The application of life cycle assessment to design

This paper explores the practical application of life cycle assessment (LCA) to product system development. While life cycle assessment methods have been studied and demonstrated extensively over the last two decades, their application to product design and development has not been critically addressed. Many organizational and operational factors limit the integration of the three LCA components (inventory analysis, impact assessment and improvement assessment) with product development. Design of the product system can be considered a synthesis of individual decisions and choices made by the design team, which ultimately shape the system's environmental profile. The environmental goal of life cycle design is to minimize the aggregate environmental impacts associated with the product system. Appropriate environmental information must be supplied to decision makers throughout each stage of the development process to achieve this goal. LCA can serve as a source of this information, but informational requirements can vary as the design moves from its conceptual phase, where many design choices are possible, to its detailed design and implementation. Streamlined approaches and other tools, such as design checklists, are essential. The practical use of this tool in product development also depends on the nature and complexity of the product system (e.g. new vs. established), the product development cycle (time-to-market constraints), availability of technical and financial resources, and the design approach (integrated vs. serial). These factors will influence the role and scope of LCA in product development. Effective communication and evaluation of environmental information and the integration of this information with cost, performance, cultural and legal criteria will also be critical to the success of design initiatives based on the life cycle framework. An overview of several of these design initiatives will be presented.     

Life cycle analysis and choice of natural gas-based automotive alternative fuels in Chongqing Municipality,China

Road transport produces significant amounts of emissions by using crude oil as the primary energy source. A reduction of emissions can be achieved by implementing alternative fuel chains. The objective of this study is to carry out an economic, environmental and energy (EEE) life cycle study on natural gas-based automotive fuels with conventional gasoline in an abundant region of China. A set of indices of four fuels/vehicle systems on the basis of life cycle are assessed in terms of impact of EEE, in which natural gas produces compressed natural gas (CNG), methanol, dimethylether (DME) and Fischer Tropsch diesel (FTD). The study included fuel production, vehicle production, vehicle operation, infrastructure and vehicle end of life as a system for each fuel/vehicle system. A generic gasoline fueled car is used as a baseline. Data have been reviewed and modified based on the best knowledge available to Chongqing local sources. Results indicated that when we could not change electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles into commercial vehicles on a large scale, direct use of CNG in a dedicated or bi-fuel vehicle is an economical choice for the region which is most energy efficient and more environmental friendly. The study can be used to support decisions on how natural gas resources can best be utilized as a fuel/energy resource for automobiles, and what issues need to be resolved in Chongqing. The models and approaches for this study can be applied to other regions of China as long as all the assumptions are well defined and modified to find a substitute automotive energy source and establish an energy policy in a specific region.     

水污染造成的环境经济损失分析

立足于我国水资源现状，对造成水污染损失的主要影响因素进行分析。探讨适合于我国国情的水污染损失的计算方法。以南方某市为例，计算该市水污染损失，得到了一些有益的结论．给政府部门提供了一个较为准确的损失数据。通过政府的干预或经济法律手段，加大水资源保护管理工作的力度。     

Game theory approach to optimal capital cost allocation in pollution control

ＧａｍｅｔｈｅｏｒｙａｐｐｒｏａｃｈｔｏｏｐｔｉｍａｌｃａｐｉｔａｌｃｏｓｔａｌｏｃａｔｉｏｎｉｎｐｏｌｕｔｉｏｎｃｏｎｔｒｏｌＣｈｅｎＷｅｎｙｉｎｇＩｎｓｔｉｔｕｔｅｏｆＮｕｃｌｅａｒＥｎｅｒｇｙＴｅｃｈｎｏｌｏｇｙ，ＴｓｉｎｇｈｕａＵｎｉｖｅｒ...     

玉溪市中心城区酸雨变化趋势分析

以1991年至2000年实测数据为依据，揭示了玉溪市中心城区10年来酸雨的变化规律及其发展趋势。     

You Are What You Eat: Genetically Modified Foods, Integrity, and Society

Thus far, the moral debateconcerning genetically modified foods (GMF) hasfocused on extrinsic consequentialist questionsabout the health effects, environmental impacts,and economic benefits of such foods. Thisextrinsic approach to the morality of GMF isdependent on unsubstantiated empirical claimsand fails to account for the intrinsic moralvalue of food and food choice and theirconnection to the agent's concept of the goodlife. I develop a set of objections to GMFgrounded in the concept of integrity andmaintain that food and food choice can beintimately connected to the agent's personalintegrity. I argue that due to the constitutionof GMF and the manner in which they areproduced, such foods are incompatible with thefundamental values and integrity of certainindividual moral agents or groups. I identifythree types of integrity that are threatened byGMF: religious, consumer, and integrity basedon certain other moral or metaphysical grounds.I maintain that these types of integrity aresufficiently important to provide justificationfor political and societal actions to protectthe interests of those affected. I conclude byproposing specific steps for handling GMFconsistent with the moral principles ofinformed consent, non-maleficence, and respectfor the integrity of all members of society.They include mandatory labeling of GMF, theimplementation of a system for control andregulations concerning such foods, andguaranteed provision of conventional foods.     

模糊集值统计法在煤矿安全评价指标权值中的应用

应用模糊集值统计的理论 ,对煤矿安全评价中具有随机性和模糊性的指标进行数学分析 ,进一步改进了其权值的确定方法 ,使其更加符合实际情况 ,并对由此得出的权值进行了可靠性分析。通过实例表明 ,该方法克服了经典统计法的不足 ,提高了煤矿安全评价的实用性和科学性     

宁西铁路的开通与沿线区域经济发展

宁西铁路的建成与开通对加强我国东西部地区之间的联系和促进沿线地区的资源开发、经济发展将产生重要的影响,沿线经济带正在逐步形成.从区域经济的角度,运用点-轴理论探讨了宁西铁路线与沿线经济发展区域一体化和形成经济带应注意的几个问题:加快沿线城镇建设,完善综合交通通道,强化铁路为地方经济服务功能,建立沿线区域经济协作体系.     

中质旅游景区开发初探

中质景区是指旅游综合质量中等的景区.开发中质景区可以增加目的地供给、优化旅游目的地结构、分流优质景区客流.以四川雅安碧峰峡景区为例,在分析该类型景区优劣势的基础上,对其在旅游项目设计、资金筹措、客源市场、产品设计、市场营销等方面提出了对策.同时指出,我国中质旅游景区开发中存在着资源价值评价不准确、资源破坏严重等误区,以期在旅游实践中提高中质旅游景区的开发质量.     

池州悬钩子的食用价值与茶多酚含量研究

研究了池州市悬钩子属植物的食用价值与其中茶多酚(TP)的含量,目的是为了综合利用悬钩子属植物,促进其全面开发,提高经济效益.用正交实验法确定了提取TP的最佳实验条件,用分光光度法测定其含量.从分析结果看,悬钩子属植物中含有一定量的TP.因此,在开发悬钩子属植物果实作为第三代水果资源时,从其茎叶中提取TP具有一定的经济价值,这对促进悬钩子资源的开发与利用是很有意义的.