• Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.58-65
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• 2014

This study aims to understand the environmental impact reduction of green buildings that are certified by Green standard for energy and environmental design(G-SEED). To ensure this end, this study assessed and compared the environmental impacts(global warning, ozone layer depletion, acidification, and eutrophication) of a G-SEED-certified elementary school building(green building) and an uncertified elementary school building(traditional building) using the life cycle assessment methodology. This study considered the environmental impacts from the material manufacturing, material transportation, on-site construction, and operation during 40 years. The comparison of the environmental impact intensity of two buildings showed that the green building generated much more environmental impacts than the traditional building. For example, the global warming potential of the green building was approximately 12.5% higher than of the traditional building since the global warming potential of the green building was 3.751 $t-CO_2eq./m^2$ while that of the traditional building was 3.282 $t-CO_2eq./m^2$. It signifies that the G-SEED doesn't guarantee the reduction of the environmental impacts in terms of four impact categories. Therefore, the G-SEED should be complemented and improved to achieve the environmental impact reduction.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2011.11a
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• pp.54.1-54.1
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• 2011

The conventional energy-production system by burning fossil fuels releases many pollutants and carbon dioxide($CO_2$) to the environment. Therefore, many countries pay attention to new and renewable energy and invest in the development of these new technologies for the future energy security. One of the most promising of these technologies is a photovoltaic system. In this study, Life Cycle Assessment(LCA) is carried out to analyse the environmental issues(e.g. global warming, abiotic resource depletion) of CdTe photovoltaic system. The spatial and temporal scope of this study was set in Korea during 2004~2005. We assumed that CdTe photovoltaic system was installed in Mokpo where the amount of solar irradiation was higher than other places in Korea. Based on the present data and some assumptions, greenhouse gas emission was 39.2g $CO_2$-eq./kWh. Therefore the electricity produced by CdTe photovoltaic system is more environmentally friendly than the conventional power generation system.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
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• 2006.11b
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• pp.1123-1125
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• 2006

As Kyoto protocol has been effective in 2005, the reduction of $CO_2$ emission is a global urgent problem. In Korea, the $CO_2$ emission of transportation increases continuously, which can be solved partially by the use of railroad. Therefore, it is necessary to calculate exactly the $CO_2$ emission of railroad through life cycle approach. In this study, the $CO_2$ emission of electric motor unit (EMU) was evaluated with its carboy material using life cycle inventory analysis (LCIA). Among the life cycles of EMU, $CO_2$ emission was the highest in the running phase. As the total weight of EMU was lowered, $CO_2$ emission was reduced. In conclusion, the light-weighting of EMU can reduce $CO_2$ emission efficiently.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.105-112
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• 2005

This study aims at evaluating the environmental impacts stemmed from the End-of-Life Vehicle(ELV) treatment systems in Korea, using Life Cycle Assessment(LCA) method. In this study, both environmental burden from the ELV dismantling process & recycling processes and environmental benefit which were derived from the avoided environmental impacts by substituting recycled materials for virgin materials were considered. First of all, the key issues which were defined as the environmental aspects that account for more than $1\%$ out of the total environmental impacts were identified from the Life Cycle Impact Assessment(LCIA). $CO_2$, crude oil, natural gas, coal, etc. were found out to be the key issue parameters. From the LCI Analysis and LCIA studies, it was shown that the significant environmental aspects were related with the recycling process of ferro scrap, the shredding process of compressed car bodies and the dismantling process of end-of-life engines. In particular, the recycling process of ferro scrap has the most significant effects on the environmental impacts of the ELV treatment systems. Based on these results, it is recommended to improve the recycling process of ferro scrap in order to make the ELV treatment systems more environmentally sound.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2014

This study carried out life cycle assessment for evaluating environmental impacts of timber Arch-Truss bridge by using domestic Pinus rigida Miller glued-laminated timber throughout life cycle such as extraction, manufacturing, transportation, construction, use, dismantlement, transportation of waste, disposal and recycling. The life cycle GHG (GreenHouse Gas) emissions of the target bridge are 192.56 ton $CO_2$ eq. in 50 years. Especially, the life cycle GHG emissions of concrete used in the target bridge are 82.84 ton $CO_2$ eq. which accounts for 53.02% of the GWP (Global Warming Potential) in extraction and manufacturing stages. The target bridge is constructed of $116.57m^3$ of domestic Pinus rigida Miller glued-laminated timber and used timber has stored 104.72 ton $CO_2$. If an effect of carbon storage in timber is applied to the total GHG emissions of the target bridge, the GHG emissions can be reduced by 54.38%. In the case of substitution effect, if domestic Pinus rigida Miller glued-laminated timber replaces steel manufactures used in other bridge which has the same structure and life span as the target bridge, the GHG emissions in extraction and manufacturing stages can be reduced by 10.26% to 23.91%.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.1195-1206
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• 2011

This study was conducted to apply LCA (Life cycle assessment) methodology to lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) production systems in Namyang-ju as a case study. Five lettuce growing farms with three different farming systems (two farms with organic farming system, one farm with a system without agricultural chemicals and two farms with conventional farming system) were selected at Namyangju city of Gyeonggi-province in Korea. The input data for LCA were collected by interviewing with the farmers. The system boundary was set at a cropping season without heating and cooling system for reducing uncertainties in data collection and calculation. Sensitivity analysis was carried out to find out the effect of type and amount of fertilizer and energy use on GHG (Greenhouse Gas) emission. The results of establishing GTG (Gate-to-Gate) inventory revealed that the quantity of fertilizer and energy input had the largest value in producing 1 kg lettuce, the amount of pesticide input the smallest. The amount of electricity input was the largest in all farms except farm 1 which purchased seedlings from outside. The quantity of direct field emission of $CO_2$, $CH_4$ and $N_2O$ from farm 1 to farm 5 were 6.79E-03 (farm 1), 8.10E-03 (farm 2), 1.82E-02 (farm 3), 7.51E-02 (farm 4) and 1.61E-02 (farm 5) kg $kg^{-1}$ lettuce, respectively. According to the result of LCI analysis focused on GHG, it was observed that $CO_2$ emission was 2.92E-01 (farm 1), 3.76E-01 (farm 2), 4.11E-01 (farm 3), 9.40E-01 (farm 4) and $5.37E-01kg\;CO_2\;kg^{-1}\;lettuce$ (farm 5), respectively. Carbon dioxide contribute to the most GHG emission. Carbon dioxide was mainly emitted in the process of energy production, which occupied 67~91% of $CO_2$ emission from every production process from 5 farms. Due to higher proportion of $CO_2$ emission from production of compound fertilizer in conventional crop system, conventional crop system had lower proportion of $CO_2$ emission from energy production than organic crop system did. With increasing inorganic fertilizer input, the process of lettuce cultivation covered higher proportion in $N_2O$ emission. Therefore, farms 1 and 2 covered 87% of total $N_2O$ emission; and farm 3 covered 64%. The carbon footprints from farm 1 to farm 5 were 3.40E-01 (farm 1), 4.31E-01 (farm 2), 5.32E-01 (farm 3), 1.08E+00 (farm 4) and 6.14E-01 (farm 5) kg $CO_2$-eq. $kg^{-1}$ lettuce, respectively. Results of sensitivity analysis revealed the soybean meal was the most sensitive among 4 types of fertilizer. The value of compound fertilizer was the least sensitive among every fertilizer imput. Electricity showed the largest sensitivity on $CO_2$ emission. However, the value of $N_2O$ variation was almost zero.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.163-169
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• 2006

A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study was carried out to identify and improve the environmental aspects associated with the present incineration system of spent Li-ion batteries (LIBs) in Korea. The environmental impact associated with the landfill of the incineration ash was also assessed in this study, while so far it was excluded in most studies. It was found out that the $CO_{2}$ emission from the electricity generation as well as the incineration process and heavy metals emissions to air and water accounted for about 90% of total environmental impacts. In particular, the effect of the emission of heavy metals were dominant. In oder to improve the current incineration system environmentally, it is needed to incinerate the wastes like spent LIBs which contained relatively high portion of heavy metals separately from other combustible wastes. On the other hand, the effect of the landfill of ash after incineration was insignificant since the ash from the incineration process was chemically stable.

• Clean Technology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.269-274
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• 2018

In this study, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of wet tissue manufacturing process was performed. The wet tissue manufacturing process consists of preparation of wetting agent (chemical liquid), impregnation of nonwoven fabric into wetting agent and primary and secondary packaging. Data and information were collected on the input and output of the actual process from a certain company and the database of the Korea Ministry of Environment and some foreign countries (when Korean unavailable) were employed to connect the upper and the lower process flow. Based on the above and the potential environmental impacts of the wet tissue manufacturing process were calculated. As a result of the characterization, Ozone Layer Depletion (OD) is 3.46.E-06 kg $CFC_{11}$, Acidification (AD) is 5.11.E-01 kg $SO_2$, Abiotic Resource Depletion (ARD) is $3.52.E+00\;1yr^{-1}$, Global Warming (GW) is 1.04.E+02 kg $CO_2$, Eutrophication (EUT) is 2.31.E-02 kg ${PO_4}^{3-}$, Photochemical Oxide Creation (POC) was 2.22.E-02 kg $C_2H_4$, Human Toxicity (HT) was 1.55.E+00 kg 1,4 DCB and Terrestrial Ecotoxicity (ET) was 5.82.E-04 kg 1,4 DCB. In order to reduce the environmental impact of the manufacturing process, it is necessary to improve the overall process as other general cases and change the raw materials including packaging materials with less environmental impact. Conclusively, the energy consumed in the manufacturing process has emerged as a major issue, and this needs to be reconsidered other options such as alternative energy. Therefore, it is recommended that a process system should be redesigned to improve energy efficiency and to change to an energy source with lower environmental impact. Due to the nature of LCA, the final results of this study can be varied to some extent depending on the type of LCI DB employed and may not represent of all wet tissue manufacturing processes in the current industry.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2012.05a
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• pp.53-54
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• 2012

This study is aimed at utilizing LCA processor with BIM LOD, eliciting the problems of the existing environmental assessment by constructing the database for environmental values of green buildings. For these objects, environmental load database of BIM construction material and evaluation process are presented, after matching BIM family based environmental load database which is available during evaluation stage, input-output tables and Korea LCI database to standard item code of public procurement service. It is a important factor in environmental assessment of building to develop database unit of standard item code for BIM and construction material. Thus, the results of this study are expected to provide basic data for improving effectiveness of construction through BIM based environmental load evaluation database. Furthermore, the provided environmental load database unit for construction material is considered to be available as basic information for BIM study by suggesting a processor connecting BIM with LCA and along with this, continuous examination on the connection process is needed.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Railway
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2014

Recent international environmental regulations are focused on reducing pre-contamination and on sustainable development prior to the usage stage of a product. The Environmental Performance Declaration is being used as a tool for quantifying the environmental performance of products, to reduce contamination in advance, and for advertising the results of railway vehicles in Europe. In this study, a life cycle assessment of the tilting train was conducted, the first such case study in Korea, according to the ISO 14025 standard and Korea EDP (Environmental Declaration of the Product) rule. As a result of the LCA, the life cycle carbon emission of the tilting train was determined to be $3.54{\times}10^7kgCO_2eq.$ which is higher than that of a European train. Also, the amount of $CO_2$ emission of the Mcp and car body is higher than that of the other car and bogie.