Institutional analysis of research and socialization in housing : a preliminary exploration

This paper is one of a series prepared under the sponsorship of DOE's Photovoltaic(PV) Program as part of the institutional analysis of housing. It considers research and socialization functions of housing. In addition to a brief discussion of the theory and methods of institutional analysis, the paper presents a brief historical review of building in the US, identi- fying an historic heritage for the independence of institutional entities in the building industry. A review of the building industry's response to innovation (including a brief description of the introduction of PVC piping) suggests that the industry may be characterized as fragmented and localized, with many actors, each responsive to the dispositions of all others (especially the ultimate source of motivation, the consumer and his/her purchasing power). The building industry is structured such that no single actor predominates, but that any or several may be the source of either facilitation or obstruction of innovation. Overcoming economic and technological constraints is not enough. Given the normative importance of housing, anything identified as "new and different" will meet resistance, while innovations labelled as providing "the same with less uncertainty" will find a more willing audience.Prepared under Dept. of Energy Contract no. EX-76-A-01-2295, Task order no. 37

Mobile-component housing and solar energy : the possibilities

This paper is part of a body of work directed at enhancing the acceptance of photovoltaics in various sectors of the U.S. economy. The focus here is on residential applications. The work is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy as part of its photovoltaics program. Earlier work has considered the nature of institutional forces in the housing sector generally, including a study of several housing developments incorporating solar thermal technologies with the assistance of the HUD-DOE Solar Heating and Cooling Demonstration Program. This earlier work resulted in a series of papers summarizing the application of institutional analysis methods to housing, including a research design (Nutt-Powell, 1979), and preliminary sector explorations covering housing production (Swetky and Nutt-Powell, 1979), governmental involvement in housing (McDaniel and Nutt-Powell, 1979), research and socialization in housing (Furlong and Nutt-Powell, 1979), energy provision in housing (Reamer, Heim and Nutt-Powell, 1979), and standards in housing (Parker and Nutt-Powell, 1979). The housing development case studies are reported in three papers (Nutt-Powell et al., 1979; Nutt-Powell, 1979b; Parker, 1980.) Additionally a separate analysis was undertaken of the HUD-DOE program, focused on implications for program design of PV acceptance in the housing sector (Nutt-Powell, 1980). This analytic work has paralleled and contributed to development of specific approaches to residential acceptance, including a Residential Application Implementation Plan (MIT EL/LL, 1979).The various studies and plans completed to date have taken a very broad view of the housing sector. As the technology develops, coming closer to cost and production feasibility on a large scale, it is appropriate to begin more detailed analyses of the housing sector. Among such detailed analyses are those considering the possibilities for acceptance of PV among different modes of housing construction. This paper is one such analysis. The focus is on that form of housing production defined as "mobile-component housing," a type of housing built in a factory to a single national construction standard administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.There are four sections in this paper. The first section describes the structure of the manufactured housing industry. It provides definitions and terminology necessary to a discussion of mobile-component housing.It then reviews the production activity and approach, distribution, consumer and financing for this mode of housing. The second section presents the product characteristics of mobile-component housing. The third section reviews solar technologies, and discusses their relation to mobile-component housing. The fourth section focuses specifically on factors influencing receptivity to solar by the mobile-component housing industry. The conclusion to this paper summarizes the analysis as it relates to the possibilities for photovoltaics in mobile-component housing

Occurrence And Potential Adverse Effects Of Semivolatile Organic Compounds In Streambed Sediment, United States, 1992–1995

The occurrence and potential adverse effects of select semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) in streambed sediment were assessed at 536 sites in 20 major river basins across the United States from 1992 to 1995. Fifty-six SVOCs were detected at one or more sites, and one or more SVOCs were detected at 71% of sites. The northeastern and Great Lakes regions and large metropolitan areas have the highest SVOC concentrations. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were detected most frequently and at the highest concentrations. Concentrations of PAHs and phthalates were about 10 times higher at sites influenced by urban activities than at sites in other land-use areas. Semivolatile organic compounds were significantly (α = 0.05) correlated with land use and population density, and PAHs also correlated with physical/chemical properties. On the basis of sediment-quality guidelines, adverse effects are probable at 7.5% and possible at 16.2% of the sites. Most of the potential for adverse effects is due to PAHs. The median percentage of urban land use was 8% at sites with possible adverse effects and 16% at sites with probable adverse effects. Urbanization profoundly affects sediment quality, even though it comprised a small percentage of most drainage basins

Effect of Ground Interference on the Aerodynamic Characteristics of a 42 Degrees Sweptback Wing

The effects of ground interference on the aerodynamic characteristics of a 42 degrees sweptback wing have been determined at distances above the ground 0.68 and 0.92 of the mean aerodynamic chord (measured from the 0.25 mean aerodynamic chord). The wing was tested without flaps and with inboard trailing-edge split and outboard leading-edge flaps deflected. The wing had an aspect ratio of 4, a taper ratio of 0.625, and NACA 641-112 airfoil sections perpendicular to the 0.273 chord line. The results are, in general, comparable to those reported for unswept wings. The longitudinal stability at the stall was not materially affected at the ground heights of the present tests

Effect of Ground Interference on the Aerodynamic and Flow Characteristics of a 42 Degree Sweptback Wing at Reynolds Numbers up to 6.8 x 10(6)

Report presents the results of an investigation of the effects of ground interference on the aerodynamic characteristics of a 42 degree sweptback wing at distances 0.68 and 0.92 of the mean aerodynamic chord from the simulated ground to the 0.25-chord point of the mean aerodynamic chord. Survey data behind the wing, both with and without the simulated ground, are presented in the form of contour charts of downwash, sidewash, and dynamic-pressure ratio at longitudinal stations of 2.0 and 2.8 mean aerodynamic chords behind the wing

Impacts of 2020 Low Traffic Neighbourhoods in London on Road Traffic Injuries

We assessed the impacts of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) implemented in 2020 on road traffic injuries. We used police data from October-December 2018/2019 (pre) compared with the same period in 2020 (post). We found absolute numbers of injuries inside LTNs halved relative to the rest of London (ratio 0.51, p<0.001). Considering changes in background travel patterns, our results indicate substantial reductions in pedestrian injury risk. Risks to other road users may also have fallen, but by a more modest amount. We found no evidence of changes in injury numbers or risk on LTN boundary roads

Solar heating and cooling of housing : |b five institutional analysis case studies

This paper is one of a series resulting from institutional analysis of photovoltaic (PV) acceptance. The case studies reported here involve use of solar thermal technologies in various residential settings. All of the projects are part of the DOE-HUD Solar Heating and Cooling Demonstration Program. This program provides grants to developers to prompt them to use this innovation. Each of the five cases illustrates one or more institu- tional forces which influence the acceptance of solar energy in the resi- dential sector. Friends Community is an instance of developer involvement for reasons other than profit, and the way in which other factors (such as designers and consumers) react to such housing development. Reservoir Hills Solar Houses illustrates the process of entry by new development firms, the role of public agencies in encouraging various forms of housing and the problems of using product innovations without adequately developed industry support infrastructures. Project Solar for Indiana illustrates the import- ance of supporting institutional networks, in this case the homebuilders association, the state government and key individuals, who play mediating and legitimating roles in solar acceptance. Solar in California discusses public efforts at a city level -- Santa Clara, a county level -- San Diego, and the state level in what is generally regarded as the state most active in turning to forms of solar energy. Finally, PNM/AMREP illustrates the process of large development corporation decision making, and the manner in which an investor- owned utility is shifting its orientation of energy provision

Equity in temporary street closures: The case of London's Covid-19 ‘School Streets’ schemes

School Streets are a street space reallocation scheme that has proliferated since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in the UK, reducing motor traffic on streets outside many schools. Utilising a minimum-standards approach to equity, this paper examines the distribution of School Streets closures across social and environmental indicators of equity, and spatially across London's administrative geography. Using a multi-level regression analysis, we show that although School Streets have been equally distributed across several socio-demographic indicators, they are less likely to benefit schools in car-dominated areas of poor air quality, and their spatial distribution is highly unequal. This study presents an example of using environmental and spatial variables alongside more typical sociodemographic indicators in measuring the equity of school travel provision. For policymakers, the findings signal the need to implement complementary policies that can benefit schools with worse air quality, and to accelerate School Street implementation in slower districts