The several centuries - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 28 Words: 8268 Downloads: 6 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Statistics Essay Did you like this example? 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background. Over the several centuries, In order to adapt to a rapid changing environment, organizations must continuously improve their efficiency on production, increase competitiveness, and boost productivity (Chin and Dale, 2000; Kanji and Asher 1996). the the rapid changing business and the environment competitiveness over the global market drive Industrial to put effort on investigating the development of production technology to gain a higher productivity, cost effectively production process, and better quality service and product. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "The several centuries" essay for you Create order In the past, organizations mostly concern on improving quality of the product to fulfill the customers expectation, As a result, t management theories and practices were developed becoming more maturely. Also, the organizations channeled their concerns into developing innovative product in order to increase their market share (Patri et al., 1998). But in recently decade, business and organization started to focus on social responsibility because they realize the quality of the environmental performance is closely linked to the environmental effects of their product (Kaplan and Norton, 2004). The environmental problem caused by industrial activities is getting serious by the huge demanding of energy. In accordance with the report from World Resources institute, a list of the top emitter of CO2 from industry, there is over a thousand million of CO2 emitted from china. As resulted, the world is polluted, and the environment is damaged by rapid growing industries and the continuously changing living environment. In fact, the situation have drive the world attention on the problem in order to less the industrial impact to environment, and various set of regulation have been published to deal with the impact. In the US, Europe and Japan, manufacturers are required to produce and recycle product that meet government regulations on e nvironmental protection ( Le Fvre, 2002). Most commonly, Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and Restriction of Hazardous Subtances RoHS are consider as the basic requirement for import product.. Furthermore, deteriorate of global environment have aware the public concern on environment too, global warning and acidification effect, have been heightened over the last few years. It made people realize that how serious do the problem is. It drive people give attention to reducing wastes and pollutants in their lives, and consumers are willing to pay more money for product which have claim that they are environmental friendly, Industries and businesses who have not take responsibility for the impact of their product are not able to satisfied consumer with their product or service quality only. This has inspired organization by making their products to be more environmentally friendly, many businesses have responded to this awareness and claimed that they are providing greener products and applying greener processes to their goods or service. thereby gaining a larger market share for their business.The environmental performance of products and processes has become a key issue to the development of business In order to complying those requirements from global market and gain the good reputation to their business, the most efficiency method for industrial is to deal with the product and the production process, to improve it environmental performance. Government and eco organization over the world have already tackled on the issues, and various set of environmental management standards are published to assist industry to optimize their product and manufacturing method, thus to accomplish the goal of green design and green manufacturing, for example; ISO 14000 series, Environment Management system, ECO-Labels and Life Cycle issue, apart from the method mentioned, different sophisticated evaluation tool for environmental assessment has been developed together, to help manufacturer to review the existing product and production process if there is any space for betterment. An impact assessment tool can help to determine the level of impact induced by different alloy product. A specifically d esigned assessment tool can predict the potential environmental damages created throughout the entire product life cycle. The sources of environmental impact can then be identified and therefore corrective actions can be applied to reduce the damages. In this report, difference evaluation tool within the environmental sector will be introduced; it will show the way to implement the selected assessment tool thought a case study which is going to define the environmental performance of the selected product. 1.2 Aims The purpose of this report is to study the various assessment methods and try to apply the selected assessment tool to the largest volume product in my company 1.3 Objective To achieve the aim, the following objectives were formulated To review the currently available impact assessment method and understand their strengths and weakness, thus find out the possible approach for my company. To Study and scoping the function and function unit, process of the selected product, to identify critical factor to measure and assess the impact. To implement the select approach to the selected product, thus assess the production process and the product to seek any chance of improvement To review the obtained result and comment. Provide the useful information and specific recommendation for manufacturing similar product. 1.4 Scope of Research The scope of this research is the environmental damage in the product life cycle of aluminum casing. It includes the impact assessment for the product, such as the evaluation and the quantification of the environmental impact caused in life cycle of a aluminum profile. It analyses each life cycle stage by defining the critical assessment criteria, which must be considered in the impact assessment. In addition, it includes a demonstration of the impact assessment model by using a detailed case study. 2. Literature Review There are different kinds of literature surrounding environmental protection in manufacturing sector, in this chapter; it will introduce the concepts Life cycle thinking, approaches of environmental management system and life cycle assessment. The ideal of Life cycle thinking is help to have entire review of a product or service, environment system provides a framework for organization to have guideline in handling the environmental issue. The life cycle assessment is widely accepted as a tool in the environmental management system to evaluate environmental impact of a product. In this study, several existing impact assessment approaches are reviewed, and the advantage and disadvantage of those approaches are identified. The reviewed approaches in this report include Economic Input-Output Life Cycle Assessment (EIO-LCA), Environmental Priority Strategies (EPS), Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistrys life-cycle impact assessment (SETAC), Life Cycle Environmental Cost Analysis. 2.1 Definition of Environmental Impact Environment Impact is defined as the damage to environment; it is the relative results for both of the humans and eco-systems, and the change to the environment that is directly caused by any activities related to a product system or a service. It includes in direct consequences that relate to the direct changes to environment (CSA, 1994), The environmental impact can appear as chain reactions because the consequence of one impact may be the cause of another impact ( Chatagnon and Nibel, 1997). The impact includes secondary and tertiary consequences that are in connection with the primary changes to the environment, Therefore, it is necessary to trace back the beginning stage to find out the Stressor that cause the impact. The concept of stressor is introduced here, Stressor can be a substance or a condition that causes impact to human health or the eco-system, or which depletes the earths resources. Stressor can be generated from different product system, or any activities, such as carbon dioxide(CO2), chlorofluorocarbons(CFC), lead, and cadmium(Cd). Different stressors may cause different kinds of environmental impact. The related environmental impact may be global warning, acidification and ozone depletion. Figure 2.1 shows an example of the interrelation of the stressor and environmental impacts. 2.2 The Definition of Environmental Assessment In order to understand the principle of environment assessment, we need to get into the definition of environment first, environment includes areas of air, water, animals, and plants on the earth. It consists of the relationship between mankind and the natural and physical surroundings. Also, some other aspects like cultural, social and economic were recognized as element of environment too. All of these elements should be considered in implementing the environmental assessment. The close relationship between human and the environment encouraged practitioner starts to study the environmental issues. The formal environmental assessment was started in the late 1960s. The Coca-Cola Company was trying to determine the better bottle: glass or plastic. Since glass is a natural material, commonly people expected that glass would be the better environmental choice. But in Coca-Cola study, they find that the plastic bottle is having the best environmental performance in assessment. But in this study, the effect on environment and Human health were not taken as considering factor. A year after, There was an energy crisis, the event had became the prime movers the U.S and British governments to develop the analysis of energy consumption. Now there are concern for protecting the environment every where, and there are different ways to carry out environmental assessment Nowadays, environmental assessment knew as a tool to determine the environmental impact of an activity or project, including any positive or negative changes, the scope and depth of the assessment can vary considerably, but there are several basic steps to follow. Understand and define clearly the actions that are involved in the assessment. For example, the material or resources invoved, the taks to be carried out, and the alternatives to achieve the purpose should be described in detail. Understand the areas, from biophysical and socioeconomic points of view, that may be affected by the action. For example, all possible effects on the environment should be defined for the boundary of the study. Preconceive the implementation of the proposed action. Determine the possible impact, and quantify the impact if possible. Interdisciplinary analysis of the impact is required by the current federal law. Report the results of the study so that the evaluation of the possible environmental impact of the suggested action can be used in decision-making process. 2.3 Issues in Environmental Assessment There are a wide range of issues should be considered when conducting an environmental assessment, All of them are describing the problem is affecting to human health and environment. There are several issue will be discuss in most of the environmental assessment, they are global warming, acidification, ozone depletion, eutrophication, resource depletion, and toxicological stress. Global Warming: The energy from the sun heats the earths surface, and the earth radiates the energy back into space. The atmospheric greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and water vapour, act as the glass panels of a greenhouse to trap some of the energy and thus the heat on the earth is retained. The global warming effect is such that the concentration of the greenhouse gases keeps multiplying, thereby increasing the global temperature. Acidification: Acidification is actually the effect of acid deposition. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) are confirmed to be the causes of acidification.They are oxidized and dissolved into the water vapor to form sulfuric acid and nitric acid in the atmosphere. Wet deposition refers to acidic rain, fog, and snow. This acidic water affects a variety of animals and plants by flowing over the ground. Dry deposition refers to the acidic gases and particles that fall back to the earth surface. Ozone Depletion: Ozone depletion is referring to the destruction of the stratospheric ozone. The cause of the effect is that chlorine atoms and bromine atoms are released when the steady Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) and other ozone-depleting substances react with the Ultra Violet (UV) light. The ozone layer is then destroyed by these atoms, but the ozone-depleting substance still reminds the same. The consequence is that the Strong UV light penetrates the destroyed ozone layer and increasing the probability of skin cancer in humans. Eutrophication: Eutrophicaton means the blooms of algae that are caused by the high nutrient concentrations in an aquatic eco-system. Naturally, the process occurred as a result of aging of lakes; however, By discharging of nutrients and organic substances into aquatic eco-system through industrial activities, the process is hurried. The over actuate of the growth of algae interferes with the health and diversity of indigenous fish, plants, and animal populations. Resource Depletion: Resource depletion refer to the consumption of both of the renewable resources and nonrenewable resource. For example, renewable resource like wind and water, and the nonrenewable resources, like minerals (zinc, copper, nickel, etc.). Mostly the evaluate methods of resource depletion in impact assessment are based the concept of supply of the specific mineral and is usually confined to natural resources like coal, oil, gas, minerals, and water. Toxicological Stress: Toxicological effect is an important issue that is considered in many environmental assessments as it affects the human health both directly and indirectly. Some typical examples of toxic materials are heavy metals, persistent organic substances, and volatile organic compounds. They affect the human health through different chronic effects. 2.4 Environmental Assessment of Product Nowadays, with the technologies and materials developed, there are many product were replaced and fade out. The reason could be for better function or ease manufacturing. However, the new materials used or the up to date production processes for those products, have caused different degrees of impact to the environment. Hereby, the application of environmental assessment is extended to different types of product. Mostly, the impact of a product is environmentally benign when either being to be used or storage, the impact always comes up in the production stage and disposal stage. According to the definition of impact above, impact mostly appear when there is a change in the environment by process. Therefore, the best way to perform an environmental assessment of a product is to follow through the entire life cycle of the product. The definition of the environmental assessment to a product can be To define and quantify the service provided by the product, to identify and to quantify the environmental exchanges caused by the way in which the service is provided, and to ascribe these exchanges and their potential impact to the service. Wenzel et al. (1997) In general, the environmental assessment of products is referring to assessment based on the life cycle thinking, which can be named as Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), also termed as Life Cycle Analysis. LCA is a popular technique used to perform impact assessment on products. It consists of several standardized phases used to carry out the assessment. The details of Life cycle thinking and LCA will be described in the following sections. 2.5 Life Cycle Assessment Life Cycle Assessment is a tool that is used to evaluate the impact form a product, process or activity. For a product, the assessment would start from raw material extraction to disposal. It is called Life cycle to product. 2.5.1 Life Cycle Thinking The life cycle refers to the entire product life cycle in a sense from cradle to grave, that is from material preparation to product disposal. A typical product life cycle usually includes the stages of material preparation, manufacture, distribution, operation, and disposition, as shown in Figure 2.2. In defining the environmental performance of a product or service, some of us might not considering the output of supply chains or the use and end-of-life processes associated with the products. Also we might only focus on a specific country or region, and might not able to recognize the impacts or benefits that can occur in other regions or that are attributable to their own levels of consumption. It is very obvious that information in a single stage of the products life cycle cannot sufficiently describe its environmental impacts. Life Cycle thinking provide a broader perspective, it is given attention to a life cycle of a product included raw material used, supply chains, product u se, the effects of disposal and the possibilities for re-use and recycling. In a product life cycle, the longest period is the stage of use, sometime it might be the periods of storage in the life cycle, but mostly these stages will be environmentally benign. At the end of Life cycle, it has shown a feedback loops which is presenting the potential for recycling, remanufacturing and reuse. In a entire life cycle, recycling can be occur any stages, to environmental protection, but it not mean the process of reuse or recycling is having less environmental impact, every stage with different material in product life cycle will have its energy consumption and environmental impact. Through the study we able to identify possible improvements of goods and services in the form of lower the environmental impacts and reduced use of resources. The benefit of life cycle thinking can avoid burden shifting of each stage. It means once try to minimizing the impacts at one stage of the life cycle or particular impact category, also avoid increasing the impact in other stage. 2.5.2 Life Cycle Assessment The Methodology of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was designed based on life cycle thinking; it aims to focus on the material flow in existing products. The concept of life cycle assessment dates back to a famous case from 1969. The Coca-Cola Company was trying to determine the better bottle: glass or plastic. Because glass is a natural material, most people expected glass would be the better environmental choice. By using a form of life cycle assessment, they determined that a plastic bottle would ultimately be the best environmental choice. In the 1970s, an energy crisis encouraged U.S and British governments to continue the study, LCA was used as a tool to measure and evaluate the energy consumption of processes (EPA 1993). After the energy crisis, the interest of LCA diminished as well. Not until the early 1980s, there was a re-emerging interest in LCA caused by the extensive use of resources in packaging in Europe. The LCA was again applied in different studies of energy and e nvironmental issues, such as transportation, recycling, and packaging (Bouwman, 2002; CSWS 1990; Ekvall, 1999). From the late 1980s, LCA becomes the most frequent discussed concept for review the product and processes, assessment methodology was used in broader areas, and the products and systems being assessed were more complex. According to the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) (SETAC, 1993), a generic framework to perform an impact assessment should include three complementary steps. The first step is Inventory Analysis, which is the step to classify the input and output resource, the input of the inventory could be energy and materials consumptions, the output is the product or the emissions with respect to the different impact categories to which they contribute. The next step is Impact Analysis, which characterizes the environmental impact of a stressor contributing to its impact category. The third step is Improvement Analysis. This is an evaluation of different alternatives to reduce the environmental impact brought out in the entire life cycle of a product, process, or activity. Assessment includes quantitative and qualitative measures of improvement, for example, material selection, product and process design, usages and waste management. These phases are the basic component s of impact assessment, forming the basic framework of LCA. This LCA framework was reaffirmed at a later time. Goal Definition and Scoping was incorporated into the impact assessment as refinements after considerable debate (Fava et al., 1993), as shown in Figure 2.3. 2.5.3 Elements in Life Cycle Assessment The LCA framework was modified by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and categorized un the ISO 14000 series, the definition that ISO introduced is to evaluate and compile the input, output and the environmental burdens in the entire product life cycle (Ong et al., 1999). The organization of the ISO 14000 standards was showed in figure 2.4 As mentioned from above, there is four interrelated phrase in LCA, they are; Goal Definition and Scoping is the phase of the LCA process that defines the purpose and method of including life cycle environmental impacts into the decision-making process. In this phase, the following items must be determined: the type of information that is needed to add value to the decision-making process, how accurate the results must be to add value, and how the results should be interpreted and displayed in order to be meaningful and usable. Inventory Analysis -Inventory Analysis is a phase to construct the product systems in the study. The product system is used to show the different unit processes. For example, production process, transportation, waste disposal and recycling. The consumption of the energy, water and materials usages and the environmental release from the product system boundary will be Identified and quantified. Such as the emissions of pollutants and extraction of resources, are used in Impact Assessment. Impact Assessment The Impact assessment is used to group and transform the resource consumption into the related impact categories. Mostly the categories studies are Global Warming Potential, Ozone Depletion and Eutrophication. In this phase, a weighting step will be applied to the result by calculate with a factor, in order to obtaining the final impact score of the product syste. Interpretation Evaluate the results of the inventory analysis and impact assessment to select the preferred product, process or service with a clear understanding of the uncertainty and the assumptions used to generate the results. 2.5.4 Review the Application of LCA Since the growth of concern of environment, LCA has been applied in different study both in the public and private sector (Gloria et al., 1995). Obviously, it is because the function of LCA is acting as an important role in product development by helping product designer and decision maker to quantify and evaluate the environmental impact of product and services. Thought the LCA, the decision maker can obtain the evidence to certify that the design is environmentally friendly and gain the market advantage of green products. There is another benefit to manufacturer, is that with the approach of the LCA, they are able to choose greener manufacturing processes, thus improve the production efficiency and the expense in dealing with the pollutant from production process. Categories Reference Descriptions Automobile Dobson 1996 Two alternative painting processes in automobile industry Kasai 1999 Propeller shafts in vehicles Maclean and Lave 1998 Fuel cycle in terms of toxic discharges Electronic Huybrects et al. 1998 Two photographic films in the printed circuit board industry (silver film vs. Mastertool) Pollock and Coulon 1996 Inkjet print cartridge Terho 1996 Fibre optic cable Energy Furuholt 1995 Production of three different fuel product (diesel, regular gasoline and gasoline with MTBE unghi et al., 2004 A molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) system for landfill-gas recovery Waste Treatment Mendes et al., 2004 Comparison of the environmental impact of the incineration and the land filling of municipal solid waste Suh and Rousseaux, 2002 Comparison of five alternative treatment scenarios of sewage sludge in the French context Package De Monte et al., 2004 Comparison of different coffee packaging system Recycling McLaren et al., 2000 Materials flow analysis in recycling systems Ross and Evans, 2003 Recycling of portable nickel-cadmium batteries 2.6 Review of the impact Assessment Approach Different impact assessment approaches will be reviewed to address the objective, scopes and assessment criteria of the assessment model. Also it will state the characteristic, assessment method, the advantages and disadvantage of the assessment. 2.6.1 Economic Input-Output Life Cycle Assessment (EIO-LCA) In traditional LCA, resource input acquisition and environmental discharge data is the most critical information in assessment, but it is hard to quantify the data since the source may report by different unit. In order to deal with the limitation of traditional Life Cycle Assessment, the Economic Input-Output Life Cycle Assessment (EIO-LCA) is introduced (Hendrickson et al., 1998). The EIO-LCA approach is a method able to estimates the materials and energy resources required for, and the environmental emissions resulting from any activities in our economy. There are three basic steps in performing EIO-LCA, they are; Determine the physical assumptions of the product system. Calculate the economic effect relevant to physical assumption. In put the monetary values of the relevant purchases. The Environment output is resulted by the following equation: Bi = Ri X Where Bi is the vector of environmental output Ri is the environmental impact per dollar of output X is the economic output at each process stage. By the EIO-LCA approach, the economy effect associated with the energy consumption and emission can be resulted by the life cycle analysis. Practitioner able to obtain a economy wide and comprehensive assessment. The environmental impact will be ranked by the resulted values and worked as a reference for decision maker to define the critical problem, though the assessment, industrial is able to review the initial problem of their product or product process, thus obtain the solution. However, EIO-LCA is having a limitation which is th result of the assessment might not available for assessing the latest situation since the economic data is obtained from the past practices. Also the results estimate the environmental emissions or resource depletion with the life cycle of an industry sector, but do not presenting the actual environmental or human health impact. 2.6.2 The Swedish Environmental Priorities System The Swedish Environmental Research Institute (IVL) and Volvo motor Company developed the Environmental Priorities System (EPS) (Ryding et al., 1993; Steen and Ryding, 1992), the function of EPS is assisting product designers for selecting components and subassemblies with the minimum environmental impacts. The total impact of the product are determine with five safeguard factor, they are (1) Resources, (2) Human Health, (3) Production (4) Biodiversity and (5) Aesthetic value. The equation for impact calculation is; Total Impact = Where ELIi is the environmental load unit Mi is the mass of the used material i Each stressors ELI is a product of five factors as shown in the follows: ELIi = F1 F2F3F4F5 Where F1 is the unit effect determined based on the five safeguard subjects. It is determined on the basis of the monetary amount that the society is eager to pay for avoiding damages on the safeguard subject F2 is the scope of the effect of the effect based on either the number of people or in area F3 is the intensity or frequency of the effect on the safeguard subject F4 is the duration of the effect F5 is the normalization factor The EPS approach is based on the recommendations of SETAC, the actual damages, and characterizes the damages in monetary value is defined. The advantages is that the approach is widely accepted for any application, but the assessment is difficult to implement as it adopts cost instead of worth. This approach is also being questioned as to whether the economic and environmental science is able to provide the necessary data for the extensive valuation. 2.6.3 Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Impact Assessment The SETAC defines the impact assessment as a three-step process for LCA (Fave et al., 1993), The aim of the approach is to drive the assessment to be more transparent and scientific. In SETAC Assessment, the considered impact categories mostly are biotic and abiotic resource depletion, global warning, ozone depletion, human and ecosystem toxicity, smog, acidification and eutrophication. The three step are; (1) Classification, (2) Characterization, (3) Valuation (Figure 2.5). Classification the process of identifying and classifying the environmental impacts of the stressor into several defined impact categories Characterization the process of estimating the magnitude of the environmental impacts on ecological health , human health or resource depletion Valuation The assignment of relative values or weight to different environmental impacts such that the quantified environmental impacts are aggregated into one single index The SETAC LCA approach is widely accepted in any organization and able to provide the extensive environmental assessment on different product and activities as it attempts to account for all the environmental impacts of the three main impact categories. In the other hand, the size of scope has become the issue the application which made the assessment to be complex and costly to implement. The model requires a lot of data relating to resource depletion, human and ecosystem toxicity. Also all the information have to be clarified before perform the assessment, otherwise, the undesired result could be obtained. 2.6.4 Life Cycle Environmental Cost Analysis The Life Cycle Environmental Cost Analysis (LCECA) is a life cycle environmental cost model that is used to evaluates the effect of eight eco-cost in whole product life cycle. The eight eco cost are the cost of effluent control, treatment and disposal, environmental management system, eco-taxes, rehabilitation, energy, and saving of reuse and recycling strategies. The relationship between the eco-cost and the estimated total product life cycle cost, Tc are presented by the equation. Where is the estimated value of the total life cycle cost of a product a is a constant which reflects the y-intercept of the regression line are the estimates of slopes of the regression lin (of each eco-cost) are the cost of the effluent control, treatment and disposal, environmental management system, eco-taxes, rehabilitation, energy, and saving of reuse and recycling strategies Similar to EPS approach, the LCECA tries to assess the environmetal impact based on the cost instead of accounting for the damages. It increases the difficulty in implementing the assessment. Also, uncertainty still exists in the result as the secondary data with low or medium quality were mostly used in the impact assessment. 2.7 Conclusion to the Reviewed Approaches The environmental concerns of different parties raise the need to develop a systematic approach for evaluating and assessing the environmental performances of products or processes, After investigating a number of impact assessment approaches, it is found that the main aspects considered in those approaches are the resource depletion and environmental effect on the ecosystem and human health. Most of the approaches perform the impact assessment in the life cycle perspective, in which the environmental effects of the waste stream on different life stages are considered. The accuracy of the evaluation results depends on the availability of precise data as the impact assessment approaches are usually data intensive. Most of the impact assessment approaches are difficult to implement because of the complexity of the evaluation procedure. The applicability of the impact assessment approach is limited as the sources of data for impact assessment are also limited. Few of the impact assessment approaches take care of the three main environmental concerns. Performing an LCA study is expensive in terms of the resources and time. To sum up, an effective tool for impact assessment should have a correct balance between the ease of use and the depth of study in a scientific way. 2.8 Simplified Life Cycle Analysis Since LCA is the environmental assessment of a product or production process throughout the entire life cycle. It is very complicated to conducting a full scale LCA because it involves a lot of information, thus a complete LCA could be an expensive and time consuming process (Curran 1996). In order to make LCA to be easier to be implement, some method describe as follow is applied to simplified the LCA, the development techniques are described as a shortcut method of the LCA, also known as streamlined LCA or abridged LCA(Graedel et al. 1995) ; 1. Narrowing the boundaries of study Since organization may not interest in all the stages of the product life cycle, either they just concern about their own operation, practitioners could set their research to a boundary that is the greatest interest. For example, A mobile phone manufacturer might neglect the study of the environmental impact when using. The advantage is that the practitioners can control the size of the study, as the environmental assessment only focuses on the selected (critical) stages of the product life cycle, it is easier to collect data. However, this approach does not assess the whole life cycle of the product, it cannot show the full picture about the environmental performance of the product. 2. Using qualitative and quantitative date For evaluation, it is necessary to collect reliable quantitative data for assessment, also it is the most critical part of conducting LCA, it is because some of the environmental hazards may not be quantifiable, and hard to collect supply data from various organizations, in accordance with such situation, qualitative data is used to ensure the analysis as possible as it can. In the other hand, it makes lake of depth and sufficient information for the assessment. 3. Focusing on a few critical environmental impacts. Since LCA is the study to find out the environmental impact of the entire product life cycle, it could be very expensive and take time to list out all the environmental impact. Though this approaches, only the particularly important impact will be addressed, The advantage of the approach is centralize the relevant information to gain a better result for decision maker. 2.8.1 Abridged LCA In order to making a balance between scientific precision and practical applicability is the significant advantage of the simplified LCA. The ATT case is a typical example of showing the application of the abridged LCA (Graedel et al. 1995). ATT has developed an abridged matrix approach for the LCA. This is a semi-quantitative, and uses a 55 matrix to facilitate the assessment. The 55 matrix, called the environmentally responsible product assessment matrix is the central feature of the assessment system. As shown in Figure 2.6, the matrix arrays five life cycle stages. There are premanufacture, product manufacture, product packaging and transport, product use, and refurbishment-recycling-disposal, and against five categories of environmental concern (materials choice, energy use, solid residues, liquid residues and gaseous residues. In this approach, a group of assessors is drawn from the various departments of the organization, checklists are provided to the assessors as guidance i n the assessment exercise. The assessors are asked to assign ratings, ranging from 0 (highest impact) to 4 (lowest impact), to the five categories of environmental concern for each life-cycle stage. It is obvious that the assessment is quite subjective. Once the assignment of rating is done, the overall Environmentally Responsible Product rating(RERP) can be computed as shown below: Where i is the life cycle stage; j is the category of environmental concern M is the element value in the environmentally responsible product assessment matrix Environmental concern ife Cycle Stage Materials choice Energy Use Solid Residues iquid residues Gaseous Residues Totals Premanufacture (1,1) Product Manufacture Product Delivery Product Use Refurbishment, recycle disposal ATT feel that the matrices provide a usefull overall assessment of a product, but in order to display the results to be more effective, the target plots is developed for this purpose. (SETAC 1999), A target plots is constructed by using 25 elements around the circumference of a circle. Points on the circumference represent a value of zero. A good product then has more points toward the centre of the circle. Figure 2.7 show the ATTs Target Plot for the generic automobiles. The advantage of conducting the streamlined life cycle assessment is that the model provided a simpler and cost efficient evaluates method to assessor to review the input and output of the entire life cycle, since some of the assessment approach involves a lot of information and data which is may not be quantifiable, also some of the data could be confidential document to organization, like data of waste inventory or waste treatment. As streamlined LCA is able to let the assessor based on the existing data, the time and cost expend could minimized. Moreover, the Streamlined LCA is a straightforward assessment which is good for perform comparison for similar product. Assessor can base on the score of two product to determine which the environmental friendly product is. In this study, the most importance is the available to perform the assessment to the product and the completeness of the evaluation, The streamlined LCA will be choose to performance the assessment to the product. 3. METHODOLOGY The project will started with Goal and Scope Definition, it aims to defines the purpose and method of including life cycle environmental impacts into the decision making process. By determining the time and resources needed, It will ensure that the breadth, depth and detail of the study are compatible and sufficient to address all the issue. The entire life cycle of the product will be studied, thus we able to address all the input and output from all stage. Through the study of product life cycle, we could gain the data of the product, i.e. the usage of material, energy consumption during the production process or transportation and any waste or byproduct, Then, based on the resulted information to compile a inputs and outputs inventory which is called Life Cycle Inventory (LCI). The life cycle inventory is a used to quantify the input and output of the life cycle of the product, process or activity, like material requirement, atmospheric emission, waterborne emission, solid waste, and other releases, all the information will have address through a system boundary. The quantified data of the input and output of the product will be used in assessment to evaluate the environmental performance of the product. 3.1 Goal and Scope Definition In Goal and Scope Definition, several decisions should be made in order to make effective use of time and resources, the statement in Goal definition are the purpose of the study, the Intended application, the intended audience. In scope definition, it should include the function of the product, the functional unit and system boundaries. .1.1 Goal Definition 3.1.1.1 Goal The goal for this LCA study was to identify main environmental issues of the product. The goal was to get an overview of the environmental impact thus to find out if it has any chance for improvement. 3.1.1.2 Intended Application To be used to define and guideline in coming product development project To build up the database to perform comparison to similar product 3.1.1.3 Intended Audience Aluminum Manufacturer: Aluminum Manufacturer would like to know their environmental performance of their process, thus seeking any improvement of product and make decision on production process. Product Designer: For product designer, they can based on the results to define what material or process can be use, to provide green design 3.1.2 Scope In this research, the assessment might not go though the entire product life cycle but will focus on the product life cycle from material extraction to transportation to other factor. Since the product will be assembled by other manufacturer, we are not able to monitor or control any energy consumption or impacts during installation of the product. 3.1.1.1 Unit Description The product under study is a casing for amplifier, the unit mostly supplied to sub manufacturer for pre-installation or for retail purpose. The product is comprises a top cover and bottom with total weight 500g. The top and bottom of the casing made by aluminum and assemble with some steel internal columns which contribute to 7% 8% of total weight. 3.1.1.2 Function and functional unit The function of the product is used to provide the complete protection of the product, by assembled with the main unit or the product, it could isolate the internal electronic product with other component, it have another function which is have better installation by designing the feature or the shape. The component could be tidier and well prepare for assemble, cost and production efficiency is enhanced, The material application for casing is aluminum. It is soft, durable, lightweight and malleable, By the characteristic mentioned, it provide the benefit that is high dimensional stability and less machining required. The functional unit of this is defined for all material as 2000 unit of 500g casing, the study would be applicable to the similar mass of aluminum product and with the same production process. 3.1.2.1 System Boundary In LCA, all flows should be followed until their inputs and outputs have all been translated into environmental interventions. In order to create a clear distinction between the product system and environment, and between elementary and other flows, the system environment boundary has to be clarify, On the top of the boundary, is represented where the resources are extracted and converted to feedstock material, i.e. Natural resource, raw material and ancillary material and water, it also represented the energy used for the system. In the boundary, it showed the entire production process and divided into step by step. At the bottom of the boundary, it shows the output of the whole process. The output could be product and services from the process, emission from the process, waste generated from the process, and byproducts and scraps from the production. All this information could be used in assess the environmental performance of the product. 3.1.3 Data Source The data of product boundary system is mostly reference to some free data source, but also literature and field data. In Table below, it has showed the data for production of energy, auxiliary materials and feedstock materials, also the quantified output from the production process. Direction Flow Type Substance I QTY O QTY Unit Environment Input Natural resource Brown coal 158 kg Ground Input Natural resource Crude oil 43 kg Ground Input Natural resource Hard coal 151 kg Ground Input Natural resource Natural gas 135 kg Ground Input Natural resource Alloying additives 18.6 kg Technosphere Input Refined resource Aluminum ingot 1013 kg Technosphere Input Refined resource Ar-gas 0.53 kg Technosphere Input Refined resource Chlorine 0.081 kg Technosphere Input Refined resource Electricity 749 kWh Technosphere Input Refined resource Fluxing agents 0.36 kg Technosphere Input Refined resource NaOH 28 kg Technosphere Input Refined resource Nitrogen 0.3 kg Technosphere Input Refined resource Paper and cardboard 3 kg Technosphere Input Refined resource Refractory materials 1.2 kg Technosphere Input Refined resource Steel 50 kg Technosphere Input Refined resource Water 30 m3 Technosphere Input Refined resource Wood 28 kg Technosphere Output Emission CH4 2.2 kg Air Output Emission Chlorides 0.002 kg Air Output Emission Chlorides 2.7 kg Water Output Emission CO 0.23 kg Air Output Emission CO2 860 kg Air Output Emission COD 0.003 kg Water Output Emission Dust 0.69 kg Air Output Emission HC 0.79 kg Air Output Emission HCI 0.1 kg Air Output Emission HF 0.01 kg Air Output Emission NH3 0.0016 kg Air Output Emission NOx 1.5 kg Air Output Emission Oil/grease 0.063 kg Water Output Emission SO2 3.2 kg Air Output Emission Suspended particles 0.33 kg Water Output Product Extruded aluminum profile 1000 kg Technosphere Output Residue Hazardous waste 1.6 kg Technosphere Output Residue Oil 1.7 kg Technosphere Output Residue Sludge 29 kg Technosphere Output Residue Solid waste unspecified 60 kg Technosphere 3.2 Scoring criteria for streamlined Life cycle assessment The scoring method for streamlined LCA is assign scores from 0-4 (0= poor performance, 4= excellent performance) to each part of the matrix, the score will be according to the set condition in different stage. Form the table blow, the score will be assigned according to the condition to each of the element of the Assessment matrix. Material Use Score Conditions 0 The material used in product can not be recycled. 4 Material used in product can be fully recycled 1,2,3 Subject to the rate of recycle or the product is Energy Use Score Conditions 0 20% lower of the energy are use to the produce/process 4 90% or above of energy are use to the product/process 1,2,3 Subject to the rate of the energy used to the product/process Solid Residues Score Conditions 0 Hazardous waste is produced/ material non recyclable 4 No hazard waste to produce and 1,2,3 Subject to rate of waste of product iquid residues Score Conditions 0 If waste water is 80% or above of the water input 4 If waste water is 20% or lower of the water input 1,2,3 Subject to the rate of waste water to water input Gaseous Residues Score Conditions 0 arge volume of greenhouse gas emitted from process 4 ow volume of greenhouse gas emitted from process 1,2,3 Subject to the amount of Based on the scoring criteria above, an environmental evaluation of the aluminium extrusion process was performed in Table 4.1, From the table below, we are able to recognized the Environmental concern ife Cycle Stage Materials choice Energy Use Solid Residues iquid residues Gaseous Residues Totals Premanufacture 3 3 3 4 3 16/20 Product Manufacture 3 1 2 2 1 9/20 Product Delivery 3 2 3 3 3 14/20 Product Use 4 4 3 4 4 19/20 Refurbishment, recycle disposal 3 2 3 2 2 12/20 Totals 16/20 12/20 14/20 15/20 13/20 70/100 4.1 Justification of Matrix Scores It is having relative high performance in this stage. Since the raw material can be fully input in the product process, the In the product manufacture stage, consider factor is the use ability and scrape rate of material, the select product casing has applied aluminum alloys for top and bottom housing, and there is some steel have been applied for internal column. the performance in this area would be influence by the material characteristic and the type of production process. According to the data of product life cycle inventory, the use ability is having well performance, almost 90% of material contributed to the final product. Also, recycle process have occurred for the scrape produced during the production process. But in order to product the product, lot of package material is included. In the assessment of product delivery, the defeat may not occur to the product itself, but may cause impact to the package. The product is very durable and tough material, it need not to be any maintenance in the product stage. Also, the material is 70-80% recyclable. The aluminum and steel alloys used is 70% 80% recyclable, which is having very well performance in this assessment. Since the transportation of raw material is subject to the supplier distance and the type of transport. In this study, the assessment will be adjust according to the assumption have made. For the production process, it is energy intensive in the entire life cycle. The energy use of deliveries of the product is subject to where doit sell, the product delivery method could be various due to the client requirement. Assumption has been made in order to performance a complete assessment. The scored is given by allocate the output of a truck into number of unit per truck.in this study, assume that product will be transported 800 miles by truck supplied to other manufacturer. The function of the product doesnt need any energy to work with, no energy consumption in these stage Assume that there 2% scrap should be included for the material acquisition, the package material will be consider as waste. Solid wastes and oil will be generated when during the production process. And the scrap allow will be produced. In delivery of the product, a significant of packing material are generated, to prevent the scratch on the product finish. When the product is in operate, no solid waste will be product what make it have a high score in this area For the product itself, the casing top, bottom and even the column are made by aluminum and steel respectively, and such material are recyclable at 70-80%. In premanufacture stage, it should have not liquid waste generate during material acquisition. Mining of the alloy will be a significant source of liquid waste generation, other liquid wastes will be generated in part cleaning and trapping process. Very little liquid waste will be generated for the shipping. For the product, no liquid waste will be generated when using. Refurbishment, Recycle Disposal The liquid waste of the recycle stage should be more or less to the product manufacture. Gaseous wastes are subject to the type of product delivery, the score was made according to the assumption. Alloy smelting generates during product process, and subject to the working period for the extrusion process. The greenhouse gases is generated in product delivery. The score is more or less to prmanufacture stage. For the product, since it is not related to any energy consumption, zero emission is resuted. Refurbishment, Recycle,Dispossal Recycling the alloy is similar to the product manufacture and it will generate gaseous residues. According the Figure 4.1, the comparison of environmental performance in different stage of the product life cycle has been shown. The figure is constructed with In comparing the result, the product manufacture is resulted the lowest mark among the different stage, it represent it resulted the worst the environmental performance. The Figure also showed the best performance is the stage of product use. In order find out the most critical problem in this stage, we will go further into the contribution of difference environmental concerned element. CONCLUSION In this report, I have tried to evaluate the environmental impact of the product from my company, it is an aluminum case for an amplifier. The goal of this study is tried to introduce the environmental assessment method to my company, thus encourage management to implement the approach to the existing product or product process, moreover improve the environmental performance of the product or process though the approach. In order to achieve the goal, I have completed several objectives. In order to select the appropriate assessment tool, I have reviewed the concept surrounding environmental sector. Then I have study the concept of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), LCA is a tool that used to evaluate the impact of entire life cycle of a product. The use of LCA is able to identify the environmental impact from raw material extraction o disposal of the product to avoid burden shifting of each stage. Other than LCA, there are other assessment method is providing similar function. In this report, The Economic input-Output Life Cycle Assessment (EIO-LCA), Environmental Priority Strategies (EPS), Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistrys Life Cycle Impact Assessment and the Life Cycle Environmental Cost Analysis are reviewed. Different approach is having its the advantages and disadvantages, after reviewed all the mentioned assessment method, it is resulted that although accuracy and complete analysis can carried out by implementing those approach, but most of them are data intensive, and those impact assessment approaches are difficult to implement due to the complex evaluation procedure. The cost and time consuming is another disadvantage to the process. Besides the method mentioned above, there is another approach which is developed with the aims of simplified LCA. The Developed method is called streamlined LCA or Abridged LCA, the streamlined LCA is method that using a 55 matrix to assess the environmental performance of a product and process, in the matrix, there are five life cycle stage which are premanufacture, product manufacture, product packaging and transport, product use, and refurbishment-recycling-disposal and against five categories of environmental concern. The advantage of the streamlined LCA is that able to provide a simpler and cost efficient assessment method to user, but also able to cover the input output of the entire life cycle. So the approach has been selected to assess the environmental performance of the product.

The Modern High Fat Diet - 1001 Words

The modern high fat diet commonly referred to as a ketogenic diet can be achieved in a manner not unlike a normal carbohydrate diet. Where roasts and salmon and vegetables are not just a normal part of the diet but essential. Though it is dangerous to start a ketogenic diet without a little bit of research. This is due to many essential nutrients that we normally source through plants such as wheat, potatoes, rice, and corn, which are extremely high in carbohydrate. With these foods being too high in carbohydrates to be a significant portion of one’s diet when on a ketogenic diet, one must search for alternatives. Spinach, avocado, and Swiss chard for instance is a very good source of potassium, magnesium, and fiber. Let us break this down. Potassium is essential for maintaining a regular heartbeat. Magnesium is used to make proteins and regulate nerve function. Both magnesium and potassium deficiency can cause the development of psychological conditions. Finally fiber helps t he body keep itself clean. Though one may find that despite many excellent alternative sources of required nutrients, the foods that one could prepare may seem very foreign to what one has known. It is important to know that lacking any of these materials can result in serious side effects. In many cases it is often necessary to supplement during the initial dietary switch as one takes for granted the abundant quantities of potassium magnesium and calcium in the common staple diet. So while fat is theShow MoreRelatedHigh Fat And Low Carb Diet932 Words   |  4 PagesLearning that (good) fats are good, and wheat is bad (white or whole, it all has gluten), one may think, â€Å"What should I eat then?†. The answer is a high-fat and low-carb diet. An excellent example of such a diet is called the Paleo diet. 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The Supply And Demand Of UK Energy Environmental Sciences Essay Free Essays

string(215) " abouting a undertaking to construct a Welsh Institute for Sustainable Education, which will include an advanced biomass combined heat and power micro turbine system linked to the territory warming system and grid\." The energy beginnings can be split into three classs: dodo fuels, renewable beginnings, and atomic power. To develop a better understanding about each beginning it is indispensable to discourse all of them individually. 1. We will write a custom essay sample on The Supply And Demand Of UK Energy Environmental Sciences Essay or any similar topic only for you Order Now 1.1. Fossil fuels. They are called â€Å" fossil fuels † because they have been formed from the organic remains of prehistoric workss and animate beings. Although there are many different types of dodo fuels, three are particularly of import: coal, crude oil ( oil ) , and natural gas. The theory behind fossil fuels is rather simple – combustion of coal, natural gas, and oil releases energy stored in the fuel as heat. The released energy is so used to bring forth electricity. Coal is presently the cheapest fuel in footings of production. Harmonizing to The Coal Authority, there are 15 active belowground coal mines and 36 active surface excavation sites in the UK, doing it a sum of 51. Together they produce 16.7 million tones of coal end product ( twelvemonth 2009/2010, The Coal Authority, see Appendix 1 ) . Equally good as being the cheapest option of fuel it is besides the most polluting. â€Å" Coal is an highly soiled beginning of power, and imposes immense costs on people ‘s wellness, the environment and the economic system, † said Keith Allott, caput of WWF-UK ‘s clime alteration programme ( www.sciencedaily.com ) . First, acquiring coal from its beginning ( the Earth ‘s crust ) is harmful and fouling to the landscape. Second, coal ‘s combustion releases a toxicant cocktail of gases into the environment. Carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and little airborne atoms of coal venture into the air and H2O supply ( www.associatedcontent.com ) . The UK is the largest manufacturer oil and natural gas in the EU. However, after old ages of being a net exporter of both fuels, the state became a net importer O natural gas in 2004. The Government estimations besides predict that the state will go a net importer of oil in the close hereafter. Production from the UK oil and natural gas Fieldss peaked in late 1990s and has declined steadily over the past several old ages due to an addition in demand for energy besides because find of new militias has non kept gait with the ripening of bing Fieldss ( www.doe.gov ) . Natural gas histories for over 40 % of electricity coevals in the UK while oil is to a great extent used by the industries and conveyance sector. At this minute, United Kingdom is extremely dependent on fossil fuels. Figure 1: Fuel used for UK electricity coevals on an end product footing in 2007 Beginning: Digest of UK Energy Statistics ( DUKES ) 1.1.2. Renewable Energy Sources. Renewable energy is the energy obtained from beginnings that are basically unlimited. Renewable beginnings of energy include air current, solar, biomass, hydro and geothermic energy ( www.business.qld.gov.au ) . Renewable energy became highly popular when the effects of fossil fuels to the environment and part to climate alteration became apparent. Their popularity is invariably lifting, particularly in states concerned about the environment. Wind energy is the most popular type of renewable energy in the UK. It is generated when the air current rotates a turbine ‘s blades which drive a generator to bring forth electricity. Harmonizing to BWEA, there are 260 operational air current farms ( 12 of which are offshore ) in the UK bring forthing a sum of 4,491.15 MW of electricity. There besides are 23 onshore and 3 offshore wind farms under building. Consented undertakings are to construct another 189 onshore air current farms and 9 offshore air current farms ( www.bwea.com ) . Solar energy is a photovoltaic consequence which happens when exposure cells convert sunlight straight into electricity. This beginning of energy is non as popular in the UK as air current energy. However, it is rather common to utilize the Sun for heating the H2O pipes. Painting the thin pipes black and seting them in a ‘greenhouse ‘ type dielectric can heat the H2O supply and hence cut down the cost of utilizing electricity to heat it. Photovoltaic cells can besides be used as roof tiles. They cover the roof of the edifice and take advantage of the Sun light coming from the Sun. This is trapped by the cell and turned into electricity ( www.bbc.co.uk ) . Biomass is biological stuff derived from life, or late populating beings. In the context of biomass for energy this is frequently used to intend works based stuff, but biomass can every bit use to both animate being and vegetable derived stuff. Five basic classs of the stuff are: virgin wood, energy corps, agricultural residues, nutrient waste and industrial waste and co-products ( www.biomassenergycentre.org.uk ) . Biomass can be used on a domestic or industrial scale.A For a biomass power works, the chipped, shredded and dried fuel is fed into a boiler or gasifier, from where the gas is collected and used to bring forth electricity and heat.A Biomass can besides be used at a more basic degree to bring forth heat for the place – this is done most expeditiously utilizing a wood combustion range which can besides be an attractive characteristic in any home.A It is possible with larger ranges to utilize a back boiler to supply all of the H2O warming and cardinal warming for a ho use.A Alternatively, a biomass boiler can be used for the same intent ( www.sundancerenewables.org.uk ) . There are many illustrations of energy crop/wood waste heating systems in Britain: In Ely, Cambridgeshire, a 31MW straw combustion works, the biggest and most effectual works in the universe, was commissioned late. A 350kW wood-burning boiler was installed at Weobley School in 1997.A Using locally adult wood, it heats the school itself every bit good as the secondary school on the bordering site. The National Botanic Garden of Wales and Singleton Park Botanic Gardens in Swansea are heated utilizing energy crops/wood waste. An increasing figure of farms are utilizing straw-fires boilers for on site warming demands in edifices and polytunnels. The Centre for Alternative Technology in Machynlleth, North Wales, are presently set abouting a undertaking to construct a Welsh Institute for Sustainable Education, which will include an advanced biomass combined heat and power micro turbine system linked to the territory warming system and grid. You read "The Supply And Demand Of UK Energy Environmental Sciences Essay" in category "Essay examples" ( .sundancerenewables.org.uk ) Hydro energy or hydroelectric energy is generated by utilizing electricity generators to pull out energy from traveling H2O ( natural or manmade ) . Hydroelectric energy can be used in two ways: first manner is by constructing big reservoirs and dikes ( barriers build across a waterway ) to pin down H2O and command its flow ; 2nd manner is by leting H2O to run machinery as it flows from a high reservoir to a low one ( www.eon-uk.com ) . Some facts about hydroelectric power in the United kingdom: There are seven 50MW hydroelectric power strategies in the UK These workss need to be build near big lakes, reservoirs that are high above sea degree or where a batch of H2O can be dammed Hydro energy supplies 1.2 % of the UK ‘s electricity ( www.eon-uk.com ) Geothermal energy is the heat contained and produced by the warming of the Earth in two different ways. The more powerful geothermic energy comes from the nucleus of the Earth, where the temperature reaches 4000 grades Celsius. The 2nd beginning of geothermic energy is a consequence of the Sun rays crushing down on the land surface. A good and proved method to pull out geothermic energy from the Sun is through utilizing geothermic heat pumps. It is a really sufficient and environmentally friendly manner of heating the H2O ( www.clean-energy-ideas.com ) . 1.2. Energy Demand and Supply The appetency for energy is turning every twenty-four hours. UK, being the largest manufacturer of oil and natural gas in the EU, is still constrained to import fossil fuels in order to fulfill all energy demands. Harmonizing to a survey by the adviser Logica CMG, in merely eight old ages, demand for energy could surpass supply by 23 % at peak times ( information as of 2007, www.timesonline.co.uk ) . The loss to the economic system could be around ?108 billion each twelvemonth. The graduated table of the challenge is immense. By 2015, Britain ‘s bring forthing capacity could be cut by a 3rd as ageing coal and atomic power Stationss are closed. Britain is besides traveling from being self-sufficing in oil and gas as North Sea production started to worsen. In 2005, the UK became a net importer of gas. By 2020 imports could account for 80 % to 90 % of British gas demands ( www.business.timesonline.co.uk ) . Harmonizing to the White Paper, the UK faces two chief security of supply challenges: Increasing trust on imports of oil and gas in the universe where demand is lifting and energy is going more politicised Requirement of significant private sector investing over the coming two decennaries in gas substructure, power Stationss and electricity webs ( White Paper, www.berr.gov.uk ) Despite a batch of unfavorable judgment, UK which presently generates 20 % of electricity from atomic power Stationss will go on to utilize atomic power ( except the old atomic workss that are traveling to be closed down ) as the hazard of non run intoing the energy demand is even greater. 1.3. The Production and Import of Energy While the UK has benefited from autochthonal militias of oil and gas for many old ages, as the North Sea matures, the state will go progressively dependant on imported energy. By 2010, gas imports could be run intoing up to a 3rd or more of the UK ‘s entire one-year gas demand, potentially lifting to about 80 % by 2020 on the footing of bing policies. The UK is besides already a net importer of oil, and by 2020 imports could be run intoing up to around 75 % of the UK ‘s coal demand. Therefore UK has to do certain that the market for fossil fuels, supported by appropriate Government policies, continues to guarantee dependable supplies of these fuels at competitory monetary values to people and concerns. The starting point for turn toing these hazards must be to cut down state ‘s overall energy usage through greater energy efficiency. Beyond that the Government must besides back up the development and deployment of non dodo fuel energy within the UK to cut down the dependance on fossil fuels and to diversify the scope of energy beginnings available to the UK ( White Paper, www.berr.gov.uk ) Chapter 2: Hazards involved with Fossil Fuels There are a figure of hazards involved with fossil fuels. First of wholly, there is a fact that the fossil fuels are consuming in a rapid rate and are harder to recover. With demand for energy turning fast, there is a possibility that non merely the United Kingdom but the whole Universe might be confronting an energy crisis in the close hereafter. Energy monetary value volatility will ( and already has ) become inevitable. The 2nd job with fossil fuels is the injury they cause for the environment. The negative effects are already demoing as the clime is altering and the Earth is warming up. Another job lies in the development of the economic system. The state needs rough oil for bring forthing the electricity and for conveyance. When the monetary value of oil goes up, so make the monetary values of conveyance, family goods, and all basic merchandises. 2.1. Oil Price Volatility Oil monetary values have ne’er been stable since 19 1970ss. Due to some important historic, fiscal, and political events, the monetary value of petroleum oil has seen some crisp fluctuation over the old ages. The most eventful fact about it is that when the monetary value of oil goes up so make the monetary values of energy and even primary trade goods. With oil militias worsening in the North Sea, UK is forced to import oil from Figure 2: Crude Oil Prices, 1947-2009 Beginning: www.wtrg.com 2.2. Militias of Fossil Fuels Fossil fuels take 1000000s of old ages to organize. They form by a natural geological procedure from beings that died 100s of 1000000s of old ages ago. Today ‘s modern and industrialized society is hurting for energy, and most of the energy is still obtained from fossil fuels. It is hence obvious that if the ingestion continues at this or even higher rate, there is a hazard of fossil fuels being exhausted ( www.typesofenergy.co.uk ) . However, there is a dissension between scientists over the militias of fossil fuels. For illustration, Bjorn Lomborg in The Sceptical Environmentalist insists that â€Å" we are non headed for a major energy crisis † . Furthermore, he claims that â€Å" there is plentifulness of energy † ( MacKay, D. , 2009 ) . David Goodstein, a physicist, on the other manus, says that the energy crisis is coming shortly. In fact, every bit shortly as 2015 or 2025. He predicts that the crisis will get down when the energy supply will non be able to run into the demand ( MacKay, D. , 2009 ) . UK Government ‘s former main scientist, Sir David King agrees with D. Goodstein. In the article published by The Telegraph really late he claims that oil militias are ‘exaggerated by one tierce ‘ which means they are really much lower than we know. Besides a squad of scientists and research workers from Oxford University assert that official figures are overstated because OPEC states over-reported militias in the 1980s in order to derive a competitory advantage for a planetary market portion ( www.telegraph.co.uk ) . United Kingdom is non an exclusion. The production of coal has decreased significantly since around 1950s. Table 3: The Production of Coal, 1700-2025 ( predicted ) Beginning: www.claverton-energy.com Harmonizing to Dr Fred Starr of Claverton Energy Research Group, â€Å" UK coal militias are now given as someplace between 400-800 million of metric tons. Not the one million millions that everyone supposes. If the UK energy system was wholly dependent on coal, as it used to be, these stocks would last 2-4 old ages. † ( www.claverton-energy.com ) . Furthermore, UK ‘s oil militias in the North Sea are besides diminishing. Since the 1970s it has been a beginning of wealth for the British economic system. It besides meant that the state could cut its dependance on the Middle East oil. Despite the fact the country is one of the most ambitious for oil geographic expedition ( terrible air current blasts and 30 metres high moving ridges ) the North Sea has been a cardinal beginning of non-OPEC oil production over the last 20 old ages ( www.iags.org ) . While oil demand is said to increase in approaching old ages, North Sea end product peaked in 1999 and has been in diminution of all time since. However, oil manufacturers believe it is still possible to pull out 37bn barrels of oil from the North Sea. The job now is a worsening investing. With current investing merely some 11bn barrels could be extracted form the UK Continental shelf. Malcolm Webb, main executive of UK Oil A ; Gas, said to The Telegraph in July 2009 that â€Å" last twelvemonth, we had the recognition crunch, following twelvemonth we are looking at an energy crunch † ( www.telegraph.co.uk ) . Talking about UK gas militias, the state of affairs is comparatively better compared to oil and coal. The militias are rather high with the potency for growing ( delight see Appendix 2 ) . Table 4: UK Gas Reserves, 1979-2008 Beginning: www.og.decc.gov.uk However, there is one unresolved issue refering gas – its storage. Colder than normal winter last twelvemonth caused record backdowns of natural gas from UK storage and resulted in increased demand replenishing storage installations in spring and summer. Therefore, UK marketable gas supplies so a lessening of 17 % on an one-year footing. Furthermore, diminution rate and colder conditions have contributed to a noticeable growing in UK LNG ( Liquefied Natural Gas ) imports and a diminution in natural gas supplies sent from the UK to Continental Europe. This form is expected to go on ( hypertext transfer protocol: //europe.theoildrum.com ) . 2.3. Environment and Climate Change Climate alteration is blamed on several human activities, but the biggest subscriber to climate alteration is the sum of nursery gases ( C dioxide emanations ) released into atmosphere. Most of these gases come from firing fossil fuels. How does climate alter impact the UK? In future, rainfall could significantly diminish in the summer ( peculiarly in the south E ) and significantly increase in the winter ( peculiarly in the north West ) . Heavier winter rainfall can to go more frequent, doing more flooding. The low-lying rise across the UK is projected to be between 20cm and 80cm by 2100. In the worst instance scenario, rises of up to 1.9 metres are possible. The summer heat moving ridge experienced in 2003 resulted in over 2,000 excess deceases in the UK. Such an event is likely to go normal by the 2040s or the 2050s. By the 2060s or 2070s, the intense temperatures of 2003 could go the mean temperature in summer. ( World Wide Web. actonco2.direct.gov.uk ) On history of the above mentioned facts it is perfectly clear that there is an pressing demand to happen other ways of fulfilling the turning energy demands of the United Kingdom. Even if it is non possible to retreat fossil fuels as a beginning of energy wholly there are other options of securing energy, e.g. Solar, air current or hydro power. Talking about nursery gases, The UK is already doing a important advancement. As the tabular array below shows, the strength of toxicant gas emanations is diminishing bit by bit since 1991. Table 5: United kingdom Greenhouse Gas Emissions Intensity, 1991-2007 Beginning: Office of National Statistics Chapter 3: Energy Debate Everybody agrees that there are a few jobs in the universe of energy today. Get downing with clime alteration and coating with possible long-run deficits and energy security. Something has to be done, but what? Not merely UK Government but the from many states in the World are now get downing to acquire serious about funding research into alternate energy beginnings, puting up power Stationss fuelled by renewable energy beginnings and promoting the development of vehicles that run on alternate fuels. However, there are still some unfastened inquiries that are non answered or there is some dissension traveling on about them. 3.1. UK Government ‘s Position UK Government is taking things really earnestly. The state has really about doubled the mark of 12.5 % decrease of nursery gas emanations agreed in Kyoto Protocol[ 1 ]( www.decc.gov.uk ) . This Protocol was followed by Copenhagen Summit[ 2 ]in December 2009. Although it was n’t every bit successful as Kyoto Protocol, UK engagement was a gesture of attention and concernment. UK Government has made few other stairss towards sustainability. One of so is the White Paper. First introduced in February 2003 ( â€Å" Energy White Paper: Our energy future – making a low C economic system † ) and subsequently rewritten in 2007 ( â€Å" Meeting the Energy Challenge, A White Paper on Energy † , May 2007, BERR ) . The purpose of this paper is to be after a scheme on how to salvage energy, develop cleaner energy supplies, and secure dependable energy supplies at monetary values set in competitory markets ( A White Paper on Energy, www.berr.gov.uk ) . The cardinal elements of the scheme are: Establish an international model to undertake clime alteration. The thought buttocks is to brace the concentration of nursery gasses in the ambiance. Besides to beef up EU Emissions Trading Scheme ( EU ETS ) in order to present a market monetary value for C and to be the footing for the planetary C market. This should guarantee the decrease of C emanations in the most cost-efficient manner. Provide lawfully adhering C marks for the whole UK economic system, increasingly cut downing emanations. The purpose is to cut down C dioxide emanations released into atmosphere by at least 60 % by 2050, and by 26 % -32 % by 2020 against a 1990 baseline. This has to be achieved through both domestic and international action. The Government besides has to put five-year C budgets, and topographic point adhering bounds on compound nursery gasses emanations. Make farther advancement in accomplishing to the full competitory and crystalline international markets. Effective markets will guarantee that the universe ‘s natural resources are used in the most efficient manner. Further liberalization of EU energy markets is an of import portion of this. Promote more energy salvaging through better information, inducements and ordinance. The Government is traveling to work on taking barriers that would impact cost-efficient energy efficiency steps to lift. Supply more support for low C engineerings. As private sector entirely might non be able to put sufficiently in research, development, presentation and deployment of new low C engineerings, the Government demands to convey forward a planetary investing. Ensure the right conditions for investing. The Government has to present a clear and stable regulative government, including for valuing C, to cut down uncertainness for concern and aid to guarantee sufficient, timely investing. It besides needs to better the planning system and to supply better information and analysis of long-run energy market tendencies to inform energy buying and investing determinations. ( A White Paper on Energy, www.berr.gov.uk ) The last point summarises Government ‘s function in encouraging concerns and industries to put in renewable energy best. It is a fact that without aid, information, inducements, and fiscal support little to medium sized concerns ( perchance even big concerns ) would likely non be able to put the necessitated sum of attempt and money needed to go more sustainable in footings of energy. 3.2. Nuclear Power? Harmonizing to Nuclear Industry Association, there are 23 atomic power reactors in the UK, bring forthing electricity at nine sites. The electricity supplied by atomic power Stationss histories for over one fifth of UK ‘s electricity. The industry contributes about ?3.3 billion to UK Gross Domestic Product. It exports over ?650 million goods and services each twelvemonth. The atomic industry is an of import portion of the UK ‘s scientific discipline and engineering base. A major positive thing about atomic power is that it does non lend to climate alteration as it does n’t bring forth C dioxide emanations. But what about atomic waste? Nuclear waste is excessively unsafe to be exposed and can non be destroyed nor recycled. It has to be stored in particular containers and placed in secure sites. In the UK, around 120,000,000 M3 of atomic waste is generated per twelvemonth ( www.world-nuclear.org ) . Compared to fossil fuels, it is really small. But excluding in head that this waste has to be stored and corsets active for 1000s of old ages, it all of a sudden looks like a immense sum. Other concern is the safety of atomic power Stationss. Even though UK ‘s power Stationss are rated as of first-class security degree, the universe has seen some major catastrophes. For illustration, when on April 26, 1986 the No. 4 reactor at the Chernobyl power works exploded in former U.S.S.R. doing the worst atomic accident of all time. The World Health Organisation found that the radioactive dust from the detonation was improbably far-reaching. For a clip, radiation degrees in Scotland, over 1400 stat mis off, were 10,000 times the norm. The effects are felt to this twenty-four hours ; there is an increased figure of people enduring from malignant neoplastic disease in environing countries and a mutant of workss ( www.wagingpeace.org ) . A batch of scientists are doubting towards atomic power. The chief constituent of production of atomic power is uranium, which is a radioactive metallic component, of course happening in most stones, dirt, and even ocean. Therefore it is a fossil fuel. Physicist David Goodstein, after warning about forthcoming oil crisis says that if all energy demands were to be switched to atomic power, the oil crisis would merely be replaced by a atomic crisis in around 20 old ages clip, as uranium militias besides became low ( McKay, JC, 2009 ) . However, in November 2009, the Government has approved 10 sites in England and Wales for new atomic power Stationss. Most of them will be located where there are already workss ( www.bbc.co.uk ) . The Government is certain that without energy generated by atomic power workss it will non be able to vouch adequate supply for turning demand every bit good as will non be able to run into its ain marks of cutting down the C dioxide emissions how it is stated in A White Paper. But environmental candidates say it is an expensive and soiled option and the authorities could be unfastened to legal challenges. 3.3. Clean Coal? With coal being the most polluting type of fuel, it is hard to take in such thing as ‘clean coal ‘ . However, the new engineerings are being developed to turn out that combustion of coal can really be clean. Clean coal engineering is referred to carbon gaining control and storage ( segregation ) engineering ( CCS ) . This engineering is said to cut down emanations of C dioxide and other nursery gasses that are released while firing the coal. The engineering works by pumping and hive awaying emanations underground while incorporate gasification combined rhythm gasifies coal to cut down CO2 emanations. Possibly the most popular illustration of a coal-based works utilizing C gaining control engineering is Vattenfall ‘s Schwarze Pumpe works in Germany. However, it has non yet been demonstrated that C stored resistance will be able to remain at that place indefinitely ( www.wikipedia.org ) . In April 2009 UK Government gas given the go-ahead to new coal-burning power workss equipped with such new engineerings. But on status that it can turn out it can cut down nursery emanations ( www.bbc.co.uk ) . Even environmental candidates welcomed the move but said any new Stationss would still let go of more C than they stored. On the other manus, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband says these new engineerings altering the manner of bring forthing the power from coal would let the UK â€Å" to take the universe † in the engineering – and maintain coal within the UK ‘s energy mix without abandoning clime alteration committednesss. He added that successful CCS development could cut C emanations from coal by 90 % and that â€Å" there is no alternate to CCS if we are serious about contending clime alteration and retaining a diverse mix of energy beginnings for our economic system. † ( www.bbc.co.uk ) . However, some concerns were raised that one million millions of lbs of taxpayers ‘ money was being spent on engineering that remains unprovenaˆÂ ¦ The inquiry stays unfastened in the average clip. Is it truly deserving puting one million millions of lbs ( allow entirely they are revenue enhancement remunerators money ) in a engineering that has non been proven yet? Should n’t the Government be more interested in puting in energy beginnings that are 100 % emanations free? This inquiry is yet to be answered in the close hereafter. 3.4. The Position of Society UK is the state that is truly interested in its part to cut downing C footmark and to procure energy supplies in the hereafter. So are a batch of the persons populating in the UK ; they get involved in environmental runs, recycle their waste, want the Government to move faster on exchanging to renewable energy, and show their concerns over clime alteration. However, sometimes enthusiasm is taken over by wholly opposite feelings. Let ‘s take air current farms as an illustration. They are so a 100 % environmentally friendly beginning of energy. Equally good as that, windmills are immense buildings that stand tall and broad to capture more air current and are really noticeable. When the first air current farm was build in Delabole in Cornwall, an independent ‘before and after ‘ survey indicated that 80 % of the local people asked said it made no difference to their day-to-day life, 44 % approved and 40 % approved strongly. In the ‘before ‘ survey, 40 % of local people interviewed thought it was traveling to be visually intrusive, but this fell to 29 % after it was set up and running. Many expected there would be some noise jobs beforehand but after it was running 80 % of people felt the noise was n’t a job ( NATTA ) . Even though the ‘after ‘ survey showed improved Numberss, there were still people ( 29 % ) that felt the position of the landscape was someway destroyed by windmills. And some of the people ( 20 % ) found the noise was an issue. Furthermore, there are web sites like www.bhats.co.uk which agitate for ‘saving the small towns from industrial turbines ‘ and conservationists like James Lovelock, who says that â€Å" air current farms will lay waste to the countryside pointlessly † ( www.bhats.co.uk ) . At the same clip, UK is a perfect topographic point for air current farms. Scotland entirely gets more air current than all of the Europe. The state could profit by constructing more air current farms but it will non be able to make so if local occupants will be against. Chapter 4: Future Outlook of Energy in the UK The hereafter of energy in the UK is controversial. Critics say the state will be confronting an energy spread in the close hereafter while others insist that everything is and will be all right. But with demand for energy turning quickly and with marks set by the Government are to be met, there is a inquiry arising: how and what beginnings of energy will rule in the hereafter? 4.1. Prospects for Fossil Fuels â€Å" Fossil fuels will stay the dominant energy beginning – there is no alternate † John Loughhead, Executive Director of UK Energy Research Centre Harmonizing to the panel of 150 experts, despite enlargement of renewable energy and the demand of atomic power, fossil fuels will stay the pillar of energy supply in the UK up to the twelvemonth 2050. The panel draw a decision: Generating capacity deficit of 7-16GW by 2015 Equivalent to about 20 % of current capacity Without demand to keep emanations, spread could be bridged easy Fossil fuels will stay the dominant engineering Nuclear is proven and dependable, but edifice takes at least a decennary – determination needed shortly Renewables could provide 40 % of coevals by 2050 ( www.bbc.co.uk ) This decision is non really optimistic nor is acceptable to conservationists. Even the White Paper states that fossil fuels like oil and coal will go on to play a cardinal function in the energy system hereafter. The Government hence plans to maximize the economic recovery of the staying militias of oil and gas by hiking investing in the North Sea. It besides plans to set up new substructure to the West of Shetland to enable extra gas and oil to be exploited. However, fossil fuels are merely one side of the decoration. There is besides a theory for the hereafter of renewable energy. 4.2. Prospects for Renewable Energy Renewable energy is playing a cardinal function in cut downing C emanations and accomplishing security of supply in the hereafter. Furthermore, the mark set by the Government is to accomplish 20 % of electricity coevals from renewable energy by twelvemonth 2020. It is non traveling to go on without Governments ‘ intercession or investing. It really all depends on how much attempt is traveling to be put in doing it go on. In 2002, the Government introduced a mechanism called Renewables Obligation[ 3 ]( RO ) . RO has been successful in stimulating investing in renewable energy undertakings. It does this by puting an Duty on accredited electricity providers to beginning an increasing proportion of their electricity gross revenues from renewable beginnings or to pay a punishment ( the buy-out monetary value ) . The RO ‘s purpose is to supply a model of fiscal inducements to put in renewables with the long-run end of back uping the passage of renewables into the mainstream of the UK ‘s competitory electricity market. The degree of the Obligation is presently set to increase in one-year stairss from 7.9 % in 2007/08 to 15.4 % by 2015, and to stay at that degree until 2027 when the mechanism will stop ( White Paper, www.berr.go.uk ) . However, harmonizing to greenpeace.org.uk, the marks of RO so far have been missed. Energy consultancy Oxera estimated that the RO in its current signifier will present merely 8.1 % of supply from renewables by 2010, 11.4 % by 2015 and 11.5 % by 2020 ( as of 2007, www.greenpeace.org.uk ) . Is the Government making plenty to back up the growing of renewable energy beginnings? The reply to that is likely no. Everyone agrees that it is a cardinal beginning of energy in the hereafter yet still more is being invested in oil development of gas and oil from the North Sea or C gaining control and storage ( which has n’t even been proven to be effectual yet ) . Therefore the chances for renewable energy in the UK are a small fuzz. It does necessitate some immense investings, but is n’t energy future and security priceless? 4.3. Possible Solutions There are rather a few solutions how the Government, concerns and persons could lend to pull offing the energy supply before the deficit appears. Possibly every individual 1 has already been discussed in the past by different panels but still deserving looking into. Possible solution 1: velocity bounds on the roads could be lowered. Cars and other vehicles are known as being the worst defilers. Reducing the velocity bound non merely would better the safety issue on the roads, it would besides intend that less toxicant gasses are being released into atmosphere. Possible solution 2: people should take to drive more energy efficient autos. There is a difference between a Smart auto with an engine of 0.7 litre and a Porsche 911 with an engine of 3.0 litres. If people chose to drive small-engine autos it would be good to the environment and the roads but it would besides intend smaller gasoline measures for the driver. Possible solution 3: addition in route revenue enhancements for autos with engines larger than 1.4 litres. Sometimes the lone manner to promote people to make something is via statute law. Possible solution 4: introduce an inducements strategy for purchasing a fuel efficient auto. Possible solution 5: Promote the use of public conveyance more. Buss are frequently running empty while the roads are full of autos. If more people used public conveyance, there would n’t be as many autos on the roads. Possible solution 6: physique more energy efficient places and fit the old 1s with new energy efficient merchandises, e.g. Windowss. Last winter being colder than normally has caused some serious issues refering gas militias in the UK. It would non be such a large job if more houses in the UK were less dependent on states militias. Possible solution 7: promote electrical vehicles. Not merely should the Government advance electrical vehicles but besides introduce some inducements for people purchasing them. These vehicles are five times more efficient compared to petrol powered 1s and bring forth 0 % of C emanations. Possible solution 8: invest more in renewable energy beginnings. It has to get down some twenty-four hours and there is non clip to detain it. Not merely to better the quality of air but besides to go more independent. It applies to all: the Government, concerns, and persons. The list of possible solutions could travel on. But even if three of the above mentioned would be taken and looked at earnestly and followed by matching actions, the state of affairs would better slightly. 4.4. Why Should Businesses Invest in Renewable Energy? Before sing the benefits involved with concern exchanging to renewable energy it would possibly be interesting to happen out where should one start when believing about such move. First of all, in order to take the most appropriate engineerings, the concern should place and see such factors as its current energy use, overall ingestion, and fluctuations in demand. It should besides place the countries where it would be possible to cut down energy use. It is of import to place what energy mix would suite the concern best are some engineerings that can merely bring forth either electricity or heat, while others can bring forth both ( www.businesslink.gov.uk ) . The benefits are important. The chief 1s would include: The decrease of part to climate alteration Improved environmental certificates strengthen the trade name. More and more clients, stakeholders and investors are demoing an involvement in covering with concerns that are environmentally responsible Exemption from paying the responsibility under the clime alteration levy[ 4 ] Constructing relationships with concerns that have similar values Stabilise energy costs. Renewable energy monetary values will remain stable whereas monetary values of fossil fuels are fluctuating Future proofing. Renewable energy usage will go more widespread with clip. With statute law already puting marks for its usage upon certain new developments, exchanging sooner instead than subsequently would give the concern early experience of renewable energy It is indispensable to advert, that there is a fiscal aid available for concerns which invest in renewable energy. A scope of grants, loans and even awards introduced by the Government are available to assist concerns, e.g. Applied Research Grant, Woodland Regeneration Grant, Business Commitment to the Environment ( BCE ) Environmental Leadership Award – SME Award, Green Business of the Year Award, Carbon Trust Interest-Free Loans, Energy Efficiency Loans, and many others ( www.businesslink.gov.uk ) . The above stated list of benefits is rather extended. However, two of them truly stand out. First one is that the money that company is traveling to be salvaging on energy measures in the hereafter. That is because every concern, foremost of all, is about doing a net income. Second one is non being dependent on dodo fuels which monetary values are fluctuating invariably and, moreover, fossil fuels are a major cause of clime alteration. How to cite The Supply And Demand Of UK Energy Environmental Sciences Essay, Essay examples