Energy efficiency of social housing existing buildings – a portuguese case study

The European energy performance building regulations, Directive 2002/91/EC - Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) of the European Parliament and Council, require that new buildings present minimum standards of energy efficiency. Accordingly the Portuguese regulations require that new buildings comply with minimum requirements on the energy performance and must have an energy performance certification through witch an energy efficiency label is attributed to the housing. It also require that existing buildings must have an efficiency energy label when submitted to a commercial transaction or to a deep rehabilitation. To achieve this goal the study of energy performance of existing buildings must be done. As many essentials elements to determine the U-factor and other thermal parameters are unknown, Portugal developed a simplified methodology to achieve the thermal performance of existing buildings. The aim of this paper is to present the study of the energy performance of a set of social dwellings that were constructed during the decade of 80, constructed before the former building thermal comfort specifications came into force. During the study the referred methodology was applied and conclusions of the energy efficiency label obtained were put out as the encountered difficulties. The study also compares the results obtained by the simplified methodology and by the detailed methodology that is required by Portuguese building thermal comfort specifications

Export Market Effectiveness: The Role of Export Commitment, Innovativeness and Marketing Capabilities

Drawing on the resource-based view, this study investigates the way that export commitment and innovativeness contribute to marketing capabilities development, and the effect of all these factors on export market effectiveness. We use a survey data of 202 exporting manufacturing firms based in Portugal to test the relationships between the constructs analyzed in this study. The findings demonstrate that a high export commitment tends to cultivate a higher degree of innovativeness, which in turn allows firms to develop superior marketing capabilities (i.e., pricing, new product development, marketing communication and distribution capabilities). Export commitment and new product development capability have a direct impact on export market effectivenes

INTERNATIONAL DIVERSIFICATION STRATEGIES AND THEIR ORGANIZATIONAL AND EXOGENOUS ANTECEDENTS

International operations, with its multiplicity of objectives, can be seen as a diversification strategy, sometimes even as a strategic option taken as an effective alternative to product diversification. Focusing on a sample of SMEs of Portuguese manufacturing industries, this study analyzes the international diversification strategies and their organizational and exogenous antecedents. Specifically, entrepreneurial orientation and dynamic capabilities of the firm are two factors of organizational nature, while the environmental uncertainty arising from the diversity of the different markets is studied as an exogenous antecedent. Data collected in 390 companies through an online questionnaire, its processing and analysis through the use of a structural equations model suggest the existence of different types of influence of the antecedents, according to companies’ options in various dimensions of the international diversification strategies. These results provide guidelines for managers and generate directions for future research

VITIVINICULTURE, ENVIRONMENT AND BIODIVERSITY: SUSTAINABILITY ACTIONS

The rational use of resources is currently a widely discussed topic in any organization, although it takes on greater importance in those of productive scope. Measures of different levels − strategic, tactical or operational − are increasingly being implemented, so it is pertinent to analyze their effect on the distinct dimensions of sustainability: environmental, economic and social. Any strategic process must go through those that are considered the four crucial stages: analysis, formulation, implementation and control. The perfect knowledge of the environment and its emerging needs and concerns along with an in-depth survey of the internal situation of the organizations will allow us to achieve truly differentiating levels of excellence. This research, carried out in a wine-producing organization – Adega Cooperativa de Mangualde – identifies its crucial activities, the main strategic, tactical and operational actions that have been implemented in the last eight years, fits them into the above-mentioned dimensions of sustainability and determines its relative weights. Particular emphasis is placed on grapes suppliers − the capital holders −, as regards their mode of production and its impact on biodiversity and the environment. Raising public awareness of this issue is of great importance and people should be encouraged to alter their behaviour by changing some attitudes in everyday life. This awareness to achieve sustainable development becomes even more important insofar as it is a cooperative institution with a management model of well-defined specific characteristics

A new outcrop of dinosaur's footprints on the upper cretaceous red beds (Garumnian) of Conca de Tremp (Lleida, Spain)

En esta nota se da a conocer un nuevo yacimiento de Icnitas de Dinosaurios halladas en calizas micríticas grises en - el Cretácico superior (Maastrichtiense) de la Conca de Tremp, junto al pueblo de Orcau. Distribuidas en tres formas, las dos primeras se nombran como Ovnithopodzchnites magna nov. gen. nva. sp., dejándose la Forma C sin atribución específica debido a su mal estado de conservación.This article gives information about a new outcrop of Dinosaur's Footprints. These Footprints are impressed on the Upper Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) grey micrite limestones o£ Conca de Tremp (by the village of Orcau) and are distributed into three different forms. The two first ones are named as Ornitopodichnites magna nov. gen. nva. sp. and Orcauichnites garumniensis nov. gen. nva. sp. while the C Form is left without specific attribution due to its deficient state of conservation

Management synergies: Water resources and flooding

[EN] The fifth report of the European Commission, COM (2019) 95final, on the implementation of the Water Framework Directive (Second River basin Management Plans 2000/60/EU and First Flood Risk Management Plans 2007/60/EU), in order to coordinate the authorities involved and exploit synergies, recommends that Spain considers flooding within the National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy. The operation of dams on the territory of the Community is proposed by Spain in the EU Guidance document No. 24 ¿River basin Management in a Changing Climate¿ (TR-2009-040) as a measure of resilience to water scarcity, accentuated by climate change. Optimal management of water resources in catchments and their surroundings ensures the different uses of water: ecological (protected areas and population supply), agricultural, industrial and recreational, as well as flood safety of people and property. Land use planning that includes areas of temporary flooding during high precipitations, run-off or overflow can contribute significantly to improve the operation of reservoirs. In this article, we analyse the flood areas of different types of watersheds, based on real cases, defined by a variety of geo-morphologies downstream of the dam (channels, gullies and flat-bottomed troughs, flood plains) and by current anthropogenic uses occupying the territory. The results are analysed with reference to their potential for synergy with the operation of the upstream water reservoir. Key trends shown are proposed to be translated into coefficients of reduction in environmental and socioeconomic damages within the model of spillways simulation.Vicente-Torres, M.; Palencia-Jiménez, J.; Gielen, E. (2020). Management synergies: Water resources and flooding. International Journal of Environmental Impacts (Online). 3(4):314-323. https://doi.org/10.2495/EI-V3-N4-314-324S3143233