Energy efficiency and environmental assessment of a typical marble quarry and processing plant

Gazi, A; Skevis, G; Founti, MA

dc.contributor.author	Gazi, A	en
dc.contributor.author	Skevis, G	en
dc.contributor.author	Founti, MA	en
dc.date.accessioned	2014-03-01T02:08:52Z
dc.date.available	2014-03-01T02:08:52Z
dc.date.issued	2012	en
dc.identifier.issn	09596526	en
dc.identifier.uri	https://dspace.lib.ntua.gr/xmlui/handle/123456789/29736
dc.subject	Energy efficiency	en
dc.subject	Environmental impact	en
dc.subject	Marble	en
dc.subject	Quarrying and processing	en
dc.subject.other	Cleaner production	en
dc.subject.other	Current energy	en
dc.subject.other	Energy-saving technologies	en
dc.subject.other	Environmental assessment	en
dc.subject.other	Environmental index	en
dc.subject.other	European Countries	en
dc.subject.other	European union	en
dc.subject.other	Evaluation methodologies	en
dc.subject.other	Long lasting	en
dc.subject.other	Management practices	en
dc.subject.other	Marble processing	en
dc.subject.other	Marble quarries	en
dc.subject.other	Material wastes	en
dc.subject.other	Organizational structures	en
dc.subject.other	Processing plants	en
dc.subject.other	Production cost	en
dc.subject.other	Production efficiency	en
dc.subject.other	Substantial reduction	en
dc.subject.other	Sustainable resource management	en
dc.subject.other	Technological innovation	en
dc.subject.other	Total energy	en
dc.subject.other	Building materials	en
dc.subject.other	Carbon dioxide	en
dc.subject.other	Energy efficiency	en
dc.subject.other	Industry	en
dc.subject.other	Marble	en
dc.subject.other	Pollution control	en
dc.subject.other	Quarrying	en
dc.subject.other	Environmental impact	en
dc.title	Energy efficiency and environmental assessment of a typical marble quarry and processing plant	en
heal.type	journalArticle	en
heal.identifier.primary	10.1016/j.jclepro.2012.03.007	en
heal.identifier.secondary	http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2012.03.007	en
heal.publicationDate	2012	en
heal.abstract	Marble is one of the most aesthetically pleasing, durable and long lasting decorative and building materials and plays an important role in the economy of several European countries. The majority of quarrying and marble processing activities worldwide are performed by Small-to-Medium Enterprises (SMEs), whose operations are characterized by low productivity coupled with low penetration of new technologies, high production costs and an overall lack of sustainable resource management coupled with significant amounts of waste material produced mainly during the quarrying stage. There is a marked need within the sector for increases in production efficiency coupled with substantial reductions in material waste that can be achieved by adopting best available production and processing practices, promoting technological innovation, incorporating energy saving technologies and modernizing the sector's organizational structure and management practices. The present work provides a systematic approach for assessing the current energy and environmental status of a typical European marble quarrying and processing SME and proposes measures for meeting cleaner production objectives. An evaluation methodology was developed, through consideration of several realistic plant operating scenarios. The total energy inputs for specific products and processes together with appropriate environmental indices (equivalent CO2 yield) were calculated and compared to corresponding data from similar companies across the European Union. Possible measures that may improve overall plant energy efficiency and environmental impact are also proposed. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.	en
heal.journalName	Journal of Cleaner Production	en
dc.identifier.doi	10.1016/j.jclepro.2012.03.007	en
dc.identifier.volume	32	en
dc.identifier.spage	10	en
dc.identifier.epage	21	en