scholarly journals Unions and the green transition in construction in Europe: Contrasting visions

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 401-418
Author(s):  
Linda Clarke ◽  
Melahat Sahin-Dikmen
Keyword(s):  
Small Firms ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Vocational Education And Training ◽  
Ecological Modernization ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Labour Process ◽  
Self Employment ◽  
Zero Energy Building ◽  
End Use ◽  
Energy Efficiency Standards

The construction industry, responsible for 40 percent of European Union (EU) end-use emissions, is targeted as a major area of transformation particularly through the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive requiring nearly zero energy building (NZEB). Through a case study approach, union responses to EU strategy on the implementation of energy efficiency standards are evaluated in Denmark, Germany, Italy and UK (Scotland), presenting a varied picture, from minimal acknowledgement to broad support along the lines of ecological modernization to radical transformation. Radical appraisals of the industry and its exploitative and high-carbon practices are rare, though engaging with the employment and vocational education and training (VET) implications. The article presents a labour-centred alternative to a technical-driven transition agenda, focusing on how the labour process needs to change in a sector dominated by small firms, self-employment, a fragmented labour process and often low levels of VET.

scholarly journals Modeling Energy Efficiency Performance and Cost-Benefit Analysis Achieving Net-Zero Energy Building Design: Case Studies of Three Representative Offices in Thailand

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 5201
Author(s):  
Kittisak Lohwanitchai ◽  
Daranee Jareemit
Keyword(s):  
High Efficiency ◽  
Energy Gap ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Building Design ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Office Buildings ◽  
Zero Energy ◽  
Zero Energy Building ◽  
Investment Cost ◽  
High Investment

The concept of a zero energy building is a significant sustainable strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The challenges of zero energy building (ZEB) achievement in Thailand are that the design approach to reach ZEB in office buildings is unclear and inconsistent. In addition, its implementation requires a relatively high investment cost. This study proposes a guideline for cost-optimal design to achieve the ZEB for three representative six-story office buildings in hot and humid Thailand. The energy simulations of envelope designs incorporating high-efficiency systems are carried out using eQuest and daylighting simulation using DIALux evo. The final energy consumptions meet the national ZEB target but are higher than the rooftop PV generation. To reduce such an energy gap, the ratios of building height to width are proposed. The cost-benefit of investment in ZEB projects provides IRRs ranging from 10.73 to 13.85%, with payback periods of 7.2 to 8.5 years. The energy savings from the proposed designs account for 79.2 to 81.6% of the on-site energy use. The investment of high-performance glazed-windows in the small office buildings is unprofitable (NPVs = −14.77–−46.01). These research results could help architects and engineers identify the influential parameters and significant considerations for the ZEB design. Strategies and technical support to improve energy performance in large and mid-rise buildings towards ZEB goals associated with the high investment cost need future investigations.

scholarly journals BIM Enabled Approach for Performance-Based Design

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-27
Author(s):  
Renas K.M. Sherko ◽  
Yusuf Arayici ◽  
Mike Kagioglou
Keyword(s):  
Technology Use ◽  
Building Design ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Performance Based Design ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Performance Parameters ◽  
Efficient Design ◽  
Architectural Practice ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
And Performance

A significant amount of energy is consumed by buildings due to ineffective design decisions with little consideration for energy efficiency. Yet, performance parameters should be considered during the early design phase, which is vital for improved energy performance and lower CO2 emissions. BIM, as a new way of working methodology, can help for performance-based design. However, it is still infancy in architectural practice about how BIM can be used to develop energy efficient design. Thus, the aim is to propose a strategic framework to guide architects about how to do performance-based design considering the local values and energy performance parameters. The research adopts a multi case study approach to gain qualitative and quantitative insights into the building energy performance considering the building design parameters. The outcome is a new design approach and protocol to assist designers to successfully use BIM for design optimization, PV technology use in design, rules-based design and performance assessment scheme reflecting local values.

scholarly journals Transforming vocational education and training for nearly zero-energy building

10.5334/bc.56 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 650-661
Author(s):  
Linda Clarke ◽  
Melahat Sahin-Dikmen ◽  
Christopher Winch
Keyword(s):  
Vocational Education ◽  
Education And Training ◽  
Vocational Education And Training ◽  
Zero Energy ◽  
Zero Energy Building ◽  
And Training

scholarly journals Analyzing the energy performance of manufacturing across levels using the end-use matrix

Energy ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 161 ◽  
pp. 559-572 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raúl Velasco-Fernández ◽  
Mario Giampietro ◽  
Sandra G.F. Bukkens
Keyword(s):  
Energy Performance ◽  
End Use

Pervasive Computing, Firm Characteristics, and Environmental Factors Conducive to the Adoption of Activity-Based Costing

2010 ◽  
pp. 184-203
Author(s):  
Sayel Ramadhan
Keyword(s):  
Small Firms ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Product Variety ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Computer Usage ◽  
Manufacturing Companies ◽  
Activity Based Costing ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Size Criterion

The main purpose of this study is to provide evidence on the contextual featutres of firms adopting Activity-Based Costing (ABC) compared to those not adopting ABC. The study examines certain organisational and business environment variables which appear to have influenced the adoption of ABC. Based on a review of the relevant literature, it is hypothesised that firm size, the amount of overhead costs, the level of product variety, production complexity, the degree of competition, and the degree of computer usage are factors which encourage firms to adopt ABC. A list of manufacturing companies operating in Bahrain (332 firms) was obtained from the Ministry of Industry. Firms with (50) workers or more were selected for the study. The reason for limiting the study to firms with this number of workers is that small firms are less likely to be able to afford the cost of adopting and implementing an ABC system and its required changes. Total of (111) firms met this size criterion and a questionnaire was developed and distributed to the entire sample. Fifty seven questionnaires were returned completed; a response rate of (51.4%). The results of the study show that a small percentage of Bahraini manufacturing companies are adopting or planning to adopt ABC systems (26.3%). There were significant relationships between the adoption of ABC and the variables selected for the study except production complexity and the degree of computer usage. The results are consistent with previous research. However, further research using a case study approach with semi-structured interviews could be conducted in those firms which claim to have adopted ABC. This approach might be fruitful and would provide more insight in identifying the characteristics of ABC companies in the Bahraini context.

On the effectiveness of state tax and expenditure policies to encourage entrepreneurship

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 523-548
Author(s):  
Donald Bruce ◽  
Elizabeth A. Glass ◽  
Matthew C. Harris
Keyword(s):  
Small Firms ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Entrepreneurial Activity ◽  
Empirical Literature ◽  
Tax Rates ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Entrepreneurial Performance ◽  
Self Employment ◽  
State Tax ◽  
Employment Rates

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to expand the empirical literature on state tax and expenditure policies and entrepreneurial activity in several meaningful ways. Design/methodology/approach The authors update the panel data to include several more recent years and also consider other elements of state policy. Findings The most important takeaway is that even after dealing with some of the known shortcomings of dynamic panel analysis, we are still not able to find economically meaningful impacts of state tax and expenditure policies (generally defined) on entrepreneurial performance. Research limitations/implications Earlier studies that have found statistical significance have generally been limited to extensive-margin impacts on such things as self-employment rates or counts of new or small firms. When the authors examine what policy makers actually care about – things like income and employment among entrepreneurial ventures – the authors do not find much in the way of useful policy impacts. Practical implications To be sure, the authors find entrepreneurial performance to be statistically significantly related to certain tax rates and expenditure amounts, but the magnitudes of our estimated results cast serious doubts on the usefulness of these particular policy levers for generating meaningful improvements in entrepreneurial success. Originality/value The authors’ primary contribution is to improve the empirical consideration of the time series properties of the data. The authors provide a battery of more general and robust analyses to more completely surround the question.

Assessing the impact of risk allocation on sustainable energy innovation (SEI)

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 259-281 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sulafa M Badi ◽  
Stephen Pryke
Keyword(s):  
Construction Projects ◽  
Sustainable Energy ◽  
Empirical Work ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Risk Allocation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Energy Innovation ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – The allocation of risk among project participants is an important determinant of innovation success in construction projects. The purpose of this paper is to examine the capacity of risk allocation to encourage the implementation of environmental innovation, particularly sustainable energy innovation (SEI), within the private finance initiative (PFI) project delivery model. Design/methodology/approach – A four-case qualitative research methodology is adopted within the context of the UK government’s building schools for the future programme. Findings – The findings identify that SEIs are encouraged on the innovative projects by the perceived clarity, appropriateness, and manageability of the risks associated with the project’s energy performance on the PFI contract. The main SEIs were largely developed as strategies to manage long-term energy performance risks allocated to private sector actors and safeguard their long-term commitment to the project. However, the findings indicate that excessive perceived innovation-related risks, particularly capital cost risk, may restrict further SEIs to be implemented. Research limitations/implications – The qualitative case study approach adopted may limit the generalisability of the findings. Practical implications – The study and provides practical guidance to policymakers and project managers in developing strategies to support the implementation of SEI in PFI projects. Originality/value – The study attends to a significant gap in knowledge as there is a lack of conceptual and empirical work on managing innovative processes for sustainable energy in PFI projects.

scholarly journals Experimental Nearly Zero Energy Building with Green Technology – Renovation Pilot through Passive House Expertise

2019 ◽  
Vol 111 ◽  
pp. 03029
Author(s):  
Horia Petran ◽  
Szabolcs Varga ◽  
Noémi Fogas
Keyword(s):  
Energy Performance ◽  
Green Technology ◽  
Passive House ◽  
Existing Building ◽  
Zero Energy Building ◽  
Green Materials ◽  
Preliminary Planning ◽  
Solar House ◽  
The Cost

The paper presents the preliminary planning of a demonstration pilot for exemplary renovation of an existing building (“Solar House 1 – Campina”) towards nZEB level using Passive House principles and technologies. The “Solar House” was one of the lighthouses of solar energy developments in the ‘80s in Romania, being built in 1977-1978 in Campina (Centre-South Romania) and represented an experimental building using innovative solar technologies for DHW preparation, active and passive space heating. The decision of transforming the existing building in a demonstration pilot nZEB with green materials was taken and the feasibility study is currently underway. The pilot aims to analyse and test, the cost effectiveness of Passive House (PH) technologies integration in a deep renovation process with the view to achieve the fixed nZEB levels, as an exemplary case study demonstrating the benefits and feasibility of applying PH principles and energy performance evaluation in real context. Both approaches of applying the renovation standard EnerPHit and targeting Passive House criteria are discussed together with the nZEB targets, while the analysis of technical (energy performance) and economic (total costs) feasibility is presented. The proposed building will act as a training and consultancy centre in Campina - created as a model for achieving greater energy efficiency and environmental responsibility in Romania.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document