Contain all the articles from this issueICEEM/01 -- Environmental Engineering SectionThermodynamic and kinetic study of gas desulphurization by adsorption on zeolites  Ion Untea, Dan Brasoveanu, Madeleine Dancila, Szidonia Bocskor Mixed oxides derived from vanadium substituted layered double hydroxides as catalysts precursors for SO2 oxidationGabriela Carja, Ionel Popa, Gabriela Ciobanu, Nicolae Aelenei The impact of energy production on environment in RomaniaCarmen Zaharia, Mioara Sur...
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ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=25168

Contain all the articles from this issue:ICEEM/01 -- Environmental Management Section Corporate environmental competence: A concept for characterising and assessing the environmental practice in companies and product chainsMichael S?¸gaard J?¸rgensen, Marianne Forman Life cycle assessment of some alternatives for the supply of thermal energy in the municipality of Iasi (Romania).Nicolae Peiu Management options for the industrial and municipal wastes in the city of Iasi Carmen Teod...
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ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=25169

AbstractThis paper presents the architectures of wireless sensor networks integrated in a complex monitoring system for a waste water treatment plant. Presently is a very expressive trend to use wireless technology for smart sensor network communication. The measurement system avoids manual data storage and an Internet server assures remote access from a station with a Web browser. ...
Autori: Florina Ungureanu, Marcelin Iulian Balasca
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=25190

Include urmatoarele articole:� Cost sensitivity analysis by Monte Carlo simulation� Mathematical modeling of gas drying by adsorption� Methyl isobutyl ketone combustion over Pt/Al2O3 catalyst� Distribution of oxygen transfer rate in stirred bioreactors with simulated broths� Unsteady heat transfer inside an elliptic cylinder� Triphasic external-loop airlift reactors. Hydrodynamic and dispersion studies� Sustainable combined utilization of renewable forest resources and coal in Roma...
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ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=25209

AbstractThe synthesis of some grafted polysiloxane and azo-polysiloxanes with potential applications as rheology modifiers or surfactants for waterborne paints is reported. Nowadays it became very important to design environmentally friendly systems exhibiting the best end-uses properties. Due to their complex architecture and their sensitivity to UV radiation the studied polymeric systems exhibit very interesting rheological properties. All the polymers containing the azobenzenic groups in the ...
Autori: Constanta Ibanescu, Ioana Moleavin, Iulian Nor, Nicolae Hurduc, Viorel Sandu
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=25252

� Physiological changes in seedling germination and growth plant under chemical stress conditions� Studies on sorption and transport processes of cadmium in soils� Assessment of the anthropogenic impact on water systems by fluorescence spectroscopy� Research on the effects of soil improvement by fertilization on the quality of winter wheat� Halotherapy: From ethnoscience to scientific explanations� Study regarding the sorption of erythrosine from aqueous solution onto soil� Hydroxy...
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ISSN: 1582 - 9596
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=25375

AbstractThis paper presents an analysis of the levels of electromagnetic fields caused by cellular base stations or mobile phones, measured in some residential areas. A statistical processing of the data has also been done in order to estimate both the short-term and the long-term variability of the fields caused by cellular base stations in some apartments and on the terraces of the apartment buildings at tens or hundreds of meters distance from the antenna systems. In some places, comparative ...
Autori: Alexandru Salceanu, Ionut Nica, Valeriu David
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=25381

Abstract Green buildings are considered a quick and effective approach to protect the environment by slowing down the consumption rate of primary energy resources and by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In Europe, appraisals of properties should take into consideration this new feature of buildings by implementing data from Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) into real estate assessment. With this respect, a methodology is proposed and analyzed to be considered in the sales comparison rea...
Autori: Daniela Popescu, Emilia Cerna Mladin, Rodica Boazu, Sven Bienert
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=25406

Abstract The aim of the study is to outline new opportunities of improving buildings ambient comfort and thus to determine energy consumption cut down. The second half of the XX century witnessed the development of society disregarding the extent to which environment was affected by the industrial production; pollution was triggered by the widespread industry which made use of technologies whose main target was the increase of production output at any cost, an aggressive industry with respect...
Autori: Vladimir Corobceanu, Răzvan Giuşcă, Raluca Giusca
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=25549

Abstract Starting from the disadvantages of the polystyrene system – the most important being that they are not biodegradable and their life cycle is relatively small, up to fifteen years – there were conceived several structures for outside walls made of perforated bricks vertically disposed and filled with granular materials. In this manner the thermal resistance is improved knowing that in gaps bigger than twenty millimeters there appear convective streams which substantially decrease ...
Autori: Răzvan Giuşcă, Vladimir Corobceanu, Raluca Giusca
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=25551

Abstract The former Arad Chemical Fertilizer Plant had an important polluting effect on environment and, although it was shut down in 1990, its environmental heritage still exists. The paper contains a short description of the former plant and its impact on the environment, mainly on the quality of water and soil and emphasizes the effects of polluting heritage that still exists. Today, one of the major problems on the platform of the former Fertilizer Plant is the existence of all concrete b...
Autori: Aurica Grec, Florin Dumescu, Ladislau Klein
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=25599

? GREEN SYNTHESIS OF SYMMETRICAL CARBONATE FT-IR STUDY ? SINTERED BASALT AS A PROMISING SUSTAINABLE MATERIAL IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING ? DESIGN OF BUILDINGS INCLUDING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ? ANALYSIS METHODS FOR PYRAZINE-2,3-DICARBOXYLIC ACID SYNTHESIZED USING ELECTROCHEMICALLY REGENERATED KMnO4 ? RESEARCH ON NaCl SALINE AEROSOLS II. NEW ARTIFICIAL HALOCHAMBER CHARACTERISTICS ? DETERMINATION OF AEROSOLS POLLUTANTS ON MEMBRANES. 1. MEMBRANES PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATIO...
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ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=25660

? STUDY OF BIODIESEL PRODUCTION FROM OILSEED PLANTS II. EVALUATION OF BIODISEL PRODUCTION FROM SOME CULTIVARS OF RAPES ? STUDY OF BIODIESEL PRODUCTION FROM OILSEED PLANTS I. EVALUATION OF THE GENETIC SIMILARITY OF SOME Brassica Napus CULTIVARS USING RAPD MARKERS ? STRUCTURAL CHARACTERIZATION AND IN VITRO CYTOTOXIC POTENTIAL OF COAL DUST IN A ROMANIAN POWER PLANT ? MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN BENGHAZI (LIBYA): CURRENT PRACTICES AND CHALLENGES ? COMPARATIVE ENVIRONM...
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ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=25661

Abstract:One of the most complex aspects of water accounting is the assessment of point and diffuse source pollution. At present, thebuilding sector in European countries is responsible for 40% of the total energy consumption. To reduce the European Uniondependency on energy import, the strategy undertaken in Lisbon is to reduce as much as possible the energy consumption ofbuildings and to increase the share of renewable energy sources. As an average, house heating represents about 75% from the ...
Autori: Ferenc Kalmár, Tünde Kalmár
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=25750

Abstract:The concept of passive and low energy houses became fashionable in the last years and the European Parliament also initiated aproposal to build only near zero energy houses from 2018. The regulations already in force aim at low energy consumption (mostlikely influenced by the wide spreading of the �Passivhaus� concept in Europe) and by 2018 harmonized regulations andstandards will require the near zero energy building. According to the concept of the Energy Performance of Building D...
Autori: András Zöld, Tünde Kalmár
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=25751

Abstract:The aim of this paper is to present an assessment of the importance of mobility in the context of lifelong learning in the field offuture human resources - students, in particular - in order to contribute to sustainable development. Developing, adapting andbroadening the range of skills of individuals to create and fill the jobs of the future are the most important contemporary Europeanaim. The process of improving workforce skills involves a mutual gain for both employers and companies...
Autori: Crina Radulescu, Madlena Nen, Radu Stoika
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=25759

Abstract:The state support programs on retrofitting buildings built with prefabricated technology has a decade-long history in Hungary.The launch of the Green Investment Scheme (GIS) in 2009 has introduced a new path: the performance-oriented approach. Thenew model is designed for implementing more complex renovations on a deeper level. The system is in accordance with theEPBD (EPBD, 2002) and exact savings must be quantified for all projects. The present paper outlines the past and the present ...
Autori: Attila Talamon, Tamás Csoknyai
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=25765

Abstract:The work presents the results in investigating the thermal behaviour of passive solar elements, for expanding the existing analysisand prediction methodologies. The interest focuses on solar control through natural shading with deciduous plants. This providesa natural path for incorporating all advantages the passive behaviour, available throughout the year. The simulation of thedynamic energy performance of building elements is developed, starting with a physical modelling of the vario...
Autori: Angelos D. Tzachanis
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=25768

Abstract:Lightweight materials are more viable for use in invariably hot or cold climates than in temperate climates. However, it is possibleto use lightweight construction systems and specifically membranes even in housing buildings in temperate climate areas, if theirproperties are well explored, allowing better environmental performance and cost effectiveness than conventional solutions. In theouter skin and in dividing elements, architectural membranes can be used as thermal regulators, for ...
Autori: António Pedro Reis, Joăo Pedro Couto, Paulo Mendonça
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=25781

Soil hydraulic characteristics are variable, being influenced by climate changes. Research conducted until now in this area has been based on field soil sampling; their laboratory analysis using experimental techniques; and the use of models and programs for data processing and interpretation. The present research is based on the idea of incorporating smart sensors on site, each one having its own network address, accessible for any location. They can be programmed to send an alarm signal when t...
Autori: Constantin Victor Stătescu, Dorin Cotiusca Zauca, Florian Stătescu
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=25831

Since the last century, as a consequence of advanced industrialization, the remarkable growth of population, and its mobility have turned the field of transport into the main factor responsible for air pollution attributable to mobile sources of pollution. The continuous accumulation of various pollutants in the environment determines severe consequences on humans, animals and plants, buildings, works of art and landscape. Road transport represents, through its characteristic features – high f...
Autori: Gabriela Mitran, Ion Tabacu, Sorin Ilie, Viorel Nicolae
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=25898

This special issue of EnvironmentalEngineering and Management Journal is dedicated tointerdisciplinary research and discusses multipleresults addressing environmental issues inElectromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) andEngineering in Medicine and Biology (EMB) areas.Some of the most significant researchdirections considered in this issue entail theelectromagnetic pollution together with a survey ofelectromagnetic environment in order to analyze andquantify the biological and health effects ofelectro...
Autori:
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=25990

AbstractIn this paper we describe a wireless system, including smart sensing nodes for indoor air quality and unobtrusive cardiorespiratorymonitoring. The sensing nodes include a set of solid state gas sensors, sensors for temperature and relative humidity, amicrowave Doppler radar sensor for cardio-respiratory function, and appropriate conditioning circuits expressed by active filtersand amplifiers. The analog signals provided by the signal conditioning circuits is applied to a data acquisition...
Autori: Gabriela Postolache, Octavian Postolache, Pedro Silva Girăo
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26007

AbstractWater distribution networks are complex systems that require innovative technological solutions enabling an integrated andrational water resource management. This paper presents the application of data analytics approaches on flow and pressure data,continuously measured at crucial points of the network, for improving efficiency of leak localization. The general goal is toreduce time and costs for physical check and consequent rehabilitation activities.Although the general benefits provid...
Autori: Antonio Candelieri, Enza Messina, Francesco Archetti
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26018

AbstractWith the development of transportation systems, the associated traffic noise problem has drawn more and more attention in HongKong. Under the Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines, a standard of 70 dB(A), measured as LA10 (1 hour), has been setfor road traffic noise. The Calculation of Road Traffic Noise (CRTN) method has been adopted in Hong Kong to estimate suchnoise. This study first examined and evaluated the accuracy of this method in predicting traffic noise at different floo...
Autori: Cheuk Ming Mak
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26082

Abstract In a world of uncertainty, the only constant is change and rapid change produces a multitude of diverse facts. Risk is an integral part of life. While no country in the world is entirely safe, the lack of capacity to limit the impact of hazards remains a major burden for all countries and while the world has witnessed an exponential increase in human and material losses due to natural disasters, there is a need to reverse trends in vulnerability to earthquakes. Available d...
Autori: Gheorghe Mărmureanu
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26140

AbstractEnergy efficiency in buildings is a key issue in achieving sustainable development. Many decision support methodologies andtools have been developed, mainly based on energy consumption measurements or simulations and rules designed by experts toconstruct Building Energy Management Systems. An extension of this information from raw consumptions to energy efficiency isrequired. In addition, a visual depiction of this information with temporal and spatial resolution, applied to the differen...
Autori: Mark Richard Wilby
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26259

AbstractThe construction industry is one of the main sectors of energy consumption and carbon emissions in China. The new-types ofbuilding materials can be produced by recycling industrial solid wastes which is an effective solution to development of greenbuilding materials and abatement of environmental emissions. In this paper, new-types of bricks made of fly ash (residuesgenerated in coal combustion) and coal gangue (a kind of solid wastes generated in coal mining and coal production) and the...
Autori: Haitao Zhang
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26265

AbstractOne of the key issues in building construction is environmental sustainability. Conventional methods of construction do not consider the in-built capacity to adapt over time according to new technical requirements and environmental consequences. Therefore, any change or renovation of the building will result in significant cost and lost use during its lifecycle. Designing flexible buildings for easy change and adaptation will assist the main concept of sustainability by reducing material...
Autori: M. Fauzi M. Zain, Maslina Jamil, Nasibeh Sadafi
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26293

AbstractThis paper offers a case study of the seismic vulnerability assessment of existing buildings in 18 villages located in the Val d’Agri area (Basilicata region, Southern Italy). A building-by-building inventory was carried out within the urban areas of the villages by trained technicians in two periods collecting typological data for a total of about 17,500 buildings. In the first period (2001-2003), a purposely drawn up inspection form (VSP-2001) based on the usability form adopted in Ita...
Autori: Angelo Masi, Carmelinda Samela, Leonardo Chiauzzi, Luigi Tosco, Marco Vona
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26299

AbstractIn the context of the complexity of the environmental system, this paper addresses the problem of environmental modeling,considering the global aspects of sustainability as well as the linkage between environmental and economic issues. The survey onintegrated modeling highlights that the complexity of the environmental problems should be approached on the basis of multidisciplinarycooperation and studies. Furthermore, the European environmental standards and products quality standards im...
Autori: Ion Viorel Matei, Laura Ungureanu
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26356

AbstractA township consists of diversified communities, and communities are the basic units of local infrastructure. The public buildings,public lighting equipment, private buildings, and community residents are the normal-state energy consuming aggregates. Ascommunity organizations have great influences, the promotion of community energy-saving policy under the organizationalinfluence, along with the concepts of direction, evaluation, and subsidy, can help to realize the community energy-saving...
Autori: Sung-Lin Hsueh
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26374

AbstractWoodland covers about one third of Italy. No longer just a source of products for fuels and buildings, forests also have aprotective function against natural disasters like landslides and they also serve as recreational areas for people.Our primary goal was to define an overall method for assessing the possible uses of woodland areas to help those preparing forestplanning instruments for evaluating the productive, protective and recreational functions of the woodlands. We quantified, usi...
Autori: Alessandro Toccolini, Giulio Senes, Natalia Fumagalli, Paolo Ferrario
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26382

AbstractAccurate quantification of gaseous emissions from livestock buildings to the atmosphere requires accurate determination of theventilation rate and the representative gas concentration in the exhaust air. But there is a lack in the investigation of reasons anduncertainties for selecting sampling points and locations in naturally ventilated dairy (NVD) buildings. The objective of thisstudy was to investigate uncertainties in calculating AER based on carbon dioxide (CO2) balance method. The...
Autori: Chayan K. Saha
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26515

AbstractThe building stock in Eastern European countries varies greatly in terms of the thermal properties of the materials used. Duringrecent decades, the requirements related to building energy performance have been changed. Nevertheless, the number of newlybuilt buildings has decreased in recent years, so there are few buildings that fulfill the strictest requirements that were recentlyintroduced. Several national programs have been started to help owners improve the energy use of their build...
Autori: Béla Bodó
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26529

AbstractThe Electrical Engineering and Mechatronics Department has developed a Building Mechatronics Research Center, whereprofessors and researchers engage in several projects regarding the energy consumption of buildings, which are focused on theimportance of the economic return of building modernizations via simulations. In this article, the prevalent energeticmodernization of buildings and their payback period in Hungary are introduced....
Autori: Emese Bánóczy
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26531

AbstractIn European countries, because of low fossil fuel reserves, energy saving is one of the primary research goals in every energyconsumer sector. In the last several years, several directives were elaborated by the European Commission to enhance the energyefficiency in buildings and increase the use of renewable energy sources. In European countries with temperate climates, in aresidential building with a “traditional” insulation of the envelope, heating represents approximately 65 to 75% o...
Autori: Imre Csáky
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26534

AbstractIn this paper, we develop a rigorous theoretical framework and a practical implementation for the evaluation of the energy- andcost-saving potential of buildings. The goal is to promote sustainability in the context of building energetics by achieving themost efficient, optimal exploitation of the financial resources available for refurbishments. The practical realization of thisconcept requires the evaluation of the optimal refurbishment cost that maximizes the net energetic or financia...
Autori: Árpád Csík
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26535

AbstractIn European countries with temperate climates, heating represents approximately 70% of the total energy consumption of aresidential building. Different Directives of the European Parliament and Council prescribe the enhancement of energy efficiencyand the reduction of energy demand of buildings. Consequently, the control of delivered heat is indispensable. The properoperation of the control system is possible only for balanced central heating systems. In the case of central heating syste...
Autori: Sándor Hámori
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26537

AbstractThe sustainable refurbishment of the existing building stock is a key issue in achieving the ambitious long-term energy andenvironmental goals of the European Union. Europe has a vast building stock built with prefabricated reinforced concrete largepanelconstruction technology after World War II to decrease the general housing shortage, mostly in the Eastern-Europeancountries and East Germany.This study focuses on the environmental evaluation of the retrofitting of the existing precast l...
Autori: Sára Hrabovszky-Horváth
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26538

AbstractAmong the various environmental problems arising today, special attention must be paid to the issues related to energy; inparticular one of the most important tasks to address environmental issues is the decreasing of the energy consumption ofbuildings. As a result, much attention has been given recently to research projects aiming to analyze the technological,economical and environmental features of energy efficient buildings. This paper examines such buildings in four regions ofEurope ...
Autori: Gábor Kozma
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26543

AbstractThe thermal and water insulation of buildings is extremely important. Currently, the most applied insulation materials in thebuilding sector are plastic foams and fibrous materials. Different types of polystyrene materials are used as water and thermalinsulators, e.g., expanded polystyrene (EPS) and extruded polystyrene (XPS). The differences between the different polystyrenematerials is found in their manufacturing processes and thus in their microstructure. Our research focuses on the ...
Autori: Ákos Lakatos
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26546

AbstractCurrently, thermal insulation of buildings is required from both an energy savings perspective and a money savings perspective.Insulation is primarily installed on the outer surface of the buildings. Weather and other circumstances can produce humidity thatcan act on the building structure, e.g., by changing its heat capacity, the heat transfer coefficient and/or other factors. As a result,it is important to measure the sorption behaviors of the construction materials. To perform sorptio...
Autori: Ferenc Szodrai
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26550

AbstractDue to the continuously increasing trend in the costs of the traditional fossil fuels, the development of residential or commercialbuildings with reduced energy needs becomes a significant and more pressing scientific challenge. At the same time, consumersare increasingly demanding more comfortable buildings, where the energy needs are addressed using locally available renewableenergy resources. Consumers also require a higher level of security, supervision, and control of the building, ...
Autori: Géza Husi
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26553

AbstractInterest in the relationship between innovation and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has grown considerably in the last fewyears. The aim of this paper is to analyze the relationship between a company’s technological posture and CSR, as one of themain determinants of technological innovation performance. From knowledge-based and stakeholders’ theories a structuralequations model of relationships was established and statistically tested through Smart PLS on a sample of Spanish firms ...
Autori: María I. González-Ramos
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26576

Abstract This paper proposes an expert system based on Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) to model road traffic noise. Feed-Forward Neural Networks (FFNNs) that are trained with the Levenberg-Marquardt back-propagation algorithm were used. Models were evaluated using mean squared error (MSE) and coefficient of determination (R2) as statistical performance parameters. In traffic noise modelling, the noise level at a receptor position due to the source of traffic emission is modelled as a funct...
Autori: Leila Khouban
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26700

Abstract The main purpose of this paper is to assess the concentration levels of pollutants at six urban sites in Bucharest, Romania in order to draw conclusions on their temporal variability in different sources and under different meteorological conditions. The analysis of measured pollutant concentrations (NOx, NO2, CO, PM10) runs over three years: 2005, 2006 and 2007, and uses data from the network of monitoring stations of Environmental Protection Agency of Bucharest, which was establis...
Autori: Sabina Stefan
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26701

Abstract Today, a new generation of software applications can be developed, as IT services developed by software providers can be integrated by solution developers in complex control and monitoring Smart Building Management solutions. This paper introduces the concept of Virtual Smart Building Service Enterprise (SBSE) as a novel perspective to develop an innovated services ecosystem for smart buildings. The Virtual SBSE allows different stakeholder categories to interact in order to develop...
Autori: Monica Drăgoicea
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26739

Abstract This paper presents a toolset for the efficient control of the indoor air quality and thermal comfort in retrofitted buildings. The refurbishment of existing buildings, compliant to actual regulations, often leads to airtightness and the consequent poor conditions for the occupants that could cause low productivity and even sickness. For this reason, the CETIEB (Cost Effective Tools for Better Indoor Environment in Retrofitted Energy Efficient Buildings) project developed innovative...
Autori: Gian Marco Revel
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26770

Abstract It has been shown that the scale of damage in buildings with steel reinforcement, due to direct lightning strikes, is insignificantly small compared to lightning effects on buildings with no such steel reinforcement. Observed small-scale damages are also confined to points of strike; hence the only risk for occupants and properties is injury or damage caused by falling materials. A large number of such cases have been observed in Sri Lanka and Malaysia. All damaged structures, obser...
Autori: Chandima Gomes
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26821

Abstract Water Distribution Networks (WDN) are large-scale systems whose management is a complex task, with increasing environmental and socio-economic implications worldwide, and with a renewed considerable attention by all stakeholders: local authorities, regulators, environmental groups and the scientific community. WDM managers need to reliably estimate the water demand in the short-term (typically 1 day ahead), in order to operate their reservoirs and treatment plants appropriately to ...
Autori: Antonio Candelieri
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26830

Abstract Urban environments present unique opportunities for developing new system architectures and applications aligned with the “Internet of things” paradigm. The data sources are still largely provided by physical sensors and technical devices, albeit a significant role is already played (e.g. in environmental monitoring networks) by virtual or soft sensors provided by simulation models, while a growing role is being played by human data generated thru participatory platforms...
Autori: Francesco Archetti
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26833

Abstract A large number of energy inefficient buildings were constructed without taking into account the principles of green building, which requires efficient utilization of local resources. In this work hemp and peat fibres were used in order to produce effective ecological thermal insulating material. Tests were carried out using short dishevelled hemp and chopped peat fibres. Effective composites from local renewable resources were produced. Macro- and microstructures of composites as we...
Autori: Rūta Stapulionienė
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26844

Abstract Solar energy is one of the most important renewable resources due to its unique set of advantages. In urban configurations, wide open spaces used for parking areas close to malls, stadiums and industrial areas become justified challenges in revaluating them by placing solar panels on their wide roofs. The paper is a first attempt that reflects the scientific interest in the particularities of wind action upon the solar panels sustained by structural framed elements and which cover ...
Autori: Elena Axinte
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26849

In this study, Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) is surveyed in the residential buildings of Ekbatan, a district in the Western part of Tehran. A number of 330 individuals were selected randomly. It was investigated whether factors such as the physical conditions of the sampled buildings, occupation and lifestyle-related behavior such as smoking were associated with the intensification of irritation and mental symptoms. The symptoms of SBS were observed positive in 56.4% of the cases. The worst sy...
Autori: Amir Sheikhmohammadi
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=26998

The densities and distributions of airborne fungal spores known to cause respiratory tract disorders were monitored in three educational buildings located in different boroughs in Iaşi. Air samples from all locations were collected monthly over a period of 3 months (March-May 2011), using the Petri plate gravitational settling (passive) method. Petri plates containing nutrient media were exposed to room air for a 15-minute period, face upwards, to collect particles settling by gravity. A...
Autori: Florin Daniel Lipşa
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27003

Production and utilization of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs), which are smart materials with ability of sensing and destroying chemical contaminants, is growing rapidly. However, these materials seem to have some ecological and health adverse effects. Hence, the main goal of this review study is to give a brief description about the recent developments of the commercial available engineered nano particles in the environmental remediation and also to note the current state of findings about t...
Autori: Mohammadreza Kamali
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27017

In the current context, when studies regarding the planet’s ability to sustain the human species consumption present more and more grim scenarios, it is required, more than ever, to consider sustainable development as a main priority for development strategies worldwide. In this sense, reducing the negative environmental impact of building materials and lowering energy consumption in buildings exploitation becomes the main axis for most of the new tendencies in architecture and civil e...
Autori: Marian Pruteanu
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27040

The generation of energy via fossil fuel burning results in carbon emissions. These emissions contribute to the climate change of our world, particularly in terms of global warming. On the contrary, energy has become blood of life for the existence and functioning of our built environments. In order to control carbon emissions, the UK has taken lead among many countries around the globe and especially in Europe by passing a bill for the Climate Change Act 2008 which legally binds the UK to at...
Autori: Talib E. Butt
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27045

In this paper, the steps used in the process of building 3D model creation, using images acquired with the UMK 10/1318 metric terrestrial photogrammetric camera and digital images acquired with the Canon EOS Rebel XSi/450D digital non-metric camera, are presented in detail. For the calibration process of both cameras, the Heikkila and Silven algorithm and a 3D calibration object were used. In order to save time, both on the field and back to the office, instead of taking and processing UMK im...
Autori: Ersilia Oniga
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27056

Urbanization and industrialization have led to the increase in impervious surfaces, the reduction of water seepage into soil and the increase of runoff discharges in urban areas. The overland flow may be carried over long distances along the streets and sidewalks depending on the land slope and morphology, while in lowland, water tends to accumulate in ponds. In this research, we aim to identify these ponds in the floodplain, slope and urbanized interfluves in Cluj-Napoca. The ponds outline t...
Autori: Ionel Haidu
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27063

A test for quantifying the contribution of colour and scale to the visual impact of buildings in the rural setting was developed and validated by means of a public opinion survey. The method was based on some psychological aspects of visual perception and on a simple image treatment performed by a well known and easily available computer program. Results were provided as numerical values, enabling the quantification of the impact for the two individual elements studied and for their potential in...
Autori: María Jesús Montero-Parejo
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27080

The aim of this study is to investigate an innovative way to utilize the char obtained from tyres pyrolysis, in order to realize lightweight materials for building. Pyrolysis residue, mixed with three types of waste glass, has been used as raw material to obtain lightweight materials, exploiting its capability to behave as foaming agent. The results demonstrate that the pyrolysis char is a good foaming agent for the mixtures 50/50 with glassy sand and packaging glass waste, thermal treated at...
Autori: Fernanda Andreola
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27119

Nowadays environmental protection has become a valuable asset for the entire society. The information based society can provide more efficient solutions in its risks mitigation. There are already in place complex infrastructures used to monitor and control the natural environment, but most of them have lower or no interdependency. A solution to gain this integration level is represented by the “smart cities” concept. This study will present an approach used to integrate almost eve...
Autori: Mihai Horia Zaharia
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27164

Natural disasters from earthquakes can cause considerable damages, with potentially severe effects to urban environment. Last strong Vrancea earthquake on March 4, 1977 (Mw=7.4, depth=95km); tens of thousands of buildings damaged, many people injured and dead. Strong earthquakes in the Vrancea zone occur between 60-200 km depth within an almost vertical column. Bucharest Earthquake Early Warning (EEW) system detects earthquakes with a seismic network in the epicentral Vrancea region and issue a ...
Autori: Hakan Alcik
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27235

Environmental issues have received ascending attention in recent years due to the increase of their negative effects. Greenhouse gas emission levels have experienced an exponential increase in the last decades mainly on account of the development of the building sector. Life cycle assessment (LCA) of buildings is a proper tool to analyse the full environmental impact during their designed lifespan. Inventory databases have a shortage of local parameters in some countries and need to be developed...
Autori: Iosif Boros
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27289

The propagation of electromagnetic radiation was investigated at different points, and the theory of covariance was applied to identify the main parameters by recording the max, mean and min values of density. The biggest electric field strength values are emitted by the second generation (2G) GSM mobile phones that operate in the frequency band of 900 MHz. The smaller electric field strength values are determined by the higher frequency (1800 MHz) used by mobile phones and smaller maximum power...
Autori: Raimondas Buckus
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27314

Continuously increasing energy prices, as well as the increasing number of legal stipulations, bring to the attention of scientists the necessity of finding solutions for energy saving by using different heat sources. According to the EU Action Plan, the highest potential of energy savings (27-30% until 2020) will be applied to the existing buildings. Under the circumstances of environmental issues, research on the use of secondary energy resources is of great interest, being a concern in the...
Autori: Timea Gabor
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27395

• EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF TEMPERATURE EFFECTS ON THE PARAMETERS OF PHOTOVOLTAIC PANELS    • CONCENTRATIONS OF CHROMIUM, CADMIUM AND NICKEL IN TWO CONSUMED FISH SPECIES OF PERSIAN GULF, IRAN    • IMPROVING THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS BY USING A DRAIN WATER HEAT RECOVERY SYSTEM    • ASSESSMENT OF METAL CONTAMINATION AND ECOLOGICAL RISK IN URBAN SOILS SITUATED NEAR A METALLURGICAL COMPLEX    • FINANCIAL DE...
Autori:
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27398

EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF TEMPERATURE EFFECTS ON THE PARAMETERS OF PHOTOVOLTAIC PANELS    • CONCENTRATIONS OF CHROMIUM, CADMIUM AND NICKEL IN TWO CONSUMED FISH SPECIES OF PERSIAN GULF, IRAN    • IMPROVING THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS BY USING A DRAIN WATER HEAT RECOVERY SYSTEM    • ASSESSMENT OF METAL CONTAMINATION AND ECOLOGICAL RISK IN URBAN SOILS SITUATED NEAR A METALLURGICAL COMPLEX    • FINANCIAL DEVELOPME...
Autori:
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27399

Steady Raw Materials (RM) supply is essential for the EU economy and increasingly under pressure to sustain the businesses and industries demand. The supply of RM is not only a matter of availability of primary but also of secondary raw materials (SRM). In fact a great amount of waste can be regained as practical and valuable SRM by enhancing the recovery processes from industrial, mining and municipal landfill sites, especially if we consider that Europe is highly dependent on the imports of...
Autori: Giovanna Antonella Dino
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27403

Sharing economy business experiences are rapidly rising worldwide and deeply changing structures and models of customers purchasing attitudes and needs. Inspired by principles of sustainable consumption, its starting point is the idea that every underutilized resource is a wasted resource. Beyond the digital services implemented by sharing platform, there are also social and physical places where communities are experimenting the potential of collaborative and innovative solutions: purchasing...
Autori: Paola Sposato
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27417

This paper describes shortly some outcomes of a project aiming to apply a scientific research directly to industry, passing through a system that wants to promote an economic "Pact" in relation to the new construction and renovation projects of energy, according to its fundamental guidelines of the moment: renewable energy and energy efficiency. The key point is to produce energy from recycled materials that become functional to dwellings (from the garden shed to furnishings, etc.),...
Autori: Marco Santarelli
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27421

In the current work, a numerical model for the prediction of temperature, air velocity, relative humidity and ammonia distribution released by sheep and goats manure inside a naturally ventilated livestock building is presented. Given that noteworthy amount of gaseous pollutants are emitted by the agricultural and animal husbandry activities, the study of the indoor microclimate is essential to be investigated for the healthy growth of the breeding livestock. The developed numerical model is sat...
Autori: Catherine Baxevanou
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27482

This study undertakes to characterize through thermal analysis in dynamic conditions a wide range of building materials used for various types of insulation and presents for the first time a comparative analysis of their thermal stability. To this effect, the dynamic thermal analysis TG/DTG was applied. The results show a degradation resulting in one, two or three stages after a complex mechanism, with different mass loss, depending on the structure and atmosphere in which the thermal decomposit...
Autori: Andreea-Camelia Sprânceană
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27514

Real estate is an industry sector with high potential to increase energy efficiency. However, many of the existing green building investment opportunities (GBIO) are not utilized because economic valuation tools are complex and oftentimes difficult to understand. For this reason, we develop a formal, but comprehensible bottom-up model to determine the optimal investment amount from an economic perspective, placing particular emphasis on the descriptive valuation of risk, and point out the applic...
Autori: Hans Ulrich Buhl
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27687

The present paper focuses upon the analysis of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K radionuclides, making use of high-resolution HPGe γ-spectrometry devices. By means of this technique, the radiological risk is investigated in the case of various sand samples. The natural concentrations for 226Ra, 232Th and 40K, from sand samples, ranged from (9.3-20.0 Bqkg-1), (9.1-23.7 Bqkg-1) and (203.5-403.3 Bqkg-1), respectively. The radium equivalent activity of sands under investigation was also analyzed and ranged...
Autori: Dorin Vasile Moldovan
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27775

A study was conducted to determine the composition and concentration of trace metals in suspended particulate matter (PM10) and indoor dust in two academic buildings of Universiti KebangsaanMalaysia. One building was in the final phases of renovation (UR) and the other building had just finished renovation (AR). PM10 sampling of air was performed using a low volume sampler (LVS), and samples of indoor dust were obtained using a brush and a small plastic bag. The compositions of trace metals in b...
Autori: Mohd Talib Latif
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27758

Indoor environment significantly affects occupants’ health and productivity. However, in smart buildings and cities, it can be improved thanks to the implementation of innovative ICT systems and services. Thermal comfort is one of the most complex aspects to be considered to enhance occupants’ well-being, because of the relevant role played by subjective parameters (physiological, psychological and cultural) in its evaluation. This challenge can be tackled by integrating wearable dev...
Autori: Andrea Calvaresi
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27783

Human behavior in critical situations is at the core of all concerns about the fire safety of buildings, regardless of their destination. The way in which the human caught in the fire reacts to the risk factor to which he is exposed, his behavioral response to the direct action of the fire, or his psychological response to the effect of the fire (temperature, smoke opacity, reduced visibility, exposure to toxic combustion gases), are all factors that can drastically influence the required saf...
Autori: Marius Cornel Şuvar
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=27965

The present study has established a methodology to determine the most environmentally sustainable area for the expansion of a city center using Geographic Information System (GIS) technology. This technology permits the graphical information associated with a municipality to be manipulated, integrated, analyzed and represented in a simple way that is cost effective during the early decision making steps, which analyze the various options regarding the urbanistic planning prior to taking final...
Autori: Marco Criado
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=28028

The embedment of circular economy principles in cities is an opportunity to reduce the urban waste production and resource consumption towards closed-loop systems. In particular, the adoption of circular economy strategies as regeneration, optimization, sharing and loops can overcome waste and inefficiencies of linear economy. This paper presents some circular economy practices bringing an integration of circular strategies at urban scale. This work was funded by the Research into Electrical Sys...
Autori: Francesca Cappellaro
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=28076

Soil salinization is becoming worldwide one of the most serious land degradation issues. Seawater intrusion in upper aquifers is responsible for the largest proportion of salt-affected agricultural lands in coastal areas. In this study, the impact of different irrigation strategies on the salinity of a maize cultivated field located in the coastal plain of Ravenna, Italy, was simulated with the FAO AquaCrop model. Model calibration was supported by comparison with remote-sensed and field collect...
Autori: Marinella Masina
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=28088

Cost effective management of construction and demolition waste (C&DW) has become a serious issue with increased construction activity and modern urban lifestyle which is damaging environment, eating up resources and causing rapid land use changes. These factors have influenced the construction industry significantly and therefore gained the practitioners’ attention in recent past. New strategies of C&DW reduction management are being devised and reported; this research aims at prov...
Autori: Ahsen Maqsoom
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=28096

This manuscript presents the bicriteria optimization of a polygeneration system to be installed in a tertiary sector building, considering economic and environmental objective functions. Electricity, hot water, steam, and cooling demands were considered. The bicriteria problem considered the annual costs and the annual carbon footprint. Updated environmental information was obtained through the application of the Life Cycle Assessment methodology and implemented within a Mixed Integer Linear Pr...
Autori: Bruno Campos Teixeira de Carvalho
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=28103

This study is an attempt to monitor the indoor microclimate and the microbiological contamination of some indoor objects inside a wooden Orthodox church. Standard microbiological techniques were used for the isolation and identification of the fungi present in the dust of the superficial surface of the paintings chosen to be investigated for biodeterioration. Samples were taken from approximately 1 cm2 of the surface of the analysed paintings (cotton canvas, wood, on primer) using the cotton swa...
Autori: Dorina Camelia Ilieș
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=28114

Building industry is a very large domain in the global economy and it has a lot of consequences over the environment through many and different aspects. These consequences are various, from the more and more extended area of construction up to gas emissions released during materials manufacture and transportation, construction process, exploitation of buildings and, finally, their deconstruction. The concrete, the most used material in construction industry all over the world, must become green...
Autori: Catalina Mihaela Gradinaru
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=28138

Waste is one of the main environmental problems of the twenty-first century. The construction industry plays a critical role in this problem. Reducing construction and demolition (C&D) waste to a minimum is crucial considering its negative impacts on nature, human health and economies. Determining designers’ awareness levels about the fact that the majority of waste generated in all life stages of buildings are largely based on design-related decisions and this waste can be reduced in ...
Autori: Burcu SalgÄąn
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=28172

Natural wastewater treatment systems can represent a smart solution in small communities (50-2000 Population Equivalent) as they are very low-cost technologies in terms of energy consumption and maintenance. Moreover, those systems could be implemented as clean processes for wastewater reuse in the frame of circular economy applications. In this context the present study examines the main features of Subsurface Flow System - horizontal (SFS-H) phyto-treatment process. To this aim a pilot plant w...
Autori: Carmine Fiorentino
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=28297

A circular economy system will allow company to directly operate an effective re-cycling policy. Establishing a new “zero waste” impact scheme, in order to recover by-products from the production process, thus leading to an increased market price in comparison to their economic value, and by doing so with full respect of the blue and circular economy standards applied to the product. The main objective of the PVC upcycling project is to facilitate the transition of R.ED.EL.’s ...
Autori: Consuelo Nava
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=28304

This study analysed the recycling of debris derived from the partial and selective demolition of concrete structures of Sant’Elia Stadium in Cagliari (Sardinia, Italy). This recycling was carried out to obtain coarse recycled aggregates for the production of recycled concrete. The experimental investigations demonstrated the possibility of using these recycled concrete aggregates in structural concrete and in precast concrete element, with unchanged production processes and suitable mechan...
Autori: Luisa Pani
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=28307

The basic purpose of a hospital is to provide a cure to the ailing patients. Since the patients are already suffering from ailments, the hospital must be a place for comfort and mental peace. Indoor Environmental Quality plays a vital role in maintaining that comfort. The hospital building must be designed on the standards to provide the required thermal comfort. If the building is already built and operational, retrofitting techniques are used to maintain the standard values of indoor environm...
Autori:
ISSN: 1843 - 3707
http://www.ecozone.ro/reviste.php?RID=28325