A decision support system for fostering smart energy efficient districts

The role of ICT is becoming prominent in tackling some of the urban societal challenges such as energy wastage and increasing carbon emissions. In this context, the concept of DAREED aims to deliver an integrated decision support system (DSS) to drive energy efficiency and low carbon activities at both a building and district level. The main aim of this paper is to present the technical concept of the Best Practices recommendation component of the DAREED system. This component seeks to compare and identify existing best practices to recommend practical actions to various stakeholders (e.g. building managers, citizens) in order to improve energy performance considering the global needs of a building. This paper also discusses the context of the three field trial sites (based in UK, Spain and Italy) in which the DAREED platform along with the best practices tool is to be tested and validated.This work evolved in the context of the project DAREED (Decision support Advisor for innovative business models and useR engagement for smart Energy Efficient Districts), www.dareed.eu, a project cofunded by the EC within FP7, Grant agreement no: 609082

Social Implications of Introducing Innovative Technology into a Product-Service System: The Case of a Waste-Grading Machine in Electronic Waste Management

This paper examines the social implications of introducing a new technology into the product-service system (PSS) of electronic waste management (EWM). Using a previously established set of social sustainability key performance indicators (KPIs) targeting the operations level (i.e. impacts on EWM operators), social implications are examined in a case where a specific innovative new technology is introduced to replace manual sorting of e-waste into re-use, refurbish and recycle fractions. The social sustainability KPIs were applied to the case as a structured interview guide. The results showed that the KPI framework provided a good basis for examining the social impacts and also stimulated discussions about potential business impacts based on the human resources in the system. The framework showed that the implementation supported proactive social sustainability, but some additional conditions need to be addressed by the customer organization to make sure that potential risks (identified in the interview) are mitigated

Preparing for future e-waste from photovoltaic modules: a circular economy approach

[EN] The increasing adoption rate of photovoltaic power generation shows that renewable energies have a bright future. Yet, this could be overshadowed by the unintended consequence of increased generation of Waste of Electric and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) at the installations End-of-Life (EoL) stage. As countries find themselves dealing with the increasing WEEE issue, they may adopt different practices which, if wrongly implemented, could potentially backfire, creating additional issues especially among vulnerable social groups. This work proposes improving the WEEE management system by including the Informal Recyclers in the equation, benefitting social groups and material recovery through by delivering materials along different streams in the closed-loop supply chain. The proposed model intends to support the circular economy approach on waste management systems.The authors would like to thank the Instituto Brasileiro de Desenvolvimento e Sustentabilidade (IABS) for their interest and support on our research. Additionally, we would like to thank the projects funding David Hidalgo-Carvajal’s research: the WEDISTRICT project [founded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement N°857801], the “Campus UPM Circulares” project within the UPM Research Program [Programa Propio UPM 2020. Acción Estratégica en Ciencia y Tecnología], and “The Circular and Regenerative Campus” community from the EELISA European University Alliance.Hidalgo-Carvajal, D.; Carrasco-Gallego, R. (2022). Preparing for future e-waste from photovoltaic modules: a circular economy approach. International Journal of Production Management and Engineering. 10(2):131-141. https://doi.org/10.4995/ijpme.2022.16712OJS13114110

Exploring industry 4.0 technologies to enable circular economy practices in a manufacturing context: a business model proposal.

Purpose - The purpose of this study was to explore how rising technologies from Industry 4.0 can be integrated with circular economy (CE) practices to establish a business model that reuses and recycles wasted material such as scrap metal or e-waste Design/methodology/approach – The qualitative research method was deployed in three stages. Stage one was a literature review of concepts, successful factors, and barriers related to the transition towards a CE along with sustainable supply chain management, smart production systems, and additive manufacturing. Stage two comprised a conceptual framework to integrate and evaluate the synergistic potential among these concepts. Finally, stage three validated the proposed model by collecting rich qualitative data based on semi-structured interviews with managers, researchers, and professors of operations management to gather insightful and relevant information. Findings – The outcome of the study is the recommendation of a circular model to reuse scrap electronic devices, integrating web technologies, reverse logistics, and additive manufacturing to support CE practices. Results suggest a positive influence from improving business sustainability by reinserting waste into the supply chain to manufacture products on demand. Research implications/originality – The impact of reusing wasted materials to manufacture new products is relevant to minimizing resource consumption and negative environmental impacts. Furthermore, it avoids hazardous materials ending up in landfills or in the oceans, seriously threatening life in ecosystems. In addition, reuse of wasted material enables the development of local business networks that generate jobs and improve economic performance.N/

Strategic research and innovation agenda on circular economy

CICERONE aims to bring national, regional and local governments together to jointly tackle the circular economy transition needed to reach net-zero carbon emissions and meet the targets set in the Paris Agreement and EU Green Deal. This document represents one of the key outcomes of the project: a Strategic Research & Innovation Agenda (SRIA) for Europe, to support owners and funders of circular economy programmes in aligning priorities and approaching the circular economy transition in a systemic way

Automation and control system implementation in a smallholder crop production in Uganda: A review

This review paper explores the potential of automation and control systems in addressing critical challenges faced by agriculture in developing countries, with a specific focus on their applicability in Uganda. The study aims to comprehensively evaluate the role of these systems in enhancing agricultural practices, including the identification of adoption challenges, assessment of potential benefits, investigation of system effectiveness, and provision of evidence-based recommendations. The findings reveal that while there are notable obstacles such as high initial costs, limited technical expertise, and database constraints, there are also substantial opportunities, particularly through the integration of supportive information and communication technology (ICT) strategies and policies. Automation has demonstrated its effectiveness in various agricultural tasks, from mechanized tractors to food processing and livestock farming, offering promising prospects for value addition, irrigation, hydroponics, aquaponics, greenhouse farming, and livestock management. Despite the current modest adoption rates, the study provides compelling evidence supporting the need for increased utilization of automation and control systems in Uganda’s agriculture. Collaboration among stakeholders, formulation of supportive policies, development of comprehensive databases, prioritization of tailored ICT infrastructure, and facilitation of knowledge sharing are recommended to overcome challenges and harness the transformative capability of automation. In conclusion, embracing automation holds the key to enhancing the sustainability and food security of Uganda’s agriculture, offering valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders in guiding the sector’s future advancement

End-of-life implications of electronic textiles - Assessment of a converging technology

Contemporary innovation in the converging technology sectors of electronics and textile aims at augmenting functionality of textiles, making them “smart”. That is, integrating electronic functions such as sensing, data processing, and networking into wearable products. Embedding electronic devices into textiles results in a novel category of products: electronic textiles (e-textiles). Whereas researchers and innovators are pushing forward technological development little attention has been paid to the end-of-life implications of such future products. E-textiles may not only entail promising business opportunities but also adverse environmental impacts. This study examines potential end-of-life implications, which could emerge once future e-textiles are disposed of. Using the methodological framework of technology assessment an overview of current innovation processes for e-textiles is established and an outlook on future applications areas is provided. Further, information on technologies and materials composition of e-textiles is mapped as a basis for assessing the prospective implications at the end of their useful life. The findings suggest that widespread application of e-textiles could result in the emergence of a new waste stream. There are various parallels to electronic waste, which causes profound environmental problems nowadays. Risks include potential release of toxic substances during the disposal phase. And, loss of scarce materials is to be expected if no recycling takes place. This would accelerate the depletion of resources. Recycling of textile integrated electronic devices will be difficult. From the analysis it can be deduced that today’s schemes for takeback, recycling and disposal would not be sufficient to cope with waste e-textiles in an environmentally benign manner. Instead, discarded e-textiles would find their way into solid waste and increase the existing environmental problems of waste disposal. The study concludes with recommendations for policy makers and technology developers on how a waste preventative technology design could be achieved

The State Defense Form Through Cultural Education On Energy Saving

Abstract – A strong country is a nation that has a united citizen in defending, fighting and protecting the country from all kinds of threats that occur, both military and non-military through awareness of defending the state for the integrity of the territory of Republic of Indonesia (NKRI). The concept of defending the state can be realized through energy-efficient culture education for the sustainability of Indonesia's energy in the future.This article is intended to apply energy efficient and rational culture through the application of basic energy-saving values which include: (1) development of green education curriculum through energy conservation materials (efficient, wise and energy savvy); (2) developing the concept of energy-saving lifestyle habits in two directions (learning from student to student so that active student participation) such as turning off energy source equipment (tap water, lamp, AC) when they are not used continuously with assistance from educator which will become a positive habit that is embedded from childhood to use energy efficiently and rationally. The energy-saving culture education is not only a normative appeal, but there must be clear regulation on energy saving through cooperation between Ministry of Research and Technology and Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and Ministry of Defense. Therefore, the development culture of energy application continuously can be created with commitment from all academic society of education state defenses.Keywords: defending the state, energy conservation, educatio

Buildings Temporary Yet Efficient

With the aim of valorising and spreading the environmental legacy of Expo Milano 2015, the Italian Ministry for the Environment has realised a technical-educational publication in cooperation with Expo 2015 SpA, Politecnico di Milano and IEFE – Università Bocconi. “The EXPO we learned. The legacy of a mega-event in a circular economy perspective” is a well reasoned evaluation about the sustainable achievements obtained thanks to the “best practices” applied during the Event and the “lessons learned”: from the construction of temporary buildings with energy efficiency and materials reusage expedients, and the prescription of green procurement requirements to waste management