Liveability analysis of gated and non-gated low middle income communities in kuala lumpur, Malaysia

The aim of this paper is to examine the liveability conditions in gated and non-gated low middle income communities in Kuala Lumpur where rapid urban growth has led to many disruptions in the urban living environment. Hence, a livability framework was developed with dimensions from housing condition, economic condition, functional environment, social relations and community safety towards achieving the research objectives of – a) to study the liveability level in gated and non-gated communities, b) to compare the level of liveability between gated and non-gated communities, and c) to determine the dimensions and indicators which influence the level of liveability in both communities. Residents’ views were collected through a questionnaire survey which consisted of twenty-four indicators of liveability belonging to five dimensions from three communities in Kuala Lumpur. Two communities belong to non-gated and one community had gated living status. The findings of the research revealed that gated community has a better living conditions compared to the non-gated community. Thus, this research can be used as a turning point to improve the living environment of both gated and non-gated communit

An Energy-Efficient and Reliable Data Transmission Scheme for Transmitter-based Energy Harvesting Networks

Energy harvesting technology has been studied to overcome a limited power resource problem for a sensor network. This paper proposes a new data transmission period control and reliable data transmission algorithm for energy harvesting based sensor networks. Although previous studies proposed a communication protocol for energy harvesting based sensor networks, it still needs additional discussion. Proposed algorithm control a data transmission period and the number of data transmission dynamically based on environment information. Through this, energy consumption is reduced and transmission reliability is improved. The simulation result shows that the proposed algorithm is more efficient when compared with previous energy harvesting based communication standard, Enocean in terms of transmission success rate and residual energy.This research was supported by Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation by Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology(2012R1A1A3012227)

Solar Power System Plaing & Design

Photovoltaic (PV) and concentrated solar power (CSP) systems for the conversion of solar energy into electricity are technologically robust, scalable, and geographically dispersed, and they possess enormous potential as sustainable energy sources. Systematic planning and design considering various factors and constraints are necessary for the successful deployment of PV and CSP systems. This book on solar power system planning and design includes 14 publications from esteemed research groups worldwide. The research and review papers in this Special Issue fall within the following broad categories: resource assessments, site evaluations, system design, performance assessments, and feasibility studies

Improving the sustainability of coal SC in both developed and developing countries by incorporating extended exergy accounting and different carbon reduction policies

In the age of Industry 4.0 and global warming, it is inevitable for decision-makers to change the way they view the coal supply chain (SC). In nature, energy is the currency, and nature is the source of energy for humankind. Coal is one of the most important sources of energy which provides much-needed electricity, as well as steel and cement production. This manuscript-based PhD thesis examines the coal SC network as well as the four carbon reduction strategies and plans to develop a comprehensive model for sustainable design. Thus, the Extended Exergy Accounting (EEA) method is incorporated into a coal SC under economic order quantity (EOQ) and economic production quantity (EPQs) in an uncertain environment. Using a real case study in coal SC in Iran, four carbon reduction policies such as carbon tax (Chapter 5), carbon trade (Chapter 6), carbon cap (Chapter 7), and carbon offset (Chapter 8) are examined. Additionally, all carbon policies are compared for sustainable performance of coal SCs in some developed and developing countries (the USA, China, India, Germany, Canada, Australia, etc.) with the world's most significant coal consumption. The objective function of the four optimization models under each carbon policy is to minimize the total exergy (in Joules as opposed to Dollars/Euros) of the coal SC in each country. The models have been solved using three recent metaheuristic algorithms, including Ant lion optimizer (ALO), Lion optimization algorithm (LOA), and Whale optimization algorithm (WOA), as well as three popular ones, such as Genetic algorithm (GA), Ant colony optimization (ACO), and Simulated annealing (SA), are suggested to determine a near-optimal solution to an exergy fuzzy nonlinear integer-programming (EFNIP). Moreover, the proposed metaheuristic algorithms are validated by using an exact method (by GAMS software) in small-size test problems. Finally, through a sensitivity analysis, this dissertation compares the effects of applying different percentages of exergy parameters (capital, labor, and environmental remediation) to coal SC models in each country. Using this approach, we can determine the best carbon reduction policy and exergy percentage that leads to the most sustainable performance (the lowest total exergy per Joule). The findings of this study may enhance the related research of sustainability assessment of SC as well as assist coal enterprises in making logical and measurable decisions

Recent Advances in Energy Efficiency of Buildings

Buildings are important consumers of energy; in fact, they represent 30–45% of the global energy use and one-third of total greenhouse gas emissions, as well as contributing to the urban heat-island effect. In consequence, the correct design and execution of buildings, use of new materials that reduce energy demand, and efficient use of renewable energy are all necessary to reduce the impacts that occur during their life-cycle. This book shows some examples, focused on improving the energy-efficiency of buildings, in accordance with circular economy policies and life-cycle phases, including design, construction and use. The editor wishes to thank all the authors for contributing to this book, as well as to the assistance of MDPI’s editorial office

Residents’ perceptual analysis on liveability in the planned housing estates of nigeria: empirical evidence from niger state

The government of Nigeria and the state government of Niger in particular, are committed to the development of housing, especially for the low-income group in the state. The housing estates as popularly called have housed many families of the low-income group in the state, however, till to date no effort have been made to understand the perception of the beneficiaries about the liveability of their housing estate. This paper intends to focus on the state of liveability of three public low-income housing estates in Minna, Niger State, Nigeria and the investigation used data derived from a pool of household surveys with 366 respondents. This paper used survey research design to unveil the challenges confronting the residents of the selected housing estates. The residents’ perception of liveability was assessed through five dimensions - housing unit characteristics, economic vitality, security, neighbourhood facilities and social interaction. Data elicited from the structured questionnaire administered were subjected to descriptive statistics, factor analysis and structural modelling. The results show that the respondents were dissatisfied with most of the neighbourhood facilities in the housing estates. Hence, to improve the liveability of these housing estates, this paper recommends rehabilitation of the neighbourhood facilities in these housing estates. Also, the neighbourhood facilities management strategy should be put in place by the appropriate authority in collaboration with the residents of these housing estates

Secure and Sustainable Energy System

This special issue aims to contribute to the climate actions which called for the need to address Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, keeping global warming to well below 2°C through various means, including accelerating renewables, clean fuels, and clean technologies into the entire energy system. As long as fossil fuels (coal, gas and oil) are still used in the foreseeable future, it is vital to ensure that these fossil fuels are used cleanly through abated technologies. Financing the clean and energy transition technologies is vital to ensure the smooth transition towards net zero emission by 2050 or beyond. The lack of long‐term financing, the low rate of return, the existence of various risks, and the lack of capacity of market players are major challenges to developing sustainable energy systems.This special collected 17 high-quality empirical studies that assess the challenges for developing secure and sustainable energy systems and provide practical policy recommendations. The editors of this special issue wish to thank the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) for funding several papers that were published in this special issue

Low-carbon indicator system – Sino: Bewertung für umweltfreundliche Stadtentwicklungsstufen in China

Climate change is affecting human society in different aspects, thus attracting global focus. With over half of the global population now living in urban areas, cities will face great challenges as they are hotspots for disaster and climate risks and major contributors to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, as a highly artificial system, urban development depends on human decisions to a large extent. It is possible to minimize the influence through reasonable development strategies. The previous concept and endeavor of sustainable cities likely need to be adjusted according to climate change. China and other emerging countries are experiencing a rapid urbanization, industrialization and modernization process that will result in a significant increase in economic development and urban construction in the future decades. In this process, if the urban development follows the traditional pattern, once they are built, cities will be locked in an energy- and carbon-intensive development model over a considerable period of time. Low-carbon city development will ensure that the process is more resilient to potential climate crisis and at the same time prevent aggravation of the ongoing climate change. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop an appropriate evaluation framework of low-carbon city development levels in China. German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) launched the “Cooperative Project Shanghai: Integrated Approaches towards a Sustainable and Energy-Efficient Urban Development – Urban Form, Mobility, Housing and Living” in 2008 and entrusted the Institute of City Planning and Urban Design at the University of Duisburg-Essen to develop a tool “Low Carbon Index (LCI®)” to evaluate the energy-efficiency and CO2 emissions of urban areas, which has been tested in the Shanghai Hongqiao Low Carbon Business Center project. This evaluation tool is intuitive and understandable, and provides a new consideration for the study of low-carbon city evaluation, but improvements are still needed in terms of practice guidance, operability, flexibility, etc. Under this background, the aim of the thesis is to develop a low-carbon city evaluation system for Chinese cities based on the experience of LCI®, in order to provide standards and guidance for low-carbon city development in China. Firstly, the connotation and definition of the low-carbon city was taken from a review of the theory and its background. Based on the review of existing research achievements, the low-carbon city is defined as a city that strives to reduce its GHG emissions and increase its carbon sinks, while simultaneously adapting to the anticipated climate change impacts. This definition suggests that climate mitigation and adaptation are two key points of low-carbon city development with the same significance, and identifies these both as the main basis of low-carbon city evaluation. Secondly, six key climate-related urban sectors of “urban design”, “transport”, “energy”, “building”, “water”, and “municipal solid waste” were identified and their significance in low-carbon city evaluation, carbon emission contribution, climate risk, and climate mitigation and adaptation strategies were studied in depth. Action in these six sectors could substantially improve the level of low-carbon development in a city, thus, it indicates the orientation of low-carbon city evaluation. Thirdly, an evaluation framework of low-carbon city development level – Low-Carbon Indicator System – Sino (LCISS) is constructed. It consists of three parts: “indicator list”, “evaluation checklist and report”, and “development guideline”. “Indicator list” is the evaluation tool, which is a comprehensive indicator system constructed through coupling three urban planning scales with the six key urban sectors. It is organized as a three-level hierarchic structure that contains 6 first-class indicators, 17 second-class indicators, and 54 third-class indicators. All indicators of this system are selected by using Theoretical Analysis method and Delphi method, and the weight of the indicators is determined by Delphi method and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method. “Evaluation checklist and report” is the evaluation result as well as a systematic review of the situation of a city’s low-carbon development level. “Development guideline” is an action plan that describes where improvement is needed in the future. The feature of LCISS is that it could help cities to evaluate the process and status of their low-carbon development, to identify where inefficiencies occur as well as where action is needed, to assess the potential for improvement, and to formulate an action plan, so as to advance the low-carbon development in a more efficient way. Finally, the evaluation framework of Low-Carbon Indicator System – Sino was tested using the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City (SSTEC) project as an example. The evaluation results showed that SSTEC has advantages in low-carbon development at all three urban planning scales, but there is still room for improvement in several sectors, such as traffic management, building certification, flood control, and waste recycling regulations. The results of this evaluation conform with the actual development situation of SSTEC. It is expected that this thesis will be of practical value for the low-carbon city evaluation process.Der Klimawandel gewinnt zunehmend weltweite Aufmerksamkeit; denn er beeinflusst die Gesellschaft in vielfältiger Weise. Über die Hälfte der Weltbevölkerung lebt heute in Großstädten. Daher werden diese großen Herausforderungen zu bewältigen haben; denn sie werden sowohl Brennpunkte für Klimakatastrophen und –risiken als auch die Hauptverursacher der Treibhausgasemissionen sein. Stadtentwicklung ist ein hochkomplexes künstliches System, das hauptsächlich von menschlichen Entscheidungen abhängig ist. Insofern können vernünftige Entwicklungsstrategien Katastrophen und Risiken minimiert werden. Bisherige Konzepte und Bemühungen zukunftsfähiger Städte müssen dem Klimawandel entsprechend angepasst werden. China und andere Schwellenländer erleben gerade einen rapiden Urbanisierungs-, Industrialisierungs- und Modernisierungsprozess, der in einem bedeutenden Anstieg von Bauprojekten und wirtschaftlicher Entwicklung in den kommenden Jahrzehnten münden wird. Wenn die Stadtentwicklung dem bisherigen Muster folgt, werden die Städte, sobald sie gebaut sind, über einen beträchtlichen Zeitraum in einem energie- und kohleabhängigen Entwicklungsmodell stecken bleiben. Umweltfreundliche Stadtentwicklung garantiert eine belastbarere Entwicklung im Angesicht einer potentiellen Klimakrise und beugt gleichzeitig einer Verschärfung des andauernden Klimawandels vor. Daher ist es dringend notwendig, angemessene Bewertungsmaßstäbe für umweltfreundliche Entwicklungsstufen in China zu entwickeln. Das deutsche Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF) startete 2008 das „Cooperative Project Shanghai: Integrated Approaches towards a Sustainable and Energy-Efficient Urban Development – Urban Form, Mobility, Housing and Living” und beauftragte das Institut für Stadtplanung und Städtebau an der Universität Duisburg-Essen mit der Entwicklung des „Low Carbon Index (LCI®)”, um Energieeffizienz und CO2 Emissionen im städtischen Raum bewerten zu können. Dieser Index wurde bereits im Shanghai Hongqiao Low Carbon Business Center Projekt getestet. Dieses Bewertungsinstrument ist intuitiv und verständlich und stellt eine neue Betrachtungsweise für die Erforschung der Bewertung umweltfreundlicher Städte dar, allerdings sind immer noch Verbesserungen vonnöten, was den Praxisbezug, die Bedienbarkeit und die Flexibilität anlangt. Vor diesem Hintergrund ist das Ziel der Arbeit, ein System für die Bewertung der Umweltfreundlichkeit chinesischer Städte auf der Praxiserfahrung des LCI® zu entwickeln, um Standards und Anleitungen für eine umweltfreundliche Stadtentwicklung in China zur Verfügung stellen zu können. Zunächst wurden Inhalte und Definition einer umweltfreundlichen Stadt hergeleitet aus der Betrachtung der Theorie und deren Hintergrund. Basierend auf der Auswertung bereits vorhandener Forschungsergebnisse ist die umweltfreundliche Stadt als eine definiert, die sich für eine Reduzierung der Treibhausgas-Emissionen und Anhebung der Kohlenstoffsenken einsetzt, während sie sich gleichzeitig an die erwarteten Auswirkungen des Klimawandels anpasst. Diese Definition unterstellt, dass Klimaschutz und -anpassung zwei elementare Schlüsselaspekte der umweltfreundlichen Stadtentwicklung von gleichrangiger Bedeutung sind, und bestimmt diese beiden auch als Hauptgrundlage für die Bewertung der umweltfreundlichen Stadt. Zweitens wurden die sechs stadtrelevanten Klimafaktoren Stadtgestaltung, Transport, Energie, Gebäude, Wasser und kommunale Abfälle bestimmt und ihre Bedeutung für die Bewertung der umweltfreundlichen Stadt, den Anteil an Kohlenstoffemissionen, die Klimagefährdung, den Klimaschutz und Anpassungsstrategien ausgiebig untersucht. Ein Handeln in diesen sechs Bereichen könnte erheblich den Grad einer umweltfreundlichen städtischen Entwicklung steigern. Damit werden auch die Richtlinien für eine Bewertung umweltfreundlicher Städte bestimmt. Drittens wird ein Bewertungsrahmen zur Bemessung der umweltfreundlichen Stadtentwicklung – Low-Carbon Indicator System – Sino (LCISS) geschaffen. Er besteht aus drei Teilen: „indicator list”, „evaluation checklist and report”, und „development guideline”. Die Indikatorenliste ist ein Bewertungsinstrument, welches ein komplexes Indikatorensystem darstellt, das sich zusammensetzt aus der Verbindung von drei urbanen Planungsmaßstäben mit den o.g. sechs Faktoren. Konstruiert ist sie in einem dreistufigen hierarchischen Aufbau, der sechs erstrangige, 17 zweitrangige und 54 drittrangige Indikatoren enthält. Alle Indikatoren dieses Systems werden gewählt, indem die Theoretische Analyse Methode und die Delphi Methode zum Tragen kommen. Die Gewichtung der Indikatoren wird durch die Delphi Methode und die Analytische Hierarchie Prozess (AHP) Methode festgelegt. Bewertung, Checkliste und Bericht („evaluation checklist and report”) meint das Bewertungsergebnis ebenso wie die systematische Erfassung des Entwicklungsstands der gegenwärtigen städtischen Umweltfreundlichkeit. Entwicklungsrichtlinie („development guideline”) bezieht sich auf den Aktionsplan, der beschreibt, wo Verbesserungen nötig sind. Das Leistungsmerkmal des LCISS ist, Städten zeigen zu können, wie man den Prozess und gegenwärtigen Stand einer umweltfreundlichen Entwicklung bewerten, Ineffizienzen herausfinden und Aktionsbedarf, Verbesserungsmöglichkeiten und Aktionspläne ermitteln kann, um die umweltfreundliche Entwicklung effektiver zu gestalten. Schließlich wurde der Bewertungsrahmen des Low-Carbon Indicator Systems – Sino getestet, indem das Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City (SSTEC) Projekt als Beispiel herangezogen wurde. Die Bewertungsergebnisse zeigten, dass das SSTEC zwar Vorteile in der umweltfreundlichen Entwicklung auf allen drei städtischen Planungsebenen bringt, jedoch immer noch Raum für Verbesserungen in einigen Bereichen da ist, beispielsweise in der Verkehrsplanung, der Gebäudebewertung, dem Hochwasserschutz und den Abfallaufbereitungsverordnungen. Die Ergebnisse dieser Bewertung stimmen mit der aktuellen Entwicklungssituation beim SSTEC überein. Es wird erwartet, dass diese Arbeit von praktischem Nutzen für einen umweltfreundlichen Stadtentwicklungsprozess ist