Human-powered hydroponic systems: An environmental and economic assessment

摘要: Hydroponic systems like vertical farming have been proposed as an alternative and potentially more sustainable option for growing vegetables than conventional soil-based production methods. However, the energy required for the functioning of hydroponic systems is a key contributor to the total environmental impact and economic cost. Human-powered hydroponic systems, which utilise human muscular exertion to power the system, have not been thoroughly investigated, despite their potential as a cost-efficient alternative and less harmful to the environment. This paper presents a prototype of a novel human-powered hydroponic system and assesses its environmental impact and economic costs using life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle costing (LCC), considering the cultivation of lettuce as a case study. A scenario analysis was performed to assess the environmental impact of lettuce production using a …