Delivering sustainable buildings in retail construction

Session: Sustainability: Theory and Design The article can be viewed at: http://www.arcom.ac.uk/-docs/proceedings/ar2012-1455-1465_Dangana_Pan_Goodhew.pdfThe demand for high performance 'green' or 'sustainable' buildings is becoming increasingly important in the retail industry. Large construction companies in this sector have started to show leadership by working with their customers and supply chains towards sustainability in both products and operations. However, it remains associated risks be minimised, in order to add value and differentiate the output of retail construction. This paper reviews the practice of sustainable buildings within the context of retail construction, and also explores how the UK mainstream retail sector is currently addressing the challenges of sustainable retail buildings. The arguments are informed by a combination of literature review, a desk study of sustainability strategies of large client organisations and construction companies, and a case study with a leading construction company in the UK. The results demonstrate that businesses can benefit from embracing a sustainable approach while they need to adapt their business models to the rapidly changing environment. A demand-driven sustainability agenda is called for in the UK retail sector. The results also provide the basis for an in-depth, longitudinal case study to develop a framework to optimize process, energy and carbon efficiency in retail construction using sustainable technology. Such a framework should provide a sustainable technology model for retail customers to realize the full benefits of sustainable buildings and also assist construction companies and their professional advisors deliver green buildings more efficiently in the future

A Decision Making System for Selecting Sustainable Technologies for Retail Buildings

CIB Publication 382: Selected papers presented at the CIB World Building Congres Construction and Society, Brisbane 5-9 May 2013 Papers from the Designated Session TG66 - Energy and the Built EnvironmentThe implementation of sustainable technologies can improve the energy and carbon efficiency of existing retail buildings. However, the selection of an appropriate sustainable technology is a complex task due to the large number of technological alternatives and decision criteria that need to be considered. Also, there exist series of uncertainties that are associated with the use of sustainable technologies, but have to be evaluated to achieve realistic and transparent results. The selection of sustainable technology is therefore most challenging. An earlier study was conducted with UK experienced practitioners including clients/developers, engineers, contractors and suppliers to identify the drivers and barriers for the use of sustainable technologies in UK retail construction. One major barrier identified from the study was the lack of a decision making tool, highlighted by both construction professionals and stakeholders in the retail industry. The large number of alternatives and potential solutions require a decision support method to be implemented. Information data on the economic variables, energy performance and impact on the environment of these systems is presently affected by vagueness and lack of knowledge. To deal with this high level of complexity and uncertainty an evaluation support approach is needed. This paper aims to develop a decision making framework to assist both retailers and construction professionals to define and evaluate the selection of sustainable technological options for delivering retail buildings. The research was carried out through a combination of a critical literature review and a survey-based study using expert opinions of retailers and contractors. The developed framework of decision criteria should provide a sustainable technology model to assist both construction professionals and stakeholders in the retail industry to systematically and effectively select the most appropriate technology. This approach should make the decision progression more transparent and facilitate sustainable development of retail buildings in achieving the carbon targets set by the UK and other governments

Contractors Perspective on the Selection of Innovative Sustainable Technologies for Achieving Zero Carbon Retail Buildings

The use of innovative sustainable technologies (IST) has been regarded as an effective approach to enhancing energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions of buildings. However, contractors face significant challenges in the selection of IST. The reported challenges in the literature include: lack of skills and knowledge, uncertainties, risks and the rapid development of a large number of technological alternatives and decision criteria. The selection process emerges as a multi-attribute, value-based task that includes both qualitative and quantitative factors, which are often assessed with imprecise data and human judgments. This paper aims to establish the decision criteria for the selection of IST for achieving low carbon existing retail buildings with a focus on the main contractor’s perspective. The arguments are informed by the combination of literature review and an in-depth case study with a UK leading contractor. Five broad decision criteria are identified systematically drawing on the contractor’s practice. The established criteria are weighted and ranked using the analytic hierarchy process and expert opinions; with ‘margin opportunity’ being the most important, followed by ‘repeat business’, ‘investment costs’, ‘differentiation’ and then ‘transferability’. The findings should facilitate the integration of various facets of the selection process and stimulate contractors to use IST

Pharmacy-Level Quality Measures and the Consumer: Preferences and Attitudes

Objectives. To determine the perceptions of consumers toward community pharmacy quality measures and compare their perceptions regarding their pharmacy\u27s overall quality before and after exposure to these measures. To explore the use of evaluative criteria applied by consumers to determine their preference for information related to these measures. Methods. Focus groups were used to refine attributes and levels used in the quantitative phase of the study. An Internet-based survey was administered to a national, online, consumer panel of community pharmacy patrons using maintenance medications. Descriptive statistics, MANOVA and t-tests were used to determine and compare perceptions related to the community pharmacy quality measures. Conjoint analysis was used to evaluate the relative importance of consumer preferences for the four selected attributes. Results. Consumers attributed a higher level of importance to items related to the pharmacy\u27s operations and outcomes as compared to those related to its environment. Consumer perceptions regarding their pharmacy\u27s overall quality were not found to be statistically significantly different from one another before and after exposure to the aforementioned items. \u27Measure-type\u27 was the most important folloby \u27 Source\u27, \u27Star ratings\u27, and \u27Accreditation \u27 was the least important attribute measured. Just over half (52.2%) of the respondents indicated they were likely to use report cards and would recommend their use to family and friends. Of these respondents who were likely to use, 69.5% reported they would switch to a pharmacy that matched their definition of \u27ideal\u27 based on report card information. Conclusions. Respondents perceived their current pharmacy to provide quality care, which suggests that they are satisfied with the level of care they are receiving from their pharmacy. \u27Measure type\u27 being rated as the most \u27important\u27 of the four attributes included in the conjoint analysis was not totally unexpected, since it conveys the characteristics of the pharmacy and thus, based on pharmacy patronage literature would be the most salient when making patronage decisions. Attitudes toward report cards were generally favorable, and it is possible that once report cards become a reality and are endorsed widely, consumers will use the data to inform their community pharmacy patronage decisions

Auditing scholarly journals published in Malaysia and assessing their visibility

The problem with the identification of Malaysian scholarly journals lies in the lack of a current and complete listing of journals published in Malaysia. As a result, librarians are deprived of a tool that can be used for journal selection and identification of gaps in their serials collection. This study describes the audit carried out on scholarly journals, with the objectives (a) to trace and characterized scholarly journal titles published in Malaysia, and (b) to determine their visibility in international and national indexing databases. A total of 464 titles were traced and their yearly trends, publisher and publishing characteristics, bibliometrics and indexation in national, international and subject-based indexes were described

The Effect of Breakfast on Academic Performance among High School Students in Abu Dhabi

Background: The claim that breakfast is the most important meal of the day has an abundance of sound science behind it. Breakfast is continually suggested to be a critical feature of eating regimens since it is associated with a healthier intake of nutrients, BMI and lifestyle. Several studies have shown the importance of having breakfast to the body's performance. Moreover, recent studies have demonstrated that breakfast enhances intellectual capacity, concentration, attention and academic performance. However, there is a paucity of studies which examine the relationship between breakfast consumption and academic performance in the UAE, a gap this study is designed to address. Objective: The aim of this study is to examine the effect of breakfast intake on the academic performance of young female students in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. Methods: Data was collected through a self-administered questionnaire from 130 female students aged 15-19 years, who were selected from two private schools in Abu Dhabi. The questionnaire was used to explore the students’ breakfast consumption habits. The data collected was analyzed to examine the association between breakfast intake and academic performance. Academic performance was assessed according to the average grade for all subjects in the final exam. Results: Sixty-two percent of the 130 students eat breakfast regularly. Breakfast consumption is associated with increased academic performance among high school female students. The association of breakfast intake was found to be statistically significant (p=0.00). Conclusion: The findings of the current study indicate that there is a positive correlation between breakfast intake and the students’ scores. Regular breakfast consumption improves students' academic performance, whereas the performance of students who frequently skip breakfast is lower

Adherence to Gluten Free Diet in Pakistan-Role of Dietitian

Celiac disease (CD) is a common multi-system autoimmune disease, affecting approximately 1% of people worldwide 1. Predisposed individuals develop an immune response to gluten, a protein found in the cereal grains: wheat, barley and rye. Autoimmune intestinal damage is the cardinal feature of celiac disease, and typically involves villous atrophy, crypt hyperplasia, and increased intraepithelial lymphocytes 2. Symptoms may be subclinical, varying from gastrointestinal upset to severe malabsorption 3,4. Skin, nervous system, and multisystem involvement is also recognized. Strict avoidance of gluten-containing foods can reverse both enteric and extra-intestinal manifestations of the disease

Prevalence and outcome of hypothyroidism in women attending antenatal clinic at J. J. M Medical College

Background: Pregnancy induces physiological and metabolic changes, when overlapped with endocrine imbalance leads to undesirable consequences for both mother and fetus. Thyroid pathology has major negative impact on both mother and fetus. Hypothyroidism may be pre-existent or may begin during pregnancy; severity depends on how early and appropriately treatment is initiated. Aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of hypothyroidism in pregnancy and its outcome.Methods: 150 pregnant women obstetric files were studied based on their TSH value, women with TSH levels greater than 3mIU/ml who were on L-Thyroxin were included. All others who had diabetes, collagen disease, heart disease with pregnancy were excluded from the study.Results: Prevalence of hypothyroidism in pregnancy is 1.2%.Conclusions: Hypothyroidism presents with complex and serious complications with increase in maternal morbidity and perinatal mortality. To identify potential and overt hypothyroid patient thyroid screening is must during pregnancy. TSH levels should be kept less than 2mIU/L for adequate control