Environmental Impact of Fresh Tomato Production in an Urban Rooftop Greenhouse in a Humid Continental Climate in South Korea

Israel Torres Pineda, Jeong Hwa Cho, Dongkeun Lee, Sang Min Lee, Sangseok Yu and Young Duk Lee
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Israel Torres Pineda: Environmental Systems Research Division, Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials, Daejeon 34103, Korea
Jeong Hwa Cho: School of Mechanical Engineering, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Korea
Dongkeun Lee: Environmental Systems Research Division, Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials, Daejeon 34103, Korea
Sang Min Lee: Environmental Systems Research Division, Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials, Daejeon 34103, Korea
Sangseok Yu: School of Mechanical Engineering, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Korea
Young Duk Lee: Environmental Systems Research Division, Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials, Daejeon 34103, Korea

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 21, 1-13

Abstract: In this work, we used life cycle assessment (LCA) to determine the environmental impact of fresh tomato production using a conventional greenhouse (GH) located in a rural area versus a rooftop greenhouse (RTG) located in an urban area in South Korea. The heating and cooling loads were modeled for a period of 12 months using the simulation software TRNSYS. The comparative LCA was then performed for the GH and RTG using these data. It was found that 19% less energy is required for heating an RTG and 38% more energy is used for cooling compared with a GH. Nevertheless, the total energy load reduction for the RTG is 13%. This decreased energy consumption is due to smaller heat losses of the RTG during the colder months. The decreased energy load, combined with the elimination of transportation, storage, and handling losses during the distribution stage, resulted in 43% less global warming potential, 45% less cumulative energy demand and abiotic depletion, 37% less photochemical oxidation and acidification, and 27% less eutrophication for the RTG. Further studies with seasonal yield data, energy sources, and integrated energy flows are expected to provide a better understanding of the advantages of urban farming in this region.

Keywords: LCA; environmental impacts; agriculture; heating; energy consumption (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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