Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
habits in Japan are better in all respects as they contribute to the
depletion of world seafood resources, but this example shows that
healthandlifeexpectancycriteriagooftenhandinhandwithreduced
energy consumption.
It is most important to succeed with a transition in the agricultural
sector as it affects some of our essential needs, namely food and health.
Progress should lead to a reduction in the consumption of energy and of all
our natural resources, while reducing the pollution resulting from the use
of chemicals.
More efficient industrial processes
Industry optimises continuously the processes it uses in order to adapt to
the external economic and regulatory signals it receives. In the years to
come, it will have to adapt to increasing energy prices and also to a
reduction of CO
2
emissions resulting fromthe allocation of quotas and the
development of the emissions trading scheme.
In order to fulfil that goal, industry will use more efficient processes. A
wide range of options is available:
.
Better energy integration and limitation of energy losses (e.g. intro-
duction of better thermal insulation).
.
New generation, more efficient processes (e.g. better performing
catalysts, membranes or more selective adsorbents).
.
Introductionof energyrecoverydevices (heat exchangers, expanders).
.
Online control systems for optimising the use of energy in a
continuous way.
The development of future industrial processes will benefit from all the
progress accomplished in the area of materials (composite materials,
nanotechnologies, etc.), information technologies and biochemistry. The
convergence of progress from these different areas will result in the
development of new manufacturing processes which perform better and
are less energy intensive.
Waste treatment and materials recycling
Processes and equipment ensuring better energy conservation should be
considered as contributing to the development of green technologies,
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