• 한국환경과학회지
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• 제13권4호
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• pp.349-357
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• 2004

Emergy is a measure of the processes required to produce something expressed in units of the same energy form. Emergy based indices can provide insights into the thermodynamic efficiency of the process, the quality of its output, and the interaction between the process and its surrounding environment. However, in an industrial system, the inputs are mostly nonrenewable, renewable energy source is nearly zero, ultimate purpose is pursuit of profits in economic activity. In study, we present two indices based on emergy - EEE(Ecological Economic Efficiency) and ERI(Environmental Responsibility Index). The EEE is taken into account real value of product in market economy. The ERI is shown to be a function of the net yield of the economy, its ‘load’ on the environment and ecological economic efficiency. Manufacturing industry of Korea produced the 30% of total GDP in 2001. We applied these indices to manufacturing industry for environmental management and further sustainable industry. As a results, the highest ERI is 0.34 in recycling industries, the lowest ERI is 0.01 in coke, refined petroleum products which is dominated by ELR. The higher ERI, the more friendly to environment. The suggested indices help us understand relative contributions of various alternatives in company's production and consumption activity, and provide a tool of decision-making for the rearrangement of future industries. Furthermore, they contribute to environmental friendly operation and consumption.

• 한국환경과학회지
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• 제9권1호
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• pp.49-55
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• 2000

An EMERGY analysis of the main energy flows driving the economy of humans and life support systems consists of environmental energies, fuels, and imports, all expresses as solar emjoules. Total EMERGY use(720.0 E20 sej/yr) of the Nakdong River Basin is 96 per cent from imported sources, fuels and goods and services. EMERGY flows from the environment such as rain and geological uplift flux accounted for only 4 percent of total EMERGY use. Consequently, the ratio of outside investment to attracting natural resources was large, like other industrialized areas. EMERGY use per person in the Nakdong River Basin indicates a moderate EMERGY standard of living, even though the indigenous resources are very poor. Population of 6.66 million people in 1996 is already in excess of carrying capacity of the basin. Carrying capacity for steady state based on its renewable sources in only 0.226 million people. EMERGY yield ratio and environment loading ratio were 1.07 and 28.52, respectively. EMERGY sustainability index, a ratio of EMERGY yield ratio to environment loading ratio, is therefore less than one, which is indicative of highly developed consumer oriented economies. This study suggests that the economic structure of the Nakdong River Basin should be transformed from the present industrial structure to the social-economic structure based on an ecological-recycling concept for the sustainable use of the Nakdong River.

• 한국환경과학회지
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• 제9권6호
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• pp.449-454
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• 2000

Sustainable development has been the key concept, both in economic policies and in environmental management. On the basis of an systems ecology perspective, this suggests the sustainable development of Korea\`s natural environment and economic activity using the EMERGY evaluation. The total EMERGY use(7,730E20sej/yr) in Korea is 81 percent from imported sources, fuels and goods and services. The ratio of outside investment to attracting natural resources is already large, like other industrialized countries. Continued availability of purchased inputs at a favorable balance of EMERGY trade, currently about 2.85 to 1 net EMERGY, tis the basis for present economic activity and must decrease as the net EMERGY of purchased inputs including fossil fuels goes down. EMERGY yield ratio and environmental loading ratio were 1.23 and 20.30, respectively. The population level is already in excess of carrying capacity. Its carrying capacity for steady state on its renewable sources is only 2.2 million people, compared to 45.9 million in 1977. EMERGY sustainability index is therefore less than one, which is indicative of highly developed consumer oriented economies. Until now the development of a country has been achieved by the economic growth, but it can be sustained in the long run by the use of renewable resource systems. the efficiency of energy usage, and the transformation of the social-economic structure based on an ecological-recycling concept.

• 환경생물
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• 제41권4호
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• pp.482-496
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• 2023

지난 수십 년간 국내 벼농사 시스템은 규모와 구조 측면에서 많은 변화가 있었으나, 이 시스템의 지속가능성에 대한 연구는 충분히 이뤄지지 않았다. 본 연구에서는 에머지 분석방법을 이용하여, 시스템 생태학의 관점에서 국내 벼농사 시스템의 지속가능성 변화를 분석하고자 했다. 이를 위해서, 2011년, 2016년, 2021년의 국내 벼농사 시스템에 대한 에머지 테이블을 작성하고 에머지 기반 지표 분석을 수행하였다. 에머지 분석 결과, 2011~2021년 동안의 논면적 감소에 따라 벼농사 시스템에 투입된 총 에머지는 10,744E+18 sej year^-1에서 8,342E+18 sej year^-1로 감소했고, 재생가능한 자원의 비율은 1.4% 감소한 것으로 나타났다. 면적당(ha) 투입된 에머지는 2011년 13.13E+15 sej ha^-1 year^-1에서 2021년 11.89E+15 sej ha^-1 year^-1로 감소한 것으로 분석되었고, 질소 비료 사용량 및 노동시간의 감소가 주된 원인이었다. 벼 1 g을 재배하는 데 투입되는 에머지는 2016년과 2021년 사이에 변화가 없었으나(specific emergy: 13.3E+09 sej g^-1), 벼농사 시스템의 지속가능성(emergy sustainability index, ESI)은 2011년부터 2021년까지 계속해서 낮아진 것으로 나타났다(2011년: 0.107, 2016년: 0.088, 2021년: 0.086). 본 연구는 국내 벼농사 시스템의 에머지 투입 구조 및 특징에 대한 정량적인 정보를 제공했다. 이 연구 결과는 국내 벼농사 시스템의 생태적 지속가능성 향상을 위한 방안을 구축하는 데 중요한 자료로 활용될 수 있을 것이다.

• 한국환경과학회지
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• 제17권8호
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• pp.841-856
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• 2008

This research outlines a new method for evaluation of shellfish production in Gamak Bay based on the concept of EMERGY. Better understanding of those environmental factors influencing oyster production and the management of oyster stocks requires the ability to assess the real value of environmental sources such as solar energy, river, tide, wave, wind, and other physical mechanisms. In this research, EMERGY flows from environment sources were 76% for shellfish aquaculture in Gamak Bay. EMERGY yield ratio, Environmental Loading Ratio, and Sustainability Index were 4.26, 0.31 and 13.89, respectively. Using the Emergy evaluation data, the predicted maximum shellfish aquaculture production in Gamak Bay and the FDA (Food and Drug Administration, U.S.) designated area in Gamak Bay were 10,845 ton/y and 7,548 ton/yr, respectively. Since the predicted shellfish production was approximately 1.3 times more than produced shellfish production in 2005, the carrying capacity of Gamak Bay is estimated to be 1.3 times more than the present oyster production.