Search Results (58)

Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems (C-ITS) have emerged as a key enabler of more efficient, safer, and environmentally sustainable road traffic by allowing vehicles and infrastructure to exchange information and coordinate behavior. To evaluate their benefits, impact assessment studies are essential. However, most existing studies focus on individual C-ITS services in isolation, overlooking how combined deployments influence outcomes. This study addresses this gap by presenting the first systematic evaluation of individual and joint deployments of Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control (CACC) and Green Light Optimal Speed Advisory (GLOSA) under diverse conditions. A dual-model simulation framework is applied, combining controlled artificial networks with calibrated real-world corridors in Upper Austria. This allows both statistical testing and validation of plausibility in real-world contexts. Key performance indicators include travel time and CO₂ emissions, evaluated across varying lane configurations, numbers of traffic lights, demand levels, and equipment rates. The results demonstrate that C-ITS effectiveness is strongly context-dependent: while CACC generally provides larger efficiency gains, GLOSA yields consistent emission reductions, and the combined deployment offers conditional synergies but may also diminish benefits at high demand. The study contributes a guideline for selecting service configurations based on site conditions, thereby providing practical recommendations for future C-ITS rollouts. Full article

Background: Price is the most authoritative constituent among the factors shaping consumer demand. Growing consciousness among global communities regarding environmental issues makes greenness one of the key factors controlling demand, along with time, which drives demand in markets. This paper addresses such issues associated with a retail purchase scenario. Methods: Consumer’s demand for products is hypothesized to be influenced by pricing, time and the green level of the product in the proposed model. Time-dependent inventory carrying cost and green level-induced purchasing cost are considered. The average cost during the decision cycle is the objective function that is analyzed in trade credit phenomena, involving delayed payment by the manufacturer to the supplier. The Convex optimization technique is used to find an optimal solution for the model. Results: Once a local optimal solution is found, sensitivity analysis is conducted to determine the optimal value of the objective function and decision variables for other impacting parameters. Results reveal that demand-boosting parameters, for instance, discounts on price and green activity, result in additional average costs. Conclusions: Discounts on price and green activity advocate a large supply capacity by boosting demand, creating opportunities for the retailer to earn more revenue. Full article

With the rapid growth of urban logistics demand, carbon emissions and the time-varying nature of vehicle speeds have become critical challenges in sustainable transportation planning. This paper addresses a Time-Dependent Green Vehicle Routing Problem (TDGVRP) that integrates time-varying speeds, carbon emissions, and cold chain logistics under a joint distribution framework involving multiple depots and homogeneous refrigerated vehicles. A Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP) model is developed, explicitly considering carbon pricing, refrigeration energy consumption, and speed variations across different time periods. To efficiently solve large-scale instances, a Three-Phase Heuristic (TPH) algorithm is proposed, combining spatiotemporal path construction, local-improvement strategies, and an Adaptive Large Neighborhood Search (ALNS) mechanism. Computational experiments show that the proposed method outperforms traditional Genetic Algorithms (GAs) in both solution quality and computation time, and in some benchmark cases even achieves better results than the commercial solver Gurobi, demonstrating its robustness and scalability. Using real-world traffic speed data, comparative analysis reveals that the joint distribution strategy reduces total logistics costs by 14.40%, carbon emission costs by 23.12%, and fleet size by approximately 25% compared to single-entity distribution. The findings provide a practical and scalable solution framework for sustainable cold chain logistics routing in time-dependent urban road networks. Full article

The Middle East and North Africa region has not played a major role in climate action so far, and several countries depend economically on fossil fuel exports. However, this is a region with vast solar energy resources, which can be exploited affordably for power generation and hydrogen production at scale to eventually reach carbon neutrality. In this paper, we elaborate on the case of the United Arab Emirates and explore the aspirations and feasibility of its net-zero by 2050 target. While we affirm the concept per se, we also highlight the technological complexity and economic dimensions that accompany such transformation. We expect the UAE’s electricity demand to triple between today and 2050, and the annual green hydrogen production is expected to reach 3.5 Mt, accounting for over 40% of the electricity consumption. Green hydrogen will provide power-to-fuel solutions for aviation, maritime transport and hard-to-abate industries. At the same time, electrification will intensify—most importantly in road transport and low-temperature heat demands. The UAE can meet its future electricity demands primarily with solar power, followed by natural gas power plants with carbon capture, utilization and storage, while the role of nuclear power in the long term is unclear at this stage. Full article

Improving the energy efficiency of residential buildings is essential for achieving global climate goals and reducing environmental impact. This study analyzes the Total Performance approach using the example of a modern semi-detached house built by a Polish developer, as an example. The building is designed with integrated systems that minimize energy consumption while maintaining resident comfort. The building is equipped with an air-to-water heat pump, underfloor heating, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, and automatic temperature control systems. Energy efficiency was assessed using ArCADia–TERMOCAD 8.0 software in accordance with Polish Technical Specifications (TS) and verified by monitoring real-time electricity consumption during the heating season. The results show a PED from non-renewable sources of 54.05 kWh/(m²·year), representing a 23% reduction compared to the Polish regulatory limit of 70 kWh/(m²·year). Real-time monitoring conducted from December 2024 to April 2025 confirmed these results, indicating an actual energy demand of approximately 1771 kWh/year. Domestic hot water (DHW) preparation accounted for the largest share of energy consumption. Despite its dependence on grid electricity, the building has the infrastructure to enable future photovoltaic (PV) installation, offering further potential for emissions reduction. The results confirm that Total Performance strategies are not only compliant with applicable standards, but also economically and environmentally viable. They represent a scalable model for sustainable residential construction, in line with the European Union’s (EU’s) decarbonization policy and the goals of the European Green Deal. Full article

With the current acceleration of climate change, there is a global demand for sustainable development and carbon emission reduction. As a major link in the global supply chain, the logistics industry’s green and low-carbon transformation has become a critical breakthrough in achieving the objective of reducing carbon emissions. This study develops a multidimensional assessment index method for the green logistics level. The study selects 51 major economies worldwide from 2000 to 2022 as research subjects. The cloud model–entropy value–TOPSIS method is applied to measure the green logistics level. The results of the green logistics level are analyzed from the perspectives of developed and developing countries, and their spatiotemporal evolution characteristics are explored. The study shows that (1) the green logistics level in developed countries is relatively high, mainly due to policy-driven, core technology advantages. However, they continue to encounter issues, such as regional imbalance and excessive green costs. (2) The green logistics level in developing countries is in the middle to lower level, limited by technological dependence, outdated infrastructure, and so on. They are generally caught in a “high-carbon lock-in” situation. (3) From the perspective of time, the global level of green logistics shows a rising trend year by year. The peak of the kernel density curve of the green logistics level is characterized by an “I” shape. There is a significant disparity in each country’s green logistics level, although it is narrowing every year. (4) From the spatial perspective, the green logistics level in each country shows a rising trend year by year vertically, while the horizontal disparity between countries is enormous. The development of the green logistics level between continents is unbalanced. The study presents several recommendations, including boosting technology transfer, giving financial support, strengthening international cooperation, and developing green infrastructure, to promote the global logistics industry’s green and low-carbon transformation to accomplish sustainable development goals. Full article

Urban park vitality, a key indicator of public space performance, has garnered significant research attention. However, existing studies often neglect the temporal variability in vitality patterns, thus failing to accurately reflect actual park performance and limiting their relevance for strategic urban planning and sustainable resource allocation. This study constructs a “temporal behavior–spatial attributes–park typology” framework using high-precision (50 m) mobile signaling data to capture hourly vitality fluctuations in 59 parks of Hangzhou’s Gongshu District. Using dynamic time-warping-optimized K-means clustering, we identify three vitality types—Morning-Exercise-Dominated, All-Day-Balanced, and Evening-Aggregation-Dominated—revealing distinct weekday/weekend usage rhythms linked to park typology (e.g., community vs. comprehensive parks). Geographical Detector analysis shows that vitality correlates with spatial attributes in time-specific ways; weekend morning vitality is driven by park size and surrounding POI density, while weekday evening vitality depends on interactions between facility density and residential population. These findings highlight how transportation accessibility and commercial amenities shape temporal vitality, informing time-sensitive strategies such as extended evening hours for suburban parks and targeted facility upgrades in residential areas. By bridging vitality patterns with strategic planning demands, the study advances the understanding of how sustainable park management can optimize resource efficiency and enhance public space equity, offering insights for urban green infrastructure planning in other regions. Full article

Environmental sustainability is receiving growing global attention, making the development of low-carbon and green transportation increasingly important. Low-carbon policies offer significant advantages in incentivizing energy conservation and reducing emissions in the transportation sector; however, it is vital to consider the impacts of regional differences on the implementation effect of low-carbon policies. This paper explores multimodal transportation route optimization under a carbon tax policy. First, a bi-objective route optimization model is constructed, with the goal of minimizing total transportation cost and time, while accounting for uncertain demand, fixed departure schedules, and regional differences. Trapezoidal fuzzy numbers are used to represent uncertain demand, and a fuzzy adaptive non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm is designed to solve the bi-objective optimization model. The algorithm is then tested on differently sized networks and on real-world transportation networks in eastern and western China to validate its effectiveness and to assess the impacts of regional differences. The experimental results show the following. (1) When considering transportation tasks at different network scales, the proposed fuzzy adaptive non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm outperforms the NSGA-II algorithm, achieving minimum differences in percentages of cost and time of 9.25% and 7.72%, respectively. (2) For transportation tasks assessed using real-world networks in eastern and western China, an increase in the carbon tax rate significantly affects carbon emissions, costs, and time. The degree of carbon emission reduction varies depending on the development of the regional transportation network. In the more developed eastern region, carbon emissions are reduced by up to 44.17% as the carbon tax rate increases. In the less developed western region, the maximum reduction in carbon emissions is 14.37%. The carbon tax policy has a more limited impact in the western region compared to the eastern one. Therefore, formulating differentiated carbon tax policies based on local conditions is an effective way to maximize the economic and environmental benefits of multimodal transportation. Full article

Road transport is a major contributor to air pollution, necessitating sustainable solutions for urban logistics. This study presents a time-dependent vehicle routing problem (VRP) model aimed at minimizing fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions while addressing stochastic customer demands. By incorporating key environmental factors such as road gradients, vehicle load, temperature, wind direction, and asphalt type, the proposed model provides a comprehensive approach to reducing transportation-related pollutants. To solve the computationally complex problem, a hybrid algorithm combining the gray wolf optimizer (GWO) and the multilayer perceptron (MLP) neural network is introduced. The algorithm demonstrates superior performance, achieving an error rate of less than 2% for medium-scale problems and significantly reducing fuel and driver costs. Sensitivity analyses reveal the profound impact of environmental parameters, with wind speed and direction altering optimal routing in over 80% of cases for large-scale instances. This research advances green logistics by integrating dynamic environmental considerations into routing decisions, balancing economic objectives with sustainability. The proposed model and algorithm offer a scalable solution to real-world challenges, enabling policymakers and logistics planners to improve environmental outcomes while maintaining operational efficiency. Full article

Major public health events pose a huge challenge to the sustainable improvement of city dwellers’ ecological well-being, hindering the achievement of urban ecological construction goals. In the context of resilient city and all-aged friendly city construction, age factor is given special consideration in urban green space management to meet the heterogeneous demands and preferences of city dwellers for urban ecological benefit. However, young, middle-age and elderly city dwellers’ utilization of urban green spaces during different periods of pandemic are poorly known. Meanwhile, insufficient discussion on the differences in ecological well-being contributions of different types of urban green spaces has led to difficulties in effectively connecting urban green space management planning with the city dwellers’ demands for ecological well-being. To help fill this gap, this study utilizes field study data on urban ecological construction and urban landscape and greening in Beijing from 2019 to 2023 to analyze the evolution and differences in utilization behaviors of urban green space among different age group city dwellers. Furthermore, this study applies the ordinary least square regression model (OLS) to explore the differences in the impact of various types of urban green space on the ecological well-being of city dwellers. The results revealed significant age effects in the utilization of urban green space during 2019–2023. It outlines the increased time spent in urban green space by younger city dwellers. In addition, the results demonstrated that the utilization behavior of park green space has a significant positive impact on the ecological well-being level of city dwellers, and the impact of utilization behavior on the ecological well-being level of city dwellers varies depending on the type of green space. Compared with community green space, the impact of park green space utilization behavior on the ecological well-being level of city dwellers is more significant. The conclusion from the main urban area of this Beijing case study contributes to the international discussion on urban green space management and urban green resilience governance in metropolitan areas worldwide as they add additional insights on the change and difference in the utilization behavior of urban green spaces, particularly looking at elderly, middle-aged and young city dwellers as well as the importance of a timely response to the heterogeneity preference of city dwellers’ ecological well-being demand. Full article

The construction industry is facing an increased demand to adopt sustainable green building materials to minimize the carbon footprint. Hemp concrete is a green building material not only because of its low embodied carbon but also because of its ability to regulate heat and relative humidity. Its thermal characteristics are often viewed as favorable for reducing the energy used to heat or cool indoor buildings. The current research is focused on the properties of hemp concrete from Slovak manufacturers which can be effectively used in construction as a replacement for conventional building materials and can also be effectively applied in building renovations. The basic thermal properties of hemp concrete, i.e., specific heat capacity, thermal conductivity, effusivity, thermal diffusivity, and lag time, were determined. The determination of all properties is dependent on the knowledge of heat fluxes at the surface and the density of samples. The insulation ability was expressed with a thermal conductivity of 0.099 W·m⁻¹·K⁻¹. The accumulation was expressed with a specific heat of 1540 J·kg⁻¹·K⁻¹ and density of 322 kg·m⁻³ in the air environment temperature of 22 °C and relative humidity of 50%. To assess moisture properties, the moisture content and the speed of molecules during diffusion and lag time, based on the thickness of the hemp concrete samples, were measured. The speed of water molecules during diffusion in hemp concrete was 8.6 × 10⁻⁷ m·s⁻¹. The study shows that hemp concrete has interesting hydrothermal properties for use as an insulation layer in envelope structures. Thus, this material can be used effectively in the construction field in order to meet the requirements of the current standards, which aim to reduce energy and environmental impacts. Full article

Retailing strategy can be considered as the most critical factor for the success of industries. Managing deteriorating products in retail demands a strategic approach aimed at mitigating losses while maximizing profitability. This entails a proactive stance towards identifying products nearing expiration, becoming obsolete or showing signs of deterioration. Offering discounts or promotions can stimulate consumer interest and clear out inventory. The promotion of products within the context of retail management involves a multifaceted approach aimed at increasing awareness, generating interest, and ultimately driving sales. Sustainability helps retailers to develop social as well as economic consistency. Every country and their respective governments are currently working towards sustainable development. New technologies in this direction have been introduced. The present paper introduces a retailing model considering green technology as it is becoming popular to lower environmental risks. The items considered in this study are perishable in nature. As product prices and the promotion of products highly influence demand, a demand pattern dependent on price and promotion is therefore considered. This paper presents a sustainable retail-based inventory model that considers preservation technology to lower the rate of deterioration and increase product shelf life. As carbon emissions is currently the biggest threat to the environment, enforcing a penalty may lower its emissions. Carbon emissions costs due to storage, transportation, and preservation are considered herein. This model studies the effect of various cost parameters on the model. A numerical analysis is performed to validate the result. The results of this study show that the implementation of preservation technology not only increases cycle time but also significantly reduces total cost, hence increasing profit. Sensitivity analysis is performed to show the behaviors of different cost parameters on total cost and decision variables. Mathematica 11 and Maple 18 software are used for graphical representation. Full article

Hydrogen (H2) offers a green medium for storing the excess from renewables production instead of dumping it, thus being crucial to decarbonisation efforts. Hydrogen also offers a storage medium for the grid’s cheap electricity to be used during grid peak demand or grid power cutoffs. Funded by the Scottish Government’s Emerging Energy Technologies, this paper presents the design and performance analysis of a hydrogen uninterruptible power supply (H2GEN) for Cygnas Solutions Ltd., which is intended to enable continuity of supply in the residential sector while eradicating the need for environmentally and health risky lead–acid batteries and diesel generator backup. This paper presents the design, optimal sizing and analysis of two H2Gen architectures, one powered by the grid alone and the other powered by both the grid and a renewable (PV) source. By developing a model of each architecture in the HOMER space and using residential location weather data, the home yearly load–demand profile, and the grid yearly power outages profile in the developed models, the optimal sizing of each H2Gen design was realised by minimising the costs while ensuring the H2Gen meets the home power demand during grid outages To enable HOMER to optimise its selection, the sizes, technical specifications and costs of all the market-available H2GEN components were added in the HOMER search space. Moreover, the developed models were also used in assessing the sensitivity of the simulation outputs to several changes in the modelled system design and settings. Using a residential home with frequent power outages in New Delhi, India as a case study, it was found that the optimal sizing of H2Gen Architecture 1 is comprised of a 2 kW electrolyser, a 0.2 kg type-I tank, and a 2 kW water-cooled fuel cell directly connected to the AC bus, offering an operational lifetime of 14.3 years. It was also found that the optimal sizing of Architecture 2 is comprised of a 1 kV PV utilised with the same 2 kW electrolyser, 0.2 kg type-I tank and 2 kW water-cooled fuel cell connected to the AC bus. While the second design was found to have a higher capital cost due to the added PV, it offered a more cost-effective and environmentally friendly architecture, which contributes to the ongoing energy transition. This paper further investigated the capacity expansion of each H2GEN architecture to meet higher load demands or increased grid power outages. From the analysis of the simulation results, it has been concluded that the most feasible and cost-effective H2GEN system expansion for meeting increased power demands or increased grid outages can be realised by using the developed models for optimally sizing the expanded H2Gen on a case-by-case basis because the increase in these profiles is highly time-dependent (for example, an increased load demand or increased grid outage in the morning can be met by the PV, while in the evening, it must be met by the H2GEN). Finally, this paper investigated the impact of other environmental variables, such as the temperature and relative humidity, on the H2GEN’s performance and provided further insights into increasing the overall system efficiency and cost benefit through utilising the H2GEN’s exhaust heat in the home space for heating/cooling and selling the electrolyser exhaust’s O₂ as a commodity. Full article

Magnetic nanoparticles have attracted significant attention in nanoscience and nanotechnology due to their unique physicochemical properties. These properties enable their great potential in various biomedical applications, such as hyperthermia, drug delivery, tissue engineering, theranostics, and lab-on-a-chip technologies. Physical and chemical methods are conventionally used for the synthesis of nanoparticles; however, due to several limitations of these methods, research focus has recently shifted towards developing clean and eco-friendly synthesis protocols while maintaining their desirable chemical and physical properties. In this study, iron oxide nanoparticles (FeNPs) were synthesized for the first time using the green synthesis method with extracts from Vitex agnus-castus. The structural and magnetic characterization of FeNPs was carried out using state-of-the-art techniques. The formation of FeNPs was confirmed by UV–vis spectroscopy. The morphology and size distribution were examined by a zetasizer and SEM, which showed agglomerated ring-shaped structures with a moderate size distribution among the nanoparticles. The crystalline structure and phase purity of the FeNPs were analyzed by XRD. FT-IR spectroscopy confirmed the attachment of bioactive plant molecules on the FeNP surfaces. The TGA results indicated the presence of organic molecules on the surface of the nanoparticles. Further studies including temperature-dependent magnetization and coercivity measurements were performed by PPMS and ESR, confirming the soft magnetic characteristics of synthesized FeNPs. Additionally, the dose-dependent toxicity and anti-cancerogenic effects of the FeNPs were screened towards the glioma cancer line (C6) and fibroblast cell line (L929) in vitro using an MTT assay. After 24 h of treatment, inhibitory concentration IC50 values of 26.51 µg/mL (l929) and 10.73 µg/mL (C6) were determined, respectively. These results suggest the potential of the synthesized FeNPs in developing new biocompatible systems for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. This study contributes to the growing demand for research in nanotechnology by offering a sustainable and effective green synthesis method for FeNPs, expanding their potential applications in nanomedicine. Full article

Green hydrogen production is a sustainable energy solution with great potential, offering advantages such as adaptability, storage capacity and ease of transport. However, there are challenges such as high energy consumption, production costs, demand and regulation, which hinder its large-scale adoption. This study explores the role of simulation models in optimizing the technical and economic aspects of green hydrogen production. The proposed system, which integrates photovoltaic and energy storage technologies, significantly reduces the grid dependency of the electrolyzer, achieving an energy self-consumption of 64 kWh per kilogram of hydrogen produced. By replacing the high-fidelity model of the electrolyzer with a reduced-order model, it is possible to minimize the computational effort and simulation times for different step configurations. These findings offer relevant information to improve the economic viability and energy efficiency in green hydrogen production. This facilitates decision-making at a local level by implementing strategies to achieve a sustainable energy transition. Full article