A community-based approach to low-income residential energy efficiency participation barriers

Financial barriers are often cited as the principle impediment to the adoption of energy efficiency measures. Since 1976, the US Department of Energy's Weatherisation Assistance Programme (WAP) has provided state block grants for no-cost, low-income energy efficiency retrofits. Yet, millions of low-income American households lack affordable, reliable, and efficient energy access. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 boosted WAP's annual appropriation from $230 million to $5 billion, requiring states to explore innovate approaches to quickly increasing programme participation. Community-based energy programmes have shown success for overcoming various barriers and increasing participation in the adoption of energy technologies. This case study explores a community-based approach to scaling WAP-funded energy efficiency retrofits in a cluster of five urban, low-income, majority African-American neighbourhoods, known as the Green Impact Zone (GIZ), in Kansas City, Missouri. Findings from interviews with GIZ stakeholders suggest that local context is important to how energy efficiency participation barriers manifest. The targeted, community-based approach to WAP created institutional capabilities for increased recognition of participation challenges and facilitated opportunities for alternative solutions that may otherwise have been overlooked under the standard self-referral implementation of WAP. Lastly, effective implementation of WAP required policy workarounds that recognised the unique characteristics and needs of the target community.     

贯彻《大气污染防治行动计划》力促环境空气质量改善

我国政府审时度势,近日制定和出台《大气污染防治行动计划》,表明我国政府治理大气环境污染、改善民生的决心,同时也标志着我国大气环境管理进入新的历史性转折时期。本文在阐述《行动计划》的总体要求、奋斗目标和具体目标以及十大具体措施基础上,揭示了其主要关键突破点和确保政策落实的重要保障措施。     

Overview of household solid waste recycling policy status and challenges in Malaysia

With the annual increase in waste generation and heavy reliance on landfilling as disposal, method in Malaysia, it is just a matter of time before significant problems of space limitations, health, and environmental issues hit the nation severely. This paper attempts to develop an overview on solid, waste recycling in Malaysia at the most basic level of a community or nation which is the household, unit. Households are the main primary source of municipal solid waste in Malaysia, consisting of, recyclable materials at most 70% to 80% of the total waste composition as found placed in the, landfills. Overview on the existing household solid waste recycling policy and program status in, Malaysia is relevant in enhancing solid waste management measure from recycling perspective. Despite the high potential and opportunities for solid waste recycling, wastes are still simply being, dumped in an open area of ground without any attempt for recovery and recycling. Comparing to, recycling rates of neighboring countries, Malaysia is falling back at merely 5% which proves how, uncommon recycling practice is. The government is committed to significantly improve the national's, solid waste management services especially in waste minimization. Fortunately the emphasis on, recycling as a sustainable waste management strategy has taken a shift in paradigm as wastes, separation and recycling are part of the major changes in the current policy implementation. With, issues and challenges in recycling practice that were highlighted in this context especially from the, aspects of information availability and other loopholes within solid waste management policies and, related recycling program within the community, the question on whether the goals in 2020 can be, met remains unsure of but there is a possibility for a successful implementation of sustainable solid, waste management particularly in recycling.     

美国大气污染物排污许可证实施制度研究

美国大气污染物排污许可证制度作为美国空气质量管理的核心手段,有效控制了常规和有害大气污染物的排放,为美国空气质量改善发挥了重要作用.经过数十年的发展,该制度已形成较为完善的框架体系和实施机制.鉴于中国排污许可证制度尚处于起步阶段,简要梳理了美国大气污染物排污许可证的发展历程,重点介绍了美国大气污染物排污许可证的实施程序、实施效果及实施特点,为中国污染物排污许可证制度的全面有效实施乃至推动环境质量改善提供参考.     

规划逻辑转变下的都市圈空间规划方法探讨

应对国家空间治理现代化和国土空间规划体系重构的要求,我国都市圈空间规划面临生态文明导向的政治逻辑转变和资源环境约束下的发展逻辑转变。基于规划逻辑转变,明确了都市圈空间规划是国土空间规划体系中以聚焦空间协同发展为核心的专项规划,从对应需求目标引领和因地制宜问题协调两个视角,提出了都市圈空间规划编制的技术框架。结合当前都市圈空间规划实践和空间规划改革的要求,研究认为规划编制重点应聚焦以传导和协同为导向的指标体系制定、流动性的要素资源优化配置和调控、协同管控和利用的空间格局谋划、跨界组团空间合作等。针对都市圈缺乏统一的实施主体等问题,提出了不同类型都市圈空间规划编制组织方式、规划实施的区域合作机制、都市圈管理信息平台的共建,以及都市圈空间规划实施情况的动态监测等。通过对都市圈空间规划编制理念、技术框架、重点内容和实施组织的系统探讨,将为我国都市圈空间规划的编制和都市圈空间治理的现代化提供理论基础和方法指导。     

中国石化HSE监督管理系统研究与实现

为使中国石化HSE管理达到具有较强国际竞争力的跨国能源化工公司的水平,在充分吸收国内外先进企业HSE管理经验基础上,结合中国石化业务特点,研究开发了中国石化HSE监督管理系统。系统以风险管理为核心,体现PDCA管理思想,遵循中国石化一致的HSE管理理念,按照＂谁主管、谁负责＂,与HSE管理体系完全吻合等原则进行设计,采用最新云计算模式、多层B/S软件体系结构以及WMFC、XForm、SOAP、XML等相关标准进行开发,实现了分布应用、集中管理的运行模式。通过在中国石化总部、5家试点企业和近100家非试点企业的现场应用,结果表明,该系统满足了中国石化HSE监督管理及绩效评估的需要,实现了HSE管理的标准化、规范化和系统化,为管理决策提供支撑,提高了HSE管理效率,准备在中国石化系统内全面推广应用。     

Tracking the implementation of green credit policy in China: top-down perspective and bottom-up reform

The Chinese government has introduced the green credit policy to mitigate the environmental impact of industrialization by reining in credit loans to companies and projects with poor environmental performance. This research investigated the implementation of the green credit policy both at the national and provincial levels. Our results show that the green credit policy is not fully implemented. The wide-ranging impact on high-polluting and high energy-consuming industries, vague policy details unclear implementing standards, and lack of environmental information are the main problems in the implementation of the green credit policy in China. On the other hand, the practice at local level (Jiangsu Province) is more practical by integrating green credit policy with the environmental performance rating system. Finally, suggestions are outlined to improve China's green credit policy.     

苏州市固体废物安全自动监控系统构建与实施

通过对苏州市固体废物安全自动监控系统的建立背景、构建目标、系统概述、总体设计等方面的内容进行阐述,说明了苏州市固体废物安全自动监控系统.可以为各级环保部门提供科学、准确的基础数据和决策依据,是提升环境监测监管的必经之路.     

关于《内蒙古自治区环境保护“十一五”规划》实施存在的问题及提出的几点建议

本文通过对《内蒙古自治区环境保护＂十一五＂规划》所确定的目标指标在实施以来的实现情况等进行分析,初步找出其实施过程中存在的环保历史欠账多、资金投入不足,经济增速快、能耗物耗高,政策法制工作有所欠缺,基础设施建设滞后,在编人员不足、人才紧缺等问题,并且对推进＂十一五＂规划实施提出坚定不移地推进污染减排、确保总量目标实现,继续加大环保投入、增强环保监管能力建设、提升环保监管水平、加大环保监管力度,切实改善环境质量、加强重点区域污染治理,完善规划考核与评估机制,完善和调整规划实施等几点建议,为＂十一五＂规划在后两年更好的顺利推进及＂十二五＂规划的制定奠定一定的基础。