Article
Environmental Studies
Chi-Chuan Lee, Jian Zhang, Shanshuai Hou
Summary: This research examines the impact of renewable energy development on environmental sustainability in China by analyzing panel data from 30 provinces over the period 2000-2019. The findings demonstrate that renewable energy development contributes to a reduction in carbon intensity. Mechanism analysis reveals that this is achieved through lower energy intensity, improved energy structure, and upgraded industrial structure. The study also finds that the positive effects of renewable energy development are more prominent in highly polluted provinces and those with a high level of renewable energy development and well-functioning financial systems. Additionally, the positive influence of renewable energy development on environmental sustainability is further enhanced by improvements in local government fiscal size, the introduction of green finance policy, and consideration of geopolitical risk.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Andrea Casson, Bianca Ortuani, Valentina Giovenzana, Lucio Brancadoro, Stefano Corsi, Olfa Gharsallah, Riccardo Guidetti, Arianna Facchi
Summary: Viticulture is transitioning towards more sustainable production systems, with studies comparing different water and fertilizer management strategies for sustainability. Precision viticulture techniques can improve grape yield and quality while reducing environmental impact, but often require additional investments and costs. Findings indicate that scenarios with irrigation water supplied from an irrigation consortium and variable rate drip irrigation system are more economically and environmentally sustainable.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Maria Pergola, Alessandro Persiani, Daniele D'Ammaro, Vittoria Pastore, Carmine D'Adamo, Assunta Maria Palese, Giuseppe Celano
Summary: This research analyzed and compared the environmental and energy sustainability of two orchards (peach versus kiwifruit) in Southern Italy using Life Cycle Thinking. The results showed that peach production had minor impacts on the environment but higher energy consumption compared to kiwifruit. Despite emitting CO2 and consuming energy during orchard management, both orchards had significant capacity to store CO2 and energy.
Article
Business
Sara Perotti, Lorenzo Bruno Prataviera, Marco Melacini
Summary: This study proposes a structured model for assessing the environmental impact of logistics facilities. It quantifies both consumptions and greenhouse gas emissions by combining multiple methods. The study provides a replicable methodology that divides consumptions and emissions by warehouses' functional areas, and offers a set of Environmental Performance Indicators to evaluate and compare the environmental performance of warehouses.
BUSINESS STRATEGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Najeeb Ullah, Syeda Asma Bano, Ume Habiba, Maimoona Sabir, Andleeb Akhtar, Samreen Ramzan, Ayesha Shoukat, Muhammad Israr, Sher Shah, Syed Moazzam Nizami, Majid Hussain
Summary: A comprehensive life cycle assessment was conducted for the matchsticks industry in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan to quantify environmental footprint, water footprint, and cumulative energy use. The study revealed significant environmental impacts from the transport of certain raw materials, and suggested measures such as reducing transport distances and promoting industrial forestry near industrial zones to minimize environmental footprint.
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Raj Morya, Madan Kumar, Isha Tyagi, Ashutosh Kumar Pandey, Jungsu Park, Tirath Raj, Ranjna Sirohi, Vivek Kumar, Sang-Hyoun Kim
Summary: This review highlights the recent advancements in the biological and chemical valorization of black liquor into fuels and chemicals. The recent research attempted for bioconversion of black liquor into bioplastic, biohydrogen, biogas, and chemicals has been discussed. Efforts to replace the conventional energy recovery method with advanced chemical processes have also been reviewed.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Jiang Du, Yuhuan Wang, Yi Bao, Dibyendu Sarkar, Weina Meng
Summary: This study explores the feasibility of utilizing wasted-derived biochar in ultra-high-performance concrete to improve its mechanical properties and reduce environmental effects. The results showed that pre-saturated biochar improved mechanical strengths and reduced autogenous shrinkage. However, excessive use of biochar had a negative impact on mechanical performance. Additionally, the use of biochar significantly reduced carbon emissions and eliminated the possibility of heavy metal leaching.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Emily Rehberger, Paul C. West, Charles Spillane, Peter C. McKeown
Summary: Regenerative agriculture aims to increase soil organic carbon levels and biodiversity, contrasting with conventional agriculture which leads to land degradation, biodiversity loss, and greenhouse gas emissions. Common practices of regenerative agriculture include reduced tillage, cover cropping, crop rotation, reduced use of external inputs, and increased use of perennials and agroforestry. Studies show that these practices can effectively increase soil organic carbon, but the impact may vary. Further research is needed to maximize the carbon sequestration benefits and ensure the permanence of stable carbon storage.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Yi An Lim, Meng Nan Chong, Su Chern Foo, I. M. S. K. Ilankoon
Summary: This study examines the differences and inaccuracies of direct and indirect quantification methods for microalgae CO2 fixation in PBRs, providing recommendations for improvement and standard guidance for future research.
RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Seyfettin Erdogan, Ayfer Gedikli, Emrah Ismail Cevik, Mehmet Akif Oncu
Summary: This study examines the relationship between military expenditure and environmental sustainability in developed Mediterranean countries. The findings suggest that an increase in global military expenditure is harmful to the global environment, and country-based prevention measures are insufficient in combating environmental pollution.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Torun Hammar, Per-Anders Hansson, Elin Roos
Summary: This study examines the time-dependent climate impact of beef production, including changes in soil organic carbon. The results show that carbon sequestration has the potential to offset 15-22% of emissions arising from beef production, but sustained production and methane emissions contribute to climate damage. A forage-grain beef system has a lower climate impact compared to a forage-only system.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Maria Hasnain, Rida Zainab, Faraz Ali, Zainul Abideen, Jean Wan Hong Yong, Ali El-Keblawy, Saud Hashmi, Emanuele Radicetti
Summary: CO2 emissions from fossil fuels and coal combustion contribute to global climate change and warming, while heavy metals and metalloids pose a threat to ecological functionality and human life. Microalgae thrive in harsh environments and offer environmentally friendly and cost-effective CO2 remediation solutions. The interaction between microalgae and bacteria can enhance their performance in wastewater treatment and algal production systems.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Li Ma, Jonathan Musonda, Azhar Ali
Summary: Considering the massive scale and stakeholders involved, the social responsibility of megaprojects is crucial due to their undeniable economic importance and unavoidable environmental impacts. This study uses PLS-SEM to reveal the direct and mediating effects of environmental regulations and strategies on the environmental and ecological balance of megaprojects, contributing to the knowledge base and providing insights for reducing negative environmental impacts and improving ecological balance.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Ghulam Murshid, Abulhassan Ali, Sahil Garg, Said Al-Jabri, Muhammad Mubashir, Pau Loke Show
Summary: The study focused on the model analysis of N-methyldiethanolamine for CO2 capture, highlighting the impact of temperature and PZ concentration on physical properties. Experimental data was used to establish empirical correlations between properties, demonstrating the importance of these findings for gas-liquid absorption system design. This work contributes to global efforts to reduce CO2 emissions in industrial processes and provides valuable insights for environmental sustainability.
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES AND ASSESSMENTS
(2022)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Abdalla Talaat, Abdulrhman Emad, Mohamed Kohail
Summary: Most geopolymer research claims a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions compared with ordinary portland cement concrete. However, not all geopolymer concretes are eco-friendly. Modeling emissions is necessary to assess the environmental impact of each geopolymer mix. This research reviews the sustainability of geopolymer concrete mixes designed by researchers worldwide and highlights any bad environmental practices in the mix design.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS IN CIVIL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Costas Michael, Emilio Gil, Montserrat Gallart, Loukas Kanetis, Menelaos C. Stavrinides
Summary: This study evaluated spray coverage on grape leaves and bunches using different sprayers and found that sprayer type, leaf or bunch orientation, leaf position and leaf side significantly affected spray coverage. Air-assisted, low volume knapsack sprayer and high-volume sprayer had higher spray coverage compared to the common sprayer. Downy mildew leaf infection was below 5% throughout the season, while grape berry moth damage did not differ between sprayers.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PEST MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Sotiroula C. Ioannidou, Vassilis D. Litskas, Menelaos C. Stavrinides, Ioannis N. Vogiatzakis
Summary: Research comparing organic and conventional orchards in Cyprus showed significant differences in soil quality parameters, with organic orchards demonstrating higher potential to provide Ecosystem Services. Factors such as organic matter content, biodiversity, and soil respiration were key indicators in distinguishing between the two types of orchards.
ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Nikolaos Tzortzakis, Georgia Pitsikoulaki, Aristeidis Stamatakis, Antonios Chrysargyris
Summary: Using high-salinity water for plant fertigation can negatively impact plant growth, yield, and fruit quality. This study found that high salinity decreased plant growth factors and fruit yield, while an appropriate ratio of ammonium to nitrate helped mitigate the negative effects of salinity on plant nutrition.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Panayiota Xylia, Antonios Chrysargyris, George Botsaris, Panagiotis Skandamis, Nikolaos Tzortzakis
Summary: The study investigated the effects of different plant growth stages, pH values, and bacterial inoculum levels on hydroponically cultivated lettuce spiked with Salmonella Enteritidis. pH and inoculum levels were found to affect the internalization and survival of the pathogen in the hydroponic environment and plant tissue. Younger plants were more susceptible to pathogen internalization, and despite bacterium presence in the hydroponic solution, no leaf internalization was observed at all lettuce growth stages.
Article
Agronomy
Antonios Chrysargyris, Spyridon A. Petropoulos, Nikolaos Tzortzakis
Summary: Deficit irrigation can improve essential oil yield but have detrimental effects on plant growth and biomass production. Deficit irrigation and organic cultivation can enhance the antioxidant activity and polyphenol content of the plants.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Guy Pe'er, John A. Finn, Mario Diaz, Maren Birkenstock, Sebastian Lakner, Norbert Roder, Yanka Kazakova, Tanja Sumrada, Peter Bezak, Elena D. Concepcion, Juliana Danhardt, Manuel B. Morales, Ilona Rac, Jana Spulerova, Stefan Schindler, Menelaos Stavrinides, Stefano Targetti, Davide Viaggi, Ioannis N. Vogiatzakis, Herve Guyomard
Summary: The European Union's Common Agricultural Policy has not been successful in stopping the loss of farmland biodiversity. The new "Green Architecture" and "Eco-scheme" instrument in the post-2023 CAP aim to tackle the biodiversity crisis. Experts recommend preserving and restoring natural elements, improving spatial planning, implementing result-based approaches, and increasing knowledge exchange to maximize the effectiveness of the Eco-scheme for biodiversity.
CONSERVATION LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Elizabeth M. Alejandre, Laura Scherer, Jeroen B. Guinee, Marcelo A. Aizen, Matthias Albrecht, Mario V. Balzan, Ignasi Bartomeus, Danilo Bevk, Laura A. Burkle, Yann Clough, Lorna J. Cole, Casey M. Delphia, Lynn V. Dicks, Michael P. D. Garratt, David Kleijn, Aniko Kovacs-Hostyanszki, Yael Mandelik, Robert J. Paxton, Theodora Petanidou, Simon Potts, Miklos Sarospataki, Catharina J. E. Schulp, Menelaos Stavrinides, Katharina Stein, Jane C. Stout, Hajnalka Szentgyorgyi, Androulla I. Varnava, Ben A. Woodcock, Peter M. van Bodegom
Summary: While wild pollinators are crucial for global food production, they are currently not included in the commonly used environmental impact assessment method, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), due to data limitations and compatibility issues. To address this gap, a Delphi assessment was conducted to obtain relative pollinator abundance estimates from 25 experts covering 16 nationalities and 45 countries. Based on the estimates, globally generic characterization factors (CFs) were developed to assess the impact of land use on wild pollinator abundance in LCA studies.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Antonios Chrysargyris, Efraimia Hajisolomou, Panayiota Xylia, Nikolaos Tzortzakis
Summary: The main crops in the Mediterranean area, olive trees and grapevines, produce a large amount of waste after processing. The potential use of these wastes (OMW and GMW) mixed with peat was evaluated for the cultivation of purslane and sowthistle plants. The addition of GMW and OMW affected the growth and physiological metabolism of the plants, especially at higher waste ratios. However, at lower ratios, these waste materials enhanced the antioxidant and mineral value of the plants.
SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY AND PHARMACY
(2023)
Article
Horticulture
Antonios Chrysargyris, Stavros Louka, Spyridon A. A. Petropoulos, Nikolaos Tzortzakis
Summary: The potential of using Origanum dubium wastes (ODW) and Sideritis cypria waste (SCW) obtained after essential oil distillation for partial peat substitution in Portulaca oleracea production was evaluated. The results showed that both ODW and SCW increased pH, electrical conductivity, organic matter, and mineral content, but negatively affected the total porosity and aeration of the growing media. Plant growth was inhibited, especially at high residue ratios, indicating stress conditions. Despite being rich in minerals, plants could not accumulate them. Low ratios (up to 10%) of ODW and SCW have the potential to be used, with increased antioxidant content in the final product. However, improvements in growing media properties are still needed for sufficient yields.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Androulla I. Varnava, George A. Manganaris, Menelaos C. Stavrinides
Summary: As the climate crisis worsens, drought resistant crops are increasingly important. This study assessed the diversity of wild bees and other pollinators relying on carob flowers, and the contribution of animal pollination to carob production. The results showed that open pollination significantly increased carob yield and quality.
Article
Agronomy
Panayiota Xylia, Christos Goumenos, Nikolaos Tzortzakis, Antonios Chrysargyris
Summary: This study evaluates the effects of lavender and rosemary essential oils on the postharvest quality of cucumber. The results show that the use of lavender and rosemary essential oils increases the respiration rate of cucumber and negatively affects its firmness and organoleptic properties.
Article
Agronomy
Dejan Prvulovic, Sonja Gvozdenac, Dragana Latkovic, Marijana Peic Tukuljac, Vladimir Sikora, Biljana Kiprovski, Aleksandra Misan, Antonios Chrysargyris, Nikolaos Tzortzakis, Jelena Ovuka
Summary: The biological activity of industrial hemp extract was tested against a destructive storage pest of sunflower, showing repellent and insecticidal effects. The extract also had potential as a sunflower grain protectant. It promoted germination of sunflower seeds and affected the development and fecundity of the pest.
Article
Horticulture
Antonios Chrysargyris, Rita Maggini, Luca Incrocci, Alberto Pardossi, Nikolaos Tzortzakis
Summary: Heavy metals are environmental pollutants that can be toxic to plants and pose a risk to human health. In this study, rocket plants were exposed to excess concentrations of copper or zinc, and it was found that copper was more toxic to the plants than zinc. However, significant decreases in leaf biomass production and minor adverse effects were observed only after two or three weeks of exposure.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Vassilis D. Litskas
Summary: The use of fertilizers is crucial for global food security, but it can result in environmental issues. This research used Life Cycle Assessment to evaluate the environmental impact of different fertilizers. The findings showed that organo-mineral fertilizer had the highest overall impact, while cattle manure had the lowest. Further research should focus on assessing the impact of other lifecycle stages.
Article
Horticulture
Panayiota Xylia, Antonios Chrysargyris, Durray Shahwar, Zienab F. R. Ahmed, Nikolaos Tzortzakis
Summary: This study evaluated the effectiveness of an environmentally friendly product based on rosemary and eucalyptus essential oils on preserving the quality of cucumbers. The results showed that the product successfully maintained cucumber fruit quality and exhibited comparable antioxidant activity with chlorine, indicating its potential as a natural alternative for preserving fresh produce.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Lars odegaard Bentsen, Narada Dilp Warakagoda, Roy Stenbro, Paal Engelstad
Summary: This study investigates uncertainty modeling in wind power forecasting using different parametric and non-parametric methods. Johnson's SU distribution is found to outperform Gaussian distributions in predicting wind power. This research contributes to the literature by introducing Johnson's SU distribution as a candidate for probabilistic wind forecasting.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2024)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Xing Liu, Qiuchen Wang, Yunhao Wen, Long Li, Xinfang Zhang, Yi Wang
Summary: This study analyzes the characteristics of process parameters in three lean gas ethane recovery processes and establishes a prediction and multiobjective optimization model for ethane recovery and system energy consumption. A new method for comparing ethane recovery processes for lean gas is proposed, and the addition of extra coolers improves the ethane recovery. The support vector regression model based on grey wolf optimization demonstrates the highest prediction accuracy, and the multiobjective multiverse optimization algorithm shows the best optimization performance and diversity in the solutions.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2024)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Cairong Song, Haidong Yang, Xian-Bing Meng, Pan Yang, Jianyang Cai, Hao Bao, Kangkang Xu
Summary: The paper proposes a novel deep learning-based prediction framework, aTCN-LSTM, for accurate cooling load predictions. The framework utilizes a gate-controlled multi-head temporal convolutional network and a sparse probabilistic self-attention mechanism with a bidirectional long short-term memory network to capture both temporal and long-term dependencies in the cooling load sequences. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method, which can serve as an effective guide for HVAC chiller scheduling and demand management initiatives.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2024)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Zhe Chen, Xiaojing Li, Xianli Xia, Jizhou Zhang
Summary: This study uses survey data from the Loess Plateau in China to evaluate the impact of social interaction on the adoption of soil and water conservation (SWC) technology by farmers. The study finds that social interaction increases the likelihood of farmers adopting SWC, and internet use moderates this effect. The positive impact of social interaction on SWC adoption is more pronounced for farmers in larger villages and those who join cooperative societies.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2024)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Chenghua Zhang, Yunfei Yan, Kaiming Shen, Zongguo Xue, Jingxiang You, Yonghong Wu, Ziqiang He
Summary: This paper reports a novel method that significantly improves combustion performance, including heat transfer enhancement under steady-state conditions and adaptive stable flame regulation under velocity sudden increase.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2024)