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Innovation is commongly discussed from the perspective of the manufacturing industry. Innovations can be the profitable market introduction of novelties, including new products, improved production techniques and logistics, or new ways of marketing and communication. Innovation can also be used to describe organisational and relational changes. While the service industry differs from the manufactu
Offshore wind farms are believed to have significant potential as a renewable energy technology; although the current costs are far from competitive. Consequently the future development of offshore wind farms depends on cost reductions. The trend for a large number of renewable energy technologies has been that as experience increases the costs associated with the technology will decrease; experie
This report explores the relation between innovation in tourism and peripherality in the light of sustainable regional development. Case study observations in two peripheral tourist destinations in Sweden, Åre and Kiruna municipalities, provide the basis for analysing how peripherality factors effect innovation in this particular environment. Peripherality factors are divided into structural, ins
The main purpose of the Thesis work is to conduct an assessment of both the way companies currently account for their waste costs, and of the potential relevancy of engaging in a more comprehensive cost accounting for waste in terms of achieving industrial waste minimisation and cost optimisation. In order to do so, literature about environmental and cost accounting was reviewed, an empirical stud
Electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) causes serious environmental impact in its end-of-life phase and it is the largest known source of heavy metals and organic pollutants in municipal waste. Moreover, waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) containes valuable components that if recycled and reused, could reduce the use of virgin materials. However, nowdays WEEE is mostly landfilled.
This thesis investigates the innovation of solutions promoting increased energy efficiency in the building sector in Sweden and Denmark using an innovation systems perspective. On the basis of a research matrix focused on key pre-requisites for innovation, namely, access to knowledge, access to resources, and the formation of markets, the dynamics of innovation in the building sector is examined.
Implementation of the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), a political tool intended to increase investment in renewable energy, has become increasingly common in the early 21st century. RPS policies require that a certain amount, or percentage, of electricity in a providers electricity supply mix is generated from renewable energy sources. The distribution of renewable energy generation capacity d
Chemical management services (CMS) is an application of the Product Service System in the chemical sector. It is a new business model based on a long term relation between customers and service suppliers, who both have the same goal of reducing the costs and volume of chemicals used in the customer's processes. CMS started in the early 1980's in the US and transferred to Europe later. CMS
The study is focused on the municipal wastewater treatment system for Tbilisi, Georgia. The study was carried out to analyse domestic strategies and strategies proposed by international aid organisations for water and wastewater (W&WW) infrastructure rehabilitation in Tbilisi, with a view to recommending sustainable solutions. In Georgia, the challenging issue is to find a balance between env
This research explores the development and use of waste to energy (WTE) technologies in Europe and in the Province of Ontario, Canada. As the quantity of waste generated has continued to increase in industrialized countries, the need for alternative waste management methods to reduce the dependency on landfill and to recover the resource in the waste has also increased. Many European countries, in
This thesis deals with driving forces for CSR reporting in China. More and more international companies have published their CSR reports under the concern of sustainable development. Chinese companies are facing the environmental and social challenges in China today. CSR reporting has been taken as a sustainable development strategy by the Chinese Central Government and the pioneering Chinese comp
Our purpose with this paper was to examine what effect a parent's drinking problem can have for the children in the family. A combination of literature study and qualitative interview analysis was used. The most important research questions were: How do the parent's problems affect the child? In what ways can the social network around the child help it to develop normally despite problems
Abstract Purpose: This thesis, first, sets out how the collective action strategies of prime movers and the manner in which they form networks affect the pace of legitimacy of a newly emerging bioenergy system. Under the light of this information, the second purpose is to see if it is possible to provide some lessons and good examples of networking strategies for prenatal or infant bioenergy case
High oil prices, news about limited oil resources and the increasing demand from fast growing economies like India and China have fuelled the global discussion for a security of energy supply, as well as a diversification and decentralisation of energy sources. At current oil prices, liquid biofuels become a cost-competitive alternative to traditional transport fuels. This option seems to be of sp
In today's society there is a trend in progress that it is positive and effective to have working groups or teams in organizations. But is it really all good? This essay explores this question through the concept "group weariness". Group weariness is defined as a negative attitude towards working in groups based on previous experiences of the working form. The aim of this study is to
The Swedish public inquiries and most of the political science advocate reforms in the spirit of participatory democracy to strengthen the democracy. Although it is striking how limited and narrow the scientific documentation is in analysing the effects of participatory democratic reforms. Still, many of the local governments in Sweden are reshaping their organisations according to the participato
One aim of this thesis has been to trace the driving forces among active members of the Swedish Pensioners? Interest Party (SPI), but also to render how party values and ideas are connected to the concepts of is-sue space, distrust, and New Party Politics (mainly populism). Since there are several pensioners? parties in other countries, my second aim has been to investigate whether the party is a
Coal gasification-based polygeneration (CGP) technology provides an opportunity for China to help to solve the main challenges it is facing in energy sector. On one hand, it can greatly mitigate the conflict of energy demand and supply in China, by generating electricity and co-producing liquid fuel without China's becoming overly dependent on imports, on the other hand, it can dramatically de
Summary in English The purpose of this essay has been to examine the Christology of Wolfhart Pannenberg, and especially his interpretation of the belief in Jesus as true God and true man. The consequences for his ontology and his view of the incarnation are also focused upon. Fundamental features in the Christology of Pannenberg demand a closer examination in this connection. First, christologic
