Energy justice in heat metering:Findings from a Danish experiment of metering and distribution in residential apartment buildings

According to EU regulations on heat metering, households should be metered individually and pay accordingly. However, in apartment blocks, heating is often provided for the whole building, and different ways of distributing costs are used. In Denmark, an investigation has been carried out into new ways of distributing costs, using indoor climate measurements of temperature, CO2 and humidity. Incorporating these three types of measurements in payment distribution can create an incentive to encourage residents to pursue a healthier indoor climate with lower energy consumption. This paper reports on qualitative interviews with residents as well as housing staff taking part in the experiment, relating empirical findings to questions of justice and ethics raised in the literature. Analysis reveals differing levels of understanding among residents concerning metering systems and rationales, including in relation to cost distribution and questions of justice. The experiment was carried out in social housing blocks where some residents could be categorised as vulnerable in terms of limited income and specific heating needs. Furthermore, issues of global climate and justice from an intergenerational perspective are also considered. This paper therefore draws on wider discussions about energy justice and vulnerability related to types of heat metering, and shows how these issues are interlinked with the socio-material context and the interplay with socio-technical constructions of comfort norms. The relevance of country-specific insights are thus demonstrated at a European level and beyond.</p

The Tromsø Study: Fit Futures: a study of Norwegian adolescents' lifestyle and bone health

Summary: Bone mass achievement predicts later fracture risk. This population-based study describes bone mineral density levels (BMD) and associated factors in Norwegian adolescents. Compared with international reference ranges, BMD levels appear higher and physical activity levels are positively associated with BMD. Purpose: Norway has one of the highest reported incidences of osteoporotic fractures. Maximization of peak bone mass may prevent later fractures. This population-based study compared BMD levels of Norwegian adolescents with international reference ranges and explored associated factors. Methods: All first year upper secondary school students, aged 15-19 years in the Tromsø region were invited to the Fit Futures study in 2010-2011. Over 90% of the invited participants attended, 508 girls and 530 boys. BMD was measured at total hip, femoral neck and total body by dual x-ray absorptiometry. Lifestyle variables were collected by self-administered questionnaires and interviews. All analyses were performed sex stratified, using linear regression models. Results: In girls mean BMD (SD) was 1.060 (0.124), 1.066 (0.123) and 1.142 (0.077) g/cm² at the total hip, femoral neck and total body respectively. In boys corresponding values were 1.116 (0.147), 1.103 (0.150) and 1.182 (0.097), with significant higher values than the Lunar pediatric reference at 16 years of age In girls, height and self-reported intensive physical activity of more than four hours a week and early sexual maturation were positively associated with BMD at both femoral sites (p<0.047). Among boys age, height, body mass index, physical activity and alcohol intake were positively (p<0.038), whereas early stages of sexual maturation and smoking was negatively (p<0.047) related to BMD. Conclusions: Despite the heavy fracture burden, Norwegian adolescents´ BMD levels are higher than agematched Caucasians. Physical activity is associated with 1 SD increased BMD levels in those involved in competition or hard training

Effects of 6 Months of Active Commuting and Leisure-Time Exercise on Fibrin Turnover in Sedentary Individuals with Overweight and Obesity: A Randomised Controlled Trial

Obesity and exercise constitute important factors for cardiovascular disease risk, but the long-term effects of different exercise modalities on haemostatic biomarkers are not well elucidated. We investigated the effects of 6 months of active commuting or leisure-time exercise on measures of fibrin turnover in individuals who are overweight and obese. Ninety younger (20–40 years), sedentary, healthy women and men who are overweight and obese (BMI: 25–35 kg/m2) were randomised to 6 months of habitual lifestyle (CON, n=16), active commuting (BIKE, n=19), or leisure-time exercise of moderate (MOD, ∼50% VO2peak reserve, n=31) or vigorous intensity (VIG, ∼70% VO2peak reserve, n=24). Fasting blood samples (baseline and 3 and 6 months) were analysed for cholesterols and triglycerides, thrombin generation, prothrombin fragment 1 + 2, D-dimer, fibrin clot properties, and fibrinolytic activity. We observed no differences between CON, BIKE, MOD, and VIG during the intervention and no time effects for any of the variables measured despite increased VO2peak in all exercise groups. We found no difference between CON and all exercise groups combined and no gender-specific effects of exercise. Our findings suggest that thrombin generation capacity, coagulation activation, fibrin clot structure, and lysability are unaffected by long-term active commuting and leisure-time exercise in women and men who are overweight and obese