Abstract:In this study, we focus on the case of Spanish energy policy and its implications for sustainable energy development. In recent years, Spanish legislation has changed dramatically in its approach to sustainable energy sources. This change is despite EU and international efforts to increase energy efficiency, and to accelerate the transition to renewable energy sources (RES) in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Based on the socio-technical transitions literature, this paper assesses the role of the new legislation in this altered scenario, and analyzes the evolution of energy production in Spain in the EU context. The results are triangulated with two expert assessments. We find that Spanish energy policy is responding to the energy lobby's demands for protection for both their investment and their dominant position. This has resulted in a reduction in the number of investors combined with a lack of trust in both local and foreign investors in the sustainable energy sector, affecting also social innovations in energy transitions. We conclude that Spain is a particular case of concomitance between the energy sector and political power which raises concern about the viability of a higher level of energy sovereignty and the achievement of international commitments regarding climate change.
Thermal comfort indices are normally used for assessing and controlling heat stress conditions in both: insides and outsides environment. In this paper, the results of the design and test of an Arduino-base prototype for estimating heat stress index is presented. This prototype allows the accurate detection of wind speed, air temperature, relative humidity, precipitation, atmospheric pressure, irradiation and globe temperature. By means of these parameters, it is possible to obtain indices such as mean radiant temperature (MRT) and wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT). As a result, the indices are estimated, storage in a database and analyzed. These values will be used in the future to measure the mitigation of heat stress in urban environments, by means of the construction of green facades and green roof or tree planting.
In this research work, a 3 kW stove based on biomass gasification, together with a fuel obtained from agriculture wastes as an alternative to the commonly used charcoal, have been developed looking for sustainable cooking in poor communities. Alternative fuel (BSW) are briquettes obtained by carbonization and densification of agricultural solid wastes. Two laboratory methods, water boil test (WBT) and controlled kitchen test (CCT) were used to analyze the performance of this approach by comparing the proposed improved stove (ICS-G) with the traditional one (TCS), when using both types of fuels: charcoal and BSW. Results indicate that consumption of charcoal decreases by 61% using the improved ICS-G stove instead of the traditional TCS. Similar fuel savings are obtained when using BSW fuels. BSW fuel allows for a carbon monoxide (CO) emission reduction of 41% and 67%, and fine particles (PM) in a 84% and 93%, during the high and low power phases of the tests, respectively. Use of BSW fuel and ICS-G stove instead of the TCS stove with charcoal, provides a cooking time reduction of 18%, savings of $353.5 per year per family in the purchase of fuel, and an emission reduction of 3.2 t CO2/year.family.
Heat stress can affect negatively human performance, behavior and even health, therefore, mean radiant temperature (MRT) and wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT) measurement and monitoring should be obtained for any environment in which people are constantly exposed. The aim of this work is to compare the globe thermometer temperature (tg), used for calculating both MTR and WBGT, using a smaller globe compared to a standardized diameter. For such purpose, a prototype has been designed. The device consists of an Arduino MEGA board, three temperature sensors, two black globes (Copper globe, matt black painted) and an anemometer. As an effort to use a device with a globe easier to handle in a real measuring device, a 9 cm diameter globe has been used which has a smaller diameter than a standardized one (15 cm); the third temperature sensor is used to measure the air temperature. MRT monitoring tests were carried out using the proposed prototype, collected data were compared between the smaller and the standardized diameter globes measurements according to UNE EN ISO 7723 and NTP 322 recommendations. Results of this work show that it is possible to use a smaller diameter globe in a heat stress monitor, with an acceptable margin of error compared to a standardized size globe.
In this paper, it is presented preliminary results of a methodology for thermal comfort monitoring and evaluation in urban areas based on local metering of ambient conditions and Rayman model application. In the framework of GROWGREEN European project it was installed six monitoring stations for data acquisition of air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, solar radiation and black globe temperature. Data of first 5 months of monitoring and modelling of one location with Rayman model to calculate PET (physiological equivalent temperature) is presented. Based on PET it was calculated the percentage of hours with thermal comfort per month, and it was made a comparison between PET and black globe temperature (GT) in order to evaluate the suitability of GT as a single, low cost and robust indicator of thermal comfort in urban areas.
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