Split Incentives and Energy Efficiency in Canadian Multi-Family Dwellings

This paper examines the energy-related behaviour of occupants and owners of multi-family dwellings in Canada, some of whom do not pay directly for electricity or heat, but instead have these costs included in their rent or condo fees. Using data from the 2003 Survey of Household Energy Use, we look at the extent to which split incentives that result from bill-paying arrangements effect a variety of activities including the setting of temperatures at various times of the day and the use of eco-friendly options in basic household tasks. Findings suggest that these split incentives do indeed impact some aspects of occupant behaviour, with households who do not pay directly for their heat opting for increased thermal comfort and being less sensitive to whether or not somebody is at home and the severity of the climate when deciding on temperature settings. Regardless of who pays for utilities, Canadian households who live in multi-family dwellings are generally unresponsive to fuel prices. Our empirical results suggest that the possibility of environmental benefits from policies aimed at improving energy-efficiency in this sector, especially if targeted at reducing the impacts of the behaviour of those who do not pay directly for energy use.energy efficiency; agency effects; household behaviour

Irrigation and energy: Issues and challenges

Water‐efficient agriculture has implied a large increase in energy consumption for irrigation in recent decades. In many irrigation systems, energy costs are now threatening their sustainability. However, new opportunities have arisen for the use of renewable energies in the irrigation sector. These are some of the aspects of the multifaceted multiple‐actor 'water–food–energy' nexus. Technical, economic and environmental issues are linked in many ways, involving farmers, water users' associations, energy suppliers, engineers and other stakeholders. The ICID session 'Irrigation and energy' triggered discussions on these multiple dimensions. This paper presents a synthesis of the presentations, discussions and conclusions. Four main questions are addressed: How do irrigation productivity and sustainability of water resources exploitation change when farmers have access to energy? What do we know about energy efficiency in irrigation systems, at farm and collective network levels? How can this efficiency be optimized by using advanced technologies, modelling tools, improved management? Is energy production an opportunity for irrigation systems? These questions have been posed based on multiple case studies from different parts of the world. The BRL network, in southern France, illustrates advanced strategies and opportunities to reduce energy consumption and develop energy production at a network level. General conclusions are drawn from this synthesis, illustrating trade‐offs and synergies that can be identified in the irrigation sector at different scales, while opportunities for future research are proposed

Insights from psychology about the design and implementation of energy interventions using the behaviour change wheel

Improving the design and implementation of interventions to encourage end-use energy efficiency has the potential to contribute a substantive reduction in carbon emissions. A plethora of behaviour change frameworks is available to guide policymakers and designers but none have been found to be comprehensive or well-used. A new framework – the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW) – purports to be a useful aid for developing all types of behaviour change interventions. This paper assesses whether the BCW comprehensively describes programmes attempting to reduce energy consumption. To do this, components of behaviour change programmes as identified in four EU guidance documents were mapped onto the BCW. Most of the components discussed in the guidance could be readily coded to the BCW framework. The main energy policy under-represented in the BCW was energy price. Based on our work in this paper, we believe that the BCW offers a useful aid for the systematic design and development of behaviour change around end-use energy efficiency. We also propose that it may support development of a common lexicon for activities that can be rather vaguely described currently in energy efficiency guidance

Evaluation du risque cardiovasculaire chez le candidat à la transplantation hépatique (étude rétrospective sur 88 cas au CHU de Grenoble)

Le but de notre travail a été d évalué sur le plan cardiovasculaire 88 patients consécutif candidats à la TH de novembre 2000 à avril 2007 au CHU de Grenoble. Dans notre étude 44 patients furent transplanté. Le risque cardiovasculaire des candidats à la TH est élevé avec 26% de patients diabétiques, 24% patients hypertendu 34% patients dyslipidémiques, et 58% de patients possédant au moins deux facteurs de risque cardiovasculaire. Au total, après investigations complémentaires, 8 patients coronariens (9%) ont été détectés au cours du bilan pré-TH, dont 6 étaient totalement asymptomatiques. Un patient a présenté un syndrome coronarien aigu après la TH alors qu il n avait pas été réalisé de recherche d ischémie myocardique. Une prise en charge multidisciplinaire semble donc indispensable, d une part pour évaluer au mieux le risque cardiovasculaire et d autre part pour adopter la meilleure stratégie thérapeutique. Notre étude conforte la tendance actuelle proposant la recherche d ischémie myocardique chez tous les patients ayant au moins 2 facteurs de risque et chez les patients diabétiques.The goal of our work was evaluated 88 patients consecutive HT candidates for the November 2000 to April 2007 at the University Hospital of Grenoble. In this study 44 patients were transplanted. The cardiovascular risk candidates for the HT is high with 26% of diabetic patients, 24% patients hypertensive 34% dyslipidemic patients, and 58% of patients with at least two cardiovascular risk factors. Overall, after investigations, 8 patients coronary artery disease (9%) were detected during the balance pré-H T which 6 were completely asymptomatic. One patient presented an acute coronary syndrome after the HT when he had not been conducted research myocardial ischemia. A multidisciplinary support seems essential, therefore, partly in order to better assess the cardiovascular risk, and to adopt the best therapeutic strategy. Our study confirms the trend in which the search for myocardial ischemia in all patients with at least 2 risk factors and in diabetic patients.GRENOBLE1-BU Médecine pharm. (385162101) / SudocPARIS-BIUM (751062103) / SudocSudocFranceF

Split incentives and energy efficiency in Canadian multi-family dwellings

This paper examines the energy-related behaviour of owners and occupants of multi-family dwellings in Canada, some of whom do not pay directly for electricity or heat, but instead have these costs included in their rent or condo fees. Using data from the 2003 Survey of Household Energy Use, we look at the extent to which split incentives that result from bill-paying arrangements affect a variety of activities including the setting of temperatures at various times of the day and the use of eco-friendly options in basic household tasks. Findings suggest that these split incentives do indeed impact some aspects of occupant behaviour, with households who do not pay directly for their heat opting for increased thermal comfort and being less sensitive to whether or not somebody is at home and the severity of the climate when deciding on temperature settings. Regardless of who pays for utilities, Canadian households who live in multi-family dwellings are generally unresponsive to fuel prices. Our empirical results suggest the possibility of environmental benefits from policies aimed at improving energy-efficiency in this sector, especially if targeted at reducing the impacts of the behaviour of those who do not pay directly for energy use.Energy efficiency Agency effects Household behaviour

Irrigation and energy: Issues and challenges

International audienceWater-efficient agriculture has implied a large increase in energy consumption for irrigation in recent decades. In many irrigation systems, energy costs are now threatening their sustainability. However, new opportunities have arisen for the use of renewable energies in the irrigation sector. These are some of the aspects of the multifaceted multiple-actor 'water-food-energy' nexus. Technical, economic and environmental issues are linked in many ways, involving farmers, water users' associations, energy suppliers, engineers and other stakeholders. The ICID session 'Irrigation and energy' triggered discussions on these multiple dimensions. This paper presents a synthesis of the presentations, discussions and conclusions. Four main questions are addressed: How do irrigation productivity and sustainability of water resources exploitation change when farmers have access to energy? What do we know about energy efficiency in irrigation systems, at farm and collective network levels? How can this efficiency be optimized by using advanced technologies, modelling tools, improved management? Is energy production an opportunity for irrigation systems? These questions have been posed based on multiple case studies from different parts of the world. The BRL network, in southern France, illustrates advanced strategies and opportunities to reduce energy consumption and develop energy production at a network level. General conclusions are drawn from this synthesis, illustrating trade-offs and synergies that can be identified in the irrigation sector at different scales, while opportunities for future research are proposed