Eva Nanaki - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Eva Nanaki

Research paper thumbnail of Life-Cycle Environmental Impact Assessment of Reinforced Concrete Buildings Subjected to Natural Hazards

Journal of Architectural Engineering, 2016

Biochar-based bioenergy production and subsequent land application of biochar can reduce greenhou... more Biochar-based bioenergy production and subsequent land application of biochar can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by fixing atmospheric carbon into the soil for a long period of time. A thorough life cycle assessment of biochar-based bioenergy production and biochar land application in Northwestern Ontario is conducted using SimaPro Ò Ver. 8.1. The results of energy consumption and potential environmental impact of biochar-based bioenergy production system are compared with those of conventional coal-based system. Results show that biochar land application consumes 4847.61 MJ per tonne dry feedstock more energy than conventional system, but reduces the GHG emissions by 68.19 kg CO 2 e per tonne of dry feedstock in its life cycle. Biochar land application improves ecosystem quality by 18 %, reduces climate change by 15 %, and resource use by 13 % but may adversely impact on human health by increasing disability adjusted life years by 1.7 % if biomass availability is low to medium. Replacing fossil fuel with woody biomass has a positive impact on the environment, as one tonne of dry biomass feedstock when converted to biochar reduces up to 38 kg CO 2 e with biochar land application despite using more energy. These results will help understand a comprehensive picture of the new interventions in forestry businesses, which are promoting biochar-based bioenergy production.

Research paper thumbnail of Evidence on the contribution of green urban infrastructure to climate change mitigation and adaptation

Research paper thumbnail of A review and analysis of quantitative integrated environmental assessment methods for urban areas

Research paper thumbnail of Environmental Impact Assessment of Electricity Production, A Case Study of Turkey

Green Energy and Technology, 2016

For at least the next few decades, fossil fuels will use for global energy demand and without a p... more For at least the next few decades, fossil fuels will use for global energy demand and without a proper control atmospheric emissions. Therefore greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions continue to increase and pose even more serious problems for environment and also human health. Beyond this point, the combustion products of fossil fuels are the main cause of environmental issues such as acid rains, ozone depletion and global warming.

Research paper thumbnail of Understanding Cities: Advances in integrated assessment of urban sustainability, Final Report of COST Action TU0902

ABSTRACT -An introduction to the challenges facing urban areas and the urgent need to make them m... more ABSTRACT -An introduction to the challenges facing urban areas and the urgent need to make them more sustainable. -A key challenge is the complexity of cities that leads to non-linear and unintended consequences of, often well meant, interventions. -Underlines the case for a more integrated response to deliver more sustainable urban areas, and the need for a new generation of integrated assessment methods and tools to operationalise this. -Introduces the structure of the rest of the book.

Research paper thumbnail of Exergy & Environmental Based Comparison of Hydrogen Production from Natural gas , Carbon and Nuclear energy

Hydrogen is an important energy carrier which could play a very significant role in the reduction... more Hydrogen is an important energy carrier which could play a very significant role in the reduction of emissions of greenhouse gases. The route by which hydrogen is produced is the determining factor for its environmental performance. Hydrogen can be produced through methane reforming, coal gasification or through the electrolysis of water with the use of electricity. However, as these processes involve environmental and energy security concerns, it is of great importance to assess their environmental and energy performance. In this study, the environmental and exergy performance of auto thermal reforming of natural gas, coal gasification and thermochemical water-splitting are evaluated. It is noted that in the thermochemical water-splitting, decomposition reactions take place to produce H2, according to the method of sulphur-iodine. The increased temperature requirements are covered by a nuclear reactor H2-MIR. The calculations reveal that the exergy efficiency of CO2 sequestration r...

Research paper thumbnail of Solar Air-conditioning Systems Impact on the Built Environment – A Thermodynamic Approach

Research paper thumbnail of Exergy analysis for a proposed binary geothermal power plant in Nisyros Island, Greece

Geothermics, 2017

This is the accepted manuscript (post-print version) of the article. Contentwise, the post-print ... more This is the accepted manuscript (post-print version) of the article. Contentwise, the post-print version is identical to the final published version, but there may be differences in typography and layout. How to cite this publication Please cite the final published version:

Research paper thumbnail of Exergetic Aspects of Hydrogen Energy Systems—The Case Study of a Fuel Cell Bus

Sustainability, 2017

Electrifying transportation is a promising approach to alleviate climate change issues arising fr... more Electrifying transportation is a promising approach to alleviate climate change issues arising from increased emissions. This study examines a system for the production of hydrogen using renewable energy sources as well as its use in buses. The electricity requirements for the production of hydrogen through the electrolysis of water, are covered by renewable energy sources. Fuel cells are being used to utilize hydrogen to power the bus. Exergy analysis for the system is carried out. Based on a steady-state model of the processes, exergy efficiencies are calculated for all subsystems. The subsystems with the highest proportion of irreversibility are identified and compared. It is shown that PV panel has exergetic efficiency of 12.74%, wind turbine of 45%, electrolysis of 67%, and fuel cells of 40%.

Research paper thumbnail of Environmental impact assessment of a ground source heat pump system in Greece

Geothermics, 2017

Abstract The technical and environmental performance of a ground source heat pump system (GSHP) i... more Abstract The technical and environmental performance of a ground source heat pump system (GSHP) is examined using the method of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The present LCA study quantifies the environmental impacts of the installation of a ground heat exchanger based system of the Town Hall of Pylaia in Thessaloniki, Greece. The study examines the manufacturing, transportation as well as the operation stages of the GSHP system and records energy consumption as well as air emissions to the environment. The system boundary includes the production of raw materials such as copper, plastic, steel, aluminium, rubber, the transportation of heat pumps and pipes, drilling, as well as the operation of the GSHP system, and finally the assembly process. The functional unit chosen is 1 kW of installed power. The environmental impacts categories considered in the study are these of greenhouse effect, ozone depletion, acidification, eutrophication, carcinogenesis, winter smog, heavy metals. Analysis of the system indicates that 73% and 14.54% of the assessment are attributed to the categories of acidification and greenhouse effect respectively.

Research paper thumbnail of Climate change mitigation and deployment of electric vehicles in urban areas

Renewable Energy, 2016

Mobility plays a crucial part of our life. Alternative fuels and vehicle technology can mitigate ... more Mobility plays a crucial part of our life. Alternative fuels and vehicle technology can mitigate climate change and greenhouse gases from road transport. This study analyses power-train deployments scenarios for the vehicle fleet of the city of Athens until 2021, taken into consideration European policy developments on vehicle CO 2 emissions and technological level of readiness, European emissions standards, Greece's economic status, energy mandates and reductions in the European energy mix and translates these into comprehensive scenarios for the road transport sector. It quantifies and assesses the potential environmental impact of these scenarios on CO 2 CO, NOx, HC, PM and CO 2 emission reductions. The study proposes the development of a Strategic Zero Carbon Transport Plan for the city of Athens, aiming at the creation of a low carbon transport system, which will encompass issues such as life cycle thinking, urban planning and energy minimization aiming at climate change mitigation.

Research paper thumbnail of Electric vehicle deployment in urban areas

Indoor and Built Environment, 2016

The transportation sector accounts for approximately one-fifth of global primary energy use and o... more The transportation sector accounts for approximately one-fifth of global primary energy use and one quarter of all energy related carbon dioxide emissions, with nearly half of those emissions originating from passenger vehicles. In order to reduce significantly the use of fossil fuels in urban mobility, whilst improving air quality and increasing the accessibility and attractiveness of urban areas, it is necessary to increase the use of non-conventionally fuelled vehicles for passenger and freight transport in urban areas. The introduction of electric vehicles (EVs) is a promising option, so as to achieve decarbonisation objectives, energy security, improved urban air quality and to increase energy efficiency. However, there are a number of challenges for the large-scale deployment of EV both on global and European level. These, in particular, are the high cost of the battery, lack of a standardised recharging infrastructure, relatively low range of battery electric vehicles or lack...

Research paper thumbnail of Life Cycle Thinking in the Use of Natural Resources

Open Environmental Sciences, 2013

The continuous increase of production and consumption of material in the developed world and the ... more The continuous increase of production and consumption of material in the developed world and the increase of the standard of living of the developing countries leads to the increase of the use of natural resources and the degradation of the environment. Life Cycle Thinking (LCT) is essential to sustainable consumption and production which will impact the use of limited resources. LCT is the process of taking into account in decision making both the resources consumed and the environmental and health pressures associated with the full life cycle of a product. It includes the extraction of resources, production, use, re-use, transport, recycling, and the ultimate waste disposal to provide goods and services and it helps in avoiding shifting the burdens among various life stages of a resource processing. It is important to use the life cycle thinking in analysing products because they may have different environmental impacts at different life cycle stages. It is important to note that ...

Research paper thumbnail of Exergy analysis of biogas production from a municipal solid waste landfill

Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments, 2013

In the energy area, intensive efforts are being made over the last years to bridge the supply are... more In the energy area, intensive efforts are being made over the last years to bridge the supply area with renewable energy sources and the demand side with energy conservation. Energy recovery from municipal solid waste landfills can play a contributing role in the solution of problems of both waste management and energy areas. The objective of this work is to analyze exergeticaly the electricity production from a landfill in the area of Volos, Greece and discuss how the extension of the landfill influences electricity production, something not studied so far. The electricity production potential was analyzed for every extension phase and comparative results are presented.

Research paper thumbnail of Solar air conditioning systems and their applicability—An exergy approach

Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 2010

The energy use in the building sector for space heating, cooling and water heating, in the Europe... more The energy use in the building sector for space heating, cooling and water heating, in the European Union Based, reaches the level of on 40% of the total used energy. The building sector is the biggest user of energy, having surpassed the transportation and industry sectors. Additionally, the energy transformation processes and the use of energy are responsible for 94%

Research paper thumbnail of Comparative environmental assessment of Athens urban buses—Diesel, CNG and biofuel powered

Transport Policy, 2014

Greenhouse gases (GHGs) emitted by road transport vehicles as a direct result of fossil fuel comb... more Greenhouse gases (GHGs) emitted by road transport vehicles as a direct result of fossil fuel combustion and other environmental pollutants released throughout the life cycle of petroleum based fuels, encourage a shift towards alternative transport fuels. Within this frame, an environmental assessment was performed so as to evaluate the environmental implications of alternative fuels (natural gas and biofuels) penetration in the city buses of the city of Athens. The results are evaluated in terms of CO 2 , CO, HC, PM and NO x emissions. The findings show that CO 2 emissions are significantly reduced in CNG buses compared to diesel powered buses. CO 2 emissions can also be reduced by 7.85% in B10 blends and 78.45% in B100 blends, compared to diesel. The environmental assessment can be considered as a basis so as to investigate the viability of replacement of petroleum-based diesel with natural gas and biofuels in city transport buses. Concepts for sustainable bus transportation can be incorporated using the methodology defined in this study, in order to promote a sustainable transportation system and mitigate the climate change.

Research paper thumbnail of Sustainability Indicators for the Use of Resources—The Exergy Approach

Sustainability, 2012

Global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions reached an all-time high in 2010, rising 45% in the past 20... more Global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions reached an all-time high in 2010, rising 45% in the past 20 years. The rise of peoples' concerns regarding environmental problems such as global warming and waste management problem has led to a movement to convert the current mass-production, mass-consumption, and mass-disposal type economic society into a sustainable society. The Rio Conference on Environment and Development in 1992, and other similar environmental milestone activities and happenings, documented the need for better and more detailed knowledge and information about environmental conditions, trends, and impacts. New thinking and research with regard to indicator frameworks, methodologies, and actual indicators are also needed. The value of the overall indicators depends on the production procedure of each material, and indicates their environmental impact. The use of "exergy indicators" based on the exergy content of materials and the use of the second law of thermodynamics in this work presents the relationship between exergy content and environmental impact.

Research paper thumbnail of Energy and exergy utilization assessment of the Greek transport sector

Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 2008

Transport is of fundamental importance to human society, providing mobility and facilitating indu... more Transport is of fundamental importance to human society, providing mobility and facilitating industry and trade. Nevertheless there are also many environmental impacts; thus it is crucial that transportation planning is carried out in a sustainable manner meeting optimum travel needs, promote economic prosperity and environmental preservation. In assessing the efficiency of transportation, exergy analysis is an effective tool. This work presents an energy and exergy utilization assessment for the transportation sector of Greece taking into account the sectoral energy and exergy flows for the period over 1980-2003. Energy and exergy analyses are conducted for the four subsectors of the Greek transport sector, namely highways, railways, marine and civil aviation. The road subsector appears to be the most efficient in comparison to the other subsectors for the years between 1980 and 2003. It is believed that the exergy analysis presented here provides insights into the transport energy use and could assist in the planning of an efficient transport system.

Research paper thumbnail of Comparative wind farm planning on a high plateau: Dust dispersion as a sitting constraint

Land Use Policy, 2014

ABSTRACT In the current paper, the wind potential of a relatively flat area in central Peloponnes... more ABSTRACT In the current paper, the wind potential of a relatively flat area in central Peloponnese in Greece has been studied. The chosen region was selected based on environmental criteria and the wind speed was correlated based on the measurements of three specific mountainous sites in the wider plateau area using a Wind Resource Analysis (WRA) modeling methodology. Digital elevation data sets were used for the modeling procedure together with the Wind Atlas Analysis Program for the correlation process and the basic aim was to evaluate and identify appropriate sites for wind farm development within the flat area and compare the estimated net power output with the net power output from mountainous sites in the wider central Peloponnese area. Dust dispersion mapping from mining operations in the area contributed also to defining the physical boundaries for wind farm development.

Research paper thumbnail of Integrated solid waste management and energy production - a life cycle assessment approach: the case study of the city of Thessaloniki

Journal of Cleaner Production, 2012

Innovative strategies are needed to deal with the waste we produce today to prevent it from causi... more Innovative strategies are needed to deal with the waste we produce today to prevent it from causing problems for future generations. As waste management issues gain public awareness, concern has risen about the appropriateness of various disposal methods. The objective of this work is the environmental assessment of different municipal solid waste treatment strategies for the city of Thessaloniki, within the methodological frameworks of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and the Integrated Solid Waste Management strategy, taking into account social, environmental and economic effects. The waste management methods in this study include: landfill of all waste fractions, recycling of paper, and anaerobic digestion of food waste in a biological treatment plant. The waste fractions considered are the total amount of food, paper and plastic waste produced in Thessaloniki during the period of one year. Environmental impacts are decreased when the solid waste management methods include some kind of recovery from waste. The results of this work indicate that paper recycling and anaerobic digestion of food waste is preferable compared to landfilling. It is also shown that landfilling of food waste utilizing the biocells method is more attractive than anaerobic digestion in a separate plant; nevertheless, energy recovery is about 45% lower.

Research paper thumbnail of Life-Cycle Environmental Impact Assessment of Reinforced Concrete Buildings Subjected to Natural Hazards

Journal of Architectural Engineering, 2016

Biochar-based bioenergy production and subsequent land application of biochar can reduce greenhou... more Biochar-based bioenergy production and subsequent land application of biochar can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by fixing atmospheric carbon into the soil for a long period of time. A thorough life cycle assessment of biochar-based bioenergy production and biochar land application in Northwestern Ontario is conducted using SimaPro Ò Ver. 8.1. The results of energy consumption and potential environmental impact of biochar-based bioenergy production system are compared with those of conventional coal-based system. Results show that biochar land application consumes 4847.61 MJ per tonne dry feedstock more energy than conventional system, but reduces the GHG emissions by 68.19 kg CO 2 e per tonne of dry feedstock in its life cycle. Biochar land application improves ecosystem quality by 18 %, reduces climate change by 15 %, and resource use by 13 % but may adversely impact on human health by increasing disability adjusted life years by 1.7 % if biomass availability is low to medium. Replacing fossil fuel with woody biomass has a positive impact on the environment, as one tonne of dry biomass feedstock when converted to biochar reduces up to 38 kg CO 2 e with biochar land application despite using more energy. These results will help understand a comprehensive picture of the new interventions in forestry businesses, which are promoting biochar-based bioenergy production.

Research paper thumbnail of Evidence on the contribution of green urban infrastructure to climate change mitigation and adaptation

Research paper thumbnail of A review and analysis of quantitative integrated environmental assessment methods for urban areas

Research paper thumbnail of Environmental Impact Assessment of Electricity Production, A Case Study of Turkey

Green Energy and Technology, 2016

For at least the next few decades, fossil fuels will use for global energy demand and without a p... more For at least the next few decades, fossil fuels will use for global energy demand and without a proper control atmospheric emissions. Therefore greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions continue to increase and pose even more serious problems for environment and also human health. Beyond this point, the combustion products of fossil fuels are the main cause of environmental issues such as acid rains, ozone depletion and global warming.

Research paper thumbnail of Understanding Cities: Advances in integrated assessment of urban sustainability, Final Report of COST Action TU0902

ABSTRACT -An introduction to the challenges facing urban areas and the urgent need to make them m... more ABSTRACT -An introduction to the challenges facing urban areas and the urgent need to make them more sustainable. -A key challenge is the complexity of cities that leads to non-linear and unintended consequences of, often well meant, interventions. -Underlines the case for a more integrated response to deliver more sustainable urban areas, and the need for a new generation of integrated assessment methods and tools to operationalise this. -Introduces the structure of the rest of the book.

Research paper thumbnail of Exergy & Environmental Based Comparison of Hydrogen Production from Natural gas , Carbon and Nuclear energy

Hydrogen is an important energy carrier which could play a very significant role in the reduction... more Hydrogen is an important energy carrier which could play a very significant role in the reduction of emissions of greenhouse gases. The route by which hydrogen is produced is the determining factor for its environmental performance. Hydrogen can be produced through methane reforming, coal gasification or through the electrolysis of water with the use of electricity. However, as these processes involve environmental and energy security concerns, it is of great importance to assess their environmental and energy performance. In this study, the environmental and exergy performance of auto thermal reforming of natural gas, coal gasification and thermochemical water-splitting are evaluated. It is noted that in the thermochemical water-splitting, decomposition reactions take place to produce H2, according to the method of sulphur-iodine. The increased temperature requirements are covered by a nuclear reactor H2-MIR. The calculations reveal that the exergy efficiency of CO2 sequestration r...

Research paper thumbnail of Solar Air-conditioning Systems Impact on the Built Environment – A Thermodynamic Approach

Research paper thumbnail of Exergy analysis for a proposed binary geothermal power plant in Nisyros Island, Greece

Geothermics, 2017

This is the accepted manuscript (post-print version) of the article. Contentwise, the post-print ... more This is the accepted manuscript (post-print version) of the article. Contentwise, the post-print version is identical to the final published version, but there may be differences in typography and layout. How to cite this publication Please cite the final published version:

Research paper thumbnail of Exergetic Aspects of Hydrogen Energy Systems—The Case Study of a Fuel Cell Bus

Sustainability, 2017

Electrifying transportation is a promising approach to alleviate climate change issues arising fr... more Electrifying transportation is a promising approach to alleviate climate change issues arising from increased emissions. This study examines a system for the production of hydrogen using renewable energy sources as well as its use in buses. The electricity requirements for the production of hydrogen through the electrolysis of water, are covered by renewable energy sources. Fuel cells are being used to utilize hydrogen to power the bus. Exergy analysis for the system is carried out. Based on a steady-state model of the processes, exergy efficiencies are calculated for all subsystems. The subsystems with the highest proportion of irreversibility are identified and compared. It is shown that PV panel has exergetic efficiency of 12.74%, wind turbine of 45%, electrolysis of 67%, and fuel cells of 40%.

Research paper thumbnail of Environmental impact assessment of a ground source heat pump system in Greece

Geothermics, 2017

Abstract The technical and environmental performance of a ground source heat pump system (GSHP) i... more Abstract The technical and environmental performance of a ground source heat pump system (GSHP) is examined using the method of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The present LCA study quantifies the environmental impacts of the installation of a ground heat exchanger based system of the Town Hall of Pylaia in Thessaloniki, Greece. The study examines the manufacturing, transportation as well as the operation stages of the GSHP system and records energy consumption as well as air emissions to the environment. The system boundary includes the production of raw materials such as copper, plastic, steel, aluminium, rubber, the transportation of heat pumps and pipes, drilling, as well as the operation of the GSHP system, and finally the assembly process. The functional unit chosen is 1 kW of installed power. The environmental impacts categories considered in the study are these of greenhouse effect, ozone depletion, acidification, eutrophication, carcinogenesis, winter smog, heavy metals. Analysis of the system indicates that 73% and 14.54% of the assessment are attributed to the categories of acidification and greenhouse effect respectively.

Research paper thumbnail of Climate change mitigation and deployment of electric vehicles in urban areas

Renewable Energy, 2016

Mobility plays a crucial part of our life. Alternative fuels and vehicle technology can mitigate ... more Mobility plays a crucial part of our life. Alternative fuels and vehicle technology can mitigate climate change and greenhouse gases from road transport. This study analyses power-train deployments scenarios for the vehicle fleet of the city of Athens until 2021, taken into consideration European policy developments on vehicle CO 2 emissions and technological level of readiness, European emissions standards, Greece's economic status, energy mandates and reductions in the European energy mix and translates these into comprehensive scenarios for the road transport sector. It quantifies and assesses the potential environmental impact of these scenarios on CO 2 CO, NOx, HC, PM and CO 2 emission reductions. The study proposes the development of a Strategic Zero Carbon Transport Plan for the city of Athens, aiming at the creation of a low carbon transport system, which will encompass issues such as life cycle thinking, urban planning and energy minimization aiming at climate change mitigation.

Research paper thumbnail of Electric vehicle deployment in urban areas

Indoor and Built Environment, 2016

The transportation sector accounts for approximately one-fifth of global primary energy use and o... more The transportation sector accounts for approximately one-fifth of global primary energy use and one quarter of all energy related carbon dioxide emissions, with nearly half of those emissions originating from passenger vehicles. In order to reduce significantly the use of fossil fuels in urban mobility, whilst improving air quality and increasing the accessibility and attractiveness of urban areas, it is necessary to increase the use of non-conventionally fuelled vehicles for passenger and freight transport in urban areas. The introduction of electric vehicles (EVs) is a promising option, so as to achieve decarbonisation objectives, energy security, improved urban air quality and to increase energy efficiency. However, there are a number of challenges for the large-scale deployment of EV both on global and European level. These, in particular, are the high cost of the battery, lack of a standardised recharging infrastructure, relatively low range of battery electric vehicles or lack...

Research paper thumbnail of Life Cycle Thinking in the Use of Natural Resources

Open Environmental Sciences, 2013

The continuous increase of production and consumption of material in the developed world and the ... more The continuous increase of production and consumption of material in the developed world and the increase of the standard of living of the developing countries leads to the increase of the use of natural resources and the degradation of the environment. Life Cycle Thinking (LCT) is essential to sustainable consumption and production which will impact the use of limited resources. LCT is the process of taking into account in decision making both the resources consumed and the environmental and health pressures associated with the full life cycle of a product. It includes the extraction of resources, production, use, re-use, transport, recycling, and the ultimate waste disposal to provide goods and services and it helps in avoiding shifting the burdens among various life stages of a resource processing. It is important to use the life cycle thinking in analysing products because they may have different environmental impacts at different life cycle stages. It is important to note that ...

Research paper thumbnail of Exergy analysis of biogas production from a municipal solid waste landfill

Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments, 2013

In the energy area, intensive efforts are being made over the last years to bridge the supply are... more In the energy area, intensive efforts are being made over the last years to bridge the supply area with renewable energy sources and the demand side with energy conservation. Energy recovery from municipal solid waste landfills can play a contributing role in the solution of problems of both waste management and energy areas. The objective of this work is to analyze exergeticaly the electricity production from a landfill in the area of Volos, Greece and discuss how the extension of the landfill influences electricity production, something not studied so far. The electricity production potential was analyzed for every extension phase and comparative results are presented.

Research paper thumbnail of Solar air conditioning systems and their applicability—An exergy approach

Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 2010

The energy use in the building sector for space heating, cooling and water heating, in the Europe... more The energy use in the building sector for space heating, cooling and water heating, in the European Union Based, reaches the level of on 40% of the total used energy. The building sector is the biggest user of energy, having surpassed the transportation and industry sectors. Additionally, the energy transformation processes and the use of energy are responsible for 94%

Research paper thumbnail of Comparative environmental assessment of Athens urban buses—Diesel, CNG and biofuel powered

Transport Policy, 2014

Greenhouse gases (GHGs) emitted by road transport vehicles as a direct result of fossil fuel comb... more Greenhouse gases (GHGs) emitted by road transport vehicles as a direct result of fossil fuel combustion and other environmental pollutants released throughout the life cycle of petroleum based fuels, encourage a shift towards alternative transport fuels. Within this frame, an environmental assessment was performed so as to evaluate the environmental implications of alternative fuels (natural gas and biofuels) penetration in the city buses of the city of Athens. The results are evaluated in terms of CO 2 , CO, HC, PM and NO x emissions. The findings show that CO 2 emissions are significantly reduced in CNG buses compared to diesel powered buses. CO 2 emissions can also be reduced by 7.85% in B10 blends and 78.45% in B100 blends, compared to diesel. The environmental assessment can be considered as a basis so as to investigate the viability of replacement of petroleum-based diesel with natural gas and biofuels in city transport buses. Concepts for sustainable bus transportation can be incorporated using the methodology defined in this study, in order to promote a sustainable transportation system and mitigate the climate change.

Research paper thumbnail of Sustainability Indicators for the Use of Resources—The Exergy Approach

Sustainability, 2012

Global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions reached an all-time high in 2010, rising 45% in the past 20... more Global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions reached an all-time high in 2010, rising 45% in the past 20 years. The rise of peoples' concerns regarding environmental problems such as global warming and waste management problem has led to a movement to convert the current mass-production, mass-consumption, and mass-disposal type economic society into a sustainable society. The Rio Conference on Environment and Development in 1992, and other similar environmental milestone activities and happenings, documented the need for better and more detailed knowledge and information about environmental conditions, trends, and impacts. New thinking and research with regard to indicator frameworks, methodologies, and actual indicators are also needed. The value of the overall indicators depends on the production procedure of each material, and indicates their environmental impact. The use of "exergy indicators" based on the exergy content of materials and the use of the second law of thermodynamics in this work presents the relationship between exergy content and environmental impact.

Research paper thumbnail of Energy and exergy utilization assessment of the Greek transport sector

Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 2008

Transport is of fundamental importance to human society, providing mobility and facilitating indu... more Transport is of fundamental importance to human society, providing mobility and facilitating industry and trade. Nevertheless there are also many environmental impacts; thus it is crucial that transportation planning is carried out in a sustainable manner meeting optimum travel needs, promote economic prosperity and environmental preservation. In assessing the efficiency of transportation, exergy analysis is an effective tool. This work presents an energy and exergy utilization assessment for the transportation sector of Greece taking into account the sectoral energy and exergy flows for the period over 1980-2003. Energy and exergy analyses are conducted for the four subsectors of the Greek transport sector, namely highways, railways, marine and civil aviation. The road subsector appears to be the most efficient in comparison to the other subsectors for the years between 1980 and 2003. It is believed that the exergy analysis presented here provides insights into the transport energy use and could assist in the planning of an efficient transport system.

Research paper thumbnail of Comparative wind farm planning on a high plateau: Dust dispersion as a sitting constraint

Land Use Policy, 2014

ABSTRACT In the current paper, the wind potential of a relatively flat area in central Peloponnes... more ABSTRACT In the current paper, the wind potential of a relatively flat area in central Peloponnese in Greece has been studied. The chosen region was selected based on environmental criteria and the wind speed was correlated based on the measurements of three specific mountainous sites in the wider plateau area using a Wind Resource Analysis (WRA) modeling methodology. Digital elevation data sets were used for the modeling procedure together with the Wind Atlas Analysis Program for the correlation process and the basic aim was to evaluate and identify appropriate sites for wind farm development within the flat area and compare the estimated net power output with the net power output from mountainous sites in the wider central Peloponnese area. Dust dispersion mapping from mining operations in the area contributed also to defining the physical boundaries for wind farm development.

Research paper thumbnail of Integrated solid waste management and energy production - a life cycle assessment approach: the case study of the city of Thessaloniki

Journal of Cleaner Production, 2012

Innovative strategies are needed to deal with the waste we produce today to prevent it from causi... more Innovative strategies are needed to deal with the waste we produce today to prevent it from causing problems for future generations. As waste management issues gain public awareness, concern has risen about the appropriateness of various disposal methods. The objective of this work is the environmental assessment of different municipal solid waste treatment strategies for the city of Thessaloniki, within the methodological frameworks of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and the Integrated Solid Waste Management strategy, taking into account social, environmental and economic effects. The waste management methods in this study include: landfill of all waste fractions, recycling of paper, and anaerobic digestion of food waste in a biological treatment plant. The waste fractions considered are the total amount of food, paper and plastic waste produced in Thessaloniki during the period of one year. Environmental impacts are decreased when the solid waste management methods include some kind of recovery from waste. The results of this work indicate that paper recycling and anaerobic digestion of food waste is preferable compared to landfilling. It is also shown that landfilling of food waste utilizing the biocells method is more attractive than anaerobic digestion in a separate plant; nevertheless, energy recovery is about 45% lower.