Web interactive non intrusive load disaggregation system for active demand in smart grids

A Smart Grid combines the use of traditional technology with innovative digital solutions, making the management of the electricity grid more flexible. It allows for monitoring, analysis, control and communication within the supply chain to improve efficiency, reduce the energy consumption and cost, and maximize the transparency and reliability of the energy supply chain. The optimization of energy consumption in Smart Grids is possible by using an innovative system based on Non Intrusive Appliance Load Monitoring (NIALM) algorithms, in which individual appliance power consumption information is disaggregated from single-point measurements, that provide a feedback in such a way to make energy more visible and more amenable to understanding and control. We contribute with an approach for monitoring consumption of electric power in households based on both a NILM algorithm, that uses a simple load signatures, and a web interactive systems that allows an active role played by users

Cali’s food systems: A diagnostic synthesis to determine priority action areas for sustainable food systems

Food systems are complex and dynamic, and their governance and planning directly affect food security and nutritional outcomes across urban, peri-urban, and rural communities. The production, consumption, and disposal of food has profound effects on economic development, environmental sustainability, and public health. Among food systems, these three domains have important linkages and synergies which are conveyed through public goods and public policy. Identifying the components that make up food systems can be challenging, especially for decision makers who need to understand how changing individual components in the system may have broader implications on food security and public health. Without robust, generalizable data to explain the interconnectedness between these domains, policymakers cannot make evidence-based recommendations that foster sustainable practices. Thus, policymakers need decision support tools to identify specific problem and sites of action to develop sustainable solutions. This project compares the 44 Monitoring Framework Indicators from the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact (MUFPP) to existing indicators in Santiago de Cali’s Municipal Development Plan and other governmental reports to measure the city’s progress integrating sustainability in its food systems. The MUFPP is a non-binding international protocol aimed at tackling food- related issues at the urban level by having cities share best practices and monitor their progress towards achieving more sustainable foods systems. Preliminary results observed eight indicators that were measured, twenty-five indicators required review or fine tuning, and eleven indicators were missing altogether, pointing to gaps in data and knowledge and potential food system failures. Based on these gaps, a criteria and methodology were developed to determine priority action areas to improve and encourage the use of sustainable practices. (**includes results from methodology**) Cali is not a MUFPP signatory city, change tense but given the upcoming municipal and departmental elections, this rudimentary food systems assessment is an opportunity to present evidence and engage Cali’s decision makers and researchers as they develop future political and research agendas related to food security, environmental protection, and economic development

Upgrading strategies in global furniture value chains

Abstract not available

Sustainability and Health Impacts of Pulse Crops in the United States using Life Cycle Assessment

Environmental sustainability and human health impact of pulses produced and consumed in the United States was assessed using life cycle assessment (LCA). The study included three objectives 1) to estimate environmental impact of current production and consumption practices in the United States using attributional LCA; 2) to estimate environmental and human health impact of iso-caloric diets containing varying amounts of pulses using Hybrid-LCA and Combined Nutritional and Environmental-LCA (CONE-LCA); and 3) to estimate environmental impact of increased demand for pulses using consequential LCA. Scope of the study varied for each objective with system boundary encompassing cradle-to-grave activities for objective 1 and 2 and cradle-to-processor gate activities for objective 3. In objective 1 cradle-to-grave environmental impacts of current production practices in the US were estimated for dry bean, chickpea, field pea, and lentil for the functional unit (FU) of 60 g of pulses (approx. ¼ cup) consumed per week. In addition, impact of four cooking methods, open-vessel cooking (OVC), cooking in stovetop pressure cooker (SPC), cooking in electric pressure cooker (EPC), and cooking in larger quantity (e.g., 1 kg instead of 60 g) in open vessel (OVC-RF1), was evaluated. Statistically significant decrease in environmental impact (all impact categories except LU and WC) for all species of pulses was achieved with EPC and OVC-RF1 compared to OVC. Energy used for cooking at the consumer stage, and resource use (fertilizers, fossil fuels etc.) were identified as the hotspots in the study. Comparison of current (CDP) and recommended (RDP) iso-caloric diets containing varying quantities of pulses was conducted in Objective 2 for FU of 1800 kcal to females and 2400 kcal to males. RDPs included healthy-styled US diet (HealthyUS), ovo-lacto-vegetarian diets according to 2015 (Veg2015) and 2010 (Veg2010) USDA recommendations, and vegan diet (Vegan2010) according to 2010 USDA recommendations. Compared to CDP, statistically significant increase in GWP was observed for HealthyUS for sex-specific diets, while Vegan2010 lowered (statistically significant) GWP for both sexes. Statistically significant health benefits were offered only by Vegan 2010, Veg2010, and Veg2015. Pulses provided 29% to 42% of protein in vegetarian and vegan diets while contributing only between 0.06% and 0.84% of GWP for these diets. Moreover, when compared to other sources of protein pulses had the lowest GWP and greatest nutritional density. Pulses also offered potential environmental gains compared to beef even when production and processing of pulses was increased to meet potential increase in demand. The FU for Objective 3 was an amino acid profile comparable to beef. Beef was considered as the protein source substituted by pulses because of its high environmental and adverse health impact. To meet the requirements of the FU consumption of pulses was complemented with rice at a ratio of 1.35:1 (pulses+rice). While this additional production and processing of pulses and rice would increase the environmental impact, potential environmental gains could be achieved if increased demand for protein were to be fulfilled by pulses and rice instead of beef (i.e., 57 – 92%). The study concluded that pulses can be environmentally sustainable source of protein especially if they are cooked in electric pressure cooker and/or in batches larger than 60 g. Considering their higher nutritional density score and lower environmental impact compared to other sources of protein, their increased inclusion in diet could offer health benefits by lowering disability adjusted life years (DALYs) associated with CDP. While this increased inclusion of pulses may require increasing their production and processing, net environmental benefits can still be achieved compared to complete reliance on animal sourced protein such as beef. However, complete substitution of animal-sourced protein with only pulses is not recommended because such change may cause unintended consequences in terms of meeting nutritional requirements. Care must be taken to ensure that all nutritional requirements are fulfilled while decreasing environmental impacts

Sustainability and Health Impacts of Pulse Crops in the United States using Life Cycle Assessment

Environmental sustainability and human health impact of pulses produced and consumed in the United States was assessed using life cycle assessment (LCA). The study included three objectives 1) to estimate environmental impact of current production and consumption practices in the United States using attributional LCA; 2) to estimate environmental and human health impact of iso-caloric diets containing varying amounts of pulses using Hybrid-LCA and Combined Nutritional and Environmental-LCA (CONE-LCA); and 3) to estimate environmental impact of increased demand for pulses using consequential LCA. Scope of the study varied for each objective with system boundary encompassing cradle-to-grave activities for objective 1 and 2 and cradle-to-processor gate activities for objective 3. In objective 1 cradle-to-grave environmental impacts of current production practices in the US were estimated for dry bean, chickpea, field pea, and lentil for the functional unit (FU) of 60 g of pulses (approx. ¼ cup) consumed per week. In addition, impact of four cooking methods, open-vessel cooking (OVC), cooking in stovetop pressure cooker (SPC), cooking in electric pressure cooker (EPC), and cooking in larger quantity (e.g., 1 kg instead of 60 g) in open vessel (OVC-RF1), was evaluated. Statistically significant decrease in environmental impact (all impact categories except LU and WC) for all species of pulses was achieved with EPC and OVC-RF1 compared to OVC. Energy used for cooking at the consumer stage, and resource use (fertilizers, fossil fuels etc.) were identified as the hotspots in the study. Comparison of current (CDP) and recommended (RDP) iso-caloric diets containing varying quantities of pulses was conducted in Objective 2 for FU of 1800 kcal to females and 2400 kcal to males. RDPs included healthy-styled US diet (HealthyUS), ovo-lacto-vegetarian diets according to 2015 (Veg2015) and 2010 (Veg2010) USDA recommendations, and vegan diet (Vegan2010) according to 2010 USDA recommendations. Compared to CDP, statistically significant increase in GWP was observed for HealthyUS for sex-specific diets, while Vegan2010 lowered (statistically significant) GWP for both sexes. Statistically significant health benefits were offered only by Vegan 2010, Veg2010, and Veg2015. Pulses provided 29% to 42% of protein in vegetarian and vegan diets while contributing only between 0.06% and 0.84% of GWP for these diets. Moreover, when compared to other sources of protein pulses had the lowest GWP and greatest nutritional density. Pulses also offered potential environmental gains compared to beef even when production and processing of pulses was increased to meet potential increase in demand. The FU for Objective 3 was an amino acid profile comparable to beef. Beef was considered as the protein source substituted by pulses because of its high environmental and adverse health impact. To meet the requirements of the FU consumption of pulses was complemented with rice at a ratio of 1.35:1 (pulses+rice). While this additional production and processing of pulses and rice would increase the environmental impact, potential environmental gains could be achieved if increased demand for protein were to be fulfilled by pulses and rice instead of beef (i.e., 57 – 92%). The study concluded that pulses can be environmentally sustainable source of protein especially if they are cooked in electric pressure cooker and/or in batches larger than 60 g. Considering their higher nutritional density score and lower environmental impact compared to other sources of protein, their increased inclusion in diet could offer health benefits by lowering disability adjusted life years (DALYs) associated with CDP. While this increased inclusion of pulses may require increasing their production and processing, net environmental benefits can still be achieved compared to complete reliance on animal sourced protein such as beef. However, complete substitution of animal-sourced protein with only pulses is not recommended because such change may cause unintended consequences in terms of meeting nutritional requirements. Care must be taken to ensure that all nutritional requirements are fulfilled while decreasing environmental impacts

Dynamic Explanations of Industry Structure and Performance

Industrial Organization,

A Guide to Creating Core Ocean GDP Accounts

Start with a simple question. What does the ocean contribute to the national economy? This might seem like a trivial question. After all, the contributions of other major natural resources such as agriculture or forest products are regularly counted as the output of farming, food, and fibre industries along with lumber and other forest products. But in most countries, there is no identifiable “ocean economy”. Industries like marine transportation or fishing are accounted for, but nothing that ties all the varied ocean-related economic activity together. Without a deliberate effort to identify and measure all relevant economic activity related to the ocean as part of a comprehensive account it is easy to miss industries like tourism and recreation or marine construction. Combining data on ocean-related economic activities to provide an ongoing, comprehensive picture of how ocean and coastal resources that can be used for a variety of purposes is the task of creating what can be called core ocean accounts. This process is underway in many countries around the world, and many others are considering creating their own core ocean accounts or are asking whether it is worth doing so. This guidance document has been prepared to assist the latter countries decide whether and how to proceed with creating core ocean accounts. For those countries that have created accounts, it provides a review of methodologies that may improve future versions of their accounts. The guidance is designed for readers with little familiarity with economics but also contains practical information for specialists who may work such accounts. Why are they called “core” ocean accounts? Ocean accounting is envisioned as a system of measurement that can show the complex interactions of physical, biological, social, and economic systems in ways that are consistent, understandable, and actionable. Full ocean accounts as envisioned by the Global Ocean Accounts Partnership (GOAP) will consider not only the value of labour and capital employed in directly producing goods and services associated with the ocean, but also the values of the ocean natural capital whose returns are not paid for in the transactions that make up what we usually think of as “the economy”. Ocean accounts can also include ways to measure the capacity of organizations to address the complex systems involved. Figure 1 provides a conceptual overview of the full ocean accounting system as envisioned, with the core accounts highlighted in red. But at the core of all these “accounts” lie those goods and services whose production and sale must be understood first because they affect directly or indirectly all other values and because they are the aspects of ocean economic value. They are “core” to the ocean accounting process because they are necessary, though not sufficient. This does not mean that setting up ocean accounts must start with the national income-based accounts. For many reasons a country may choose to start the ocean accounting process with an environmental account for a particular region or resource, and other guidance for the creation of these accounts will be available from GOAP (www.oceanaccounts.org)

Characterization of refrigeration systems in the Portuguese food processing industry

This study is within the activities of Project “PrunusPÓS - Optimization of processes for the storage, cold conservation, active and/or intelligent packaging and food quality traceability in post-harvested fruit products”, project n.º PDR2020-101-031695, Partnership n.º 87, initiative n.º 175, promoted by PDR 2020 and co-funded by FEADER within Portugal 2020.This paper presents the results of audits performed in 60 companies of the food processing industry, specifically of meat, dairy, horticultural and bread products. The refrigeration volume, type of refrigeration system, refrigerant, building and insulation materials of infrastructure and refrigeration chambers, average air temperature and humidity, and the energy consumption are presented, compared and discussed per sector. The analysis allows to provide several measures and best practices aimed for the improvement of the thermal performance and energy efficiency of the food processing industry. The implementation of simple and very cost-effective transversal electricity savings measures such as awareness and/or training of operators, proper maintenance and monitoring tasks can benefit the sector. Tailored energy efficiency measures by sector, which may offer savings on several levels, are discussed. These best practices may increase productivity and competitiveness and reduce the environmental impact, and thus improve the global sustainability of the Portuguese food sector.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Development of a Multi-Region Input-Output Database for Policy Applications

Countries face different problems depending on factors such as geographical position, climate, wealth, political regime, and natural resources. Given this diversity, it is important that economic, social, and environmental assessments utilise regionally detailed and comprehensive information. However, when examining a particular type of assessment, studies (in most cases) are usually conducted without any regional or sectoral specificity due to the difficulty of creating an inter-regional modelling framework at sub-national levels. A fundamental tool for identifying specific economic characteristics of regions (either global or within a nation) is a multi-region input-output (MRIO) system. Through the understanding of regional economic distribution, sectoral contribution, and inter-regional supply chain network, input-output (I-O) based assessments are capable of providing a comprehensive picture of regional economic structures. However, the creation of an MRIO system is a time-consuming task that requires skill in handling the complexity of data compilation and reconciliation. To this end, finding an alternative method for creating an MRIO database in the most efficient way is necessary. In this thesis, I developed new MRIO databases that utilised virtual laboratory technology: IndoLab, TaiwanLab, SwedenLab, and USLab , and also took part in developing the JapanLab. I then demonstrated the use of these new facilities for addressing research questions surrounding employment multipliers in Indonesia, economic impacts due to natural disasters in Taiwan, regional consumer emissions in Sweden, and the responsibility for food loss in Japan. In addition, I presented the application of a new dataset in the global MRIO database for assessing the carbon footprints of global tourism sectors