Challenges to quantify the life cycle carbon footprint of buildings in Chile

This study identifies key challenges to measure the carbon footprint (CF) over the whole life cycle of buildings in Chile, although its findings are also applicable to other countries. This paper presents four of the said challenges that emerge from the analysis of certification programs, design guides, databases, CF/LCA calculators, standards, and Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) programs worldwide. The four challenges are: (i) a sustainable governance for the carbon footprint system which ensures CF quality, enables regular updates of the data, and has guaranteed funding, (ii) adoption of the system by industry, (iii) standardization of reporting, and (iv) standardization of measurements over the full life cycle. An MRV appears as the best option to coordinate multiple actors and data needs; however, it requires a sustainable governance model as well as widespread adoption. Such an MRV would need a common reporting system. However, comparability may be compromised due to a lack of consensus on which standard to follow in the industry and on definitions for basic building measurements, such as area. The reporting system must be based on a standardized tool, i.e., a CF calculator for buildings. Many of these exist; however, they differ in a fundamental aspect: whether they are used to guide low carbon design or to certify carbon emissions by buildings. Finally, the calculator will need an agreed upon methodology. Although several standards exist, one must be chosen, updated and deployed. Some countries may be more advanced than others on these challenges, but none have solved them completely. A concerted effort would be best to reduce the CF of the construction sector globally

Evolution of clay mineral assemblages in the Tinguiririca geothermal field, Andean Cordillera of central Chile: an XRD and HRTEM-AEM study

El artículo original ha sido publicado por Elsevier en la Revista Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0377027314001760 La versión que aquí se presenta es una versión postprintHRTEM textural evidence shows that clay minerals in the Tinguiririca geothermal field (Andean Cordillera, central Chile) are the result of direct alteration of former volcanic glass and minerals by hydrothermal fluids at similar temperatures to the present day. They show the classical pattern of diagenetic transformation from smectite at the top to illite at the bottom, with the progressive formation of corrensite and chlorite. The high fluid/rock ratio, disposability of necessary cations and absence of previous detrital phyllosilicates allow the consideration of this area as a natural laboratory to establish the extreme ideal conditions for very low-T reactions. Transformations from smectite to R1 illite–smectite (I–S) and from these to R3 mixed-layers occur respectively at 80–120 °C and 125–180 °C. In spite of ideal genetic conditions, the new-formed minerals show all the defective character and lack of textural and chemical equilibrium previously described in the literature for diagenetic and hydrothermal low-temperature assemblages. Chemistry of smectite–illite phases evolves basically through a diminution of the pyrophyllitic component toward a theoretical muscovite (Si4++□-> Al3++K+). However, a second chemical vector (Si4++Mg2+→Al3++Al3+), that is, decreasing of the tschermack component, also contributes to the evolution toward the less Si-more Al rich muscovite in relation to the original smectite. Residual Mg (and Fe) from the latter reaction is consumed in the genesis of chloritic phases. Nevertheless, as a consequence of the lack of chemical equilibrium (probably because of the short time-scale of the geothermal alteration processes), the composition of clay minerals is highly heterogeneous at the level of a single sample. Consequently, the respective fields of smectite, R1 I–S and R3 I–S overlap each other, making the distinction among these three phases impossible based exclusively on chemical data.Departamento de Mineralogía y Petrología (Universidad de Granada).Departamento de Didáctica de las Ciencias Experimentales (Universidad de Granada).Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra (Universidad de Granada- Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas)Department of Geology University of Chile Andean Geothermal Center of Excellence (CEGA)Energía Andina S.A.Financial support was provided by the Chilean Research Projects Fondecyt-Regular-1140629 and FONDAP-CONICYT-15090013 “Andean Geothermal Center of Excellence (CEGA)”

Estudio descriptivo-correccional del autoconcepto en alumnos con necesidades educativas especiales entre 8 y 12 años que asisten a las escuelas básicas municipales en la comuna de Requínoa

Tesis (Psicología)El presente estudio intenta conocer y describir cómo es el autoconcepto global y específico en alumnos con Necesidades Educativas Especiales (Conducta Hiperactiva, Conducta Agresiva, Conducta Oposicionista Desafiante, Retardo Mental Leve y Problemas de Aprendizaje), cuyos rangos de edad fluctúan entre los 8 y 12 años, a través de la Versión Adaptada de la Escala de Autoconcepto de Piers Harris, María Elena Gorostegui 1992 y establecer si existen diferencias en el autoconcepto global y específico según el tipo de Necesidad Educativa Especial que presenta el alumno. El autoconcepto se revela como una de las variables fundamentales del desarrollo personal y social de los individuos. Influye en la percepción del mundo, en nuestra manera de actuar, de relacionarnos con los otros, en nuestras competencias intelectuales, en definitiva en nuestra vida diaria. De ahí su importancia en la estructuración de la personalidad. En esta investigación entenderemos por alumnos con Necesidades Educativas Especiales "aquellos que presentan dificultades de aprendizajes o desfases en relación con el currículum que les corresponde por edad y que requieren para ser atendidas, medios de acceso al currículum, adaptaciones en el currículum mismo y/o una atención especial a la estructura social y clima emocional en el que tiene lugar el hecho educativo" (Informe Warnock, 1979). De acuerdo a esta definición las necesidades educativas especiales no pueden sólo remitirse a los alumnos que presentan problemas de aprendizaje, sino que también son considerados aquellos que puedan presentar además problemas emocionales, sociales y conductuales ya que también estas dificultades alteran el proceso de enseñanza aprendizaje

Mechanical, electrical, plumbing and tenant improvements over the building lifetime: Estimating material quantities and embodied carbon for climate change mitigation

The building industry is expanding its ability to mitigate the environmental impacts of buildings through the application of life cycle assessment (LCA). Most building LCA studies focus on core and shell (C&S) and rarely assess mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) and tenant improvements (TI). However, C&S typologies in the commercial sector pose particular challenges to achieving net zero carbon due to the numerous renovations these building undergo through during their service life. MEP and TI are installed multiple times over the lifetime of commercial buildings leading to cumulative environmental impact caused by increasing material quantities and embodied carbon (EC). This study aimed to establish a preliminary range of material quantities and embodied carbon impacts for MEP and TI components, focusing on commercial office buildings in the Pacific Northwest. The first research stage involved quantifying material quantities while a second stage aimed to calculate Embodied Carbon Coefficients (ECC) and LCA impacts using different data sources. The embodied carbon estimates ranged from 40 to 75 kg CO(2)e/m(2) for MEP and 45-135 kg CO(2)e/m(2) for TI. However, with recurring instalments during a life span of 60 years the impacts become comparable to known impacts of core and shell systems.Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Charles Pankow Foundation Skanska USA Oregon DE

Mineralogía de alteración en el pozo Pte-1, campo geotermal Tinguiririca, Chile

Este trabajo presenta los avances en el estudio mediante petrografía óptica, DRX y SEM de la mineralogía de alteración presente en el pozo PTe-1, ubicado en el campo geotérmico Tinguiririca (Chile central). Los 813,85m de rocas perforadas pertenecen al Complejo Volcánico Tinguiririca (Pleistoceno-Holoceno) formado por lavas, tobas y brechas volcánicas de composición andesítica. Sobre la base de las asociaciones minerales se ha determinado dos zonas de alteración principales. La de menor profundidad presenta filosilicatos máficos ricos en esmectita, calcedonia e iddingsita, como fases diagnóstico. La más profunda contiene wairakita, prehnita y epidota, indicando un aumento progresivo de la temperatura. La proporción y naturaleza de filosilicatos máficos reconocida a lo largo de la columna indica una dependencia de la litología primaria, ya que los niveles con menores porcentajes de esmectita en el interestratificado Smt/Chl se encuentran en litologías con mayor porosidad (tobas), independientemente de la profundidad de éstas. El rango de temperatura estimado a partir de las asociaciones minerales en equilibrio muestra una buena correlación con el perfilaje obtenido directamente del pozo, sugiriendo que la alteración mineral presente refleja el último evento de alteración geotermal activo sufrido por estas rocas.Departamento de Didáctica de las Ciencias (Universidad de Granada)Departamento de Geología y Centro de Excelencia en Geotermia de los Andes (CEGA-FONDAP). Facultad de Ciencias Físicas y Matemáticas (Universidad de Chile)Departamento de Mineralogía y Petrología (Universidad de Granada)Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la TierraEl presente trabajo ha sido financiado por Energía Andina (EASA) y se presenta, además, como una contribución al proyecto FONDAP-CONICYT 15090013 “Centro de Excelencia en Geotermia de los Andes” (CEGA) y se realizó en el marco de un programa de cooperación CEGA-EASA

Eruptive parameters and dynamics of the April 2015 sub-Plinian eruptions of Calbuco volcano (southern Chile)

International audienceWe conducted geological and petrological analyses of the tephra fallout and pyroclastic density current (PDC) products of the 22-23 April 2015 Calbuco eruptions. The eruptive cycle consisted of two sub-Plinian phases that generated > 15 km height columns and PDCs that travelled up to 6 km from the vent. The erupted volume is estimated at 0.38 km3 (non-DRE), with approximately 90% corresponding to tephra fall deposits and the other 10% to PDC deposits. The erupted products are basaltic-andesite, 54-55 wt.% SiO2, with minor amounts of andesite (58 wt.% SiO2). Despite the uniform composition of the products, there are at least four types of textures in juvenile clasts, with different degrees of vesicularity and types and content of crystals. We propose that the eruption triggering mechanism was either exsolution of volatiles due to crystallization, or a small intrusion into the base of the magma chamber, without significant magma mixing or with a magma compositionally similar to that of the residing magma. In either case the triggering mechanism generated convection and sufficient overpressure to promote the first eruptive phase. The start of the eruption decompressed the chamber, promoting intense vesiculation of the remaining magma and an increase in eruption rate towards the end of the eruption