Iranian Household Electricity Use Compared to Selected Countries

Abstract. Akoth AJ, Mahiri OS, Obiero K. 2019. Influence of climatic and non-climatic factors on fishing activities in Lake Victoria, Kisumu County, Kenya. Intl J Bonorowo Wetlands 11: 7-17. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of climatic factors like dry spells, rainfall, and wind strength, as well as non-climatic factors like overfishing, water hyacinth, and predators on fishing activities on the shores of Lake Victoria in Kisumu County. The research used a descriptive survey design. The study area comprised thirty-two beaches, of which eight were chosen to represent Kisumu County as a whole. The eight beaches were sampled using a systematic sampling technique. The data was collected using a sample size of 362 respondents. Fish landing data over the past ten years was collected at the beaches and at the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KEMFRI), while climate data was received from the Kisumu Airport Regional Meteorological Department. Primary data was collected from the beaches using questionnaires and interviews, whereas secondary data was collected from KEMFRI using document analysis guidance, books, and publications. The results were processed and analyzed with the help of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) application, which assisted in the calculation of frequencies, means, and percentages. The study discovered a linkage between climatic factors and fishing activity. Climatic factors and fishing activities have a substantial relationship, according to the study. The amount of rainfall had an effect on fish captures, albeit the effect differed by fish species; Orechromis (r =.260), Lates niloticus (r =.130), and Protopterus (r =.184) had positive correlations with rainfall, whereas Rastrinoebola argentea and Claras gariepinus had negative correlations. Overall, the findings showed a positive correlation coefficient (r =.079) between rainfall and total fish catch. Fish numbers in the lake have decreased due to a dry season accompanied by high temperatures. Strong wind had a negative impact on fishing activities, whereas mild to moderate wind favored fish catch. Non-climatic factors had a significant detrimental impact on fishing activity in Lake Victoria, according to the study. The researcher came to the following conclusions based on the findings: there was a relationship between climatic elements and fishing activities; non-climatic factors primarily influenced fishing activities negatively; however, fishermen implemented mitigation strategies to help address non-climatic factors. Policymakers should regulate fish harvesting as dictated by climatic and weather variations, assess the impact of non-climatic elements in fish production and recommend appropriate mitigation measures, and finally, regulations should be enhanced to save endangered fish species from extinction, according to the findings.

It is crucial to perform energy simulations during the building process to design a building that meets requirements regarding low energy use. In a low energy building, internal heat gains such as excess heat from household electricity are a large part of the heat balance of the building. The internal heat gains depend on the occupants and are not constant, although they are often assumed constant in simulations of space heating demand. This article analyses how different usage patterns of household electricity affects simulated space heating demand. Parametric studies of energy use-related parameters were done to study the influence from different designs. The results show that the different energy use patterns affect the space heating demand, especially in low energy buildings and during the colder parts of the year. To make accurate energy simulations of low energy buildings, household electricity use patterns should be taken into account.

Over the last decade there has been an increased focus on changing domestic electricity consumption behaviors. While the usual approach has been to facilitate reduced consumption, recent work has started looking at facilitating more flexible electricity use as a means of shifting consumption to more favorable times. This approach means that people may behave more sustainably without necessarily using less electricity. Exploring this emerging approach, this paper presents a study of flexibility in domestic electricity use as facilitated by an eco-feedback system with forecast information about price, availability of green energy, and grid demand. The prototype system was deployed in three households for 22 weeks. Our findings show that flexible electricity use is far from trivial to achieve in domestic households. The details of this is relevant for understanding people's ability and willingness to shift electricity consumption, and for the design of systems that facilitate doing this.

This paper aims to investigate the socio-economic, dwelling and appliance related factors that have significant or non-significant effects on domestic electricity consumption. To achieve this aim, a comprehensive literature review of international research investigating these factors was undertaken. Although papers examining the factors affecting electricity demand are numerous, to the authors’ knowledge, a comprehensive analysis taking stock of all previous findings has not previously been undertaken. The review establishes that no less than 62 factors potentially have an effect on domestic electricity use. This includes 13 socio-economic factors, 12 dwelling factors and 37 appliance factors. Of the 62 factors, four of the socio-economic factors, seven of the dwelling factors, and nine of the appliance related factors were found to unambiguously have a significant positive effect on electricity use. This paper contributes to a better understanding of those factors that certainly affect electricity consumption and those for which effects are unclear and require further research. Understanding the effects of factors can support both the implementation of effective energy policy and aid prediction of future electricity consumption in the domestic sector.

Household electricity use, electric vehicle home-charging and distributed photovoltaic power production in the city of Westminster

This paper discusses how climatic and non-climatic factors, either separately or together, shape the adaptation responses of smallholder farmers in the Raya Azebo district of Ethiopia. Their adaptation responses included adjusting planting periods, crop diversification, changing crop types, adopting improved seeds, using irrigation, conducting migration, participation in wage employment, selling local food and drinks, and owning small shops. These adaptation responses were motivated by various climatic (e.g., drought and rainfall variability) as well as non-climatic factors (e.g., market conditions, yield-related factors, land scarcity, labor shortages, soil fertility issues, crop diseases, and limited local employment options). We therefore argue (i) that successful adaptation requires a broader understanding not just of climatic factors but also of the various social-ecological factors that shape smallholder farmers’ adaptations; and (ii) that the successful design and implementation of locally appropriate planned adaptation interventions require the inclusion of both climatic and non-climatic factors.

Climate is critical for plant altitudinal distribution patterns. Non-climatic factors also have important effects on vegetation altitudinal distribution in mountain regions. The purpose of this study was to explore the current distribution of plant diversity along the altitudinal gradient in the Taihang Mountain range of northern China and to estimate the effects of climatic and non-climatic factors on the elevational pattern. Through a field survey, a total of 480 sampling plots were established in the central Taihang Mountain range. Alpha diversities (the Shannon–Weiner index and Simpson index) and beta diversities (the Jaccard index and Cody index) were measured based on the survey data. Plant community structure change based on the altitudinal gradient was explored by measuring the diversity indices. Canonical correspondence analysis was carried out to determine the factors influencing plant altitudinal distribution. The contributions of climatic and non-climatic factors on plant distribution were determined by partial methods. The results showed that the plant diversity of the elevational gradient complied with a “hump-shaped” pattern, in which communities in the medium altitude area with higher plant diversity had a higher species turnover rate, and non-climatic factors, particularly the anthropogenic factors, had an important influence on the plant altitudinal pattern. In conclusion, climatic and non-climatic factors both had important effects on the plant altitudinal pattern. It is strongly recommended to reduce human interference in mountain vegetation protection and management.

An integrated BIM-based framework for the optimization of the trade-off between embodied and operational energy

Crop yields and productivity are low in East Africa due to the climatic and non-climate factors that affect cereal crop yields. In contrast to the East African countries, which only produce 2 t/ha on average, industrialized nations produce an average yield of 10.77 t/ha. The large productivity gap in East Africa is the main topic of this proposed study. East Africa's cereal yield productivity has failed because of its genetic potential. There has not been much previous study on how climate and non-climate factors affect the yield of cereal crops in East Africa using panel data. Further, this study seeks to fill a gap in existing research by employing a generalized method of moments (GMM) panel model. This study examines the impacts of climatic and non-climatic factors on cereal yield in East Africa, analyzing data from seven nations (Burundi, Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Eritrea, Tanzania, and Uganda) from 1993 to 2018. The World Bank Development Indicators provided the data for cereal yield, seed, fertilizer, and carbon dioxide emissions, while the Climate Change Knowledge Portal provided the data for mean annual temperature and mean annual precipitation. The results of the investigation suggest that there is expected to be a continuous decline in cereal yield in East Africa due to the effects of both climatic and non-climate factors. Key findings indicate that the amount of fertilizer consumed and the amount of seed applied have positive effects. The yield of cereals increases by 0.833 kg/ha for every 1 percent increase in precipitation. Moreover, the yield of cereals is decreased by 4.354 kg/ha for every 1 percent increase in temperature. Utilizing high-temperature and drought-resistant cereal crop varieties is also advised to lessen the adverse impacts of climate change and non-climate factors. Adaptive strategies are needed in policy to alleviate the effects of climate and non-climate factors. This study has significant policy implications for the need to assist farmers in implementing new agricultural technologies, breeding stress-tolerant plants, and altering their production and farm management practices. • East Africa's cereal yield productivity has failed to meet its genetic potential. • The majority of East Africa, where two-thirds of its population resides, was a net food importer. • The yield of cereals increases by 0.833 kg/ha for every 1 percent increase in precipitation. • Crop diversification, managing soil fertility, and adjusting planting dates are suggested to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

In order to adequately assess energy policies and set clear objectives, a key preliminary step is to know the energy use patterns of the different countries. This paper estimates the evolution of the total energy use over the period 1995–2015 in four European Union (EU) countries, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, and Spain, representative of two different energy patterns, the “Southern” one and the “Eastern” one. For doing so, we employ a Multi-Regional Input Output (MRIO) model. In difference with previous studies, in addition to differentiate between domestic and foreign use we distinguish whether this energy is produced domestically or abroad. The results obtained show a certain convergence in energy intensity across the four countries examined because of the radical transformations experienced by the Czech Republic and Hungary. Nonetheless, energy intensities are still substantially higher in Eastern than in Southern countries which confirms that the first group of countries have still a long road to go, especially regarding the incentives that their industries have to use energy efficiently. Taking our decomposition of total energy use, the reductions in total energy use were mainly caused by a high decrease in the importance of the domestic use of energy produced domestically. At the same time, a growing importance of the role played by the energy produced abroad was observed. These trends confirm the great importance of global value chains and the steady internalization of energy use. This methodology could be further applied to other countries.

Energy and environmental conservation problems are increasing every day. The use of electricity began to experience shortages by about 1.6 billion people. The use of fuel oil (BBM) in road transportation requires a larger number along with the number of means of transportation. On the other hand, there is an inefficient use of energy for some equipment used by humans. Gasoline and electric vehicles generally use inefficient internal combustion engines. About 25% of the combustion results are used for vehicle operations, and 40% is lost to waste heat that is wasted. Waste heat is also wasted on household appliances. Global warming and environmental pollution due to the use of inefficient energy are also increasing. Research by experts on thermoelectrics shows good results in overcoming inefficient use of energy and can provide solutions to energy problems and environmental conservation. Its use is flexible, because it does not require complicated mechanical structures, and is also environmentally friendly. This paper provides a review that reviews the use of thermoelectric in various equipment that produces waste heat energy that has not been utilized optimally.

•Key message An ensemble modelling approach was performed to predict the distributions of seven sympatric sclerophyllous oak species in the Hengduan Mountains of Southwest China. Spatial eigenvector filters revealed missing factors in addition to commonly used environmental variables, thus effectively improved predictive accuracy for the montane oak species. This study identified a richness center of sclerophyllous oaks, which provides a reference for proper conservation and utilization of oak resources. •Context As key species and important trees for construction- and fuel-wood, montane sclerophyllous oaks (Quercus sect. Heterobalanus) in the Hengduan Mountains of Southwest China are threatened by climate change, habitat fragmentation, and human activities. •Aims This study aims to simulate the potential distributions of seven sympatric sclerophyllous oak species with an emphasis on exploring the relative importance of climatic, non-climatic, and additional spatial factors. •Methods We performed an ensemble modelling approach of six ecological niche models in combination with spatial eigenvector filters to predict the potential distributions of seven oak species. •Results The results elucidated that temperature seasonality, followed by land use/cover and the human influence index were the most critical variables controlling oak species distributions. Regardless of the selected algorithm, the best performing models for most oaks combined climatic and non-climatic factors as well as additional spatial filters. •Conclusion It is necessary to strengthen the conservation of oak species at the junction of Sichuan and Yunnan Province where we found the richness center of the studied oaks. Our research provides essential insights for the rational conservation and management of sclerophyllous oak species, suggesting that spatial constraints might reflect limited ability of migration under future climate change.

This study provides an understanding for the relationship between climatic factors and sugarcane productivity in India. The main objective of this paper is to estimates the impact of climatic and non-climatic factors on sugarcane productivity. To check the consistency of empirical results, simple linear regression model, Ricardian productivity regression (non-linear) model and Cobb-Douglas production function models are employed. The data set incorporates 390 observations corresponding to thirteen states with panel data for 30 years during 1980 to 2009. These all models include sugarcane productivity as dependent variable. Irrigated area, agriculture labour, consumption of fertilizers, literacy rate, tractors and farm harvest price (at constant level) are considered as explanatory variables. Average rainfall, average maximum and average minimum temperature include as climatic factors to capture the effect of climatic conditions on cane productivity. These climatic factors are incorporate for three weather seasons such as rainy, winter and summer. Empirical results based on Prais Winsten models with panels corrected standard errors (PCSEs) estimation shows that climatic factors i.e. actual rainfall, average maximum and average minimum temperature have a statistically significant impact on sugarcane productivity. The climatic effect for various factors on cane productivity are varies within different seasons. Average maximum temperature in summer and average minimum temperature in rainy season have a negative and statistically significant effect on sugarcane productivity. While, sugarcane productivity positively get affect with increasing average maximum temperature in rainy season and winter seasons. The study concluded that there is non-linear relationship between climatic factors and sugarcane productivity in India.

This paper presents energy and environmental performance analyses, a study of summer indoor temperatures and occupant behavior for an eight story apartment building, with the goal to combine high energy efficiency with low environmental impact, at a reasonable cost. Southern Portvakten building is built with prefabricated timber elements using passive house principles in the North European climate. Energy performance was analyzed through parametric studies, as well as monitored energy data, and complemented with analysis of occupant behavior during one year. Results show that airtight, low-energy apartment buildings can be successfully built with prefabricated timber elements in a cold climate. The monitored total energy use was 47.6 kWh/m2, excluding household electricity (revised to a normal year), which is considerably lower than of a standard building built today in Sweden—90 kWh/m2. However, the occupancy level was low during the analyzed year, which affects the energy use compared to if the building had been fully occupied. Environmental analysis shows that the future challenges lie in lowering the household and common electricity use, as well as in improving the choices of materials. More focus should also lie on improving occupant behavior and finding smart solar shading solutions for apartment buildings.

This paper has analysed the emerging dimensions of food security and trends of crop productivity by using secondary data from 1980-81 to 2014-15 at State level of India and has also identified the impact of climatic and non-climatic variables on food security and crop productivity. The study revealed that the growth rate of foodgrains and non-foodgrains productivity was found positive except for some crops of non-foodgrains at state level with some fluctuations. In case of food security and its component, the result showed that there were wide variations across the states during the study period. The panel data regression results also highlighted that the non-climatic factors had positive and significant impact on food security except urbanization while climatic factors viz. maximum temperature had negative and significant impact and minimum temperature and rainfall had insignificant impact on food security. Furthermore, the impact of climatic and non-climatic factors had a mixed effect on crop productivity. The paper suggested that there was need to change the policy in term of building sustainable climate resilient technology, enhancing the agricultural infrastructure and optimizing use of inputs for boosting up the crop productivity and increasing public-private partnerships for sustainable development to solve the problems of food and nutrition at state level.