Exergy applied to life cycle analysis. An integrative approach to measuring sustainability
Keywords:
exergy, life cycle analysis, environmental impact assessment, sustainabilityAbstract
This work aims to demonstrate why the application of exergy to life cycle assessment methodology gives a more comprehensive understanding of both energy and non-energy resources consumed in various energy conversion processes. Moreover, exergy can be considered a physical value of a resource. In this respect, it might be quantified to account for requirements needed. In doing so, it is possible to determine how exergetically efficient might result to be the consumption of energy and materials in specific processes. Firstly, it is explained how exergy relates to sustainability assessment. Secondly, a discussion about methodological limitations in life cycle assessment and its implications for sustainability measurement in terms of environmental impacts are thoroughly examined. Thirdly, a comparison between the exergetic approach and the conventional approach to life cycle assessment of a hypothetical case study of biogas from bovine slaughterhouse waste is presented to evaluate to which extent the exergetic approach provides a better measure of sustainability. To sum up, some final considerations are put forward to provide insights into the application of exergy to life cycle assessment methodology. Therefore, the integration of exergy into this methodology might enhance the scope of sustainability measurement, delivering a better tool for assessing environmental impacts in terms of exergetic efficiency recovery, and as a response to an order of things subject to entropic transformations.
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