Enhancing Ecological and Environmental Understanding with Exergy: Concepts and Methods

To understand ecological systems and environmental impact, techniques can be used which combine thermodynamics with environment and ecology. Most assessments consider thermodynamics via energy, but it many feel that ecological and environmental factors are better understood through exergy. One rationale is that exergy, not energy, is often a measure of the potential for ecological and environmental impact. Here, existing analysis techniques are reviewed which integrate exergy and ecological and environmental factors, including exergy-based ecological indicators, exergy-based life cycle analysis and environomics. The goals of most such techniques include improving understanding of the impact on ecological systems and the environment of processes and the determination of appropriate ecological and environmental improvement measures.