COVID-19 and household energy implications: what are the main impacts on energy use?

This study explores the impacts of COVID-19 on household energy use. Some of these impacts are associated with longer-term energy demand changes and some could just be temporary. The study intends to present the results of a small pilot study conducted in China, by addressing household energy use. The samples are from 352 households and particularly focus on primary energy use in three periods of pre-pandemic (and pre-lockdown), start of COVID-19 outbreak and lockdown, and post lockdown. Each period is identified as a timeframe of 2.5 months, from November 2019 to late June 2020. The samples of this study highlight the primary implications of energy use, some that are understood as interim changes and some that may appear to be more prolonged. The results from the study highlight a variety of impacts on household energy use as well as prolonged impacts on transportation use. The primary household energy use are assessed in six fundamental elements of (1) transportation for commuting and leisure (for both private and public modes), (2) cooking, (3) entertainment, (4) heating and cooling, (5) lighting, and (6) the others. The results are summarized in three sections focused on major impacts on transportation use (comparison between private and public modes), cooking and entertainment, heating/cooling and lighting. The results could provide early suggestions for cities/regions that are experiencing longer lockdown. Furthermore, this study provides insights for larger-scale research in assessing household energy use/demand during times of health emergency and crises, such as the event of a pandemic

Development and application of an integrated smart city model

This study presents an innovative integrated approach for smart cities, aimed at promoting environmentally sustainable economies through novel technological and socio-economic transitions. The proposed model determines the smart city index (SCI) by aggregating 32 distinct performance indicators that significantly transform the environment, economy, energy, social, governance, and transportation sectors. This model is inherently multidisciplinary and is methodologically processed using multi-criteria decision analysis, which is aggregated using four distinct weighting schemes. The model results reveal that based on the equal weighting scheme, Sydney emerges as the city with the highest SCI score of 0.72, whereas Lima is identified as the city with the lowest SCI score of 0.26. On the other hand, based on the sustainability triad scheme, Toronto tops the list with an SCI score of 0.77, whereas Abuja scores the lowest with an SCI score of 0.31. Interestingly, Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal continue to maintain their position among the top 5 cities across all three schemes: equal weighting, sustainability triad, and energy-focused schemes. Furthermore, the energy-focused scheme identifies Montreal as the top-performing city, scoring 0.7, followed by Oshawa at 0.67, and four Canadian cities top the SCI scores in this scheme. In contrast, Lima still remains at the bottom of the list with an SCI score of 0.27. Finally, based on a smart health-focused scheme, Sydney, Osaka, and Hämeenlinna rank highest in SCI scores. Overall, the proposed approach and model provide valuable insights and guidelines for policy-makers and urban planners to design and implement smart city initiatives that can significantly enhance sustainable development and improve quality of life in urban settings

Energy Sustainability /

Energy Sustainability is a subject with many dimensions that spans both production and utilization and how they are linked to sustainable development. More importantly, energy systems are designed, analyzed, assessed and evaluated in accordance to sustainable tools for more sustainable future. This book comprehensively covers these aspects, harmonizing them in a way that offers distinct perspectives for energy, the environment and sustainable development. In addition, it also covers concepts, systems, applications, illustrative examples and case studies that are presented to provide unique coverage for readers. --Print version record.Front Cover; Energy Sustainability; Energy Sustainability; Copyright; Contents; Preface; 1 -- Fundamental aspects of energy, environment, and sustainability; 1.1 Introduction; 1.2 Energy; 1.2.1 Energy forms; 1.2.2 Energy history; 1.2.3 Thermodynamics; 1.3 Environment; 1.3.1 Environmental impact; 1.3.2 Climate change and global warming; 1.3.3 Energy and the environment; 1.4 Sustainability; 1.5 Closing remarks; 2 -- Energy sources; 2.1 Introduction; 2.2 Fossil fuels; 2.2.1 Coal; 2.2.2 Oil, petroleum, and natural gas; 2.3 Nuclear energy; 2.4 Renewable energy; 2.4.1 Wind; 2.4.2 Solar2.4.3 Geothermal2.4.4 Tidal and wave; 2.4.5 Biomass and biofuel; 2.4.6 Hydro; 2.4.7 Hydrogen; 2.5 Closing remarks; 3 -- Energy systems; 3.1 Introduction; 3.2 Power-generating systems; 3.2.1 Fossil-fuel power plants; 3.2.2 Nuclear power plants; 3.2.3 Geothermal power plants; 3.2.4 Solar power plants; 3.2.5 Wind power plants; 3.2.6 Biomass power plants; 3.3 Heating systems; 3.3.1 Solar heating systems; 3.3.2 Geothermal heating systems; 3.3.3 Biomass heating systems; 3.3.4 Heat pumps; 3.4 Refrigeration systems; 3.5 Refineries; 3.6 Closing remarks; 4 -- Energy services; 4.1 Introduction4.2 Electricity4.3 Heating and cooling; 4.4 Closing remarks; 5 -- Community energy systems; 5.1 Introduction; 5.2 Combined heat and power; 5.3 Fuel cells; 5.4 Photovoltaic thermal energy systems; 5.5 Hybrid energy systems; 5.6 Microgrids; 5.7 District heating systems; 5.8 District cooling systems; 5.9 Thermal energy storage; 5.10 Cogeneration systems; 5.11 Trigeneration systems; 5.12 Closing remarks; 6 -- Sustainability modeling; 6.1 Introduction; 6.2 Sustainability assessment categories; 6.2.1 Energy aspect; 6.2.2 Exergy aspect; 6.2.3 Economic impact; 6.2.4 Technology; 6.2.5 Social aspect6.2.6 Environmental impact6.2.7 Education; 6.2.8 Size factor; 6.2.9 Summary; 6.3 Indicators; 6.4 Model development and framework; 6.4.1 Methodology; 6.4.1.1 Energy aspect; 6.4.1.1.1 Energy efficiency; 6.4.1.1.2 Production rate; 6.4.1.2 Exergy aspect; 6.4.1.2.1 Exergy efficiency; 6.4.1.2.2 Exergy destruction ratio; 6.4.1.3 Environmental impact; 6.4.1.3.1 Global warming potential; 6.4.1.3.2 Stratospheric ozone depletion potential; 6.4.1.3.3 Acidification potential; 6.4.1.3.4 Eutrophication potential; 6.4.1.3.5 Air toxicity; 6.4.1.3.6 Water ecotoxicity; 6.4.1.3.7 Smog air6.4.1.3.8 Water consumption6.4.1.3.9 Abiotic depletion potential; 6.4.1.4 Economic impact; 6.4.1.4.1 Benefit-cost ratio; 6.4.1.4.2 Payback time; 6.4.1.4.3 Levelized cost of electricity/energy; 6.4.1.4.4 Operation and maintenance cost; 6.4.1.5 Technology; 6.4.1.5.1 Commercializability; 6.4.1.5.2 Technology readiness; 6.4.1.5.3 Innovation; 6.4.1.6 Social aspect; 6.4.1.6.1 Job creation; 6.4.1.6.2 Public awareness; 6.4.1.6.3 Social acceptance; 6.4.1.6.4 Social cost; 6.4.1.6.5 Human welfare; 6.4.1.6.6 Human health; 6.4.1.7 Education; 6.4.1.7.1 Staff training; 6.4.1.7.2 Educational level of staff6.4.1.7.3 Educational innovationIncludes bibliographical references and index.Energy Sustainability is a subject with many dimensions that spans both production and utilization and how they are linked to sustainable development. More importantly, energy systems are designed, analyzed, assessed and evaluated in accordance to sustainable tools for more sustainable future. This book comprehensively covers these aspects, harmonizing them in a way that offers distinct perspectives for energy, the environment and sustainable development. In addition, it also covers concepts, systems, applications, illustrative examples and case studies that are presented to provide unique coverage for readers. --Elsevie