Propuesta de modelo integral de evaluación sostenible de la vivienda social en México

ResumenDebido al gran impacto de la industria de la construcción en el medio ambiente, la tendencia de la construcción sustentable a nivel mundial es una gran necesidad. La industria de la construcción es la principal actividad humana consumidora de recursos naturales por lo que se han creado herramientas que certifican el nivel de sustentabilidad e impacto ambiental de los edificios. En México aún no se ha desarrollado alguna metodología que evalue el grado de sustentabilidad de vivienda, por lo que se ha visto la necesidad de implementar modelos extranjeros, diseñados por otros países y para otros contextos, no viables de aplicar debido a las diferencias de los sistemas constructivos. El trabajo de investigación tiene como objetivo producir un modelo de evaluación de sustentabilidad en la vivienda social, creado en base a las características y sistemas constructivos preponderantes en el contexto local. Se analizaron los modelos de sustentabilidad más conocidos a nivel mundial (BREEAM, CASBEE, LEED y VERDE) en las etapas del ciclo de vida del edificio que ellos evalúan y a partir de esta revisión se diseñó una metodología de evaluación para la vivienda social sustentable en el país; la cual se aplicó en un caso estudio local y arrojó como resultado la gran necesidad de reforzar las prácticas sustentables locales ya que el nivel de cumplimiento de los criterios definidos fue tan sólo un 52% de su totalidad

Indicators for Monitoring Sustainable Development Goals: An Application to Oceanic Development in the European Union

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development includes a set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) with 169 specific targets. As such, it could be a step forward in achieving efficient governance and policies for global sustainable development. However, the current indicator framework with its broad set of individual indicators prevents straightforward assessment of synergies and trade-offs between the various indicators, targets, and goals thus heightening the significance of policy guidance in achieving sustainable development. With our detailed analysis of SDG 14 (Ocean) for European Union coastal states, we demonstrate how the (complementary) inclusion of composite indicators that aggregate the individual indicators by applying a generalized mean can provide important additional information and facilitate the assessment of sustainable development in general and in the SDG context in particular. Embedded in the context of social choice theory, the generalized mean varies the specification of substitution elasticity and thus allows a) for a straightforward distinction between a concept of weak and strong sustainability and b) for straightforward sensitivity analysis. We show that while in general the EU coastal states have a fairly balanced record at the SDG 14 level, certain countries like Slovenia and Portugal with a fairly balanced and a fairly unbalanced showing, respectively, rank very differently in terms of the two concepts of strong sustainability

Material Cycles and Chemicals: Dynamic Material Flow Analysis of Contaminants in Paper Recycling

This study provides a systematic approach for assessment of contaminants in materials for recycling. Paper recycling is used as an illustrative example. Three selected chemicals, bisphenol A (BPA), diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) and mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOHs), are evaluated within the paper cycle. The approach combines static material flow analysis (MFA) with dynamic material and substance flow modeling. The results indicate that phasing out of chemicals is the most effective measure for reducing chemical contamination. However, this scenario was also associated with a considerable lag phase (between approximately one and three decades) before the presence of chemicals in paper products could be considered insignificant. While improved decontamination may appear to be an effective way of minimizing chemicals in products, this may also result in lower production yields. Optimized waste material source-segregation and collection was the least effective strategy for reducing chemical contamination, if the overall recycling rates should be maintained at the current level (approximately 70% for Europe). The study provides a consistent approach for evaluating contaminant levels in material cycles. The results clearly indicate that mass-based recycling targets are not sufficient to ensure high quality material recycling

Restructuring and formalizing: Scholarly communication as a sustainable growth opportunity in information agencies?

Emerging technologies are revolutionizing the field of scholarly communication. Because of this, scholars increasingly need specialized support during all stages of the research process. With the academic library as the unit of analysis, two concepts from Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovation theory and organizational innovation literature are drawn upon to assess the sustainability of scholarly communication work in libraries. These concepts are organizational restructuring and formalization. Data on Association of Research Libraries (ARL) employees with relevant job titles and three digital curation competencies documents are analysed. Study findings suggest that ARL information agencies have restructured to provide added research support and that skills associated with scholarly communication positions are becoming more uniform. We conclude that scholarly communication information professionals are part of a sustainable area of practice within ARL information agencies, that has matured over the past decade, and this trend is likely to continue in at least the short term.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/147770/1/pra214505501041.pd

Produção de edificações sustentáveis: desafios e alternativas

A discussão do projeto e execução de edificações sustentáveis vem sendo abordada por diferentes autores, em geral com foco no desempenho da edificação e vida útil dos materiais. Entretanto, para atender aos requisitos de desempenho ambiental das edificações, existe também a necessidade de se introduzir mudanças na organização e gestão do processo projetual. Este artigo apresenta os resultados de uma pesquisa que investigou como a incorporação dos requisitos da sustentabilidade ambiental podem influenciar as práticas de projeto de arquitetura e engenharia. Reconhecendo a influência francesa na produção de edificações sustentáveis no Brasil - em decorrência da adoção por algumas empresas brasileiras do referencial Aqua (adaptado do HQE® francês) - , a pesquisa foi realizada junto a empresas que atuam naquele país. Os resultados apontam que a melhoria do processo de projeto depende do estabelecimento de um sistema de gestão que possa auxiliar os profissionais a lidarem com o grande número requisitos relacionados com a edificação sustentável. Também indicam a necessidade de revisão dos esquemas adotados até então, de forma a viabilizar a introdução da interoperabilidade entre os diferentes profissionais de projeto, desde a concepção arquitetônica, que deve se tornar responsabilidade de toda a equipe de projeto

Sustainability and Financial Performance of SMEs: A Bibliometric and Systematic Literature Review

Based on a 20-year dataset collected from the Web of Science database, this study aims to present a comprehensive knowledge map of the intellectual structure of the field of study of sustainability and financial performances in SMEs. A bibliometric analysis and systematic literature review method was employed by analyzing articles published between 1999 and 2018, using the VOSViewer software. The analyses provide an overview of articles, authors, the most influential journals, and themes of research. The results reveal the existence of three themes in research: the role of innovation and entrepreneurship their impact on sustainability in SMEs (cluster 1); CSR in the context of SMEs (cluster 2); and, green management and environmental issues for SMEs (cluster 3). In sum, this paper discusses prominent insights from the research analyses and recommends future research directions for the field

The Macroecology of Sustainability

Global consumption rates of vital resources suggest that we have surpassed the capacity of the Earth to sustain current levels, much less future trajectories of growth in human population and economy