Lack of knowledge and tools hampers circular transition in the construction industry. This study analyzes the potential of a framework of circular indicators put forward by the Building Research... Show moreLack of knowledge and tools hampers circular transition in the construction industry. This study analyzes the potential of a framework of circular indicators put forward by the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM-C) as an answer to the prevailing need of a metric for building circularity assessment to promote circular construction. A qualitative analysis approach is adopted, involving literature review, comparative case study and semi-structured interviews conducted for collecting expert opinions. An in-depth scrutiny of the BREEAM-C indicators revealed that they are rooted in circular principles, cover building circularity realizable through circular strategies, and have given due consideration to circularity in different impact areas, structural layers and life-cycle stages of buildings. Moreover, BREEAM-C indicators not only show capacity in identifying CE-related practices implemented, but also serve as benchmarks testifying that CE principles/strategies are incorporated in the design, construction, operation and management of the buildings. Despite having room for expansion, BREEAM-C has proven to be applicable and practical with potential for use in Taiwan as confirmed by expert opinions. Nevertheless, adaptation/localization is required to cater for different concerns with respect to climate and safety as well as local context and legislations. Show less
Yang, X.; Hu, M.; Shan, W.; Zhang, C.; Lee, T.; Pan, Y. 2023
Single-cell metabolomics (SCMs) is a powerful tool for studying cellular heterogeneity by providing insight into the differences between individual cells. With the development of a set of promising... Show moreSingle-cell metabolomics (SCMs) is a powerful tool for studying cellular heterogeneity by providing insight into the differences between individual cells. With the development of a set of promising SCMs pipelines, this maturing technology is expected to be widely used in biomedical research. However, before SCMs is ready for primetime, there are some challenges to overcome. In this review, we summarize the trends and challenges in the development of SCMs. We also highlight the latest methodologies, applications, and sketch the perspective for integration with other omics and imaging approaches. Show less
The vital role of international broadcasting during times of international conflict has gained increasing attention; however, national variations in terms of communication strategies have rarely... Show moreThe vital role of international broadcasting during times of international conflict has gained increasing attention; however, national variations in terms of communication strategies have rarely been explored in depth. This study fills this research gap by providing a comparative analysis of the communication strategies of Chinese and Russian state-sponsored international broadcasters. By examining CGTN’s coverage of the South China Sea arbitration and RT’s coverage of the Ukraine crisis in 2014, we find that the Chinese international broadcaster preferred official Chinese sources and a peace frame during a time of conflict, whereas its Russian counterpart tended to engage with Western countercultural speakers and present conflict frames. We further interpret the two media’s different usage of sources and frames in the light of the media’s organizational culture and the sponsoring states’ national identities. The research advances the scholarship on the increasingly intensive information war between the East and the West through the way international broadcasters cover international conflicts. It enriches our understanding of the cultural and national dynamics underpinning the non-Western emerging countries’ approaches of international communication. Show less
Zhang, C.; Adriaanse, M.A.; Potgieter, R.; Tummers, L.; Wit, J. de; Broersen, J.; ... ; Aarts, H. 2022
Background: Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, physical distancing and hand washing have been used as effective means to reduce virus transmission in the Netherlands. However, these... Show moreBackground: Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, physical distancing and hand washing have been used as effective means to reduce virus transmission in the Netherlands. However, these measures pose a societal challenge as they require people to change their customary behaviours in various contexts. The science of habit formation is potentially useful for informing policy-making in public health, but the current literature largely overlooked the role of habit in predicting and explaining these preventive behaviours. Our research aimed to describe habit formation processes of physical distancing and hand washing and to estimate the influences of habit strength and intention on behavioural adherence. Methods: A longitudinal survey was conducted between July and November 2020 on a representative Dutch sample (n = 800). Respondents reported their intentions, habit strengths, and adherence regarding six context-specific preventive behaviours on a weekly basis. Temporal developments of the measured variables were visualized, quantified, and mapped onto five distinct phases of the pandemic. Regression models were used to test the effects of intention, habit strength, and their interaction on behavioural adherence. Results: Dutch respondents generally had strong intentions to adhere to all preventive measures and their adherence rates were between 70% and 90%. They also self-reported to experience their behaviours as more automatic over time, and this increasing trend in habit strength was more evident for physical-distancing than for hand washing behaviours. For all six behaviours, both intention and habit strength predicted subsequent adherence (all ps < 2e-16). In addition, the predictive power of intention decreased over time and was weaker for respondents with strong habits for physical distancing when visiting supermarkets (B = -0.63, p <.0001) and having guests at home (B = -0.54, p <.0001) in the later phases of the study, but not for hand washing. Conclusions: People's adaptations to physical-distancing and hand washing measures involve both intentional and habitual processes. For public health management, our findings highlight the importance of using contextual cues to promote habit formation, especially for maintaining physical-distancing practices. For habit theories, our study provides a unique dataset that covers multiple health behaviours in a critical real-world setting. Show less
Offshore wind energy (OWE) is a cornerstone of future clean energy development. Yet, research into global OWE material demand has generally been limited to few materials and/or low technological... Show moreOffshore wind energy (OWE) is a cornerstone of future clean energy development. Yet, research into global OWE material demand has generally been limited to few materials and/or low technological resolution. In this study, we assess the primary raw material demand and secondary material supply of global OWE. It includes a wide assortment of materials, including bulk materials, rare earth elements, key metals, and other materials for manufacturing offshore wind turbines and foundations. Our OWE development scenarios consider important drivers such as growing wind turbine size, introducing new technologies, moving further to deep waters, and wind turbine lifetime extension. We show that the exploitation of OWE will require large quantities of raw materials from 2020 to 2040: 129-235 million tonnes (Mt) of steel, 8.2-14.6 Mt of iron, 3.8-25.9 Mt of concrete, 0.5-1.0 Mt of copper and 0.3-0.5 Mt of aluminium. Substantial amounts of rare earth elements will be required towards 2040, with up to 16, 13, 31 and 20 fold expansions in the current Neodymium (Nd), Dysprosium (Dy), Praseodymium (Pr) and Terbium (Tb) demand, respectively. Closed-loop recycling of end-of-life wind turbines could supply a maximum 3% and 12% of total material demand for OWE from 2020 to 2030, and 2030 to 2040, respectively. Moreover, a potential lifetime extension of wind turbines from 20 to 25 years would help to reduce material requirements by 7-10%. This study provides a basis for better understanding future OWE material requirements and, therefore, for optimizing future OWE developments in the ongoing energy transition. Show less
The building sector plays a key role in energy transition and carbon reduction while capturing the dynamic characteristics (e.g. materials, energy performance, and environmental impact) of building... Show moreThe building sector plays a key role in energy transition and carbon reduction while capturing the dynamic characteristics (e.g. materials, energy performance, and environmental impact) of building stock is a great challenge during the gradual process. This study presents a bottom-up dynamic building stock model that links dynamic material flow analysis with building energy modeling. The environmental impact of material and energy requirements is assessed by considering future electricity mix. The model is applied to evaluate the pathways to the climate-neutral energy supply of residential building stock in the Netherlands by 2050. Results show that space heating demand decreases by about 2/3 by 2050, while the energy for hot water increases to 92% of space heating demand. 80% of public grid electricity for appliances and lighting can be potentially substituted if rooftop photovoltaic (PV) systems are installed on 50% of renovated buildings and all the new buildings. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of operational energy are reduced by approximately 60-90%, depending on the electricity mix. Annual GHG emissions from material production are not as important as those related to operational energy. Insulation materials account for a large proportion of the carbon footprint of material production. The model has a high spatial and temporal resolution and can be linked with local energy source availability (e.g. buildings or neighborhoods) to provide more accurate support for policymaking. Show less
Yang, X.; Hu, M.; Zhang, C.; Steubing, B.R.P. 2022
The construction sector is the biggest driver of resource consumption and waste generation in Europe. The European Union (EU) is making efforts to move from its traditional linear resource and... Show moreThe construction sector is the biggest driver of resource consumption and waste generation in Europe. The European Union (EU) is making efforts to move from its traditional linear resource and waste management system in the construction sector to a level of high circularity. Based on the theory of circular economy, a new paradigm called waste hierarchy was introduced in the EU Waste Framework Directive. This work uses the framework of the waste hierarchy to analyze the practice of construction and demolition waste (CDW) management in Europe. We explore the evolution of the waste hierarchy in Europe and how it compares with the circular economy. Then, based on the framework, we analyze the performance of CDW management in each EU member state. Innovative treatment methods of CDW, focusing on waste concrete, is investigated. This brings insight into optimizing and upgrading the CDW management in light of advanced technologies and steering the pathway for transitioning the EU towards a circular society. Show less
Zhang, C.; Beste, C.; Prochazkova, L.; Wang, K.; Speer, S.P.H., Smidts, A.; Boksem, M.A.S.; Hommel, B. 2022
Material circularity and energy efficiency are highly relevant and intertwined issues for the transition towards a carbon-neutral and circular built environment. In the Netherlands, the building... Show moreMaterial circularity and energy efficiency are highly relevant and intertwined issues for the transition towards a carbon-neutral and circular built environment. In the Netherlands, the building sector has been rendered a priority towards a circular and low-carbon society. This thesis explored potential solutions for these twin issues in light of a novel technological system. This system presents an energy–material efficiency solution for energy renovation of building stocks with prefabricated concrete elements (PCEs) with recycled CDW as feedstock. Life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle costing (LCC) were combined with dynamic material flow analysis (MFA) to estimate the economic and environmental implications at both a product level and a national level. Show less
