Investigating strategies and indicators for sustainable campus: Comparison and synergies between University of Bologna and Delft University of Technology

Sustainable development is one of the biggest challenges of the twenty fist-century. Various university has begun the debate about the content of this concept and the ways in which to integrate it into their policy, organization and activities. Universities have a special responsibility to take over a leading position by demonstrating best practices that sustain and educate a sustainable society. For that reason universities have the opportunity to create the culture of sustainability for today’s student, and to set their expectations for how the world should be. This thesis aim at analyzing how Delft University of Technology and University of Bologna face the challenge of becoming a sustainable campus. In this context, both universities have been studied and analyzed following the International Sustainable Campus Network (ISCN) methodology that provides a common framework to formalize commitments and goals at campus level. In particular this work has been aimed to highlight which key performance indicators are essential to reach sustainability as a consequence the following aspects has been taken into consideration: energy use, water use, solid waste and recycling, carbon emission. Subsequently, in order to provide a better understanding of the current state of sustainability on University of Bologna and Delft University of Technology, and potential strategies to achieve the stated objective, a SWOT Analysis has been undertaken. Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats have been shown to understand how the two universities can implement a synergy to improve each other. In the direction of framing a “Sustainable SWOT” has been considered the model proposed by People and Planet, so it has been necessary to evaluate important matters as for instance policy, investment, management, education and engagement. Regarding this, it has been fundamental to involve the main sustainability coordinators of the two universities, this has been achieved through a brainstorming session. Partnerships are key to the achievement of sustainability. The creation of a bridge between two universities aims to join forces and to create a new generation of talent. As a result, people can become able to support universities in the exchange of information, ideas, and best practices for achieving sustainable campus operations and integrating sustainability in research and teaching. For this purpose the project "SUCCESS" has been presented, the project aims to create an interactive European campus network that can be considered a strategic key player for sustainable campus innovation in Europe. Specifically, the main key performance indicators have been analyzed and the importance they have for the two universities and their strategic impact have been highlighted. For this reason, a survey was conducted with people who play crucial roles for sustainability within the two universities and they were asked to evaluate the KPIs of the project. This assessment has been relevant because has represented the foundation to develop a strategy to create a true collaboration.

Explaining the Growth in Municipal Recycling Programs: The Role of Market and Non-Market Factors

The implementation of thousands of municipal recycling programs in the United States has increased recycling’s portion of solid waste from 10% to 30% over the past decade. But the lack of accurate data has spurred a debate over whether the growth in recycling can be attributed to market or nonmarket factors. To address this issue, this article conducts a benefit-cost analysis of a municipal recycling program. Results suggest recycling is costly. So why, then, does it remain popular? This article suggests that local governments could be responding to households that perceive a benefit from recycling services. These benefits are estimated with a contingent valuation survey.

Why do Municipalities Recycle?

The disposal of municipal solid waste is believed to emit foul odor, threaten groundwater, and increase road congestion. As remote regional landfills have replaced local town dumps, these costs are no longer internalized by garbage-producing households or their municipalities. Instead, rural property owners located adjacent to large regional landfills and along the roadways accessing those landfills bear the external costs of garbage disposal. This paper uses a comprehensive nine-year panel data set of aggregated state data to empirically examine why 8,937 municipalities continue to operate costly recycling programs designed to reduce the external costs of garbage disposal. Results suggest that local tastes for recycling drive municipal decisions. If household preferences for recycling are short lived, then we can expect a future decrease in the number of municipal recycling programs. Recent data indicate the number of recycling programs in operation in the U.S. has indeed fallen.

The Socially Optimal Recycling Rate: Evidence from Japan

This paper estimates the average social cost of municipal waste management as a function of the recycling rate. Social costs include all municipal costs and revenues, costs to recycling households to prepare materials estimated with an original method, external disposal costs, and external recycling benefits. Results suggest average social costs are minimized with recycling rates well below observed and mandated levels in Japan. Cost-minimizing municipalities are estimated to recycle less than the optimal rate. These results are robust to changes in the components of social costs, indicating that Japan and perhaps other developed countries may be setting inefficiently high recycling goals. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

POST-PROJECT ASSESSMENT OF PIT LATRINES IN RURAL PANAMA

In Panama, one of the Environmental Health (EH) Sector’s primary goals is to improve the health of rural Panamanians by helping them to adopt behaviors and practices that improve access to and use of sanitation systems. In complying with this goal, the EH sector has used participatory development models to improve hygiene and increase access to latrines through volunteer managed latrine construction projects. Unfortunately, there is little understanding of the long term sustainability of these interventions after the volunteers have completed their service. With the Peace Corps adapting their Monitoring, Reporting, and Evaluation procedures, it is appropriate to evaluate the sustainability of sanitation interventions offering recommendations for the adaptions of the EH training program, project management, and evaluation procedures. Recognizing the need for evaluation of past latrine projects, the author performed a post project assessment of 19 pit latrine projects using participatory analysis methodologies. First, the author reviewed volunteers’ perspectives of pit latrine projects in a survey. Then, for comparison, the author performed a survey of latrine projects using a benchmarking scoring system to rate solid waste management, drainage, latrine siting, latrine condition, and hygiene. It was observed that the Sanitation WASH matrix created by the author was an effective tool for evaluating the efficacy of sanitation interventions. Overall more than 75%, of latrines constructed were in use. However, there were some areas where improvements could be made for both latrine construction and health and hygiene. The latrines scored poorly on the indicators related to the privacy structure and seat covers. Interestingly those are the two items least likely to be included in project subsidies. Furthermore, scores for hygiene-related indicators were low; particularly those related to hand washing and cleanliness of the kitchen, indicating potential for improvement in hygiene education. Based on these outcomes, the EH sector should consider including subsidies and standardized designs for privacy structures and seat covers for latrines. In addition, the universal adoption of contracts and/or deposits for project beneficiaries is expected to improve the completion of latrines. In order to address the low scores in the health and hygiene indicators, the EH sector should adapt volunteer training, in addition to standardizing health and hygiene intervention procedures. In doing so, the sector should mimic the Community Health Club model that has shown success in improving health and hygiene indicators, as well as use a training session plan format similar to those in the Water Committee Seminar manual. Finally, the sector should have an experienced volunteer dedicated to program oversight and post-project monitoring and evaluation.

A Low-Flow Self-Cleaning Drainage System for Fish Rearing Tanks

A float-stopper mechanism was designed to drain fish holding tanks directly from the bottom. Unlike traditional, top-drawn standpipe systems, it allows continuous flushing of settled solid waste. It also prevents the accumulation of these wastes between the two standpipes that are used in bottom-drawn, double-walled standpipe systems. When suspended solids are forced upward between the outer and inner standpipes of such systems, a minimum velocity must be maintained to prevent sediment accumulation. This minimum velocity determines the minimum flow rate through the tank. The system described in this report flushes well over a wide range of flow rates.

Environmental sustainability and the human element: Decision making in National Cancer Institute-designated cancer centers and Practice Greenhealth subscribing institutions

Background. Various aspects of sustainability have taken root in the hospital environment; however, decisions to pursue sustainable practices within the framework of a master plan are not fully developed in National Cancer Institute (NCI) -designated cancer centers and subscribing institutions to the Practice Greenhealth (PGH) listserv.^ Methods. This cross sectional study was designed to identify the organizational characteristics each study group pursed to implement sustainability practices, describe the barriers they encountered and reasons behind their choices for undertaking certain sustainability practices. A web-based questionnaire was pilot tested, and then sent out to 64 NCI-designated cancer centers and 1638 subscribing institutions to the PGH listserv.^ Results. Complete responses were received from 39 NCI-designated cancer centers and 58 subscribing institutions to the PGH listserv. NCI-designated cancer centers reported greater progress in integrating sustainability criteria into design and construction projects than hospitals of institutions subscribing to the PHG listserv (p-value = <0.05). Statistically significant differences were also identified between these two study groups in undertaking work life options, conducting energy usage assessments, developing energy conservation and optimization plans, implementing solid waste and hazardous waste minimization programs, using energy efficient vehicles and reporting sustainability progress to external stakeholders. NCI-designated cancer centers were further along in implementing these programs (p-value = <0.05). In comparing the self-identified NCI-designated cancer centers to centers that indicated they were both and NCI and PGH, the later had made greater progress in using their collective buying power to pursue sustainable purchasing practices within the medical community (p-value = <0.05). In both study groups, recycling programs were well developed.^ Conclusions. Employee involvement was viewed as the most important reason for both study groups to pursue recycling initiatives and incorporated environmental criteria into purchasing decisions. A written sustainability commitment did not readily translate into a high percentage that had developed a sustainability master plan. Coordination of sustainability programs through a designated sustainability professional was not being undertaken by a large number of institutions within each study group. This may be due to the current economic downturn or management's attention to the emerging health care legislation being debated in congress. ^ Lifecycle assessments, an element of a carbon footprint, are seen as emerging areas of opportunity for health care institutions that can be used to evaluate the total lifecycle costs of products and services.^

STRATEGIES FOR THE TRANSFER OF APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY TO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: THE IMPLEMENTATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS IN TUNISIA

This dissertation focuses on Project HOPE, an American medical aid agency, and its work in Tunisia. More specifically this is a study of the implementation strategies of those HOPE sponsored projects and programs designed to solve the problems of high morbidity and infant mortality rates due to environmentally related diarrheal and enteric diseases. Several environmental health programs and projects developed in cooperation with Tunisian counterparts are described and analyzed. These include (1) a paramedical manpower training program; (2) a national hospital sanitation and infection control program; (3) a community sewage disposal project; (4) a well reconstruction project; and (5) a solid-waste disposal project for a hospital.^ After independence, Tunisia, like many developing countries, encountered several difficulties which hindered progress toward solving basic environmental health problems and prompted a request for aid. This study discusses the need for all who work in development programs to recognize and assess those difficulties or constraints which affect the program planning process, including those latent cultural and political constraints which not only exist within the host country but within the aid agency as well. For example, failure to recognize cultural differences may adversely affect the attitudes of the host staff towards their work and towards the aid agency and its task. These factors, therefore, play a significant role in influencing program development decisions and must be taken into account in order to maximize the probability of successful outcomes.^ In 1969 Project HOPE was asked by the Tunisian government to assist the Ministry of Health in solving its health manpower problems. HOPE responded with several programs, one of which concerned the training of public health nurses, sanitary technicians, and aids at Tunisia's school of public health in Nabeul. The outcome of that program as well as the strategies used in its development are analyzed. Also, certain questions are addressed such as, what should the indicators of success be, and when is the time right to phase out?^ Another HOPE program analyzed involved hospital sanitation and infection control. Certain generic aspects of basic hospital sanitation procedures were documented and presented in the form of a process model which was later used as a "microplan" in setting up similar programs in other Tunisian hospitals. In this study the details of the "microplan" are discussed. The development of a nation-wide program without any further need of external assistance illustrated the success of HOPE's implementation strategies.^ Finally, although it is known that the high incidence of enteric disease in developing countries is due to poor environmental sanitation and poor hygiene practices, efforts by aid agencies to correct these conditions have often resulted in failure. Project HOPE's strategy was to maximize limited resources by using a systems approach to program development and by becoming actively involved in the design and implementation of environmental health projects utilizing "appropriate" technology. Three innovative projects and their implementation strategies (including technical specifications) are described.^ It is advocated that if aid agencies are to make any progress in helping developing countries basic sanitation problems, they must take an interdisciplinary approach to progrm development and play an active role in helping counterparts seek and identify appropriate technologies which are socially and economically acceptable. ^

Políticas territoriales y construcción del paisaje cultural : caso región Gran La Plata

El propósito es presentar las principales estrategias de ordenamiento territorial urbano puestas en práctica en los últimos quince años en el Gran La Plata, que han incidido en el paisaje cultural. Se observan tanto políticas de enfoques integrales como sectoriales, las que incorporan innovaciones en OT y proponen nuevos y/o renovados paisajes culturales y las políticas “centrales" desde las gestiones municipales. Se reflexiona sobre aportes y debilidades, incompatibilidades entre ellas, en el marco del desarrollo sustentable. La estrategia metodológica utilizada tiene un perfil cualitativo y de tipo exploratoria, con un diseño de naturaleza flexible. En el estudio de caso se identifican las modalidades de intervención en función de las transformaciones del paisaje resultante y su gestión. Tiene una fuerte orientación interpretativa y la estrategia general está orientada a conseguir una familiarización con hechos aun no suficientemente comprendidos para generar nuevas ideas que permitan realizar nuevas preguntas e hipótesis. En este marco, las políticas se tornan contradictorias, si bien han logrado modificar algunos microespacios. Se entienden más como el recorte y congelamiento/ restauración del paisaje previo que como la creación de otros renovados, nuevos y/o mejores y con valores sociales aggiornados. En lo ambiental, no han sido acompañadas por estrategias estructurantes como el arbolado urbano y disposición de los residuos sólidos urbanos.

Residuos sólidos urbanos (RSU). Aproximaciones sociológicas al medio ambiente : La gestión de los RSU en Argentina : el caso del Programa de Separación de Basura en Origen implementado por la Municipalidad de La Plata. Opiniones, actitudes y prácticas de los ciudadanos en torno al medio ambiente y al RSU

Habiéndose instalado como principio operativo hegemónico a nivel mundial, la perspectiva del desarrollo sustentable rige actualmente las políticas medioambientales en Argentina. La gestión integral de residuos sólidos urbanos (GIRSU) es consecuente con la idea de compatibilidad entre conservación del medio ambiente y crecimiento económico que postula el desarrollo sustentable. La Estrategia Nacional que busca instalarla en el país menciona una serie de fases dentro de las cuales se encuentra la segregación en origen. Por lo tanto, el programa de Separación de basura en origen implementado por la Municipalidad de La Plata desde 2008, parecería responder a dicha propuesta. Sin embargo, la ausencia de un marco normativo correspondiente y de una política que contemple la totalidad de las etapas de gestión de la basura, hacen del programa una fase operativa desvinculada del proceso global de GIRSU. Entonces, partiendo del enfoque conceptual de la Sociología Medioambiental, esta investigación busca dar cuenta del posicionamiento actual de la población respecto de la cuestión del medio ambiente y del RSU a través de reconocer las opiniones, actitudes y prácticas de los ciudadanos de La Plata en torno al ambiente en general y al RSU en particular en el marco del programa de separación de basura en origen. Mediante la indagación de la opinión pública a través de un cuestionario semiestructurado, se llega a la conclusión de que existe entre la población de La Plata un alto conocimiento aunque escasa participación en el Programa de Separación de Basura en Origen. Sin embargo, el alto porcentaje de población que realiza un tipo alternativo de segregación de basura domiciliaria, demuestra una fuerte predisposición entre la población frente a dicha práctica. Por otro lado, si bien la población sostiene un discurso y unas prácticas altamente conservacionistas, los 3 mismos no implican necesariamente una conciencia y prácticas activas de índole conservacionista, no existiendo un activismo conservacionista propiamente dicho

Residuos sólidos urbanos (RSU). Aproximaciones sociológicas al medio ambiente : La gestión de los RSU en Argentina : el caso del Programa de Separación de Basura en Origen implementado por la Municipalidad de La Plata. Opiniones, actitudes y prácticas de los ciudadanos en torno al medio ambiente y al RSU

Habiéndose instalado como principio operativo hegemónico a nivel mundial, la perspectiva del desarrollo sustentable rige actualmente las políticas medioambientales en Argentina. La gestión integral de residuos sólidos urbanos (GIRSU) es consecuente con la idea de compatibilidad entre conservación del medio ambiente y crecimiento económico que postula el desarrollo sustentable. La Estrategia Nacional que busca instalarla en el país menciona una serie de fases dentro de las cuales se encuentra la segregación en origen. Por lo tanto, el programa de Separación de basura en origen implementado por la Municipalidad de La Plata desde 2008, parecería responder a dicha propuesta. Sin embargo, la ausencia de un marco normativo correspondiente y de una política que contemple la totalidad de las etapas de gestión de la basura, hacen del programa una fase operativa desvinculada del proceso global de GIRSU. Entonces, partiendo del enfoque conceptual de la Sociología Medioambiental, esta investigación busca dar cuenta del posicionamiento actual de la población respecto de la cuestión del medio ambiente y del RSU a través de reconocer las opiniones, actitudes y prácticas de los ciudadanos de La Plata en torno al ambiente en general y al RSU en particular en el marco del programa de separación de basura en origen. Mediante la indagación de la opinión pública a través de un cuestionario semiestructurado, se llega a la conclusión de que existe entre la población de La Plata un alto conocimiento aunque escasa participación en el Programa de Separación de Basura en Origen. Sin embargo, el alto porcentaje de población que realiza un tipo alternativo de segregación de basura domiciliaria, demuestra una fuerte predisposición entre la población frente a dicha práctica. Por otro lado, si bien la población sostiene un discurso y unas prácticas altamente conservacionistas, los 3 mismos no implican necesariamente una conciencia y prácticas activas de índole conservacionista, no existiendo un activismo conservacionista propiamente dicho

Residuos sólidos urbanos (RSU). Aproximaciones sociológicas al medio ambiente : La gestión de los RSU en Argentina : el caso del Programa de Separación de Basura en Origen implementado por la Municipalidad de La Plata. Opiniones, actitudes y prácticas de los ciudadanos en torno al medio ambiente y al RSU

Habiéndose instalado como principio operativo hegemónico a nivel mundial, la perspectiva del desarrollo sustentable rige actualmente las políticas medioambientales en Argentina. La gestión integral de residuos sólidos urbanos (GIRSU) es consecuente con la idea de compatibilidad entre conservación del medio ambiente y crecimiento económico que postula el desarrollo sustentable. La Estrategia Nacional que busca instalarla en el país menciona una serie de fases dentro de las cuales se encuentra la segregación en origen. Por lo tanto, el programa de Separación de basura en origen implementado por la Municipalidad de La Plata desde 2008, parecería responder a dicha propuesta. Sin embargo, la ausencia de un marco normativo correspondiente y de una política que contemple la totalidad de las etapas de gestión de la basura, hacen del programa una fase operativa desvinculada del proceso global de GIRSU. Entonces, partiendo del enfoque conceptual de la Sociología Medioambiental, esta investigación busca dar cuenta del posicionamiento actual de la población respecto de la cuestión del medio ambiente y del RSU a través de reconocer las opiniones, actitudes y prácticas de los ciudadanos de La Plata en torno al ambiente en general y al RSU en particular en el marco del programa de separación de basura en origen. Mediante la indagación de la opinión pública a través de un cuestionario semiestructurado, se llega a la conclusión de que existe entre la población de La Plata un alto conocimiento aunque escasa participación en el Programa de Separación de Basura en Origen. Sin embargo, el alto porcentaje de población que realiza un tipo alternativo de segregación de basura domiciliaria, demuestra una fuerte predisposición entre la población frente a dicha práctica. Por otro lado, si bien la población sostiene un discurso y unas prácticas altamente conservacionistas, los 3 mismos no implican necesariamente una conciencia y prácticas activas de índole conservacionista, no existiendo un activismo conservacionista propiamente dicho

Does Quality Matter in the Iron and Scrap Trade?

This paper sheds light on the iron and steel (IS) scrap trade to examine how economic development affects the quality demanded of recyclable resource. A simple model is presented that show a mechanism of how scrap quality impacts the direction of trade due to comparative advantage. We find that economic development in both importing and exporting countries has a positive effect on the quality of traded recyclables. Developed countries that intend to improve the domestic recovery of recyclables should raise the quality of separating recyclables while developing countries should tighten environmental regulations to help decrease the import of recyclables that cause pollution.

Approach to the use of indicators for the assessment of the environmental level of construction products

The European construction industry is supposed to consume the 40% of the natural European resources and to generate the 40% of the European solid waste. Conscious of the great damage being suffered by the environment because of construction activity, this work tries to provide the building actors with a new tool to improve the current situation. The tool proposed is a model for the comprehensive evaluation of construction products by determining their environmental level. In this research, the environmental level of a construction product has been defined as its quality of accomplishing the construction requirements needed by causing the minimum ecological impact in its surrounding environment. This information allows building actors to choose suitable materials for building needs and also for the environment, mainly in the project stage or on the building site, contributing to improve the relationship between buildings and environment. For the assessment of the environmental level of construction products, five indicators have been identified regarding their global environmental impact through the product life cycle: CO2 emissions provoked during their production, volume and toxicity of waste generated on the building site, durability and recycling capacity after their useful life. Therefore, the less environmental impact one construction product produces, the higher environmental level performs. The model has been tested in 30 construction products that include environmental criteria in their description. The results obtained will be discussed in this article. Furthermore, this model can lay down guidelines for the selection of ecoefficient construction products and the design of new eco-competitive and eco-committed ones

Use of alternative fuels obtained from renewable sources in brayton cycles

Analysis and simulation of the behaviour of gas turbines for power generation using different nonconventional fuels obtained from different renewable sources are presented. Three biomass-tobiofuel processes are considered: anaerobic digestion of biomass (biogas), biomass gasification (synthesis gas) and alcoholic fermentation of biomass and dehydration (bioethanol), each of them with two different biomass substrates (energy crops and municipal solid waste) as input. The gas turbine behaviour in a Brayton cycle is simulated both in an isolated operation and in combined cycle. The differences in gas turbine performance when fired with the considered biofuels compared to natural gas are studied from different points of view related with the current complex energetic context: energetic and exergetic efficiency of the simple/combined cycle and CO2 emissions. Two different tools have been used for the simulations, each one with a different approach: while PATITUG (own software) analyses the behaviour of a generic gas turbine allowing a total variability of parameters, GT-PRO (commercial software) is more rigid, albeit more precise in the prediction of real gas turbine behaviour. Different potentially interesting configurations and its thermodynamic parameters have been simulated in order to obtain the optimal range for all of them and its variation for each fuel.