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Organic fertilizer is an effective substitute for mineral fertilizer that improves crop yield and is environmentally friendly. However, the effects of substitution often vary due to complicated interactions among the organic fertilizer substitution rate (Rs), total nutrient supply, and type of cropping system used. We performed a meta-analysis of 133 maize studies, conducted worldwide, to assess maize yield and environmental performance with substitution of mineral fertilizer with organic fertilizer. At an equivalent nitrogen (N) rate, substituting mineral fertilizer with organic fertilizer increased maize yield by 4.22%, reduced NH3 volatilization by 64.8%, reduced N leaching and runoff by 26.9%, and increased CO2 emissions by 26.8%; however, it had no significant effect on N2O or CH4 emissions. Moreover, substitution with organic fertilizer increased the soil organic carbon sequestration rate by 925 kg C ha−1 yr−1 and decreased the global warming potential by 116 kg CO2 eq ha−1 compared with mineral fertilizer treatment. The net global warming potential after organic fertilizer substitution was −3507 kg CO2 eq ha−1, indicating a net carbon sink. Furthermore, the effect of organic fertilizer substitution varied with the fertilization rate, Rs, and treatment duration. Maize yield and nitrogen use efficiency tended to increase with increasing N application rate following substitution of mineral fertilizer with organic fertilizer. Full substitution reduced N losses more than partial substitution. Further analysis revealed that the yield-optimal Rs for organic N in maize production was 40–60%. Moreover, maize yield and nitrogen use efficiency were further increased after long-term (≥ 3 years) combined use of organic and mineral fertilizers. These findings suggest that rational use of organic and mineral fertilizers improves maize productivity, increases soil organic carbon sequestration, and reduces N and C losses.

Background/Objectives: The Global Warming Potential Star (GWP*) refers to the amount of carbon dioxide equivalents produced by food items, with values available for n = 232 Australian food products. The aim of this study was to apply GWP* values to the AUSNUT 2011-13 food composition database to facilitate the calculation of the climate footprint of Australian dietary data. Methods: To create the GWP*-AUSNUT 2011-13 database, all n = 5740 food and beverage items in AUSNUT 2011-13 were reviewed and GWP* values applied or calculated via a systematic approach. Direct or approximate matches to a single GWP* value were prioritised. GWP* values were then calculated for composite foods with multiple ingredients. Finally, GWP* values were approximated based on food group, adjusted using other GWP* values, or foods were excluded if no appropriate match could be found. Results: A total of n = 5502 (95.85%) AUSNUT 2011-13 foods were matched to a GWP* value, with the majority requiring calculation based on multiple ingredients. Mean ± standard deviation GWP* values ranged from 0.18 ± 0.12 kg CO2e/kg (‘Dairy and meat substitutes’) to 5.63 ± 7.55 kg CO2e/kg (‘Meat, poultry and game products and dishes’). Conclusions: The GWP*-AUSNUT 2011-13 database can be applied to Australian dietary data to identify the climate footprint of different dietary patterns or to provide insight into dietary changes required to decrease greenhouse gas emissions. Future research is now required to develop new GWP* values for a broader range of foods and to update this database when new Australian food composition databases are released.

Due to the global warming and resulting problems, attention has been paid to greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere since the 1980s and 1990s. For this reason, the Montreal Protocol and the Kyoto Protocol have tightened regulations on the use of gaseous refrigerants in both HVAC systems and industrial refrigeration. Gradually, new generations of gaseous refrigerants, that theoretically have much less negative environmental impact than their predecessors, are introduced into the market. The key parameter describing environmental impact is the GWP index, which is most often defined on a time horizon of 100 years. The long-term use of new generations of gaseous refrigerants in HVAC systems reduces CO2 emissions into the atmosphere; however, given that new generation gases often have a short lifetime, it seems that the adopted assessment may not be applicable. The aim of the article was to show how emissions of CO2 equivalent to the atmosphere differs in the short and long time horizon. The article presents the results of calculations of equivalent CO2 emissions to the atmosphere caused by the operation of compressor cooling devices used in HVAC systems, where cooling is done with the use of water or a water-glycol solution. The analysis was carried out for 28 commonly used devices on the world market. The analyzed devices work with refrigerants: R513A, R454B, R290, R1234ze, R32, R134a, R410A. The equivalent emissions values for GWP 100 and GWP 20 were analyzed in relation to the unit power of the devices depends on refrigerant mass and number of fans. The study showed that in the case of new generation refrigerants with a very short lifetime, the use of GWP 100 indicators is misleading and does not fully reflect the effects of environmental impact, especially in the area of refrigeration equipment application. The article shows that the unit value of the cooling load related to the number of fans or the unit would be helpful in assessing the environmental impact of a cooling device.

A partial cooling supercritical carbon dioxide cycle is used in this study for the application of a solar power tower. Additionally, the organic Rankine cycle (ORC) is considered as a bottoming cycle in the process of recovering wasted heat. Moreover, fluids with zero ozone depletion potential and low global warming potential are considered as operating fluids for bottoming ORC. Exergy, energy and exergoenvironmental analyses were performed in order to evaluate the usefulness of the proposed system to generate electrical power and driven by solar energy. The effect of various independent parameters on system performance is investigated. It is concluded that as direct normal irradiation (DNI) changes from 0.4 to 0.95 kW m −2 , the combined cycle’s thermal efficiency, exergy efficiency, and power output increase from 35.16% to 55.43%, 37.73% to 59.42%, and 188 kW to 298.5 kW, respectively for R1224yd(Z) fluid. However, exergoenvironmental impact index falls by 58.79% as DNI rises, while the exergetic stability factor rises by 57.79%. The system’s optimized thermal efficiency is found to be 53.45%. Furthermore, the performance of the combined system can be improved by decreasing the incidence angle of the sun while simultaneously increasing the concentration ratio. The fluid R1224yd(Z) is recommended as the best-performing fluid as compared to the other fluids due to its superior thermal performance.

In recent years, the world has witnessed one of the most severe raw material crises ever recorded, with serious repercussions for maintaining its agri-food supply chain. This crisis risks dramatically impacting the poorest areas of the planet and poses profound reflections on global food security. In this complex geopolitical context, the recovery and recycling of renewable resources have become an obligatory path and, today, more than ever, essential in the fertiliser industry. To achieve these objectives, TIMAC AGRO Italia S.p.A. has undertaken a research activity to review the formulation of fertilisers by diversifying the raw materials used and introducing recycled raw materials. This article carried out a life cycle assessment (LCA) on four fertilisers to identify and quantify whether the changes influenced the environmental impacts, highlighting how applying the circular economy within industrial processes can reduce the pressure on natural resources. The results demonstrate that the global warming potential (GWP) impacts of the different reformulated fertilisers show a considerable variation of 4.4–9.2% due to the various raw materials used, the nitrogen content, and related emissions deriving from environmental dispersion. This study shows the importance of the LCA methodology to analyse and quantify the impact categories generated on the life cycle of fertiliser production and to identify the optimal by-products and end-of-waste for the fertiliser industry to find a synergy between environmental and agronomic performance. It also highlights the relevance of the transition to circular production and consumption systems to reduce environmental pressures and their effects on communities and ecosystems without compromising yields. Finally, the positive results encourage accelerating the circular transition and finding alternatives to virgin-mined raw materials.

The construction industry faces various sustainability challenges, and modern methods of construction (MMC) have been promoted as an effective alternative to mitigate environmental impact and improve productivity. However, to gain a thorough understanding of the benefits, there is a need for more objective data. To address this, the present study employs a simplified life-cycle assessment (LCA) methodology to evaluate a set of environmental and efficiency metrics in a case study. The study aims to demonstrate the benefits of using an MMC known as the “VAP system” by comparing it with its conventional counterpart built with reinforced masonry. Adopting the MMC resulted in significant reductions in embodied carbon (EC) and embodied energy (EE) related to materials, as well as a reduction in global warming potential (GWP), cumulative energy demand (CED), and construction waste. Additionally, it shortened delivery times and increased labor productivity. Furthermore, when both local and European parameters were considered in the evaluation, the percentage of materials circularity (PMC) was higher. The study concludes that the adoption of the MMC leads to higher sustainability by reducing carbon emissions, minimizing construction waste, and conserving resources. This research has significant implications for promoting the adoption of MMC globally, leading to more sustainable and efficient construction practices.

Commercial refrigeration systems currently utilize refrigerants with global warming potential (GWP) values ranging from 1250 to 4000. The advent of low GWP alternatives (GWP <150) is expected to significantly curtail direct emissions from this segment and greatly influence the ongoing electrification and decarbonization efforts. Most of the low GWP alternatives exhibit flammability risk and hence require robust sensing solutions for a reliable and safe operation of the equipment. This review article aims to provide an overview of different sensing mechanisms suitable for potential applications in systems employing flammable refrigerants, particularly those designated as A2L class. A summary of different A2L refrigerants and their properties is provided followed by a broad review of different classes of sensors, their working principle, transduction method, features, advantages, and limitations. Additionally, key performance characteristics of accuracy, selectivity, sensitivity, dynamic characteristic, and durability among other properties are discussed. Finally, areas of improvement and corresponding approaches are suggested for potential sensors in the successful adoption of A2L class refrigerants.

Fluorinated gases (F-gases) used as refrigerants in air conditioners have a significant global warming effect, so their release into the atmosphere must be minimized. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the environmental impact of two treatment methods: reclamation and destruction after refrigerant recovery. Plant data for R410A, R32, R134a, and R22 were collected from Japan and Europe and evaluated in terms of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, energy consumption, and the Life-cycle Impact assessment Method based on Endpoint modeling 3 (LIME3). As for GHG emissions, the results per kg of used refrigerant showed that the reclamation process emitted approximately 5.7 to 15.9 kg CO2-eq less than the destruction process. In addition, the energy consumption was found to be 82.5 to 250.6 MJ lower, and, for LIME3, the results were found to be USD 0.40 to 0.97 lower for the reclamation compared with the destruction. This trend was the same regardless of the refrigerant type and location, and it was quantitatively clarified that the environmental impact was smaller for the reclamation process than for the destruction process.

Straw input is a helpful approach that potentially improves soil fertility and crop yield to ensure food security and protect the ecological environment. Nevertheless, unreasonable straw input results in massive greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, leading to climate change and global warming. To explore the optimum combination of straw input and management practices for achieving green agricultural production, a worldwide data set was created using 3452 comparisons from 323 publications using the meta-analysis method. Overall, straw input increased soil carbon and nitrogen components as compared with no straw input. Additionally, straw input significantly boosted crop yield and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) by 8.86% and 22.72%, respectively, with low nitrogen fertilizer rate benefiting the most. The cumulative of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions increased by 24.81%, 79.30%, and 28.31%, respectively, when straw was added. Global warming potential (GWP) and greenhouse emission intensity (GHGI) increased with the application of straw, whereas net global warming potential (NGWP) decreased owing to soil carbon sequestration. Low straw input rate, straw mulching, application of straw with C/N ratio > 30, long-term straw input, and no-tillage combined with straw input all result in lower GHG emissions. The GWP and GHGI were strongly related to area-scaled CH4 emissions, but the relationship with N2O emissions was weak. Straw application during the non-rice season is the most important measure for reducing CH4 emissions in paddy–upland fields. An optimum straw management strategy coupled with local conditions can help in climate change mitigation while also promoting sustainable agricultural production.

Climate neutrality goals in the building sector require a large-scale estimation of environmental impacts for various stakeholders. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a viable method for this purpose. However, its high granularity, and subsequent data requirements and effort, hinder its propagation, and potential employment of Machine Learning (ML) applications on a larger scale. The presented paper outlines the current state of research and practice on district-scale building LCA in terms of standards, software and certifications, and data availability. For this matter, the authors present the development and application of two district-scale LCA tools, Teco and DisteLCA, to determine the Global Warming Potential (GWP) of three different residential districts. Both tools employ data based on (including, but not limited to) CityGML, TABULA, and ÖKOBAUDAT. The results indicate that DisteLCA’s granular approach leads to an overestimation of environmental impacts, which can be derived from the statistical approach to operational energy use and related emissions. While both tools lead to substantial time savings, Teco requires less manual effort. The linkage of the aforementioned data sources has proven laborious and could be alleviated with a common data framework. Furthermore, large-scale data analysis could substantially increase the viability of the presented approach.