The design and value of “early adopter” low-energy houses

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 262-272
Author(s):  
Maria Burke

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to outline an early adopter “low energy” domestic dwelling, one of the social houses built by a collaboration between a university, the local council. The origins of this project are from the early days of interest in sustainable housing, the 1970s. The dwellings were innovative and built to what became known as “the Salford design” which performed to unusual specifications, using approximately 75 per cent less energy than the UK average for space heating and over 40 per cent less than for houses built to what were then the standard building regulations. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative and interpretative stance was deemed to be the most appropriate. Within that lens, interviews were chosen as the primary research instrument. Findings A marked feature of the results is the variation in energy consumption by different households. A Salford-designed house could be habitable throughout the year without any space heating at all, comfortable at 10 per cent and very comfortable at 25 per cent of normal consumption. Originality/value As there continues to be interest and commitment to reducing energy – not just from the United Kingdom but also on a worldwide scale – the United Nations Conference of the Parties known as COP 22 (2016) met in Morocco to take forward many of the initiatives outlined in the Paris Agreement 2015. It is of interest, then, that the latest set of interviews showed that the houses built to the innovative and original 1970s’ Salford design principles, protected by highly insulated well-sealed envelopes, are even presently functioning at a relatively low energy threshold.

2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 159-164
Author(s):  
Jonathan Collie

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the value, often overlooked, inherent within a society where people are living longer, healthier and more productively than ever before. Design/methodology/approach – This paper is a summary of the activities, achievements and objectives of “The Age of No Retirement” movement for social change since its inception on 1st October 2014. Findings – The spectacular demand for new thinking and design-led action across all sectors of society to break down the ageist stereotypes that are impeding age-neutral societal progress in the UK. Practical implications – Communities, employers, individuals – EVERYONE – can begin to harness the incredible power of the Xtra 10 (the extra ten years of healthy life expectancy that modern generations can now expect – in the middle of their lives!). Social implications – The social implications are almost limitless – for a new era of over-50 makers, designers, entrepreneurs, workers, leaders, learners, teachers, doers, intergenerational catalysts, etc., the list goes on. Originality/value – The Age of No Retirement is a design-led social enterprise that is driving new thinking in the Age space.


2016 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 390-410 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard A. Bernardi ◽  
Taylor L. Delande ◽  
Kimberly A. Zamojcin

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the trends in accounting-education publications and the influence of journal rankings for authors from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK. Design/methodology/approach – The authors included the publications in ten accounting-education journals for the 20-year period from 1993 to 2012. Findings – The data provide insights into the perceptions of accounting-education journals by authors from four countries. The authors found that, while the use of Accounting Education as a publication outlet for accounting authors from Australia and the UK was relatively stable, the use of Accounting Education as a publication outlet increased (decreased) for the accounting authors from New Zealand (Canada). The authors also found that, while coauthoring by the accounting authors from Australia and the UK increased slightly, coauthoring by the accounting authors from Canada and New Zealand increased during the 20-year period. Research limitations/implications – The data suggests a tendency by the authors from these four countries to publish their accounting-education research in journals that had been ranked as a top accounting journal. Originality/value – This paper is the first paper to consider trends in international accounting-education publications. The data in this research can be used by accounting faculty wishing to assess which journals their colleagues publish in most frequently.


2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 75-78
Author(s):  
Sally Gibson ◽  
Geoffrey Kittredge ◽  
Simon Witney

Purpose To explain the UK government’s long-awaited reforms to limited partnership law. Design/methodology/approach This article discusses the key updates to limited partnership law in the UK that the reforms represent and draws some conclusions as to what may lay ahead. Findings The article concludes that the new regime is a welcome step and one that should help the United Kingdom to remain competitive as a jurisdiction for global fund formation in the face of competition from other jurisdictions. Originality/value This article contains key details on the new limited partnership regime in the UK and guidance from experienced lawyers with specialties in investment management and public and private funds.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aisha Hassan Al-Emadi

Purpose This paper aims to study the effectiveness of the implementation of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recommendations in the UK in an attempt to combat the laundering of proceeds of corruption. Design/methodology/approach A desk review of secondary resources was conducted to analyze available literature to examine the research topic. Findings The leakage of 11.5 million documents, known as the Panama papers, has revealed that the UK functioned as a safe haven for illicit and corrupt money. In an attempt to address this, the country called for a public registry of beneficial owners to disclose the identities of the owners of the incorporated corporations and to extend them to individuals abroad holding UK property. The FATF report recognizes the UK’s far-reaching regulation. Despite the measures taken, UK still faces serious risks with regard to the laundering of criminal proceeds, which demonstrates that technical compliance with FATF rules is not enough to effectively curb money laundering. Originality/value This study suggests that FATF rules’ effectiveness in identifying instances of laundering the proceeds of corruption is limited because of the deeply rooted system vulnerabilities and the rapid changes in money laundering trends.


2014 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 124-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graeme Baber

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to report and review the legislative and regulatory responses to the global financial crisis (GFC) from within the United Kingdom (UK). Design/methodology/approach – The paper observes aspects of the effect of the GFC within the UK, using economic statistics and institutional case studies. It summarises the laws that the European Union (EU) and the UK have produced in the wake of the crisis and recommends approaches to be taken from this point. Findings – The regulators are putting in place a comprehensive, integrated framework, much of which is sensible in its content. However, this structure will be insufficient to re-establish the effective operation of the financial sector, unless firms comply with the rules and a “relationship culture” is developed. Research limitations/implications – It is not yet clear how the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) will perform and coordinate. Originality/value – The paper presents a comprehensive review of relevant EU and UK legislation, thereby bringing readers up to date with the situation in the UK.


2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheryl Lehman ◽  
Marcia Annisette ◽  
Gloria Agyemang

Purpose – This paper advocates for critical accounting’s contribution to immigration deliberations as part of its agenda for advancing social justice. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate accounting as implicated in immigration policies of three advanced economies. Design/methodology/approach – The authors suggest that neoliberal immigration policies are operationalized through the responsibilization of individuals, corporations and universities. By examining three immigration policies from the USA, Canada and the UK, the paper clarifies how accounting technologies facilitate responsibilization techniques, making immigration governable. Additionally, by employing immigrant narratives as counter accounts, the impacts of immigrant lived experiences can be witnessed. Findings – Accounting upholds neoliberal principles of life by expanding market mentalities and governance, through technologies of measurement, reports, audits and surveillance. A neoliberal strategy of responsibilization contributes to divesting authority for immigration policy in an attempt to erase the social and moral agency of immigrants, with accounting integral to this process. However the social cannot be eradicated as the work illustrates in the narratives and counter accounts that immigrants create. Research limitations/implications – The work reveals the illusion of accounting as neutral. As no single story captures the nuances and complexities of immigration practices, further exploration is encouraged. Originality/value – The work is a unique contribution to the underdeveloped study of immigration in critical accounting. By unmasking accounting’s role and revealing techniques underpinning immigration discourses, enhanced ways of researching immigration are possible.


2018 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 586-594 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nashat Mahmoud Jaradt

Purpose This paper aims to note how in-line the laws of each country are with the current best recommendations. The focus will be on the UAE and the UK for the purpose of creating a contrast between countries which have different regulations in general and between contrasting countries. Design/methodology/approach This paper seeks to critically analyze the state of e-commerce contract laws in terms of what forms a part of the law normally and to what extent the similarities have been enacted in the international laws. A critical analysis of the information derived through the search was undertaken. This methodology was to ascertain the viability of the information in terms of its consistency with the contemporary laws in each country relating to e-commerce. Comparisons were made on topic-by-topic basis within the searches. Findings It was clear through the information reviewed from both the UAE and the UK that both countries’ laws are advanced in terms of being inclusive of the best common practices noted by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). This shows that both countries, through their vastly different legal structures, have implemented similar laws with regard to e-commerce. Originality/value This report is original in its value to e-commerce laws, as it is the first to consider how different countries e-commerce contract laws lineup to the OECD-recommended rules related to it. The value of this research is to show to what degree is there cohesion within the e-commerce laws on an international level.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Charanjit Singh ◽  
Lei Zhao ◽  
Wangwei Lin ◽  
Zhen Ye

Purpose Machine learning is having a major impact on banking, law and other organisations. The speed with which this technology is developing to undertake tasks that are not only complex and technical but also time-consuming and that are subject to constantly changing parameters is astounding. The purpose of this paper is to explore the extent to which machine learning can be used as a solution to lighten the compliance and regulatory burden on charitable organisations in the UK; so that they can comply with their regulatory duties and develop a coherent and streamlined action plan in relation to technological investment. Design/methodology/approach The subject is approached through the analysis of data, literature and domestic and international regulation. The first part of the study summarises the extent of current regulatory obligations faced by charities, these are then, in the second part, set against the potential technological solutions provided by machine learning as of July 2021. Findings It is suggested that charities can use machine learning as a smart technological solution to ease the regulatory burden they face in a growing and impactful sector. Originality/value The work is original because it is the first to specifically explore how machine learning as a technological advance can assist charities in meeting the regulatory compliance challenge.


Author(s):  
Paul Ranson ◽  
Daniel Guttentag

Purpose This study aimed to investigate whether increasing the social presence within an Airbnb lodging environment could nudge guests toward altruistic cleaning behaviors. Design/methodology/approach The study was based around a theoretical framework combining the social-market versus money-market relationship model, nudge theory and social presence theory. A series of three field experiments were conducted, in which social presence was manipulated to test its impact on guest cleaning behaviors prior to departure. Findings The experimental results confirmed the underlying hypothesis that an Airbnb listing’s enhanced social presence can subtly induce guests to help clean their rental units prior to departure. Originality/value This study is the first to examine behavioral nudging in an Airbnb context. It is also one of the first field experiments involving Airbnb. The study findings offer clear theoretical and practical implications.


2007 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 497-515 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sue Shaw ◽  
Catherine Cassell

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide a piece of empirical work that examines gender differences in how academics make sense of performance within university business schools in the UK.Design/methodology/approachThe research reported draws on data collected using a life history and repertory grid methodology with male and female interviewees from two university business schools.FindingsThe findings are discussed in relation to how academics understand what is valued about their role and what they believe the organisation rewards and values when it comes to promotion. Gender differences are shown to exist in the ways women and men define the academic role and in what they think is important both to themselves and the institution.Originality/valueThe paper presents original data on gender differences within a business school context.


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