Environmental Carbon Footprints

Industrial Case Studies

Subramanian Senthilkannan Muthu

• Publisher: Butterworth-Heinemann
• Year: 2017
• Print ISBN: 9780128128497
• eBook ISBN: 9780128128503
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Environmental Management
• Index: Technology & Engineering

Environmental Carbon Footprints: Industrial Case Studies provides a wide range of industrial case-studies, beginning with textiles, energy systems and bio-fuels. Each footprint is associated with background information, scientific consensus and the reason behind its invention, methodological framework, assessment checklist, calculation tool/technique, applications, challenges and limitations. More importantly, applications of each indicator/framework in various industrial sectors and their associated challenges are presented. As case studies are the most flexible of all research designs, this book allows researchers to retain the holistic characteristics of real-life events while investigating empirical events.- Includes case studies from various industries, such as textiles, energy systems and conventional and bio-fuels- Provides the calculation tool/technique, applications, challenges and limitations for determining carbon footprints on an industry by industry basis- Presents the background information, scientific consensus and reason behind each case study

Chapter 1

The Need for Greenhouse Gas Analyses in Industrial Sectors

Oludolapo Akanni Olanrewaju, and Charles Mbohwa University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa

Abstract

Greenhouse gas continues to contribute negatively to the environment leading to an uncomfortable society. Of all the various activities leading to greenhouse gas emission, the activities emanating from the industries require special attention. This is because the economy cannot grow without the support of the industrial activities. These industrial activities are known as industrial processes. It is a known fact that industrial development is proportional to economic growth; however, “I do not care attitude” from our industries to the environment constitute a disaster to the growing economy. This chapter will touch on one of the leading literature studies on ways to analyze greenhouse gas emission in our industries to detect opportunities for mitigation improvement with a focus on Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index, a form of index decomposition analysis application. Applications were focused on the early oil crisis, times of intensified knowledge to solving greenhouse crisis, and the present times of finding lasting solution to the greenhouse crisis. Findings of this chapter pointed out at the decrease in energy intensity, which in turn is the increase in energy efficiency indicator is the backbone to mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. Policies along these indicators will be well suited to mitigating the emissions.

Keywords

Greenhouse gas; Index decomposition analysis; Industries; Literature studies; LMDI

1.1. Introduction

Modern scientific research has shown that the accumulation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions plays vital role in global warming (Wang et al., 2016). These gases entrap heat in the atmosphere leading to the absorption of infrared radiation, which automatically emits the thermal radiation back into the atmosphere. The global warming from the effect of increased GHG can lead to many catastrophic consequences such as the rise in sea levels, unavailability of water, as well as heat waves. Since the industrial revolution, levels of CO₂ emissions from human activities have continued to increase in the burning of fossil fuels (IPCC, 2007a,b; Wang et al., 2016), and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released The Third Assessment Report in 2001 claiming human influence led to estimated 66% of climate change since the 1950s (IPCC, 2001) with an estimated 90% increase on The Fourth Assessment Report (IPCC, 2007a,b).

One of the most important features of Earth that assists life and the ecosystem in surviving and prospering is climate (Cote and Liu, 2016). Climate change remains a global issue and a matter of common concern to the international community today (Wang et al., 2016). However, climate has been affected adversely in the present generation. A fast growing economy, especially in developing countries, is notable for an increase in GHG emission (Jobert et al., 2010; Liobikiene et al., 2016). Having a proper understanding and comprehension of the nexus between energy and GHGs is critical in establishing a benchmark to track the emission history and to develop the best ways to mitigate the emissio...

Table of contents

• Cover image
• Title page
• Table of Contents
• Copyright
• Contributors
• Biography
• Chapter 1. The Need for Greenhouse Gas Analyses in Industrial Sectors
• Chapter 2. Booming and Stagnation of Spanish Construction Sector Through the Extended Carbon Footprint Concept
• Chapter 3. The Environmental Impact of Magnetic Nanoparticles Under the Perspective of Carbon Footprint
• Chapter 4. Carbon Footprint of Municipal Solid Waste Considering Selective Collection of Recyclable Waste
• Chapter 5. Carbon Footprint Analysis of Personal Electronic Product—Induction Cooker
• Chapter 6. Carbon Footprint Analysis of a Selected Indian Power Plant
• Chapter 7. Carbon Footprint in the Wine Industry
• Chapter 8. Carbon Footprint of Aluminum Production: Emissions and Mitigation
• Chapter 9. Carbon Footprint of Utility Consumption and Cleaning Tasks in Buildings
• Chapter 10. Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Coal Mining Activities and Their Possible Mitigation Strategies
• Chapter 11. Life Cycle Assessment of an Academic Building: A Case Study
• Chapter 12. The Role of Demand-Side Management in Carbon Footprint Reduction in Modern Energy Services for Rural Health Clinics
• Chapter 13. Carbon Footprint Analysis of Printed Circuit Board
• Index