On the economics of energy labels in the housing market

Energy efficiency in the residential housing market can play an important role in the reduction of global carbon emissions. This paper reports the first evidence on the market adoption and economic implications of energy performance certificates implemented by the European Union. The results show that adoption rates are low and declining over time, coinciding with a negative sentiment regarding the label in the popular media. Labels are clustered among smaller, post-war homes in neighborhoods with more difficult selling conditions. We also document that geographic variation in the adoption rate of energy labels is positively related to the fraction of “green” voters during the 2006 national elections. Within the sample of labeled homes, the energy label creates transparency in the energy efficiency of dwellings. Our analysis shows that consumers capitalize this information into the price of their prospective homes.     

衡阳市住宅产业化现状与对策探讨

随着我国城镇化、工业化进一步快速推进,在发展低碳循环经济,加快建设两型社会背景下,变革传统住宅生产方式显得更加迫切.以衡阳市为例,介绍其住宅产业化现状基础上,指出了住宅产业化过程中存在的问题,并提出相关解决对策.     

中国能源工业可持续发展的政策框架

步入21世纪,可持续发展战略实施力度加大.面对环境和国内外市场的严峻挑战,我国能源工业如何可持续发展,需要进行结构的战略调整.从政策思路上,要改变传统观念,把新能源和再生能源作为21世纪中叶我国的持续能源.促其产业化和本地化,改变地区开发的优先顺序,加大油气水电的政策支持力度.把利用国际油气资源列入国家规划.建立能源供应安全保障机制.对传统能源工业改组,改造.提出了"以大代小,同步调整"政策,大力开发煤炭洁净利用技术,建立市场节能机制,健全能源可持续发展的政策法规框架.     

A laboratory energy balance for the larvae and juveniles of the American lobster Homarus americanus

A laboratory energy budget was constructed for the larvae and juveniles of the American lobster Homarus americanus Milne-Edwards fed brine shrimp, Artemia saline L. Measured energy flows included ingestion, egestion, excretion of ammonia, routine and fed metabolism, growth, and production of exuvia. Digestion and assimilation were calculated and minimum ration of protein necessary to sustain larval lobsters was estimated. No change associated with metamorphosis was observed in rates of excretion, fed metabolism, and production of exuvia. Routine metabolism is not significantly higher for larvae than for juveniles. Growth changes from exponential in larvae to a slower increase in post-larvae. Consumption reflects changes in other variables. Changes in energy partitioning and energetic efficiencies associated with metamorphosis are largely due to change in rate of growth.     

Environmental conflicts in mineral development

In the 1980s conflicts over the extraction and use of natural resources will increase. While some of these controversies are unavoidable, many are manufactured when people choose inappropriate methods for responding to problems. This paper explores five ways industry creates its own problems and how it can avoid doing so. They are: failure to provide adequate information to the public; relying on stereotypes in making decisions; ignoring a problem, hoping that it will disappear; assuming that technical solutions are sufficient to solve a problem; depending on archaic techniques for conducting business with the public. Specific tools for managing environmental conflict are suggested.     

Sterilisation and safeguarding of mineral deposits in Britain

This paper gives a detailed account, from a British viewpoint, of the sterilisation of mineral deposits by development and of approaches that can be adopted to safeguard mineral resources in the long term. The ways in which mineral deposits can become sterilised are discussed along with an account of sterilisation trends. Policies on avoidance of sterilisation and safeguarding are traced from their origins through to the present day. Central and local government roles are examined along with responsibilities of those in the mineral industry.Following policy approaches there is consideration of how widely policies have been implemented in practive and how far these approaches to implementation match the aims on safeguarding. Emphasis is placed upon mineral consultation areas and their definition and operation, though landbanks and prior extraction are also considered. Finally, discussion brings out some salient points which form the basis of some concluding recommended courses of action.     

Suburban growth controls and the price of new housing

The effect of Petaluma, California's growth control program on new house prices is examined by a comparative (quasi-experimental) design, using statistical controls. The difference in price increases between Petaluma and two comparison cities is calculated for houses of standard quality and for average actual houses in each city. It was found that prices of standard quality houses increased significantly more in Petaluma than in one of the comparison cities but not the other. A similar pattern was observed for actual houses. Reasons for the observed results and specific causes of the growth control effect are analyzed.     

Hedonic housing prices and the demand for clean air

This paper investigates the methodological problems associated with the use of housing market data to measure the willingness to pay for clean air. With the use of a hedonic housing price model and data for the Boston metropolitan area, quantitative estimates of the willingness to pay for air quality improvements are generated. Marginal air pollution damages (as revealed in the housing market) are found to increase with the level of air pollution and with household income. The results are relatively sensitive to the specification of the hedonic housing price equation, but insensitive to the specification of the air quality demand equation.     

The preservation and re-creation of conservation value in mineral workings

The importance of abandoned mineral workings to nature conservation is discussed, together with the conflicts posed by proposed new developments. Four ways of preserving, recreating and/or enhancing conservation value are presented and considered. The need for additional research is emphasised.     

Legislation and policy mineral aggregate resource management in Ontario,Canada

In the late 1960's unrest between the aggregate industry and residents of high production municipalities threatened the availability of aggregate resources. At the request of the aggregate industry, the Ontario Provincial Government examined the situation and in 1971 passed The Pits and Quarries Control Act. The intent of the Act was to regulate the operation of pits and quarries and provide for their rehabilitation.Four years later, in 1975, the inadequacies of the Act prompted the establishment of the Ontario Mineral Aggregate Working Party to examine the situation and suggest changes. Despite considerable improvements brought about by the Pits and Quarries Control Act, 1971, difficulties such as resource protection still existed. The Working Party was a new concept to the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources because it was composed of representatives of all groups concerned with the mineral aggregate question—various government ministries, regional and municipal councillors and staff, industry and special interest groups. Secondly, the Working Party incorporated a public participation program into its policy recommendations.New legislation, to be known as The Aggregates Act, was given first reading in the Ontario Legislature on June 14, 1979 and is expected to be passed before the end of 1979. It will replace the present Pits and Quarries Control Act. Also, policy guidelines are being formulated to aid municipalities in the preparation of official plans and zoning by-laws in an effort to designate and protect mineral aggregate resources for the future.Rehabilitation of pits and quarries continues to be a high priority item, as evidenced by the research being undertaken and funded by the Province. Efforts are also continuing in resource inventory and in public education, in an effort to promote acceptance of the aggregate industry. The management of aggregate resources in Ontario has progressed substantially in the past ten years, but a sustained effort in management and control must continue.     

Environmental aspects of mineral sand mining in Australia

The operations of the heavy mineral sand mining industry in Australia are reviewed, with particular emphasis on the environmental aspects. Pre-mining environments, state and commonwealth legislative requirements, mining procedures and postmining rehabilitation and land use are described. The extraction of heavy minerals, principally rutile, zircon, ilmenite and monazite, is concentrated on the east coast between the Hawkesbury River in New South Wales and Rockhampton in Queensland; and on the west coast at Capel, south of Perth and at Eneabba, north of Perth. The industry, especially on the east coast, has suffered from conservationist and anti-mining movements during the 1970s because it operates on or near the coastline where the majority of Australians live or seek their recreation. This was less of a problem on the west coast because the deposits were inland. The future of the industry is good as long as a balance can be maintained between the interests of conservationists and the mining companies.     

绿色生态住宅小区水环境生态化问题的探讨

生态住宅是我国当今房地产投资的热点，但目前的“生态住宅”很多只是炒作的时髦包装，有些问题亟待深入探索和研究。文章基于绿色生态住宅的内涵和特征及其水环境系统技术导则的基本要点，论述了水环境系统设汁的重要性和内容，并就水环境生态化问题进行了探讨。文章认为，将人工湿地污水处理系统、雨水收集系统、景观水系统、中水回用系统和绿地系统综合起来进行总体设计，使人工湿地处理污水工艺与生态小区园林及其水景艺术相结合，建设集观赏、娱乐和污水处理于一体的景观湿地系统，是实现绿色生态住宅小区水环境生态化的理想途径。     

Applications and genotoxicity of nanomaterials in the food industry

The use of nanomaterials in industrial sectors is currently widely accepted because of their unique beneficial properties. However, those unique properties can also induce toxic effects. Toxicity responses are induced by kinetic, dynamic, and catalytic properties, and by functionalization, net particle reactivity, agglomeration, and functional environment. Here, we review nanomaterial applications in food and consumer industries, genotoxic mechanisms, methods to study nanomaterials, and factors of toxicity.     

武当山土壤的粘粒矿物与表面电荷性质

本文研究了湖北省武当山风景区石英云母片岩发育的７个土样的粘土矿物组成、粘粒氧化物含量。土壤电荷量及电荷零点．结果表明：（１）供试土壤粘土矿物均以２∶１型矿物占优势，在海拔４４０ｍ以下的土壤中主要是水云母和蛭石，在海拔６７０ｍ以上的土壤中主要是１．４ｎｍ过渡矿物、绿泥石和水云母；（２）土液粘粘中氧化铁和氧化铝的含量、粘粒硅铝率及氧化铁的游离度随海拔的变化而变化的趋势不甚明显，但非晶形铝铁氧化物的含量及氧化铝和铁的活化度随海拔升高而趋于增加；（３）土壤可变负电荷量、阴离子吸附量和电荷零点随海拔升高而趋于增加。     

Uranium in stream and mineral water of the Federal Republic of Germany

The concentration of uranium was determined in 944 samples from stream water by the inductively coupled plasma quadrupole mass spectrometry (ICP-QMS) method and represented on a color-shaded contour map. Uranium concentrations in surface water were determined to be between 0.007 μg/l and 43.7 μg/l with median of 0.33 μg/l. The regional distribution of uranium is influenced primarily by lithological and anthropogenic factors. In Mecklenburg, northern Brandenburg, and eastern Schleswig-Holstein, elevated uranium concentrations coincide with the extent of the last Weichselian ice sheet. The maximum concentrations are observed in the surface waters of the old mining districts in the western part of the Ore Mountains and in eastern Thuringia. Elevated concentrations are found in areas of agriculturally used loess soils. These concentrations correlate with the use of phosphate fertilizers. There is a zone of elevated concentrations up to 10.0 μg U/l in the Keuper Sandstone area south of the Thuringian Forest and from northwest of Stuttgart as far as Coburg. The distribution of elevated values in mineral water shows a clear correlation with the elevated values in surface water and the geology of those locations. Bunter and Keuper strata are the most important uranium source.     

Heating induced changes in mineral nitrogen and organic carbon in relation with temperature and time

Heating effects on carbon and mineral nitrogen contents of soils within different land use types were investigated in this study. With this intention we collected soil samples from 3 different land use types which are abandoned agricultural lands (AAL), shrub land (SL) and Oak forest land (OFL) and are in neighborhood with each other. The sampling was made at mid-summer to provide a better correspondence between factual buming conditions as well. Soils are slightly acidic (pH between 4.60-5.72) and sandy, sandy loamy textured. At the study site the vegetation type is pasture at AAL, Cystus and Rubus sp. dominated shrubs at SL and mixture of Oak species such as Quercus petrea, Q. robur Q. cerris and Q. frainetto at OFL. The results we found revealed that heating temperature has more remarkable effect on C losses and soil NH4+-N re-mineralization and losses of NH4+-N. Besides we could not detect remarkable differences between total N and NO3- amounts. Heating time created significant differences between NH4+-N amounts for different land use types where SL soils showed significant difference for all temperature levels. Heating soils at 100 degreesC created only slight differences at C and NH4+-N budgets but heating at 200 degreesC caused to striking results at NH4+-N budgets and heating at 350 degreesC led to only slight increase at NH4+-N budget. As the temperature increased the C loss also increased linearly.     

Measures of energy cost and value in ecosystems

The physical output of ecological processes have different values even though they may be measured in the same physical units. Using linear input-output theory, we derive a set of weights based on direct and indirect energy requirements for ecosystem commodities which uniquely converts them into commensurable unit costs. Under certain conditions, these costs are equal to values or prices. Using this system, behavioral theories can be better posed for experimental verification.     

Road development, housing growth, and landscape fragmentation in northern Wisconsin: 1937-1999.

Roads remove habitat, alter adjacent areas, and interrupt and redirect ecological flows. They subdivide wildlife populations, foster invasive species spread, change the hydrologic network, and increase human use of adjacent areas. At broad scales, these impacts cumulate and define landscape patterns. The goal of this study was to improve our understanding of the dynamics of road networks over time, and their effects on landscape patterns, and identify significant relationships between road changes and other land-use changes. We mapped roads from aerial photographs from five dates between 1937 and 1999 in 17 townships in predominantly forested landscapes in northern Wisconsin, U.S.A. Patch-level landscape metrics were calculated on terrestrial area outside of a 15-m road-effect zone. We used generalized least-squares regression models to relate changes in road density and landscape pattern to concurrent changes in housing density. Rates of change and relationships were compared among three ecological regions. Our results showed substantial increases in both road density and landscape fragmentation during the study period. Road density more than doubled, and median, mean, and largest patch size were reduced by a factor of four, while patch shape became more regular. Increases in road density varied significantly among ecological subsections and were positively related to increases in housing density. Fragmentation was largely driven by increases in road density, but housing density had a significantly positive relationship with largest patch area and patch shape. Without protection of roadless areas, our results suggest road development is likely to continue in the future, even in areas where road construction is constrained by the physical environment. Recognizing the dynamic nature of road networks is important for understanding and predicting their ecological impacts over time and understanding where other types of development are likely to occur in the future. Historical perspectives of development can provide guidance in prioritizing management efforts to defragment landscapes and mitigate the ecological impacts of past road development.