4,529 research outputs found
Energy Services: A conceptual review
It is often stated that people do not desire energy itself but the âenergy servicesâ it provides. Despite its importance, initial searches revealed no obviously dominant definitions of the term âenergy servicesâ, and inconsistent illustrative examples. This paper presents the results of a content analysis and literature review which aimed to answer the question: âwhat are energy services?â. One hundred and eighty-five articles from the journals Energy Policy and Energy Research and Social Science containing the term âenergy service*â in the title, abstract or keywords were analysed, and additional documents relevant to the concept were identified for review. In total, 27 definitions of âenergy servicesâ were recorded, and 173 separate examples (such as âspace heatingâ or âlightingâ). Thematic analysis of the definitions revealed a number of recurring themes, such as âuseful energy/workâ and the provision of âbenefitsâ to people. Previous literature suggested the importance of distinguishing between âenergy servicesâ and the âend services or statesâ which they help obtain. On the basis of the identified themes, examples and conceptual discussion, the following definition of âenergy servicesâ is proposed: Energy services are those functions performed using energy which are means to obtain or facilitate desired end services or states
L1-determined ideals in group algebras of exponential Lie groups
A locally compact group is said to be -regular if the natural map
\Psi:\Prim C^\ast(G)\to\Prim_{\ast} L^1(G) is a homeomorphism with respect to
the Jacobson topologies on the primitive ideal spaces \Prim C^\ast(G) and
\Prim_{\ast} L^1(G). In 1980 J. Boidol characterized the -regular ones
among all exponential Lie groups by a purely algebraic condition. In this
article we introduce the notion of -determined ideals in order to discuss
the weaker property of primitive -regularity. We give two sufficient
criteria for closed ideals of to be -determined. Herefrom
we deduce a strategy to prove that a given exponential Lie group is primitive
-regular. The author proved in his thesis that all exponential Lie groups
of dimension have this property. So far no counter-example is known.
Here we discuss the example , the only critical one in dimension
Experiment K-6-08. Biochemical and histochemical observations of vastus medialis
Muscles of the hindlimb in the rat have been used to demonstrate the effects of unloading in weightlessness and in animal models used to mimic weightlessness. The vastus medialis (VM) is discussed here. Samples were obtained from rats exposed to weightlessness for 12 days in Cosmos 1887 (Experiment K-6-08, coordinated by Dr. V.S. Oganov). The principal objective of this study was to ascertain if the vastus medialis responded to 12 days of microgravity exposure. The loss in muscle mass is greatest, -43 percent, when comparing F vs B, and least, -13 percent, when comparing F vs. V. Taken at face value these differences may be misleading. Due to the variability of the muscle weight in the basal group, these muscle mass losses may be exaggerated. In terms of percent water, there were no differences between the flight and the control groups. In spite of the limited sample, researchers conclude that muscle mass changes in the VM are not significant. Although some of the morphological parameters suggest a small degree of atrophy in the vastus medialis, the biochemical analyses (protein, RNA and DNA) suggest that these may be minimal and functionally nonsignificant. The relatively similar CS and LDH activities of VM from F and various control groups, as well as the lack of difference in LPL activity between F and S rats, suggests that there is little or no effect on the oxidative or glycolytic function of this muscle. Since the VM is chiefly a mixed fast twitch muscle, these metabolic indices of energy production are relatively unchanged. The results of VM studies are in agreement with previous observations of another type II fast twitch muscle, the EDL, from SL-3 rats which did not respond markedly to weightlessness and whole body suspension
Analysis of motion parameter variations for rotorcraft flight simulators
No standard guidelines currently exist for tuning rotorcraft flight simulation motion platforms. This often leads to systems that are poorly utilized. This paper presents results from a study to determine the influence of parameter variations in two rotorcraft research simulators. Investigations were conducted using three Mission Task Elements (MTEs), and both subjective and objective analysis is used to determine the suitability of motion settings. Motion settings are compared with recommended Objective Motion Cueing Test (OMCT) boundaries for fixed-wing aircraft. Results show differences in the fidelity of motion settings, and recommendations specifically for rotorcraft simulation are presented
What motivates retrofitting? Results of a nationally representative sample in Great Britain
Energy use in buildings is one of the largest contributors to total energy consumption. The UK Government established the goal of reducing carbon emissions from homes by 29% by 2020, with energy efficiency improvements forming a central part of the plans. However, the recent âGreen Dealâ policy to promote energy-efficiency measures in homes through financial incentives had very little uptake. In a nationally representative survey, we assessed framing effects on the hypothetical uptake of free home insulation provided by the energy supplier. The frames tested were: (1) monetary savings, (2) a warmer home, (3) carbon savings, (4) health benefits, and (5) social norms. The option emphasizing monetary savings was associated with significantly higher likeliness to take up the offer than any of the other options, which all received similar mean ratings. Higher trust in the energy supplier was associated with higher likeliness to participate in the scheme. Financial benefits seem to be the greatest incentive for retrofit measures, supporting policy based on them. In this context we critically discuss the apparent failure of the Green Deal, and suggest how the importance of trust in the energy supplier could be used in the future
Locally Trivial W*-Bundles
We prove that a tracially continuous W-bundle over a
compact Hausdorff space with all fibres isomorphic to the hyperfinite
II-factor that is locally trivial already has to be globally
trivial. The proof uses the contractibility of the automorphism group
shown by Popa and Takesaki. There is no
restriction on the covering dimension of .Comment: 20 pages, this version will be published in the International Journal
of Mathematic
Two energy suppliers are better than one: survey experiments on consumer engagement with local energy in GB
Usually consumers have a single energy supplier. Permitting consumers to take on additional contracts with local suppliers in a multiple-supplier model could support growth of local renewable energy. The aims of this study were to assess the attractiveness of a multiple-supplier model and to understand whether consumers would be more likely to engage with local energy suppliers in a multiple-supplier model or the current single supplier model. An additional aim was to explore the role of default effects and cognitive biases associated with remaining with incumbent suppliers (loss-aversion, cognitive effort and implied endorsement). Two nationally representative survey experiments were conducted in Great Britain (n = 1042, n = 762). Results showed that participants were significantly more likely to engage with local energy suppliers under a multiple-supplier model than the current single supplier model. In one experiment, consumersâ preference for adding a local supplier under a multiple-supplier model was so strong that it overcame default effects. The perception that the supplier has been recommended (i.e. implied endorsement) was the most robust mechanism associated with remaining with default suppliers, suggesting that explicit endorsement of local energy suppliers may encourage uptake. Results suggest multiple-supplier models are likely to be a promising avenue for increased energy market engagement
Customer Privacy Concerns as a Barrier to Sharing Data about Energy Use in Smart Local Energy Systems: A Rapid Realist Review
The purpose of this review is to investigate the nature of privacy concerns in the context of smart local energy systems (SLES) to understand how SLES providers can minimize both user concerns, and cause for concern, around privacy. We conducted a rapid realist review and thematic framework analysis against Bronfenbrennerâs socioâecological model to understand privacy concerns in different contexts. A common privacy concern was that sharing detailed energy use data had the potential to reveal information about home life, and to intrude upon peopleâs sense of autonomy, choice, and control. Evidence suggests that people are willing to accept new data sharing technologies if the benefits of doing so are clear, anticipated, and mutually beneficial. Building trust, through increasing knowledge and understanding, was a mechanism for overcoming privacy concerns, but this was mediated by the organization providing the information. Non-profit organizations were more trusted to ensure appropriate safeguards to privacy were in place. One key barrier to participation with good supporting evidence was that people could resist perceived intrusions on their privacy. This could be actively resisted by refusing to install data collection technologies or passively by non-participation in adapting energy use behaviours: both of which are necessary for SLES to achieve their goals of managing energy demand and building resilience in smart grids
New energy downstream. Emerging business models and innovative best practices: an economic, institutional, and behavioral focus
Thanks to policy pressure and technological progress, modern energy systems are going through an increasing decentralization and decarbonization process. Digitalization and decarbonization, in this context, represent key enablers, as they unlock new opportunities of actors across the value chain (i.e., consumers, prosumers, retailers, traders, producers, network operators, and policy makers), providing them with new solutions. The combination of digital technologies and renewable energy solutions is already playing a pivotal role in the energy sector. The increasing attention toward clean energy sources, Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, Cloud, 5 G, and Blockchain technologies are influencing changes both in energy companiesâ value creation strategies and in customer behavior as well as in policy and regulatory frameworks. This transition will define the economic and legal environment able to accommodate an ever-increasing number and variety of alternative business models and new solutions. All these new aspects are expected to have an impact on long-time established roles, particularly by creating trust and empowering consumers on one side, and by disrupting traditional business models on the other. Ideally, this transformative process should be able to set out cost-effective and economically productive pathway, resulting in a clean, dynamic, and resilient energy economy dominated by renewables â while ensuring stable and affordable energy supplies, providing universal energy access, and enabling robust economic growth
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