wallington, Robert De Kleine, Valerio Dotti, Patrick Jochem, Adam R. Brandt
Summary: The expanded use of novel oil extraction technologies has diversified the global oil supply's carbon footprint. Past life-cycle assessment studies have overlooked upstream emission heterogeneity and assumed that a decline in oil demand will displace average crude oil. The study reveals a non-linear relationship between carbon emissions reductions and oil demand reductions, depending on the magnitude of demand drop and the global oil market structure.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Graham A. McAuliffe, John Lynch, Michelle Cain, Sarah Buckingham, Robert M. Rees, Adrian L. Collins, Myles Allen, Raymond Pierrehumbert, Michael R. F. Lee, Taro Takahashi
Summary: The majority of agri-food climate sustainability analyses focus on using global warming potential (GWP(100)) as the main impact assessment, but there have been criticisms regarding its across-the-board application in Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs), specifically in food systems with high methane (CH4) emissions. This paper presents a large-scale sensitivity analysis comparing different climate impact assessments, such as GWP(100) and Global Temperature Change Potential (GTP(100)), using a pasture-based beef production system as an example. The authors emphasize the importance of considering alternative metrics and dynamic approaches in LCAs to ensure accurate and robust decision-making.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Sean Clark, Seyed Hashem Mousavi-Avval
Summary: This study assessed the global warming potential (GWP) of organic strawberries grown under high tunnels in Kentucky, USA, using life cycle assessment methodology. The results showed that the GWP of organic strawberries was mainly influenced by the manufacturing of aluminum and plastic, as well as direct production activities. The yields of organic strawberries in high tunnels were comparable to conventional production, but further research is needed to explore ways to reduce GWP.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Christian Hitt, Jacob Douglas, Gregory Keoleian
Summary: Single-use packaging generates a significant amount of plastic waste each year. Replacing single-use containers with reusable container systems for restaurant takeout can help reduce environmental impacts. A parametric life cycle assessment and cost analysis of a reusable container system in Ann Arbor, Michigan showed that it has lower greenhouse gas emissions and primary energy consumption compared to single-use containers in most scenarios. However, excess customer transportation and at-home washing of containers can undermine the benefits of the reusable system, leading to higher emissions and energy use.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Davide Bonalumi, Mehrshad Kolahchian Tabrizi
Summary: This study proposes a unified life cycle inventory for evaluating the global warming potential impact of producing lithium-ion power batteries in China. Results show that the overall GWP for producing 1 kWh of battery energy storage can vary significantly depending on different factors, and the GWP impact of different NMC cathode chemistries' production is discussed.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jens Terhaar, Thomas L. Frolicher, Mathias T. Aschwanden, Pierre Friedlingstein, Fortunat Joos
Summary: This study proposes an adaptive approach based on past observations to quantify global emissions reductions and achieve temperature targets, demonstrating its robustness against uncertainties.
NATURE CLIMATE CHANGE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Walter Leal Filho, Maria Alzira Pimenta Dinis, Gustavo J. Nagy, Umberto Fracassi
Summary: This short communication reports on the pressures of climate change on permafrost and emphasizes the significant impacts of permafrost thawing on the Earth's climate. The article calls for global action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provides specific suggestions for mitigating the impacts of permafrost depletion.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jeremy Gregory, Hessam AzariJafari, Ehsan Vahidi, Fengdi Guo, Franz-Josef Ulm, Randolph Kirchain
Summary: Concrete plays a critical role in deep decarbonization efforts due to its impact on various sectors like building, transportation, and industry. By analyzing current and future building and pavement stocks in the United States, it is found that improvements in the building sector can lead to a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 49% to 57% by 2050, while ambitious improvements in the pavements sector can result in a 65% reduction.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xinyu Liu, Amgad Elgowainy, Ram Vijayagopal, Michael Wang
Summary: This study compared the greenhouse gases and criteria air pollutant emissions between MHD BEVs and conventional diesel vehicles, showing that BEVs significantly improve environmental sustainability by reducing emissions in their lifecycle. The environmental impacts of MHD BEVs are sensitive to the source of electricity used for recharging, and increasing renewable and natural gas technologies in electricity generation can further improve the environmental performance of BEVs.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yuan Yao
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in reduced travel and increased household food and energy consumption. This study investigates the overall environmental impacts of these changes by estimating the life cycle environmental impacts of U.S. households during the pandemic. The results show that the decrease in travel outweighed the increase in household energy consumption, leading to a nationwide decrease in greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, smog formation, minerals and metal use, commercial wastes, and acidification. However, there was an increase in life cycle freshwater withdrawals and slight increases in eutrophication, ozone depletion, and freshwater ecotoxicity due to increased household energy and food consumption.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Mochen Liao, Kai Lan, Yuan Yao
Summary: This study reviewed relevant AI literature in the chemical industry and proposed a conceptual framework that encompasses approaches from industrial ecology, economics, and engineering to guide the selection of performance indicators and evaluation methods for a holistic assessment of AI's impacts. The study also highlights future research directions for addressing the data challenges in assessing AI's impacts and developing AI-enhanced tools to support the sustainable development of the chemical industry.
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Zhenzhen Zhang, Katherine L. Martin, Kathryn T. Stevenson, Yuan Yao
Summary: Green infrastructure is crucial for health, well-being, and sustainability in urban areas. However, its distribution is often uneven, leading to unequal access for low-income residents and underserved racial/ethnic communities. This study found that while green infrastructure was distributed more equitably in schoolyards, it was still less prevalent compared to surrounding neighborhoods. There is an opportunity for school districts to expand green infrastructure in schoolyards to provide more ecosystem services for all students.
URBAN FORESTRY & URBAN GREENING
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Zhihan Li, Chaoji Chen, Hua Xie, Yuan Yao, Xin Zhang, Alexandra Brozena, Jianguo Li, Yu Ding, Xinpeng Zhao, Min Hong, Haiyu Qiao, Lee M. Smith, Xuejun Pan, Robert Briber, Sheldon Q. Shi, Liangbing Hu
Summary: The study presents a top-down approach for producing high-performance natural macrofibres from bamboo stems that outperform wood-derived fibres and are comparable to synthetic carbon fibres. The use of these natural fibres could lead to substantial reduction in carbon emissions, offering a pathway towards sustainability in various industries such as automotive, aeronautics, and construction.
NATURE SUSTAINABILITY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Darlene Echeverria, Richard Venditti, Hasan Jameel, Yuan Yao
Summary: This research uses process simulations to generate life cycle inventory data for different grades of dissolving pulp (DP) and finds that biomass feedstock directly affects the environmental impacts of DP. The study shows that hardwood acetate grade has a higher global warming potential compared to softwood acetate, but lower impacts in other categories related to ecosystems and human health.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Shiva Zargar, Yuan Yao, Qingshi Tu
Summary: Missing data is a key challenge in life cycle inventory (LCI) modeling. This study critically reviews 12 common methods for addressing missing data in LCI modeling, analyzes their features, scope, assumptions, and limitations, and identifies areas for future improvement.
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Rodrigo Buitrago-Tello, Richard A. Venditti, Hasan Jameel, Yuan Yao, Darlene Echeverria
Summary: This study analyzed the carbon footprint of wood-based fluff pulp production and evaluated the environmental impacts of switching energy sources and key operational conditions. The results showed that using residual biomass wood pellets as energy source can significantly reduce carbon emissions, and the lignin content of biomass is a critical factor affecting greenhouse gas emissions.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Na Wu, Kai Lan, Yuan Yao
Summary: BECCS is a potential solution for addressing climate change and regional wildfires, and supporting circular economy. The study shows that forest residue-derived hydrogen is economically competitive and only BECCS can provide carbon-negative hydrogen, which is more favorable regarding human health impact and near-term economics.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bingquan Zhang, Kai Lan, Thomas B. Harris, Mark S. Ashton, Yuan Yao
Summary: This study fills the gap in understanding the climate mitigation potential of protection and commercial AR with different combinations of forest plantation management and wood utilization pathways. The results show that innovative commercial AR generally mitigates more GHGs across 100 years through cross-laminated timber (CLT) and biochar, especially in moderately cooler and dryer regions. The study also highlights the importance of planting density and thinning regimes in GHG mitigation. Rating: 8/10.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Hannah Szu-Han Wang, Yuan Yao
Summary: This paper reviews 53 papers published since 2008 to understand the capabilities, limitations, and potentials of machine learning (ML) in supporting sustainable development and applications of biomass-derived materials (BDM). Previous ML applications in BDM systems focus on material and process design, end-use performance prediction, and sustainability assessment. However, there are limitations in the interpretability of models and the lack of studies considering geo-temporal dynamics in sustainability assessment.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Bingquan Zhang, Jennifer Kroeger, Noah Planavsky, Yuan Yao
Summary: Enhanced rock weathering (ERW) is a CDR strategy for combating climate change. This study develops an optimization-based framework for ERW, demonstrated by a case study applying mining waste to croplands in the Midwestern U.S. The study reveals the importance of ERW supply chain design and provides an example of U.S. CDR implementation.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kai Lan, Yuan Yao
Summary: Gasification of waste plastic for hydrogen production, combined with carbon capture and storage, is a viable option for addressing the plastic waste challenge. Techno-economic analysis and life cycle assessment show that this option is competitive and has lower environmental impacts compared to fossil fuel hydrogen with carbon capture and storage and current electrolysis hydrogen.
COMMUNICATIONS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Kai Lan, Bingquan Zhang, Yuan Yao
Summary: This study quantifies the life-cycle environmental benefits of utilizing urban tree waste in the US and finds that full utilization of urban tree waste through circular pathways can significantly reduce nationwide greenhouse gas emissions and eutrophication potential. Through process-level comparisons, it is identified that using merchantable logs for lumber and residues for biochar is the most environmentally beneficial combination. These results contribute to the development of circular bioeconomy in urban environments.
