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Title: Indicators to support environmental sustainability of bioenergy systems

Abstract

Indicators are needed to assess environmental sustainability of bioenergy systems. Effective indicators will help in the quantification of benefits and costs of bioenergy options and resource uses. We identify 19 measurable indicators for soil quality, water quality and quantity, greenhouse gases, biodiversity, air quality, and productivity, building on existing knowledge and on national and international programs that are seeking ways to assess sustainable bioenergy. Together, this suite of indicators is hypothesized to reflect major environmental effects of diverse feedstocks, management practices, and post-production processes. The importance of each indicator is identified. Future research relating to this indicator suite is discussed, including field testing, target establishment, and application to particular bioenergy systems. Coupled with such efforts, we envision that this indicator suite can serve as a basis for the practical evaluation of environmental sustainability in a variety of bioenergy systems.

Authors:
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1]
  1. ORNL
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
OSTI Identifier:
1016602
DOE Contract Number:  
DE-AC05-00OR22725
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Ecological Indicators
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 11; Journal Issue: 5; Journal ID: ISSN 1470-160X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Citation Formats

McBride, Allen, Dale, Virginia H, Baskaran, Latha Malar, Downing, Mark, Eaton, Laurence M, Efroymson, Rebecca Ann, Garten, Jr, Charles T, Kline, Keith L, Jager, Yetta, Mulholland, Patrick J, Parish, Esther S, Schweizer, Peter E, and Storey, John Morse. Indicators to support environmental sustainability of bioenergy systems. United States: N. p., 2011. Web. doi:10.1016/j.ecolind.2011.01.010.
McBride, Allen, Dale, Virginia H, Baskaran, Latha Malar, Downing, Mark, Eaton, Laurence M, Efroymson, Rebecca Ann, Garten, Jr, Charles T, Kline, Keith L, Jager, Yetta, Mulholland, Patrick J, Parish, Esther S, Schweizer, Peter E, & Storey, John Morse. Indicators to support environmental sustainability of bioenergy systems. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2011.01.010
McBride, Allen, Dale, Virginia H, Baskaran, Latha Malar, Downing, Mark, Eaton, Laurence M, Efroymson, Rebecca Ann, Garten, Jr, Charles T, Kline, Keith L, Jager, Yetta, Mulholland, Patrick J, Parish, Esther S, Schweizer, Peter E, and Storey, John Morse. 2011. "Indicators to support environmental sustainability of bioenergy systems". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2011.01.010.
@article{osti_1016602,
title = {Indicators to support environmental sustainability of bioenergy systems},
author = {McBride, Allen and Dale, Virginia H and Baskaran, Latha Malar and Downing, Mark and Eaton, Laurence M and Efroymson, Rebecca Ann and Garten, Jr, Charles T and Kline, Keith L and Jager, Yetta and Mulholland, Patrick J and Parish, Esther S and Schweizer, Peter E and Storey, John Morse},
abstractNote = {Indicators are needed to assess environmental sustainability of bioenergy systems. Effective indicators will help in the quantification of benefits and costs of bioenergy options and resource uses. We identify 19 measurable indicators for soil quality, water quality and quantity, greenhouse gases, biodiversity, air quality, and productivity, building on existing knowledge and on national and international programs that are seeking ways to assess sustainable bioenergy. Together, this suite of indicators is hypothesized to reflect major environmental effects of diverse feedstocks, management practices, and post-production processes. The importance of each indicator is identified. Future research relating to this indicator suite is discussed, including field testing, target establishment, and application to particular bioenergy systems. Coupled with such efforts, we envision that this indicator suite can serve as a basis for the practical evaluation of environmental sustainability in a variety of bioenergy systems.},
doi = {10.1016/j.ecolind.2011.01.010},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1016602}, journal = {Ecological Indicators},
issn = {1470-160X},
number = 5,
volume = 11,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2011},
month = {Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2011}
}