Sustainability

32 pages, 35466 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Foodsheds and City Region Food Systems in Two West African Cities

by Hanna Karg^1,*

, Pay Drechsel², Edmund K. Akoto-Danso³, Rüdiger Glaser¹, George Nyarko⁴ and Andreas Buerkert³

¹ Physical Geography, Institute of Environmental Social Sciences and Geography, University of Freiburg, 79085 Freiburg, Germany

² International Water Management Institute, Battaramulla 10120, Sri Lanka

³ Organic Plant Production & Agroecosystems Research in the Tropics and Subtropics, Universität Kassel, 37213 Witzenhausen, Germany

⁴ Faculty of Agriculture, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1175; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121175 - 25 Nov 2016

Cited by 63 | Viewed by 15394

Abstract

In response to changing urban food systems, short supply chains have been advocated to meet urban food needs while building more sustainable urban food systems. Despite an increasing interest in urban food supply and the flows of food from production to consumption, there [...] Read more.

In response to changing urban food systems, short supply chains have been advocated to meet urban food needs while building more sustainable urban food systems. Despite an increasing interest in urban food supply and the flows of food from production to consumption, there is a lack of empirical studies and methodologies which systematically analyse the actual proportion and nutritional significance of local and regional food supplied to urban markets. The aim of this empirical study therefore was to compare the geographical sources supplying food to the urban population (“foodsheds”) in Tamale, Ghana and Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, to record the supplied quantities and to assess the level of interaction between the sources and the respective city. The study was conducted over two years, covering the seasons of abundant and short supply, via traffic surveys on the access roads to the two cities, and in the Tamale markets, resulting altogether in more than 40,000 records of food flow. Results indicated that food sources were highly crop- and season-specific, ranging from one-dimensional to multi-dimensional foodsheds with diverse sources across seasons. Across the commodity-specific foodsheds, city region boundaries were established. Within the proposed city region a relatively large proportion of smallholders contributed to urban food supply, taking advantage of the proximity to urban markets. While food provided from within the city region offers certain place-based benefits, like the provision of fresh perishable crops, a larger geographical diversity of foodsheds appeared to enhance the resilience of urban food systems, such as against climate related production failures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue City Region Foodscapes)

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24 pages, 1711 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Are the Changes in China’s Grain Production Sustainable: Extensive and Intensive Development by the LMDI Approach

by Tianxiang Li¹, Tomas Baležentis²

, Lijuan Cao^1,3, Jing Zhu^1,3,*, Irena Kriščiukaitienė² and Rasa Melnikienė²

¹ College of Economics & Management, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China

² Lithuanian Institute of Agrarian Economics, Kudirkos 18-2, LT-03105 Vilnius, Lithuania

³ China Center for Food Security Studies, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1198; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121198 - 24 Nov 2016

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 6003

Abstract

China has experienced an uninterrupted growth of grain output during the past decade. However, a long-term analysis indicates fluctuations in productivity and output levels, as well as dramatic shifts in grain crop mix and regional distribution. This paper, therefore, re-examines the major factors [...] Read more.

China has experienced an uninterrupted growth of grain output during the past decade. However, a long-term analysis indicates fluctuations in productivity and output levels, as well as dramatic shifts in grain crop mix and regional distribution. This paper, therefore, re-examines the major factors behind the dynamics in China’s grain production over the period of 1978–2013. The Index Decomposition Analysis technique, facilitated by means of Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index, is employed to factorize the changes in China’s grain output into four effects, i.e., yield effect, area effect, crop-mix effect and spatial distribution effect. The results show that yield effect, having been the major driver behind the growth, is experiencing a declining trend over time, with crop-mix effect gaining increasing importance. The results also indicate that changes in crop-mix caused an increase in the total grain output during 2003–2013, however this was due to abandonment of soybean farming, which is not sustainable in terms of self-sufficiency. The effect of spatial distribution has been diminishing ever since 1984. Therefore, re-allocation of areas sown is not likely to damper the sustainability of grain farming. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Agriculture)

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11 pages, 831 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Adjustment and Optimization of the Cropping Systems under Water Constraint

by Pingli An^1,*, Wei Ren², Xilin Liu¹, Mengmei Song¹ and Xuemin Li¹

¹ College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China

² Department of Plant & Soil Sciences, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1207; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121207 - 25 Nov 2016

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 4180

Abstract

The water constraint on agricultural production receives growing concern with the increasingly sharp contradiction between demand and supply of water resources. How to mitigate and adapt to potential water constraint is one of the key issues for ensuring food security and achieving sustainable [...] Read more.

The water constraint on agricultural production receives growing concern with the increasingly sharp contradiction between demand and supply of water resources. How to mitigate and adapt to potential water constraint is one of the key issues for ensuring food security and achieving sustainable agriculture in the context of climate change. It has been suggested that adjustment and optimization of cropping systems could be an effective measure to improve water management and ensure food security. However, a knowledge gap still exists in how to quantify potential water constraint and how to select appropriate cropping systems. Here, we proposed a concept of water constraint risk and developed an approach for the evaluation of the water constraint risks for agricultural production by performing a case study in Daxing District, Beijing, China. The results show that, over the whole growth period, the order of the water constraint risks of crops from high to low was wheat, rice, broomcorn, foxtail millet, summer soybean, summer peanut, spring corn, and summer corn, and the order of the water constraint risks of the cropping systems from high to low was winter wheat-summer grain crops, rice, broomcorn, foxtail millet, and spring corn. Our results are consistent with the actual evolving process of cropping system. This indicates that our proposed method is practicable to adjust and optimize the cropping systems to mitigate and adapt to potential water risks. This study provides an insight into the adjustment and optimization of cropping systems under resource constraints. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Sustainability and Applications)

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15 pages, 1221 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Game Behavior Analysis between the Local Government and Land-Lost Peasants in the Urbanization Process

by Lu Zhang^1,2, Hongru Du^1,* and Yannan Zhao^2,3

¹ Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China

² University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China

³ Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources, Research and Key Laboratory of Regional Sustainable Development Modeling, Beijing 100101, China

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1213; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121213 - 26 Nov 2016

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4567

Abstract

China is entering a period of rapid urban development. With the rapid expansion of cities, a large number of peasants have lost their land as a result. Given the development of urbanization, safeguarding the rights and interests of land-lost peasants in the process [...] Read more.

China is entering a period of rapid urban development. With the rapid expansion of cities, a large number of peasants have lost their land as a result. Given the development of urbanization, safeguarding the rights and interests of land-lost peasants in the process of urbanization has become a new topic of interest in China. In this study, based on game theory, we analyze the interests of the local government and land-lost peasants in several rounds of the citizenization process. The result demonstrated the following: (1) this paper proposed that overall interest declines in the entire game, in which the peasant can obtain a greater share of benefits from bargaining with the local government; (2) However, a long bargaining process would lead to the diminishment of peasants’ rights and benefits. In contrast, the local government would obtain greater share of benefits than the peasant and would obtain fewer benefits than at the beginning of the process. Therefore, both sides expect to end the game process early; (3) Under the “rational economic man” process, this process will always tend to be one in which one party struggles while the other compromises. Therefore, in the game, the game process will not reach a game equilibrium state and both sides will be at a stalemate; (4) The local government, as the power owner, is expected to surrender its interests as the “rational economic man” for the Pareto optimality; (5) Finally, we proposed policy recommendations for the sustainability of citizenization. Increasing the public service benefits, establishing the system of subsistence allowances and raising the minimum living allowance of citizenization, improving the training and employment service system for the peasant can improve land-lost peasants’ acceptance in the game. Full article

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20 pages, 1758 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Environmental Profile of the Swiss Supply Chain for French Fries: Effects of Food Loss Reduction, Loss Treatments and Process Modifications

by Patrik Mouron¹

, Christian Willersinn^1,2,*

, Sabrina Möbius¹ and Jens Lansche³

¹ Agroscope, Institute for Sustainability Sciences, Research Group Socio-Economics, Tänikon 1, CH 8356 Ettenhausen, Switzerland

² ETH Zurich, Institute for Environmental Decisions (IED), Consumer Behavior, Universitätsstrasse 16, CH 8092 Zurich, Switzerland

³ Agroscope, Institute for Sustainability Sciences, Research Group Life Cycle Assessment, Reckenholzstrasse 191, CH 8046 Zurich, Switzerland

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1214; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121214 - 24 Nov 2016

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 11267

Abstract

The production of food is responsible for major environmental impacts. Bearing this in mind, it is even worse when food is lost rather than consumed. In Switzerland, 46% of all processing potatoes and 53% of all fresh potatoes are lost on their way [...] Read more.

The production of food is responsible for major environmental impacts. Bearing this in mind, it is even worse when food is lost rather than consumed. In Switzerland, 46% of all processing potatoes and 53% of all fresh potatoes are lost on their way from field to fork. Our study therefore compares the environmental impacts of losses of fresh potatoes with those of French fries. With the aid of a Life Cycle Assessment, we assessed the impact categories “demand for nonrenewable energy resources”, “global warming potential”, “human toxicity”, “terrestrial ecotoxicity” and “aquatic ecotoxicity”. Our results show that 1 kg of potatoes consumed as French fries causes 3–5 times more environmental impacts than the same quantity of fresh potatoes, but also that the proportion of impacts relating to losses is considerably lower for French fries (5%–10% vs. 23%–39%). The great majority of processing potato losses occur before the resource-intensive, emission-rich frying processes and therefore the environmental “backpack” carried by each lost potato is still relatively small. Nonetheless, appropriate loss treatment can substantially reduce the environmental impact of potato losses. In the case of French fries, the frying processes and frying oil are the main “hot spots” of environmental impacts, accounting for a considerably higher proportion of damage than potato losses; it is therefore also useful to look at these processes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Food Waste Management and Utilization)

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16 pages, 1885 KiB

Open AccessReview

Microalgae Potential and Multiple Roles—Current Progress and Future Prospects—An Overview

by Balasubramani Ravindran¹, Sanjay Kumar Gupta², Won-Mo Cho¹, Jung Kon Kim^1,*, Sang Ryong Lee¹, Kwang-Hwa Jeong¹, Dong Jun Lee¹ and Hee-Chul Choi¹

¹ Animal Environment Division, Department of Animal Biotechnology and Environment, National Institute of Animal Science (NIAS), Rural Development Administration (RDA), Wanju-Gun, Jeollabuk-Do 55365, Korea

² Environmental Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi 110016, India

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1215; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121215 - 25 Nov 2016

Cited by 102 | Viewed by 15515

Abstract

Substantial progress has been made in algal technologies in past few decades. Initially, microalgae drew the attention of the scientific community as a renewable source of biofuels due to its high productivity over a short period of time and potential of significant lipid [...] Read more.

Substantial progress has been made in algal technologies in past few decades. Initially, microalgae drew the attention of the scientific community as a renewable source of biofuels due to its high productivity over a short period of time and potential of significant lipid accumulation. As of now, a technological upsurge has elaborated its scope in phycoremediation of both organic and inorganic pollutants. The dual role of microalgae—i.e., phycoremediation coupled with energy production—is well established, however, commercially, algal biofuel production is not yet sustainable due to high energy inputs. Efforts are being made to make the algal biofuel economy through modification in the cultivation conditions, harvesting, and extraction of value added products. Recent studies have demonstrated algal biomass production with various types of wastewater and industrial effluents. Similarly, the recent advent of eco-friendly harvesting technologies—such as low-cost green coagulants, electrochemical harvesting, etc.—are energy efficient and economical. Contemporary improvement in efficient lipid extraction from biomass will make algal biodiesel economical. The absolute extraction of all the value added products from algal biomass, either whole cell or lipid extracted biomass, in a complete biorefinery approach will be more economical and eco-friendly. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomass Energy Conversion)

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9 pages, 1568 KiB

Open AccessReview

Air Pollution Monitoring Changes to Accompany the Transition from a Control to a Systems Focus

by Daniel A. Vallero

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Exposure Research Laboratory, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1216; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121216 - 24 Nov 2016

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 6485

Abstract

During the 20th century, air pollution control technologies grew at an amazingly rapid rate. Air quality in much of the industrialized world greatly improved as the efficiencies of these technologies improved. This continued improvement in pollution control has more recently been complemented with [...] Read more.

During the 20th century, air pollution control technologies grew at an amazingly rapid rate. Air quality in much of the industrialized world greatly improved as the efficiencies of these technologies improved. This continued improvement in pollution control has more recently been complemented with measures to prevent the emission of air pollutants. The previous, exclusive focus on treatment requires systems thinking. This review provides a framework for this Special Issue of Sustainability by describing the new tools that are needed to support this new, broader focus, including life cycle assessments, exposure models, and sustainable design. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Pollution Monitoring and Sustainable Development)

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16 pages, 1137 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Creating Customer Value for Product Service Systems by Incorporating Internet of Things Technology

by Li-Hsing Shih^1,*, Yen-Ting Lee¹ and Fenghueih Huarng²

¹ Department of Resources Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan

² Department of Business Administration, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Tainan 710, Taiwan

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1217; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121217 - 24 Nov 2016

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 6686

Abstract

Product service system (PSS) design has drawn much attention in the last decade and is expected to be affected by the fast-growing application of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies. This study proposes a six-step design method by extending visual mapping design methods for [...] Read more.

Product service system (PSS) design has drawn much attention in the last decade and is expected to be affected by the fast-growing application of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies. This study proposes a six-step design method by extending visual mapping design methods for the PSSs that plan to apply IoT technologies. A new concept of “pseudo actors” that highlights the role of the objects incorporating IoT technology is introduced in plotting actors and system maps and a useful table is recommended to help evaluate alternatives of IoT technology application. An example of a battery swapping system for electric scooters is illustrated for application potential. Actors and system maps with “pseudo actors” are presented and analyzed, while IoT technologies are applied in batteries, charging stations, cell phones, and scooters. Designers could use the proposed method to select appropriate application of IoT technologies with higher customer value in a product service system design. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)

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19 pages, 1956 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Inventory and Policy Reduction Potential of Greenhouse Gas and Pollutant Emissions of Road Transportation Industry in China

by Ye Li¹, Lei Bao^1,2,*, Wenxiang Li¹ and Haopeng Deng¹

¹ Key Laboratory of Road and Traffic Engineering of the State Ministry of Education, Tongji University, Shanghai 201804, China

² Energy Analysis and Environmental Impacts Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1218; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121218 - 25 Nov 2016

Cited by 32 | Viewed by 7643

Abstract

In recent years, emissions from the road transportation industry in China have been increasing rapidly. To evaluate the reduction potential of greenhouse gas and pollutant emissions of the industry in China, its emission inventory was calculated and scenario analysis was created for the [...] Read more.

In recent years, emissions from the road transportation industry in China have been increasing rapidly. To evaluate the reduction potential of greenhouse gas and pollutant emissions of the industry in China, its emission inventory was calculated and scenario analysis was created for the period between 2012 and 2030 in this paper. Based on the Long-range Energy Alternatives Planning System (LEAP) model, the development of China’s road transportation industry in two scenarios (the business-as-usual (BAU) scenario and the comprehensive-mitigation (CM) scenario) was simulated. In the Comprehensive Mitigation scenario, there are nine various measures which include Fuel Economy Standards, Auto Emission Standards, Energy-saving Technology, Tax Policy, Eco-driving, Logistics Informatization, Vehicle Liquidation, Electric Vehicles, and Alternative Fuels. The cumulative energy and emission reductions of these specific measures were evaluated. Our results demonstrate that China’s road transportation produced 881 million metric tons of CO₂ and emitted 1420 thousand tons of CO, 2150 thousand tons of NO_x, 148 thousand tons of PM₁₀, and 745 thousand tons of HC in 2012. The reduction potential is quite large, and road freight transportation is the key mitigation subsector, accounting for 85%–92% of the total emission. For energy conservation and carbon emission mitigation, logistics informatization is the most effective method, potentially reducing 1.80 billion tons of coal equivalent and 3.83 billion tons of CO₂ from 2012 to 2030. In terms of air pollutant emission mitigation, the auto emission standards measure performs best with respect to NO_x, PM₁₀, and HC emission mitigation, and logistic informatization measure is the best in CO emission reduction. In order to maximize the mitigation potential of China’s road transportation industry, the government needs to implement various measures in a timely and strict fashion. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Energy and Environmental Protection: The Role of Science in Society)

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15 pages, 227 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Link between Corporate Environmental and Corporate Financial Performance—Viewpoints from Practice and Research

by Anne Bergmann

Chair of Environmental Management and Accounting, Faculty of Business and Economics, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden 01062, Germany

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1219; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121219 - 25 Nov 2016

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 6029

Abstract

For more than 40 years, a tremendous number of studies have empirically explored the relationship between Corporate Environmental Performance (CEP) and Corporate Financial Performance (CFP). This study considers the relationship from a new perspective—via a qualitative research approach based on expert interviews. First, [...] Read more.

For more than 40 years, a tremendous number of studies have empirically explored the relationship between Corporate Environmental Performance (CEP) and Corporate Financial Performance (CFP). This study considers the relationship from a new perspective—via a qualitative research approach based on expert interviews. First, practitioners are queried for their view on the link between CEP and CFP and how to measure it. Since the vast majority see a positive relationship, this study contributes with a new form of evidence that it pays to be green. The chosen qualitative approach also allows a more detailed analysis of underlying cause-and-effect mechanisms. For instance, interviewed practitioners emphasize a direct and indirect impact from CEP on CFP. Second, the study conducts interviews with experts from research and associations (non-practitioners) and compares the viewpoints of the two interview groups. One prevalent difference refers to the fact that non-practitioners do not focus on the two impact levels. Moreover, business experts perceive the link between CEP and CFP as much less complex and reveal more pragmatically oriented considerations. The study then discusses how the interview results and identified differences can be used to direct future research and to support corporations in their move towards sustainability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)

16 pages, 9059 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Feasibility Study on Parametric Optimization of Daylighting in Building Shading Design

by Kyung Sun Lee^1,*, Ki Jun Han² and Jae Wook Lee^3,*

¹ School of Architecture, Hongik University, 94 Wausan-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul 02481, Korea

² Digit, 12, Dongmak-ro 2-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul 04071, Korea

³ School of Architecture, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL 61820, USA

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1220; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121220 - 24 Nov 2016

Cited by 28 | Viewed by 8716

Abstract

Shading design to optimize daylighting is in many cases achieved through a designer’s sense based on prior knowledge and experience. However, computer-assisted parametric techniques can be utilized for daylighting design in an easy and much more accurate way. If such tools are utilized [...] Read more.

Shading design to optimize daylighting is in many cases achieved through a designer’s sense based on prior knowledge and experience. However, computer-assisted parametric techniques can be utilized for daylighting design in an easy and much more accurate way. If such tools are utilized in the early stages of a project, this can be more effective for sustainable design. This study compares the conventional approach, which depends on a designer’s sense of judgment to create optimal indoor lighting conditions by adjusting louver shapes and window patterns, with the approach of making use of genetic algorithms. Ultimately, this study discusses the advantages and disadvantages of those two approaches. As a starting point, 30 designers were instructed to design a facade by manually adjusting several input parameters of shading. The parameters govern six kinds of louver and window types, with the ratio of analysis grid surface area achieving a daylight factor of 2%–5%. Secondly, input parameters were automatically created by using genetic algorithm optimization methods to find optimal fitness data. As a conclusion, conventional approaches result in a strong disposition toward designing certain shading types represented by linear relationships. Computer-assisted daylight simulation can help influence this, being effective when dealing with a large amount of data and non-linear relationships. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Education and Approaches)

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12 pages, 207 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Post-Event Volunteering Legacy: Did the London 2012 Games Induce a Sustainable Volunteer Engagement?

by Niki Koutrou^*

, Athanasios (Sakis) Pappous and Anna Johnson

School of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Kent, Chatham ME4 4AG, UK

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1221; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121221 - 24 Nov 2016

Cited by 43 | Viewed by 9638

Abstract

The hosting of the London 2012 Olympic Games was seen as an opportunity to harness the enthusiasm of the 70,000 volunteers involved and to provide a post-event volunteer legacy. A total of 77 individuals who had acted as volunteers in London 2012 were [...] Read more.

The hosting of the London 2012 Olympic Games was seen as an opportunity to harness the enthusiasm of the 70,000 volunteers involved and to provide a post-event volunteer legacy. A total of 77 individuals who had acted as volunteers in London 2012 were contacted approximately four years after the Games and agreed to complete a web-based open-ended survey. The participants were asked to indicate their level of current volunteering engagement and whether volunteering at the Games had an impact on their current volunteering levels. The study found that the London Olympics were the first volunteer experience for most of the volunteers who completed the survey, with the main motivation to volunteer being anything related to the Olympic Games. Just over half of the respondents are currently volunteering. Lack of time is shown to be the main barrier towards further volunteering commitment. Only half of respondents had been contacted by a volunteering scheme after London 2012. The implications of the findings for a potential volunteering legacy are then explored. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)

15 pages, 1768 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Concept of Water Usage Efficiency to Support Water Reduction in Manufacturing Industry

by Madhu Sachidananda¹, D. Patrick Webb^2,*

and Shahin Rahimifard²

¹ School of Aerospace, Transport and Manufacturing, Cranfield University, Cranfield MK43 0AL, UK

² Centre for Sustainable Manufacturing and Reuse/Recycling Technologies, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1222; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121222 - 25 Nov 2016

Cited by 33 | Viewed by 13865

Abstract

Increasing pressures on freshwater supplies, continuity of supply uncertainties, and costs linked to legislative compliance, such as for wastewater treatment, are driving water use reduction up the agenda of manufacturing businesses. A survey is presented of current analysis methods and tools generally available [...] Read more.

Increasing pressures on freshwater supplies, continuity of supply uncertainties, and costs linked to legislative compliance, such as for wastewater treatment, are driving water use reduction up the agenda of manufacturing businesses. A survey is presented of current analysis methods and tools generally available to industry to analyze environmental impact of, and to manage, water use. These include life cycle analysis, water footprinting, strategic planning, water auditing, and process integration. It is identified that the methods surveyed do not provide insight into the operational requirements from individual process steps for water, instead taking such requirements as a given. We argue that such understanding is required for a proactive approach to long-term water usage reduction, in which sustainability is taken into account at the design stage for both process and product. As a first step to achieving this, we propose a concept of water usage efficiency which can be used to evaluate current and proposed processes and products. Three measures of efficiency are defined, supported by a framework of a detailed categorization and representation of water flows within a production system. The calculation of the efficiency measures is illustrated using the example of a tomato sauce production line. Finally, the elements required to create a useable tool based on the efficiency measures are discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability in Manufacturing)

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15 pages, 1506 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Local Expert Perceptions of Migration as a Climate Change Adaptation in Bangladesh

by Robert Stojanov¹, Ilan Kelman^2,3,4,*,†

, AKM Ahsan Ullah⁵, Barbora Duží⁶, David Procházka¹

and Klára Kavanová Blahůtová⁷

¹ Department of Informatics, Faculty of Business and Economics, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 1, 61300 Brno, Czech Republic

² Institute for Risk & Disaster Reduction, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK

³ Institute for Global Health, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK

⁴ University of Agder, Gimlemoen 25, Kristiansand 4630, Norway

⁵ Department of Geography, Environment and Development (GED), Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS), Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD), Jalan Tungku Link, Gadong BE1410, Brunei

⁶ Department of Regional Development, Faculty of Economics, University of South Bohemia, Studentská 13, 37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic

⁷ Department of Social Geography & Regional Development, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Albertov 6, 12843 Praha, Czech Republic

^† Risk RED (Risk Reduction Education for Disasters).

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1223; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121223 - 24 Nov 2016

Cited by 35 | Viewed by 14420

Abstract

People have long migrated for many reasons, often with a combination of forced and voluntary reasons combining to push them away from current situations and to pull them towards new situations. Bangladesh is one example where environmental changes have long been amongst the [...] Read more.

People have long migrated for many reasons, often with a combination of forced and voluntary reasons combining to push them away from current situations and to pull them towards new situations. Bangladesh is one example where environmental changes have long been amongst the multitude of reasons for migrating, with contemporary climate change suggested as a major impetus towards more migration. This paper examines local expert perceptions of migration as a climate change adaptation strategy for Bangladeshis. Seventeen in-depth interviews were conducted with local experts in Bangladesh and Assam (India) on environmental change and migration to understand the perspectives of those with formal education and expert-related jobs who come from the areas being directly affected by Bangladeshi migration. Findings show that local experts consider that migration is used and will be used for climate change adaptation in Bangladesh, but migration is not solely for climate change adaptation, instead interweaving with all other factors influencing migration-related decisions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Social Ecology and Sustainability)

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19 pages, 539 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Urban Sustainability and Resilience: From Theory to Practice

by Patricia Romero-Lankao^1,*, Daniel M. Gnatz², Olga Wilhelmi¹ and Mary Hayden¹

¹ National Center for Atmospheric Research, P.O. Box 3000, Boulder, CO 80307-3000, USA

² MnS Institute for Sustainable Urban Transformations, P.O. Box 21292, Boulder, CO 80308, USA

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1224; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121224 - 25 Nov 2016

Cited by 151 | Viewed by 21455

Abstract

Urbanization and urban areas are profoundly altering the relationship between society and the environment, and affecting cities’ sustainability and resilience in complex ways at alarming rates. Over the last decades, sustainability and resilience have become key concepts aimed at understanding existing urban dynamics [...] Read more.

Urbanization and urban areas are profoundly altering the relationship between society and the environment, and affecting cities’ sustainability and resilience in complex ways at alarming rates. Over the last decades, sustainability and resilience have become key concepts aimed at understanding existing urban dynamics and responding to the challenges of creating livable urban futures. Sustainability and resilience have also moved and are now core analytic and normative concepts for many scholars, transnational networks and urban communities of practice. Yet, even with this elevated scholarly attention, strategies for bridging between research and practice remain elusive, and efforts to understand and affect change towards more sustainable and resilient urban centers have often fallen short. This paper seeks to synthesize, from this issue’s papers and other strands of literature, the knowledge, theory and practice of urban sustainability and resilience. Specifically, we focus on what capacities urban actors draw on to create sustainability and resilience and how different definitions of these concepts intersect, complement, or contradict each other. We then examine the implications of those intersections and differences in the efforts by urban actors to enhance the capacity to change unsustainable trajectories and transform themselves, their communities, and their cities toward sustainable and resilient relationships with the environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Resilience and Urban Sustainability: From Research to Practice)

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21 pages, 11867 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Human-Needs-Based Dynamics to Simulate Technology Policy and Its Effects on Both Business Success and Human Happiness

by Jong-Yeon Lim¹, Sun Hi Yoo²

and DongKyu Won^2,*

¹ College of Life Science & Biotechnology, Korea University, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02841, Korea

² Seoul Branch Office, Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information, Seoul 02456, Korea

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1225; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121225 - 25 Nov 2016

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 6788

Abstract

This paper focuses on how human needs are reflected in the market and how several technological and political policies affect the market share of government-supported industries, as well as the satisfaction of human desires and consequent happiness. In this paper, we seek to [...] Read more.

This paper focuses on how human needs are reflected in the market and how several technological and political policies affect the market share of government-supported industries, as well as the satisfaction of human desires and consequent happiness. In this paper, we seek to understand the dynamics of consumer decision-making processes in relation to technology products in the market. In this study, we present a new marketing model based on human needs, wants, and demands, and focus on both holistic and social perspectives. We have shown that human-based policy dynamics and sustainable human happiness can be realized by stimulating national policies for consumer happiness in the human-needs-based sector, e.g., the healthcare industry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Open Innovation Capabilities of Firms for Value Chain Development)

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20 pages, 4622 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Hydraulic Performance of an Innovative Breakwater for Overtopping Wave Energy Conversion

by Claudio Iuppa^1,*

, Pasquale Contestabile², Luca Cavallaro¹

, Enrico Foti¹

and Diego Vicinanza^2,3

¹ Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 64, 95123 Catania, Italy

² Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, Design, Edilizia e Ambiente, Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli. Via Roma 29, 81031 Aversa (Caserta), Italy

³ CONISMA—National Inter-University Consortium of Marine Sciences, Piazzale Flaminio 9, 00196 Roma, Italy

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1226; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121226 - 25 Nov 2016

Cited by 57 | Viewed by 12375

Abstract

The Overtopping BReakwaterfor Energy Conversion (OBREC) is an overtopping wave energy converter, totally embedded in traditional rubble mound breakwaters. The device consists of a reinforced concrete front reservoir designed with the aim of capturing the wave overtopping in order to produce electricity. The [...] Read more.

The Overtopping BReakwaterfor Energy Conversion (OBREC) is an overtopping wave energy converter, totally embedded in traditional rubble mound breakwaters. The device consists of a reinforced concrete front reservoir designed with the aim of capturing the wave overtopping in order to produce electricity. The energy is extracted through low head turbines, using the difference between the water levels in the reservoir and the sea water level. This paper analyzes the OBREC hydraulic performances based on physical 2D model tests carried out at Aalborg University (DK). The analysis of the results has led to an improvement in the overall knowledge of the device behavior, completing the main observations from the complementary tests campaign carried out in 2012 in the same wave flume. New prediction formula are presented for wave reflection, the overtopping rate inside the front reservoir and at the rear side of the structure. Such methods have been used to design the first OBREC prototype breakwater in operation since January 2016 at Naples Harbor (Italy). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wave Energy Converters)

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16 pages, 1649 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Comparison of Various Technological Options for Improving Energy and Water Use Efficiency in a Traditional Sugar Mill

by Eyerusalem Birru^1,*, Catharina Erlich¹, Idalberto Herrera², Andrew Martin¹

, Sofia Feychting³, Marina Vitez³, Emma Bednarcik Abdulhadi³, Anna Larsson³, Emanuel Onoszko³, Mattias Hallersbo³, Louise Weilenmann³ and Laura Puskoriute³

¹ Department of Energy Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, School of Industrial Technology and Management (ITM), 10044 Stockholm, Sweden

² Center for Energy and Environmental Technologies Assessment (CEETA), Faculty of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Central, University “Marta Abreu” of Las Villas (UCLV), 54830 Santa Clara, Cuba

³ KTH Royal Institute of Technology, School of Industrial Technology and Management (ITM), 10044 Stockholm, Sweden

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1227; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121227 - 25 Nov 2016

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 8735

Abstract

This study is a comparison of four technological improvements proposed in previous works for the Cuban sugar mill Carlos Baliño. These technological options are: (1) utilization of excess wastewater for enhanced imbibition; (2) utilization of waste heat for thermally driven cooling; (3) utilization [...] Read more.

This study is a comparison of four technological improvements proposed in previous works for the Cuban sugar mill Carlos Baliño. These technological options are: (1) utilization of excess wastewater for enhanced imbibition; (2) utilization of waste heat for thermally driven cooling; (3) utilization of excess bagasse for pellets; and (4) modification of the cogeneration unit for maximum electric power generation. The method used for the evaluation of the technological options involves using criteria such as energy saving, financial gains, and CO₂ emission saving potential. The results of the analysis show that the first three technological improvement options are attractive only during the crushing season. On the other hand, the last technological improvement option can be attractive if a year round generation of surplus power is sought. The first technological improvement option leads to only minor changes in energy utilization, but the increase in sugar yield of 8.7% leads to attractive profitability with an extremely low payback period. The CO₂ emissions saved due to the fourth technological improvement option are the highest (22,000 tonnes/year) and the cost of CO₂ emissions saved for the third technological improvement option (lowest) amount to 41 USD/tonne of CO₂ emissions saved. The cycle efficiencies of the third and fourth technological improvement options are 37.9% and 36.8%, respectively, with payback periods of 2.3 and 1.6 years. The second technological improvement option is the least attractive alternative of the group. Full article

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19 pages, 1646 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Life Cycle Assessment of Gilthead Seabream (Sparus aurata) Production in Offshore Fish Farms

by Benjamín García García^1,*, Caridad Rosique Jiménez²

, Felipe Aguado-Giménez³

and José García García¹

¹ IMIDA, Calle Mayor s/n, 30150 Alberca Las Torres, Murcia, Spain

² Departamento Mixto, Universidad de Murcia, Edificio C, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Espinardo, Murcia, Spain

³ Estación de Acuicultura Marina (IMIDA), Puerto de San Pedro del Pinatar, 30740 San Pedro del Pinatar, Murcia, Spain

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1228; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121228 - 25 Nov 2016

Cited by 33 | Viewed by 9569

Abstract

Life cycle assessment is used in this study to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of producing gilthead seabream in an offshore sea farm exposed to storms in the Spanish Mediterranean Sea. The farming methods used can be considered as “basic” since no centralized [...] Read more.

Life cycle assessment is used in this study to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of producing gilthead seabream in an offshore sea farm exposed to storms in the Spanish Mediterranean Sea. The farming methods used can be considered as “basic” since no centralized or automatic food distribution system exists and there is no control system. This study aims to identify the main hotspots under these conditions and to propose and compare viable alternatives to them. Contribution analysis found that the component of the system with the greatest potential environmental impact (48% of the overall impact) was fish feed, especially the raw material used. Other contributory factors were the fuel consumed by the vessels operating in the farm (35%), the dumping of N and P in the environment due to the metabolism of the fish (12%), the cages and their anchorage system (5%). A sensitivity analysis showed that a significant reduction in potential environmental impact can be achieved by increasing feeding efficiency. Feed formulation in raw materials is also an important factor and could serve to diminish overall adverse effects. A balance needs to be found between productive performance (growth, survival and feed conversion rate), feed price and its influence on production costs and the overall environmental consequences. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Agriculture)

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16 pages, 518 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enhancing Innovative Capability and Sustainability of Saudi Firms

by Fahad Assad Al. Othman^1,* and Osama Sohaib²

¹ College of Computing and Informatics, Saudi Electronic University, Riyadh 11673, Saudi Arabia

² School of Systems, Management and Leadership, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1229; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121229 - 25 Nov 2016

Cited by 30 | Viewed by 6886

Abstract

The Saudi Arabian government has recognised the need for an alternative path to national development in the form of a knowledge-based economy (KBE). One of the key drivers of a knowledge-based economy KBE is innovation. Therefore, to achieve this aim, it is important [...] Read more.

The Saudi Arabian government has recognised the need for an alternative path to national development in the form of a knowledge-based economy (KBE). One of the key drivers of a knowledge-based economy KBE is innovation. Therefore, to achieve this aim, it is important to understand the various factors affecting organisational innovation capability and sustainability. This empirical research study was conducted to provide a better understanding of the interrelationships among the key constructs, socio-technical factors, diffusion of innovation, and knowledge-sharing process towards Saudi organisational innovation capability. The results offer a number of implications, which are beneficial towards the adoption of the knowledge-based economy seeking to enhance the Saudi organisations towards enriching the organisational innovation capability and sustainability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Science, Technology and Innovation Reforms for Sustainable Development of the GCC Countries)

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17 pages, 265 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Input-Output Analysis for Sustainability by Using DEA Method: A Comparison Study between European and Asian Countries

by Wen-Hsien Tsai^1,*, Hsiu-Li Lee², Chih-Hao Yang³ and Chung-Chen Huang¹

¹ Department of Business Administration, National Central University, 300, Jhongda Rd., Jhongli, Taoyuan 32001, Taiwan

² Department of Accounting Information, Chihlee University of Technology, 313, Sec. 1, Wunhua Rd., Banciao District, New Taipei City 22050, Taiwan

³ Department of Financial Management, National Defense University, 70, Sec. 2, Jhongyang N. Rd., Beitou, Taipei 11258, Taiwan

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1230; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121230 - 28 Nov 2016

Cited by 50 | Viewed by 8439

Abstract

Policymakers around the world are confronted with the challenge of balancing between economic development and environmental friendliness, which entails a robust set of measures in energy efficiency and environmental protection. The increasing complexity of these issues has imposed pressure on the Asian countries [...] Read more.

Policymakers around the world are confronted with the challenge of balancing between economic development and environmental friendliness, which entails a robust set of measures in energy efficiency and environmental protection. The increasing complexity of these issues has imposed pressure on the Asian countries that have been acting as global factories. This paper proposes a meta-frontier slacks-based measure (SBM) data envelopment analysis (DEA) model, with the hope that policymakers clarify the relationship between labor force, energy consumption, government expenditures, GDP, and CO₂ emissions. Clarification of the causal relationship can serve as a template for policy decisions and ease concerns regarding the potential adverse effects of carbon reduction and energy efficiency on the economy. The results show: (1) Developing countries should establish their own climate change governance and policy frameworks; (2) Developed economies should seek to lower carbon emissions; (3) Energy policies play a pivotal role in energy efficiency improvement; (4) Top-down efforts are critical for the success of carbon reduction policies; (5) Learning from the success of developed countries helps to improve the effectiveness of energy policies; (6) Environmental policies should be formulated, and new production technologies, pollution prevention measures, and treatment methods should be introduced; (7) Governments are suggested to build long-term independent management institutions to promote energy cooperation and exchange. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)

18 pages, 1647 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Indicators for the Analysis of Peasant Women’s Equity and Empowerment Situations in a Sustainability Framework: A Case Study of Cacao Production in Ecuador

by Olga De Marco Larrauri^1,2, David Pérez Neira^3,4,*

and Marta Soler Montiel⁵

¹ Department of Investigation, Agrarian University of Ecuador, Guayaquil 090104, Ecuador

² ISEC (Institute of Sociology and Peasant Studies), Cordoba University, 14071 Cordoba, Spain

³ Department of Applied Economics and Statistics, University of Leon, 24071 Leon, Spain

⁴ Prometeo Research, National Secretary of Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Quito 170526, Ecuador

⁵ Department of Applied Economics II, University of Seville, 41004 Seville, Spain

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1231; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121231 - 25 Nov 2016

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 8709

Abstract

Family agriculture is a fundamental pillar in the construction of agroecological agri-food alternatives fostering processes of sustainable rural development where social equity represents a central aspect. Despite agroecology’s critical openness, this area has not yet incorporated an explicit gender approach allowing an appropriate [...] Read more.

Family agriculture is a fundamental pillar in the construction of agroecological agri-food alternatives fostering processes of sustainable rural development where social equity represents a central aspect. Despite agroecology’s critical openness, this area has not yet incorporated an explicit gender approach allowing an appropriate problematization and analysis of the cultural inequalities of gender relations in agriculture, women’s empowerment processes and their nexus with sustainability. This work presents an organized proposal of indicators to approach and analyze the degree of peasant women’s equity and empowerment within a wide sustainability framework. After a thorough bibliographical review, 34 equity and empowerment indicators were identified and organized into six basic theoretical dimensions. Following the collection of empirical data (from 20 cacao-producing families), the indicators were analyzed and reorganized on the basis of hierarchical cluster analysis and explanatory interdependence into a new set of six empirical dimensions: (1) access to resources, education and social participation; (2) economic-personal autonomy and self-esteem; (3) gender gaps (labor rights, health, work and physical violence); (4) techno-productive decision-making and remunerated work; (5) land ownership and mobility; and (6) diversification of responsibilities and social and feminist awareness. Additionally, a case study is presented that analyzes equity and empowerment in the lives of two rural cacao-producing peasant women in Ecuador. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Role of Agroecology in Archieving Sustainable Agriculture)

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22 pages, 747 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainability Concept in Decision-Making: Carbon Tax Consideration for Joint Product Mix Decision

by Wen-Hsien Tsai^1,*, Jui-Chu Chang¹, Chu-Lun Hsieh¹

, Tsen-Shu Tsaur² and Chung-Wei Wang¹

¹ Department of Business Administration, National Central University, No. 300, Jhongda Rd., Jhongli, Taoyuan 32001, Taiwan

² Department of Business Administration, Fuzhou University of International Studies and Trade, Fuzhou 350202, Fujian, China

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1232; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121232 - 26 Nov 2016

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 5741

Abstract

Carbon emissions are receiving greater scrutiny in many countries due to international forces to reduce anthropogenic global climate change. Carbon taxation is one of the most common carbon emission regulation policies, and companies must incorporate it into their production and pricing decisions. Activity-based [...] Read more.

Carbon emissions are receiving greater scrutiny in many countries due to international forces to reduce anthropogenic global climate change. Carbon taxation is one of the most common carbon emission regulation policies, and companies must incorporate it into their production and pricing decisions. Activity-based costing (ABC) and the theory of constraints (TOC) have been applied to solve product mix problems; however, a challenging aspect of the product mix problem involves evaluating joint manufactured products, while reducing carbon emissions and environmental pollution to fulfill social responsibility. The aim of this paper is to apply ABC and TOC to analyze green product mix decision-making for joint products using a mathematical programming model and the joint production data of pharmaceutical industry companies for the processing of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in drugs for medical use. This paper illustrates that the time-driven ABC model leads to optimal joint product mix decisions and performs sensitivity analysis to study how the optimal solution will change with the carbon tax. Our findings provide insight into ‘sustainability decisions’ and are beneficial in terms of environmental management in a competitive pharmaceutical industry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)

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11 pages, 1776 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of Downscaling Planetary Boundaries to Semi-Arid Ecosystems with a Local Perception: A Case Study in the Middle Reaches of Heihe River

by Heng Yi Teah^1,*

, Tomohiro Akiyama¹

, Ricardo San Carlos¹, Orlando Vargas Rayo¹, Yu Ting Joanne Khew², Sijia Zhao¹, Lingfeng Zheng¹ and Motoharu Onuki¹

¹ Graduate Program in Sustainability Science—Global Leadership Initiative (GPSS-GLI), Division of Environmental Studies, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 332 Building of Environmental Studies, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa City, Chiba 277-8563, Japan

² Centre for Liveable Cities, 45 Maxwell Road, 07-01, the URA Centre, Singapore 069118, Singapore

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1233; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121233 - 25 Nov 2016

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 6468

Abstract

The middle reaches of Heihe River are located in the oasis of the Gobi Desert where limited freshwater supply supports more than 1.5 million inhabitants. The intense agricultural activities are depleting the groundwater reserve. Consequently, natural landscapes and habitats are degraded. Though such [...] Read more.

The middle reaches of Heihe River are located in the oasis of the Gobi Desert where limited freshwater supply supports more than 1.5 million inhabitants. The intense agricultural activities are depleting the groundwater reserve. Consequently, natural landscapes and habitats are degraded. Though such development improves the livelihood of the local community, long-term sustainability of the ecosystem is at risk. Local authorities must be informed holistically to prepare for adapting to the changes and/or mitigating the impacts. The purpose of this study was to perform a regional sustainability assessment based on downscaling the planetary boundaries (PBs). We proposed a regional safe operating space framework that applied a top-down approach using the environmental monitoring data, and a bottom-up approach using knowledge from the local perception about environmental disaster. We conducted on-site samplings and interviews of residents to demonstrate the method. Overall, we showed that the middle reaches had transgressed the safe operating space, particularly on the freshwater use and biogeochemical flow dimensions. We found that the local perception acquired from interviews complemented the insufficiency of the monitoring data and provided the insightful social implications of transgressing the safe operating space, i.e., the anticipated impacts on local livelihood, for policy support. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Development for Sustainability in Water Constrained Regions)

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15 pages, 3558 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multi-Objective Scheduling of Electric Vehicles in Smart Distribution Network

by Changhong Deng, Ning Liang^*, Jin Tan

and Gongchen Wang

School of Electrical Engineering, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1234; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121234 - 28 Nov 2016

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 6255

Abstract

Due to the energy savings and environmental protection they provide, plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) are increasing in number quickly. Rapid development of PEVs brings new opportunities and challenges to the electricity distribution network’s dispatching. A high number of uncoordinated charging PEVs has significant [...] Read more.

Due to the energy savings and environmental protection they provide, plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) are increasing in number quickly. Rapid development of PEVs brings new opportunities and challenges to the electricity distribution network’s dispatching. A high number of uncoordinated charging PEVs has significant negative impacts on the secure and economic operation of a distribution network. In this paper, a bi-level programming approach that coordinates PEVs’ charging with the network load and electricity price of the open market is presented. The major objective of the upper level model is to minimize the total network costs and the deviation of electric vehicle aggregators’ charging power and the equivalent power. The subsequent objective of the lower level model after the upper level decision is to minimize the dispatching deviation of the sum of PEVs’ charging power and their optimization charging power under the upper level model. An improved particle swarm optimization algorithm is used to solve the bi-level programming. Numerical studies using a modified IEEE 69-bus distribution test system including six electric vehicle aggregators verify the efficiency of the proposed model. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Grid)

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12 pages, 2132 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Culture Sustainability: Culture Quotient (CQ) and Its Quantitative Empirical Application to Chinese Cities

by Jing Lin^1,2,3

, Jianming Cai^1,2,3,*, Yan Han^1,2,3, He Zhu^1,2,3 and Zhe Cheng⁴

¹ Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China

² Key Laboratory of Regional Sustainable Development Modeling, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China

³ School of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China

⁴ School of Economics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1235; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121235 - 26 Nov 2016

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 8788

Abstract

Culture sustainability is one of the indispensable components of sustainability. Culture has likely always been an important element for promoting urban and rural sustainable development. It is now playing an increasingly significant role in sparking and incubating innovation, which is becoming the main [...] Read more.

Culture sustainability is one of the indispensable components of sustainability. Culture has likely always been an important element for promoting urban and rural sustainable development. It is now playing an increasingly significant role in sparking and incubating innovation, which is becoming the main driver of economic growth and competitiveness. Unfortunately, little research has been conducted on how much culture matters to economic performance in a quantitative way. Therefore, in this paper, which is based on an intensive literature review, we try to specifically quantify the importance of culture to urban development in general and urban economic performance in particular, by proposing an index system dubbed as the Culture Quotient (CQ). Following this, an integrated database of 297 prefectural-level cities in China is accordingly established. By manipulating the database, the CQ value for each city is then calculated by using principal component analysis with SPSS (19.0). Afterwards, spatial pattern by CQ value tier is presented and illustrates urban China’s “winner-take-all” phenomenon, with the predominance by the three giant urban clusters in the coastal area, i.e., the Jing (Beijing)-Jin (Tianjin)-Ji (Hebei province)-based Bohai rim region, Yangtze River delta, Pearl River delta, as well as some mega-cities such as Chengdu and Wuhan in other parts of China. More precisely, the regression analysis shows that there is a strong positive relationship between CQ and gross domestic product (GDP), with the striking result that every increase of one percentage point in CQ will induce a five percentage point increment in GDP. Although the finding makes an impressive and convincing case that culture does exert a great impact on urban economic development, and can also be measured in a quantitative way in Chinese cases, more cases from other countries need to be included for further verification and confirmation. We therefore urgently call for more in-depth international comparative studies both in theoretical and practical regards. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Urban and Rural Development)

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16 pages, 3930 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Imbalance in Spatial Accessibility to Primary and Secondary Schools in China: Guidance for Education Sustainability

by Yuan Gao¹, Qingsong He^1,*

, Yaolin Liu^1,2,3,*

, Lingyu Zhang¹, Haofeng Wang¹ and Enxiang Cai¹

¹ School of Resource and Environmental Science, Wuhan University, 129Luoyu Road, Wuhan 430079, China

² Key Laboratory of Geographic Information System, Ministry of Education, Wuhan University, 129Luoyu Road, Wuhan 430079, China

³ Collaborative Innovation Center for Geospatial Information Technology, Wuhan 430079, China

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1236; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121236 - 28 Nov 2016

Cited by 59 | Viewed by 9306

Abstract

Compulsory education is an important aspect of the societal development. Meanwhile, education equality safeguards the effectiveness of education systems and is an important part of social equality. This study analyzes the inequality of compulsory education from the perspective of imbalanced spatial distribution. Unlike [...] Read more.

Compulsory education is an important aspect of the societal development. Meanwhile, education equality safeguards the effectiveness of education systems and is an important part of social equality. This study analyzes the inequality of compulsory education from the perspective of imbalanced spatial distribution. Unlike previous studies that have measured the spatial distribution of education simply based on the spatial position of primary and secondary schools, we explore spatial accessibility based on the shortest travel distance from residents to schools, and then analyze the inequality of compulsory education through the distribution of spatial accessibility. We use 2873 Chinese counties as statistical units, and perform a statistical and graphical analysis of their spatial accessibility using the Theil index and spatial autocorrelation analyses. To analyze the differences in the spatial accessibility distribution on the national and regional levels, we use three partitioned modes: the terrain partitioned mode, the economic development partitioned mode, and the province-level partitioned mode. We then analyze the spatial agglomeration characteristics and distribution patterns of compulsory education accessibility through global autocorrelation, local autocorrelation, and hot-spot and cold-spot analysis. The results demonstrate an obvious imbalance in the distribution of spatial accessibility to compulsory education at the national level. Accessibility and equality in eastern and central regions are significantly better than those in the western region; both are significantly better in coastal regions than in inland regions; and equality alone is better in the municipalities, such as Shanghai, Tianjin, and Chongqing, than in other provinces and autonomous regions. The spatial pattern analysis shows significant global autocorrelation and obvious clusters. Counties in cold-spot areas (clusters of good spatial accessibility) are large in number but small in size. Cold-spot areas present a ring-shaped structure in space with Henan Province as the core. Counties in hot-spot areas (clusters of weak spatial accessibility) are not as numerous, but most are large in size; hot-spot areas are mainly in the northwest regions, characterized by complex terrain and severe economic difficulty. This study can provide significant information to aid policy making related to compulsory education sustainability in China and can facilitate research on the equality and sustainable development of compulsory education. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Education and Approaches)

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18 pages, 1366 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of SMED on Benefits Gained in Maquiladora Industry

by José Roberto Díaz-Reza^1,*, Jorge Luis García-Alcaraz¹

, Valeria Martínez-Loya¹, Julio Blanco-Fernández²

, Emilio Jiménez-Macías³

and Liliana Avelar-Sosa¹

¹ Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, 32310 Ciudad Juárez, Mexico

² Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of La Rioja, 26004 La Rioja, Spain

³ Department of Electrical Engineering, University of La Rioja, 26004 La Rioja, Spain

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1237; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121237 - 29 Nov 2016

Cited by 32 | Viewed by 10773

Abstract

Nowadays, Single Minute Exchange of Dies (SMED) has achieved great industrial popularity. However, it remains unclear to what extent and how SMED implementation at its different stages benefits industries. To address this gap, this research proposes a structural equation model to quantitatively measure [...] Read more.

Nowadays, Single Minute Exchange of Dies (SMED) has achieved great industrial popularity. However, it remains unclear to what extent and how SMED implementation at its different stages benefits industries. To address this gap, this research proposes a structural equation model to quantitatively measure SMED effects. The model has six hypotheses that link SMED stages and benefits. To statistically validate such hypotheses, a questionnaire was administered to 373 Mexican maquiladoras located in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua. Results show that before starting SMED implementation process, companies must be appropriately familiarized with their production process. Mainly, manufacturing companies in Ciudad Juárez need to focus their efforts on the SMED planning stage (Step 1) in order to identify important internal production activities and turn them into external activities. In fact, SMED planning stage has direct and indirect effects on subsequent stages and SMED benefits. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability in Manufacturing)

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15 pages, 464 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Social Farming in the Promotion of Social-Ecological Sustainability in Rural and Periurban Areas

by Marina García-Llorente^1,*

, Cristiano M. Rossignoli²

, Francesco Di Iacovo² and Roberta Moruzzo²

¹ Madrid Institute for Rural, Agricultural and Food Research and Development (IMIDRA), Ctra. Madrid-Barcelona (N-II), KM. 38.200, 28802 Alcalá de Henares, Spain

² Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge, 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1238; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121238 - 29 Nov 2016

Cited by 63 | Viewed by 10953

Abstract

Rural areas are facing a spectrum of landscape changes and vulnerability as a consequence of financial and environmental crises. Innovative approaches are required to maintain the provision of social services and manage ecosystem services in these areas. We explore the capacity of social [...] Read more.

Rural areas are facing a spectrum of landscape changes and vulnerability as a consequence of financial and environmental crises. Innovative approaches are required to maintain the provision of social services and manage ecosystem services in these areas. We explore the capacity of social farming to create viable and sustainable rural and periurban areas according to a social-ecological perspective. We use the key elements of social-ecological systems under social farming practices to analyse (1) the role of local communities and non-formal institutions; (2) the involvement of target stakeholders; and (3) the explicit connection between agroecosystems and human wellbeing. To do so, we selected and described four cases of local social farming initiatives in terms of the key elements of social-ecological systems and conducted a literature review to provide an overview of the explicit impact of social farming on the quality of life. We found that social farming illustrates hybrid governance solutions beyond market instruments that could be applied for the governance of agroecosystems. It can also provide a range of other wellbeing and cultural ecosystem services to rural and urban inhabitants. Greater cooperation between social farming and ecosystem service science could rebound in rural landscape sustainability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Landscape Management)

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17 pages, 3280 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Dynamic Enterprise Network Composition Algorithm for Efficient Operation in Cloud Manufacturing

by Gilseung Ahn¹

, You-Jin Park^2,*

and Sun Hur¹

¹ Department of Industrial and Management Engineering, Hanyang University, Ansan 15588, Korea

² School of Business Administration, College of Business and Economics, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Korea

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1239; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121239 - 29 Nov 2016

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 5626

Abstract

As a service oriented and networked model, cloud manufacturing (CM) has been proposed recently for solving a variety of manufacturing problems, including diverse requirements from customers. In CM, on-demand manufacturing services are provided by a temporary production network composed of several enterprises participating [...] Read more.

As a service oriented and networked model, cloud manufacturing (CM) has been proposed recently for solving a variety of manufacturing problems, including diverse requirements from customers. In CM, on-demand manufacturing services are provided by a temporary production network composed of several enterprises participating within an enterprise network. In other words, the production network is the main agent of production and a subset of an enterprise network. Therefore, it is essential to compose the enterprise network in a way that can respond to demands properly. A properly-composed enterprise network means the network can handle demands that arrive at the CM, with minimal costs, such as network composition and operation costs, such as participation contract costs, system maintenance costs, and so forth. Due to trade-offs among costs (e.g., contract cost and opportunity cost of production), it is a non-trivial problem to find the optimal network enterprise composition. In addition, this includes probabilistic constraints, such as forecasted demand. In this paper, we propose an algorithm, named the dynamic enterprise network composition algorithm (DENCA), based on a genetic algorithm to solve the enterprise network composition problem. A numerical simulation result is provided to demonstrate the performance of the proposed algorithm. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability in Supply Chain Management)

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20 pages, 519 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Are Tourists Really Willing to Pay More for Sustainable Destinations?

by Juan Ignacio Pulido-Fernández^*

and Yaiza López-Sánchez

Department of Economics, University of Jaén, Campus de Las Lagunillas, s/n, 23071 Jaén, Spain

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1240; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121240 - 30 Nov 2016

Cited by 94 | Viewed by 14395

Abstract

The understanding of pro-sustainable behavior and its true economic implications is an important subject for tourism destination marketers and policymakers, especially given that limited research has focused on the economic implications of tourist preferences for more sustainable destinations. Following the identification of three [...] Read more.

The understanding of pro-sustainable behavior and its true economic implications is an important subject for tourism destination marketers and policymakers, especially given that limited research has focused on the economic implications of tourist preferences for more sustainable destinations. Following the identification of three different demand segments using the concept of “sustainable intelligence” (level of commitment, attitude, knowledge and/or behavior with regard to sustainability), this study hypothesizes that the tourist segment with high level of “sustainable intelligence” (called “pro-sustainable tourist”) is willing to pay more to visit a more sustainable destination. The main aim of this paper is to use the logistic regression model to estimate the premium price that each segment is willing to pay to visit a sustainable destination. This paper reports the result of a willingness to pay study using data from 1118 respondents visiting the Western Costa del Sol (Andalusia, Spain), a mature sun-and-sand destination that is currently facing several developmental challenges supposedly associated with sustainability. The results obtained from this research study indicate that the tourist segment with high levels of “sustainable intelligence” is willing to pay more to visit a more sustainable tourism destination. However, there is little willingness to pay if the destination’s commitment to sustainability increases the price of the tourism product (26.6% of respondents). Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)

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17 pages, 1119 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Does the Central Government’s Environmental Policy Work? Evidence from the Provincial-Level Environment Efficiency in China

by Qiong Xia¹

, Min Li¹, Huaqing Wu¹ and Zhenggang Lu^2,*

¹ School of Economics, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, Anhui, China

² School of Economics, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1241; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121241 - 1 Dec 2016

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 5379

Abstract

This paper aims at checking the effectiveness of environmental policy pushed by the Central Government at provincial level since China’s entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO). For this purpose, the industrial system of each province is divided into industrial production sub-system and [...] Read more.

This paper aims at checking the effectiveness of environmental policy pushed by the Central Government at provincial level since China’s entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO). For this purpose, the industrial system of each province is divided into industrial production sub-system and pollution treatment sub-system, and a novel slack-based measure data envelopment analysis (SBM-DEA) model with non-cooperative game is proposed to evaluate the environment efficiency of both industrial production sub-system and pollutant treatment sub-system. The results show that the proposed model can describe the environmental efficiency more precisely than the traditional DEA models. During 2003–2012, the efficiencies of industrial production sub-system and pollution treatment sub-system at the provincial level are both relatively low. Specifically, the efficiency of industrial production is not only lower than pollution treatment efficiency, but is falling generally, especially in the Eastern area. However, in the Central and Western area, the efficiency of industrial production remains relatively stable, and pollution treatment efficiency is rising steadily. The technology gap between the Central/Western area and the Eastern area is narrowing, particularly concerning pollution treatment technology. We thus conclude that though the Central Government’s environmental policies fail to solve the inner contradiction between economic and environmental systems, and they indirectly contribute to the expansion of pollutant treatment technology among the Eastern, Central, and Western areas, which is conducive to the coordinated development among different areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from 7th Annual Conference of Energy Economics and Management)

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20 pages, 3984 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Integrating Future Land Use Scenarios to Evaluate the Spatio-Temporal Dynamics of Landscape Ecological Security

by Yi Lu, Xiangrong Wang, Yujing Xie^*, Kun Li and Yiyang Xu

Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1242; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121242 - 30 Nov 2016

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 5678

Abstract

Urban ecological security is the basic principle of national ecological security. However, analyses of the spatial and temporal dynamics of ecological security remain limited, especially those that consider different scenarios of urban development. In this study, an integrated method is proposed that combines [...] Read more.

Urban ecological security is the basic principle of national ecological security. However, analyses of the spatial and temporal dynamics of ecological security remain limited, especially those that consider different scenarios of urban development. In this study, an integrated method is proposed that combines the Conversion of Land Use and its Effects (CLUE-S) model with the Pressure–State–Response (P-S-R) framework to assess landscape ecological security (LES) in Huangshan City, China under two scenarios. Our results suggest the following conclusions: (1) the spatial and temporal dynamics of ecological security are closely related to the urbanization process; (2) although the average values of landscape ecological security are similar under different scenarios, the areas of relatively high security levels vary considerably; and (3) spatial heterogeneity in ecological security exists between different districts and counties, and the city center and its vicinity may face relatively serious declines in ecological security in the future. Overall, the proposed method not only illustrates the spatio-temporal dynamics of landscape ecological security under different scenarios but also reveals the anthropogenic effects on ecosystems by differentiating between causes, effects, and human responses at the landscape scale. This information is of great significance to decision-makers for future urban planning and management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Sustainability and Applications)

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15 pages, 517 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Facilitating Transformation and Competence Development in Sustainable Agriculture University Education: An Experiential and Action Oriented Approach

by Paola Migliorini^1,*

and Geir Lieblein²

¹ University of Gastronomic Sciences, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele 9, Pollenzo 12042, Bra (CN), Italy

² Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås 1430, Norway

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1243; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121243 - 30 Nov 2016

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 6831

Abstract

The need to strengthen the connection between academia and society has received increased attention over the past years. The importance of bringing university students closer to stakeholders in society as part of their learning process is high regarding sustainable agriculture, because of its [...] Read more.

The need to strengthen the connection between academia and society has received increased attention over the past years. The importance of bringing university students closer to stakeholders in society as part of their learning process is high regarding sustainable agriculture, because of its applied approach. University programs based on experiential and action-oriented learning have been developed over the past decades, but more knowledge is needed about the impact of these educational activities. In a short course in sustainable agriculture at the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Bra, Italy, we examined the impacts of experiential and action-oriented learning on competency development as well as transformational impacts on the students. We found that students improve on several core competences as a result of their participation in the short course, and also signs of deep transformational processes among the students. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Education and Approaches)

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23 pages, 1284 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Stackelberg Game Approach in an Integrated Inventory Model with Carbon-Emission and Setup Cost Reduction

by Biswajit Sarkar¹

, Sharmila Saren², Mitali Sarkar¹ and Yong Won Seo^3,*

¹ Department of Industrial & Management Engineering, Hanyang University, Ansan Gyeonggi-do 15588, Korea

² Department of Applied Mathematics with Oceanology and Computer Programming, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore 721 102, India

³ Department of Business Administration, College of Business and Economics, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Korea

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1244; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121244 - 2 Dec 2016

Cited by 60 | Viewed by 6542

Abstract

This paper formulates an integrated inventory model that allows Stackelberg game policy for optimizing joint total cost of a vendor and buyer system. After receiving the lot, the buyer commences an inspection process to determine the defective items. All defective items the buyer [...] Read more.

This paper formulates an integrated inventory model that allows Stackelberg game policy for optimizing joint total cost of a vendor and buyer system. After receiving the lot, the buyer commences an inspection process to determine the defective items. All defective items the buyer sends to vendor during the receiving of the next lot. Due to increasing number of shipments fixed and variable transportation, as well as carbon emissions, are considered, which makes the model sustainable integrated model forever. To reduce the setup cost for the vendor, a discrete setup reduction is considered for maximization more profit. The players of the integrated model are with unequal power (as leader and follower) and the Stackelberg game strategy is utilized to solve this model for obtaining global optimum solution over the finite planning horizon. An illustrative numerical example is given to understand this model clearly. Full article

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14 pages, 4604 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Precipitation Fluctuation on Desert-Grassland ANPP

by Liangxu Liu^1,*, Xueyong Zhao¹, Xueli Chang² and Jie Lian¹

¹ Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China

² Department of Geography and Tourist Science, Lu Dong University, Yantai 264025, China

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1245; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121245 - 30 Nov 2016

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 5337

Abstract

Precipitation change has significantly influenced annual net primary productivity (ANPP) at either annual or seasonal scales in desert steppes in arid and semi-arid regions. In order to reveal the process of precipitation driving ANPP at different time scales, responses of different ANPP levels [...] Read more.

Precipitation change has significantly influenced annual net primary productivity (ANPP) at either annual or seasonal scales in desert steppes in arid and semi-arid regions. In order to reveal the process of precipitation driving ANPP at different time scales, responses of different ANPP levels to the inter-annual and intra-annual precipitation fluctuations were analyzed. ANPP was reversed by building a ground reflectance spectrum model, from 2000 to 2015, using the normalized differential vegetation index of the Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS-NDVI) data at 250 m × 250 m spatial resolution. Since the description of the differently expressing forms of precipitation are not sufficient in former studies in order to overcome the deficiency of former studies, in this study, intra-annual precipitation fluctuations were analyzed not only with precipitation of May–August, June–August, July–August, and August, respectively, which have direct influence on vegetation productivity within the year, but quantitative description, vector precipitation (R), concentration ratio (Cd), and concentration period (D), were also used to describe the overall characteristics of intra-annual precipitation fluctuations. The concentration ratio and the maximum precipitation period of the intra-annual precipitation were represented by using monthly precipitation. The results showed that: (1) in the period from 1971 to 2015, the maximum annual precipitation is 3.76 times that of the minimum in the Urat desert steppe; (2) vector precipitation is more significantly related to ANPP (r = 0.7724, p = 0.000) compared to meteorological annual precipitation and real annual precipitation influence; and (3) annual precipitation is almost concentrated in 5–8 months and monthly precipitation accumulation has significantly effected ANPP, especially in the period of June–August, since the vegetation composition in the study area was mainly sub-shrubs and perennial grasses, which were more sensitive to precipitation accumulation. These findings suggest that: (1) In the desert steppe, the inter-annual fluctuation and the intra-annual distribution of precipitation have a direct impact on ANPP; (2) the annual vector precipitation showed an extremely significant regression relationship with ANPP; and (3) monthly precipitation fluctuations (May–August) possess the accumulative effect on ANPP during the growing period in the desert steppe, while precipitation accumulation from June to August shows the most significant impact. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Development for Sustainability in Water Constrained Regions)

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13 pages, 1391 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Environmental Efficiency of Chinese Open-Field Grape Production: An Evaluation Using Data Envelopment Analysis and Spatial Autocorrelation

by Dong Tian¹, Fengtao Zhao¹, Weisong Mu¹, Radoslava Kanianska² and Jianying Feng^1,*

¹ College of Information and Electrical Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing100083, China

² Faculty of Natural Sciences, Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica, Tajovského 40, Banská Bystrica 974 01, Slovakia

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1246; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121246 - 30 Nov 2016

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 4877

Abstract

Grape production is associated with some negative environmental externalities. However, they are not considered in the traditional data envelopment analysis (DEA) efficiency assessment models and the research literature. Hence, the assessment results cannot correctly reflect the technical efficiency level of open-field grape production. [...] Read more.

Grape production is associated with some negative environmental externalities. However, they are not considered in the traditional data envelopment analysis (DEA) efficiency assessment models and the research literature. Hence, the assessment results cannot correctly reflect the technical efficiency level of open-field grape production. We measured the environmental efficiency of China’s open-field grape production under the constraint of carbon emissions using the slacks-based measure (SBM) model, including the undesirable outputs. In addition, spatial relations of environmental efficiency in different open-field grape production areas in China were evaluated by adopting spatial econometric methods. The results indicate that the average environmental efficiency score of grape production in China is at a low level of 0.651. Overall, the average environmental efficiencies in southern, southwest, and northeast regions are lower than the average levels, which implies the imbalance in economic outputs, resource consumption, and environmental efficiency in open-field grape cultivation. Moreover, the spatial autocorrelation results show that the environmental efficiency of grape production has obvious continuity in neighboring regions and spatial correlation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Agriculture)

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16 pages, 11140 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Quantifying the City’s Green Area Potential Gain Using Remote Sensing Data

by Teresa Santos^1,*

, José António Tenedório¹ and José Alberto Gonçalves²

¹ Interdisciplinary Centre of Social Sciences (CICS.NOVA), Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, (FCSH/NOVA), Av. de Berna, 26 C, 1069-061 Lisboa, Portugal

² CIIMAR Interdisciplinary Centre for Marine and Environmental Research, Av. General Norton de Matos s/n, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1247; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121247 - 30 Nov 2016

Cited by 63 | Viewed by 11140

Abstract

Information about green spaces available in a city is essential for urban planning. Urban green areas are generally assessed through environmental indicators that reflect the city’s quality of life and urban comfort. A methodology based on 3D measure and analysis of green urban [...] Read more.

Information about green spaces available in a city is essential for urban planning. Urban green areas are generally assessed through environmental indicators that reflect the city’s quality of life and urban comfort. A methodology based on 3D measure and analysis of green urban areas at the city scale is presented. Two products are proposed: (1) measuring current vegetation cover at ground level through object-oriented classification of WorldView-2 imagery; and (2) estimating potential green cover at rooftop level using 3D data obtained by LiDAR sensor. The methodology, implemented in Lisbon, Portugal, demonstrates that: (1) remote sensing imagery provides powerful tools for master planning and policy analysis regarding green urban area expansion; and (2) measures of urban sustainability cannot be solely based on indicators obtained from 2D geographical information. In fact, 2D urban indicators should be complemented by 3D modelling of geographic data. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Sustainability and Planning Support Systems)

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16 pages, 222 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Fourth Wave of Digitalization and Public Transport: Opportunities and Challenges

by Paul Davidsson^*, Banafsheh Hajinasab, Johan Holmgren, Åse Jevinger and Jan A. Persson

Internet of Things and People Research Center, K2—The Swedish Knowledge Centre for Public Transport, Department of Computer Science, Malmö University, Malmö 20506, Sweden

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1248; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121248 - 30 Nov 2016

Cited by 59 | Viewed by 13939

Abstract

We investigate the opportunities and challenges of the forth wave of digitalization, also referred to as the Internet of Things (IoT), with respect to public transport and how it can support sustainable development of society. Environmental, economical, and social perspectives are considered through [...] Read more.

We investigate the opportunities and challenges of the forth wave of digitalization, also referred to as the Internet of Things (IoT), with respect to public transport and how it can support sustainable development of society. Environmental, economical, and social perspectives are considered through analysis of the existing literature and explorative studies. We conclude that there are great opportunities for both transport operators and planners, as well as for the travelers. We describe and analyze a number of concrete opportunities for each of these actors. However, in order to realize these opportunities, there are also a number of challenges that needs to be addressed. There are both technical challenges, such as data collection issues, interoperability, scalability and information security, and non-technical challenges such as business models, usability, privacy issues, and deployment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Current and Future Role of Public Transport in Delivering Sustainable Cities)

13 pages, 7665 KiB

Open AccessArticle

High-Quality Solid Fuel Production from Leaf Litter of Urban Street Trees

by Nodirjon Nurmatov^*, Daniel Armando Leon Gomez, Frank Hensgen

, Lutz Bühle and Michael Wachendorf

Department of Grassland Science and Renewable Plant Resources, University of Kassel, Steinstrasse 19, 37213 Witzenhausen, Germany

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1249; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121249 - 30 Nov 2016

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 5523

Abstract

Leaf litter is a growing concern for cities. Due to adherent dirt such biomass is rarely utilized nowadays but may constitute a renewable energy source for communities or private households. Leaf litter from main roads, residential areas and city centres collected by the [...] Read more.

Leaf litter is a growing concern for cities. Due to adherent dirt such biomass is rarely utilized nowadays but may constitute a renewable energy source for communities or private households. Leaf litter from main roads, residential areas and city centres collected by the vacuum technique or the sweeper technique was sampled and analysed for ash content and chemical composition. Ash content of leaf litter collected by the sweeping technique was higher (21.6%–40.1% dry matter, DM) than in material collected by the vacuum technique (12.0%–21.7% DM). Leaf litter from residential areas had the highest contamination (21.7%–40.1% DM), followed by main roads (20.8%–26.2% DM) and city centres (12.0%–21.6% DM). Ash content was reduced by up to 60% with a washing treatment and reached values comparable to those achieved by multiple manual rinsing, which was conducted as a reference treatment. The chemical composition of washed leaf litter could be further improved by mechanical dehydration treatment due to a reduction in harmful elements for combustion such as K, Cl, Mg and S. Heating value of leaf litter increased and the risk of corrosion and ash melting during combustion were reduced. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomass Energy Conversion)

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14 pages, 1218 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Performance Measurement Tool Leading Wastewater Treatment Plants toward Economic Efficiency and Sustainability

by Andrea Guerrini^1,*, Giulia Romano²

, Simone Ferretti³, Donatella Fibbi³ and Daniele Daddi³

¹ Department of Management, University of Verona, 37129 Verona, Italy

² Department of Economics and Management, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy

³ GIDA. SpA, 59100 Prato, Italy

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1250; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121250 - 30 Nov 2016

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 6337

Abstract

Wastewater treatment is an important link in the water cycle that allows for water sanitation and reuse, facilitates energy generation, and allows for the recovery of products from waste. The scientific community has paid significant attention to wastewater treatment, especially from a technical [...] Read more.

Wastewater treatment is an important link in the water cycle that allows for water sanitation and reuse, facilitates energy generation, and allows for the recovery of products from waste. The scientific community has paid significant attention to wastewater treatment, especially from a technical point of view. Extensive literature is available on new technologies, processes, and materials to improve wastewater treatment. However, scant studies have been conducted in the management field focusing on the development of a performance measurement tool that supports plant managers. The current article addresses this literature gap, developing a reporting tool that integrates technical and cost measures and implements it in a large wastewater utility. The tool successfully identifies cause and effect linkages among key plant performance drivers and supports management in finding activities with poor performance and allows them to delay non-relevant measures of control. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)

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12 pages, 2945 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Aquaculture Land-Use Policy: The Case of Clam Farming in Thaibinh Province, Vietnam

by Thi Thu Hang NGO^1,*, Huu Cuong TRAN²

, Hossein AZADI^1,3,4

and Philippe LEBAILLY¹

¹ Economics & Rural Development, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, Gembloux 5030, Belgium

² Faculty of Accounting and Business Management, Vietnam National University of Agriculture, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam

³ Department of Geography, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium

⁴ Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek 3590, Belgium

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1251; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121251 - 1 Dec 2016

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 6384

Abstract

Policy-making and enforcement remains centralized in Vietnam. Policies have been formulated with less scientific and public justification, thus being largely bureaucratic and infeasible, and in many cases, they have created plagues for people at the grass-roots levels. This article focuses on the implementation [...] Read more.

Policy-making and enforcement remains centralized in Vietnam. Policies have been formulated with less scientific and public justification, thus being largely bureaucratic and infeasible, and in many cases, they have created plagues for people at the grass-roots levels. This article focuses on the implementation of policies related to intertidal land-use and supports for clam farming in the Thaibinh province as a case study to explore the impacts of policies on clam farming and farmers. During the period of 2011–2013, provincial policies on intertidal land allocation and technical and financial supports had boosted clam farming development in the province to a surprising extent. Rapid expansion of the clam farming area has created significant consequences for the farming sector, as well as farmer’s lives. However, for the same provincial policies, but with different enforcement, different farming outcomes for clam farmers in the three study communes have resulted. Where farmers had more of a voice and choice in bidding for the intertidal areas they preferred, they faced fewer problems. It is, thus, suggested that a more decentralized policy-making and enforcement are needed, in which more scientific assessment and farmer participation are required to not only make government policy more successful in supporting farmers and achieving their expected outcomes, but also to provide farmers with more room to make their own farming decisions from which farming and marketing risks could be mitigated. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land and Food Policy)

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13 pages, 1109 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Technology Clusters Exploration for Patent Portfolio through Patent Abstract Analysis

by Gabjo Kim¹, Joonhyuck Lee², Dongsik Jang² and Sangsung Park^3,*

¹ Korea Intellectual Property Strategy Agency, Seoul 06132, Korea

² Department of Industrial Management Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea

³ Graduate School of Management of Technology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1252; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121252 - 1 Dec 2016

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 7033

Abstract

This study explores technology clusters through patent analysis. The aim of exploring technology clusters is to grasp competitors’ levels of sustainable research and development (R&D) and establish a sustainable strategy for entering an industry. To achieve this, we first grouped the patent documents [...] Read more.

This study explores technology clusters through patent analysis. The aim of exploring technology clusters is to grasp competitors’ levels of sustainable research and development (R&D) and establish a sustainable strategy for entering an industry. To achieve this, we first grouped the patent documents with similar technologies by applying affinity propagation (AP) clustering, which is effective while grouping large amounts of data. Next, in order to define the technology clusters, we adopted the term frequency-inverse document frequency (TF-IDF) weight, which lists the terms in order of importance. We collected the patent data of Korean electric car companies from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to verify our proposed methodology. As a result, our proposed methodology presents more detailed information on the Korean electric car industry than previous studies. Full article

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15 pages, 10079 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ammonium Concentration and Migration in Groundwater in the Vicinity of Waste Management Site Located in the Neighborhood of Protected Areas of Warsaw, Poland

by Eugeniusz Koda

, Anna Sieczka

and Piotr Osinski^*

Department of Geotechnical Engineering, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska 159 St., Warsaw 02-776, Poland

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1253; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121253 - 2 Dec 2016

Cited by 45 | Viewed by 6018

Abstract

The purpose of the present paper is to assess groundwater contamination by ammonium originating from the waste management site (including composting plant and the landfill) located in the vicinity of protected areas. In this paper, the impact of urban and industrial facilities adjacent [...] Read more.

The purpose of the present paper is to assess groundwater contamination by ammonium originating from the waste management site (including composting plant and the landfill) located in the vicinity of protected areas. In this paper, the impact of urban and industrial facilities adjacent to the landfill is also investigated. The analysis of ammonium concentration was carried out for selected piezometers and then the monitoring and laboratory tests results were referred to the Polish standards of groundwater quality. The content of the paper discusses the changes of ammonium concentration in time and space and presents potential reasons for these changes, especially resulting from the construction of the vertical bentonite barrier. The results show the significant decrease of ammonium concentration and progressive improvement of water quality observed in almost every piezometer after a few years since the vertical barrier has been installed. Furthermore, the paper provides statistical analyses of groundwater monitoring data from the period 1998–2015 in order to control the groundwater quality and assess the movement of contamination plume in the landfill area. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Engineering and Science)

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13 pages, 400 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Empirical Relationships among Technological Characteristics, Global Orientation, and Internationalisation of South Korean New Ventures

by Junghyun Yoon¹ and Dae-su Kim^2,*

¹ POSTECH Entrepreneurship Centre, POSTECH, Pohang 37673, Korea

² School of Business, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38541, Korea

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1254; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121254 - 3 Dec 2016

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4796

Abstract

International new ventures (INVs) that pursue rapid internationalisation have received a growing amount of attention worldwide. This study, therefore, examined characteristics of INVs, and hence investigated empirically the relationships among the technological characteristics of INVs, the characteristics of their chief executive officers (CEOs) [...] Read more.

International new ventures (INVs) that pursue rapid internationalisation have received a growing amount of attention worldwide. This study, therefore, examined characteristics of INVs, and hence investigated empirically the relationships among the technological characteristics of INVs, the characteristics of their chief executive officers (CEOs) (i.e., global orientation), and their internationalisation such as the level of internationalisation. The findings of this study can be summarised as follows: all of the technological characteristics (e.g., technological capacity, imitation, innovation, and standardisation) have significant effects on the internationalisation of INVs. Furthermore, the CEO’s global orientation mediated the relationship between the technological characteristics and internationalisation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Open Innovation Capabilities of Firms for Value Chain Development)

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22 pages, 12820 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Use of CFD in the Analysis of Wave Loadings Acting on Seawave Slot-Cone Generators

by Mariano Buccino¹, Fabio Dentale^2,*, Daniela Salerno²

, Pasquale Contestabile³ and Mario Calabrese¹

¹ Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, University of Napoli FedericoII, via Claudio, 21, 80125 Naples, Italy

² Department of Civil Engineering, University of Salerno, via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, 84084 Fisciano (SA), Italy

³ Department of Civil, Design and Environment Engineering, Università della Campania, Luigi Vanvitelli, via Roma, 29, 81031 Aversa (CE), Italy

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1255; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121255 - 2 Dec 2016

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 5318

Abstract

The reliability of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) in reproducing qualitative and quantitative features of loadings exerted by waves on Seawave Slot-cone Generators (SSG) has been investigated via 17 numerical experiments, conducted with the suite Flow 3D. The geometry of the Wave Energy Converter [...] Read more.

The reliability of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) in reproducing qualitative and quantitative features of loadings exerted by waves on Seawave Slot-cone Generators (SSG) has been investigated via 17 numerical experiments, conducted with the suite Flow 3D. The geometry of the Wave Energy Converter (WEC), as well as the characteristics of the foreshore in front of it, were identical to those used by the authors in a laboratory study, carried out on a small scale model of a pilot plant to be located along the West Norwegian coasts; the similitude of the layouts allowed an in depth comparison between the results. A good agreement has been generally found between physical and numerical experiments, apart from some aspects of the wave–structure interaction that, however, can be considered secondary for engineering purposes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wave Energy Converters)

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16 pages, 2078 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analyzing Environmental Continuous Improvement for Sustainable Supply Chain Management: Focusing on Its Performance and Information Disclosure

by Koichi Murata

Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, College of Industrial Technology, Nihon University, Izumi 1-2-1, Narashino City 2758575, Japan

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1256; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121256 - 2 Dec 2016

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 5627

Abstract

This study analyzes the relationship between the implementation and information disclosure of environmental continuous improvement (e-CI) in sustainable supply chain management. The analyzed data relates to e-CI delivered from 19 manufacturing industry types in Japan. A degenerated Charnes-Cooper-Rhodes model, a proposed model for [...] Read more.

This study analyzes the relationship between the implementation and information disclosure of environmental continuous improvement (e-CI) in sustainable supply chain management. The analyzed data relates to e-CI delivered from 19 manufacturing industry types in Japan. A degenerated Charnes-Cooper-Rhodes model, a proposed model for data envelopment analysis, is also used for the analysis. The obtained result is a classification of types of manufacturing industries from the perspective of their capabilities in both e-CI implementation and information disclosure to systematically discover emphatic indicators of these two activities in each manufacturing industry type. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability in Supply Chain Management)

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13 pages, 1673 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Colloidal Mobilization and Fate of Trace Heavy Metals in Semi-Saturated Artificial Soil (OECD) Irrigated with Treated Wastewater

by Ludovico Pontoni^1,2,4,*, Eric D. Van Hullebusch^2,3, Yoan Pechaud², Massimiliano Fabbricino⁴, Giovanni Esposito¹ and Francesco Pirozzi⁴

¹ Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, University of Cassino and Southern Lazio, Via Di Biasio 43, 03043 Cassino, Italy

² Université Paris-Est, Laboratoire Géomatériaux et Environnement (EA 4508), UPEM, 77454 Marne-la-Vallée, France

³ Department of Environmental Engineering and Water Technology, UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, Westvest 7, 2611 AX Delft, The Netherlands

⁴ Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, University of Naples Federico II, Via Claudio 21, 80125 Naples, Italy

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1257; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121257 - 2 Dec 2016

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 4572

Abstract

The mobility of selected heavy metals in trace concentrations was investigated in a standard OECD soil irrigated with the effluent of a real municipal wastewater treatment plant. While Cd, Cu and Ni accumulation-migration patterns were mainly influenced by the mobility of colloids generated [...] Read more.

The mobility of selected heavy metals in trace concentrations was investigated in a standard OECD soil irrigated with the effluent of a real municipal wastewater treatment plant. While Cd, Cu and Ni accumulation-migration patterns were mainly influenced by the mobility of colloids generated from soil organic and inorganic matter, Zn mobility was more influenced by the wastewater content of dissolved organic matter and by its salinity. Metal accumulation caused by interaction with colloids resulted in contamination peaks both in different zones of the soil column and in the leaching solution. The release of metals in the leachate was correlated to the contemporary release of silicates from kaolinite and dissolved organic matter, identified through UV absorbance and chemical oxygen demand monitoring. The hypothesized colloidal mobilization was confirmed by spectroscopic studies. The highly heterogeneous complexes of organic and inorganic molecules responsible for metal transport through soil appeared to be structured in highly stable micellar aggregates. Full article

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15 pages, 4082 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Experimental Analysis and Process Modeling of Carbon Dioxide Removal Using Tuff

by Emanuele Bonamente^1,2,*

, Andrea Aquino²

, Andrea Nicolini^1,2

and Franco Cotana^1,2

¹ Department of Engineering, University of Perugia, Via G. Duranti, 06125 Perugia, Italy

² Interuniversity Research Center on Pollution and Environment, University of Perugia, Via G. Duranti 67, 06125 Perugia, Italy

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1258; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121258 - 2 Dec 2016

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 6514

Abstract

Removal of carbon dioxide via selective adsorption is a key process to obtain consumer-grade natural gas from biogas and, more generally, CO₂ capture and sequestration from gaseous mixtures. The aim of this work is the characterization and classification of a natural alternative [...] Read more.

Removal of carbon dioxide via selective adsorption is a key process to obtain consumer-grade natural gas from biogas and, more generally, CO₂ capture and sequestration from gaseous mixtures. The aim of this work is the characterization and classification of a natural alternative to synthetic zeolites that could be used as a carbon dioxide adsorbent. Tuff particulate, easily available as a byproduct of the construction industry, was tested with different laboratory procedures to verify its suitability for CO₂ removal applications. Relevant physical and adsorption properties were measured during an intensive experimental campaign. Porosity, pore size distribution, and specific surface area were obtained with mercury intrusion porosimetry. Adsorption isotherms and saturation curves were obtained using two custom experimental apparatuses. The selective adsorption was finally modeled using an original phenomenological parameterization, and a simplified simulation of the process was performed using a computational fluid dynamic approach, validated against observed data. Results show that natural zeolites represent a very promising and sustainable alternative to synthetic zeolites in pressure swing adsorption processes for CO₂ removal. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 16th CIRIAF National Congress – Sustainable Development, Environment and Human Health Protection)

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21 pages, 6633 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Initial Evaluation of Provincial-Level Environmental Risks from the Perspective of Human Settlements

by Shenzhen Tian^1,2, Xueming Li^1,2,*, Hang Li¹, Yingjia Zhang¹ and Tongliga Bao¹

¹ School of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian 116029, China

² Centre for Marine Economy and Sustainable Development Research, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian 116029, China

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1259; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121259 - 2 Dec 2016

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4622

Abstract

This study introduces risk theory of environmental science into human settlement science using 2004–2013 statistics, remote sensing data, and thematic maps. The entropy weight method and risk-index model are both used to study the characteristics of the time course and spatial pattern of [...] Read more.

This study introduces risk theory of environmental science into human settlement science using 2004–2013 statistics, remote sensing data, and thematic maps. The entropy weight method and risk-index model are both used to study the characteristics of the time course and spatial pattern of human settlement risk in 31 provincial regions in China. In addition, influential mechanisms of vulnerability, functionality, stress, and adaptability on environmental risks are analyzed. Three primary results are obtained. First, for temporal characteristics, environmental risks of human settlements increased significantly from 2003 to 2012. The year 2006 marked both a sudden change and the cut-off point after which human settlements in China experienced qualitative changes and new risks. Second, for spatial characteristics, the risk index of human settlements decreased gradually from the southwestern to the northeastern, northwestern, and northern parts of China. The risk index of human settlement spaces differed significantly, with obvious block aggregation of spatial-distribution characteristics. Third, for relevant factor characteristics, between 2003 and 2012, the temporal change in vulnerability is relatively stable, with a slight increase in functionality and a slight decrease in adaptability. Spatially, Qinghai, Tibet, southwestern China, Guangdong, Guangxi, Beijing, and Tianjin had relatively high vulnerability in human settlements; Beijing, Tianjin, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang had the best functionality; Hunan and Sichuan had relatively high stress; and Guangdong, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang had relatively stronger adaptability. Further consideration and discussion are required on the environmental risks for different social groups and at different geographical scales, as well as on the uncertainty and long-term features of environmental risks in addition to environmental justice issues. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Pollution Monitoring and Sustainable Development)

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16 pages, 4110 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Socio-Ecological Adaptation of Agricultural Heritage Systems in Modern China: Three Cases in Qingtian County, Zhejiang Province

by Wenjun Jiao¹, Anthony M. Fuller^1,2, Siyuan Xu³, Qingwen Min^1,* and Minfang Wu⁴

¹ Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China

² School of Environmental Design and Rural Development, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada

³ College of Humanities and Development Studies, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China

⁴ Agriculture Bureau of Qingtian County, Lishui 323900, China

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1260; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121260 - 2 Dec 2016

Cited by 34 | Viewed by 8469

Abstract

This paper, on rural restructuring in China, focuses on the ability of agricultural heritage systems to adapt to modernizing conditions in the rural economy. Since 2002, when FAO initiated the protection of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS), the value of agricultural heritage [...] Read more.

This paper, on rural restructuring in China, focuses on the ability of agricultural heritage systems to adapt to modernizing conditions in the rural economy. Since 2002, when FAO initiated the protection of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS), the value of agricultural heritage has been widely acknowledged, as has the importance and urgency to protect the systems in which they are embedded. However, such complex systems have not been fully assessed for their contribution to food security, ecosystem services and cultural preservation, as well as their ability to adapt to the demands of modernization. In fact, they have not been effectively evaluated as whole systems, largely because we have not yet devised satisfactory ways of studying complex systems, nor have we been able to assess them fully for their multi-faceted contributions to sustainability. This paper accepts the premise that such systems are sustainable in that they have survived as agro-ecosystems for many hundreds of years, having endured the predations of droughts, famines, plagues, floods and wars. This ability to sustain a rich diversity of biological and human systems is considered, in the theory of Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS), to be a form of resilience, meaning that these systems have either formed a new normal or returned to the old normal after a period of environmental or social stress. In effect, ancient agricultural heritage systems can be seen to represent what has been traditional and normal in China, but which today are faced with the overwhelming forces of modernization. Taking three examples from Qingtian County in Southern China, where physical and political conditions are consistent, the paper shows how similar rice-fish systems adapt differently and sustain themselves in the face of modernization, and particularly to the loss of youth and labor to urbanisation. One system self-adjusts by using remittances from abroad to sustain the system: an example of self-organization. In another township, the pursuit of tourism is the main form of adaptation to large losses of working population and marginal incomes. To maintain the landscape as a key attraction for tourists, this community has re-assembled abandoned rice terraces and is farming them as a collective enterprise under the auspices of a co-operative: an example of land and labor restructuring that has become common as the dominant form of agrarian change in China. In a third example, the local rice-fish system is being strengthened by modern farming technology and scientific techniques: an example of technological adaptation. The discussion explores the three responses as evidence of sustainable practice involving local restructuring, continued ingenuity, and the creative support of local governments in the face of the homogenizing demands of modernization. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Promoting the Sustainability of Agricultural Heritage Systems through Dynamic Conservation)

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21 pages, 11061 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of a Regional Retrofit Programme to Upgrade Existing Housing Stock to Reduce Carbon Emissions, Fuel Poverty and Support the Local Supply Chain

by Joanne Louise Patterson

Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3NB, UK

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1261; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121261 - 3 Dec 2016

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 6205

Abstract

The first-ever legally binding global climate deal that will be adopted by 195 countries was introduced in Paris in 2015, highlighting that climate change is being recognised as a real and urgent global problem. Legislative interventions need to be accompanied by significant action [...] Read more.

The first-ever legally binding global climate deal that will be adopted by 195 countries was introduced in Paris in 2015, highlighting that climate change is being recognised as a real and urgent global problem. Legislative interventions need to be accompanied by significant action across all sectors of the built environment through reducing energy demand, providing energy supply from low carbon sources and combining with this with energy storage to enable necessary targets to be met. Retrofitting existing buildings is critical to making these cuts as 80% of buildings currently in existence will still be present in 2050. These retrofits need to be undertaken rapidly using replicable and affordable solutions that benefit both the householder whilst significantly reducing emissions. This paper will present an evaluation of a £9.6 million regional scale retrofit programme funded under the Welsh Governments Arbed 1 Programme which aimed to reduce fuel poverty, reduce carbon emissions and support the energy efficiency and renewable supply chain and encourage recruitment and training in the sector. Results have been obtained from desk top data collection and energy modelling calculations. The evaluation work presents the technical, environmental and economic impacts of the programme and demonstrates lessons learnt to help improve the implementation of the other regional retrofit projects providing evidence of the impacts of a large scale retrofit programme that are necessary for the deep carbon reductions required in the near future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Energy Regions—Drivers and Barriers to the Implementation of Low Carbon Technologies at a Regional Scale)

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12 pages, 443 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Shedding Light on Eco-Innovation in Tourism: A Critical Analysis

by Maria-del-Mar Alonso-Almeida^1,*, Alfredo Rocafort² and Fernando Borrajo¹

¹ Business Organization Department, Autonomous University of Madrid, Madrid 28049, Spain

² Accountability Department, University of Barcelona, Barcelona 08007, Spain

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1262; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121262 - 3 Dec 2016

Cited by 43 | Viewed by 7299

Abstract

The recent global increase in the competitiveness of tourism has made the implementation of eco-innovations a differentiating element among both the destinations and companies in the sector, with quality management and contribution to sustainable development being increasingly valued. However, the eco-innovations that have [...] Read more.

The recent global increase in the competitiveness of tourism has made the implementation of eco-innovations a differentiating element among both the destinations and companies in the sector, with quality management and contribution to sustainable development being increasingly valued. However, the eco-innovations that have been developed and implemented in tourist industries have rarely been studied. In this study, the eco-innovations that have been developed and implemented by 57 tourism businesses worldwide are analysed. The identified eco-innovations are classified by using different qualitative methodologies. The obtained results shed light on the limited development of eco-innovations in the tourism industry and the industry focuses mainly on product eco-innovations. Several examples by the tourist sub-industry and types of eco-innovation are analysed. Furthermore, this study provides practical information about measures that both businesses and governmental organisations can adopt to promote eco-innovation in the sector. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)

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16 pages, 236 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Political Economy of the Water Footprint: A Cross-National Analysis of Ecologically Unequal Exchange

by Jared B. Fitzgerald^1,*,† and Daniel Auerbach^2,†

¹ Department of Sociology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USA

² Department of Sociology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA

^† These authors contributed equally to this paper.

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1263; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121263 - 3 Dec 2016

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 5257

Abstract

Water scarcity is an important social and ecological issue that is becoming increasingly problematic with the onset of climate change. This study explores the extent to which water resources in developing countries are affected by the vertical flow of exports to high-income countries. [...] Read more.

Water scarcity is an important social and ecological issue that is becoming increasingly problematic with the onset of climate change. This study explores the extent to which water resources in developing countries are affected by the vertical flow of exports to high-income countries. In examining this question, the authors engage the sociological theory of ecologically unequal exchange, which argues that high-income countries are able to partially externalize the environmental costs of their consumption to lower-income countries. The authors use a relatively new and underutilized measure of water usage, the water footprint, which quantifies the amount of water used in the entire production process. Ordinary least squares (OLS) and robust regression techniques are employed in the cross-national analysis of 138 countries. The results provide partial support of the propositions of ecologically unequal exchange theory. In particular, the results highlight the importance of structural position in the global economy for understanding the effects of trade on water resources. Full article

13 pages, 3040 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Simplified Heat and Mass Transfer Model for Cross-Flow and Countercurrent Flow Packed Bed Tower Dehumidifiers with a Liquid Desiccant System

by Shih-Cheng Hu¹, Angus Shiue^1,*, Yi-Shiung Chiu², Archy Wang² and Jacky Chen²

¹ Department of Energy and Refrigerating Air-Conditioning Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei 10608, Taiwan

² Multiflow Technology, Taichung 414, Taiwan

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1264; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121264 - 3 Dec 2016

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 5511

Abstract

A mathematical model is developed using the Matlab/Simulink platform to investigate heat and mass transfer performance of cross-flow and counterflow dehumidifiers with Lithium Chloride (LiCl) solution. In the liquid desiccant dehumidifier, the orthogonal polynomial basis is used to simulate the combined processes of [...] Read more.

A mathematical model is developed using the Matlab/Simulink platform to investigate heat and mass transfer performance of cross-flow and counterflow dehumidifiers with Lithium Chloride (LiCl) solution. In the liquid desiccant dehumidifier, the orthogonal polynomial basis is used to simulate the combined processes of heat and mass transfer. The temperature profiles on cross-flow and countercurrent flow dehumidifiers are demonstrated. The resultant counter flow air changes the temperature profile of the LiCl solution in the longitudinal direction because of the drag forces. In addition, when inlet airflow rate reaches 15 kg·s⁻¹, the temperature effect becomes less obvious and may be reasonably negligible. Under these conditions, the air changes the design factor and determines the interfacial temperature. It is demonstrated that the mathematical model can be of great value in the design and improvement of cross-flow and countercurrent flow dehumidifiers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Energy Sustainability)

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20 pages, 2272 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Robust Sliding Mode Control of Permanent Magnet Synchronous Generator-Based Wind Energy Conversion Systems

by Guangping Zhuo^1,‡, Jacob D. Hostettler^2,†,‡, Patrick Gu^2,‡ and Xin Wang^2,*

¹ Department of Computer Science, Taiyuan Normal University, Taiyuan 030619, Shanxi, China

² Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, IL 62026, USA

^† Current address: Basler Electric Co., 12570 IL-143, Highland, IL 62249, USA

^‡ These authors contributed equally to this work.

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1265; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121265 - 5 Dec 2016

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 6859

Abstract

The subject of this paper pertains to sliding mode control and its application in nonlinear electrical power systems as seen in wind energy conversion systems. Due to the robustness in dealing with unmodeled system dynamics, sliding mode control has been widely used in [...] Read more.

The subject of this paper pertains to sliding mode control and its application in nonlinear electrical power systems as seen in wind energy conversion systems. Due to the robustness in dealing with unmodeled system dynamics, sliding mode control has been widely used in electrical power system applications. This paper presents first and high order sliding mode control schemes for permanent magnet synchronous generator-based wind energy conversion systems. The application of these methods for control using dynamic models of the d-axis and q-axis currents, as well as those of the high speed shaft rotational speed show a high level of efficiency in power extraction from a varying wind resource. Computer simulation results have shown the efficacy of the proposed sliding mode control approaches. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Electric Power Systems Research)

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12 pages, 2178 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring Community-Oriented Approaches in Demand Side Management Projects in Europe

by Anna Mengolini^*, Flavia Gangale and Julija Vasiljevska

Joint Research Centre of the European Commission, Directorate C - Energy, Transport and Climate, Westerduinweg 3, 1755 LE Petten, The Netherlands

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1266; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121266 - 5 Dec 2016

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 5341

Abstract

This paper seeks to investigate if the theoretical and political trends towards a more collective dimension of energy use are reflected in the design and development of demand side management (DSM) pilot projects in Europe. Specifically, the paper analyses DSM projects in the [...] Read more.

This paper seeks to investigate if the theoretical and political trends towards a more collective dimension of energy use are reflected in the design and development of demand side management (DSM) pilot projects in Europe. Specifically, the paper analyses DSM projects in the database of the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission to capture signs of a new attention towards the wider context in which consumers live and towards the social dimension associated with energy consumption. To this end, the paper investigates the projects’ scope (in terms of project’s partners, end-use sectors and targeted services) as well as the consumer engagement strategies that projects use. These elements reflect the projects’ consideration for the socio-economic dimension of the community where the pilots take place and their inclination to build on community dynamics. The analysis shows that DSM projects in the EU are increasingly being designed and developed with a collegial approach to energy consumption in mind, although an integrated approach is still missing. In addition, research is still needed to link the use of this innovative approach to project results. A closer look at the developments and results of these projects can help to identify what works and what doesn’t in real life experiences, thus supporting effective policy making at the EU and national level. Full article

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10 pages, 500 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Marine Ecological Environment Management Based on Ecological Compensation Mechanisms

by Qunzhen Qu¹, Sang-Bing Tsai^1,2,3,4,*

, Mengxue Tang⁵, Congjiang Xu¹ and Weiwei Dong^6,*

¹ School of Economics & Management, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai 201306, China

² Zhongshan Institute, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, No. 1, Xueyuan Road, Zhongshan 528400, China

³ Law School, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China

⁴ School of Business, Dalian University of Technology, Panjin 124221, China

⁵ Zhongtai Securities Company Limited, Shanghai Company Research Institute, Shanghai 201306, China

⁶ School of Economics and Management, Shanghai Institute of Technology, Shanghai 201418, China

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1267; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121267 - 6 Dec 2016

Cited by 59 | Viewed by 9834

Abstract

The level of marine environmental management is a key factor in the successful implementation of marine power strategies. The improvement in management levels of marine environments requires innovation in marine management. In other words, the transformation of marine environmental management into marine ecological [...] Read more.

The level of marine environmental management is a key factor in the successful implementation of marine power strategies. The improvement in management levels of marine environments requires innovation in marine management. In other words, the transformation of marine environmental management into marine ecological environment management must be done in order to achieve sustainable development of the marine economy. As an environmental economic policy that combines both administrative and market measures, ecological compensation mechanisms have significant advantages in marine ecological environment management. Based on the study of the current development of ecological compensation mechanisms in China, through the analysis of the connotation of marine ecological civilization, existing marine ecological protection practices and marine environmental management methods, this paper posits that the current marine ecological environment management in China should be established on the basis of ecological compensation mechanisms. At present, a lack of laws and regulations for overall marine ecological environment management is the key factor restricting the practice of marine ecological environment management. Therefore, it is necessary to explore the current path of marine ecological environment management in China from the perspective of the construction of legal system of ecological compensation law, the establishment of ecological compensation fees, ecological taxes and ecological compensation fund systems, and the clear status for a marine ecological management and supervision body. Full article

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33 pages, 5956 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Energy-Efficient Scheduling Problem Using an Effective Hybrid Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithm

by Lvjiang Yin^1,2

, Xinyu Li¹, Chao Lu¹ and Liang Gao^1,*

¹ The State Key Lab of Digital Manufacturing Equipment and Technology, School of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China

² School of Economics and Management, Hubei University of Automotive Technology, Shiyan 442002, China

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1268; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121268 - 7 Dec 2016

Cited by 30 | Viewed by 6659

Abstract

Nowadays, manufacturing enterprises face the challenge of just-in-time (JIT) production and energy saving. Therefore, study of JIT production and energy consumption is necessary and important in manufacturing sectors. Moreover, energy saving can be attained by the operational method and turn off/on idle machine [...] Read more.

Nowadays, manufacturing enterprises face the challenge of just-in-time (JIT) production and energy saving. Therefore, study of JIT production and energy consumption is necessary and important in manufacturing sectors. Moreover, energy saving can be attained by the operational method and turn off/on idle machine method, which also increases the complexity of problem solving. Thus, most researchers still focus on small scale problems with one objective: a single machine environment. However, the scheduling problem is a multi-objective optimization problem in real applications. In this paper, a single machine scheduling model with controllable processing and sequence dependence setup times is developed for minimizing the total earliness/tardiness (E/T), cost, and energy consumption simultaneously. An effective multi-objective evolutionary algorithm called local multi-objective evolutionary algorithm (LMOEA) is presented to tackle this multi-objective scheduling problem. To accommodate the characteristic of the problem, a new solution representation is proposed, which can convert discrete combinational problems into continuous problems. Additionally, a multiple local search strategy with self-adaptive mechanism is introduced into the proposed algorithm to enhance the exploitation ability. The performance of the proposed algorithm is evaluated by instances with comparison to other multi-objective meta-heuristics such as Nondominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II), Strength Pareto Evolutionary Algorithm 2 (SPEA2), Multiobjective Particle Swarm Optimization (OMOPSO), and Multiobjective Evolutionary Algorithm Based on Decomposition (MOEA/D). Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed LMOEA algorithm outperforms its counterparts for this kind of scheduling problems. Full article

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17 pages, 1559 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study of Perceptions on Cultural Events’ Sustainability

by Adina Letiţia Negruşa, Valentin Toader^*, Rozalia Veronica Rus and Smaranda Adina Cosma

Faculty of Business, Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, 7 Horea Street, Cluj-Napoca, Cluj 400174, Romania

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1269; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121269 - 6 Dec 2016

Cited by 33 | Viewed by 17208

Abstract

Cultural events and festivals can have a significant and important influence on the development of local communities. Their utilization of the endogenous resources of an area means that these events, most often, have a positive impact on the local economy. Quite consequentially, they [...] Read more.

Cultural events and festivals can have a significant and important influence on the development of local communities. Their utilization of the endogenous resources of an area means that these events, most often, have a positive impact on the local economy. Quite consequentially, they may also extend the socio-cultural opportunities of local citizens. However, their utilization of time and space does raise concerns regarding environmental impact. Therefore, it is imperative that stakeholders study their net impact on a region. This present paper examines the economic, socio-cultural, and environmental impact of the Transilvania International Film Festival (TIFF). With a history of 15 editions, the festival gathers, year by year, an increasing number of people in Cluj-Napoca. The growth of the event has had unmistakable and important effects on the city. The purpose of the paper is to analyze resident participants’ perceptions on economic, socio-cultural, and environmental effects. To reach this goal, an exploratory and descriptive research was conducted. Both primary and secondary data were used in the analysis, the questionnaire being the main tool used for collecting data about participants’ perceptions. The results emphasize the positive effects at the socio-cultural level. The festival provides multiple possibilities to spend free time in a pleasant way, it sustains the development of cultural life, and it improves the educational and the cultural level of community. Moreover, the festival does not influence, in a negative manner, the moral principles of the society and it does not generate an increase in crime rate. From the economic point of view, the festival has the capacity to attract investments and additional revenues for the local government, it sustains the development of the city infrastructure, and it creates opportunities for residents to develop new economic activities. Lastly, from the environmental point of view, the festival sustains the improvement of environmental issues, it does not generate important traffic problems, and it does not deteriorate touristic resources. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Paradigm Changes in Contemporary Sustainable Hospitality Entrepreneurship)

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18 pages, 3009 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Application of Social Vulnerability Indicators to Climate Change for the Southwest Coastal Areas of Taiwan

by Chin-Cheng Wu¹, Hao-Tang Jhan², Kuo-Huan Ting³, Heng-Chieh Tsai¹, Meng-Tsung Lee⁴, Tai-Wen Hsu^5,*

and Wen-Hong Liu^3,*

¹ Department of Fisheries Production and Management, National Kaohsiung Marine University, Kaohsiung 81157, Taiwan

² School of Earth & Ocean Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AT, UK

³ Center for Marine Affairs Studies, Institute of Marine Affairs and Business Management, National Kaohsiung Marine University, Kaohsiung 81157, Taiwan

⁴ Department of Marine Leisure Management, National Kaohsiung Marine University, Kaohsiung 81157, Taiwan

⁵ Department of Harbor & River Engineering, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 202, Taiwan

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1270; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121270 - 7 Dec 2016

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 6099

Abstract

The impact of climate change on the coastal zones of Taiwan not only affects the marine environment, ecology, and human communities whose economies rely heavily on marine activities, but also the sustainable development of national economics. The southwest coast is known as the [...] Read more.

The impact of climate change on the coastal zones of Taiwan not only affects the marine environment, ecology, and human communities whose economies rely heavily on marine activities, but also the sustainable development of national economics. The southwest coast is known as the area most vulnerable to climate change; therefore, this study aims to develop indicators to assess social vulnerability in this area of Taiwan using the three dimensions of susceptibility, resistance, and resilience. The modified Delphi method was used to develop nine criteria and 26 indexes in the evaluation, and the analytic hierarchy process method was employed to evaluate the weight of each indicator based on the perspectives of experts collected through questionnaire surveys. The results provide important information pertaining to the vulnerability of the most susceptive regions, the lowest-resistance areas, and the least resilient townships on the southwest coast. The most socially vulnerable areas are plotted based on the present analysis. Experts can consider the vulnerability map provided here when developing adaptation policies. It should be kept in mind that improving the capacities of resistance and resilience is more important than reducing susceptibility in Taiwan. Full article

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19 pages, 1218 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Eco-Efficiency Analysis of Industrial Systems in the Songhua River Basin: A Decomposition Model Approach

by Fuyou Guo^1,2,3, Kevin Lo^4,*

and Lianjun Tong¹

¹ Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130102, China

² College of Geography and Tourism, Qufu Normal University, Rizhao 276826, China

³ College of Geographical Science, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130102, China

⁴ Department of Geography, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong 999077, Hong Kong, China

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1271; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121271 - 6 Dec 2016

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 4342

Abstract

Eco-efficiency is an important sustainable development and circular economy construct that conceptualizes the relationship between industrial output, resource utilization, and environmental impacts. This paper conducts an eco-efficiency analysis for basin industrial systems using the decomposition model approach. Using data on 10 cities in [...] Read more.

Eco-efficiency is an important sustainable development and circular economy construct that conceptualizes the relationship between industrial output, resource utilization, and environmental impacts. This paper conducts an eco-efficiency analysis for basin industrial systems using the decomposition model approach. Using data on 10 cities in China’s Songhua River basin, we illustrate the evolutionary characteristics and influencing factors of industrial systems’ eco-efficiency. The results indicate that cities in upstream and midstream areas focus on improving resource efficiency, whereas cities in downstream areas focus on improving terminal control efficiency. The results also show that the government plays an increasingly important role in promoting eco-efficiency and that significant differences in the influencing factors exist among the upstream area, midstream area, and downstream area. Our results offer deeper insights into the eco-efficiency of industrial systems and give further hints on how policy-making can help achieve sustainable development, balancing between economic activities and environmental protection. Full article

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9 pages, 1664 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating the Sustainability of Nature Reserves Using an Ecological Footprint Method: A Case Study in China

by Xiaoman Liu¹, Dong Jiang^2,3,*

, Qiao Wang¹, Huiming Liu¹, Jin Li¹ and Zhuo Fu¹

¹ Satellite Environmental Application Center, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Beijing 100094, China

² Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China

³ University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1272; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121272 - 6 Dec 2016

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 5006

Abstract

Nature reserves are established to protect ecosystems and rare flora and fauna. However, with the rapid development of the social economy, many nature reserves are facing enormous pressures from human activities. The assessment of the sustainability of nature reserves is a fundamental task [...] Read more.

Nature reserves are established to protect ecosystems and rare flora and fauna. However, with the rapid development of the social economy, many nature reserves are facing enormous pressures from human activities. The assessment of the sustainability of nature reserves is a fundamental task for the planning and management of such areas. In this study, the sustainability of China’s 319 national nature reserves (NRRs) was evaluated based on an ecological footprint (EF) method. The results indicated that the per capita ecological footprints of all national nature reserves increased 85.86% from 2000 to 2010. Meanwhile, the per capita biocapacity (BC) of all national nature reserves increased slightly, with a rate of increase of 1.79%. The ‘traffic light’ method was adopted to identify the sustainability status of those national nature reserves. It was found that currently (2010) 45% of NRRs were in the condition of ecological deficit. In terms of dynamic changes in EF and BC, only 16% of NRRs were sustainable. The 124 national nature reserves that were in the red light state were mainly distributed in Anhui Province, Chongqing City, Hunan, Guizhou, Fujian, Shandong Province, and Inner Mongolia. The percentage of nature reserves at the red light state in these areas were 83.3%, 66.7%, 64.7%, 62.5%, 58.3%, 57.1%, and 56.5%, respectively. The reserves in the red light state should be included in the priority concern level and should be strictly controlled in terms of population growth and the intensity of exploitation. The results of this study will provide more effective data for reference and for decision making support in nature reserve protection. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Ecosystems and Society in the Context of Big and New Data)

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22 pages, 614 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multi-Objective Optimization for Smart House Applied Real Time Pricing Systems

by Yasuaki Miyazato^1,*

, Hayato Tahara^1,†, Kosuke Uchida^2,†, Cirio Celestino Muarapaz^1,†

, Abdul Motin Howlader^3,†

and Tomonobu Senjyu^1,†

¹ Faculty of Engineering, University of the Ryukyus, 1 Senbaru, Nishihara-cho, Nakagami, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan

² Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, 2641 Yamazaki, Noda, Chiba 278-8510, Japan

³ Hawaii Natural Energy Institute, University of Hawaii, 1680 East-West Rd, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA

^† These authors contributed equally to this work.

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1273; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121273 - 7 Dec 2016

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 5104

Abstract

A smart house generally has a Photovoltaic panel (PV), a Heat Pump (HP), a Solar Collector (SC) and a fixed battery. Since the fixed battery can buy and store inexpensive electricity during the night, the electricity bill can be reduced. However, a large [...] Read more.

A smart house generally has a Photovoltaic panel (PV), a Heat Pump (HP), a Solar Collector (SC) and a fixed battery. Since the fixed battery can buy and store inexpensive electricity during the night, the electricity bill can be reduced. However, a large capacity fixed battery is very expensive. Therefore, there is a need to determine the economic capacity of fixed battery. Furthermore, surplus electric power can be sold using a buyback program. By this program, PV can be effectively utilized and contribute to the reduction of the electricity bill. With this in mind, this research proposes a multi-objective optimization, the purpose of which is electric demand control and reduction of the electricity bill in the smart house. In this optimal problem, the Pareto optimal solutions are searched depending on the fixed battery capacity. Additionally, it is shown that consumers can choose what suits them by comparing the Pareto optimal solutions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Electric Power Systems Research)

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22 pages, 2350 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Critical Factors Influencing Viability of Wave Energy Converters in Off-Grid Luxury Resorts and Small Utilities

by Aksel Botne Sandberg^1,*, Eirik Klementsen^1,*, Gerrit Muller^1,*, Adrian De Andres^2,* and Jéromine Maillet^3,*

¹ Norwegian Institute of Systems Engineering (NISE), Høyskolen i SørØst-Norge, Hasbergs vei 36, 3616 Kongsberg, Norway

² Institute for Energy Systems, University of Edinburgh, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JN, UK

³ CorPower Ocean AB, Brinellvägen 23, 114 28 Stockholm, Sweden

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1274; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121274 - 7 Dec 2016

Cited by 36 | Viewed by 9884

Abstract

This paper examines technical and non-technical factors that are critical to the viability of commercialization of wave energy converters in off-grid luxury resorts and small utilities. Critical factors are found by investigating Levelized Cost of Energy, and using the tools PESTEL and Porter’s [...] Read more.

This paper examines technical and non-technical factors that are critical to the viability of commercialization of wave energy converters in off-grid luxury resorts and small utilities. Critical factors are found by investigating Levelized Cost of Energy, and using the tools PESTEL and Porter’s five competitive forces. Identified factors are then applied on three business cases to investigate their impact on viability. The results show that one of the main challenges facing off-grid commercialization is the few wave energy converter units installed per location, negating the economy of scale that large wave energy farms count on to achieve competitive cost levels. In addition, factors like current cost of energy, available wave resources, distance from shore, infrastructure, supply chain logistics, and electricity demand are found to be deciding factors for viability. Despite these challenges, it is found that there are potentially viable off-grid business cases for commercialization of wave energy converters. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wave Energy Converters)

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18 pages, 1792 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Life-Cycle Assessment of Seismic Retrofit Strategies Applied to Existing Building Structures

by Umberto Vitiello^*

, Antonio Salzano, Domenico Asprone, Marco Di Ludovico and Andrea Prota

Department of Structures for Engineering and Architecture, University of Naples Federico II, Via Claudio 21, 80125 Naples, Italy

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1275; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121275 - 8 Dec 2016

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 7973

Abstract

In the last few years, the renovation and refurbishment of existing buildings have become the main activities of the construction industry. In particular, many studies have recently focused on the mechanical and energy performances of existing retrofitted/refurbished facilities, while some research has addressed [...] Read more.

In the last few years, the renovation and refurbishment of existing buildings have become the main activities of the construction industry. In particular, many studies have recently focused on the mechanical and energy performances of existing retrofitted/refurbished facilities, while some research has addressed the environmental effects of such operations. The present study aims to assess the environmental impact of some retrofit interventions on an existing reinforced concrete (RC) building. Once the structural requirements have been satisfied and the environmental effects of these retrofit solutions defined, the final purpose of this study is to identify the most environmentally sustainable retrofit strategy. The environmental impact of the structural retrofit options is assessed using a life-cycle assessment (LCA). This paper sets out a systematic approach that can be adopted when choosing the best structural retrofit option in terms of sustainability performance. The final aim of the study is to also provide a tool for researchers and practitioners that reflects a deep understanding of the sustainability aspects of retrofit operations and can be used for future researches or practical activities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Engineering and Science)

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11 pages, 2275 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Comparison of Electricity Generation System Sustainability among G20 Countries

by Jinchao Li^1,*, Xian Geng² and Jinying Li³

¹ School of Economics and Management, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China

² Medical College, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China

³ Department of Economic Management, North China Electric Power University, Baoding 071000, China

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1276; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121276 - 7 Dec 2016

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 7533

Abstract

Planning for electricity generation systems is a very important task and should take environmental and economic factors into account. This paper reviews the existing metrics and methods in evaluating energy sustainability, and we propose a sustainability assessment index system. The input indexes include [...] Read more.

Planning for electricity generation systems is a very important task and should take environmental and economic factors into account. This paper reviews the existing metrics and methods in evaluating energy sustainability, and we propose a sustainability assessment index system. The input indexes include generation capacity, generation cost, and land use. The output indexes include desirable and undesirable parts. The desirable outputs are total electricity generation and job creation. The undesirable outputs are external supply risk and external costs associated with the environment and health. The super-efficiency data envelopment analysis method is used to calculate the sustainability of electricity generation systems of 23 countries from 2005 to 2014. The three input indexes and three undesirable output indexes are used as the input variables. The two desirable outputs are used as the output variables. The results show that most countries’ electricity generation sustainability values have decreasing trends. In addition, nuclear and hydro generation have positive effects. Solar, wind, and fossil fuel generation have negative effects on sustainability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Electric Power Systems Research)

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17 pages, 713 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Socio-Ecological Factors that Influence the Adoption of Green Infrastructure

by Sarah J. Tayouga and Sara A. Gagné^*

Department of Geography and Earth Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University City Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28223, USA

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1277; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121277 - 7 Dec 2016

Cited by 40 | Viewed by 9518

Abstract

Green infrastructure is defined as any type of infrastructure that has the purpose of lessening the burden of development on the environment and/or has the aim of providing ecosystem services, such as runoff management, air temperature reduction, carbon sequestration, and habitat provisioning. Despite [...] Read more.

Green infrastructure is defined as any type of infrastructure that has the purpose of lessening the burden of development on the environment and/or has the aim of providing ecosystem services, such as runoff management, air temperature reduction, carbon sequestration, and habitat provisioning. Despite these potential benefits and a recent increase in popularity, the widespread use of green infrastructure has been limited. To ascertain why this may be the case, we asked: What are the socio-ecological factors that influence the adoption of green infrastructure? To answer this question, we carried out a review of the literature. We found 32 papers addressing our research topic, three quarters of which were published since 2009. Based on the results and conclusions of the articles we reviewed, we identify six factors that influence the adoption of green infrastructure: Education, the Provision of Ecosystem Services, Financial Incentives, Coordination Among Actors, Laws and Policies, and Planning Recommendations. We present a model of the direct and indirect effects of each factor on the adoption of green infrastructure and investigate the geographic variability of factors. Our results indicate that Education, the Provision of Ecosystem Services, and Financial Incentives are the most influential factors affecting the adoption of green infrastructure because they are supported by the greatest number of articles regardless of location of study and have the greatest number of linkages with other factors and adoption in our model. We conclude with evidence-based strategies to promote the use of green infrastructure in order to create more sustainable environments. Full article

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19 pages, 573 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainability as Social Contract: Textile and Apparel Professionals’ Value Conflicts within the Corporate Moral Responsibility Spectrum

by Rachel LoMonaco-Benzing^*

and Jung Ha-Brookshire

Department of Textile and Apparel Management, University of Missouri, 137 Stanley Hall, Columbia 65211, MO, USA

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1278; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121278 - 7 Dec 2016

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 10179

Abstract

Current discussions of sustainability in the textile and apparel (T&A) supply chain tend to focus on consumer behavior or methods of production. Few studies investigate how T&A supply chain members experience corporate sustainability initiatives within their own moral value spectrum. This study was [...] Read more.

Current discussions of sustainability in the textile and apparel (T&A) supply chain tend to focus on consumer behavior or methods of production. Few studies investigate how T&A supply chain members experience corporate sustainability initiatives within their own moral value spectrum. This study was designed to describe the gaps that might exist between personal and corporate moral values of T&A supply chain members, and how individuals manage such gaps to align personal and corporate identities. The researchers investigated the views of ten T&A supply chain members residing in the United States, both as employees and consumers of T&A companies, through semi-structured interviews. Dunfee’s extant social contracts and Schwartz’s theory of basic values were used as theoretical frameworks to better understand the participants’ lived experiences in negotiating personal and corporate expectations. The findings revealed three themes: (a) nature of the value gap; (b) frustration due to the value gap; and (c) strategies to manage the value gap. The strategies used to realign values split into either those that held sustainability as their responsibility and worked to move corporate values toward their personal values; or those that shifted the blame to others so that their values could remain untouched. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability Issues in the Textile and Apparel Supply Chains)

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17 pages, 997 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Beyond Apprenticeship: Knowledge Brokers and Sustainability of Apprentice-Based Clusters

by Huasheng Zhu¹, Kelly Wanjing Chen² and Juncheng Dai^3,*

¹ School of Geography, Beijing Normal University, 19 Xinjiekouwai Street, Beijing 100875, China

² Department of Geography, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 550 North Park Street, Madison, WI 53706, USA

³ School of Culture and Communication & Cultural Economics Research Institute, Central University of Finance and Economics, 39 South College Road, Beijing 100081, China

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1279; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121279 - 7 Dec 2016

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 5625

Abstract

Knowledge learning and diffusion have long been discussed in the literature on the dynamics of industrial clusters, but recent literature provides little evidence for how different actors serve as knowledge brokers in the upgrading process of apprentice-based clusters, and does not dynamically consider [...] Read more.

Knowledge learning and diffusion have long been discussed in the literature on the dynamics of industrial clusters, but recent literature provides little evidence for how different actors serve as knowledge brokers in the upgrading process of apprentice-based clusters, and does not dynamically consider how to preserve the sustainability of these clusters. This paper uses empirical evidence from an antique furniture manufacturing cluster in Xianyou, Fujian Province, in southeastern China, to examine the growth trajectory of the knowledge learning system of an antique furniture manufacturing cluster. It appears that the apprentice-based learning system is crucial during early stages of the cluster evolution, but later becomes complemented and relatively substituted by the role of both local governments and focal outsiders. This finding addresses the context of economic transformation and provides empirical insights into knowledge acquisition in apprentice-based clusters to question the rationality based on European and North American cases, and to provide a broader perspective for policy makers to trigger and sustain the development of apprentice-based clusters. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development of Chinese Economy—In Search of New Sources of Growth: A Sustainable Approach)

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23 pages, 1049 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Science, Technology and Innovation through Entrepreneurship Education in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)

by Irfan Hameed^1,*

, Muhammad Babar Khan¹, Atif Shahab¹

, Imran Hameed² and Faisal Qadeer²

¹ Department of Business Administration, Iqra University, Karachi 75500, Pakistan

² Lahore Business School, The University of Lahore, Lahore 54000, Pakistan

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1280; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121280 - 9 Dec 2016

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 13651

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the ways of achieving Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) in UAE. Previously, sustainability within an entrepreneurship context has been related to economic viability as opposed to sustainability in its broadest sense. Through a survey research [...] Read more.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the ways of achieving Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) in UAE. Previously, sustainability within an entrepreneurship context has been related to economic viability as opposed to sustainability in its broadest sense. Through a survey research method, we have highlighted the effects of three independent variables and two intervening variables on three important outcomes, innovation, need for achievement and motivation, which ultimately contributes towards STI. These data have been collected from the students of a well-known university in Al-Ain, UAE. The responses of 251 students have been utilized for analysis. For hypotheses testing, we used AMOS 18 (Structural Equation Modeling) and SPSS 20. The study revealed that all of the predictors have a strong effect on the outcome variables, which leads to STI in UAE. There is a strong need to revise the curriculum of higher education institutions of UAE to develop self-confidence, locus of control and risk taking propensity among students. The study provides novel insight into entrepreneurship education and serves as an initial benchmark in the field. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Science, Technology and Innovation Reforms for Sustainable Development of the GCC Countries)

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18 pages, 840 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effects of Locational Factors on the Performance of Innovation Networks in the German Energy Sector

by Anke Kutschke^1,*, Alexandra Rese² and Daniel Baier²

¹ Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, P.O. Box 101344, 03013 Cottbus, Germany

² University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1281; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121281 - 8 Dec 2016

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 7344

Abstract

Locational factors, like the quantity and quality of skilled labour, demanding customers, competitors, supporting industries, and research institutions, are assumed to have an influence on the competitiveness of a region and the performance of the regional actors. However, few studies focus on this [...] Read more.

Locational factors, like the quantity and quality of skilled labour, demanding customers, competitors, supporting industries, and research institutions, are assumed to have an influence on the competitiveness of a region and the performance of the regional actors. However, few studies focus on this topic from an innovation network perspective in the energy sector. Our study tries to close this gap: a sample of 128 German innovation networks of companies and research institutes in the energy sector is used to analyse the effects of locational factors on the performance (effectiveness) of innovation projects. Based on the distinctions in Porter’s Diamond Model, we find that two locational factors—the quality and quantity of the demand conditions and skilled labour—have positive effects. In contrast to the widespread assumption in the literature we could not find evidence for positive impacts on the quality and quantity of the competitive environment. In fact, the effect on performance was negative. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)

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19 pages, 915 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optimal Operation and Management of Smart Grid System with LPC and BESS in Fault Conditions

by Ryuto Shigenobu^*

, Ahmad Samim Noorzad^†, Cirio Muarapaz^†

, Atsushi Yona^† and Tomonobu Senjyu^†

¹ Faculty of Engineering, University of the Ryukyus, 1 Senbaru Nishihara-cho Nakagami, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan

^† These authors contributed equally to this work.

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1282; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121282 - 8 Dec 2016

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 5191

Abstract

Distributed generators (DG) using renewable energy sources (RESs) have been attracting special attention within distribution systems. However, a large amount of DG penetration causes voltage deviation and reverse power flow in the smart grid. Therefore, the smart grid needs a solution for voltage [...] Read more.

Distributed generators (DG) using renewable energy sources (RESs) have been attracting special attention within distribution systems. However, a large amount of DG penetration causes voltage deviation and reverse power flow in the smart grid. Therefore, the smart grid needs a solution for voltage control, power flow control and power outage prevention. This paper proposes a decision technique of optimal reference scheduling for a battery energy storage system (BESS), inverters interfacing with a DG and voltage control devices for optimal operation. Moreover, the reconfiguration of the distribution system is made possible by the installation of a loop power flow controller (LPC). Two separate simulations are provided to maintain the reliability in the stable power supply and economical aspects. First, the effectiveness of the smart grid with installed BESS or LPC devices is demonstrated in fault situations. Second, the active smart grid using LCPs is proposed. Real-time techniques of the dual scheduling algorithm are applied to the system. The aforementioned control objective is formulated and solved using the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm with an adaptive inertia weight (AIW) function. The effectiveness of the optimal operation in ordinal and fault situations is verified by numerical simulations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Electric Power Systems Research)

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12 pages, 965 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Land-Based Mitigation Strategies under the Mid-Term Carbon Reduction Targets in Indonesia

by Tomoko Hasegawa^1,2,*

, Shinichiro Fujimori^1,2

, Rizaldi Boer³, Gito Sugih Immanuel³ and Toshihiko Masui¹

¹ Center for Social and Environmental Systems research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba 305-8506, Japan

² International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Laxenburg A-2361, Austria

³ Center for Climate Risk and Opportunity Management in Southeast Asia Pacific (CCROM-SEAP), Bogor Agricultural University, Bogor 16143, Indonesia

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1283; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121283 - 8 Dec 2016

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 7265

Abstract

We investigated the key mitigation options for achieving the mid-term target for carbon emission reduction in Indonesia. A computable general equilibrium model coupled with a land-based mitigation technology model was used to evaluate specific mitigation options within the whole economic framework. The results [...] Read more.

We investigated the key mitigation options for achieving the mid-term target for carbon emission reduction in Indonesia. A computable general equilibrium model coupled with a land-based mitigation technology model was used to evaluate specific mitigation options within the whole economic framework. The results revealed three primary findings: (1) If no climate policy were implemented, Indonesia’s total greenhouse gas emissions would reach 3.0 GtCO₂eq by 2030; (2) To reduce carbon emissions to meet the latest Intended Nationally-Determined Contributions (INDC) target, ~58% of total reductions should come from the agriculture, forestry and other land use sectors by implementing forest protection, afforestation and plantation efforts; (3) A higher carbon price in 2020 suggests that meeting the 2020 target would be economically challenging, whereas the INDC target for 2030 would be more economically realistic in Indonesia. Full article

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13 pages, 354 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Remedial Measures for Erroneous Environmental Policies: Assessing Infrastructure Projects of Waste-to-Energy Incineration in Taiwan with a Case Study of the Taitung Incinerator

by Lih-Ren Liu

and Yuh-Ming Lee^*

Institute of Natural Resources Management, National Taipei University, 151 University Road, San Shia District, New Taipei City 23741, Taiwan

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1284; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121284 - 8 Dec 2016

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 6734

Abstract

Taiwan, like many other countries, often incentivizes private investors to participate in the construction of infrastructures for environmental protection. The build-operate-transfer (BOT) or build-operate-own (BOO) model of financing public infrastructure was introduced to Taiwan in the 1990s. Among them, the construction of incinerators [...] Read more.

Taiwan, like many other countries, often incentivizes private investors to participate in the construction of infrastructures for environmental protection. The build-operate-transfer (BOT) or build-operate-own (BOO) model of financing public infrastructure was introduced to Taiwan in the 1990s. Among them, the construction of incinerators to treat the municipal solid waste using the BOT/BOO model was quite a success in the beginning. With the socio-technical change of lifestyle and waste generation, the amount of amount of trash dropped dramatically. The policy failed eventually, however, because the government over-estimated the trash quantity and refrained from inter-municipality cooperation to treat trash efficiently. This failure triggered a rash of intense debates and legal disputes. In the case of the Taitung incinerator, the 26th incinerator located in southeastern Taiwan, the arbitration resulted in the government making significant compensation payments to the private sector. The finished construction was consequently converted into a “mothballed and pensioned off” facility. This study applies in-depth interviews and literature review to discuss aspects contributing to the policy failure and proposes some possible remedial measures. Five aspects are summarized, namely, the administrative organization’s rigid attitude, the irrationality of the BOT/BOO contracts, the loss of the spirit of BOO partnerships, the heavy financial burden on local government, and the abandonment of inter-municipality cooperation. The remedial measures for the policy failure are presented in the form of thorough policy evaluation, room for contract adjustments under the BOT/BOO model, encouragement of cross-boundary cooperation, and revision of the legal framework for implementing decentralization. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Governing the Transformation of Urban Infrastructures)

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20 pages, 2117 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Factors Influencing the Spatial Difference in Household Energy Consumption in China

by Yongxia Ding¹, Wei Qu^1,*, Shuwen Niu^1,2, Man Liang¹, Wenli Qiang¹ and Zhenguo Hong¹

¹ College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, No. 222, Tianshui South Road, Lanzhou 730000, China

² Key Laboratory of Western China’s Environmental Systems (Ministry of Education), Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1285; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121285 - 9 Dec 2016

Cited by 35 | Viewed by 6861

Abstract

What factors determine the spatial heterogeneity of household energy consumption (HEC) in China? Can the impacts of these factors be quantified? What are the trends and characteristics of the spatial differences? To date, these issues are still unclear. Based on the STIRPAT model [...] Read more.

What factors determine the spatial heterogeneity of household energy consumption (HEC) in China? Can the impacts of these factors be quantified? What are the trends and characteristics of the spatial differences? To date, these issues are still unclear. Based on the STIRPAT model and panel dataset for 30 provinces in China over the period 1997–2013, this paper investigated influences of the income per capita, urbanization level and annual average temperature on HEC, and revealed the spatial effects of these influencing factors. The results show that the income level is the main influencing factor, followed by the annual average temperature. There exists a diminishing marginal contribution with increasing income. The influence of urbanization level varies according to income level. In addition, from the eastern region to western region of China, variances largely depend upon economic level at the provincial level. From the northern region to southern region, change is mainly caused by temperature. The urbanization level has more significant impact on the structure and efficiency of household energy consumption than on its quantity. These results could provide reference for policy making and energy planning. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Electric Power Systems Research)

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21 pages, 1726 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Economic and Environmental Analysis of Investing in Solar Water Heating Systems

by Alexandru Şerban¹, Nicoleta Bărbuţă-Mişu²

, Nicoleta Ciucescu³

, Simona Paraschiv⁴

and Spiru Paraschiv^4,*

¹ Faculty of Civil Engineering, Transilvania University of Brasov, 500152 Brasov, Romania

² Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Dunarea de Jos University of Galati, 47 Domneasca Street, 800008 Galati, Romania

³ Faculty of Economics, Vasile Alecsandri University of Bacau, 157 Marasesti Street, 600115 Bacau, Romania

⁴ Faculty of Engineering, Dunarea de Jos University of Galati, 47 Domneasca Street, 800008 Galati, Romania

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1286; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121286 - 8 Dec 2016

Cited by 42 | Viewed by 14841

Abstract

Solar water heating (SWH) systems can provide a significant part of the heat energy that is required in the residential sector. The use of SWH systems is motivated by the desire to reduce energy consumption and especially to reduce a major source of [...] Read more.

Solar water heating (SWH) systems can provide a significant part of the heat energy that is required in the residential sector. The use of SWH systems is motivated by the desire to reduce energy consumption and especially to reduce a major source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The purposes of the present paper consist in: assessing the solar potential; analysing the possibility of using solar energy to heat water for residential applications in Romania; investigating the economic potential of SWH systems; and their contribution to saving energy and reducing CO₂ emissions. The results showed that if solar systems are used, the annual energy savings amount to approximately 71%, and the reduction of GHG emissions into the atmosphere are of 18.5 tonnes of CO₂ over the lifespan of the system, with a discounted payback period of 6.8–8.6 years, in accordance with the savings achieved depending on system characteristics, the solar radiation available, ambient air temperature and on heating load characteristics. Financially, the installation of SWH systems determines net savings of 805–1151 Euro in a 25-year period in the absence of governmental subsidies. According to the sensitivity analysis, installing a SWH system with subsidies of up to 50% determines the reduction of the discounted payback period to 3.1–3.9 years and the increase of net savings to 1570–1916 Euro. These results indicate that investing in these systems is cost-effective for Romanian households as long as the governmental subsidies increase. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Energy Sustainability)

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28 pages, 3715 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dynamic Development of Regional Disparity in Mainland China: An Experimental Study Based on a Multidimensional Index

by Peng Bin^1,2

¹ College of Public Administration, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China

² School of International Studies, University of Trento, Trento 38122, Italy

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1287; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121287 - 9 Dec 2016

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 5122

Abstract

This paper stems from the previous wisdom to investigate the transitional dynamics of regional disparity in China during the period 1998–2010. This is the very first time that 30 Chinese regions have been benchmarked according to a multidimensional index based on a stochastic [...] Read more.

This paper stems from the previous wisdom to investigate the transitional dynamics of regional disparity in China during the period 1998–2010. This is the very first time that 30 Chinese regions have been benchmarked according to a multidimensional index based on a stochastic kernel density. The multidimensional index contains five domains to capture the socioeconomic development: macroeconomic conditions, science and innovation, environmental sustainability, human capital, and public facilities. This experimental study reveals the existence of a three-peak pattern of convergence during 1998–2010, and improves the understanding of the evolution of regional disparity in China in terms of the comprehensive socioeconomic development. Full article

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11 pages, 2235 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Plate Waste in School Lunch Programs in Beijing, China

by Yao Liu^1,2, Shengkui Cheng^1,*, Xiaojie Liu¹, Xiaochang Cao^1,2, Li Xue^1,2 and Gang Liu^3,*

¹ Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China

² University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China

³ SDU Life Cycle Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology and Environmental Technology, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense, Denmark

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1288; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121288 - 8 Dec 2016

Cited by 68 | Viewed by 14174

Abstract

School plate waste is of particular concern worldwide due to its adverse impacts not only on resource use and the environment, but also on students’ health, physical maturation, and academic achievement in the long term. Previous studies on school plate waste have all [...] Read more.

School plate waste is of particular concern worldwide due to its adverse impacts not only on resource use and the environment, but also on students’ health, physical maturation, and academic achievement in the long term. Previous studies on school plate waste have all been conducted in industrialized countries, and more studies are badly needed in developing countries. In this paper, we report a pilot study on the patterns and causes of plate waste in school lunch programs in Beijing, China, by a combination of physical weighing, questionnaire survey, and semi-structured interview approaches. Our results show that the average amount of food waste generated by school students in Beijing in 2014 was 130 g/cap/meal, accounting for 21% of total food served. Staple food (43%) and vegetables (42%) were the dominant proportions. Buffet meals resulted in less plate waste than packed meals and set meals. Food supply patterns, the quality of canteen service, and the dietary habit and students’ knowledge of food production were the main influencing factors behind plate waste. To our best knowledge, our pilot study provides a first understanding of the overlooked plate waste in school lunch programs in China, and a good basis for further analysis in this field, and will be helpful in informing policy-making in relevant nutrition and education programs in schools in China. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Agriculture)

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14 pages, 1191 KiB

Open AccessReview

Towards “Sustainable” Sanitation: Challenges and Opportunities in Urban Areas

by Kim Andersson^*, Sarah Dickin and Arno Rosemarin

Stockholm Environment Institute, Linnégatan 87D, 115 23 Stockholm, Sweden

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1289; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121289 - 8 Dec 2016

Cited by 101 | Viewed by 30357

Abstract

While sanitation is fundamental for health and wellbeing, cities of all sizes face growing challenges in providing safe, affordable and functional sanitation systems that are also sustainable. Factors such as limited political will, inadequate technical, financial and institutional capacities and failure to integrate [...] Read more.

While sanitation is fundamental for health and wellbeing, cities of all sizes face growing challenges in providing safe, affordable and functional sanitation systems that are also sustainable. Factors such as limited political will, inadequate technical, financial and institutional capacities and failure to integrate safe sanitation systems into broader urban development have led to a persistence of unsustainable systems and missed opportunities to tackle overlapping and interacting urban challenges. This paper reviews challenges associated with providing sanitation systems in urban areas and explores ways to promote sustainable sanitation in cities. It focuses on opportunities to stimulate sustainable sanitation approaches from a resource recovery perspective, generating added value to society while protecting human and ecosystem health. We show how, if integrated within urban development, sustainable sanitation has great potential to catalyse action and contribute to multiple sustainable development goals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue A Contextual and Dynamic Understanding of Sustainable Urbanisation)

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18 pages, 2021 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of Supply Chain under Different Subsidy Policies of the Government

by Dongxue Guo¹, Yi He^1,*, Yuanyuan Wu² and Qingyun Xu¹

¹ School of Management, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China

² School of Economics and Management, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1290; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121290 - 9 Dec 2016

Cited by 62 | Viewed by 7300

Abstract

The increasing public attention on green products prompted firms and government to focus on the design and manufacturing of these products. This study focuses on a supply chain system that consists of three members, namely, supplier, manufacturer, and government, and then investigates the [...] Read more.

The increasing public attention on green products prompted firms and government to focus on the design and manufacturing of these products. This study focuses on a supply chain system that consists of three members, namely, supplier, manufacturer, and government, and then investigates the effects of government subsidies on social welfare and the profits of supply chain members. We utilize game and optimization theories to calculate and compare the optimal decisions and profits of players in the following scenarios: (i) the government provides a subsidy rate to the cost of manufacturer’s greenness efforts (first subsidy policy); and (ii) the government grants a per unit subsidy to the manufacturer for the demand for green product (second subsidy policy). We also derive the necessary condition for the most effective subsidy policy that maximizes expected social welfare and profits. Our analysis derives the following findings: (i) under the first subsidy policy, the government tends to provide high subsidy rate to a manufacturer with low marginal profit; (ii) under the second subsidy policy, the government tends to offer low subsidy to a manufacturer with low marginal profit; and (iii) a government’s selection of subsidy policy depends on the sensitivity of consumers to price. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability in Supply Chain Management)

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24 pages, 1507 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Towards the Comprehensive Design of Energy Infrastructures

by Daniel Scholten^* and Rolf Künneke

Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management, Delft University of Technology, Jaffalaan 5, 2600 GA Delft, The Netherlands

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1291; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121291 - 9 Dec 2016

Cited by 32 | Viewed by 6613

Abstract

Energy infrastructures are increasingly perceived as complex, adaptive socio-technical systems. Their design has not kept up; it is still fragmented between an engineering and economic dimension. While economists focus on a market design that addresses potential market failures and imperfections, opportunistic behavior, and [...] Read more.

Energy infrastructures are increasingly perceived as complex, adaptive socio-technical systems. Their design has not kept up; it is still fragmented between an engineering and economic dimension. While economists focus on a market design that addresses potential market failures and imperfections, opportunistic behavior, and social objectives, engineers pay attention to infrastructure assets, a robust network topology, and control system design to handle flows and eventualities. These two logics may be complementary, but may also be at odds. Moreover, it is generally unclear what design choices in one dimension imply for the other. As such, we are ill-equipped to identify, interpret, and address the challenges stemming from technical innovations, e.g., the integration of renewable energy technologies, and institutional changes, e.g., liberalization or new forms of organization like cooperatives, which often have interrelated operational and market implications. In response, this paper proposes a more comprehensive design framework that bridges the engineering and economic perspectives on energy infrastructure design. To this end, it elaborates the different design perspectives and develops the means to relate design variables of both perspectives along several layers of abstraction: the form of infrastructure access of actors, the division of responsibilities among actors, and type of coordination between actors. The intention is that this way system and market design efforts can be better attuned to each other and we further our understanding and conceptualization of the interrelationship between the techno-operational and economic-institutional dimensions of energy infrastructures. The framework also aids in overseeing the broader institutional implications of technical developments (and vice versa) and stimulates awareness of lock-ins and path-dependencies in this regard. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovation in the European Energy Sector and Regulatory Responses to It)

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18 pages, 826 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impacts of Socially Responsible Corporate Activities on Korean Consumers’ Corporate Evaluations in the Agrifood Industry

by Dongmin Lee¹

, Junghoon Moon^1,*, Young Chan Choe¹ and Jaeseok Jeong²

¹ Program in Regional Information, Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea

² Graduate School of Pan-Pacific International Studies, Kyung Hee University Global Campus, Yongin 17104, Korea

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1292; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121292 - 9 Dec 2016

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4985

Abstract

The variety of socially responsible corporate activities employed in the agrifood industry has been broadening. An increasing number of agrifood companies have been employing strategic approaches to socially responsible activities, reinforced by Porter and Kramer’s concept of creating shared value (CSV). This study [...] Read more.

The variety of socially responsible corporate activities employed in the agrifood industry has been broadening. An increasing number of agrifood companies have been employing strategic approaches to socially responsible activities, reinforced by Porter and Kramer’s concept of creating shared value (CSV). This study compares the effects on corporate evaluations of two socially responsible corporate activities: philanthropic giving and CSV. Because prior studies concerning the effects of corporate prosocial behaviors on consumer responses have yielded mixed results, the present study examines the effects of a priori perceptions of companies by using corporate stereotypes as moderators. The results show that the type of socially responsible corporate activity (CSV vs. philanthropic giving) does not influence corporate evaluations. However, in cases of CSV (vs. philanthropic giving), consumers evaluate an unwarm but competent company more attractively and place higher value on an incompetent but warm company. This research is important not only for enriching existing literature, but also for providing guidelines to practitioners with respect to selecting appropriate corporate initiatives based on perceived consumer stereotypes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue How does Market Demand for Sustainability Shape Business Strategies? Exploring Innovation Paths in Agribusiness)

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6 pages, 174 KiB

Open AccessCommentary

Urban Big Data and Sustainable Development Goals: Challenges and Opportunities

by Ali Kharrazi^1,2,*

, Hua Qin³

and Yi Zhang^4,5

¹ Graduate School of Public Policy, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan

² Advanced Systems Analysis Group, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Laxenburg A-2361, Austria

³ Division of Applied Social Sciences, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO 65211, USA

⁴ Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China

⁵ ICSU-UNU-IAMP Programme on Urban Health and Wellbeing, Xiamen 361021, China

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1293; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121293 - 9 Dec 2016

Cited by 75 | Viewed by 13784

Abstract

Cities are perhaps one of the most challenging and yet enabling arenas for sustainable development goals. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) emphasize the need to monitor each goal through objective targets and indicators based on common denominators in the ability of countries to [...] Read more.

Cities are perhaps one of the most challenging and yet enabling arenas for sustainable development goals. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) emphasize the need to monitor each goal through objective targets and indicators based on common denominators in the ability of countries to collect and maintain relevant standardized data. While this approach is aimed at harmonizing the SDGs at the national level, it presents unique challenges and opportunities for the development of innovative urban-level metrics through big data innovations. In this article, we make the case for advancing more innovative targets and indicators relevant to the SDGs through the emergence of urban big data. We believe that urban policy-makers are faced with unique opportunities to develop, experiment, and advance big data practices relevant to sustainable development. This can be achieved by situating the application of big data innovations through developing mayoral institutions for the governance of urban big data, advancing the culture and common skill sets for applying urban big data, and investing in specialized research and education programs. Full article

19 pages, 573 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Local versus Global Environmental Performance of Dairying and Their Link to Economic Performance: A Case Study of Swiss Mountain Farms

by Nina Repar^1,3,*, Pierrick Jan¹, Thomas Nemecek²

, Dunja Dux¹, Martina Alig Ceesay² and Reiner Doluschitz³

¹ Farm Economics Research Group, Agroscope, Institute for Sustainability Sciences ISS, Tänikon 1, Ettenhausen 8356, Switzerland

² Life Cycle Assessment Research Group, Agroscope, Institute for Sustainability Sciences ISS, Reckenholzstrasse 191, Zurich 8046, Switzerland

³ Computer Applications and Business Management in Agriculture, Institute of Farm Management, University of Hohenheim, Schloß, Osthof-Süd, Stuttgart 70593, Germany

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1294; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121294 - 10 Dec 2016

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 5732

Abstract

Complying with the carrying capacity of local and global ecosystems is a prerequisite to ensure environmental sustainability. Based on the example of Swiss mountain dairy farms, the goal of our research was firstly to investigate the relationship between farm global and local environmental [...] Read more.

Complying with the carrying capacity of local and global ecosystems is a prerequisite to ensure environmental sustainability. Based on the example of Swiss mountain dairy farms, the goal of our research was firstly to investigate the relationship between farm global and local environmental performance. Secondly, we aimed to analyse the relationship between farm environmental and economic performance. The analysis relied on a sample of 56 Swiss alpine dairy farms. For each farm, the cradle-to-farm-gate life cycle assessment was calculated, and the quantified environmental impacts were decomposed into their on- and off-farm parts. We measured global environmental performance as the digestible energy produced by the farm per unit of global environmental impact generated from cradle-to-farm-gate. We assessed local environmental performance by dividing farm-usable agricultural area by on-farm environmental impact generation. Farm economic performance was measured by work income per family work unit, return on equity and output/input ratio. Spearman’s correlation analysis revealed no significant relationship, trade-offs or synergies between global and local environmental performance indicators. Interestingly, trade-offs were observed far more frequently than synergies. Furthermore, we found synergies between global environmental and economic performance and mostly no significant relationship between local environmental and economic performance. The observed trade-offs between global and local environmental performance mean that, for several environmental issues, any improvement in global environmental performance will result in deterioration of local environmental performance and vice versa. This finding calls for systematic consideration of both dimensions when carrying out farm environmental performance assessments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Agriculture)

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21 pages, 1165 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Review of Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Methods Applied to the Sustainable Bridge Design

by Vicent Penadés-Plà, Tatiana García-Segura, José V. Martí and Víctor Yepes^*

Institute of Concrete Science and Technology (ICITECH), Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022 Valencia, Spain

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1295; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121295 - 9 Dec 2016

Cited by 156 | Viewed by 16777

Abstract

The construction of bridges has been necessary for societies since ancient times, when the communication between and within towns, cities or communities was established. Until recently, the economic factor has been the only one considered in the decision-making of any type of construction [...] Read more.

The construction of bridges has been necessary for societies since ancient times, when the communication between and within towns, cities or communities was established. Until recently, the economic factor has been the only one considered in the decision-making of any type of construction process for bridges. However, nowadays, the objective should not be just the construction of bridges, but of sustainable bridges. Economic, social and environmental factors, which form the three pillars of sustainability, have been recently added. These three factors usually have conflicting perspectives. The decision-making process allows the conversion of a judgment into a rational procedure to reach a compromise solution. The aim of this paper is to review different methods and sustainable criteria used for decision-making at each life-cycle phase of a bridge, from design to recycling or demolition. This paper examines 77 journal articles for which different methods have been used. The most used methods are briefly described. In addition, a statistical study was carried out on the Multiple Attribute Decision-making papers reviewed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Engineering and Science)

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17 pages, 1398 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Examining Determinants of CO₂ Emissions in 73 Cities in China

by Haitao Zheng¹

, Jie Hu¹, Rong Guan^2,*

and Shanshan Wang¹

¹ School of Economics and Management, Beihang Univerisity, Beijing 100191, China

² School of Statistics and Mathematics, Central Univeristy of Finance and Economics, Beijing 100081, China

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1296; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121296 - 9 Dec 2016

Cited by 35 | Viewed by 5809

Abstract

Issues concerning which factors that influence carbon dioxide emission, and which administrative measures should be imposed to reduce carbon emission in Chinese cities, have been on the agenda in cities’ policy-making. Yet little literature has studied this topic from the city level. This [...] Read more.

Issues concerning which factors that influence carbon dioxide emission, and which administrative measures should be imposed to reduce carbon emission in Chinese cities, have been on the agenda in cities’ policy-making. Yet little literature has studied this topic from the city level. This paper first measures CO₂ emission of 73 Chinese cities. We find heterogeneity embedded in the cross-city distribution of CO₂ emission per capita and a nonlinear structure in the relationship between carbon emission and GDP per capita. To describe such multimodality and examine the determinants of CO₂ emission in these cities, this article applies a linear mixed effect model covering the quadratic term of GDP per capita to extend the stochastic impact by regression on population, affluence, and technology (STIRPAT) model. The empirical results demonstrate that population size, secondary industry proportion, energy consumption structure, urbanization level and economic level have generally shown a positive influence on CO₂ emissions in Chinese cities. However, the urbanization level is of no significance. The phenomenon of the environmental Kuznets curve varies across Chinese cities, according to which three city groups are formed. Specific policy recommendations are given to each city group in light of their unique influencing modes on carbon emissions. Full article

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15 pages, 378 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Eco-Evolutionary Imperative: Revisiting Weed Management in the Midst of an Herbicide Resistance Crisis

by Fabian D. Menalled^1,*

, Robert K. D. Peterson¹, Richard G. Smith², William S. Curran³, David J. Páez¹ and Bruce D. Maxwell¹

¹ Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717-3120, USA

² Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824, USA

³ Department of Plant Sciences, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1297; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121297 - 9 Dec 2016

Cited by 52 | Viewed by 9133

Abstract

Modern weed science is at a crossroads. Born out of advances in chemistry, it has focused on minimizing weed competition with genetically uniform crops and heavy reliance on herbicides. Paradoxically, the success obtained with such an approach and the reluctance to conduct integrated [...] Read more.

Modern weed science is at a crossroads. Born out of advances in chemistry, it has focused on minimizing weed competition with genetically uniform crops and heavy reliance on herbicides. Paradoxically, the success obtained with such an approach and the reluctance to conduct integrated and multidisciplinary research has resulted in unintended, but predictable, consequences, including the selection of herbicide resistant biotypes. Advances in eco-evolutionary biology, a relatively recent discipline that seeks to understand how local population dynamics arise from phenotypic variation resulting from natural selection, habitat distribution, and propagule dispersal across the landscape are transforming our understanding of the processes that regulate agroecosystems. Within this framework, complementary tactics to develop alternative weed management programs include the following: (1) weed scientists must recognize that evolution occurs within crop fields at ecologically-relevant time scales and is rooted in the inherent variation that exists in all populations; (2) weed management should recognize that the probability of a resistant mutant is directly related to the population size; (3) farmers need to acknowledge that herbicide resistance transcends any one farm and should coordinate local practices with regional actions; (4) incentives should be developed and implemented to help the adoption of eco-evolutionary management programs; and (5) risk analysis can help incorporate an eco-evolutionary perspective into integrated weed management programs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Role of Agroecology in Archieving Sustainable Agriculture)

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10 pages, 201 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Proposal for Sustainable Dynamic Lighting in Sport Facilities to Decrease Violence among Spectators

by Raquel Amorim¹, Valentín Molina-Moreno²

and Antonio Peña-García^1,*

¹ Department of Civil Engineering, University of Granada, Granada 18071, Spain

² Department of Management, University of Granada, Granada 18071, Spain

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1298; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121298 - 10 Dec 2016

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 5602

Abstract

Violence among spectators at sports events has become a serious problem, not only for its evident impact on safety, but also from the perspective of environmental, cultural, economic and social sustainability. Although it could be considered a purely social problem, some solutions could [...] Read more.

Violence among spectators at sports events has become a serious problem, not only for its evident impact on safety, but also from the perspective of environmental, cultural, economic and social sustainability. Although it could be considered a purely social problem, some solutions could come from a smart and efficient design and management of the lighting installations. Thus, the management of sports installations requires deep considerations of lighting technology for three reasons: (1) accurate illumination allows the users to achieve their visual task with comfort and safety; (2) the energy consumption of sports facilities can be decreased with an efficient design of the lighting installation; and (3) the lighting impacts some psychological and physiological aspects such as arousal, stress or relaxation which are directly related to violence. In this work, the recent advances on the matter of light sources and non-visual effects of light are deployed within a new proposal of dynamic Light-emitting diode (LED) lighting to decrease violence among spectators. Here, sustainable sports facilities are considered from a global perspective where accurate illumination in each zone (court, bleachers, training rooms and surrounding streets) plays an important role in violence avoidance. Full article

15 pages, 1286 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Bidirectional Incentive Model for Bicycle Redistribution of a Bicycle Sharing System during Rush Hour

by Linfeng Li

and Miyuan Shan^*

Department of Management Science and Engineering, Business School of Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1299; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121299 - 10 Dec 2016

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 5383

Abstract

Redistribution is an important part of operational activities in a bicycle sharing system (BSS). This paper proposes that there are two types of users in a BSS: leisure travelers and commuters. The operators and the government are adopting the bidirectional incentive model (BIM) [...] Read more.

Redistribution is an important part of operational activities in a bicycle sharing system (BSS). This paper proposes that there are two types of users in a BSS: leisure travelers and commuters. The operators and the government are adopting the bidirectional incentive model (BIM) to improve their service level of redistribution. That is, the BIM stimulates leisure travelers to actively respond to bicycle resetting needs of the system; on the other hand, it guides commuters by encouraging them to avoid travelling in peak periods. This is beneficial to achieve the goals of reducing the scheduling pressure on bicycles during rush hour, and even to realize the self-resetting of the BSS. In this paper, we explore three scenarios for implementing BIM through cooperation between the operator and the government. By exploiting Stackelberg games in all models, we illustrate the quantity of users in three different travel behaviors, and surplus value of these users respectively. We also consider the trend of the profit of the operator and the government when some changes of parameters are made. The numerical analysis and case discussion find that the strategy of the operator implementing BIM with a subsidy is the best method for developed regions. In a developing region, the strategy of implementing the BIM with a direct government subsidy to users is the best choice in a small or tourist city. In these cities, the proportion of leisure travelers is always larger than 50%, resulting in a significant incentive effect. The strategy of the operator implementing BIM without a subsidy is the best choice for the large and medium-sized city. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)

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21 pages, 9722 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Wave Energy Assessment and Performance Estimation of State of the Art Wave Energy Converters in Italian Hotspots

by Valentina Vannucchi^* and Lorenzo Cappietti

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Florence, Via S. Marta 3, 50139 Florence, Italy

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1300; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121300 - 10 Dec 2016

Cited by 67 | Viewed by 8176

Abstract

This paper presents an assessment of offshore wave energy potential at the scale of the whole Mediterranean Sea. The offshore wave data were propagated, by means of numerical modeling, toward four Italian coastal areas, namely stretches of coast of Tuscany, Liguria, Sardinia and [...] Read more.

This paper presents an assessment of offshore wave energy potential at the scale of the whole Mediterranean Sea. The offshore wave data were propagated, by means of numerical modeling, toward four Italian coastal areas, namely stretches of coast of Tuscany, Liguria, Sardinia and Sicily. For each area, the wave power and the monthly, seasonal and annual variability at water depths of 50 m and 15 m were analyzed and hotspots were located. The results show strong variability of the wave energy potential from point to point of the same area thus highlighting the need for spatially detailed analysis. The higher values of wave energy potential are located in the hotspots of Sardinia and Sicily, at 11.4 kW/m and 9.1 kW/m, respectively. The Tuscany and the Liguria hotspots are characterized, respectively, by 4.7 kW/m and 2.0 kW/m. In order to point out which state of the art WEC is best suited for the Italian areas, the performances of six different state of the art Wave Energy Converters (WECs) were evaluated. Finally, a comparison of the performances of each WEC in the selected Italian sites and in some European (EU) oceanic sites was conducted. The energy potential in the most energetic EU oceanic site, among those here investigated, is up to 38-times greater than the potentials in the studied Italian areas but the power output, of the best WEC technology, is no more than nine times greater. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wave Energy Converters)

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16 pages, 1144 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Nuclear Insurance Subsidies Cost from Post-Fukushima Accounting Based on Media Sources

by John J. Laureto¹ and Joshua M. Pearce^1,2,*

¹ Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Michigan Technological University, 601 M&M Building, 1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, MI 49931-1295, USA

² Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Michigan Technological University, 601 M&M Building, 1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, MI 49931-1295, USA

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1301; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121301 - 12 Dec 2016

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 8896

Abstract

Quantification of nuclear liability insurance is difficult without arbitrary liability caps; however, post-mortem calculations can be used to calculate insurance costs. This study analyzes the Fukushima (Daiichi) nuclear power plant disaster to quantify the cost per unit electricity ($/kWh) of nuclear energy from [...] Read more.

Quantification of nuclear liability insurance is difficult without arbitrary liability caps; however, post-mortem calculations can be used to calculate insurance costs. This study analyzes the Fukushima (Daiichi) nuclear power plant disaster to quantify the cost per unit electricity ($/kWh) of nuclear energy from the lifetime of the plant after accounting for the true cost of the liability needed to cover the damages from the nuclear disaster determined from news reports. These costs are then compared to the cost of electricity currently paid by Japanese consumers, and then are aggregated to determine the indirect subsidy for nuclear power providers in both Japan and the USA. The results show that the reported costs of the Fukushima nuclear disaster are $20–525 billion, which results in a real insurance cost from the lifetime of electricity produced at the plants between $0.22–5.78/kWh. These values are far higher than the current insurance costs by Japanese law of $0.01/kWh and even the total costs consumers pay for electricity. Although the spread in the input costs is large and the reported metrics are incomplete, the nuclear insurance subsidy is clearly substantial in Japan and in the USA. Ideally, energy sources should be economically sustainable without the need for a government insurance subsidy. For the electricity market to function effectively and efficiently in all other countries using nuclear power, the insurance costs should be reported accurately and included in nuclear electricity costs without arbitrary government liability caps. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Nuclear Power)

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17 pages, 500 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Market Opportunities for Animal-Friendly Milk in Different Consumer Segments

by Sophie De Graaf^1,2,3,*, Filiep Vanhonacker^1,4, Ellen J. Van Loo¹

, Jo Bijttebier², Ludwig Lauwers^1,2, Frank A. M. Tuyttens³ and Wim Verbeke¹

¹ Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium

² Social Sciences Unit, Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO), 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium

³ Animal Sciences Unit, Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO), 9090 Melle-Gontrode, Belgium

⁴ Department of Applied Biosciences, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1302; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121302 - 11 Dec 2016

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 5971

Abstract

Consumers have increasing, but highly variable, interest in sustainability attributes of food, including ethical aspects, such as animal welfare. We explored market opportunities for animal-friendly cow’s milk based on segmentation (cluster) analysis. Flemish survey participants (n = 787) were clustered (n [...] Read more.

Consumers have increasing, but highly variable, interest in sustainability attributes of food, including ethical aspects, such as animal welfare. We explored market opportunities for animal-friendly cow’s milk based on segmentation (cluster) analysis. Flemish survey participants (n = 787) were clustered (n = 6) based on their intention to purchase (IP) animal-friendly milk, and their evaluation of cows’ welfare state (EV). Three market opportunity segments were derived from clusters and labelled as “high”, “moderate” and “limited”. Only 8% of the participants belong to the “high market opportunities” segment, characterized by a high IP and a low EV. The “limited” segment (44%) indicated a neutral to low IP and a positive EV. The “moderate” segment (48%) had a moderately positive IP and positive/negative EV. Reported willingness to pay, interest in information about the state of animal welfare and importance of the product attribute “animal welfare” differed among segments and were strongly related to IP. Most promising selling propositions about animal-friendly milk were related to pasture access. The high degree of differentiation within the Flemish milk market reveals market opportunities for animal-friendly milk, but for an effective market share increase supply of animal-friendly products needs to get more aligned with the heterogeneous demand. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Consumer Behavior)

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12 pages, 1001 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Quantification of Improvement in Environmental Quality for Old Residential Buildings Using Life Cycle Assessment

by Jozef Mitterpach¹, Emília Hroncová^2,*, Juraj Ladomerský² and Jozef Štefko³

¹ Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Technical University in Zvolen, T.G. Masaryka 24, 960 53 Zvolen, Slovakia

² Department of Environmental Management, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Matej Bel University, Tajovského 40, 974 01 Banská Bystrica, Slovakia

³ Department of Wooden Constructions, Faculty of Wood Sciences and Technology, Technical University in Zvolen, T.G. Masaryka 24, 960 53 Zvolen, Slovakia

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1303; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121303 - 11 Dec 2016

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 4911

Abstract

In Slovakia, 35% of buildings are older than 50 years but most newer buildings built before 1990 have greater energy consumption. Some other countries also have similar problems. The growing importance of energy saving in buildings can be, in the case of new [...] Read more.

In Slovakia, 35% of buildings are older than 50 years but most newer buildings built before 1990 have greater energy consumption. Some other countries also have similar problems. The growing importance of energy saving in buildings can be, in the case of new and old residential buildings (RB), achieved by lowering thermal energy consumption most often by application of polystyrene insulation on the external walls and roof and the exchange of wood window frames for PVC (polyvinyl chloride) windows. The novelty of the article for Slovakia and some other central European countries consists in using the life cycle assessment (LCA) method for the objective assessment of the environmental benefits of the selected systems of wall insulation, as well as of energy savings in various time intervals of insulation functionality (up to 20 years). LCA software SimaPro (LE Amersfoort, The Netherlands) was used with ReCiPe and IMPACT 2002+ assessment methods to quantify the total environmental impact at selected endpoints and midpoints (IMPACT 2002+) of basic structural materials of an RB and its energy demand—heat consumption (hot water heating, central heating) before the application of insulation and thermal energy saving (TES) after application of insulation to its external walls, roof, and the exchange of windows. The data we obtained confirmed that the environmental impact of the polystyrene insulation of external walls, roof, and exchange of windows of one residential building (RB) in the first year after insulation is higher than the reduction caused by achieving a TES of 39%. When taking a lifespan of 20 years into consideration, the impact over the life cycle of the building materials is reduced by 25% (global warming: −4792 kg CO₂ eq; production of carcinogens: −2479 kg C₂H₃Cl eq; acidification: −12,045 kg SO₂ eq; and aquatic eutrophication: −257 kg PO₄ P-lim). The verified LCA methodology will be used for comparative analysis of different variants of thermal insulation of buildings, and their functionality in the long term, while taking into account local specifics and the preparation of environmental product declarations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Urban and Rural Development)

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12 pages, 369 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Macroeconomic Assessment of Voltage Sags

by Sinan Küfeoğlu^* and Matti Lehtonen

Department of Electrical Engineering and Automation , Aalto University, 02150 Espoo, Finland

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1304; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121304 - 12 Dec 2016

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 4950

Abstract

The electric power sector has changed dramatically since the 1980s. Electricity customers are now demanding uninterrupted and high quality service from both utilities and authorities. By becoming more and more dependent on the voltage sensitive electronic equipment, the industry sector is the one [...] Read more.

The electric power sector has changed dramatically since the 1980s. Electricity customers are now demanding uninterrupted and high quality service from both utilities and authorities. By becoming more and more dependent on the voltage sensitive electronic equipment, the industry sector is the one which is affected the most by voltage disturbances. Voltage sags are one of the most crucial problems for these customers. The utilities, on the other hand, conduct cost-benefit analyses before going through new investment projects. At this point, understanding the costs of voltage sags become imperative for planning purposes. The characteristics of electric power consumption and hence the susceptibility against voltage sags differ considerably among different industry subsectors. Therefore, a model that will address the estimation of worth of electric power reliability for a large number of customer groups is necessary. This paper introduces a macroeconomic model to calculate Customer Voltage Sag Costs (CVSCs) for the industry sector customers. The proposed model makes use of analytical data such as value added, annual energy consumption, working hours, and average outage durations and provides a straightforward, credible, and easy to follow methodology for the estimation of CVSCs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Electric Power Systems Research)

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15 pages, 3228 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Hydrogeochemistry of Groundwater and Arsenic Adsorption Characteristics of Subsurface Sediments in an Alluvial Plain, SW Taiwan

by Libing Liao¹, Jiin-Shuh Jean^2,*

, Sukalyan Chakraborty^2,3, Ming-Kuo Lee⁴, Sandeep Kar², Huai-Jen Yang² and Zhaohui Li^1,2,5,*

¹ Beijing Key Laboratory of Materials Utilization of Nonmetallic Minerals and Solid Wastes, National Laboratory of Mineral Materials, School of Materials Science and Technology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China

² Department of Earth Sciences, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan

³ Environmental Science and Engineering Group, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi 835215, India

⁴ Department of Geology and Geography, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA

⁵ Department of Geosciences, University of Wisconsin-Parkside, Kenosha, WI 53141-2000, USA

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1305; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121305 - 11 Dec 2016

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4410

Abstract

Many studies were conducted to investigate arsenic mobilization in different alluvial plains worldwide. However, due to the unique endemic disease associated with arsenic (As) contamination in Taiwan, a recent research was re-initiated to understand the transport behavior of arsenic in a localized alluvial [...] Read more.

Many studies were conducted to investigate arsenic mobilization in different alluvial plains worldwide. However, due to the unique endemic disease associated with arsenic (As) contamination in Taiwan, a recent research was re-initiated to understand the transport behavior of arsenic in a localized alluvial plain. A comprehensive approach towards arsenic mobility, binding, and chemical speciation was applied to correlate groundwater hydrogeochemistry with parameters of the sediments that affected the As fate and transport. The groundwater belongs to a Na-Ca-HCO₃ type with moderate reducing to oxidizing conditions (redox potential = −192 to 8 mV). Groundwater As concentration in the region ranged from 8.89 to 1131 μg/L with a mean of 343 ± 297 μg/L, while the As content in the core sediments varied from 0.80 to 22.8 mg/kg with a mean of 9.9 ± 6.2 mg/kg. A significant correlation was found between As and Fe, Mn, or organic matter, as well as other elements such as Ni, Cu, Zn, and Co in the core sediments. Sequential extraction analysis indicated that the organic matter and Fe/Mn oxyhydroxides were the major binding pools of As. Batch adsorption experiments showed that the sediments had slightly higher affinity for As(III) than for As(V) under near neutral pH conditions and the As adsorption capacity increased as the contents of Fe oxyhydroxides as well as the organic matter increased. Full article

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20 pages, 1593 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessing the Challenges in Successful Implementation and Adoption of Crop Insurance in Thailand

by Shweta Sinha^* and Nitin K. Tripathi

Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Pathumthani 12120, Thailand

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1306; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121306 - 13 Dec 2016

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 8286

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to assess the gaps in the adoption of crop insurance in Thailand and suggest possible solutions relating to policy support and framework, implementation mechanisms, technology adoption, and awareness amongst farmers. The methodology includes a literature review, interaction [...] Read more.

The purpose of this paper is to assess the gaps in the adoption of crop insurance in Thailand and suggest possible solutions relating to policy support and framework, implementation mechanisms, technology adoption, and awareness amongst farmers. The methodology includes a literature review, interaction with officials, rice experts and insurance experts, and discussion with farmers. A study was undertaken at province level to assess the impact of using rainfall index as a threshold. Additionally, focused group discussions (FGD) were conducted with rice farmers at the village level. Key issues targeted in the FGD were to understand the behavior and practices during droughts, impact of drought on crop yield, methods already in use to reduce the impact, such as plantation of drought-resistant rice, and the adoption of crop insurance. Data availability is a challenge and has led to withdrawal of Weather Index Insurance (WII) in 2015. WII have threshold levels based on historical rainfall. Adoption of coping mechanisms, such as drought-resistant rice and irrigation increases the chances of adverse selection. In absence of ground based weather data, a combination of satellite agriculture drought information can be used to make crop insurance more attractive as it would help in reducing basis risk and improving insurers and farmers’ confidence in the product. Discussion with farmers, insurance companies, and the Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) in Thailand suggested low awareness among farmers about the potential benefits of weather index insurance products. Relatively low compensation is also an obstacle. Proper marketing and awareness raising campaigns should also accompany the introduction of index-based insurance products. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Agriculture)

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18 pages, 3328 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Outcomes on the Spray Profiles Produced by the Feasible Adjustments of Commonly Used Sprayers in “Tendone” Vineyards of Apulia (Southern Italy)

by Simone Pascuzzi

Department of Agricultural and Environmental Science, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70126 Bari, Italy

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1307; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121307 - 13 Dec 2016

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 4001

Abstract

The objective of the research was to assess the outcomes on the spray patterns produced by the different feasible adjustments of two different air blast sprayers and one mist blower sprayer, commonly employed for treatments to Apulian “tendone” vineyards. The spray profiles of [...] Read more.

The objective of the research was to assess the outcomes on the spray patterns produced by the different feasible adjustments of two different air blast sprayers and one mist blower sprayer, commonly employed for treatments to Apulian “tendone” vineyards. The spray profiles of these machines and the respective refinements affected by the alteration of the available adjusting devices were evaluated using a test bench, suitably set up for calibrating the sprayers used inside such vines. The air blast sprayers, compared with the mist blower model, have a better chance to match the spray pattern and the canopy profile of the “tendone” vines. Furthermore, the left-right asymmetry of the spray profile is reduced only in the case of sprayers with two counter-rotating fans, under certain operating conditions. Conversely, the symmetry index worsens with the activation of the fan in the case of the air blast sprayer fitted with a single fan either with or without the air deflectors. The mist blower sprayer develops lower drawbacks, in terms of left-right asymmetry of the spray profile, even if the high “stiffness” of the spray profile makes this sprayer not particularly suitable to the changing needs of the canopy of the “tendone” vineyards. The obtained results, even if related to the analyzed sprayers, can represent an original base of reference to set up guidelines for the adjustment of sprayers used for treatments inside “tendone” vineyards, very useful for the officially authorized Apulian workshops to make sprayers inspection and calibration. Full article

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21 pages, 27249 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessing Wheat Frost Risk with the Support of GIS: An Approach Coupling a Growing Season Meteorological Index and a Hybrid Fuzzy Neural Network Model

by Yaojie Yue^1,2,*

, Yao Zhou³, Jing’ai Wang^1,2 and Xinyue Ye⁴

¹ School of Geography, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China

² State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China

³ Department of Geography, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA

⁴ Department of Geography, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1308; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121308 - 13 Dec 2016

Cited by 40 | Viewed by 6271

Abstract

Crop frost, one kind of agro-meteorological disaster, often causes significant loss to agriculture. Thus, evaluating the risk of wheat frost aids scientific response to such disasters, which will ultimately promote food security. Therefore, this paper aims to propose an integrated risk assessment model [...] Read more.

Crop frost, one kind of agro-meteorological disaster, often causes significant loss to agriculture. Thus, evaluating the risk of wheat frost aids scientific response to such disasters, which will ultimately promote food security. Therefore, this paper aims to propose an integrated risk assessment model of wheat frost, based on meteorological data and a hybrid fuzzy neural network model, taking China as an example. With the support of a geographic information system (GIS), a comprehensive method was put forward. Firstly, threshold temperatures of wheat frost at three growth stages were proposed, referring to phenology in different wheat growing areas and the meteorological standard of Degree of Crop Frost Damage (QX/T 88-2008). Secondly, a vulnerability curve illustrating the relationship between frost hazard intensity and wheat yield loss was worked out using hybrid fuzzy neural network model. Finally, the wheat frost risk was assessed in China. Results show that our proposed threshold temperatures are more suitable than using 0 °C in revealing the spatial pattern of frost occurrence, and hybrid fuzzy neural network model can further improve the accuracy of the vulnerability curve of wheat subject to frost with limited historical hazard records. Both these advantages ensure the precision of wheat frost risk assessment. In China, frost widely distributes in 85.00% of the total winter wheat planting area, but mainly to the north of 35°N; the southern boundary of wheat frost has moved northward, potentially because of the warming climate. There is a significant trend that suggests high risk areas will enlarge and gradually expand to the south, with the risk levels increasing from a return period of 2 years to 20 years. Among all wheat frost risk levels, the regions with loss rate ranges from 35.00% to 45.00% account for the largest area proportion, ranging from 58.60% to 63.27%. We argue that for wheat and other frost-affected crops, it is necessary to take the risk level, physical exposure, and growth stages of crops into consideration together for frost disaster risk prevention planning. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Ecosystems and Society in the Context of Big and New Data)

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14 pages, 13875 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Gridded Water Resource Distribution Simulation for China Based on Third-Order Basin Data from 2002

by Mingguang Tu^1,2,*

, Futao Wang^1,*, Yi Zhou¹ and Shixin Wang¹

¹ Institute of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China

² Institute of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1309; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121309 - 13 Dec 2016

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 6517

Abstract

Water resources are a key factor for regional sustainable development. However, the published water resource data in China is based on a large geographical scale, such as watershed units, and the data cannot reflect subtle differences in water resource distribution. The paper aimed [...] Read more.

Water resources are a key factor for regional sustainable development. However, the published water resource data in China is based on a large geographical scale, such as watershed units, and the data cannot reflect subtle differences in water resource distribution. The paper aimed to distribute water resources of the third-order basin of China into grid-cells of 1 km × 1 km. First, we used Moran’s I index to analyze the spatial pattern of water resources of the third-order basin. Second, we constructed a spatial autocorrelation model between water resources of third-order basins and the associated factors. Third, we applied the model to simulate the gridded water resource distribution and evaluated the simulation accuracy. The results indicated that significant spatial autocorrelation existed among the water resources of third-order basins. Northern China was the low-value clustering area of water resources and Southeast China was the high-value clustering area of water resources. Slope and precipitation were the main factors that influenced the amount of water resources. The simulating accuracy of water resource distribution was very high, apart from some extremely arid regions (Gurbantunggut Desert, Kumtag Desert, and Hexi Desert). On the whole, the gridded water resource distribution map was valid and was helpful for regional water resource management. Full article

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9 pages, 193 KiB

Open AccessCase Report

Fostering Cultures of Sustainability through Community-Engaged Museums: The History and Re-Emergence of Ecomuseums in Canada and the USA

by Glenn C. Sutter^1,*, Tobias Sperlich², Douglas Worts³, René Rivard⁴ and Lynne Teather⁵

¹ Royal Saskatchewan Museum, 2340 Albert St, Regina, SK S4P 2V7, Canada

² Department of Anthropology, University of Regina, 3737 Wascana Pkwy, Regina, SK S4S 0A2, Canada

³ WorldViews Consulting, 4 Earl St., Toronto, ON M4Y 1M3, Canada

⁴ Cultura Consulting, 1070 avenue Lajoie, porte 12, Outremont, PQ H2V 1N6, Canada

⁵ Department of Museum Studies, University of Toronto, 140 St. George St., Toronto, ON M5S 3G6, Canada

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1310; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121310 - 13 Dec 2016

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 6945

Abstract

In recent decades, communities around the world have been reacting to the forces of globalization by re-focusing on the local, leading to the democratization of culture, heritage, and related concepts. By attempting to reconnect locals with their own sense of belonging, to reinvigorate [...] Read more.

In recent decades, communities around the world have been reacting to the forces of globalization by re-focusing on the local, leading to the democratization of culture, heritage, and related concepts. By attempting to reconnect locals with their own sense of belonging, to reinvigorate a pride of place, and to foster wellbeing, communities have increasingly and successfully turned to features that make their local history, heritage, and environment unique or distinctive. In turn, democratization processes have led to sustainable forms of economic and community development through ecomuseums and other examples of community-engaged museums. This paper aims to deepen our understanding of relevant community-based culture and heritage initiatives by reflecting on the development of ecomuseums in Canada and the USA. As part of the larger museum community, ecomuseums tend to be accessible entities that are not affiliated with political or other convictions or viewpoints. This makes them uniquely positioned to foster creative change and adaptation aimed at sustainability, yet their evolution in North America has not been examined from this perspective. To address this gap, this paper will highlight the Haute-Beauce Ecomuseum in Québec and the Ak-Chin Him Dak Ecomuseum in Arizona, which have long histories as North American ecomuseums and represent two very different cultural and geographic contexts. We also reflect on the history of ecomuseums in Canada, and their recent emergence in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Education and Approaches)

14 pages, 2163 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Respirometric Index and Biogas Potential of Different Foods and Agricultural Discarded Biomass

by Simona Ciuta¹, Stefano Antognoni², Elena Cristina Rada^2,3,*

, Marco Ragazzi², Adrian Badea^1,4 and Lucian Ionel Cioca^3,4

¹ Department of Energy Production and Use, Politehnica Univeristy of Bucharest, Splaiul Independentei, 313, Bucharest 060042, Romania

² Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, via Mesiano, 77, Trento 38123, Italy

³ Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Faculty of Engineering, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Bulevardul Victoriei, 10, Sibiu 550024, Romania

⁴ Academy of Romanian Scientists, Splaiul Independentei, 54, Sector 5, Bucharest 010071, Romania

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1311; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121311 - 14 Dec 2016

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 6663

Abstract

The biological stability of biomass is an important parameter for treatment plant design, process control or compost use. Measuring the biological reactivity of waste with the help of indicators such as respirometric indexes (RI) becomes an important tool to prevent the significant environmental [...] Read more.

The biological stability of biomass is an important parameter for treatment plant design, process control or compost use. Measuring the biological reactivity of waste with the help of indicators such as respirometric indexes (RI) becomes an important tool to prevent the significant environmental impact of biodegradable wastes in accordance with European legislation. The aim of this paper is to show the importance of the RI technique as a tool to establish further uses of biomass such as fertilizer or biogas. The respirometric process length for different types of biomass (grape marc, apple pomace and olive pomace) was quantified. Higher moisture content seemed to favor the biological activity during the respirometric experiments and shorten the length of the process. The duration of olive pomace respirometry did not exceed 3 days, while the respirometric activity of apple scraps the lasted approximately 2 days. The highest RI values were encountered for the apple pomace, 4888 mgO₂·kg_VS⁻¹·h⁻¹. The majority of the discarded biomasses are categorized in the third class of stability materials in the course of degradation. This technique is important to detect the biodegradability of substrates, as well as to gain insight into the quantity and generation rate of biogas produced, information that is important from an engineering management perspective. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Sustainability and Applications)

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14 pages, 227 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Wicked Problem of Climate Change: A New Approach Based on Social Mess and Fragmentation

by Jiazhe Sun^* and Kaizhong Yang

School of Government, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1312; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121312 - 13 Dec 2016

Cited by 74 | Viewed by 26955

Abstract

The 21st century has been the warmest period on record since 1880, making the problem of climate change a central issue in the global political arena. While most approaches to climate change emphasize setting and imposing thresholds for greenhouse gas emissions, this paper [...] Read more.

The 21st century has been the warmest period on record since 1880, making the problem of climate change a central issue in the global political arena. While most approaches to climate change emphasize setting and imposing thresholds for greenhouse gas emissions, this paper argues that the issue of climate change and its solutions should be viewed in a more dynamic and complex way, involving social messes and the fragmentation of industries and organizations. In this context, learning models can offer a starting point to understand the reasons why organizations engage in certain types of corporate environmental strategies with regard to climate change, and can help in the search for solutions to the problem of climate change. Full article

20 pages, 723 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Examining the Interrelationship among Critical Success Factors of Public Private Partnership Infrastructure Projects

by Shiying Shi¹, Heap-Yih Chong², Lihong Liu³ and Xiaosu Ye^1,*

¹ School of Construction Management and Real Estate, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400045, China

² Department of Construction Management, School of Built Environment, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia

³ School of Economics and Management, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1313; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121313 - 14 Dec 2016

Cited by 55 | Viewed by 8049

Abstract

Examining the interrelationships among critical success factors (CSFs) for public private partnership (PPP) projects is of importance for improving PPP project performance and maintaining the sustainability of PPP project implementation. Previous studies mostly focused on the identification of the CSFs for PPP projects; [...] Read more.

Examining the interrelationships among critical success factors (CSFs) for public private partnership (PPP) projects is of importance for improving PPP project performance and maintaining the sustainability of PPP project implementation. Previous studies mostly focused on the identification of the CSFs for PPP projects; limited studies investigated the interrelationships among CSFs. Hence, the research objectives are (a) to determine the interrelationships among CSFs of PPP projects taking into account the public and (b) to identify influence paths contributing to take advantage of CSFs in the process of PPP implementation. A literature review and expert interviews were adopted to construct the CSFs framework; nine hypotheses were constructed and tested by the structural equation modelling (SEM) based on the data collected from a questionnaire survey. This research reveals that the relationship between public and private partners is the leader-follower relationship, not the partnership relationship, in PPP projects, indicating that the responsibilities, power or resources existing among partners are very unequal. It also highlights that public involvement has a negative effect on the process of service provisions, and costs and risks exist in the process of public involvement in PPP projects. The determined interrelationships among CSFs will contribute to the sustainability and success of a PPP project. Full article

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18 pages, 1254 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Government Grassland Conservation Policy on Household Livelihoods and Dependence on Local Grasslands: Evidence from Inner Mongolia, China

by Bingzhen Du^1,2, Lin Zhen^1,*, Huimin Yan¹ and Rudolf De Groot²

¹ Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 11A, Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China

² Environmental Systems Analysis Group, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen 6700 WB, The Netherlands

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1314; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121314 - 14 Dec 2016

Cited by 33 | Viewed by 6547

Abstract

Grassland degradation intensifies human-environment conflicts and adversely affects local residents’ livelihoods. To reduce grassland degradation in Inner Mongolia, China, the government has enforced (since 1998) a series of grassland conservation and management policies that restrict the use of grasslands. To ease the impact [...] Read more.

Grassland degradation intensifies human-environment conflicts and adversely affects local residents’ livelihoods. To reduce grassland degradation in Inner Mongolia, China, the government has enforced (since 1998) a series of grassland conservation and management policies that restrict the use of grasslands. To ease the impact on the residents’ livelihoods, the national and regional governments have offered a series of top-down arrangements to stimulate sustainable use of the grasslands. Simultaneously, local households spontaneously developed bottom-up countermeasures. To determine the effects of these processes, we interviewed members of 135 households using a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods. We analyzed the effects on household dependence on local grasslands and on perceptions of the future of grassland use. Our findings show that the implementation of the grassland conservation policies significantly affected household livelihoods, which in turn affected household use of natural assets (primarily the land), their agricultural assets (farming and grazing activities) and their financial assets (income and consumption), resulting in fundamental transformation of their lifestyles. The households developed adaptation measures to account for the dependence of their livelihood on local ecosystems by initializing strategies, such as seeking off-farm work, leasing pasture land, increasing purchases of fodder for stall-fed animals and altering their diet and fuel consumption to compensate for their changing livelihoods. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Sustainability and Applications)

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13 pages, 415 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigation of Strategic Changes Using Patent Co-Inventor Network Analysis: The Case of Samsung Electronics

by Sungchul Choi¹

and Hyunseok Park^2,*

¹ Department of Industrial and Management Engineering, Gachon University, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do 13120, Korea

² Department of Information System, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1315; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121315 - 14 Dec 2016

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 8276

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to propose a method to investigate a firm’s strategic changes. Technologies or technological capabilities are a major resource for achieving competitive advantages, so a firm’s R&D effort to improve capabilities on specific technologies is aligned with strategic [...] Read more.

The aim of this paper is to propose a method to investigate a firm’s strategic changes. Technologies or technological capabilities are a major resource for achieving competitive advantages, so a firm’s R&D effort to improve capabilities on specific technologies is aligned with strategic direction. Therefore, this research analyzes changes in R&D efforts by identifying key R&D personnel using patent co-inventor network and social network analysis. Based on characteristics of application and granted patents, the method analyzes current and future R&D efforts and so identifies strategic changes of a firm. We conducted an empirical analysis using the patents of Samsung Electronics. Our method analyzed the current and future strategies of Samsung Electronics and the result shows clear strategic changes in their focal technologies and business. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)

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18 pages, 2397 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Three-Dimensional Sustainability Evaluation of Jatropha Plantations in Yucatan, Mexico

by Julio C. Sacramento Rivero^1,*, Amarella Eastmond-Spencer², Javier Becerril García³ and Freddy S. Navarro-Pineda¹

¹ Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Periferico Norte km 33.5, Tablaje Catastral 13615, Col. Chuburna de Hidalgo Inn, Merida, Yucatan 97203, Mexico

² Social Sciences Unit, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Calle 61 x 66 No. 525, Centro, Merida, Yucatan 97000, Mexico

³ Faculty of Economics, Km. 1 Carretera Mérida-Tizimín, Cholul, Merida, Yucatan 97305, Mexico

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1316; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121316 - 14 Dec 2016

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 5750

Abstract

This paper presents a unique sustainability analysis of one of the first attempts to establish a biodiesel industry in Mexico. From 2008, several companies established medium to large-sized Jatropha curcas plantations in Yucatan, hiring local peasants to carry out the agricultural work. After [...] Read more.

This paper presents a unique sustainability analysis of one of the first attempts to establish a biodiesel industry in Mexico. From 2008, several companies established medium to large-sized Jatropha curcas plantations in Yucatan, hiring local peasants to carry out the agricultural work. After five years, the plantations were abandoned due to poor seed yields and a lack of key knowledge for large-scale cultivation. Based on a multidisciplinary approach, we performed a three-dimensional sustainability evaluation of the potential biodiesel production chain, which included household interviews, a socioeconomic survey, and a life-cycle assessment (LCA). We identified both negative and positive effects in the three dimensions analyzed. Socially and culturally, the local peasant families understood sustainability as their ability to preserve their traditional lifestyle, and associated environmental services with their sense of identity. They therefore considered the jatropha plantations to be positive for sustainability, since they brought income, even though some perceived damage to the natural resources of the surrounding areas. Economically, peasants’ annual household income increased by approximately $1080 USD due to the increased salaries paid by the jatropha companies. The LCA predicted large savings of greenhouse gas emissions (>50% compared to fossil diesel), but also potential negative impacts in some categories (human/ecological toxicity and eutrophication potentials) associated with the use of mineral fertilizers, insecticides, and pesticides applied during the cultivation stage. Biodiesel production would be potentially energetically self-sufficient, in addition to producing a 40% energy surplus. Finally, even though the sustainability indicators suggested a positive overall assessment, the reality was that the jatropha projects failed because they were predicated on unrealistically optimistic projections and poor agronomic knowledge of the plant. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Energy Sustainability)

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12 pages, 4414 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Hydraulic Properties of Porous Media Saturated with Nanoparticle-Stabilized Air-Water Foam

by Xianglei Zheng

and Jaewon Jang^*

School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1317; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121317 - 14 Dec 2016

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 5529

Abstract

The foam generated by the mixture of air and water has a much higher viscosity and lower mobility than those of pure water or gas that constitutes the air-water foam. The possibility of using the air-water foam as a flow barrier for the [...] Read more.

The foam generated by the mixture of air and water has a much higher viscosity and lower mobility than those of pure water or gas that constitutes the air-water foam. The possibility of using the air-water foam as a flow barrier for the purpose of groundwater and soil remediation is explored in this paper. A nanoparticle-stabilized air-water foam was fabricated by vigorously stirring the nano-fluid in pressurized condition. The foam bubble size distribution was analyzed with a microscope. The viscosities of foams generated with the solutions with several nanoparticle concentrations were measured as a function of time. The breakthrough pressure of foam-saturated microfluidic chips and sand columns were obtained. The hydraulic conductivity of a foam-filled sand column was measured after foam breakthrough. The results show that: (1) bubble coalescence and the Ostwald ripening are believed to be the reason of bubble size distribution change; (2) the viscosity of nanoparticle-stabilized foam and the breakthrough pressures decreased with time once the foam was generated; (3) the hydraulic conductivity of the foam-filled sand column was almost two orders of magnitude lower than that of a water-saturated sand column even after the foam-breakthrough. Based on the results in this study, the nanoparticle-stabilized air-water foam could be injected into contaminated soils to generate vertical barriers for temporary hydraulic conductivity reduction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Sustainability and Applications)

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13 pages, 3900 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating the Feasibility of Using Produced Water from Oil and Natural Gas Production to Address Water Scarcity in California’s Central Valley

by Measrainsey Meng, Mo Chen and Kelly T. Sanders^*

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1318; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121318 - 14 Dec 2016

Cited by 29 | Viewed by 7328

Abstract

The current California drought has reduced freshwater availability, creating tensions between water users across the state. Although over 518 million m

^{3}

of water were produced during fossil fuel production in California in 2014, the majority was disposed into Class II injection wells. [...] Read more.

The current California drought has reduced freshwater availability, creating tensions between water users across the state. Although over 518 million m

^{3}

of water were produced during fossil fuel production in California in 2014, the majority was disposed into Class II injection wells. There have been few attempts to assess the feasibility of using produced water for beneficial purposes, due in part to the difficulties of accessing, synthesizing and analyzing data regarding produced water quality and quantity. This study addresses this gap and provides a techno-economic assessment of upgrading produced water from California’s oil and natural gas activities and moving it to adjacent water-stressed regions. Results indicate that the four population centers facing the greatest water shortage risk are located in the Central Valley within a 161 km (100 mile) radius of 230 million m

^{3}

of total treatable produced water. This volume can supply up to one million people-years worth of potable water. The cost of desalinating and transporting this water source is comparable in magnitude to some agricultural and local public water supplies and is substantially lower than bottled water. Thus, utilizing reverse osmosis to treat produced water might be a feasible solution to help relieve water scarcity in some drought-stricken regions of California. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Development for Sustainability in Water Constrained Regions)

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21 pages, 2180 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optimizing Bus Passenger Complaint Service through Big Data Analysis: Systematized Analysis for Improved Public Sector Management

by Weng-Kun Liu^1,*

and Chia-Chun Yen²

¹ Department of International Business, Feng Chia University, Taichung 40724, Taiwan

² Ph.D. Program in Civil and Hydraulic Engineering, Feng Chia University, Taichung 40724, Taiwan

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1319; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121319 - 14 Dec 2016

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 8710

Abstract

With the advances in industry and commerce, passengers have become more accepting of environmental sustainability issues; thus, more people now choose to travel by bus. Government administration constitutes an important part of bus transportation services as the government gives the right-of-way to transportation [...] Read more.

With the advances in industry and commerce, passengers have become more accepting of environmental sustainability issues; thus, more people now choose to travel by bus. Government administration constitutes an important part of bus transportation services as the government gives the right-of-way to transportation companies allowing them to provide services. When these services are of poor quality, passengers may lodge complaints. The increase in consumer awareness and developments in wireless communication technologies have made it possible for passengers to easily and immediately submit complaints about transportation companies to government institutions, which has brought drastic changes to the supply–demand chain comprised of the public sector, transportation companies, and passengers. This study proposed the use of big data analysis technology including systematized case assignment and data visualization to improve management processes in the public sector and optimize customer complaint services. Taichung City, Taiwan, was selected as the research area. There, the customer complaint management process in public sector was improved, effectively solving such issues as station-skipping, allowing the public sector to fully grasp the service level of transportation companies, improving the sustainability of bus operations, and supporting the sustainable development of the public sector–transportation company–passenger supply chain. Full article

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12 pages, 8442 KiB

Open AccessTechnical Note

Sustainable Development of Abandoned Mine Areas Using Renewable Energy Systems: A Case Study of the Photovoltaic Potential Assessment at the Tailings Dam of Abandoned Sangdong Mine, Korea

by Yosoon Choi^*

and Jinyoung Song

Department of Energy Resources Engineering, Pukyong National University, Busan 608-737, Korea

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1320; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121320 - 14 Dec 2016

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 7619

Abstract

As mineral resources are depleted, most mines are typically abandoned and left unattended, resulting in serious social problems that impede sustainable development of these areas. The mining industry has recently introduced the use of renewable energy systems to solve the problems. This study [...] Read more.

As mineral resources are depleted, most mines are typically abandoned and left unattended, resulting in serious social problems that impede sustainable development of these areas. The mining industry has recently introduced the use of renewable energy systems to solve the problems. This study assessed the photovoltaic (PV) potential of an abandoned mine tailings dam at the Sangdong mine in South Korea. A regional shading analysis and field investigations indicated that the usable area for installing the PV system was 44,220 m². The design capacity of the system was 3 MW considering the space available for the PV array. Power generation was simulated by inputting data about the hourly weather, system design, and a site assessment into System Advisor Model software. Simulation results indicated that 3509 MWh of electricity could be generated annually. Moreover, economic feasibility analysis, assuming a 20 year project period, confirmed that the net present value of the PV systems would be $1,903,000 USD. Therefore, installing a 3 MW PV system on the mine tailings dam at the Sangdong mine is feasible and could provide an efficient option for sustainable development of the abandoned mine land. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Energy Sustainability)

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14 pages, 1587 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Wave Climate Resource Analysis Based on a Revised Gamma Spectrum for Wave Energy Conversion Technology

by Jeremiah Pastor¹ and Yucheng Liu^2,*

¹ Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, LA 70504, USA

² Department of Mechanical Engineering, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39760, USA

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1321; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121321 - 14 Dec 2016

Cited by 43 | Viewed by 6160

Abstract

In order to correctly predict and evaluate the response of wave energy converters (WECs), an accurate representation of wave climate resource is crucial. This paper gives an overview of wave resource modeling techniques and applies a methodology to estimate the naturally available and [...] Read more.

In order to correctly predict and evaluate the response of wave energy converters (WECs), an accurate representation of wave climate resource is crucial. This paper gives an overview of wave resource modeling techniques and applies a methodology to estimate the naturally available and technically recoverable resource in a given deployment site. The methodology was initially developed by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), which uses a modified gamma spectrum to interpret sea state hindcast parameter data produced by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) WaveWatch III. This gamma spectrum is dependent on the calibration of two variables relating to the spectral width parameter and spectral peakedness parameter. In this study, this methodology was revised by the authors to increase its accuracy in formulating wavelength. The revised methodology shows how to assess a given geographic area’s wave resource based on its wave power density and total annual wave energy flux. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wave Energy Converters)

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16 pages, 650 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Variations in the Use of Resources for Food: Land, Nitrogen Fertilizer and Food Nexus

by María José Ibarrola-Rivas^1,*

and Sanderine Nonhebel²

¹ Instituto de Geografía, Universidad Autónoma de México, Investigación Científica S/N, Ciudad Universitaria, CP 04510 Ciudad de México, Mexico

² Center for Energy and Environmental Sciences, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 6, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1322; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121322 - 15 Dec 2016

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 6116

Abstract

Future dietary changes will increase the global demand for agricultural resources per person. Food production requires several resources which are interrelated: land, water, nutrients and energy. Other studies have calculated the per capita requirements of only one resource (nitrogen or land). In this [...] Read more.

Future dietary changes will increase the global demand for agricultural resources per person. Food production requires several resources which are interrelated: land, water, nutrients and energy. Other studies have calculated the per capita requirements of only one resource (nitrogen or land). In this paper, we combine several parameters (diets, production systems and nitrogen-land trade-off) in one analysis in order to provide a more integrated assessment of the impacts of the use of agricultural resources for food. We estimated the trade-off between the per capita use of synthetic nitrogen fertilizer and crop land. With our methodology, we are able to identify separately the impacts of the type of diet and of the type of production system. We use national level data of five countries as examples of global extremes: from extensive to highly intensive systems, and from very basic diets to very affluent diets. The present differences in diets and production systems result in large differences in the per capita use of resources which ranges from 3 to 30 kg of nitrogen fertilizer use per person, and from 1800 to 4500 m² of arable land use per person. As the results show, in 2050, the average per capita availability of crop land will not be enough to produce food for affluent diets with present production systems. Our results are useful to assess future requirements of nitrogen fertilizer for the limited land available on the planet. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food-Energy-Water Nexus: Towards New Thinking and Action)

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18 pages, 7562 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Urban Land Development for Industrial and Commercial Use: A Case Study of Beijing

by Chuanzhun Sun^1,†, Chao Sun^2,†, Zhenshan Yang^3,*, Jikang Zhang⁴ and Yu Deng³

¹ College of Public Management, South China Agricultural University, No. 483, Wushan Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510642, China

² Department of Engineering Physics, Institute of Public Safety Research, Tsinghua University, Zhongguancun North Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100084, China

³ Key Lab of Regional Sustainable Development and Modelling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 11A Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Bejing 100101, China

⁴ Shenzhen Urban Planning & Land Resource Research Center, 8009 Hongli Road, Futian District, Shenzhen 518040, China

^† These authors contribute equally to this paper.

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1323; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121323 - 15 Dec 2016

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 7088

Abstract

Since the 20th century, urbanization has been the main characteristic of global land development. If we can reveal and understand the characteristics and underlying mechanisms of urban development, we can then identify a sustainable development pattern for cities. In this paper, we primarily [...] Read more.

Since the 20th century, urbanization has been the main characteristic of global land development. If we can reveal and understand the characteristics and underlying mechanisms of urban development, we can then identify a sustainable development pattern for cities. In this paper, we primarily focus on the determinants of two main types of land use in urban development, industrial and commercial, in an empirical study of Beijing. We use a spatial data analysis method to seek and model major determinants of industrial and commercial land growth in the period of 2000–2010 in Beijing. A spatial logistic regression model is used to explore the impact of spatial independent variables on these two types of land use. The study shows that: (1) newly-added industrial land during 2000–2010 received significant contributions from the number of local enterprises engaged in services in 2010, the use of land for agriculture and construction in the neighborhood in 2000 and planning orders; (2) factors contributing to land transferred for commercial use included the number of enterprises, construction land in the neighborhood and accessibility improvement. Full article

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10 pages, 3208 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ground Water Modelling for the Restoration of Carex Communities on a Sandy River Terrace

by Andrzej Brandyk^1,*, Grzegorz Majewski²

, Adam Kiczko²

, Andrzej Boczoń³

, Michał Wróbel³ and Paola Porretta-Tomaszewska⁴

¹ Laboratory-Water Center, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Ciszewskiego Str. 6, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland

² Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska Str. 159, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland

³ Forest Research Institute, Braci Leśnej Str. 3, Sękocin Stary, 05-090 Raszyn, Poland

⁴ Faculty of Building Services, Hydro and Environmental Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology, Nowowiejska Str. 20, 00-653 Warsaw, Poland

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1324; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121324 - 15 Dec 2016

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4446

Abstract

Management for sustainable river valleys requires balancing their natural values against the need for agricultural and recreational development on surrounding lands. The Southern Całowanie Peatland near the city of Warsaw sits on a sandy terrace and has well preserved Carex and Molinia stands [...] Read more.

Management for sustainable river valleys requires balancing their natural values against the need for agricultural and recreational development on surrounding lands. The Southern Całowanie Peatland near the city of Warsaw sits on a sandy terrace and has well preserved Carex and Molinia stands existing in part of the area, especially where water tables are less than 1.5 m below the surface. The existing drainage network in this southern part has been poorly maintained and could be reestablished to help raise water levels for restoration of the peatland. Modflow was used to look at influence of drainage channel water levels on the overall water table height in the area. By raising water levels in the drainage system by 0.5 m it was found that 29% of the area would become suitable for increasing Carex and Molinia communities. Full article

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12 pages, 507 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Factors Influencing Farmers’ Willingness to Participate in Wetland Restoration: Evidence from China

by Honggen Zhu^1,2,†, Zhengfei Guan^3,4,*,† and Xuan Wei^3,†

¹ School of Marketing and Logistics Management, Nanjing University of Finance & Economics, 3 Wen Yuan Road, Xian Lin University City, Nanjing 210023, China

² School of Economics and Management, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang Economic and Technological Development District, 1101 Zhimin Road, Nanchang 330045, China

³ Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, University of Florida, 14625 CR 672, Wimauma, FL 33598, USA

⁴ Food and Resource Economics Department, University of Florida, P.O. Box 110240 IFAS, Gainesvile, FL 32611, USA

^† These authors contributed equally to this work.

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1325; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121325 - 15 Dec 2016

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 7035

Abstract

The Poyang Lake wetland has been at the center of discussion in China’s wetland restoration initiative because of the extent of its ecosystem degradation. The purpose of this paper is to model farmers’ willingness to participate in wetland restoration and analyze factors that [...] Read more.

The Poyang Lake wetland has been at the center of discussion in China’s wetland restoration initiative because of the extent of its ecosystem degradation. The purpose of this paper is to model farmers’ willingness to participate in wetland restoration and analyze factors that will affect farmers’ participation decisions. A household survey was conducted among 300 randomly selected farm-households in the Poyang Lake area, Jiangxi Province. A binary probit regression model is applied to investigate the impacts of farmer demographics, farm characteristics, and farmers’ perceptions of wetland and wetland restoration policies on willingness to participate in wetland restoration. Results show that farmers’ education level, household migrant members, number of dependents, household net income, farm type, and distance to urban areas have significant effects on farmers’ participation in wetland restoration. Farmers’ perceptions about the ecological values and benefits of wetlands and their knowledge about wetland restoration policies do not appear to significantly influence farmers’ willingness to participate. A gap is identified between awareness of the importance of wetland restoration and willingness to take actions to restore wetlands. Farm-households tend to weigh personal needs and economic conditions when making participation decisions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)

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26 pages, 426 KiB

Open AccessReview

Sustainability of Off-Grid Photovoltaic Systems for Rural Electrification in Developing Countries: A Review

by Sarah Feron^1,2

¹ Departamento de Física Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Ave. Bernardo O’Higgins 3363, 9170022 Santiago, Chile

² Institute for Sustainability Governance, Leuphana University Lüneburg, Scharnhorststraße 1, 21335 Lüneburg, Germany

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1326; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121326 - 19 Dec 2016

Cited by 118 | Viewed by 16875

Abstract

A review on rural electrification programs and projects based on off-grid Photovoltaic (PV) systems, including Solar Pico Systems (SPS) and Solar Home Systems (SHS) in Developing Countries (DCs) was conducted. The goal was to highlight the main multidimensional drawbacks that may constrain the [...] Read more.

A review on rural electrification programs and projects based on off-grid Photovoltaic (PV) systems, including Solar Pico Systems (SPS) and Solar Home Systems (SHS) in Developing Countries (DCs) was conducted. The goal was to highlight the main multidimensional drawbacks that may constrain the sustainability of these systems. Four dimensions of sustainability (institutional, economic, environmental and socio-cultural) were considered in this review. It was found that institutional flaws (such as the scarcity of durability/stability and enforcement of formal institutions, weak regulations or standards, incomplete decentralization/participation and the lack of institutional adaptability) seriously compromise the sustainability of rural electrification efforts in DCs. While the lack of an effective focalized subsidy scheme (e.g., cross-tariff scheme) for the electricity tariffs of the poor population often made projects economically unsustainable, the scarcity of environmental awareness, regulations or incentives has often turned presumably clean energy technologies into environmentally unsustainable projects. Progress regarding social acceptance, accuracy and cultural justice is urgently needed for ensuring the socio-cultural sustainability of rural electrification efforts in DCs. This review may help stakeholders to identify and (based on prior experiences) address the most severe drawbacks affecting the sustainability of rural electrification efforts in DCs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Social Ecology and Sustainability)

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15 pages, 5407 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Spatiotemporal Variation of Drought in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Metropolitan Region (BTHMR) Based on the Modified TVDI

by Haixin Liu^1,2,3, Anbing Zhang^2,3,*, Tao Jiang¹, Haitao Lv^2,4, Xinxia Liu^2,4 and Hefeng Wang^2,3,4

¹ College of Geomatics, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266590, China

² College of Mining and Geomatics, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan 056038, China

³ Collaborative Innovation Center of Comprehensive Development and Utilization of Coal Resource, Handan 056021, China

⁴ Research Center of Hebei Province Ecological Civilization and Social Governance, Handan 056021, China

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1327; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121327 - 16 Dec 2016

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 5707

Abstract

This study proposes a modified vegetation-dependent temperature-vegetation dryness index (TVDI) model for analyzing regional drought disasters in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Metropolitan Region (BTHMR) of China. First, MODIS monthly normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), land surface temperature (LST) data and land use/cover data (Land cover [...] Read more.

This study proposes a modified vegetation-dependent temperature-vegetation dryness index (TVDI) model for analyzing regional drought disasters in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Metropolitan Region (BTHMR) of China. First, MODIS monthly normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), land surface temperature (LST) data and land use/cover data (Land cover type2) were pre-processed as a consistent big dataset. The land use/cover data were modified and integrated into six primary types. Then, these land types were used as the base data layer to calculate the TVDI by parameterizing the relationship between the MODIS NDVI and LST data. By emphasizing different types of land uses, this study was able to compare and analyze the differences of the TVDI indices between the entire study area (no consideration of the land types) and the six classified land uses. The soil moisture data were used to validate the modified TVDI values based on different land uses, which confirmed that the modified model more effectively reflected drought conditions. Finally, the aforementioned model was used to analyze the temporal and spatial variation of drought experienced by vegetation cover from 2000 to 2014. The results of the modified model were validated with the synchronized soil moisture and precipitation data. The case study clearly demonstrated that the modified TVDI model, which is based on different vegetation indexes, could better reflect the drought conditions of the study area. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Ecosystems and Society in the Context of Big and New Data)

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13 pages, 2336 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Design of Frost Resistant Pavement Structure Based on Road Weather Stations (RWSs) Data

by Audrius Vaitkus^1,*, Judita Gražulytė¹

, Egidijus Skrodenis² and Igoris Kravcovas¹

¹ Road Research Institute, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Linkmenų str. 28, Vilnius LT-08217, Lithuania

² Department of Urban Engineering, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Saulėtekio ave. 11, Vilnius LT-10223, Lithuania

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1328; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121328 - 16 Dec 2016

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 6686

Abstract

Frost is a decisive factor influencing pavement performance in cold countries. In the EU, millions of euros are spent annually on winter maintenance. About one-third of the maintenance budget is allocated to rehabilitation due to the negative impact of frost. The negative effect [...] Read more.

Frost is a decisive factor influencing pavement performance in cold countries. In the EU, millions of euros are spent annually on winter maintenance. About one-third of the maintenance budget is allocated to rehabilitation due to the negative impact of frost. The negative effect of frost is restricted by using non-frost-susceptible materials within the frost zone and regulating water accumulation. However, experience shows that the thickness of constructed pavement structure is often inadequate and that frost penetrates into the subgrade of frost-susceptible materials. The aim of this paper is to introduce the thickness calculation approach of the frost resistant pavement structure using road weather station (RWS) data. The subgrade susceptibility to frost and the number of equivalent single axle loads (ESALs) are considered as factors too. The calculated thickness of the frost resistant pavement structure is corrected according to the specific local conditions. After performing a statistical analysis of 2012–2014 data pertaining to 26 RWSs, Lithuania was divided into four regions according to the maximum frost depths, where the maximum values depending on RWS location varied from 110.4 cm to 179.1 cm. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Engineering and Science)

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18 pages, 8425 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Geomechanical Studies on Granite Intrusions in Alxa Area for High-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal

by Cheng Cheng^*, Xiao Li, Shouding Li and Bo Zheng

Key Laboratory of Shale Gas and Geoengineering, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1329; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121329 - 16 Dec 2016

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 5630

Abstract

Geological storage is an important concept for high-level radioactive waste (HLW) disposal, and detailed studies are required to protect the environment from contamination by radionuclides. This paper presents a series of geomechanical studies on the site selection for HLW disposal in the Alxa [...] Read more.

Geological storage is an important concept for high-level radioactive waste (HLW) disposal, and detailed studies are required to protect the environment from contamination by radionuclides. This paper presents a series of geomechanical studies on the site selection for HLW disposal in the Alxa area of China. Surface investigation in the field and RQD analyses on the drill cores are carried out to evaluate the rock mass quality. Laboratory uniaxial and triaxial compressive tests on the samples prepared from the drill cores are conducted to estimate the strength properties of the host rock. It is found that the NRG sub-area has massive granite intrusions, and NRG01 cored granite samples show the best rock quality and higher peak strength under various confinements (0–30 MPa). NRG01 granite samples are applied for more detailed laboratory studies considering the effects of strain rate and temperature. It is observed that the increasing strain rate from 1.0 × 10⁻⁵–0.6 × 10⁻²·s⁻¹ can lead to a limited increase on peak strength, but a much more violent failure under uniaxial compressive tests on the NRG01 granite samples, and the temperature increasing from 20 °C–200 °C may result in a slight increase of UCS, as well as more ductile post-peak behavior in the triaxial compressive tests. Full article

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16 pages, 2050 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Improvement of Sorghum Crop through Exogenous Application of Natural Growth-Promoting Substances under a Changing Climate

by Wahid Ahmad^1,2,†, Mehmood Ali Noor^3,*,†

, Irfan Afzal², Muhammad Amir Bakhtavar², Muhammad Mohsin Nawaz³

, Xuefang Sun³, Baoyuan Zhou³, Wei Ma³ and Ming Zhao³

¹ Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, George August Göttingen University, 37073 Göttingen, Germany

² Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan

³ Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology and Ecology, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing 100081, China

^† These authors contribute equally to this work.

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1330; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121330 - 16 Dec 2016

Cited by 42 | Viewed by 8141

Abstract

High temperature during May to July is a major hurdle for production of sorghum as fodder in Pakistan, ultimately resulting in a deficit with respect to the demand of meat and milk for increasing population. A field study was conducted to investigate the [...] Read more.

High temperature during May to July is a major hurdle for production of sorghum as fodder in Pakistan, ultimately resulting in a deficit with respect to the demand of meat and milk for increasing population. A field study was conducted to investigate the impact of exogenous application of natural plant growth-promoting substances on forage yield and quality of sorghum. Seed priming and foliar application (alone or in combination) with 1% sorghum water extract (SWE), 3% moringa leaf extract (MLE) and water were applied. Two foliar applications, the first at one month after sowing and the second at 45 days after sowing were carried out. Untreated seeds were used as control. The results indicated that priming and foliar spray performed best in combination as compared to priming or foliar application alone. All MLE applications (priming plus foliar application, priming alone, foliar spray alone) enhanced growth parameters and chlorophyll contents, which ultimately improved forage yield and total dry matter production of sorghum plants. An increase in crude protein and total ash and decrease in crude fiber was also recorded in plants treated with MLE. The results of this study revealed that exogenous application of MLE at 3% concentration (priming plus foliar application, priming alone, foliar spray alone) significantly enhanced the yield through improvement in sorghum growth. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Agriculture)

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28 pages, 2504 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Stochastic Programming Approach with Improved Multi-Criteria Scenario-Based Solution Method for Sustainable Reverse Logistics Design of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)

by Hao Yu^*

and Wei Deng Solvang

Department of Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Science and Technology, UiT—The Arctic University of Norway, Narvik 8505, Norway

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1331; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121331 - 17 Dec 2016

Cited by 50 | Viewed by 8912

Abstract

Today, the increased public concern about sustainable development and more stringent environmental regulations have become important driving forces for value recovery from end-of-life and end-of use products through reverse logistics. Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) contains both valuable components that need to [...] Read more.

Today, the increased public concern about sustainable development and more stringent environmental regulations have become important driving forces for value recovery from end-of-life and end-of use products through reverse logistics. Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) contains both valuable components that need to be recycled and hazardous substances that have to be properly treated or disposed of, so the design of a reverse logistics system for sustainable treatment of WEEE is of paramount importance. This paper presents a stochastic mixed integer programming model for designing and planning a generic multi-source, multi-echelon, capacitated, and sustainable reverse logistics network for WEEE management under uncertainty. The model takes into account both economic efficiency and environmental impacts in decision-making, and the environmental impacts are evaluated in terms of carbon emissions. A multi-criteria two-stage scenario-based solution method is employed and further developed in this study for generating the optimal solution for the stochastic optimization problem. The proposed model and solution method are validated through a numerical experiment and sensitivity analyses presented later in this paper, and an analysis of the results is also given to provide a deep managerial insight into the application of the proposed stochastic optimization model. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges in Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Management)

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16 pages, 2221 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Nutrient Status in Composts and Changes in Radioactive Cesium Following the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident

by Dikkumburage Jasintha Jayasanka¹, Masakazu Komatsuzaki^2,*

, Yuta Hoshino², Hiroichi Seki² and Mohammad Ismail Moqbal²

¹ United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-21-1 Chuuo, Ami, Inashiki, Ibaraki 300-0393, Japan

² Center for Field Science Research & Education, Ibaraki University, 3-21-1, Ami, Inashiki, Ibaraki 300-0393, Japan

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1332; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121332 - 21 Dec 2016

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 5957

Abstract

Following the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident, the forests in the Fukushima area were highly contaminated with radiocesium (¹³⁷Cs and ¹³⁴Cs). Therefore, there is a need to develop strategies for remediation of the contaminated forests. We assessed changes [...] Read more.

Following the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident, the forests in the Fukushima area were highly contaminated with radiocesium (¹³⁷Cs and ¹³⁴Cs). Therefore, there is a need to develop strategies for remediation of the contaminated forests. We assessed changes in radioactive cesium (¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁷Cs) contamination and nutrient status in composts derived from wood chip, bamboo leaf and bamboo powder using rice bran and wheat meal as sub-materials. Changes in soil properties and Komatsuna (Brassica rapa var. perviridis) growth were also investigated due the application of composts and initial materials at 0, 2.5, 5 and 10 kg·m⁻² input levels. Mixing of sub-materials significantly reduced the concentration of radioactive Cs and improved compost quality. The effectiveness of three composts on soil quality improvement varied depending on their types and rates of applications. Amendments of bamboo leaf composts at 10 kg·m⁻² resulted in the significantly highest soil inorganic N, available P and exchangeable K contents. Amendments of final composts also enhanced Komatsuna growth. Furthermore, radioactive Cs contaminations of the Komatsuna plants grown in these composts were below 0.1 Bq·kg⁻¹. This study may help to remediate the forests contaminated with radiocesium in the Fukushima area while improving the soil organic matter content to enhance soil sustainability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Nuclear Power)

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9 pages, 8420 KiB

Open AccessReview

Application of Floating Photovoltaic Energy Generation Systems in South Korea

by Sun-Hee Kim¹

, Soon-Jong Yoon¹, Wonchang Choi^2,* and Ki-Bong Choi²

¹ Department of Civil Engineering, Hongik University, Seogang-dong, Mapo-gu 04066, Korea

² Department of Architectural Engieering, Gachon University, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do 13120, Korea

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1333; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121333 - 17 Dec 2016

Cited by 38 | Viewed by 13124

Abstract

In order to mitigate air pollution problems caused mainly by the excessive emission of carbon dioxide, in 2012, the South Korean government decided to introduce a renewable portfolio standards (RPS) program that requires electricity providers to gradually increase their production of renewable energy. [...] Read more.

In order to mitigate air pollution problems caused mainly by the excessive emission of carbon dioxide, in 2012, the South Korean government decided to introduce a renewable portfolio standards (RPS) program that requires electricity providers to gradually increase their production of renewable energy. In order to meet the government’s target through this RPS program, electricity providers in Korea have looked to various types of new and renewable energy resources, such as biomass, wind, and solar. Recently, floating photovoltaic (PV) systems have attracted increased interest in Korea as a desirable renewable energy alternative. This paper provides a discussion of recent research into floating PV systems and the installation of floating PV power plants in Korea from 2009 to 2014. To date, thirteen floating PV power plants have been installed in Korea, and several plans are underway by many different organizations, including government-funded companies, to install more floating PV power plants with various generation capacities. These building trends are expected to continue due to the Korean government’s RPS program. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Solar Photovoltaic Electricity)

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13 pages, 736 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Adaptive Rangeland Decision-Making and Coping with Drought

by Leslie M. Roche

Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA 95695, USA

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1334; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121334 - 17 Dec 2016

Cited by 41 | Viewed by 8867

Abstract

Grazinglands support the livelihoods of millions of people around the world, as well as supply critical ecosystem services. Communities reliant on rain-fed rangelands are potentially the most vulnerable to increasing climate variability given their dependence on highly climate-sensitive resources. Droughts, which are gradual [...] Read more.

Grazinglands support the livelihoods of millions of people around the world, as well as supply critical ecosystem services. Communities reliant on rain-fed rangelands are potentially the most vulnerable to increasing climate variability given their dependence on highly climate-sensitive resources. Droughts, which are gradual natural hazards, pose substantial and recurrent economic and ecological stresses to these systems. This study examined management decision-making based on survey responses of 479 California ranchers to: (1) identify the types of drought strategies in-place across California’s rangelands and the operation variables driving strategy selection; and (2) examine how individual drought adaptation is enhanced by decision-making factors. Four types of in-place drought strategies were identified and ordered along a gradient of increasing intensity (number) of practices used. Significant background variables driving strategy selection were operation experience with drought, type of livestock operation, grazing system, and land ownership types. Information resource networks, goal setting for sustainable natural resources, and management capacity all acted to enhance individual drought adaptation—defined here by active drought planning and the number of both reactive and proactive drought practices used. Overall, analyses revealed that flexibility in management is a key component of adapting to and coping with drought. Climate policy planning should take into account the diversity of strategies that have been developed by ranchers for multiple generations and within the context of their unique operations, as well as support these working landscapes via a range of adaptation and mitigation options to reduce vulnerability across all types of operations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Agriculture)

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17 pages, 2189 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of Aluminum Resource Supply Structure and Guarantee Degree in China Based on Sustainable Perspective

by Shaoli Liu

, Xin Li^*

and Minxi Wang

College of Management Science, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1335; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121335 - 17 Dec 2016

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 6343

Abstract

Aluminum is a strategic mineral resource, and China’s aluminum production and consumption is fairly large. However, its supply guarantee is uncertain because of a high dependency on external raw materials. This uncertainty may expand, so finding a way to reduce the uncertainty of [...] Read more.

Aluminum is a strategic mineral resource, and China’s aluminum production and consumption is fairly large. However, its supply guarantee is uncertain because of a high dependency on external raw materials. This uncertainty may expand, so finding a way to reduce the uncertainty of aluminum resource supply is especially important. This paper applies the SFA method to analyze the aluminum flows in mainland China from 1996 to 2014, and establishes a supply structure model to measure its supply guarantee degree. The results claim that: (1) China’s aluminum production can satisfy demand and even create a surplus; (2) Domestic self-productive primary and secondary aluminum increased at an annual rate of 12% and 24%; (3) The proportion of self-productive secondary aluminum in the supply structure increased from 7.7% in 1996 to 12.8% in 2014, while that of primary aluminum decreased from 79.6% to 42.8%; (4) The total supply guarantee degree decreased from 87.3% to 55.6% in this period. These results provide a feasible way to solve this plight: the proportion of secondary aluminum in the supply structure should be enhanced, and an efficient aluminum resource recycling system needs to be established as soon as possible to ensure its sustainable supply. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Sustainability and Applications)

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9 pages, 16100 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

A Novel Method for Fast Configuration of Energy Storage Capacity in Stand-Alone and Grid-Connected Wind Energy Systems

by Haixiang Zang^*

, Mian Guo, Zeyu Qian, Zhinong Wei and Guoqiang Sun

College of Energy and Electrical Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1336; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121336 - 17 Dec 2016

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 4408

Abstract

In this paper, a novel method is proposed and applied to quickly calculate the capacity of energy storage for stand-alone and grid-connected wind energy systems, according to the discrete Fourier transform theory. Based on practical wind resource data and power data, which are [...] Read more.

In this paper, a novel method is proposed and applied to quickly calculate the capacity of energy storage for stand-alone and grid-connected wind energy systems, according to the discrete Fourier transform theory. Based on practical wind resource data and power data, which are derived from the American Wind Energy Technology Center and HOMER software separately, the energy storage capacity of a stand-alone wind energy system is investigated and calculated. Moreover, by applying the practical wind power data from a wind farm in Fujian Province, the energy storage capacity for a grid-connected wind system is discussed in this paper. This method can also be applied to determine the storage capacity of a stand-alone solar energy system with practical photovoltaic power data. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Energy Storage Applications for Renewable Generation Support)

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17 pages, 236 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Leveraging Small-Scale Sport Events: Challenges of Organising, Delivering and Managing Sustainable Outcomes in Rural Communities, the Case of Gorski kotar, Croatia

by Marko Perić^1,*

, Jelena Đurkin¹ and Nicholas Wise²

¹ Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management, University of Rijeka, Primorska 42, 51410 Opatija, Croatia

² Liverpool John Moores University, Faculty of Education, Health and Community, Liverpool, L17 6BD, UK

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1337; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121337 - 18 Dec 2016

Cited by 55 | Viewed by 12730

Abstract

Sports and events play an important role in local identity building and creating a sense of community that encourages participation and increases social capital. Rural communities are specific areas with special needs and can face challenges and restraints when it comes to event [...] Read more.

Sports and events play an important role in local identity building and creating a sense of community that encourages participation and increases social capital. Rural communities are specific areas with special needs and can face challenges and restraints when it comes to event organisation. The purpose of this paper is to identify organisational challenges and analyse the potential to achieving long-term sustainable social and economic outcomes linked to small-scale sports events in rural communities. Organisational challenges of rural communities in terms of organising sport events are examined and discussed using the framework of event leveraging developed by O’Brien and Chalip. This methodology is applied and discussed to a case study focusing on small-scale winter sport events in rural Croatia. Semi-structured interviews with local organisers were conducted in order to collect data on the overall event organisation and management, local coordination, role of community stakeholders and challenges facing strategic planning, with the intent to identify objectives for future events. Results were discussed independently and in the context of the leverage framework, with reflection on its applicability to rural communities as the event organisers. Recommendations are provided based on critical insight from the literature and are oriented on how to streamline the process of organising, delivering and managing of events in remote rural communities. Finally, the idea of inter-community organisation is proposed to ensure long-term social and economic benefits and to address the existing issues of overlapping of stakeholder categories, mixed objectives, distrust among stakeholders and inefficiently used local resources. Full article

15 pages, 1455 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Coordinated Development between Urban Tourism Economy and Transport in the Pearl River Delta, China

by Qiuxia Zheng^1,2,3

, Yaoqiu Kuang^1,2,* and Ningsheng Huang^1,2

¹ Key Laboratory of Ocean and Marginal Sea Geology, Chinese Academy of Science, Guangzhou 510640, China

² Sustainable Development Research Center, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academic of Science, Guangzhou 510640, China

³ University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1338; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121338 - 18 Dec 2016

Cited by 34 | Viewed by 6452

Abstract

By selecting the panel data from 2005 to 2014 of 9 cities in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) in China, this paper respectively establishes the evaluation index system of tourism economy and transport. It also applies a synthetic evaluation model and coupling coordination [...] Read more.

By selecting the panel data from 2005 to 2014 of 9 cities in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) in China, this paper respectively establishes the evaluation index system of tourism economy and transport. It also applies a synthetic evaluation model and coupling coordination model to estimate comprehensive indices of tourism economy and transport system and their coordinated relationships. The results show that: (1) during 2005–2014, the synthetic indices of tourism economy generally presented constantly upward tendency and the synthetic indices of transport represented wave-like raising trend in the PRD region; (2) during 2005–2014, the 9 cities in the PRD region gradually tended to have coordinated development between tourism economy and transport, and the central area of the PRD region developed faster than the flanks; (3) the correlations between the tourism economy and transport of the cities with abundant tourism resources, developed economy, and advanced transport facilities were more remarkable, and the coordination degrees were higher. Besides, macro-policies, mega-events, and locations also impacted on coordinated development between the tourism economy and transport in the PRD region. Full article

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12 pages, 3037 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Laboratory Tests in the Development of WaveCat

by James Allen^*

, Konstantinos Sampanis

, Jian Wan

, Deborah Greaves, Jon Miles and Gregorio Iglesias

School of Marine Science and Engineering, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1339; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121339 - 19 Dec 2016

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 6089

Abstract

WaveCat, a novel overtopping Wave Energy Converter, was tested with the aim of determining its performance under different sea states, establishing a starting point for optimisation of the device, numerical model validation and proof-of-concept for the control systems. The tests were carried out [...] Read more.

WaveCat, a novel overtopping Wave Energy Converter, was tested with the aim of determining its performance under different sea states, establishing a starting point for optimisation of the device, numerical model validation and proof-of-concept for the control systems. The tests were carried out at a 1:30 scale in the Ocean Basin of the COAST Laboratory at University of Plymouth. A state-of-the-art control system was implemented, and overtopping rates and device motions were recorded alongside the wave field. It was observed that power generation is dependent on both the wave height and period, with smaller periods tending to produce greater overtopping rates, and therefore greater power generation, for the same wave height. Due to time constraints in the laboratory, only one configuration of draft/freeboard was tested; with this configuration, overtopping occurred under significant wave heights of 0.083 m or more, corresponding to 2.5 m or more in prototype values. These experimental results form the basis for future development and optimisation of WaveCat. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wave Energy Converters)

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21 pages, 1781 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Peri-Urban Food Production and Its Relation to Urban Resilience

by E. Gunilla A. Olsson^1,*, Eva Kerselaers², Lone Søderkvist Kristensen³, Jørgen Primdahl³, Elke Rogge² and Anders Wästfelt⁴

¹ School of Global Studies, University of Gothenburg, Box 700, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden

² Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO), Social Sciences Unit, Burg. Van Gansberghelaan 115 Box 2, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium

³ Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Rolighedsvej 23, DK-1958 Frederiksberg C, 1017 Copenhagen, Denmark

⁴ Department of Human Geography, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1340; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121340 - 20 Dec 2016

Cited by 99 | Viewed by 11694

Abstract

Food production on the urban–rural fringe is under pressure due to competing land uses. We discuss the potential to improve resilience for urban–rural regions by enhancing food production as part of multifunctional land use. Through studies of peri-urban land in the regions of [...] Read more.

Food production on the urban–rural fringe is under pressure due to competing land uses. We discuss the potential to improve resilience for urban–rural regions by enhancing food production as part of multifunctional land use. Through studies of peri-urban land in the regions of Gothenburg (Sweden), Copenhagen (Denmark) and Gent (Belgium), recent developments are analysed. Arable farming has been declining since 2000 in all three areas due to urban expansion and recreational land use changes. In city plans, networks of protected areas and green spaces and their importance for human wellbeing have been acknowledged. Policies for farmland preservation in peri-urban settings exist, but strategies for local food production are not expressed in present planning documents. Among the diversity of peri-urban agricultural activities, peri-urban food production is a developing issue. However, the competing forms of land use and the continuing high dependence of urban food on global food systems and related resource flows reduces peri-urban food production and improvements in urban food security. The positive effects of local food production need to be supported by governance aiming to improve the urban–rural relationship. The paper discusses the resilience potential of connecting urban–rural regions and re-coupling agriculture to regional food production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land and Food Policy)

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14 pages, 1469 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How to Deliver Open Sustainable Innovation: An Integrated Approach for a Sustainable Marketable Product

by Francesco Cappa^1,2,*

, Fausto Del Sette³

, Darren Hayes^3,4 and Federica Rosso^5,*

¹ Department of Business and Management, LUISS Guido Carli University, Viale Romania 32, 00197 Roma, Italy

² School of Engineering (DEIM), Tuscia University, Via S. Camillo de Lellis, 01100 Viterbo, Italy

³ Dipartimento di Ingegneria Meccanica e Aerospaziale, Sapienza Università di Roma, Via Eudossiana 18, 00184 Roma, Italy

⁴ Seidenberg School of Computer Science & Information Systems, Pace University, One Pace Plaza, New York, NY 10038, USA

⁵ Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile Edile e Architettura, Sapienza Università di Roma, Via Eudossiana 18, 00184 Roma, Italy

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1341; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121341 - 20 Dec 2016

Cited by 69 | Viewed by 10720

Abstract

The adoption of open innovation and peer production, powered by 3D printing technology, is transforming traditional manufacturing methods towards a “third industrial revolution”. The purpose of this research is to provide empirical evidence for an integrated approach, based on collaborative product [...] Read more.

The adoption of open innovation and peer production, powered by 3D printing technology, is transforming traditional manufacturing methods towards a “third industrial revolution”. The purpose of this research is to provide empirical evidence for an integrated approach, based on collaborative product development and peer production, combined with 3D printing, to deliver more sustainable, yet competitive, marketable products. In particular, this experimental study is conducted in the context of mobile forensics, an emerging market where limited expensive products exist and alternative solutions are needed. The technical viability and economic feasibility of the prototype developed in this research validate the proposed integrated approach, which could be a game-changer in the field of mobile forensics, as well as in other sectors. The sustainability improvements with this approach are a reduction of the total cost, thereby making it affordable for lower income users, and a decrease in energy consumption and pollutant emissions. The validated integrated approach offers start-up opportunities to develop and deliver more sustainable, marketable products, towards the paradigm of Open Sustainable Innovation. While the device developed and tested in this research has similar features to existing products, the methodology, implementation, and motivation are original. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 16th CIRIAF National Congress – Sustainable Development, Environment and Human Health Protection)

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19 pages, 8350 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Wave Energy Exploitation System Integrated in the Coastal Structure of a Mediterranean Port

by Stefania Naty^*

, Antonino Viviano

and Enrico Foti

Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia 64, 95123 Catania, Italy

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1342; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121342 - 20 Dec 2016

Cited by 56 | Viewed by 6918

Abstract

A feasibility study for installing Wave Energy Converters (WECs) in a Mediterranean port is presented here. The final aim is to evaluate the possibility of building a green touristic infrastructure in a site having ordinary wave energy. In particular, the site of interest [...] Read more.

A feasibility study for installing Wave Energy Converters (WECs) in a Mediterranean port is presented here. The final aim is to evaluate the possibility of building a green touristic infrastructure in a site having ordinary wave energy. In particular, the site of interest is Giardini Naxos, which is located in the northern Ionian coast of the island of Sicily (Italy). A preliminary estimation of the available energy has been carried out. The chosen type of WEC device is the Oscillating Water Column (OWC) system, which is found here to allow for good integration with the vertical breakwater needed for the extension of the existing port. Its feasibility is evaluated from the structural and economic point of view. Towards this aim, the system is tested in the laboratory for estimating the reflection coefficients and the pressures on the structure, which allow us to carry out the optimization of the OWC breakwater. Furthermore, the air turbine noise is estimated and an attenuation chamber is designed to reduce such noise to within acceptable levels. The economic feasibility study allows for an evaluation of the recuperation period of the investment, which is slightly less than the service life of the WEC device. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wave Energy Converters)

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16 pages, 235 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Consumer-Oriented Policy towards Diffusion of Electric Vehicles: City-Level Evidence from China

by Guoqiang Zhang¹, Yanmei Xu¹ and Juan Zhang^2,*

¹ School of Economics, UCAS, 80 Zhongguancun East Road of Haidian District, Beijing 100190, China

² China EV100, 17F Tower A, TusPark Haidian District, Beijing 100084, China

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1343; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121343 - 20 Dec 2016

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 5887

Abstract

Public policy is crucial for the diffusion of green innovation, and debates exist about the effects of different policies. This paper explores appropriate types of policy instruments by explaining the quick rise in sales of electric vehicles (EVs) in China. Based on a [...] Read more.

Public policy is crucial for the diffusion of green innovation, and debates exist about the effects of different policies. This paper explores appropriate types of policy instruments by explaining the quick rise in sales of electric vehicles (EVs) in China. Based on a three-year longitudinal dataset across 88 cities, the study shows that consumer-oriented policies are able to significantly promote EV diffusion. Consumer-oriented policies target consumers to facilitate their usage of cars and lower the lifecycle cost, and typical examples include electricity charging and traffic management. This paper contributes to the literature of clean technology policy in two ways. Firstly, it reveals and empirically tests the importance of consumer-oriented policy instruments for the deployment of green innovation. Secondly, it is one of very few scholarly works offering a detailed review of city-level policies in China’s EV industry, which will be useful for scholars who are also interested in similar topics. Full article

20 pages, 1996 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Influence of Legitimacy on a Proactive Green Orientation and Green Performance: A Study Based on Transitional Economy Scenarios in China

by Baoshan Ge¹, Dake Jiang¹, Yang Gao^2,* and Sang-Bing Tsai^3,2,*

¹ School of Management, Jilin University, Changchun 130022, China

² School of Business, Dalian University of Technology, Panjin 124221, China

³ Zhongshan Institute, University of Electronic Science and Technology, Zhongshan 528400, China

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1344; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121344 - 20 Dec 2016

Cited by 66 | Viewed by 8007

Abstract

With environmental pollution, climate change and resource scarcity being serious global issues, green entrepreneurship is increasingly seen as an approach to simultaneously address economic performance, environmental impact and social responsibility. As green entrepreneurship needs to consider both venture performance and social responsibility, it [...] Read more.

With environmental pollution, climate change and resource scarcity being serious global issues, green entrepreneurship is increasingly seen as an approach to simultaneously address economic performance, environmental impact and social responsibility. As green entrepreneurship needs to consider both venture performance and social responsibility, it will be subject to legitimacy constraints at the system level. Whether these legitimacy constraints are favorable to green enterprise is not yet clear from current research. Especially for transition economies, the problem of whether proactive green enterprises facing legitimacy constraints under institutional uncertainty can achieve green performance requires further study. Thus, a theoretical model to determine the relationship between green proactiveness orientation (GPO), green performance, legitimacy, and transitional economics was proposed. Based on the data from 235 new Chinese green firms, the empirical results suggest that green startups launch with a green proactiveness orientation, which enables them to acquire a green performance advantage over their competitors. Improvements in green performance is also shown to be driven by the pressure from institutional legitimacy. Better green performance can be easily achieved if green startups have a higher level of legitimacy. However, against the background of transitional economies, the increase in institutional uncertainty will damage the promotion of political legitimacy and make the enterprises that are subject to political legitimacy constraints lose their green performance. Currently, political legitimacy is no longer an impetus. However, the increase in institutional uncertainty will strengthen the promotion of commercial legitimacy and cause green-oriented startups to pursue more commercial interests. Thus, to a certain extent, it will lead to market uncertainty. The conclusion of this study not only provides guidance for startups in different industries to develop green actions under the pressure of institutional constraints but also warns governments to improve policies and regulations quickly under different situations of institutional uncertainty. Full article

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31 pages, 5772 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multi-Regional Input-Output (MRIO) Study of the Provincial Ecological Footprints and Domestic Embodied Footprints Traded among China’s 30 Provinces

by Decun Wu and Jinping Liu^*

School of Management, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1345; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121345 - 21 Dec 2016

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 6387

Abstract

Rapid development in China has led to imbalances and inequities of ecological resources among the provinces and regions. In this study, an environmentally extended multi-regional input-output (MRIO) model was used to analyze the imbalances, inequities and pressures of the ecological footprints (EF) of [...] Read more.

Rapid development in China has led to imbalances and inequities of ecological resources among the provinces and regions. In this study, an environmentally extended multi-regional input-output (MRIO) model was used to analyze the imbalances, inequities and pressures of the ecological footprints (EF) of China’s 30 provinces in 2007. In addition, by decomposing the total product consumption coefficients, we calculated the net embodied EF of the flows among the provinces by the total amount, land type and sector. The results showed that most provinces presented EF deficits. Significant differences were observed between the ecological pressure in consumption (EPC) and ecological pressure in production (EPP) for each province because of the net embodied EF trade; the EPCs of Shanghai (15.16), Beijing (7.81) and Tianjin (7.81) were the largest and presented descending EPPs, whereas the EPCs of Heilongjiang (0.98), Hebei (0.98), Xinjiang (0.98) and Guangxi (0.98) were under the threshold value (1) and presented ascending EPPs. The carbon footprint in the secondary sector was the main embodied EF of the flows among the provinces responsible for inequities. Finally, based on the various conditions of the provinces in different geographical regions, we have provided suggestions for regionally balanced development that can maintain the EPP and EPC values under the threshold for each province. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Sustainability and Applications)

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22 pages, 2230 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Neighborhood Built Environments Affecting Social Capital and Social Sustainability in Seoul, Korea

by Chisun Yoo¹ and Sugie Lee^2,*

¹ Department of Urban Planning and Housing Policy, Gyeonggi Research Institute, 1150 Gyeongsu-daero, Jangan-gu, Suwon 16207, Korea

² Department of Urban Planning and Engineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 04763, Korea

Sustainability 2016, 8(12), 1346; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8121346 - 21 Dec 2016

Cited by 66 | Viewed by 11862

Abstract

This study investigates the theoretical causal relationships among neighborhood built environments, social capital and social sustainability using structural equation modeling (SEM), through a case study in Seoul, Korea. The dataset consisted of responses from a questionnaire survey completed by 500 respondents. Neighborhood built [...] Read more.

This study investigates the theoretical causal relationships among neighborhood built environments, social capital and social sustainability using structural equation modeling (SEM), through a case study in Seoul, Korea. The dataset consisted of responses from a questionnaire survey completed by 500 respondents. Neighborhood built environments were also objectively measured by GIS analysis, using a 250-m buffer based on the home addresses of the respondents. A total of four latent variables of the neighborhood physical environments were used in the model: perceived neighborhood environment, characteristics of the residential area, land use diversity and accessibility to parks and sport facilities. Respondents’ demographic and socioeconomic characteristics were also considered in the model. The results of the analysis indicate that there is a statistically significant causal relationship among neighborhood physical environment, social capital and social sustainability. The results also suggest that neighborhood-level spatial and non-spatial factors can influence the formation of social capital that affects social sustainability. Moreover, this result indicates the possibility that urban spatial planning can play a critical role in social issues. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Urban and Rural Development)

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