Abstract: The use of geothermal energy systems is widespread but, having had a revival in the 1980's and recently, both the sustainability and impact of these systems on the environment are now being questioned. Due to its efficiency, the use of geothermal energy is advantageous in many cases. However, little research is available to guide regulatory agencies and industry towards designs and installations that maximize their sustainability. One potential hindrance to the sustainability of these systems at their design efficiency is the thermal loss from the system itself, which can affect adjacent systems and the surrounding ground. Studies show that interference effects are present in some installed geothermal systems. The influence of these systems on each other implies that they have a spacing that is smaller than the threshold spacing for such systems to avoid thermal interactions, and indicates that there is a limit to the density of geothermal development that can occur in a given region of the ground. Many studies in the area of geothermal energy have focused on modeling single ground boreholes. The potential existence of thermal interaction among multiple boreholes is identified in the literature, but not formulated, and the affecting parameters have not been assessed in detail. In order to model interacting borehole systems, Koohi-Fayegh and Rosen (2011) evaluated the temperature response in the soil surrounding multiple boreholes in a numerical study. They assumed that the heat flux from the borehole wall is constant and, therefore, that heat conduction in the direction of the borehole length is negligible for a major part of the solution domain. In the current study, the assumption of constant heat flux along the borehole wall is examined by coupling the problem to the heat transfer problem inside the borehole. A numerical finite volume method in a three dimensional meshed domain is used to model the conduction of heat in the soil surrounding boreholes. In order to determine the heat flux boundary condition, the analytical quasi-three-dimensional solution to the heat transfer problem of the U-tube configuration inside the borehole (Zeng et al, 2003) is used. This solution takes into account the variation in heating strength along the borehole length due to the temperature variation of the fluid running in the U-tube. Thus, critical depths at which thermal interaction occurs can be determined. References Koohi-Fayegh S., Rosen M. A., Examination of thermal interaction of multiple geothermal storage and heat pump systems, Proc. 3rd International Conference on Applied Energy, 16-18 May 2011, Perugia, Italy, pp. 3473-3486. Zeng, H. Y., N. R. Diao, Z. Fang, 2003, Efficiency of vertical geothermal heat exchangers in ground source heat pump systems. Journal of Thermal Science 12(1):77–81.

Abstract: London Plan is the London mayor's long term plan for tackling different shortcomings of the London city. Tackling climate change is been outlined in one of its policies named Policy 4A.x. Making energy use more efficient, using renewable energy sources and Combined Heat and Power (CHP) are proposed for the challenge. The plan has been out since 2004 for review and many scholars have commented on many aspects of the plan. This paper evaluates the Policy 4A.x since 2004. This paper longitudinally analyses the environmental, financial and social aspects of the policy. Moreover it discusses the financial domain of the plan in more depth.

Abstract: Country-wise variation in availability of different natural energy resources (renewable and non-renewable) critically affects the intra-country resource management policies and international relations as well as treaties towards resource sharing and utilization. Since human consumption is at the core of world natural resource debate, it is critical to understand public interest perspectives towards fossil energy resources, alternative renewable resources and parameters related to them. In this paper, first public interest towards these key issues is evaluated using online trends analysis. It is found that public interest for such key issues vary considerably from country to country, many times, irrespective of the criticality of such issues. Public interest perspective have also been found to vary at different time points, irrespective of the criticality. Further, some natural and renewable resources have been found to rank higher in terms of public interest as compared to others, even though they may be equally critical. Second Feedback models have been developed to understand endogenous relationships between parameters which could be critical building blocks of sustainability in renewable resource based energy technologies, for example, algae biodiesel system. Using online trends analyses and systems oriented investigation, through feedback models, it is shown how this approach could help in understanding sustainability scenarios and devising informed, optimal policies and mechanisms for sustainable development of new renewable resource based technologies. .

Abstract: Originated from financial reporting context, the concept of materiality has been applied in and contributed to sustainability reporting, by identifying, selecting, and prioritizing sustainability issues with significant impacts. This paper identifies two dilemmas that traditional stakeholder-approach confronts, and then analyzes how materiality-approach delivers advantage by addressing the dilemmas. This paper further observes two challenges for materiality-approach reporting: complexity interrelationship of sustainability issues; and subjectivity in materiality assessment. It argues that the two challenges are inherent and basic concerns for current sustainability accounting. This paper concludes that the road of materiality to sustainability reporting would be advanced with the progress of coping with the challenges. That is, extending our insight on the complex interrelationships of sustainability issues, and on subjectivity in materiality assessment, we would not only embrace a better materiality model to future effective sustainability reporting, but also open a door to view the fundamental theoretical concerns in contemporary sustainability accounting.

Abstract: Is intrinsic to the functioning of our society the need for major hospitals, shopping malls, sports facilities, public transport stations, public institutions, schools, waste treatment plants etc.. This equipment must be available for use. But as we measured the consumption needs of this equipment? What is available is equal to what is necessary? There has been a study in sports structures, specifically in football stadiums and it was found that the availability is much higher than need. We have no control of consumption, waste control, user awareness. But there was a high sensitivity for the invoice to pay. In an environment of global change, crisis, it is imperative the best and most profitable use of such equipment enhancing its positive impacts on society. In this perspective the definition of management model for the sustainability of infrastructure is needed. For the different areas of sustainability are then systematized aspects that are considered priority address. Environment should be considered: water, energy, materials, waste, wastewater and environment (especially connecting ecosystems). In terms social: immersion and integration of users, information and communication for users, control and related infrastructure, awareness and training for both users and employees, ensuring safety and well-being and transport and access for users. In economic terms, all costs, maintenance, operation, waste, leaks, discharges and resources. A Model for Sustainability Management should therefore allow the awareness of the sustainability of all stakeholders in the infrastructure, verify the relevant aspects for the specificity of each infrastructure, follow the steps for Sustainability Implemented and consider what steps possible to implement. It should also be considered a dynamic control of performance management model for sustainability, ie, enhance the use of resources, reducing consumption in the use, control inefficiencies (losses and leakages) and integration and interaction of users. The current challenge is not for new construction, but to ensure that the existing infrastructure have guaranteed levels of satisfaction of user needs, the binding of these infrastructure leveraging the best use of these to your life, with sustainability.

Abstract: The main aim of the review is to build a general understanding about how corporate sustainability researchers propose evaluating corporate sustainability and how the proposed models and frameworks changed over time. The review is done from the perspective of several aspects, focusing on the methods, tools and models proposed for corporate sustainability assessment, noting the business level of evaluation (the company level, a broader industry of value chain level, or a narrower product or process level). Other two aspects of the research were the definition of sustainability in the proposed models with regards to sustainability dimensions, and different empirical studies executed using the theoretical models proposed. The review includes 30 papers, focusing on corporate sustainability evaluation, assessments and measurement, published from 1997 to 2010.

Abstract: Perspectives for Brazilian Electricity Sector has continuously being changed in recent years. This is due to technological advances in wind turbines (with fallen costs), growing environmental constraints (specially related to hydropower potential), nuclear expansion uncertainties (after Fukushima event), among others. As a result of these facts, Brazilian auctions for electricity has surprisingly achieving good results for renewables, as wind power plants. The aim of this paper is analyse the atractiveness of power generation from a sustainability point of view, updating the study published in 2010 by La Rovere et al ("The sustainable expansion of the Brazilian electricity sector using sustainability indicators as an instrument to support decision making"). The following generation sources are assessed: natural gas, small hydro, nuclear, wind, municipal solid waste, sugar cane bagasse, solar PV, agriculture solid residues and coal. Results shows that Brazilian energy matrix is following the path of sustainability.

Abstract: Buildings have a large impact on the environment, economy and society: they consume 40% of the energy, produce 30% of the green house gas emissions, generate 25% of the solid waste, use 25% of the potable water, dissipate 12% of the land use, spend up to 40% of the countries´ gross domestic product [1]. Furthermore people spend about 90% of their time in buildings, what makes it important to provide them a healthy and comfortable indoor environment. For the management and implementation of all these aspects a lot of tools have been developed. Important examples are methods of the first generation like the "British Research Establishments Environmental Assessment Method" (BREEAM) [2] in 1990 or the American label "Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design" (LEED) [3] in 1996, as well as methods of the second generation, like the DGNB Certificate [4] 2009. These concepts differ from each other and nowadays worldwide, as well as in Europe, there is still no common understanding of the concept of sustainable building. With projects like OPEN HOUSE [5] , SuPerBuildings [6] – both promoted by the European Commission – or the standards from ISO TC 59/SC 17 as well as CEN/TC 350 a process has been initialized to harmonise all these approaches. This paper will give a worldwide overview how sustainable buildings are currently assessed. As well as an insight in the development of the OPEN HOUSE methodology with the actual model, upcoming case studies and implementation in the building market. [1] United Nations Environment Programme: Common Carbon Metric. http://www.unep.org/sbci/pdfs/Common-Carbon-Metric-for_Pilot_Testing_220410.pdf. (07.11.2010) [2] http://www.breeam.org/ (30.9.2011) [3] www.usgbc.org/LEED/ (30.9.2011) [4] http://www.dgnb.de/ (30.9.2011) [5] http://www.openhouse-fp7.eu/ (30.9.2011) [6] http://cic.vtt.fi/superbuildings/ (30.9.2011)

Abstract: Land degradation (LD) is regarded as one of the most important processes leading to environmental degradation. LD specifically refers to a reduction in terms of economic productivity and capacity of providing ecosystem services by cropland, rangeland, and woodlands. Archetypal patterns or "syndromes" of LD can then be evaluated in the past, and scenarios developed for the future, informing sustainable land management strategies. Land cover is the visible result of the interactions between natural and socio-economic systems. It often reveals the occurrence of LD, either because it bears a direct effect on the processes or because it is associated with unsustainable land uses. Land use and land cover (LULC) are therefore essential for interpreting change trajectories associated with LD and deriving prediction rules. Whenever available, LULC data providing comparable classifications as well as the needed spatial resolution and time coverage can be derived from existing thematic cartography. In alternative, a procedure for the semi-automatic generation of LULC data from archive Landsat (7,5) satellite imagery since the mid-eighties, is under development. The procedure combines pixel and object oriented classifications and makes use of multi resolution segmentation for down dating and updating procedures. Past trajectories in LULC are analysed at regional level together with trends in other relevant drivers, for investigating associated land degradation syndromes (e.g. urban sprawl and soil sealing, aridity and climatic aggressiveness, water and soil erosion, agricultural pressure) through quantitative indicators of vulnerability (e.g. ESAI-Medalus, ESI LADA-FAO) and more "narrative" and participative interpretations (e.g. "story lines"). Climatic forecasts, population projections, as well as land use modelling are also used for developing LD scenarios.In the context of the research project AGROSCENARI (Scenarios of agriculture adaptation to climate change) promoted by the Italian Ministry of Agriculture, the research line "Land Degradation Processes and Climate Change" intends to investigate trajectories and syndromes as well as scenarios of land degradation, especially in face of climate change, in a number of test areas in the country. Methodological issues and preliminary results are discussed in this paper, with particular reference to the case of the Emilia-Romagna Region and to degradation processes associated to urban growth and sprawl.

Abstract: Health, socioeconomic, education, and environmental (e.g. air and water quality) indicators are often correlated and may serve as markers for other underlying community issues. These diverse measurements are usually not fully integrated and rarely evaluated in the context of sustainability metrics. We derived an integrated community health index (ICHI) for 50 of the most populous cities in the US using extant environmental, health and sustainability metrics and assessed relationships with sociodemographic measures. To derive the ICHI we used data from two sources: 1) SustainLane's (www.sustainlane.com) 2008 report card on urban sustainability which includes metrics such as energy and climate change policy, metro street congestion, metro transit ridership, and natural disaster risk, and 2) Earth Day Network's (www.eathday.net) Urban environmental report including a health metric which incorporates asthma, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity rates; and three environmental variables a) toxics and waste b) air quality c) drinking and surface water quality. Using these metrics we developed three separate indicators for health, sustainability and environment for each city. The ICHI was created by averaging across these three indicators. We used data from the 2010 Census (median family income, % of persons below the poverty level, % with a high school degree, % with college degree, and racial diversity (% White, nonwhite Black, Asian, and Hispanic) to assess relationships between the ICHI and sociodemographic characteristics. We compare mean values for various demographic measures for those cities with the "best" integrated community health index (highest 25^th percentile) with those cities in the lower 25^th percentile using t-tests. Cities with the better ICHI demonstrated 1) a higher % of persons with health insurance (20.1 vs 13.4 %; p< 0.001), 2) a lower (better) green economy score (13.7 vs. 36.8; p< 0.00001), 3) a lower toxic and waste score (2.4 vs.3.5; p< 0.001) and 4) a higher % of persons with college degrees (38.7 vs. 28.2%; p< .005). Comparing cites with lower percentages of individuals below the poverty level (highest 25^th percentile) with those cities in the lowest 25^thpercentile demonstrated 1) a lower score for toxic and waste (2.85 vs. 3.48; p