Abstract:Motivating individuals to decrease the environmental impact of their lifestyles could play an important role in reducing energy use and meeting carbon reduction commitments in developed countries. Few approaches which encourage voluntary changes in behaviour result in substantial reductions in energy use, however, particularly over the longer term. An exception to this general trend is small-group interventions which use group participation and which target collections of behaviours including energy use. Through a critical examination of published data this paper considers the energy and carbon emission reductions achieved by such initiatives, the durability of those reductions, and the common elements which may contribute to their success. Participants in small-group interventions reduced their energy use and carbon emissions by approximately 20% within a year. There is also some evidence that these reductions were lasting and that participants continued to make changes to their lifestyles after the end of the intervention. The reasonable person model (RPM) is proposed as a useful framework for understanding the success of these small-group interventions. Examination of small-group interventions suggests that they provide settings which are supportive of informational needs, and that this may be important to their success in promoting substantial and durable decreases in energy use.

No abstract

This case study presents a multi-phase evaluation of wayfinding difficulties in an older hospital in the UK. The first three phases made use of conventional methods for exploring wayfinding difficulties. These included a questionnaire survey for patients, a wayfinding task followed by interviews, and a questionnaire survey for stakeholders. These exercises indicated that there was a problem with wayfinding which was primarily addressed by patients and visitors asking members of staff for directions. However, the exercises provided little in the way of specific recommendations for improving wayfinding. The fourth phase of the research used mobile eye-tracking combined with a wayfinding task and interviews to explore where visitors looked for information, what signs attracted attention, and for how long. As a result of this exercise specific recommendations were made on sign placement, use of colour, and associated issues. The final phase of the research repeated the eye-tracking exercise after the recommendations were implemented. Shorter journey times and positive comments in the interviews following this exercise indicated that the modifications were effective in improving the wayfinding experience. Mobile eye-tracking appears to have potential for helping to design effective wayfinding systems in large healthcare facilities.

This study considers the feasibility of using 100% recycled Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (rABS) in the caseworks of small consumer electronic products as a step towards more circular design and manufacturing. A Digitally Enhanced Cordless Telephone (DECT) handset was chosen as a representative example of such a product. Materials testing on the rABS demonstrated that 100% recycled ABS has similar properties to virgin ABS and can be substituted for virgin ABS as long as the product design allows for the slightly stiffer nature of the rABS and addresses issues of surface finish and ability to colour. By clearly understanding these issues at the outset of the design process, and by adapting the designs appropriately at the outset, it was possible to produce an rABS handset which was as robust and as cosmetically acceptable as one made of virgin ABS. This suggests that the recycled material could be used widely in this type of product and also at reduced cost to using virgin ABS. Furthermore, an abridged Life Cycle Analysis of the existing handset suggested that other issues associated with the environmental impact of the product could be relatively easily addressed at the design stage by considering energy use and end of life issues

No abstract