Lessons Learned and Next Steps in Energy Efficiency Measurement and Attribution: Energy Savings, Net to Gross, Non-Energy Benefits, and Persistence of Energy Efficiency Behavior

This white paper examines four topics addressing evaluation, measurement, and attribution of direct and indirect effects to energy efficiency and behavioral programs: Estimates of program savings (gross); Net savings derivation through free ridership / net to gross analyses; Indirect non-energy benefits / impacts (e.g., comfort, convenience, emissions, jobs); and, Persistence of savings

Energy management and conservation in the hotel industry of Cyprus : a systematic modelling approach

The present research has investigated the problem of energy management and conservation in the Hotel sector of Cyprus; one of the most important and most dynamic sectors of the island's economy. The methodology of the soft systems approach was considered as the most appropriate method for tackling the complexities involved in the problem situation. The outcome of the research demonstrated that the adoption of this methodology is suitable for investigating problems of energy management and conservation and can indeed be extended by use of "systemic" interactive computer simulation methods. The existing problem situation in the Hotel industry was investigated through design and execution of questionnaires addressed to the main human actors, energy audits, site visits, discussions and statistical analysis of energy related factors. Serious deficiencies were found at all levels. Energy consumption and use patterns were analysed with respect to quantity, quality and timing of energy use. Existing and new technologies were evaluated using life cycle cost-effective analysis methods. Evaluation of alternative energy supply "mixes" using computer simulation techniques were made, which demonstrated the viability of cogeneration, wind and solar collection approaches in some situations. The research concluded that: (a) there is good scope for energy conservation (in the range of 10-20%) by modifying user habits, hotel energy demand, remodeling of existing technology and introduction of new energy efficient technology. (b) there is an immediate need to provide training and education to all human factors involved. (c) there is a need to modify existing energy-policies. (d) there is need to introduce new energy management infrastructure at National level and below. (e) there is real need for changing the attitudes towards energy conservation of all "actors" involved. (f) there is need for further investigation of the energy supply and demand patterns of hotels. Recommendations concerning the introduction of training and education, and changes in policy, attitudes, practice and energy use, and infrastructure are made. All recommendations are based on conceptual models developed following the application of the soft systems methodology

Supporting study for the Fitness Check on the construction sector: EU internal market and energy efficiency legislation. CEPS Report, October 2016

This study is intended to support the REFIT Sectoral Fitness Check of the Construction Sector, undertaken by the European Commission and expected to be published in the spring of 2017. The Sectoral Fitness Check aims at examining how various EU legal acts impact on the construction sector, and at identifying possible areas of improvement, including reduction of regulatory costs and burdens and a better alignment of provisions, if applicable. The analysis included evaluating the efficiency, coherence, effectiveness, relevance and EU added value of most relevant provisions of EU legislation, with respect to the objectives for a more competitive and sustainable construction sector, in particular for SMEs. Particular attention was paid to identifying any synergy or inefficiencies arising from these acts

Development of sustainability within a university curriculum

There are currently many complex issues facing human society. There are a range of well-documented environmental problems that stem from past and current methods of human development. Declining ecosystems and species extinctions aside, many humans suffer and struggle within this mounting tide of environmental hardships as well as continuing struggles with access to education and equality within society. A large portion of these struggles arise from the disparity in wealth and the seemingly oppressive nature of economic systems for the 'have-nots' of the world. This quick overview of environmental, social, and economic conditions shows the interdependencies of the three aspects of sustainability or sustainable development. As there are calls to action from the scientific community, government, and society to address these issues of sustainable development, there are a number of voices calling for general changes within the various levels of the education system and more specifically with connecting students to the subject of sustainability. This thesis makes the argument that the most effective step in addressing both these issues is an introductory course on sustainability. Although the issues of sustainability and education are framed under different context, they both can be reduced to the concept of more holistic thinkers in society and in the classroom. A review of more discipline-specific courses incorporating sustainability, faculty surveys, and alternative learning and teaching methods strengthened the course design process. The end result is an upper level undergraduate course that uses the topics of food, water, and energy to bring a new level of understanding to the student on sustainability and holistic thinking.M.S.Committee Chair: Meyer, Michael; Committee Member: Amekudzi, Adjo; Committee Member: Bergin, Michae

Designing for Epistemic Agency: How university student groups create knowledge and what helps them do it

How do university students create knowledge together? Collaborative projects are part of most tertiary undergraduate programs but in-depth studies of student work outside classrooms are rare. My interest is in shared epistemic agency—how knowledge is collaboratively created. There is, naturally, a social aspect—dialogue, team roles and relationships. There is also materiality to collaboration; the objects that students create and use as thinking tools and to organise work. Sociomaterial theories of knowledge creation, putting shared objects at the centre of social learning, underpinned this study. I followed seven groups of undergraduate students, as they worked together in education and engineering courses on ill-structured assessment tasks. I used ethnographic methods, including video- and audio-recordings, and capturing artefacts and online communications and work. I made detailed transcriptions and used discourse analysis of actions and objects as well as dialogue. I mapped projects through relational diagrams tracing actors, actions, conceptual development and objects over time. I compared cases across dimensions of knowledge creation and students’ assembled infrastructure. Findings and outputs include: • Conceptualisation of a new type of epistemic object, the synthesising object, to bridge individual and shared knowledge creation. • An original method of visual analysis and representation of shared epistemic objects over multiple dimensions. • A model for epistemic agency in group tasks, outlining the interactions between what students bring to the task, the components of infrastructure supporting knowledge work, and design. • The importance of early stages of projects: students bring dispositions that help them understand and frame epistemic work. • A set of design principles for shared epistemic agency, working collaboratively on knowledge in a specific context. A long-term strategy, targeted activities, deliberate practice and reflection are key

2009 Annual Report

Santee Cooper annually publishes a report with statistics, analysis, audit, leadership, and budget statements

Aberdeen Student Law Review

We would like to thank Sarah Duncan for her organisational expertise and readiness to help, Tamas Gyorfi for his technical assistance and Anne-Michelle Slater for her advice and continuing support. We would also like to thank Lord Woolman, the patron of the ASLR, for his encouragement and kind words throughout the publication process. Additional thanks are due to those of our predecessors who furnished us with advice regarding the editing and distribution process, namely Dominic Scullion, Leanne Bain, Colin Mackie, Ilona Cairns, Phil Glover and Constantinos Yiallourides. Without their input, this would have been a much more daunting task. This publication could not have taken shape without the meticulous work and dedication of the editors, who have devoted countless hours of their study time to reviewing incoming submissions and editing the articles chosen for publication. Plaudits are also naturally due to the authors, not only for the excellent quality and rigour of their academic work, but for their general patience and co-operation during the publication process. In a similar vein, we are very grateful to the peer-reviewers, on whose expertise the quality of the ASLR irrefutably depends. Last but not least, we would like to thank Stronachs LLP for their sponsorship and James Downie in particular. His enthusiasm for the ASLR has been a true source of inspiration.JournalPublisher PD

Blockchain and Distributed Autonomous Community Ecosystems: Opportunities to Democratize Finance and Delivery of Transport, Housing, Urban Greening and Community Infrastructure

This report investigates and develops specifications for using blockchain and distributed organizations to enable decentralized delivery and finance of urban infrastructure. The project explores use cases, including: providing urban greening, street or transit infrastructure; services for street beautification, cleaning and weed or graffiti abatement; potential ways of resource allocation ADU; permitting and land allocation; and homeless housing. It establishes a general process flow for this blockchain architecture, which involves: 1) the creation of blocks (transactions); 2) sending these blocks to nodes (users) on the network for an action (mining) and then validation that that action has taken place; and 3) then adding the block to the blockchain. These processes involve the potential for creating new economic value for cities and neighborhoods through proof-of-work, which can be issued through a token (possibly a graphic non-fungible token), certificate, or possible financial reward. We find that encouraging trading of assets at the local level can enable the creation of value that could be translated into sustainable “mining actions” that could eventually provide the economic backstop and basis for new local investment mechanisms or currencies (e.g., local cryptocurrency). These processes also provide an innovative local, distributed funding mechanism for transportation, housing and other civic infrastructure