54 research outputs found
Toward a theory of restraint
Consumption largely remains a black box in the population, environment, and global change debates. The dominant perspective takes insatiability as axiomatic and assumes that reduced consumption will only happen through scarcity or the impositions of external authority. Yet humans often exhibit resource limiting behavior that is not the result of external controls nor is it altruistic or aberrant. This article develops the concept of restraint as an evolutionarily and culturally significant behavior, yet one that in modern times has been relegated to a regressive, if not trivial, status. The article defines restraint, hypothesizes its historical and evolutionary roots, lays out the conditions under which it can occur, and develops a theoretical parallel to cooperation in international relations theory.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/43491/1/11111_2005_Article_BF02208422.pd
Recommended from our members
Simulation of coastal processes in a circular wave basin
The circular wave basin provides a means of physically modeling the nearshore
without the typical problems associated with end walls. Three different coastal
processes were examined to demonstrate the use of a spiral wavemaker in a circular
wave basin. These were longshore currents, shear waves, and groin circulation. A
beach was designed and constructed to concentrate breaking in a narrow region and
minimize wave reflection. Currents in the longshore direction were generated by both
the motion of the wavemaker and oblique wave approach. Two methods for measuring
nearshore currents were employed. First, a 3-D acoustic current meter was positioned
at various locations in the cross shore and the local radial and tangential velocities
were recorded. Second, a video camera was placed approximately 8 meters above the
wave basin to record the motion of a ball in the nearshore. The video tape was
digitized by an image processor and the motion of the ball was determined.
Measurements of nearshore circulation in the circular wave basin were used to
investigate longshore currents, shear waves, and groin circulation. Average measured
longshore current profiles in the cross shore were compared with numerical model
predictions. An analysis of the existence of shear waves in the circular wave basin
was performed by calculating longshore and cross shore current spectra. Particular
attention was focused on the low frequency end of the spectra where shear waves are
most energetic. Model groins were placed in the circular wave basin and measured
currents were compared to predicted circulation patterns. All three applications
indicated that the circular wave basin is a useful device for simulating coastal processes
in a laboratory environment
Moving from outsider to insider: Peer status and partnerships between electricity utilities and residential consumers
An electricity demand reduction project based on comprehensive residential consumer engagement was established within an Australian community in 2008. By 2011, both the peak demand and grid supplied electricity consumption had decreased to below pre-intervention levels. This case study research explored the relationship developed between the utility, community and individual consumer from the residential customer perspective through qualitative research of 22 residential households. It is proposed that an energy utility can be highly successful at peak demand reduction by becoming a community member and a peer to residential consumers and developing the necessary trust, access, influence and partnership required to create the responsive environment to change. A peer-community approach could provide policymakers with a pathway for implementing pro-environmental behaviour for low carbon communities, as well as peak demand reduction, thereby addressing government emission targets while limiting the cost of living increases from infrastructure expenditure
- …