• Journal of KIBIM
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2012

With the increased awareness of energy consumption as well as the environmental impact of building operations, architects, designers and planners are required to place more consideration on sustainability and energy performance of the building. To ensure most of those considerations are reflected in the building performance, critical design decisions should be made by key stakeholders early during the design development stage. The application of BIM during building energy simulations has profoundly improved the energy analysis process and thus this approach has gained momentum. However, despite rapid advances in BIM-based processes, the question still remains how ordinary building stakeholders can perform energy performance analysis, which has previously been conducted predominantly by professionals, to maximize energy efficient building performance. To address this issue, we identified two leading building performance analysis software programs, Energy Plus and IES (IES ), and compared their effectiveness and suitability as BIM-based energy simulation tools. To facilitate this study, we examined a case study on Building Performance Model (BPM) of a single story building with one door, multiple windows on each wall, a slab and a roof. We focused particularly on building energy performance by differing building orientation and window sizes and compared how effectively these two software programs analyzed the performance. We also looked at typical decision-making processes implementing building energy simulation program during the early design stages in the U.S. Finally, conclusions were drawn as to how to conduct BIM-based building energy performance evaluations more efficiently. Suggestions for further avenues of research are also made.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.46-53
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• 2018

This study explores the environmentally innovative and low-impact technology, a zero food waste system (ZFWS) that utilizes food waste and converts it into composts or biofuels and curtails carbon emissions. The ZFWS not just achieves food waste reductions but recycles food waste into fertilizer. Based on a fermentation-extinction technique using bio wood chips, the ZFWS was employed in a field experiment of the system installed in a large-scale apartment complex, and the performance of the system was examined. The on-site ZFWS consisted of three primary parts: 1) a food waste slot into which food waste was injected; 2) a fermentation-extinction reactor where food waste was mixed with bio wood chips made up of complex enzyme and aseptic wood chips; and 3) deodorization equipment in which an ultraviolet and ozone photolysis method was employed. The field experiment showed that food waste injected into the ZFWS was reduced by 94%. Overall microbial activity of the food waste in the fermentation-extinction reactor was measured using adenosine tri-phosphate (ATP), and the degradation rate of organic compounds, referred to as volatile solids, increased with ATP concentration. The by-products generated from ZFWS comply with the national standard for organic fertilizer.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.107-131
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• 2016

The need for a more affordable, reliable, clean and secure energy has led to explorations in non-traditional sources, particularly renewable energies. Wind is one of the cleanest energy sources that plays a significant role in augmenting sustainability. Wind turbines, as energy convertors, are usually tall and slender structures, and depending on their location (inland or offshore), they can be subject to high wind and/or strong wave loadings. These loads can cause severe vibrations with detrimental effects on energy production, structural lifecycle and initial cost. A dissipativity analysis study was carried out to know whether wind turbine towers require damping enhancement or rigidity modifications for vibration suppression. The results suggest that wind turbines are lightly damped structures and damping enhancement is a potential solution for vibration lessening. Accordingly, the paper investigates different damping enhancement techniques for vibration mitigation. The efficacy of tuned mass damper (TMD), tuned liquid column damper (TLCD), tuned sloshing damper (TSD), and viscous damper (VD) to reduce vibrations is investigated. A comparison among these devices, in terms of robustness and effectiveness, is conducted. The VD can reduce both displacement and acceleration responses of the tower, better than other types of dampers, for the same control effort, followed by TMD, TSD, and finally TLCD. Nevertheless, the use of VDs raises concerns about where they should be located in the structure, and their application may require additional design considerations.

• Advances in Energy Research
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.147-166
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• 2020

Industrial cooling towers are often ageing infrastructure that is expensive to maintain and operate. A novel approach is introduced in which a heat pump circuit is incorporated to reduce the load upon the towers by extracting low-grade energy from the stream sent to the towers and repurposing in on-site processing operations. To demonstrate the concept, a model was constructed, which uses industrial data on cooling towers linked to a smelter's sulphuric acid plant, to allow direct economic and environmental impact comparison between different heat recovery and repurposing scenarios. The model's results showed that implementing a heat pump system would significantly decrease annual operating costs and achieve a payback period of 3 years. In addition, overall CO₂ emissions could be reduced by 42% (430,000 kg/year) and a 5% heat load reduction on the cooling towers achieved. The concept is significant as the outcomes introduce a new way for energy intensive industrial sectors, such as mineral processing, to reduce energy consumption and improve long-term sustainable performance.

• The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.25-32
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• 2024

Purpose: This research explores to (1) identify the leading challenges that the beauty care industry faces currently, which includes sustainable development, ethics, and industry laws, (2) describe how these challenges impact industries' practices and customer experience, and (3) propose plausible strategies to address these issues in an effort to enhance sustainability, ethical business practices, and compliance with legal norms in the beauty care industry. Research design, data and methodology: The research approach used is the systematic literature review approach to identify the relevant literature that addresses the current challenges in the beauty care industry and to assess the results of prior studies. Results: The finding indicated the following solutions to handle the current issues in the beauty industry: Solution to (1) Environmental Impact: Sustainable Production and Packaging, (2) Ethical Concerns: Enhancing Supply Chain Transparency, (3) Regulatory Challenges: Proactive Compliance and International Standardization, and (4) Technological Challenges: Personalization and Digital Engagement. Conclusion: Based on the conclusions made in the findings' section, this research examines the implications of the solutions to provide an insight into how the strategies can guide future practices in the beauty care industry. It also points out how these insights can be applied by industry practitioners to improve sector operational and strategic performance.

• Journal of Climate Change Research
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.101-116
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• 2012

Green management is, as the response to climate changes emerges to a global issue, a concept which reduction of greenhouse gases, alternative energy development and other low-carbon green growth factors are added on the existing environmental management. Also as discussions on the performance measurement of firms' domestic and international green managements proliferate and the importance of understanding, analyzing and evaluating firms' environmental maintenance rises, variety forms of green management performance measurement indicators are being developed and practiced. However, specific implementation methodologies about green management have been lacking. Hence in this research, In order to have objective evaluations on firms' green managements through the proposed indicator, AHP(Analytic Hierarchy Process) and experts' survey on weight dependence were applied. Sustainability reports and other associated documents of ten major oil/ chemical corporations of in and out of the country were analyzed and corporations were evaluated and compared through weight differentiated indicator subsections.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.19-26
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• 2023

The impact of environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance on investors' decision-making is growing. Investors' focus on the financial performance of firms in the past is expanding to the non-financial performance of the interests of stakeholders surrounding firms. Against this backdrop, this study conducted a panel regression analysis on firms evaluated by Korea Corporate Governance Service to analyze the impact of ESG performance, a firm's non-financial performance, on firm risk. According to the analysis, ESG performance has a negative (-) effect on all three firm risks (systematic risk, unsystematic risk, and total risk), indicating that the stakeholder theory and risk management theory are supported. The implications of this study are: First, ESG reduces not only unsystematic risk but also broad and indiscriminate systematic risk; Second, investors can reduce the risk of their investment portfolio by executing ESG investments; Third, companies can achieve stable financial performance even in adverse circumstances by utilizing the insurance function of ESG management; Lastly, the government can enhance the stability of the financial market while improving the financial soundness of firms through reasonable ESG-related regulations.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.104-113
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• 2001

Smallholder dairy production systems in developing countries are discussed with reference to type of systems, their characteristics, potential, and opportunities for improvement. Three types of dairy systems are identified and described: smallholder systems, smallholder cooperative dairy production systems, and intensive dairy production systems. The first two systems are by far the most important, and are associated with increasing intensification. Buffaloes are especially important in South Asia, but elsewhere dairy production mainly involves Holstein-Friesian cross-bred cattle. Dairy goats are important in some countries, but are generally neglected in development programmes. The expansion and intensification of smallholder dairy production is fueled by increased demand for milk with associated problems of milk handling and distribution, hygiene and environmental pollution. The major constraints to production are inter alia, choice of species, breeds and availability of animals; feed resources and improved feeding systems; improved breeding, reproduction, and animal health care; management of animal manure, and organised marketing, and market outlets. These constraints provide major opportunities and challenges for research and development to increase dairy production, efficient management of natural resources, and improved livelihoods of poor farmers. Specific areas for research are identified, as also the need of a holistic focus involving interdisciplinary research and integrated natural resource management, in a shared partnership between farmers and scientists that can demonstrate increased productivity and sustainable production systems. Suggestions for performance indicators in smallholder dairy production systems are indicated.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.33 no.12
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• pp.1015-1020
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• 2016

An advantage of electric vehicles is that they are environmentally sustainable because they do not emit exhaust gases, such as $CO_2$ or Nox. A disadvantage is the low power performance of the motor and battery source, necessitating a reduction in the weight of the vehicle to increase efficiency. Another disadvantage is that the rechargeable battery enables an electric vehicle to only run for a limited number of miles before requiring electric charging. To solve these problems, the hybrid vehicle has been developed by combining environmental sustainability with the high performance of a conventional internal combustion engine. In this study, an electric UTV (Utility Terrain Vehicle) was transformed into a hybrid vehicle system by outfitting the vehicle with a drive auxiliary power system including a 125 cc internal combustion engine. This modification enabled us to extend the range of the hybrid UTV from 50km to 100km per one electric charging.

• Composites Research
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.264-269
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• 2023

Spent coffee grounds (SCG) are a ubiquitous byproduct of coffee consumption, representing a significant waste management challenge, as well as an untapped resource for economic development and sustainability. Improper disposal of SCG can result in environmental problems such as methane emissions and leachate production. This study aims to investigate the physicochemical properties of SCG and their potential as a reinforcement material in polypropylene (PP) to fabricate an eco-friendly composite via extrusion and injection molding, with SCG filler ratios ranging from 5-20%. To evaluate the effect of SCG on the morphological and mechanical properties of the bio- composite, thermogravimetric analysis, SEM, tensile, flexural, and impact tests were conducted. The results demonstrated that the addition of SCG lead to a slight increase in brittleness of the composite but did not significantly affect its mechanical properties. Impressively, the presence of a significant organic component in SCG contributed to the enhanced thermal performance of PP/SCG composites. This improvement was evident in terms of increased thermal stability, delayed onset of degradation, and higher maximum degradation temperature as compared to pure PP. These findings suggest that SCG has potential as a filler material for PP composites, with the ability to enhance the material's properties without compromising overall performance.