Reducing the Environmental Impact of Industrial End-Users by using Cost Exemption Schemes. Lessons Learned from an Energy Management Perspective

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mircea Scripcariu ◽  
Cristian Gheorghiu ◽  
Ioan Sevastian Bitir-Istrate ◽  
Oana Constantinescu ◽  
Miruna Gheorghiu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Energy Management ◽  
End Users ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Management Perspective

scholarly journals Getting Municipal Energy Management Systems ISO 50001 Certified: A Study with 28 European Municipalities

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 3638
Author(s):  
Jan Kaselofsky ◽  
Marika Rošā ◽  
Anda Jekabsone ◽  
Solenne Favre ◽  
Gabriel Loustalot ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Policy ◽  
Energy Management ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Resource Constraints ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Management Systems ◽  
Local Energy ◽  
Organizational Challenges ◽  
Energy Management Systems ◽  
Energy And Climate Policy

Managing energy use by municipalities should be an important part of local energy and climate policy. The ISO 50001 standard constitutes an internationally recognized catalogue of requirements for systematic energy management. Currently, this standard is mostly implemented by companies. Our study presents an approach where consultants supported 28 European municipalities in establishing energy management systems. A majority (71%) of these municipalities had achieved ISO 50001 certification by the end of our study. We also conducted two surveys to learn more about motivations and challenges when it comes to establishing municipal energy management systems. We found that organizational challenges and resource constraints were the most important topics in this regard. Based on the experiences in our study we present lessons learned regarding supporting municipalities in establishing energy management systems.

scholarly journals The VIADUC project: innovation in climate adaptation through service design

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 199-205
Author(s):  
L. Corre ◽  
P. Dandin ◽  
D. L'Hôte ◽  
F. Besson
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Climate Adaptation ◽  
End Users ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Easy Access ◽  
Climate Projections ◽  
Adaptation To Climate Change ◽  
Economic Sectors ◽  
Major Step ◽  
Climate Services

Abstract. From the French National Adaptation to Climate Change Plan, the "Drias, les futurs du climat" service has been developed to provide easy access to French regional climate projections. This is a major step for the implementation of French Climate Services. The usefulness of this service for the end-users and decision makers involved with adaptation planning at a local scale is investigated. As such, the VIADUC project is: to evaluate and enhance Drias, as well as to imagine future development in support of adaptation. Climate scientists work together with end-users and a service designer. The designer's role is to propose an innovative approach based on the interaction between scientists and citizens. The chosen end-users are three Natural Regional Parks located in the South West of France. The latter parks are administrative entities which gather municipalities having a common natural and cultural heritage. They are also rural areas in which specific economic activities take place, and therefore are concerned and involved in both protecting their environment and setting-up sustainable economic development. The first year of the project has been dedicated to investigation including the questioning of relevant representatives. Three key local economic sectors have been selected: i.e. forestry, pastoral farming and building activities. Working groups were composed of technicians, administrative and maintenance staff, policy makers and climate researchers. The sectors' needs for climate information have been assessed. The lessons learned led to actions which are presented hereinafter.

The Use of Assistive Technology to Support the Wellbeing and Independence of People with Memory Impairments

2011 ◽  
pp. 65-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire Huijnen
Keyword(s):  
Assistive Technology ◽  
Assisted Living ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
End Users ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Memory Impairments ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Age In Place ◽  
With Memory

This chapter presents the research, results and lessons learned from a project to evaluate currently available assisted living technologies for elderly people with mild to severe memory impairments who want to age in place. During the project a number of households were equipped with assistive technology to enable the end users to better cope with the barriers and problems associated with their forgetfulness. End users were involved in different phases, starting with a problem and needs analysis and ending with an evaluation of the technology installed in their homes. It seemed that technology did have a positive impact on their lives as well as on the lives of the informal caregivers who often live with those who suffer from amnesia. This project gives insight into how we are coming closer to optimizing the positive effects which assistive technology holds for the elderly with memory impairments. Key insights are presented.

U.S. Regulatory Environment

1988 ◽  
Vol 6 (4-5) ◽  
pp. 369-377
Author(s):  
Susan J. Court
Keyword(s):  
Natural Gas ◽  
Environmental Impact ◽  
End Users ◽  
Regulatory Environment ◽  
Principal Role ◽  
The Third ◽  
Natural Gas Prices ◽  
New Construction ◽  
Rate Design

Decontrol of natural gas prices created more competition at the wellhead and the need for greater flexibility in the transportation rules to allow sales directly to end users and distribution without middlemen. In 1987, the Commission issued Order No. 500 which would end the disputes that had arisen by addressing three concerns: take-or-pay, contract demand adjustments, and ‘grand fathering’. The first and the most important was dealt with by a flexible crediting mechanism, the second eliminated and the third of insufficient importance to change the rules. Other issues about natural gas trade of concern to the Commission include: Marketing affiliates which threatened monopolistic practices that have required procedures to eliminate prohibitive practices and to deal with complaints: Rate design, which is the principal role of the Commissions that is treated on an individual basis; Certificate Proceedings for new construction that involve solving issues of rates and environmental impact.

scholarly journals End-user involvement in rehabilitation virtual reality implementation research

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 92-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Proffitt ◽  
Stephanie Glegg ◽  
Danielle Levac ◽  
Belinda Lange
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Research Design ◽  
Implementation Research ◽  
User Involvement ◽  
End Users ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
End User ◽  
Content Type ◽  
End User Involvement ◽  
Design And Methods

Purpose Despite increasing evidence for the effectiveness of off-the-shelf and rehabilitation-specific active video games (AVGs) and virtual reality (VR) systems for rehabilitation, clinical uptake remains poor. A better match between VR/AVG system capabilities and client/therapist needs, through improved end-user involvement (UI) in VR/AVG implementation research, may increase uptake of this technology. The purpose of this paper is to review four case examples from the authors’ collective experience of including end users in VR/AVG research to identify common benefits, challenges and lessons learned. Design/methodology/approach The authors apply knowledge and lessons learned from the four cases to make recommendations for subsequent user-engaged research design and methods, including evaluation of the impact of end UI. Findings A better match between VR/AVG system capabilities and client/therapist needs leads to improved end UI in all stages of VR/AVG implementation research. There are common benefits of increasing buy-in and soliciting early on the knowledge and skills of therapists as well as input from the ultimate end users: people participating in rehabilitation. Most settings have the challenges of balancing the technology requirements with the needs and goals of the practice setting and of the end users. Research limitations/implications Increasing end UI in VR/AVG implementation research may address issues related to poor clinical uptake. In the VR/AVG context, end users can be therapists, clients or technology developers/engineers. This paper presented four case scenarios describing the implementation of different VR/AVG systems and involving a variety of populations, end users and settings. Originality/value The set of recommendations for subsequent user-engaged research design and methods span the process of development, research and implementation. The authors hope that these recommendations will foster collaborations across disciplines, encourage researchers and therapists to adopt VR/AVGs more readily, and lead to efficacious and effective treatment approaches for rehabilitation clients.

scholarly journals Advancing User-Centered Evaluation of Visual Analytic Environments through Contests

2009 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 230-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Loura Costello ◽  
Georges Grinstein ◽  
Catherine Plaisant ◽  
Jean Scholtz
Keyword(s):  
Visual Analytics ◽  
Science And Technology ◽  
End Users ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Time Constraints ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
The Future ◽  
User Centered

In this paper, the authors describe the Visual Analytics Science and Technology (VAST) Symposium contests run in 2006 and 2007 and the VAST 2008 and 2009 challenges. These contests were designed to provide researchers with a better understanding of the tasks and data that face potential end users. Access to these end users is limited because of time constraints and the classified nature of the tasks and data. In that respect, the contests serve as an intermediary, with the metrics and feedback serving as measures of utility to the end users. The authors summarize the lessons learned and the future directions for VAST Challenges.

scholarly journals Design and Development of a Mobile Health (mHealth) Platform for Dementia Prevention in the Prevention of Dementia by Mobile Phone Applications (PRODEMOS) Project

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melanie Hafdi ◽  
Esmé Eggink ◽  
Marieke P. Hoevenaar-Blom ◽  
M. Patrick Witvliet ◽  
Sandrine Andrieu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Progress Monitoring ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
End Users ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Healthy Lifestyles ◽  
Pilot Studies ◽  
Mobile Phone Applications

Background: Mobile health (mHealth) has the potential to bring preventive healthcare within reach of populations with limited access to preventive services, by delivering personalized support at low cost. Although numerous mHealth interventions are available, very few have been developed following an evidence-based rationale or have been tested for efficacy. This article describes the systematic development of a coach-supported mHealth application to improve healthy lifestyles for the prevention of dementia and cardiovascular disease in the United Kingdom (UK) and China.Methods: Development of the Prevention of Dementia by Mobile Phone applications (PRODEMOS) platform built upon the experiences with the Healthy Aging Through Internet Counseling in the Elderly (HATICE) eHealth platform. In the conceptualization phase, experiences from the HATICE trial and needs and wishes of the PRODEMOS target population were assessed through semi-structured interviews and focus group sessions. Initial technical development of the platform was based on these findings and took place in consecutive sprint sessions. Finally, during the evaluation and adaptation phase, functionality and usability of the platform were evaluated during pilot studies in UK and China.Results: The PRODEMOS mHealth platform facilitates self-management of a healthy lifestyle by goal setting, progress monitoring, and educational materials on healthy lifestyles. Participants receive remote coaching through a chat functionality. Based on lessons learned from the HATICE study and end-users, we made the intervention easy-to-use and included features to personalize the intervention. Following the pilot studies, in which in total 77 people used the mobile application for 6 weeks, the application was made more intuitive, and we improved its functionalities.Conclusion: Early involvement of end-users in the development process and during evaluation phases improved acceptability of the mHealth intervention. The actual use and usability of the PRODEMOS intervention will be assessed during the ongoing PRODEMOS randomized controlled trial, taking a dual focus on effectiveness and implementation outcomes.

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