Projects / Programmes
Reduction of environmental impacts considering Life Cycle Assessment, with an emphasis on reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, of service processes in Nigrad Company Inc.
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 2.02.09 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Chemical engineering |
Ecological technology |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| T270 |
Technological sciences |
Environmental technology, pollution control |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 2.07 |
Engineering and Technology |
Environmental engineering
|
Life cycle assessment (LCA), CO2 emissions, communal service processes (public lighting and waste management) in Nigrad Inc., indicatiors of sustainable development for communal service processes.
Researchers (1)
| no. |
Code |
Name and surname |
Research area |
Role |
Period |
No. of publicationsNo. of publications |
| 1. |
25662 |
PhD Rebeka Kovačič Lukman |
Chemical engineering |
Head |
2010 - 2012 |
190 |
Organisations (1)
Abstract
Reduction of environmental impacts, especially CO2 emissions, is a major challenge facing our society and economy (Ayres, 2008). The research about environmental impacts from a life cycle perspective (Life Cycle Assessment – LCA) documented in scientific literature mostly embraces the impacts from production processes. Environmental impacts of service processes and consumption are still unexplored.
Questions that will be addressed are: What impacts on the environment, especially on global warming, have the service processes of communal companies in the Styria region (Slovenia) and how to minimize these impacts in line with the Directives: The way ahead for 2020 (Limiting Global Climate Change to 2 degrees Celsius (COM, 2007), 20 20 by 2020 (COM, 2008), Towards a comprehensive climate change agreement in Copenhagen (COM, 2009) and the strategic goals of the Development Strategy of Slovenia (5th development priority – Integration of environmental measurements into sector policies and consumption patterns) (DSS, 2005). Our research will be carried out in Nigrad, Public Municipal Company, Inc.
The main aims of this postdoctoral project are twofold—first, to model, research and optimize two of the services provided by Nigrad Inc., waste management and public lighting. The life cycle environmental impacts of the services are to be estimated and the major ‘hot spots’ in the system, which could be targeted for environmental improvements, are to be identified, and second, to develop indicators for evaluation and monitoring of improvements (with an emphasis on greenhouse gas emissions). Existing methods and new knowledge will enable the design and planning of new models (systems). As results, these models will offer a new perspective into the dynamic of environmental impacts and innovative approaches in order to reduce these impacts within service processes. These models will also foster more sustainable consumption of resources and energy. The results of the Project will also be applicable in other Slovenian communal companies, as well as in other countries. Models of services processes could be further modified (also by the development of indicators) and transmitted into other service sectors (construction, energy supply).
Methods for achieving goals originate from interdisciplinary, engineering and environmental sciences and embrace systems theory, cybernetic methods (black-box method), analysis of complex service systems, material flow analysis, and life cycle assessment (LCA), which is based on the methods of the International Organization for Standardization – the Standards of series 14000.
The proposed studies are both directly and indirectly linked with social sciences and the economy. Therefore, the results will be applicable for socio-economic development. For example, the communal services will be in accordance with the concept of sustainable development, emphasising all the three dimensions (improved services with minimised environmental impacts, lower costs and better consumption patterns). Furthermore, this postdoctoral project is in line with strategic aims of development priorities as stated in Development Strategy of Slovenia: competitive economy and faster economic development, two-way knowledge flow and its usage for economic development and linkage of the provisions to achieve sustainable development. The proposed project is partitioned into eight trimesters, during which exact scientific goals are specified and will be realized within given deadlines.
Significance for science
The results obtained offer a new and different systemic treatment of the environmental impacts, emerging from the utility service processes, such as public lighting or maintaining of public roads (management of the construction waste). Especially important are studies of the most significant process parts (sub-systems), enabling an objective-oriented environmental impact reduction, including CO2 emissions. The service processes of the utility companies and their sub-systems have not been investigated so far, therefore, the results will represent a substantial contribution to the scientific development and expertise (e.g. new approaches with minimal environmental impacts). The results also contribute to the sustainable development of the company – finding the balance between economic, environmental and social components. Furthermore, the results foster interdisciplinary and systemic approach of solving environmental issues in the light of crowdedness and difficulty of publishing in scientific media, presenting an essential importance for success at the global level.
Significance for the country
Studies and achieved results of this project are via sustainable development directly linked with the economy and society. Thus, the results have a significant impact on the socio-economic development of Republic of Slovenia. The results obtained are in line with the strategic aims of the development priorities as stated in the Development Strategy of Slovenia, including: competitive economy and faster economic development, two-way knowledge flow and its usage of economic development and linkage of the provisions to achieve sustainable development. In particular, pollution control and new approaches towards environmental problems, especially CO2 emissions, have a positive impact on a socio-economic development from the cost reduction point of view, including the reduction of materials and energy consumption.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2010,
2011,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2010,
2011,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
