The production and utilization of fertilizers are processes with known and noteworthy environmental impacts. Direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and a high contribution to water eutrophication due to the nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) derivatives are some of the most crucial impacts derived from the overall life cycle of fertilizer use. The life cycle assessment (LCA) has been reliable and analytical tool for the identification, quantification, and evaluation of potential environmental impacts of fertilizers related to the products, production processes, or activities throughout their lifecycle. In this paper, a gate-to-gate LCA approach was applied in order to identify and evaluate the impacts derived from the production processes of nitrate and compound fertilizers the production industry in Northeastern Greece. The results from this study prove that compound fertilizers have a greater impact compared with nitrate fertilizers, contributing up to 70% of the total production impacts. Furthermore, climate change, freshwater eutrophication, and fossil fuel depletion were identified as the most crucial impact categories. Finally, a comparison with relevant LCA studies was conducted, in order to identify the possibility of a consistency pattern of the fertilizer production impacts in general.

The aim of this study is to strengthen the capacity of mining industries to assess and improve their environmental sustainability performance through the introduction of a relevant framework. Specific assessment categories and respective indicators were selected according to predefined steps. Sustainability threshold values were identified for each indicator to enable the comparison of the facility’s performance with a sustainability reference value. The application of the framework results in the extraction of an Environmental Sustainability Assessment of Mining Industries Index (I_ESAMI). The framework was applied to evaluate a mining facility in Greece, with a view to improve its applicability in parallel. The final score of environmental sustainability for the examined facility was 3.0 points (I_ESAMI = 3.0 points), indicating significant room for improvement where the company should aim to further enhance its sustainability performance.

The mass concentrations of coarse (PM₁₀) and fine (PM_2.5) particulate matter were measured in different classrooms and relevant indoors areas of Democritus University, School of Engineering, Xanthi, with portable aerosol monitoring equipment. Two sampling campaigns were conducted in different seasons. The results indicated that the average concentrations in classrooms ranged from 32–188 μg/m³ and 25–151 μg/m³ for PM₁₀ and PM_2.5, respectively. Concentration levels above 300 μg/m³ were usually recorded, while the PM_2.5/PM₁₀ ratio was about 0.8. As expected, PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 average concentrations were significantly higher in the open-access meeting place of common use, indicating the significance of student trespassing and occasional smoking in the deterioration of indoors air quality.

Life-cycle thinking significantly affects the assessment of the environmental performance of a system. In this study, the life-cycle assessment of a multi-Si photovoltaic (PV) module was conducted in order to examine the environmental burden throughout its life cycle and benchmark it with the environmental burden of the identical conventional energy produced with the energy mix of Greece and supplied by the national energy network grid. The results indicated that aluminium, solar glass and the energy consumed during PV assembly significantly affected the environmental performance of the PV module. Non-renewable energy utilisation, global warming and respiratory inorganic emissions were the major impact categories affected by the life cycle of the module examined. Significant questions were raised regarding the distance of the PV installation site from manufacturers and maintenance personnel. Still, the utilisation of the system examined was more efficient than the application of conventional energy sources in terms of environmental performance.

In the specific study, four flat roof thermal systems namely: the gravel ballasted roof, the green roof, the ventilated roof and the insulated false ceiling, were analysed with the application of the life cycle assessment method (LCA). The analysis of the systems was based on literature references, theoretical calculations and extensive simulation scenarios. Various parameters were evaluated such as cost and time of application, structural loads, maintenance needs and energy efficiency. The study focused on the comparative environmental evaluation of the systems. Results indicated that the ballasted roof exhibited the best environmental performance. Extruded polystyrene and steel parts were the key parameters affecting the environmental performance of the systems. Significant results are also provided regarding the energy reimbursement and technical characteristics. The conclusions of the specific study support the need to identify alternative materials and processes for the formation of the thermal roof system layers and the integration of separation processes and partial recycling in construction activities.