Are credit unions in Ecuador achieving economies of scale?

This study tests the assertion that membership growth in credit unions is constrained by their unique structural features, such as their non-profit mission and member-based ownership. Although these features enhance inclusiveness, existing theory suggest that they work against efficiency when membership grows too diffuse. To address this issue, this study uses a model that takes into account existing theory on constrained-optimization in credit unions and theory on the adverse effects of diffuse ownership. Using data on 36 public credit unions in Ecuador, the empirical analysis finds evidence that credit unions can achieve economies of scale despite their problematic structural features. One possible explanation for this result may stem from the level of formality in Ecuador’s financial system including its level of prudential regulation, information technology, and capital market formation. Moreover, the optimal credit union size may be a function of institutional and technological development in addition to their unique structural features. This conclusion has important implications on policies aimed at expanding credit access in developing financial markets

DESIGN SISTEMICO E TERRITORIO. Progettare relazioni virtuose tra agricoltura, produzione energetica e modelli di consumo.Allegato A CIBO E TERRITORIO Scenari progettuali per Giaveno

The current consumption model identifies the base of the well-being of individuals and the community itself as the possession of property. The idea of development generated is a quantitative model, strongly backed by the economic system, and it does not matter what you consume as long as the outcome results in an increase in demand. Agriculture is no exception, as well as other sectors of the economy ,it results subject to strict laws of supply and demand: the food has slowly transformed into an industrial product, on the one hand becoming increasingly affordable and abundant, but on the other more standard and approved. The intensification of production has necessitated the large-scale use of pesticides and antibiotics in order to consistently meet the quantity and esthetic standards required by the market. Concepts such as seasonality and typicality have been altered, getting the consumers used to have any product anywhere and any time. This has modified our relationship with food: we eat more than we need, we buy more than we can consume, These shortcomings lead to our actions and behaviors that cause the waste and the disposal of a huge quantity of edible food, and separating our choices from their effects on health and territory, leading to the consolidation of a pattern of consumption that is not sustainable environmentally, socially and economically. If we consider that food chains are one of the sectors most energy-intensive and polluting, it follows that the current pattern of consumption can no longer be socially, environmentaly and economically consolidated and supported. On the other hand, the very close link between agriculture, energy and health represents a new starting point for designing a model of virtuous life and conscious, capable of generating culture and wellness. For nearly a decade, however, new realities, that have sought to find a different way of acting, are developing in a new economy which can create fertile ground for a local sustainable development. The purpose of our work is to define, through the analysis of different case studies, new scenarios of possible development, which can create new positive relationship between the protagonists of the system, and in which the flows of energy and matter constitute new resources and opportunities for the territory

Survey of the existing approaches to assess and design natural ventilation and need for further developments

ISBN : 978-0-947649-40-1 Disponible à l'adresse : www.ibpsa.org/proceedings/BS2009/BS09_0220_227.pdfInternational audienceIn the last years many building designers have turned their attention to natural ventilation, due to the potential benefits in terms of energy consumption related to ventilation and air-conditioning, especially in mild and moderate climates. Consequently, several calculation techniques have been developed to design and predict the performance of natural ventilation. This article presents a review of the existing approaches to predict natural ventilation performance, including simple empirical models, nodal models (mono-zone and multi-zones), zonal models and CFD models. For each approach, we analyse the physical basis, the main modelling assumptions, the necessary input data and the area of applicability. Thus, the integration of these methodologies in the available simulation programs is examined, with reference to the different phases of the natural ventilation design process and some examples of application are given. The aim of the review is to identify the main practical limits of existing programs in designing natural ventilation and in predicting its performance and the consequent need for further developments

Projet européen Keep Kool II. Conserver ou assurer le confort d'été lors de la réhabilitation de bâtiments de bureaux

Article accessible gratuitement en ligne à l'adresse http://aicvf.org/la-revue-cvc/n%C2%B0867-janvierfevrier-2011/National audienceL'usage de la climatisation en Europe est aujourd'hui en très forte augmentation. À titre d'exemple, environ 3,5 millions de climatiseurs individuels ont été vendus en 2005 contre 1,6 million en 1996 (120 % d'augmentation en dix ans). L'existant n'échappe pas à cette tendance, l'isolation des bâtiments lors d'une réhabilitation thermique, nécessaire pour réduire les consommations de chauffage, peut notamment se traduire par des inconforts d'été détectés après coup et favoriser l'installation ultérieure de systèmes de rafraichissement mécanique

An evaluation of ground thermal properties measure accuracy by thermal response test of horizontal ground heat exchangers

International audienceThis study aims to present a comparison between temperature measurements relative to horizontal ground heat exchangers with predicted values using thermal response test. A scale 1 test facility of horizontal ground heat exchangers has been implemented in BRGM (Orleans - France) to test performances in real conditions. The heat exchanger is divided in four parts of 100 m² each with different characteristics: - a sunny grass - a shaded grass - a sunny car-park - a shaded car-park These different configurations have been chosen to compare the performances of ground heat exchangers in different environments (surface state, boundary conditions). Furthermore, the temperature in the soil is measured continuously at 3 different levels (-0.5 m, -1 m, -1.5 m). To cartography the temperature field at these 3 depths, optical fibers are distributed in the underground and the use of a distributed temperature sensor (DTS) allows to accurately measure the temperature in the soil surrounding the ground heat exchanger. A thermal response is carried out on the horizontal ground heat exchanger. A monitored constant heating power is injected at a constant mass flow. The temperature measurements at the 3 different levels of a threedimensional numerical model of ground heat exchanger. The thermal response test gives in particular the noticeable differences between the 4 different conditions of each part of the ground heat exchanger. The conclusion will give indications on the consequences of uncertainty about soil thermal properties on sizing

On side refrigerant measurement of heat pump seasonal performances

International audienceHeat pump systems have become very popular for space heating in the residential sector in Europe. However, there is no data available on the in situ seasonal heating performances of air-to-air heat pumps. This is due to the difficulty of measuring their thermal capacity on field over a long period. Several methods relying on air flow rate and enthalpy measurements are being considered for in-situ measurement for air-to-air heat pumps. But accuracy and reliability of these methods are still unknown. In this paper, we show the results of a method based on intrusive measurements (on the refrigerant side) adapted to the dynamic behavior. This method uses Coriolis flow meters measures for the refrigerant flow rate and for enthalpies. Results confirm that the refrigerant density measurement with a Coriolis flow meter can help to predict the refrigerant vapor quality with a satisfying accuracy if the quality is not too high. The method is validated by testing an air-to-water heat pump in laboratory and by using the water enthalpy method as a reference. The experimental results show that the method is reliable in dynamic conditions (including during the defrosting periods). This internal method can be used as a reference to check the air enthalpy method for air-to-air heat pumps

Evaluation of building envelope retrofit techniques for reducing energy needs for space cooling.

One of the fastest growing sources of new energy demand is space cooling. According to EU-studies a four-fold growth in air-conditioned space is likely to take place between 1990 and 2020. The energy savings achievable in the end-use space cooling depend on a number of variables related to the building envelope, the plants and to some extent the behaviour of occupants. They are hence complex to evaluate and consequently often underrepresented in energy efficiency programmes and National Plans. This paper is based on some preliminary results of the IEE project KeepCool 2. It discusses in particular: a methodology for bottom-up assessment of the energy savings related to "sustainable summer comfort" solutions; reference base case building typologies are analyzed in 5 European climates, and dynamic simulations are used to calculate the reductions in the energy need for cooling which can be achieved by specific retrofit actions (e.g. additions of effective solar protections, increased thermal insulation, night ventilation, increase of active mass by PCM, low solar absorbance surfaces,...); situations where mechanical cooling can be avoided are evaluated using the Adaptive Comfort model, according to the norm EN 15251. case studies of buildings with good summer comfort and low energy consumption performances, according to the ten steps of the KC2 procedure. the analysis of case studies of "comfort policies" adopted by public and private bodies to ensure summer comfort with low energy consumption (commitments to give priority to heat load reductions instead of introducing mechanical cooling, relaxed dress codes, low thermal insulation chairs, local air velocity increase)

Electrographic changes accompanying recurrent seizures under ketogenic diet treatment.

The ketogenic diet (KD) is increasingly used to treat epilepsy refractory to antiepileptic drugs and other neurological disorders. In animal models, the KD was found to increase the threshold to seizures induced by different convulsive stimulations. However, in models in which suprathreshold stimuli were used, a paradoxical seizure worsening was consistently observed in KD-fed animals. To better define this phenomenon, we characterized the electrographic response to seizures induced in mice which were treated with the KD, and then corneally stimulated at 6-Hz in four different sessions. We also evaluated the electroencephalogram (EEG) in three patients in which the KD was associated with a paradoxical worsening of epileptic seizures. Although seizures were initially less severe, a remarkable prolongation of the electrographic response was observed in mice receiving the KD from the second session of 6-Hz corneal stimulation and onwards. The EEG was also markedly altered in the presence of progressive seizure aggravation observed in children treated with the KD, specifically one affected by Lennox\u2013Gastaut syndrome and two by type I lissencephaly. These results suggest that when seizures are induced or recur because of resistance to therapeutic interventions, the KD may change the EEG by potentiating the electrographic epileptic activity