Improving the energy performance of UK households: Results from surveys of consumer adoption and use of low- and zero carbon technologies

This paper presents results from a UK Open University project which surveyed consumers' reasons for adoption, and non-adoption, of energy efficiency measures and renewable energy systems–collectively called low- and zero-carbon technologies–and their experiences of using these technologies. Data were gathered during 2006 via an online questionnaire with nearly 400 responses, plus 111 in-depth telephone interviews. The respondents were mainly environmentally concerned, 'green' consumers and therefore these are purposive rather than representative surveys. The paper outlines results for four energy efficiency measures (loft insulation, condensing boilers, heating controls and energy-efficient lighting) and four household renewables (solar thermal water heating, solar photovoltaics, micro-wind turbines and wood-burning stoves). These green consumers typically adopted these technologies to save energy, money and/or the environment, which many considered they achieved despite rebound effects. The reasons for considering but rejecting these technologies include the familiar price barriers, but there were also other obstacles that varied according to the technology concerned. Nearly a third of the surveyed consumers had adopted household renewables, over half of which were wood stoves and 10% solar thermal water heating systems. Most adopters of renewables had previously installed several energy efficiency measures, but only a fifth of those who seriously considered renewables actually installed a system. This suggests sell energy efficiency first, then renewables. There seems to be considerable interest in household renewables in the UK, especially among older, middle-class green consumers, but so far only relatively few pioneers have managed to overcome the barriers to adoption

Evaluation prospective des délais d'attente dans un service d'urgence d'un hôpital universitaire avec un accueil mé dicalisé de première ligne

To measure waiting time delays of patients and to evaluate if the waiting time before the first physician contact is inversely correlated to the illness severity. During the period of 26/02/2007 through 3/03/2007, we prospectively studied the waiting times before the first contact with a physician (WTP) and the length of stay (LS) in 473 patients (0,8 % of the annual patient volume) evaluated in our emergency department, which has a physician triage model. The WTP was correlated to a severity score " Clinical Classification of Patients in Emergency (CCPE) ". The median WTP was :48 (22 - 79) min. (minutes) (median, P25, P75). This time was 33 (14 - 47), 16 (3 - 28) and 3 (0 - 3) min. for patients having a CCPE score of 3, 4 and 5. The median LS was 119 (76 - 186) min. In conclusion, the waiting times are comparable to those measured in similar studies. The waiting time evaluated according to CCPE is adequate.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Evaluation par le médecin de salle de la qualité de la prise en charge médicale des patients hospitalisés via le Service des Urgences

Background: patient management in the acute and sub-acute setting of an Emergency Department is challenging. An assessment of the quality of provided care enables an evaluation of failings. It contributes to the identification of areas for improvement. Objectives: to obtain an analysis, by hospital-ward physicians, of adult patient care management quality, as well as of the correctness of diagnosis made during emergency admissions. To evaluate the consequences of inadequate patient care management on morbidity, mortality and cost and duration of hospitalization. Methods: prospective data analysis obtained between the 1/12/2009 and the 21/12/2009 from physicians using a questionnaire on adult-patient emergency admissions and subsequent hospitalization. Results: questionnaires were completed for 332 patients. Inadequate management of patient care were reported for 73/332 (22 %) cases. Incorrect diagnoses were reported for 20/332 (6 %) cases. 35 cases of inadequate care management (10.5 % overall) were associated with morbidity (34 cases) or mortality (1 case), including 4 cases (1.2 % ) that required emergency intensive-care or surgical interventions. Conclusion: this quality study analyzed the percentage of patient management cases and incorrect diagnoses in the emergency department. The data for serious outcome and wrong diagnosis are comparable with current literature. To improve performance, we consider the process for establishing a diagnosis and therapeutic care.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Prévision de la quantité d'herbe ingérée par la vache laitière au pâturage. Comparaison de méthodes d'estimation de la digestibilité et du mode d'échantillonnage des fécès

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