In light of the constant increase in global temperatures, increasing risks associated with climate change, and stricter environmental policies, societies are at a crossroad where sound environmental decisions need to be taken. This is particularly applicable to the chemical industry where the sustainability of processes is all the more relevant to decision-making. This article supports the development of a holistic industrial environmental index (IEI) to assess the sustainability of industrial solvent-based processes. Several metrics are reviewed to individually assess particular aspects of the process in terms of materials, equipment, energy, environmental health and safety (EHS) considerations, and the product’s entire life cycle. The metrics are later used to support the development of an aggregate and holistic IEI using a composite indicator method. The developed methodology and framework can pave the way for environmentally sound decision-making in industries and spark the development of dedicated assessment indices similar to IEI that can be applied to a wide array of other industries.
According to the container recycling institute, nearly a million plastic beverage bottles are sold every minute around the world. Plastic bottles are considered as an urban junk, however, it has shape characteristics which make them usable in construction in lieu of conventional bricks. This research promotes the use of recycled plastic bottles as eco-bricks by substituting it with the typical construction bricks. It evaluates the thermal performance of sand filled plastic bottle-walls in a comparative analysis with traditional composite brick walls. The thermal performance of the plastic bottle walls was evaluated through COMSOL® Multi-physics and the results are noted.
Energy efficiency and renewable energy hold the key to sustainable energy and sustainable tourism development and is the key for energy balance in the hospitality sector of Egypt. Energy cutoffs due to demand exceeding supply in 2014 caused a decline in hotels' revenue of more than 20%. Moreover, electricity prices increased in 2014 by 40% as a step towards the total removal of electricity subsidies during the following 5 years, representing a threat to the future of the hospitality sector in Egypt. As a result, the hospitality sector in Egypt requires a set of energy efficiency strategies in addition to the diversification of energy supply coupled with continuous and stable prices of other alternatives such as renewable resources. This research proposes a set of strategies that can help the private hospitality sector in Egypt with the proper scenario in utilizing energy resources more efficiently and to integrate renewable energy resources within the existing hotels. A literature review was conducted to define the hospitality sector of Egypt, energy requirements and the market potential of both energy efficiency and renewable energy opportunities focusing on the city of Sharm El Sheikh. The research describes the needed measures that could be used to advance energy efficiency initiatives in the existing hotels of Egypt. Using case studies in the city of Sharm El Sheikh, the research conducted an in depth analysis on different examples, and applied the resulting guidelines on a case study hotel in the same city. The outcome of the research concludes the most effective measures which will eventually help the hotel industry in Egypt to achieve optimum, continuous and stable energy performance in addition to a reduction in carbon emissions.
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