The Sustainable Management of Used Mobile Phones: A Repertory Grid Analysis

Used mobile phones create a unique problem when it comes to managing electronic waste (E-waste).This study investigated what factors influence consumer attitudes towards adopting a more sustainable approach when dealing with their used mobile phones. A reuse, refurbish and recycle strategy (3R) was used as a lens to examine the current literature from which an initial model was developed. Using the repertory grid interview technique twelve participants in New Zealand were interviewed to try to determine their core beliefs when it came to managing their used mobile phones. The results of the study indicate that consumers care about the effect of used mobile phones on the environment and provide a direction in which to target educational messaging on sustainability and the impact of used mobile phones. Messages should focus on reusing and recycling, in order to achieve maximum value, in particular the negative effects of storing old mobile phones should be emphasized

ECDataWorks Programmatic Use Case for the Development of an Analytic Tool

This brief provides an overview of programmatic use cases for state early childhood data, the benefits for state leaders and community stakeholders, and a sample template

Benchmarking and Equipment and Controls Assessment for a 'Big Box' Retail Chain

The paper describes work to enable improved energy performance of existing and new retail stores belonging to a national chain and thereby also identify measures and tools that would improve the performance of 'big box' stores generally. A detailed energy simulation model of a standard store design was developed and used to: (1) demonstrate the benefits of benchmarking the energy performance of retail stores of relatively standard design using baselines derived from simulation, (2) identify cost-effective improvements in the efficiency of components to be incorporated in the next design cycle, and (3) use simulation to identify potential control strategy improvements that could be adopted in all stores, improving operational efficiency. The core enabling task of the project was to develop an energy model of the current standard design using the EnergyPlus simulation program. For the purpose of verification of the model against actual utility bills, the model was reconfigured to represent twelve existing stores (seven relatively new stores and five older stores) in different US climates and simulations were performed using weather data obtained from the National Weather Service. The results of this exercise, which showed generally good agreement between predicted and measured total energy use, suggest that dynamic benchmarking based on energy simulation would be an effective tool for identifying operational problems that affect whole building energy use. The models of the seven newer stores were then configured with manufacturers performance data for the equipment specified in the current design and used to assess the energy and cost benefits of increasing the efficiency of selected HVAC, lighting and envelope components. The greatest potential for cost-effective energy savings appears to be a substantial increase in the efficiency of the blowers in the roof top units and improvements in the efficiency of the lighting. The energy benefits of economizers on the roof-top units were analyzed and found to be very sensitive to the operation of the exhaust fans used to control building pressurization

Tapping Fresh Currents: Fostering Early-Career Researchers in Transdisciplinary Water Governance Research

Water governance is an important, yet complex and contested field. A central challenge for researchers is to engage with multiple understandings and perspectives that can shape water governance, and to move towards more transdisciplinary approaches. These challenges are magnified for early-career researchers (ECRs), and while the need for transdisciplinary approaches and better support for ECRs is increasingly recognised, there remains a lack of understanding of how to achieve this within the wider research community. Thus, this paper investigates through an auto-ethnographic inquiry the practical experiences and challenges faced by a diverse group of ECRs engaging in water governance research. Reflecting on our own endeavours and relevant literature, we identify a range of path-finding experiences and challenges, and explore strategies employed by ECRs to navigate the 'uncharted waters' of evolving career pathways in water governance research. 'Communities of Practice' are identified as a promising opportunity to support ECRs by enhancing opportunities for reflection and learning. Overall, we argue that there is significant merit in enhancing the way in which water governance research is understood, and improving the means by which ECRs are supported to build capability and contribute in this field

Use of conspicuity aids by cyclists and risk of crashes involving other road users: population based case-control study

Background: Cycling can improve health and well-being by reducing inactivity. Concern about collision crashes may be a barrier to participation since collision crashes can lead to significant mortality and morbidity. The conspicuity of cyclists may be a contributory factor in some collision crashes. This study investigated whether increased conspicuity aid use (such as reflective or fluorescent clothing) is associated with a reduced risk of collision crashes for cyclists in a UK city. Methods: A matched case-control study was undertaken. Cases were adult cyclists involved in a collision crash causing injury. Controls were adult cyclists matched to cases by time of day, day of week and geographical area of travel. Exposures, potential confounders and route were reported by participants. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated using conditional logistic regression. Results: 76 cases and 272 controls were included. 69.7% of cases and 65.4% of controls reported using a conspicuity aid on the crash (cases) or index (controls) journey. The unadjusted OR for a collision crash when using any conspicuity aid vs none was 1.2 (95% CI 0.7 to 2.2) and 2.4 (95% CI 1.1 to 5.6) after adjustment for age, gender, index of multiple deprivation score, route risk score and previous bicycle crash. Conclusion: This study found no evidence that cyclists using conspicuity aids were at reduced risk of a collision crash compared to non-users after adjustment for confounding, but there was some evidence of an increase in risk. Bias and residual confounding from differing route selection and cycling behaviours in users of conspicuity aids are possible explanations for these findings. Conspicuity aids may not be effective in reducing collision crash risk for cyclists in highly-motorised environments when used in the absence of other bicycle crash prevention measures such as increased segregation or lower motor vehicle speeds

Tapping fresh currents: fostering early-career researchers in transdisciplinary water governance research

Article published in Water AlternativesWater governance is an important, yet complex and contested field. A central challenge for researchers is to engage with multiple understandings and perspectives that can shape water governance, and to move towards more transdisciplinary approaches. These challenges are magnified for early-career researchers (ECRs), and while the need for transdisciplinary approaches and better support for ECRs is increasingly recognised, there remains a lack of understanding of how to achieve this within the wider research community. Thus, this paper investigates through an auto-ethnographic inquiry the practical experiences and challenges faced by a diverse group of ECRs engaging in water governance research. Reflecting on our own endeavours and relevant literature, we identify a range of path-finding experiences and challenges, and explore strategies employed by ECRs to navigate the 'uncharted waters' of evolving career pathways in water governance research. 'Communities of Practice' are identified as a promising opportunity to support ECRs by enhancing opportunities for reflection and learning. Overall, we argue that there is significant merit in enhancing the way in which water governance research is understood, and improving the means by which ECRs are supported to build capability and contribute in this field.Water governance is an important, yet complex and contested field. A central challenge for researchers is to engage with multiple understandings and perspectives that can shape water governance, and to move towards more transdisciplinary approaches. These challenges are magnified for early-career researchers (ECRs), and while the need for transdisciplinary approaches and better support for ECRs is increasingly recognised, there remains a lack of understanding of how to achieve this within the wider research community. Thus, this paper investigates through an auto-ethnographic inquiry the practical experiences and challenges faced by a diverse group of ECRs engaging in water governance research. Reflecting on our own endeavours and relevant literature, we identify a range of path-finding experiences and challenges, and explore strategies employed by ECRs to navigate the 'uncharted waters' of evolving career pathways in water governance research. 'Communities of Practice' are identified as a promising opportunity to support ECRs by enhancing opportunities for reflection and learning. Overall, we argue that there is significant merit in enhancing the way in which water governance research is understood, and improving the means by which ECRs are supported to build capability and contribute in this field.http://www.water-alternatives.org/index.php/alldoc/articles/vol6/v6issue2/217-a6-2-14/fil

Towards a Very Low Energy Building Stock: Modeling the U.S. Commercial Building Sector to Support Policy and Innovation Planning

This paper describes the origin, structure and continuing development of a model of time varying energy consumption in the US commercial building stock. The model is based on a flexible structure that disaggregates the stock into various categories (e.g. by building type, climate, vintage and life-cycle stage) and assigns attributes to each of these (e.g. floor area and energy use intensity by fuel type and end use), based on historical data and user-defined scenarios for future projections. In addition to supporting the interactive exploration of building stock dynamics, the model has been used to study the likely outcomes of specific policy and innovation scenarios targeting very low future energy consumption in the building stock. Model use has highlighted the scale of the challenge of meeting targets stated by various government and professional bodies, and the importance of considering both new construction and existing buildings