Publications
Showing 43 results for Author: Kristina O. Armstrong
Aug, 2026
Journal
Measuring Success: A Refined Methodology for Estimating Long-term Continuous Improvement
Successful resource management systems require current and detailed feedback on operational and corporate-level performance. As corporate accountability concerns intensify, the precision and reliability of these performance metrics have become crucial. Traditional savings estimation methods can be difficult to understand, particularly linear regression, and can provide var…
Jul, 2026
Journal
Evaluating alternative steam generation pathways in the food industry
Steam generation in the food sector requires substantial energy and cost expenditures, requiring nearly half of its energy intake. We used life cycle assessment and life cycle cost assessment to investigate the cost and energy impacts of steam generating alternatives: NG, biomass and hydrogen boilers and grid-supplied and self-generated electric steam generation systems (e…
Jun, 2026
Journal
A framework and calculator for evaluating the impacts of shelf life extension and other food loss and waste reduction technologies
Optimization of the food supply chain (FSC) depends on reducing food waste, especially at the consumer stage, where a substantial portion of food is not eaten, but instead disposed of via landfill, incineration, or in-sink disposals. One key strategy is to increase the time that consumers have before food goes bad or expires. This study developed a framework to assess the…
Mar, 2026
Conference Paper
Use of Captured CO2 for Production of Sustainable Polyurethane Foams in Automotive Applications
Captured CO2 has been investigated as a feedstock for the production of polyurethane (PU) foams for automotive applications. Previous work has shown successful incorporation of CO2 into polyols via three distinct reaction pathways. These CO2-derived polyols, as well as several commercially available polyols with varying CO2 content, were used to produce PU foams for automo…
Aug, 2025
ORNL Report
Advancing Manufacturing Water Resilience: Addressing Risks through New Approaches and Technologies
Water is indispensable in manufacturing operations, and many manufacturers operate on the assumption that water of sufficient quality and quantity will be available whenever and wherever needed. As such, the importance of water to this sector has been overlooked, despite its critical importance for operations and meeting production demands, due to perceived sufficient avai…
Jun, 2025
Journal
Novel Tools for Analyzing Lifecycle Energy Use, Carbon Emissions, and Cost of Additive Manufacturing
Decarbonizing industrial manufacturing is a significant challenge in the effort to limit the impacts of global climate change. Additive manufacturing (AM) is one pathway for reducing the impacts of manufacturing as it creates parts layer-by-layer rather than by removing (i.e., subtracting) material from solid stock as with conventional techniques. This reduces material inp…
Jun, 2025
Journal
Controlled environment agriculture: An opportunity to strengthen interagency research collaboration in the US government
Challenges facing food production and agricultural systems are increasingly interconnected with economic, security, health, and equity issues, among others. Threats such as extreme weather, economic volatility, and shrinking water resources and arable land, influence our ability to maintain a safe and resilient food supply. One promising solution to these threats is contro…
Apr, 2025
Journal
Towards low-carbon low-energy concrete alternatives: Life cycle assessment of carbonated cementitious material-based precast panels
Cement is responsible for 22 % of all global CO2 emissions from industrial processes. Technological innovation for developing and deploying of alternative materials will be required to decarbonize the cement industry. Carbonated cementitious materials (CCMs) are building materials that rely on carbon mineralization for their strength. A process-based cradle-to-gate life cy…