Class Project Report, Spring 2014E 449/549 Sustainable Air Quality

Sustainability Transition of Sulfurous Air Quality 1960-2013

Emissions and Causality Drivers - Lesley OlsonAmbient Sulfurous Air Quality - Andrew Martahus

Control Measures - Jennifer Elwell

Instructor: Rudolf B. HusarWashington University, St. Louis, MO, May 2, 2014

Traditional views of Sustainable Development

• Brundtland Commission (1987)– Meet the needs of the present without

compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

• National Academy of Sciences – Our Common Journey: A Transition Towards

Sustainability– Call for evaluation of major trends and transitions

needed to determine what issues must be tackled

Sustainability ScienceHarvard Sustainability Science Program

• Defining human well being as a goal inter and intra generationally– Assets, institutions and knowledge

• Methodology change from NAS mode– Research defined explicitly by a practical issue,

not the other way around• Linking knowledge with action for an adaptive

management control mechanism

PopulationP

EconomyGDP$/yr

Energy UseBtu/yr

Fuel Cons.T/yr

SOX Emiss.T/yr

Traditional Linear Causality Model (SOx Emmision Drivers)

Per Cap. Econ. (GDP/P)

Energy Efficiency (Btu/GDP)

Fuel Eny. Factor (T/Btu)

Emissions Factor (T/T)

Using New Technology to Increase Transparency and Improve Environmental Regulation

• Introduction of an Emission Trading System (ETS) in 3 of the most polluted industrial areas in India. • PM CEM devices will be installed and correlated, collect PM emission data from specific sources. • This data will then be published periodically and be made available to the public to ensure

transparency. • With accurate and transparent measurements, a market efficient ETS will then be developed creating a

more efficient and regulated system.

Monitoring: CEMs installation/emissions

measurement andreporting

Action: Transparentmarket-based

ETS

PopulationP

EconomyGDP$/yr

Energy UseBtu/yr

Fuel Cons.T/yr

SOX Emiss.T/yrPer Cap. Econ.

(GDP/P) Energy Efficiency

(Btu/GDP)Fuel Eny.

Factor (T/Btu) Emissions Factor (T/T)

Is There an Energy Efficiency Gap? Measuring Returns to Efficiency with a Field Experiment in India

• Government and private consultancy partnerships to promote investment in improved industrial energy efficiency.

• The costs and returns of investments are measured to determine if there is a win-win scenario for the environment and industry – where efficiency improvements pay off and cost industry less in the long run.

• Use of energy manger specialists to suggest improvements and determine the best methods for adaptation through field testing.

Monitoring: EnergyEfficiency Audit

Action:Implementation

Of Efficient Practices

PopulationP

EconomyGDP$/yr

Energy UseBtu/yr

Fuel Cons.T/yr

SOX Emiss.T/yrPer Cap. Econ.

(GDP/P) Energy Efficiency

(Btu/GDP)Fuel Eny.

Factor (T/Btu) Emissions Factor (T/T)

Improving Household Efficiency through Information and Incentives

• Arm homeowners with the information necessary to make them aware of their energy consumption. • Tactics used to incentivize individuals to use less energy on a household day-to-day basis. • Curb the increasing residential energy use that is coming in India with increased wealth and westernized

lifestyles. • Awareness, competition and rewards for favorable behavior are consistently found to be powerful human

motivators and as a result, these are going to be provided in the form of comparative energy use report cards for households.

• Residential energy use should decrease while cultural awareness and general energy saving practices should increase.

PopulationP

EconomyGDP$/yr

Energy UseBtu/yr

Fuel Cons.T/yr

SOX Emiss.T/yrPer Cap. Econ.

(GDP/P) Energy Efficiency

(Btu/GDP)Fuel Eny.

Factor (T/Btu) Emissions Factor (T/T)

Monitoring ofHouseholdEnergy Use

Action: Distribution ofInfo and Incentives

Can Regulation Reduce Household use of Polluting Fuels?

• Decreasing the use of fuels in rural areas that contribute greatly to indoor air pollution issues, particularly biomass burning.

• Making light petroleum gas (LPG) and stoves more accessible and affordable for a greater number of households. • Regulatory practices to alleviate the supply-side barrier to the adoption of modern fuel sources. • Study in household decision making in order to determine the real demand for the fuel.• Decreased use of dirtier burning fuels, source emissions will decrease and a fuel with a more favorable

environmental factor will be used therefore decreasing indoor air pollution

PopulationP

EconomyGDP$/yr

Energy UseBtu/yr

Fuel Cons.T/yr

SOX Emiss.T/yrPer Cap. Econ.

(GDP/P) Energy Efficiency

(Btu/GDP)Fuel Eny.

Factor (T/Btu) Emissions Factor (T/T)

Development ofEfficient Reg.

Practices

Increased distribution and availability of LPG

NAAQS and AQM in the US

Linear Causality Framework and Bachmann AQM Loop

The Need for Control Measures

• Human health effects– Acute and chronic lung infections, disease and cancer; asthma; heart

disease– Reduced life span

• Ecosystem damage – Acid rain– Corrosion– Weather and climate - threats on human life

• Psychological effects • Esthetic effects• Economic effects

– Damage to agriculture– Reduced tourism

Causality Loop Feedback