Assessing initial embodied energy in building structures using LCA methodology

The considerable amount of energy consumed on Earth is a major cause for not achieving sustainable development. Buildings are responsible for the highest worldwide energy consumption, nearly 40%. Strong efforts have been made in what concerns the reduction of buildings operational energy (heating, hot water, ventilation, electricity), since operational energy is so far the highest energy component in a building life cycle. However, as operational energy is being reduced the embodied energy increases. One of the building elements responsible for higher embodied energy consumption is the building structural system. Therefore, the present work is going to study part of embodied energy (initial embodied energy) in building structures using a life cycle assessment methodology, in order to contribute for a greater understanding of embodied energy in buildings structural systems. Initial embodied energy is estimated for a building structure by varying the span and the structural material type. The results are analysed and compared for different stages, and some conclusions are drawn. At the end of this work it was possible to conclude that the building span does not have considerable influence in embodied energy consumption of building structures. However, the structural material type has influence in the overall energetic performance. In fact, with this research it was possible that building structure that requires more initial embodied energy is the steel structure; then the glued laminated timber structure; and finally the concrete structure.

Cave beetles of the genus Pseudanophthalmus (Coleoptera, Carabidae) from the Kentucky Bluegrass and vicinity [by] Carl H. Krekeler.

v.62:no.4(1973)

The mammalian fauna of Madura Cave, Western Australia. Macropodidae: Potoroinae / Ernest L. Lundelius, Jr. -- William D. Turnbull --.

n.s. no.14(1984)

The mammalian fauna of Madura Cave, Western Australia, Ernest L. Lundelius, Jr. -- William D. Turnbull --.

n.s. no.6(1981)

The mammalian fauna of Madura Cave, Western Australia : Ernest L. Lundelius, Jr. -- and William D. Turnbull --.

v.31:no.1(1973)

A new genus of blind beetles from a cave in South Africa.

v.39:no.36(1960)

The mammalian fauna of Madura Cave, Western Australia. Ernest L. Lundelius, Jr. -- William D. Turnbull --.

n.s. no.17(1989)

The mammalian fauna of Madura Cave, Western Australia : Ernest L. Lundelius, Jr. -- and William D. Turnbull --.

v.38(1978)

The mammalian fauna of Madura Cave, Western Australia. Ernest L. Lundelius, Jr. --, William D. Turnbull --.

n.s. no.11(1982)

The mammalian fauna of Madura Cave, Western Australia : Ernest L. Lundelius, Jr. -- and William D. Turnbull --.

v.31:no.2(1975)

Novelties from a cave lace bug (Heteroptera, Tingidae): first nymphal description with a discussion on the morphological patterns of Vianaidinae immatures

A nymph of Thaumamannia Drake & Davis, 1960, a rare vianaidine genus known only from adults, is described by the first time. The specimens were collected in the soil and walls of caves located in the state of Pará, Brazil. This is the first record of Vianaidinae for Brazil. The T. vanderdrifti fifth instar is compared with the same stadium of Anommatocoris coleopteratus (Kormilev, 1955), the only other vianaidine nymph described so far, and patterns between them and within the family are also discussed.

Reforms of the pre-graduate curriculum for medical students: the Bologna process and beyond.

For several years, all five medical faculties of Switzerland have embarked on a reform of their training curricula for two reasons: first, according to a new federal act issued in 2006 by the administration of the confederation, faculties needed to meet international standards in terms of content and pedagogic approaches; second, all Swiss universities and thus all medical faculties had to adapt the structure of their curriculum to the frame and principles which govern the Bologna process. This process is the result of the Bologna Declaration of June 1999 which proposes and requires a series of reforms to make European Higher Education more compatible and comparable, more competitive and more attractive for Europeans students. The present paper reviews some of the results achieved in the field, focusing on several issues such as the shortage of physicians and primary care practitioners, the importance of public health, community medicine and medical humanities, and the implementation of new training approaches including e-learning and simulation. In the future, faculties should work on several specific challenges such as: students' mobility, the improvement of students' autonomy and critical thinking as well as their generic and specific skills and finally a reflection on how to improve the attractiveness of the academic career, for physicians of both sexes.