The Sound of a Circular City: Towards a Circularity-Driven Quietness

Aggelos Tsaligopoulos (), Stella Sofia Kyvelou, Michalis Chiotinis, Aimilia Karapostoli, Eleftheria E. Klontza, Demetris F. Lekkas and Yiannis G. Matsinos
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Aggelos Tsaligopoulos: Acoustic Ecology Laboratory, Department of the Environment, University of the Aegean, 81100 Mytilene, Greece
Stella Sofia Kyvelou: Department of Economic and Regional Development, School of Science of Economics and Public Administration, Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, 17671 Athens, Greece
Michalis Chiotinis: Department of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, School of Civil Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Heroon Polytechneiou 9, 15780 Zographou, Greece
Aimilia Karapostoli: School of Architectural Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Eleftheria E. Klontza: Waste Management Laboratory, Department of the Environment, University of the Aegean, 81100 Mytilene, Greece
Demetris F. Lekkas: Waste Management Laboratory, Department of the Environment, University of the Aegean, 81100 Mytilene, Greece
Yiannis G. Matsinos: Acoustic Ecology Laboratory, Department of the Environment, University of the Aegean, 81100 Mytilene, Greece

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 19, 1-22

Abstract: The circular economy paradigm can be beneficial for urban sustainability by eliminating waste and pollution, by circulating products and materials and by regenerating nature. Furthermore, under an urban circular development scheme, environmental noise can be designed out. The current noise control policies and actions, undertaken at a source–medium–receiver level, present a linearity with minimum sustainability co-benefits. A circular approach in noise control strategies and in soundscape design could offer numerous ecologically related co-benefits. The global literature documenting the advantages of the implementation of circular economy in cities has highlighted noise mitigation as a given benefit. Research involving circular economy actions such as urban green infrastructure, green walls, sustainable mobility systems and electro-mobility has acknowledged reduced noise levels as a major circularity outcome. In this research paper, we highlight the necessity of a circularity and bioeconomy approach in noise control. To this end, a preliminary experimental noise modeling study was conducted to showcase the acoustic benefits of green walls and electric vehicles in a medium-sized urban area of a Mediterranean island. The results indicate a noise level reduction at 4 dB(A) when simulating the introduction of urban circular development actions.

Keywords: circular economy; bioeconomy; noise control; soundscape; noise model; noise map; green walls; electric vehicles; quietness (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
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