Building-Integrated Photovoltaic/Thermal (BIPVT): LCA of a façade-integrated prototype and issues about human health, ecosystems, resources

Building-Integrated Photovoltaic/Thermal (BIPVT) technology offers multiple advantages; however, these types of installations include materials such as Photovoltaic (PV) cells and metals which considerably influence BIPVT environmental impact. Therefore, there is a need to evaluate BIPVT environmental profile, for instance by means of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). In light of the issues mentioned above, the present article is an LCA study that assesses the environmental performance of a BIPVT prototype that has been developed and patented at the Ulster University (Belfast, UK). The investigation places emphasis on material manufacturing, based on Cumulative Energy Demand (CED), Global Warming Potential (GWP), ReCiPe, Ecological footprint and USEtox. The results show that according to all the adopted methods/environmental indicators and based on primary materials, the PV cells and the two vessels (steel) are the components with the three highest impacts. Scenarios which include recycling of steel, plastics and brass (landfill for the other materials has been assumed), based on CED, GWP 100a and ReCiPe endpoint, have been examined. It was found that steel recycling offers a considerable impact reduction, ranging from 47% to 85%. Furthermore, the impact of the proposed BIPVT module per m2 of thermal absorber has been calculated. The results, based on primary materials, show 4.92 GJprim/m2 and 0.34 t CO2.eq/m2 (GWP 100a). In addition, according to USEtox/ecotoxicity, USEtox/human toxicity-non-cancer (scenario based on primary materials), the PV cells present the highest contributions to the total impact of the module: 55% in terms of ecotoxicity and 86% concerning human toxicity/non-cancer. A comparison with literature is provided. Moreover, a separate section of the article is about factors which influence BIPVT environmental profile, discussing parameters such as the storage materials and the end-of-life management.The authors would like to thank “Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad” of Spain for the funding (grant reference ENE2016-81040-R)

Sustainability of using recycled plastic fiber in concrete

Globally 335 Mt of plastic is produced every year, out of which less than 9% is recycled. Majority of the plastic wastes are discarded into landfills causing serious environmental concerns. This paper presents environmental benefits of recycling industrial plastic wastes into macro plastic fibers for reinforcing concrete. Detail life cycle assessment (LCA) for the production of 100% recycled polypropylene (PP) fibers was conducted and compared with the environmental impacts of virgin PP fibers and steel reinforcing mesh (SRM). Concrete footpath of 100 m X 100 m area and 100 mm thickness was used as the functional unit for all three scenarios. Detailed LCA showed that production of recycled PP fiber consumed 28% and 78% less water and fossil fuel compared to virgin PP fiber, respectively. It also produces 50% less CO2 and PO4 equivalent. Compared to SRM, recycled PP fiber consumed 99% and 91% less water and fossil fuel, respectively. Moreover, it produced 93% less CO2 equivalent and 97% less PO4 equivalent