Environmental Management
V. G. Shcherbak; I. M. Gryshchenko; L. M. Ganushchak-Yefimenko; O. M. Nifatova; V. Bobrovnyk; M. Verhun
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The new wave of the Covid-19 pandemic has complicated the working conditions of higher education institutions in Ukraine. In this regard, saving energy resources of the university offers an opportunity to get out of the crisis. The purpose of the study is to develop a management ...
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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The new wave of the Covid-19 pandemic has complicated the working conditions of higher education institutions in Ukraine. In this regard, saving energy resources of the university offers an opportunity to get out of the crisis. The purpose of the study is to develop a management system for energy complexes with non-conventional renewable energy sources in the context of preventing a new outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic.METHODS: The method of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Nachhaltiges Bauen was used to conduct energy audits, construct energy profiles of university offices. The cluster analysis was used to perform energy certification of university offices according to the indicators of integral energy efficiency potential and the level of annual specific energy consumption. Fuzzy methods made it possible to classify all the buildings into 3 categories (A, B, C) to prioritize their use in the light of Covid-19 pandemic. The system for monitoring the attained level of energy efficiency is based on the use of discriminant analysis.FINDINGS: Implementation of the weighted strategy has proved that the classes will be given online, 23% of all offices. Category A (administrative, technical, service buildings; laboratories with unique equipment with 24-hour service) will be used in a pessimistic scenario (continuation of Covid-19 pandemic). In the optimistic scenario (end of Covid-19 pandemic), by means of the suggested energy efficiency monitoring system, the probability of using category A offices makes 100%, B offices- 50% and C offices - 13%.CONCLUSION: Implementation of the developed energy efficiency action plan will offer the opportunity for the University to use reasonably the common connection point of knowledge management of energy complexes with non-conventional renewable energy sources in the context of preventing a new outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. The profitability of implementing a weighted energy efficiency strategy is 15%, with a payback period of 6.7 years for the purchase and installation of non-conventional renewable energy equipment. In the future, it would be advisable to convert gradually all of the remaining 14 university buildings to the autonomous use of non-conventional renewable energy sources, using a common connection point for the knowledge management of the energy complexes.
Environmental Engineering
S. Nimesha; C. Hewawasam; D. J. Jayasanka; Y. Murakami; N. Araki; N. Maharjan
Abstract
Natural waterways are contaminated due to industrialization, urbanization, population growth etc., degrading their quality. Contaminated waterways cause numerous health and environmental hazards. Therefore, it is imperative to remove contaminants. Coagulation is one of the efficient primary chemical ...
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Natural waterways are contaminated due to industrialization, urbanization, population growth etc., degrading their quality. Contaminated waterways cause numerous health and environmental hazards. Therefore, it is imperative to remove contaminants. Coagulation is one of the efficient primary chemical treatment methods that could be used to treat such contaminants. Natural coagulants have gained popularity in the water and wastewater treatment industry due to their advantage over chemical coagulants. Natural coagulants are derived from either plants, animals, or microorganisms. This study has elaborated on the nature and mechanisms, and types of natural coagulants. In this review work, many studies have proposed several types of natural coagulants. However, plant-based natural coagulants extracted from different plant components have been extensively discussed and compared based on their application and efficiency in water and waste treatment. The primary purpose of this review is to refine the knowledge on the potential use and optimization of the effectiveness of eco-friendly and sustainable natural coagulants. Besides, the development efforts and the barriers reported by recent findings for the commercialization of natural coagulants are also discussed. Further, few modified natural coagulants have also been presented for exploring the other possible approaches to promote their usage in water and wastewater treatment in the future studies.
F.M. Muvea; G.M. Ogendi; S.O. Omondi
Abstract
The use of constructed wetlands for purifying pre-treated wastewater is a cost effective technology that has been found to be more appropriate for many developing countries. The technology is also environmentally friendly with the wetlands being habitats for many water birds and other aquatic organisms. ...
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The use of constructed wetlands for purifying pre-treated wastewater is a cost effective technology that has been found to be more appropriate for many developing countries. The technology is also environmentally friendly with the wetlands being habitats for many water birds and other aquatic organisms. This study assessed nutrient removal efficiency of two floating macrophytes (Lemna minor and Azolla pinnata). The data generated was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The significance level was maintained at 0.05. The results showed that the wastewater physicochemical parameters did not vary during the study period. The concentrations of nitrites and nitrates increased over the experimental period in all the treatments (Azolla pinnata, Lemna minor and control), and the increase between the sampling occasions was statistically significant for the two nutrients (Nitrates: F=24.78, P= 0.00; Nitrates: F=198.26, P= 0.00). To the contrary, in all the treatments the concentrations of ammonia, total phosphorous, soluble reactive phosphorous and total nitrogen, decreased over the experimental period. The decrease in concentration for these nutrients between the sampling occasions was statistically significant (ammonia: F=195.57, p= 0.00; total phosphorous: F= 56.50, p= 0.00; soluble reactive phosphorous: F= 37.11, p= 0.00; total phosphorous: F= 104.025, p= 0.00). Azolla pinnata proved to be better than Lemna minor in the uptake of the nutrients particularly for the soluble reactive phosphorous (F= 35.18, P= 0.044). We conclude that the two macrophytes are good for wastewater treatment. It is recommended introduction and/or multiplication of Azolla pinnata in the constructed wetlands meant for wastewater treatment especially within the tropics.
Environmental Management
S. Łęgowik-Świącik
Abstract
In this study, the relationships between two variables: the strategy of sustainable development and the efficiency of waste management in the commercial power industry company have been subjected to discussion. The basis for the explanation of the aforementioned relationships is the assumption that the ...
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In this study, the relationships between two variables: the strategy of sustainable development and the efficiency of waste management in the commercial power industry company have been subjected to discussion. The basis for the explanation of the aforementioned relationships is the assumption that the level of implementation of the strategy of sustainable development is expressed through capital expenditures incurred on the implementation of modern tools of waste management. On the other hand, the efficiency of waste management in the commercial power industry company is reflected by the level of costs incurred on the storage, transport, and sales of this waste. The whole of the presented considerations has been divided into two basic parts, theoretical and empirical. The first part of the paper exposes the strategic dimension of the concept of sustainable development taking into account the economic and environmental efficiency of waste management achieved due to the use of modern management tools. The considerations presented in the second part constitute the response to the research question. The empirical part includes the identification of waste in the commercial power industry company in Poland and the research aiming at the cognition and assessment of relationships between the efficiency of waste management and the implementation of the strategy of sustainable development in the surveyed company. The publication increases the understanding of the coexistence of the strategy of sustainable development and the efficiency of waste management in the company of the commercial power industry operating in Poland, with particular emphasis on waste reduction and the possibility of its redevelopment. The research methods applied to accomplish the objective are literature studies, case study, descriptive analysis, trend analysis, and the Pearson correlation coefficient.
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