Influence of demographic variables on uptake of domestic solar photovoltaic technology

In Australia during the past decade there has been a significant transformation of the electricity demand and supply sector. In five years from 2008 to 2013 the number of Australians installing solar photovoltaic (PV) technology grew from 8000 to more than one million. Governments in Australia used a range of policy incentives such as feed-in tariffs (FiTs) to encourage the uptake of solar PV and this had a range of consequences. Solar PV technology has transformed the residential consumer electricity market providing some consumers with greater choice in demand and supply of their power. This study contributes to the growing understanding of the role that demographic factors play in household uptake of solar PV technology. Based on a review of relevant literature and a multi-phased statistical analysis of more than 2 million people in south-east Queensland over five years, the paper highlights the complex interplay between socio-economics and household uptake. The paper identifies key demographic variables and quantifies their relative influence, and provides new insights into the role of age in solar PV uptake. This more nuanced explanation of the socio-economic variables influencing solar PV uptake offers an opportunity to more effectively and efficiently shape future policies and incentives

Technical requirements of age-friendly smart home technologies in high-rise residential buildings : A system intelligence analytical approach

Smart home technology (SHT) has been identified as a promising means of helping seniors to remain independent and maintain their quality of life (QoL) while containing spiralling care costs for older people. Despite official pilot schemes in many countries to promote SHT in seniors housing, there is limited understanding of the forms that such SHT interventions should take. This study builds on the analytical model of intelligent building control systems developed by the author; the aim is to provide a systematic approach to understanding the key intelligent attributes of smart-home devices. A qualitative participatory evaluation approach involving focus groups was adopted to investigate the needs of seniors and their SHT preferences. Fourteen features of the SHT technical requirements of four key intelligent attribute types were identified. This study's insights will help to shape the way SHT is designed and used

Retirement can wait : A phenomenographic exploration of professional baby-boomer engagement in non-standard employment

This qualitative study explores the experiences of 23 professional baby-boomers in Australia who are challenging the traditional employment and retirement pathway through non-standard employment (NSE). We focus on professional part-time, casual and self-employed work within the kaleidoscope of various working arrangements that form NSE. Using a phenomenographic approach, we identified variations in how these older baby-boomers experience engagement in NSE. Our findings revealed five interrelated hierarchical categories of description, which posit a generally positive view of NSE and highlight financial stability, flexibility, continued activity, social ties and maintaining self-identity as key conceptions for work engagement. Our study suggests that NSE is an important and under-researched part of the labour market for baby-boomer professionals, that it can offer greater opportunities for engagement and that the traditional hard-boundary view of retirement as a defined lifestage is softening. It extends our understanding of baby-boomer engagement with NSE in the labour market and offers findings that may inform future policy and practice

Sri Lankan Fashion Designers : Self-Directed Learning in the Apparel Industry

The Sri Lankan apparel industry is currently in transition from apparel assembly to manufacturing original designs as a value addition. Design teams work closely with Western brands, buyers and designers to offer advanced creative and technical design services. The purpose of this article is to investigate how Sri Lankan designers acquire personal, high-value fashion knowledge and design skills in this crucial time of industry transition. The study adopts a qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews conducted with 28 fashion design and product development professionals in the industry. Based on an inductive thematic analysis, the study finds that Sri Lankan designers’ acquisition of high-value fashion knowledge and skills comes primarily through their self-directed learning. This study proposes the Designers’ Self-Directed Learning Cycle to illustrate how designers’ learning happens and is applied in their professional practice. The findings are significant in understanding the designers’ practice in the export-oriented apparel value chain

Learning among older adults with lifelong intellectual disabilities \ud

A brief narrative description of the journal article, document, or resource. This article includes a description of conceptions of aging and engagement with learning for 16 older people (52 to 80 years; mean age 62 years) with a lifelong intellectual disability. The sample also included the care workers and family member/friend. The older people had sufficient verbal skills to participate in the interviews. Half the sample was in Queensland and half in Victoria. The data are from research that describes a model of active aging for people who have a lifelong intellectual disability. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed using phenomenography to identify conceptions of aging and an inductive determination of engagement with learning. Semihierarchical conceptions of aging were identified including no conception, limited awareness, awareness of aging effects, aging as requiring preparation, and an overall understanding. Engagement with learning was classified as low, medium, or high. Most learning occurred at a low level involving observation and copying rather than formalized education. The relationship between participants' conceptions of aging and engagement with learning are discussed. Although there is information in the literature about what older people believe constitutes active aging, there is little about active aging and learning for people with a lifelong intellectual disability. (Contains 1 table and 1 figure.) \u