Journal Description
Sustainability
Sustainability
is an international, peer-reviewed, open-access journal on environmental, cultural, economic, and social sustainability of human beings, published semimonthly online by MDPI. The Canadian Urban Transit Research & Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC), International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction (CIB) and Urban Land Institute (ULI) are affiliated with Sustainability and their members receive discounts on the article processing charges.
- Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
- High Visibility: indexed within Scopus, SCIE and SSCI (Web of Science), GEOBASE, GeoRef, Inspec, AGRIS, RePEc, CAPlus / SciFinder, and other databases.
- Journal Rank: JCR - Q2 (Environmental Studies) / CiteScore - Q1 (Geography, Planning and Development)
- Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 18.8 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 3.6 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the second half of 2023).
- Recognition of Reviewers: reviewers who provide timely, thorough peer-review reports receive vouchers entitling them to a discount on the APC of their next publication in any MDPI journal, in appreciation of the work done.
- Testimonials: See what our editors and authors say about Sustainability.
- Companion journals for Sustainability include: World, Sustainable Chemistry, Conservation, Future Transportation, Architecture, Standards, Merits and Wind.
Impact Factor:
3.9 (2022);
5-Year Impact Factor:
4.0 (2022)
Latest Articles
Sustainability in Project Management Practices
Sustainability 2024, 16(10), 4275; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16104275 (registering DOI) - 19 May 2024
Abstract
►
Show Figures
The intersection between sustainability and project management has received significant attention as organizations recognize the criticality of incorporating sustainability practices into their projects. However, incorporating sustainability considerations presents some challenges, requiring the development and adoption of methods, tools and techniques tailored to address
[...] Read more.
The intersection between sustainability and project management has received significant attention as organizations recognize the criticality of incorporating sustainability practices into their projects. However, incorporating sustainability considerations presents some challenges, requiring the development and adoption of methods, tools and techniques tailored to address sustainability at the project level. Against this backdrop, this study endeavors to develop an understanding of the effective incorporation of sustainability within projects through the micro-level perspective of practices. An online survey was developed based on a comprehensive literature review of which a total of 107 valid responses were collected and analyzed. The results show the most useful sustainable project management practices perceived by experienced project professionals, including ‘Sustainability team management’, ‘Lessons learned towards sustainability’ and ‘Sustainability risk register’, among others. However, a data analysis reveals a prevailing trend marked by the limited perceived usefulness of sustainability practices in the context of project management. Furthermore, through exploratory factor analysis, a clear classification of sustainable project management practices was identified, according to the specific phases of the common project management lifecycle: ‘Initiation and planning’, ‘Execution, monitoring, controlling and replanning’ and ‘Closure’. By providing a set of sustainable project management practices and identifying the underlying factors that elucidate the incorporation of sustainable project management practices across the project management lifecycle, this study extends a guiding hand to practitioners in pursuing successful sustainability integration in their projects. It vividly illustrates that sustainability can be readily incorporated into project-management processes, delivering sustainable products and/or services in a sustainable way, combining both the ‘sustainability of the project’ and ‘sustainability by the project’ perspectives.
Full article
Open AccessArticle
Scenario Analysis of CO2 Reduction Potentials from a Carbon Neutral Perspective
by
Wensheng Wang and Yuting Jia
Sustainability 2024, 16(10), 4274; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16104274 (registering DOI) - 19 May 2024
Abstract
►▼
Show Figures
As a major emitter of CO2, China needs to take responsibility for slowing down global warming. In this paper, the potential carbon emission intensity of provinces is firstly calculated using the non-radial directional distance function under the group- and meta-frontier techniques,
[...] Read more.
As a major emitter of CO2, China needs to take responsibility for slowing down global warming. In this paper, the potential carbon emission intensity of provinces is firstly calculated using the non-radial directional distance function under the group- and meta-frontier techniques, and then six scenarios based on two factors (economic development and carbon intensity) are set up to estimate the emission reduction potential of China and each province. Considering the goal of carbon neutrality, the calculation of CO2 emission reduction potential quantifies the amount of emissions that can be reduced and the amount of emissions that should be balanced. Additionally, the degree of difficulty in achieving abatement potential is also calculated. The findings are as follows: First, assuming that the economic growth rate is reduced to 4.4% (achieving the second “100-year goal”) and each province adopts the most advanced low-carbon technologies, China could reduce carbon emissions by 5970.56 Mt compared to 2019 levels. To achieve net-zero emissions, the remaining 3824.2 Mt of carbon emissions should be removed by carbon reduction technologies. Second, the effect of slowing down economic growth and decreasing carbon intensity varies greatly among provinces. Hebei and Shandong should be prioritized as they have the greatest potential for emission reductions under both scenarios. Third, it is more difficult for Beijing, Shanghai, Hubei, Hunan, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Chongqing, and Sichuan to achieve the abatement potential and they require more effort to reduce the same amount of carbon emissions compared to other provinces. The study provides a reference for achieving carbon neutrality and helps provinces to develop differentiated emission reduction strategies.
Full article
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Knowledge Element Relationship and Value Co-Creation in the Innovation Ecosystem
by
Gening Yang
Sustainability 2024, 16(10), 4273; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16104273 (registering DOI) - 19 May 2024
Abstract
In the era of Innovation 3.0, more and more enterprises are working together to build an innovation ecosystem to achieve value creation. The various participants in the innovation ecosystem promote resource aggregation and integration through cross boundary collaboration, jointly creating the value of
[...] Read more.
In the era of Innovation 3.0, more and more enterprises are working together to build an innovation ecosystem to achieve value creation. The various participants in the innovation ecosystem promote resource aggregation and integration through cross boundary collaboration, jointly creating the value of the ecosystem. Value co-creation has become the core goal pursued by the participants in the innovation ecosystem. As an innovative participant in the innovation ecosystem, it is particularly necessary for enterprises to explore the formation mechanism of value co-creation from the perspective of enterprise knowledge characteristics. This article analyzes the value co-creation mechanism of innovation ecosystems from the perspective of including internal knowledge bases and external relationships. Based on the dimension of knowledge element relationships, a theoretical model is constructed to investigate the impact of enterprise knowledge element relationships on value co-creation in innovation ecosystems and explore the mediating role of knowledge synergy and the moderating role of innovation ecosystem normativity. The relationships are modeled based on survey data collected from 427 Chinese companies, and multiple regression analysis and bootstrap methods are used to empirically test the hypotheses. The research results show that different dimensions of knowledge element relationships have different impacts on value co-creation. Knowledge element substitution negatively affects value co-creation, while knowledge combination diversity positively affects value co-creation. However, there is an inverted U-shaped relationship between knowledge element complementarity and value co-creation. Knowledge synergy partially mediates the relationship between knowledge element relationships and value co-creation, and innovation ecosystem normativity has a two-stage moderating effect on the path from knowledge element relationships to knowledge synergy to value co-creation. This article enriches the research content of knowledge management in innovation ecosystems, guides enterprises in the innovation ecosystem to reasonably construct their own knowledge systems, and promotes the formation of innovation ecosystem norms, thus promoting the development of value co-creation activities.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Dual Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Index for Corporate Sustainability Assessment Using Blockchain Technology
by
Xinlai Liu, Wenbiao Liang, Yelin Fu and George Q. Huang
Sustainability 2024, 16(10), 4272; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16104272 (registering DOI) - 19 May 2024
Abstract
Investors are increasingly relying on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) indexes to obtain a third-party assessment of corporate sustainability performance. Various ESG indexes are, therefore, released by prominent rating agencies, including MSCI, Sustainalytics, Refinitiv, etc. However, existing ESG indexes overvalue the usage of
[...] Read more.
Investors are increasingly relying on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) indexes to obtain a third-party assessment of corporate sustainability performance. Various ESG indexes are, therefore, released by prominent rating agencies, including MSCI, Sustainalytics, Refinitiv, etc. However, existing ESG indexes overvalue the usage of massive ESG metrics while ignoring various ESG disclosure levels, leading to critical issues such as limited company coverage, inflexible ESG framework, and obscure assessment processes. This paper proposes a novel Dual ESG Index (DESGI) model using blockchain technology to provide a flexible and transparent corporate sustainability assessment. Firstly, the DESGI model is developed by analogy to the rationale and concepts of the academic credit system due to its advantages of scalability and flexibility. Secondly, blockchain is used to build a transparent environment for ESG assessment. Thirdly, the smart contract and crypto token, as the core blockchain constructs, are used to achieve the dual-dimensional ESG depth and width assessment using ESG GPA and ESG credit, respectively. Finally, a case study is carried out to validate the DESGI by using real-life ESG data and comparing it with four existing ESG indexes. Several managerial implications are also found: (1) DESGI can expand the scope of companies evaluated by ESG criteria regardless of company size or scale; (2) DESGI provides a good potential to fight against greenwashing through the blockchain-based traceability; (3) DESGI can identify the ESG elites who disclose fewer ESG metrics but with excellent ESG performances, which can hardly be achieved using traditional ESG indexes.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Performance Assessment)
Open AccessArticle
Developing an Efficient Model for Online Grocery Order Fulfillment
by
Moaad Abdulaziz Alrasheed, Ateekh Ur Rehman and Ibrahim M. Alharkan
Sustainability 2024, 16(10), 4270; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16104270 (registering DOI) - 19 May 2024
Abstract
►▼
Show Figures
Due to the convenience of online grocery apps and home delivery, online grocery shopping has become popular in recent years. Globally, consumer behavior has significantly changed the consumption and purchase patterns of online grocery shopping. This study aimed to develop an efficient model
[...] Read more.
Due to the convenience of online grocery apps and home delivery, online grocery shopping has become popular in recent years. Globally, consumer behavior has significantly changed the consumption and purchase patterns of online grocery shopping. This study aimed to develop an efficient model for online grocery order fulfillment that both reduces costs and increases supply chain efficiency and sustainability. This study first aimed to develop the current picking model by adopting real-world data from a store in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Subsequently, four proposed models were developed to improve the efficiency and sustainability of the online grocery order fulfillment process. The results show a significant improvement in all models over the current picking model. The percentage improvements in fulfillment time per product are as follows: single order picking—8.33%; batch order picking—6.78%; zone order picking—3.08%; and hybrid order picking—13.20%, which combines zone and batch order picking. Retailers and online grocery apps could adopt these models to increase efficiency and sustainability. Also, these models have great potential for future research and improvement by optimizing product placement, in addition to picking methods and picking routes, which are the focus of this study.
Full article
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Nitrification–Autotrophic Denitrification Using Elemental Sulfur as an Electron Donor in a Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR): Performance and Kinetic Analysis
by
Mario Corbalán, Cristopher Da Silva, Andrea Barahona, César Huiliñir and Lorna Guerrero
Sustainability 2024, 16(10), 4269; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16104269 (registering DOI) - 19 May 2024
Abstract
Simultaneous nitrification and autotrophic denitrification (SNAD) has received attention as an efficient biological nitrogen removal alternative. However, SNAD using elemental sulfur (S0) has scarcely been studied. Thus, the main objective of this research was to study the behavior of a simultaneous
[...] Read more.
Simultaneous nitrification and autotrophic denitrification (SNAD) has received attention as an efficient biological nitrogen removal alternative. However, SNAD using elemental sulfur (S0) has scarcely been studied. Thus, the main objective of this research was to study the behavior of a simultaneous nitrification–autotrophic denitrification operation in a sequential batch reactor (SNAD-SBR) at a lab scale using S0 as an electron donor, including its kinetics. Two-scale reactors were operated at lab scales in cycles for 155 days with an increasing nitrogen loading rate (NLR: 0.0296 to 0.0511 kg N-NH4+/m3/d) at 31 °C. As a result, simultaneous nitrification–autotrophic denitrification using S0 as an electron donor was performed successfully, with nitrification efficiency of 98.63% and denitrification efficiency of 44.9%, with autotrophic denitrification as the limiting phase. The kinetic model adjusted for ammonium-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) was the Monod-type kinetic model (µmax = 0.791 d−1), while, for nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB), the Haldane-type model was employed (µmax = 0.822 d−1). For denitrifying microorganisms, the kinetic model was adjusted by a half order (k1/2v = 0.2054 mg1/2/L1/2/h). Thus, we concluded that SNAD could be feasible using S0 as an electron donor, with kinetic behavior similar to that of other processes.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Water Management)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Prediction and Optimization Analysis of the Performance of an Office Building in an Extremely Hot and Cold Region
by
Yunbo Liu, Wanjiang Wang and Yumeng Huang
Sustainability 2024, 16(10), 4268; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16104268 (registering DOI) - 18 May 2024
Abstract
The White Paper on Peak Carbon and Carbon Neutral Action 2022 states that China is to achieve peak carbon by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060. Based on the “3060 dual-carbon” goal, how to improve the efficiency of energy performance is an important
[...] Read more.
The White Paper on Peak Carbon and Carbon Neutral Action 2022 states that China is to achieve peak carbon by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060. Based on the “3060 dual-carbon” goal, how to improve the efficiency of energy performance is an important prerequisite for building a low-carbon, energy-saving, green, and beautiful China. The office performance building studied in this paper is located in the urban area of Turpan, where the climate is characterized by an extremely hot summer environment and a cold winter environment. At the same time, the building is oriented east–west, with the main façade facing west, and the main façade consists of a large area of single-layer glass curtain wall, which is affected by western sunlight. As a result, there are serious problems with the building’s energy consumption, which in turn leads to excessive carbon emissions and high life cycle costs for the building. To address the above problems, this paper analyzes and optimizes the following four dimensions. First, the article creates a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) prediction model with Total Energy Use in Buildings (TEUI), Global Warming Potential (GWP), and Life Cycle Costs (LCC) as the performance objectives. After optimization, the R2 of the three are 0.9908, 0.9869, and 0.9969, respectively, thus solving the problem of low accuracy of traditional prediction models. Next, the NSGA-II algorithm is used to optimize the three performance objectives, which are reduced by 41.94%, 40.61%, and 31.29%, respectively. Then, in the program decision stage, this paper uses two empowered Topsis methods to optimize this building performance problem. Finally, the article analyzes the variables using two sensitivity analysis methods. Through the above research, this paper provides a framework of optimization ideas for office buildings in extremely hot and cold regions while focusing on the four major aspects of machine learning, multi-objective optimization, decision analysis, and sensitivity analysis systematically and completely. For the development of office buildings in the region, whether in the early program design or in the later stages, energy-saving measures to optimize the design have laid the foundation of important guidelines.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainability, Challenges and Opportunities to Optimize Building Performance)
Open AccessArticle
The Relationship between Perceptions of High-Performance Work Systems and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Considering the Moderating Effect of a Positive Diversity Climate
by
Ahmad Nasser Abuzaid, Elham Hmoud Al-Faouri, Manal Mohammad Alateeq, Saif-aldeen Marwan Madadha, Mohammed Yasin Ghadi, Aymn Sulieman Al-Qatawenh, Dmaithan Abdelkarim Almajali and Haya Abdul Kareem Almajali
Sustainability 2024, 16(10), 4267; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16104267 (registering DOI) - 18 May 2024
Abstract
Companies have shown interest in advanced human resource management as a means to secure distinctive competitive advantages for organizational survival and growth through sustainable management systems. Hence, in the current context, where sustainability in business is a growing concern, the objective of this
[...] Read more.
Companies have shown interest in advanced human resource management as a means to secure distinctive competitive advantages for organizational survival and growth through sustainable management systems. Hence, in the current context, where sustainability in business is a growing concern, the objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between high-performance work systems and a company’s social performance, taking into account the organizational climate as a situational variable. Specifically, this study aimed to analyze the impact of perceptions of a high-performance work system on the perception of a company’s social responsibility (CSR) among employees of Jordanian companies with an organizational size of 300 or more. This study used 175 valid questionnaires, and SPSS and AMOS 24 were used to test the hypotheses. The results showed that there was a positive relationship between the perception of a high-performance work system and the perception of a company’s CSR. Furthermore, this study found that a positive diversity climate could enhance the positive relationship between the two. These findings suggest that high-performance work systems can contribute to the development of sustainable human resource management systems and that a positive diversity climate is essential in shaping these systems. Based on these results, it is recommended that companies implement HPWSs and encourage workforce diversity to maximize the value of CSR activities and ensure their sustainability.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)
Open AccessArticle
Changes in Land Use and Cover and Their Environmental Impacts in the Cerrado of Mato Grosso Do Sul, Brazil
by
Melina Fushimi, Gabriela Narcizo de Lima and Viviane Capoane
Sustainability 2024, 16(10), 4266; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16104266 (registering DOI) - 18 May 2024
Abstract
In Brazilian regional landscapes, the Cerrado has one of the richest flora among the savannas in the world, with a high level of endemism; however, many plant species are threatened with extinction as a consequence of spatio-temporal changes in land use and cover.
[...] Read more.
In Brazilian regional landscapes, the Cerrado has one of the richest flora among the savannas in the world, with a high level of endemism; however, many plant species are threatened with extinction as a consequence of spatio-temporal changes in land use and cover. This study aimed to analyze changes in land use and cover in the upper course of the Ceroula stream basin, located in the Cerrado of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, based on maps of land use and cover in 1985 and 2022, the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), precipitation data, and fieldwork. The results indicated that in 1985, forest vegetation was replaced by pasture, and in 2022, in addition to pasture, there was the introduction of soybean monoculture with corn in the off-season, influenced by the international commodities market. These land use and cover alterations, without adequate management and in the absence of conservation practices, led to environmental impacts, such as accelerated linear erosive processes (rill, ravine, and gully). The results may help provide important insights into the dynamics of land use and cover, the consequences of the lack of conservation practices, and the environmental impacts in the Cerrado of Mato Grosso do Sul, contributing to better understanding of the environmental challenges faced in the region and the need to provide subsidies for the development of sustainable management strategies.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of GIS and Remote Sensing in Soil Environment Monitoring 2nd Edition)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Re-Inventories at Two Study Sites in the Oberpfalz (Bavaria, Germany): Increase in RWA Nests, Herb Biodiversity and Dead Wood in Sustainably Managed Forests
by
Gabriele M. Berberich and Martin B. Berberich
Sustainability 2024, 16(10), 4265; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16104265 (registering DOI) - 18 May 2024
Abstract
A large-scale re-inventory of red wood ant (RWA; Formica rufa-group) nests and a comparative analysis of their presence/absence data was carried out for the first time in 2023 at two study sites in the Oberpfalz, NE Bavaria, Germany, to investigate the suspected
[...] Read more.
A large-scale re-inventory of red wood ant (RWA; Formica rufa-group) nests and a comparative analysis of their presence/absence data was carried out for the first time in 2023 at two study sites in the Oberpfalz, NE Bavaria, Germany, to investigate the suspected decline of nests, their relationship with forestry aspects, and possible changes in spatial distribution due to tectonic activity (GeoBio-Interactions). We inventoried, in two sustainably managed forests, outstanding nest occurrences (5393 nests including 5276 active nests) and an increase of ≈8% over 4–7 years. Our results do not support claims that the number of nests in the Oberpfalz is in sharp decline. RWA preferred mature and medium–mature pine-dominated forests. Standing and downed dead wood did not negatively affect nests. The number of nests with woodpecker cavities and the diversity of the herb layer increased. Nests clusters in NW–SE direction suggest a strong interaction between nest distribution and active tectonics. Our (re-)inventory approach combined with the extensive photo database is a valuable tool for (a) monitoring the entire forest habitat including natural restocking, herb biodiversity, woodpecker cavities, and dead wood in, at, and around nests, and (b) identifying GeoBio-Interactions. Such an approach will lead to more realistic counts of RWA nests and provide scientific evidence of the current situation of nests occurrence. We suggest seven to eight years as an appropriate time interval for re-inventories.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Forestry)
Open AccessArticle
The Operational Risk Disclosure Threshold Effect in the Earnings Management–Sustainability Firm Performance Nexus in Saudi Arabia: A Dynamic Panel Threshold Regression Model
by
Faizah Alsulami
Sustainability 2024, 16(10), 4264; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16104264 (registering DOI) - 18 May 2024
Abstract
Although the relationship between earnings management and firm performance has been well explored in the literature, sustainable performance has not yet been examined. Furthermore, the literature has not addressed the issue of nonlinearity between earnings management and firm performance. Therefore, this paper aims
[...] Read more.
Although the relationship between earnings management and firm performance has been well explored in the literature, sustainable performance has not yet been examined. Furthermore, the literature has not addressed the issue of nonlinearity between earnings management and firm performance. Therefore, this paper aims to examine the potential nonlinear relationship between earnings management and sustainable firm performance in Saudi Arabia using a sample of 70 listed firms over the 2015–2022 period. Specifically, it investigates the operational risk disclosure threshold effect in the earning management–sustainable firm performance nexus. To do so, the dynamic panel threshold regression model (DPTR) is performed. The result proves that there is a threshold effect of operational risk disclosure in the relationship between earning management and sustainable firm performance. Specifically, the threshold values of operational risk disclosure for the three models are estimated at 6 between the low- and the high-operational-risk-disclosure regimes. In the lower regime, firm performance decreases when earning management increases; however, in the higher regime, firm performance increases when earning management increases. These outcomes support the predictions of agency and positive accounting theories.
Full article
Open AccessArticle
Battery Electric Vehicles: Travel Characteristics of Early Adopters
by
Yunwen Feng, Jean-Daniel Saphores, Hilary Nixon and Monica Ramirez Ibarra
Sustainability 2024, 16(10), 4263; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16104263 (registering DOI) - 18 May 2024
Abstract
Do U.S. households with battery electric vehicles (BEVs) drive less or more than U.S. households with internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs)? Answering this question is important to policymakers and transportation planners concerned with reducing vehicle miles traveled and the emissions of greenhouse gases
[...] Read more.
Do U.S. households with battery electric vehicles (BEVs) drive less or more than U.S. households with internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs)? Answering this question is important to policymakers and transportation planners concerned with reducing vehicle miles traveled and the emissions of greenhouse gases from transportation. So far, this question has not been answered satisfactorily, possibly because of the relatively low number of EVs in the U.S. until recently, but also because of methodological issues. In this paper, we aim to fill this gap by analyzing data from the 2017 National Household Travel Survey (NHTS). We apply propensity score matching (PSM), a quasi-experimental method, to examine the differences in self-reported annual mileage and calculated daily mileage for various trip purposes among households with only BEVs (BEV-only), households with both BEVs and ICEVs (BEV+), and households without BEVs (non-BEV households). Our findings indicate that households with BEVs drive fewer annual miles than non-BEV households, but typically travel no less than they do for daily activities. This apparent discrepancy is likely due to taking fewer longer trips because the public charging infrastructure was still in its infancy in 2017, and its reliability was questionable. As technological progress is helping to overcome current battery limitations, policymakers may consider measures for fostering fast charging technologies while pondering new measures to fund both the charging infrastructure and the road network.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Transportation)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Raising the Green Roof: Enhancing Youth Water Literacy through Built Environment Education
by
Laura B. Cole, Lilian Priscilla, Laura Zangori, Beth Kania-Gosche and Joel Burken
Sustainability 2024, 16(10), 4262; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16104262 (registering DOI) - 18 May 2024
Abstract
Green roofs cool cities, clean the air, provide habitat, and manage stormwater. They are compelling tools to teach interconnected human-ecological systems. This study included the design, pilot, and evaluation of a fourth-grade science unit entitled “Raising the Green Roof”, exploring these connections. Five
[...] Read more.
Green roofs cool cities, clean the air, provide habitat, and manage stormwater. They are compelling tools to teach interconnected human-ecological systems. This study included the design, pilot, and evaluation of a fourth-grade science unit entitled “Raising the Green Roof”, exploring these connections. Five classrooms in two Midwestern U.S. public elementary schools participated, and 4th-grade students (n = 73) drew systems models at three time points (212 models) and wrote their ideas. Qualitative content analyses of the models showed that learners were increasingly combining social systems (green roof infrastructure) with ecological systems (water cycle) across the unit. Students also increasingly evidenced specific knowledge as they progressed through the unit. The analysis of student models revealed that most student confusion is related to built environment aspects (e.g., how water moves from building roofs to municipal waterways). Results of the study suggest the potential for teaching socio-hydrologic systems thinking at the fourth-grade level. The findings emphasize the need to enhance built environment education for youth in science units that aspire to connect features of the built environment, such as green roofs, with ecology. The study additionally reinforced the effectiveness of place-based units in elementary education that emphasize science practices.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Education and Approaches)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Application of an Automated Top Coal Caving Control System: The Case of Wangjialing Coal Mine
by
Yuming Huo, Dangwei Zhao, Defu Zhu and Zhonglun Wang
Sustainability 2024, 16(10), 4261; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16104261 (registering DOI) - 18 May 2024
Abstract
China has made notable advancements in the intelligent construction of coal mines. However, for longwall top coal caving (LTCC) mining faces, a key obstacle impeding the intelligent transition of the coal-cutting process is automated control. This paper focuses on the aforementioned issue and
[...] Read more.
China has made notable advancements in the intelligent construction of coal mines. However, for longwall top coal caving (LTCC) mining faces, a key obstacle impeding the intelligent transition of the coal-cutting process is automated control. This paper focuses on the aforementioned issue and comprehensively considers the pre-, intra-, and post-coal-caving stages. In this work, diverse detection and monitoring technologies are integrated at various stages through a computer platform, facilitating the construction of an automated coal caving control system with self-perception, self-learning, self-decision-making, and self-execution capabilities. Key technologies include ground-penetrating radar-based top coal thickness detection, inertial navigation-based shearer positioning, tail beam vibration-based identification of coal and gangue, and magnetostrictive sensor-based monitoring of the tail beam and insert plate attitude. In this study, the 12309 working face of the Wangjialing Coal Mine was experimentally validated, and the efficacy of the aforementioned key technologies was assessed. The results demonstrated that the control requirements for automated coal caving are satisfied by the maximum errors. Automatic regulation of coal caving was realized through the implementation of this system, thereby facilitating initiation and cessation and yielding promising experimental outcomes. Overall, this system offers practical insights for intelligent construction in current LTCC mining faces and the sustainable development of coal resources.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Energy Sustainability)
Open AccessArticle
Seasonal Prevalence of Skin Lesions on Dolphins across a Natural Salinity Gradient
by
Makayla A. Guinn, Christina N. Toms, Carrie Sinclair and Dara N. Orbach
Sustainability 2024, 16(10), 4260; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16104260 (registering DOI) - 18 May 2024
Abstract
Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) inhabit waters across a broad natural salinity gradient and exhibit changes in skin condition based on the quality of their environment. Prolonged exposure to low salinities (≤10–20 ppt) degenerates the epidermal barrier and causes cutaneous lesions in
[...] Read more.
Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) inhabit waters across a broad natural salinity gradient and exhibit changes in skin condition based on the quality of their environment. Prolonged exposure to low salinities (≤10–20 ppt) degenerates the epidermal barrier and causes cutaneous lesions in dolphins, while the role of high salinity exposure (>35 ppt) in lesion development remains unknown. We assessed seasonal lesion prevalence in three free-ranging dolphin stocks inhabiting coastal Gulf of Mexico (GoM) waters of different salinities (0–30 ppt, 22–35 ppt, and 36+ ppt) using images of dolphin bodies. Lesions were documented on 44% of the dolphins photographed (n = 432), and lesion occurrence was significantly related to cold seasons and water temperatures but not salinity. Cold water temperatures may heighten dolphin susceptibility to infectious pathogens and disease and compound the effects of anthropogenic pollutants in the GoM. As dolphins are a bioindicator species of marine habitat welfare, natural studies assessing dolphin skin may reveal environmental degradation with potential impacts on marine ecosystems and human health.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Oceans)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Sustainable CO2 Refrigeration System for Fish Cold Storage Facility Using a Renewable Integrated System with Solar, Wind and Tidal Energy for Cape Verde—Analyzing Scenarios
by
João Garcia and Arian Semedo
Sustainability 2024, 16(10), 4259; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16104259 (registering DOI) - 18 May 2024
Abstract
►▼
Show Figures
This study compares four feasible alternative solutions for an integrated cold storage system in the city of Tarrafal, Santiago, Cape Verde. Integrated systems using grid electricity are compared with autonomous systems generating electrical energy from renewable sources, alongside various types of refrigeration facility
[...] Read more.
This study compares four feasible alternative solutions for an integrated cold storage system in the city of Tarrafal, Santiago, Cape Verde. Integrated systems using grid electricity are compared with autonomous systems generating electrical energy from renewable sources, alongside various types of refrigeration facility systems. Its objective is to assess the energy efficiency, financial feasibility, and environmental impact across four scenarios. Scenario 1 utilizes two R134a refrigeration units powered by the public grid. Scenario 2 employs a transcritical R744 (CO2) system using grid electricity. Scenario 3 incorporates R744 and autonomous renewable energy. Scenario 4 employs R744 for refrigeration with seawater heat exchange and autonomous renewable energy sources. The findings favor Scenario 4, emitting 15,882 kg CO2 eq with a 5-year return on investment. Autonomous electricity production in this scenario reduces emissions by 95%. Despite an initial cost of EUR 769,172.00, Scenario 3 demonstrates financial viability, contributing to energy sustainability. This autonomous production reduces emissions by 360,697 kg CO2 compared to conventional systems, highlighting the positive impact of local renewable energy integration.
Full article
Figure 1
Open AccessReview
Utilisation of Machine Learning in Control Systems Based on the Preference of Office Users
by
Thayane L. Bilésimo and Enedir Ghisi
Sustainability 2024, 16(10), 4258; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16104258 (registering DOI) - 18 May 2024
Abstract
Reducing energy consumption is vital to save natural resources and contribute to the sustainable development in any sector of society. In the building sector, there are many well-known energy efficiency strategies currently being applied. However, considering the advances in technology and in comfort
[...] Read more.
Reducing energy consumption is vital to save natural resources and contribute to the sustainable development in any sector of society. In the building sector, there are many well-known energy efficiency strategies currently being applied. However, considering the advances in technology and in comfort studies, it is possible to see that the current building sector scenario demands new energy efficiency strategies. Such strategies need to be capable of identifying and assuring comfortable environments according to users’ perceptions. Machine learning techniques can be a useful alternative to identify users’ preferences and control lighting and heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems in buildings. This paper shows a systematic literature review on the use of machine learning algorithms on preference identification and environmental adequacy according to users’ demands. Its contribution is to explore beyond the performance and configurations of the algorithms, addressing users’ preference aspects as well. The strategies found in the literature provided promising results. The most used approach was supervised learning because data can be treated as categories. In general, the control systems have shown good performance, and so have the algorithms. Users were mostly satisfied with environmental conditions. Situations of dissatisfaction were associated with the occupant’s willingness to use the system more than with the control system’s performance. Furthermore, it is also possible to ally user-centred control and energy savings but this relies on occupants’ characteristics and the control strategies used. We underline the importance of identifying whether the users are willing to deal with an automatic control system before making any decision, even if the operation of the system is based on their preferred environmental conditions.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Indoor Environmental Quality)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Assessment of Dust Deposition through Image Analysis in Complex and Remote Exhibition Sites: Study in the Cloister of the Santa María de El Paular Monastery in the Sierra de Guadarrama, Spain
by
Daniel Duran-Romero, Josep Grau-Bové, Héctor Bolivar-Sanz and Xilan Wu
Sustainability 2024, 16(10), 4257; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16104257 (registering DOI) - 18 May 2024
Abstract
Dust deposition is an important aspect of the conservation of heritage collections. Most proposed methods for dust monitoring focus on total area coverage or airborne concentrations. There is a lack of published data and methodologies to obtain size distributions of deposited particles on
[...] Read more.
Dust deposition is an important aspect of the conservation of heritage collections. Most proposed methods for dust monitoring focus on total area coverage or airborne concentrations. There is a lack of published data and methodologies to obtain size distributions of deposited particles on real historic sites. The purpose of the study was to develop and describe a method for obtaining quantitative data from dust deposition without the need for sophisticated laboratory equipment, based on optical microscopy photography and software-based image analysis. Bare microscope slides were used as passive collectors of dust. Tests were carried out on a collection of oil paintings displayed in the cloister of the Monastery of Santa María de El Paular in the Sierra de Guadarrama in Spain for one year, with a distance of 100 km between this place and the laboratory. The designed method allowed for the detection of significant differences in deposition depending on the location and seasonal period. Vertically orientated bare slides did not provide relevant information and a magnification of 50× was not really useful. However, horizontal collectors and a magnification of 10× allowed studying the deposition of particles above 2 μm2.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Advanced Technology in Cultural Heritage Preservation)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Towards a Communication Ecology in the Life of Rural Senior Citizens: How Rural Public Spaces Influence Community Engagement
by
Zhiyu Feng, Longfei Li, Jingchun Zhang and Xinqun Feng
Sustainability 2024, 16(10), 4256; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16104256 (registering DOI) - 18 May 2024
Abstract
The dilemma of weak participation and non-participation of rural communities is a universal topic of global development. The rural public space is an important field for local residents to interact, communicate, and engage with each other, and is an important place for the
[...] Read more.
The dilemma of weak participation and non-participation of rural communities is a universal topic of global development. The rural public space is an important field for local residents to interact, communicate, and engage with each other, and is an important place for the sustainable development of rural areas. However, previous studies have neglected to understand the intrinsic connection between rural public space and community participation from the perspective of community communication ecology. Based on the concept of age-friendly communities, this study’s fieldwork in rural Shanghai, China, using the methodology of grounded theory, found that physical, social, and psychological factors all have an impact on community engagement among rural residents. Specifically, environmental quality, facility support, community networks, social participation, call to action, place attachment, spatial perception, and self-transformation are identified as the core elements that significantly influence community engagement among rural residents. This study further reveals that the multiple factors influencing community engagement among rural residents are complex and interdependent rather than operating independently. Spatial support, communicative triggers, and symbolic identification, respectively, operate at the technological level (physical–social factors), social level (social–psychological factors), and discursive level (psychological–physical factors) to promote community engagement among older adults in Chinese rural areas. Through this research, we hope to further the realization of rural civic engagement and the sustainability of local communities and to provide scholarly insights into the promotion of more equitable community life.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental and Social Sustainability in Rural Development)
Open AccessArticle
Advances in the Sustainable Production of Fertilizers from Spent Zinc-Based Batteries
by
Silvia Patricia Barragán-Mantilla, Raquel Ortiz, Patricia Almendros, Laura Sánchez-Martín, Gabriel Gascó and Ana Méndez
Sustainability 2024, 16(10), 4255; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16104255 (registering DOI) - 18 May 2024
Abstract
Wastes from spent batteries are a secondary source of raw materials. To ensure this, it is mandatory to design sustainable and low-cost processes. In the case of alkaline and zinc–carbon-based batteries, the high content of Zn and Mn makes them of interest in
[...] Read more.
Wastes from spent batteries are a secondary source of raw materials. To ensure this, it is mandatory to design sustainable and low-cost processes. In the case of alkaline and zinc–carbon-based batteries, the high content of Zn and Mn makes them of interest in the development of fertilizers. The main objective of this research is to study the fertilizers production from spent zinc-based batteries, using sulfuric acid, citric acid (CIT) and glycine (GLY) solutions as leaching agents. Leaching with glycine at alkaline pHs shows a high selectivity of Zn over Mn, whereas the use of citric and sulfuric solutions leads to recoveries of Zn and Mn. Solutions with the highest Zn recoveries were tested in sand columns. Commercial ZnSO4 heptahydrate was used as a control. For sulfuric acid, two solutions (H2SO4 2M and 0.25M) were used. The elution of leached Zn and Mn in sand columns depended on the solution added. The Zn-Mn-CIT treatment showed a slight but steady increase in the leachates, reaching 70% and 75% of the total leached Zn and Mn, respectively, in the medium term. The Zn-Mn-H2SO4 2M and ZnSO4 treatments showed a similar behavior in Zn release. Both Zn-Mn-GLY and Zn-Mn-H2SO4 0.25M treatments showed similar amounts of leached Mn in the medium term (77% of total leached Mn), differing in the leached Zn. Solutions from the leaching of spent black mass batteries, especially Zn-Mn-CIT or Zn-Mn-GLY, showed promising behavior as fertilizer from the point of view of Zn and Mn availability as nutrients.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Waste Management in the Context of Urban Environment)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Journal Menu
► ▼ Journal Menu-
- Sustainability Home
- Aims & Scope
- Editorial Board
- Reviewer Board
- Topical Advisory Panel
- Instructions for Authors
- Special Issues
- Topics
- Sections & Collections
- Article Processing Charge
- Indexing & Archiving
- Editor’s Choice Articles
- Most Cited & Viewed
- Journal Statistics
- Journal History
- Journal Awards
- Society Collaborations
- Conferences
- Editorial Office
Journal Browser
► ▼ Journal BrowserHighly Accessed Articles
Latest Books
E-Mail Alert
News
Topics
Topic in
Diversity, Geosciences, Land, Resources, Sustainability
Advances in Geodiversity Research
Topic Editors: Paulo Pereira, Murray Gray, Maria da Glória GarciaDeadline: 20 May 2024
Topic in
Energies, Materials, Processes, Solar, Sustainability
Solar Thermal Energy and Photovoltaic Systems, 2nd Volume
Topic Editors: Pedro Dinis Gaspar, Pedro Dinho da Silva, Luís C. PiresDeadline: 31 May 2024
Topic in
Education Sciences, Entropy, JAL, Societies, Sustainability
Sustainability in Aging and Depopulation Societies
Topic Editors: Shiro Horiuchi, Gregor Wolbring, Takeshi MatsudaDeadline: 15 June 2024
Topic in
Laws, Societies, Sustainability
Cannabis Legalization in the United States: Public Policy, Social Welfare, and Public Health Implications
Topic Editors: Robert Mark Silverman, Kelly PattersonDeadline: 30 June 2024
Conferences
Special Issues
Special Issue in
Sustainability
Market Potential for Carsharing Services
Guest Editor: Lucia RotarisDeadline: 25 May 2024
Special Issue in
Sustainability
Sustainability and Indoor Environmental Quality
Guest Editors: Mateja Dovjak, Janja Vaupotic, Fumito Maruyama, So FujiyoshiDeadline: 31 May 2024
Special Issue in
Sustainability
Human Behavior, Urban Health and Sustainability
Guest Editors: Hao Wu, Lingbo Liu, Yang YuDeadline: 15 June 2024
Special Issue in
Sustainability
Sustainable Materials, Manufacturing and Design
Guest Editors: Adil Saeed, Shagufta KhanDeadline: 30 June 2024
Topical Collections
Topical Collection in
Sustainability
Tourism Research and Regional Sciences
Collection Editors: Lóránt Dénes Dávid, Laszlo VASA, Setiawan Priatmoko
Topical Collection in
Sustainability
Mobile Technology, Gamification and Artificial Intelligence to Improve Sustainability in Education
Collection Editors: Eloy López Meneses, Esteban Vázquez-Cano, María Elena Parra-González
Topical Collection in
Sustainability
Urban Planning and Built Environment
Collection Editors: Xilian Luo, Yupeng Wang, Liyang Fan, Shi-Jie Cao
Topical Collection in
Sustainability
Sustainable Soil Management in a Changing Climate
Collection Editors: Giuseppe Montanaro, Georgios Koubouris, José Alfonso Gómez, Luuk Fleskens