This book consists of a collection of articles describing the emergingand integrated area of Energy, Natural Resourcesand EnvironmentalEconomics.A majority of the authors are researchers doing applied work in economics, nance, and management science and are based in the Nordic countries. These countries have a long tradition of managing natural resources. Many of the applications are therefore founded on such examples. The book contents are based on a workshop that took place during May 15-16, 2008 in Bergen, Norway. The aim of the workshop was to create a meeting place for researchers who are active in the area of Energy, Natural Resource, and En- ronmentalEconomics, andat the same time celebrate ProfessorKurtJorns ] ten's60th birthday. Thebookis dividedintofourparts. The rst part considerspetroleumandnatural gas applications, taking up topics ranging from the management of incomes and reserves to market modeling and value chain optimization. The second and most extensive part studies applications from electricity markets, including analyses of market prices, risk management, various optimization problems, electricity market design, and regulation. The third part describes different applications in logistics and management of natural resources. Finally, the fourth part covers more general problems and methods arising within the area."

Advanced Nanomaterials and Their Applications in Renewable Energy presents timely topics related to nanomaterials' feasible synthesis and characterization, and their application in the energy fields. In addition, the book provides insights and scientific discoveries in toxicity study, with information that is easily understood by a wide audience. Advanced energy materials are important in designing materials that have greater physical, electronic, and optical properties. This book emphasizes the fundamental physics and chemistry underlying the techniques used to develop solar and fuel cells with high charge densities and energy conversion efficiencies. New analytical techniques (synchronous X-ray) which probe the interactions of particles and radiation with matter are also explored, making this book an invaluable reference for practitioners and those interested in the science.

Essays in Energy is a collection of a number of essays by the same number of engineers. They show a variety of viewpoints and diversity. This collection is meant to incite and excite conversation among engineers, scientists, and society at large. It would serve as a catalyst for a three-credit course as an introductory engineering subject to non-engineering university students. As university education develops to better prepare future leaders to appreciate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, engineering courses for non-engineering majors are essential and so is the requirement of worthy textbooks. This monograph intends to be one of the useful tools available. The wide range of topics includes nuclear power, small hydroelectric plants, wind turbines, and organic photovoltaics. Nanotechnology, natural gas, and deep sea oil drilling are presented as well.

This book explores the recent developments, perspectives on future research, and pertinent data from academia, industry, and government research laboratory to discuss fundamental mechanisms as well as processing and applications of advanced metallic and ceramic thin film and coating materials for energy and environmental applications. It is a platform to disseminate the latest research progress related to processing, characterization, and modelling. The authors address both thermal barrier and environmental coatings; magnetic and thermoelectric materials; and solar cell and solid oxide fuel cell materials. It is appropriate supplementary reading for students and primary reading for researchers in materials science and engineering.

This book presents research related to energy and environmental technologies in the context of market liberalization and global warming. It focuses on the development and efficient use of alternative energy sources, implementation of sustainable energy policies, power generation, and energy finance. Advances in Managing Energy and Climate Risks provides readers with the necessary information to use energy sources more efficiently, discover cleaner energy sources and their applications, and urge consumers and producers to make changes to reach a carbon-neutral economy through financial, technological, regulatory and tax incentives.

The Heat Pump Planning Handbook contains practical information and guidance on the design, planning and selection of heat pump systems, allowing engineers, designers, architects and construction specialists to compare a number of different systems and options. Including detailed descriptions of components and their functions and reflecting the current state of technology this guide contains sample tasks and solutions as well as new model calculations and planning evaluations. Also economic factors and alternative energy sources are covered, which are essential at a time of rising heat costs. Topics included: Ecological and economic aspects Introduction to Refrigeration Water heat pump systems Configuration of all necessary components Planning Examples (Problems and Solutions)

Coal Production and Processing Technology provides uniquely comprehensive coverage of the latest coal technologies used in everything from mining to greenhouse gas mitigation. Featuring contributions from experts in industry and academia, this book: Discusses coal geology, characterization, beneficiation, combustion, coking, gasification, and liquefaction Explores coalbed methane drilling, excavatability, surface production, strata control, and longwall production Tackles financial, safety, and environmental issues, including coal company valuations, mine emergency preparedness, and carbon management Capturing state-of-the-art knowledge from different facets of the coal chain, Coal Production and Processing Technology offers a holistic view of today's coal industry as well as a look at future trends.

This monograph addresses the methodological and empirical issues relevant for the development of sustainable agriculture, with a particular focus on Eastern Europe. It relates economic growth to the other dimensions of sustainability by applying integrated methods. The book comprises five chapters dedicated to the theoretical approaches towards sustainable rural development, productivity analysis, structural change analysis and environmental footprint. The book focuses on the transformations of the agricultural sector while taking into account economic, environmental, and social dynamics. The importance of agricultural transformations to the livelihood of the rural population and food security are highlighted. Further, advanced methodologies and frameworks are presented to fathom the underlying trends in different facets of agricultural production. The authors present statistical methods used for the analysis of agricultural sustainability along with applications for agriculture in the European Union. Additionally, they discuss the measures of efficiency, methodological approaches and empirical models. Finally, the book applies econometric and optimization techniques, which are useful for the estimation of the production functions and other representations of technology in the case of the European Union member states. Therefore, the book is a must-read for researchers and students of agricultural and production economics, as well as policy-makers and academia in general.

Smart city development has emerged a major issue over the past 5 years. Since the launch of IBM's Smart Planet and CISCO's Smart Cities and Communities programmes, their potential to deliver on global sustainable development targets have captured the public's attention. However, despite this growing interest in the development of smart cities, little has as yet been published that either sets out the state-of-the-art, or which offers a less than subjective, arm's length and dispassionate account of their potential contribution. This book brings together cutting edge research and the findings from technical development projects from leading authorities within the field to capture the transition to smart cities. It explores what is understood about smart cities, playing particular attention on the governance, modelling and analysis of the transition that smart cities seek to represent. In paving the way for such a representation, the book begins to account for the social capital of smart communities and begins the task of modelling their embedded intelligence through an analysis of what the "embedded intelligence of smart cities" contributes to the sustainability of urban development. This innovative book offers an interdisciplinary perspective and shall be of interest to researchers, policy analysts and technical experts involved in and responsible for the planning, development and design of smart cities. It will also be of particular value to final year undergraduate and postgraduate students interested in Geography, Architecture and Planning.

Magnetic Components for Power Electronics concerns the important considerations necessary in the choice of the optimum magnetic component for power electronic applications. These include the topology of the converter circuit, the core material, shape, size and others such as cost and potential component suppliers. These are all important for the design engineer due to the emergence of new materials, changes in supplier management and the examples of several component choices. Suppliers using this volume will also understand the needs of designers. Highlights include: Emphasis on recently introduced new ferrite materials, such as those operating at megahertz frequencies and under higher DC drive conditions; Discussion of amorphous and nanocrystalline metal materials; New technologies such as resonance converters, power factors correction (PFC) and soft switching; Catalog information from over 40 magnetic component suppliers; Examples of methods of component choice for ferrites, amorphous nanocrystalline materials; Information on suppliers management changes such as those occurring at Siemens, Philips, Thomson and Allied-Signal; Attention to the increasingly important concerns about EMI. This book should be especially helpful for power electronic circuit designers, technical executives, and material science engineers involved with power electronic components.

The Heat Pump Planning Handbook contains practical information and guidance on the design, planning and selection of heat pump systems, allowing engineers, designers, architects and construction specialists to compare a number of different systems and options. Including detailed descriptions of components and their functions and reflecting the current state of technology this guide contains sample tasks and solutions as well as new model calculations and planning evaluations. Also economic factors and alternative energy sources are covered, which are essential at a time of rising heat costs. Topics included: Ecological and economic aspects Introduction to Refrigeration Water heat pump systems Configuration of all necessary components Planning Examples (Problems and Solutions)

During the past few decades there has been an advance in the research and development of solving the issue of declining energy resources. Funding by the U.S. government into energy research has risen steeply. Because of the growing importance of research and development in this field of research, in 1973 Resources for the Future undertook a study of energy-associated study, including an investigation of how research on energy R & D itself could be carried out. This title, first published in 1974, assesses a wide range of ways in which economics could contribute to decisions on where and in what amounts government R & D money should be spent. The report also evaluates the research and development approach in relation to other public energy policies or management tools. The book will be of interest to students of environmental studies and economics.

A concise resource to the best practices and problem-solving ideas for understanding the airline network planning and scheduling process Airline Network Planning and Scheduling offers a comprehensive resource that is filled with the industry's best practices that can help to inform decision-modeling and the problem-solving process. Written by two industry experts, the book is designed to be an accessible guide that contains information for addressing complex challenges, problems, and approaches that arise on the job. The chapters begin by addressing the complex topics at a broad, conceptual level before moving on to more detailed modeling in later chapters. This approach follows the standard airline planning process and reflects the duties of the day-to-day job of network/schedule planners. To help gain a practical understanding of the information presented, each chapter includes exercises and data based on real-world case studies. In addition, throughout the book there are graphs and illustrations as well as, information on the most recent advances in airline network and planning research. This important resource: Takes a practical approach when detailing airline network planning and scheduling practices as opposed to a theoretical perspective Puts the focus on the complexity and main challenges as well as current practices and approaches to problem-solving and decision-making Presents the information in a logical sequence that begins with broad, conceptual topics and gradually delves into more advanced topics that address modeling Contains international standard airline planning processes, the day-to-day responsibilities of the job, and outlines the steps taken when building an airline network and schedule Includes numerous case studies, exercises, graphs, and illustrations throughout Written for professionals and academics, Airline Network Planning and Scheduling offers a resource for understanding best practices and models as well as the challenges involved with network planning and scheduling.

After decades "in the shadows," urban lighting is re-emerging as a matter of public debate. Long-standing truths are increasingly questioned as a confluence of developments affects lighting itself and the way it is viewed. Light has become an integral element of place-making and energy-saving initiatives alike. Rapidly evolving lighting technologies are opening up new possibilities, but also posing new challenges to planners. And awareness is growing that artificial illumination is not purely benign but can actually constitute a form of pollution. As a result, public policy frameworks, incentives and initiatives are undergoing a phase of innovation and change that will affect how cities are lit for years to come.

The first comprehensive compilation of current scientific discussions on urban lighting and light pollution from a social science and humanities perspective, "Urban Lighting, Light Pollution and Society" contributes to an evolving international debate on an increasingly controversial topic. The contributions draw a rich panorama of the manifold discourses connected with artificial illumination in the past and present from early attempts to promote new lighting technologies in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to current debates on restricting its excessive usage in public space and the protection of darkness. By bringing together a cross-section of current findings and debates on urban lighting and light pollution from a wide variety of disciplines, it reflects that artificial lighting is multifaceted in its qualities, utilisation and interpretation.

Including case studies from the United States, Europe, and the UK, "Urban Lighting, Light Pollution and Society" is one of the first to take a serious assessment of light, pollution, and places and is a valuable resource for planners, policy makers and students in related subjects. "

After decades "in the shadows," urban lighting is re-emerging as a matter of public debate. Long-standing truths are increasingly questioned as a confluence of developments affects lighting itself and the way it is viewed. Light has become an integral element of place-making and energy-saving initiatives alike. Rapidly evolving lighting technologies are opening up new possibilities, but also posing new challenges to planners. And awareness is growing that artificial illumination is not purely benign but can actually constitute a form of pollution. As a result, public policy frameworks, incentives and initiatives are undergoing a phase of innovation and change that will affect how cities are lit for years to come.

The first comprehensive compilation of current scientific discussions on urban lighting and light pollution from a social science and humanities perspective, "Urban Lighting, Light Pollution and Society" contributes to an evolving international debate on an increasingly controversial topic. The contributions draw a rich panorama of the manifold discourses connected with artificial illumination in the past and present from early attempts to promote new lighting technologies in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to current debates on restricting its excessive usage in public space and the protection of darkness. By bringing together a cross-section of current findings and debates on urban lighting and light pollution from a wide variety of disciplines, it reflects that artificial lighting is multifaceted in its qualities, utilisation and interpretation.

Including case studies from the United States, Europe, and the UK, "Urban Lighting, Light Pollution and Society" is one of the first to take a serious assessment of light, pollution, and places and is a valuable resource for planners, policy makers and students in related subjects. "

A Guide for Owners and Managers. This book provides a blueprint for action for readers making decisions about how to improve the energy efficiency and performance of new or existing buildings. Suitable for both seasoned veterans and new managers, it takes an objective and orderly approach to what is often a complex, costly, and time-consuming process. The book presents fundamental principles illustrated with case studies. It thoroughly covers the topics in a concise, technically accurate way. The book is designed for architects, engineers, and construction managers.

This book is for energy auditors or retrofitters, whether they work in the weatherization program or in the private arena, and is intended to help them prepare for several certifications. These include programs with BPI, RESNET-HERS, DOE/NREL, and AEE (Association of Energy Engineers). The material in this book contains industry procedures and techniques and is intended to be an educational resource. Topics covered include the house as a system, the auditor s tools, weatherization, sealants, insulation and barriers, retrofitting, heating and cooling, baseload, and new construction. A number of additional appendices are included to provide the reader with valuable information in the performance of a residential energy audit. "

China s rapid economic growth in the recent decades has produced an unprecedented energy vulnerability that could threaten the sustainability of its economic development, a linchpin to social stability and ultimately the regime legitimacy of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) as well as the foundation for China's rising power aspirations. What is the Chinese perception of the energy security and challenges, how has the Chinese government responded to the challenges? What are the international implications of China s search for energy security?

This collection of contributions by leading scholars seeks answers to these extremely important questions. The book is divided into three parts. Part I presents an overview of China s sense of energy security and its strategic responses. Part II examines China s energy policy-making processes, the efforts to reform and reorganize the energy sector and reset policy priorities Part III focuses on the international implications of China s search for energy security.

This book consists of articles published in the Journal of Contemporary China."

Leading architectural firms are now using in-house design simulation to help make more sustainable design decisions. Taking advantage of these new tools requires understanding of what can be done with simulation, how to do it, and how to interpret the results. This software-agnostic book, which is intended for you to use as a professional architect, shows you how to reduce the energy use of all buildings using simulation for shading, daylighting, airflow, and energy modeling. Written by a practicing architect who specializes in design simulation, the book includes 30 case studies of net-zero buildings, as well as of projects with less lofty goals, to demonstrate how energy simulation has helped designers make early decisions. Within each case study, author Kjell Anderson mentions the software used, how the simulation was set up, and how the project team used the simulation to make design decisions. Chapters and case studies are written so that you learn general concepts without being tied to particular software. Each chapter builds on the theory from previous chapters, includes a summary of concept-level hand calculations (if applicable), and gives comprehensive explanations with graphic examples. Additional topics include simulation basics, comfort, climate analysis, a discussion on how simulation is integrated into some firms, and an overview of some popular design simulation software.

In a world increasingly concerned about the impact of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere on global climate, the A Carbon Primer for the Built Environment will provide an understanding of the science and the public policy and regulation intended to tackle climate change. It will spell out the essential information needed for navigating through the growing regulatory maze with confidence. The book will: Provide an explanation of climate change, why carbon has been targeted as the main culprit and how this will impact the working lives of architects Explain key concepts such as: carbon footprinting, contraction & convergence, concentration based targets, the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, decarbonising supply and reducing energy demand as well as the relevance of relevant government targets and international agreements Suggest an overall framework for achieving the carbon reduction targets and the requirements that will place on building designers Outline requirements and common standards and codes - providing guidance on compliance mechanisms Suggest and examine likely models for future practice The book will be essential reading for anyone wanting to familiarise themselves with the new landscape of carbon reduction in the built environment, with a particular focus on building design. It will also provide an accessible reference volume for information on particular policies, terms and initiatives as well as key data and numbers that will assist initial carbon calculations.

In a world increasingly concerned about the impact of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere on global climate, the A Carbon Primer for the Built Environment will provide an understanding of the science and the public policy and regulation intended to tackle climate change. It will spell out the essential information needed for navigating through the growing regulatory maze with confidence. The book will: Provide an explanation of climate change, why carbon has been targeted as the main culprit and how this will impact the working lives of architects Explain key concepts such as: carbon footprinting, contraction & convergence, concentration based targets, the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, decarbonising supply and reducing energy demand as well as the relevance of relevant government targets and international agreements Suggest an overall framework for achieving the carbon reduction targets and the requirements that will place on building designers Outline requirements and common standards and codes - providing guidance on compliance mechanisms Suggest and examine likely models for future practice The book will be essential reading for anyone wanting to familiarise themselves with the new landscape of carbon reduction in the built environment, with a particular focus on building design. It will also provide an accessible reference volume for information on particular policies, terms and initiatives as well as key data and numbers that will assist initial carbon calculations.

Addressing a field which, until now, has not been sufficiently investigated, Essentials of Natural Gas Microturbines thoroughly examines several natural gas microturbine technologies suitable not only for distributed generation but also for the automotive industry. An invaluable resource for power systems, electrical, and computer science engineers as well as operations researchers, microturbine operators, policy makers, and other industry professionals, the book: Explains the importance of natural gas microturbines and their use in distributed energy resource (DER) systems Discusses the history, development, design, and operation of gas microturbines Introduces the Evolutionary Algorithm for pollutant emissions and fuel consumption minimization Analyzes the power electronics for grid connection of natural gas microturbines Includes actual power quality measurements-graphical representations and numerical data-from a real system Contains 39 color figures Readers benefit from the clarity and practicality of Essentials of Natural Gas Microturbines, ultimately learning new techniques to increase electrical load efficiency, keep the environment cleaner, and improve equipment exploitation based on mathematical results.

At the outset of 2012 - the United Nations' International Year of Sustainable Energy for All - access to modern energy services remains low or non-existent for approximately ** billion of the world's population. Energy practitioners worldwide are facing the challenge of delivering access to modern energy services where poverty and lack of infrastructure makes it most difficult. Rising awareness about climatic change and the notion of energy security for future generations are also being channelled into the debate. This book aims to provide an overview of existing energy delivery systems, as well as a guide to practitioners on the key issues integral to the success or failure of energy programmes in middle- and low-income countries. The authors consider how markets develop, which services are pivotal in supporting the process, and what overarching factors enable change to take place. The aim of the book is to provide practical guidance on how to replicate and scale up the successful delivery of energy to the very poor and is expected to be of use for energy development policy makers and practitioners.

Energy demand reduction is fast becoming a business activity for all companies and organisations because it can increase profits regardless of the nature of their core activity. The International Energy Agency believes that industry could improve its energy efficiency and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by almost a third using the best available practices and technologies. This guide looks at the many ways available to energy managers to achieve or even exceed this level of performance, including: base-lining consumption planning a monitoring and verification strategy metering (including smart, wireless metering) energy supply management motors and drives compressed air and process controls. Uniquely, it includes a whole chapter on greening data centres. It also looks at topics covered in greater detail in its companion volume, Energy Management in Buildings: insulation, lighting, renewable heating, cooling and HVAC systems. Further chapters examine minimising water use and how to make the financial case, both to prioritise measures for cost effectiveness, and to get management on board. This title is aimed at all professional energy, industry and facilities managers, energy consultants, students, trainees and academics and can be read alongside training for ISO 50001 - Energy Management Systems. It takes the reader from basic concepts to the latest advanced thinking, with principles applicable anywhere in the world and in any climate.

One major goal of the World Materials Research Institute Forum - WMRIF is to promote young scientists in the field of materials science and engineering. To enhance the international knowledge exchange between young postdoctoral scientists all over the world, WMRIF meanwhile regularly organizes joint workshops among the member institutes. These workshops also represent an increasingly appreciated platform to get known to each other and to build co-operations. For such workshops, various topics are selected, pointing to future perspectives and challenges in the field of Materials Science and Engineering.

This time, the presentations of the workshop focused on the four subjects

Challenges in conclusive, realistic and system oriented materials testing

Materials challenges for water supply

Materials challenges in the extraction and recovery of scarce elements and minerals

Materials challenges for nuclear fission and fusion.

This book comprises the peer-reviewed contributions during the 2nd International Workshop for Young Materials Scientists at BAM Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, Berlin, Germany. It also provides a very informative overview of recent results for all materials scientists.