Leader: Trakarn Prapaspongsa, PhD
E-mail: trakarn.pra@mahidol.ac.th; Trakarn.prapaspongsa@gmail.com

Research and education have played a great role in sustainable development around the world. Eco-Efficient Engineering Research Lab (ECO-LAB) has been established in 2012 with the main aim to facilitate an understanding on preventive environmental measures for improvements while maintaining socio-economic benefits. The motto of ECO-LAB is “Be Sustainable & Be Creative”. The focuses are on research, development and applications of the key eco-efficient methods and tools (ECO-TOOLS) applied worldwide towards sustainability. The tools include life cycle thinking (LCT), life cycle assessment (LCA), life cycle management (LCM), carbon footprint (CF), water footprint (WF), eco-efficiency assessment, sustainability assessment, eco-design, eco-labelling, industrial ecology, and clean technology. In order to carry out the eco-efficient engineering research and applications effectively, the first channel is “Inside-Out” (See Figure 1) whereas the second channel is “Outside-In” using stakeholders and partnerships as the centre to solve the problem (See Figure 2). For both channels, “Problem-Based Learning” is the main core. The provision of professional research works could support green industry and communities in Thailand and other Asian countries.
 

Figure 1:Inside-out measures (ECO-LAB, ECO-COURSES, ECO-SEMINARS, and ECO-PROJECTS) using typical educational media as a tool to support green industry and communities in Thailand.

Figure 2:Outside-out measures (ECO-TOOLS, ECO-INDUSTRY, ECO-COMMUNITIES, andECO-NETWORK) using stakeholders and partnerships as the centre to solve the problem as well as to support green industry and communities in Thailand.
 

Eco-Efficient Engineering Course: Course description Industrial ecology and clean technology; Environmental management system; Life cycle thinking; Life cycle assessment; Carbon footprint and water footprint; Life cycle management; Eco-efficiency assessment; Sustainability assessment and indicators; Eco-design; Eco-labelling; Corporate environmental reporting and stakeholder engagement.
The Class Atmosphere

ECO-Seminars: The 1^st Eco-Efficient Engineering Seminar on 16 February 2013 entitled “LCT, LCA and CFP Applications towards Green Industry and Society” have attracted 5 renown and professional speakers from university, public and private sectors in Thailand and more than 70 participants from universities

The 2nd Eco-Efficient Engineering Seminar on 29 August 2013 entitled “Life cycle assessment and its application” by Prof. Per Christiansen from Danish Centre for Environmental Assessment, Aalborg University

On-Going Projects

• Development and Application of Consequential Life Cycle Assessment Method for Food and Fuel in Thailand and Asia, funded by Thailand Research Fund, 2014-2016, Principal Investigator. Lect. Dr. Trakarn Prapaspongsa
• Consequential and attributional life cycle assessment of major biomass products in Thailand including land use change impacts, funded by National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Principal Investigator (Head of the sub-project; This project is a sub-project under “Research Network for LCA and Policy on Food, Fuel and Climate Change”), 2012-2016. Lect. Dr. Trakarn Prapaspongsa
• Eco-efficiency Assessment of Sustainable Food Waste Management Systems for Large-Scale Hotels on Samui Island, funded by Mahidol University, 2014-2016, Project Supervisor. Lect. Dr. Trakarn Prapaspongsa
• Life Cycle Assessment of PANDORA Production Co., Ltd. towards Green Industry, funded by Thailand Research Fund (TRF) and PANDORA Production Co., Ltd. (Researchers and Research for Industry Grants: Master Sci. & Tech Grants 2013), 2014-2016, Head of the Project & Project Supervisor. Lect. Dr. Trakarn Prapaspongsa
• Water Scarcity Footprint Assessment of Tap Water from Metropolitan Waterworks Authority for Water Resources Management, funded by Thailand Research Fund (TRF) and Metropolitan Waterworks Authority (Researchers and Research for Industry Grants: Master Sci. & Tech Grants 2014), 2014-2016, Head of the Project & Project Supervisor. Lect. Dr. Trakarn Prapaspongsa
• Human Resource Development on Renewable Energy for Industry and Buildings, funded by Bright Management Consulting Co., Ltd. and Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency, Ministry of Energy, Thailand, 2014-2016, Head of Sub-Project and Biogas Technology Expert. Lect. Dr. Trakarn Prapaspongsa

 
Complete Projects

• APEC Low Carbon Model Town (LCMT) Promotion through Eco-Point Program (LCMT-EPP), funded by Bright Management Consulting Co., Ltd. and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, 2014, Sustainable Development Expert & Head of Technical Team. Lect. Dr. Trakarn Prapaspongsa
• Corporate Social Responsibility of PANDORA: A comparison between CSR policy and its implementation, funded by PANDORA Production Co., Ltd, 2013-2014, Head of the Project & Project Supervisor. Lect. Dr. Trakarn Prapaspongsa
• Assessment on energy performance of certified green buildings in Thailand, funded by Energy Policy and Planning Office (EPPO), 2013-2014, Head of the Project & Project Supervisor. Lect. Dr. Trakarn Prapaspongsa
• Development of guideline for material selection in green building design to reduce energy consumption and environmental impacts, funded by Energy Policy and Planning Office (EPPO), 2013-2014, Head of the Project & Project Supervisor. Lect. Dr. Trakarn Prapaspongsa
• Training Program for Alternative Energy and Efficiency towards Low Carbon Society, funded by Bright Management Consulting Co., Ltd. and Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency, Ministry of Energy, Thailand, 2013, Renewable energy and environmental management expert (This training program was taken place in Samui Island with total participants more than 900 people). Lect. Dr. Trakarn Prapaspongsa
• “The ECO-Mini Project 2013” Zero Waste Program- A Preliminary Study, funded by PANDORA Production Co., Ltd, 2013, Head of the Project & Project Supervisor. Lect. Dr. Trakarn Prapaspongsa
• Life Cycle Assessment of Green Building Technology for Sustainable Energy Consumption, funded by Energy Policy and Planning Office (EPPO), 2012-2013, Head of the Project & Project Supervisor. Lect. Dr. Trakarn Prapaspongsa

• Download Mahidol EcoLab: Book of Abstracts from 2009 to 2017

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