Home Demands Research Articles

Decarbonization potential of fuel cell technologies in micro-cogeneration applications: spotlight on SOFCs in a Belgian case study

Abstract There is a plethora of fuel cell technologies, many of which hold great promise in terms of their decarbonization potential, which this paper aims to explore. In fact, this paper discusses the only two existing technologies on the market, Polymer Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs) and Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs). Unfortunately, these commercial systems mainly use natural gas as primary fuel due to its cost and practicality (easy transport and storage, existing infrastructures, etc.). Using Belgium as a case study, this paper shows that their GHG mitigation potential remains rather insignificant compared to the average individual carbon footprint if their fuel is not decarbonised. Even so, their mitigation potential would still be far from sufficient, and other measures, including behavioural changes, would still need to be implemented. Nevertheless, some emerging fuel cell technologies, such as Direct Carbon Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (DC-SOFCs) or Direct Formic Acid Fuel Cells (DFAFCs), offer the possibility of facilitating pure CO2 capture at their anode outlet, thus allowing for potential negative emissions. Using a case study of the electricity demand of an average Belgian home (with two adults) supplied by an efficient biomass-fuelled DC-SOFC, this paper shows that these negative emissions could be up to about 4 tCO2eq/year. By comparison, the IPCC's Sixth Assessment Report estimated the emissions footprint that could never be mitigated, even with future net-zero CO2 emissions, to be 1 tCO2eq/year per capita, implying that climate neutrality will require similar levels of carbon sequestration. In populous Western countries, natural carbon sinks are unlikely to be sufficient, and the potential negative emissions of emerging fuel cell technologies will be welcome.

Exploring homeplace as a nexus of learning and socially reproductive labour: A feminist perspective on internationalisation at a distance

This paper explores the concept of homeplace, examining how it serves as a nexus for learning, reproductive labour, and internationalisation while problematising the gendered and depoliticised nature of international distance education. Drawing on 60 interviews with international distance students at a South African university, the research employs Black and critical feminist perspectives to critique how the blurred boundaries between private and public spheres shape learning experiences. It addresses a gap in the international distance education literature by highlighting the insufficient consideration of the social reproduction responsibilities played out in homeplaces. Our findings reveal that homeplace is neither a gender‐neutral nor an idealised study environment. Instead, it leads to unequal participation in learning spaces and internationalisation efforts. Digital platforms, crucial for connectivity and collaboration in international education at a distance, also perpetuate gendered power dynamics that marginalise women's voices and contributions, but women, however, reach out and support each other in these online spaces. The research teases out the tensions between homeplace as a site for learning, living, and social reproduction, emphasising the need for international distance education institutions to address the gendered dynamics in their design and delivery that disproportionately burden those with responsibilities for social reproduction. Practitioner notesWhat is already known about this topic International distance education focuses on distance education provided internationally. Internationalisation at a Distance (IaD) activities aim to reach a broader audience beyond local students, leveraging online and blended learning models. IaD activities depend on the home as one of the main spaces of study while seeing online platforms as the main point of internationalisation. Thus far, the literature on IaD has not undertaken a critical feminist analysis or deployed Black feminist theories to explore power relations in such spaces. What this paper adds Examines how the politics of the “homeplace” can be used to understand the educational experiences of international distance education students. Argues that current debates often overlook how the homeplace as a gendered site influences students' international distance education journeys. Highlights the gendered nature of the homeplace and complexities of studying from home and online, particularly for women Provides a critical feminist analysis of IaD, situating and problematising the homeplace as the main site for IaD. Implications for practice and/or policy Emphasises the need for institutional policies that consider the homeplace as a significant site for internationalisation at a distance. Recommends the development of support systems and resources to help students manage conflicting demands of home and study. Advocates for a more nuanced approach to distance education that addresses the diverse needs of students, including those balancing significant responsibilities like employment and family obligations.

Inter-Role Conflict Cycle: Family Distress in Work–Family Dynamics with Job and Home Demands

Inter-Role Conflict Cycle: Family Distress in Work–Family Dynamics with Job and Home Demands

An Empirical Study on the Determinants of Housing Prices in Beijing and Model Optimization

This paper aims to investigate the potential factors influencing housing prices in Beijing and optimize the prediction model. Using the Kaggle dataset "Housing Price in Beijing", multiple factors affecting housing prices were examined, including square footage, bedroom count, bathroom count, follower count, the presence of an elevator, and subway proximity. The study initially established a multiple linear regression model (MLR) and then optimized the model through variable selection and hypothesis testing. The final model indicates that square footage, bathroom count, follower count, elevator presence, and subway accessibility significantly impact housing prices. Additionally, subway proximity positively correlates with housing prices, while increased square footage is negatively associated with price, possibly due to lower unit costs for larger properties and the higher market demand for smaller homes. By validating the model's performance using a test dataset, the final model demonstrates effective predictive capability and offers insights for future model improvements.

A Scoping Review of Home and Community-Based Services and Older Adults’ Health Outcomes

Most older adults aspire to age in their homes and communities; they often face challenges due to functional limitations. The demand for home and community-based services (HCBS) has steadily increased to address these challenges. This scoping review explores the relationship between HCBS and the health outcomes of older adults. A total of 11,317 peer-reviewed articles published between January 1, 2005, and August 1, 2023, were identified from major electronic databases, with 12 articles selected for the final sample. The findings indicate that HCBS are consistently associated with better health outcomes, including improvements in physical and mental health and reduced hospitalizations. However, Black and Asian older adults reported lower accessibility to HCBS and poorer self-rated health compared to their White counterparts. Additionally, low density and lack of HCBS in neighborhoods were linked to poorer health outcomes among older adults. Policymakers should prioritize improving HCBS accessibility in neighborhoods, consider the demographic characteristics of older adults, and address their diverse needs to tailor HCBS effectively.

Safety Management System in Pune Metro Rail Projects

The construction industry continues to grow as the demand for infrastructure, homes, and officespaces grows by the day. Since the construction industry is so dynamic, it is vulnerable to a range ofhealth risks. As a result, protection is a top priority in the construction sector to ensure a healthy workingenvironment. Safety experts have determined that risky behaviours cause the majority of workplaceinjuries, and that controlling these behaviours is one of the keys to effective accident prevention and a lowaccident rate on construction sites. Safety in construction industry is much more important. This reviewpaper is about to increase safety in the building industry performance. The study's primarily is to definethe critical success factors that affect the implementation of construction safety management. Thisreview paper is to recognize and solve major problems in the infrastructure sector with varioussolutions related to work situations that affect project safety performance. Due to lake of knowledge andawareness large number of people’s deaths and long-term injuries occurs. in order to reduce andcontrol construction worker health and safety.The construction industry has the largest number of injuries compared to other industries. Thus,reducing accidents and determining construction risks are extremely important. One of the essentialsteps for construction safety management is hazard identification, since the most unmanageable risksare from unidentified hazardsPune metro project is the key project for city the accident at going site may causes the break inprogress of work ultimately it casues the increases the duration of project as well as cost of projects.The various safety and control measures of accidents in Pune Metro projects will outlined in thisproject in order to mitigate accidents

Coping Stress Strategies to Reducing Work and Home Demands to Job Burnout Woman Nurses

Work and home demand increasing job burnout for woman nurses. The important coping stress strategies are to reduce job burnout. This study aimed to determine the relationship between work and home demand to job burnout, and the role of moderator coping stress strategies. The sample of the study was 157 women nurses recruited through simple random sampling. Data were collected using questionnaires and analyzed with partial least squares. The results indicated that work and home demand was positive and significantly related to job burnout. Coping stress strategies is negatively moderated the relationship between work demand to job burnout, but positive moderated the relationship between home demand to job burnout. The implication that coping stress strategies is successful to weaken job burnout caused by work demand, but strengthening job burnout caused by home demand.

Home demand and trade pattern: A support for the Linder conjecture in the environmental sector

AbstractThis paper theoretically and empirically explores the Linder conjecture (the home market effect [HME] in terms of trade pattern) in the environmental sector. Using a general equilibrium model for a two‐country, two‐sector economy, we demonstrate the existence of a strong/weak HME and highlight the crucial role of trade costs in the HME. Empirically, by utilising a data set of international air purifier trade and PM2.5 concentration, we investigate the causal relationship between environmental demand and trade patterns. The results show that for every 1% rise in PM2.5, the exports and net exports of air purifiers increase by 4.337% and 3.835%, respectively. We also illustrate that the strong secondary magnification effect exists in the environmental sector, especially among developing countries. In conclusion, a country with a larger environmental home demand tends to be a net exporter of environmental products. It provides a new path for high‐polluting countries to upgrade their traditional manufacturing towards an environmentally friendly economy.

Impact of Decentralization on Elder Care Institutions in Kerala, India

Abstract Introduction: Kerala has a high percentage of people aged. Urbanization has changed the family value system and contributed to an increasing need for an alternate arrangement to stay outside their homes in their later years. This study analyzes the dynamics of elder care institutions during the last decade from the perspective of the government-driven decentralization process in Kerala, India. Methods: This study utilized analytical (document review and secondary data) and empirical (key informant interviews) methods. Purposive sampling was used to select the key informants. Data were collected through the Google Meet platform through face-to-face interviews using open-ended questions. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and coded. Then, the similar codes were grouped into categories. Results: The four themes that emerged from the study were Kerala government initiatives following decentralization toward elder care institutions, increased demand for old age homes (OAHs) following decentralization, changes in dynamics in the quality of services after decentralization, and changes in thinking after decentralization among the stakeholders but yet to be implemented. Conclusions: Decentralization caused the transfer of OAHs from the social justice department to the local government, which enhanced transparency, participation, and accountability. Elders started getting involved in decision-making matters focused on rights rather than welfare-oriented approaches. However, there is a need for more coordinated activities by multiple governmental agencies for the well-being of OAH residents.

A Parametric Study on Composite G+8 Structure With Application of Damper on Different Locations Using Time History Analysis

Abstract: The world's population has been growing quite quickly in recent years. Major cities, in particular, have relatively dense populations, which has increased demand for new homes. Because there isn't enough land for new construction in the majority of the old cities, high-rise buildings are moving into mountainous areas. These days, there is more competition to build high rise buildings all over the world as a result of certain developed nations building extremely tall skyscrapers to demonstrate their power and technology to the rest of the world. Buildings on sloping terrain, however, have different structural configurations than those on level terrain, which causes them to vibrate more during earthquake-induced ground motions, resulting in higher displacements and shears. Increased floor displacement results in damage to the structural components, rendering the structure unusable or, in the worst situation, collapsing as a whole. Reducing the amount of seismic energy that enters slanted ground buildings is essential to preventing damage. This can be done by absorbing the majority of the vibrations that an earthquake produces. There are numerous ways to lessen a structure's seismic reaction, including base isolation, shear walls, bracings, dampers, and more. Because of their effectiveness and simplicity of usage, damping devices are particularly well-liked among these methods. The eight-storey building model with four distinct cases—bare frame, bare frame with damper on corners, bare frame with damper on Central Bay, and bare frame with damper on Alternate Bay—is taken into consideration in this research examination. For modeling, use ETABS 2016 Ultimate programme. Utilize time history analysis as well to investigate how earthquake loading affects structures

Age‐related differences in the use of boundary management tactics when teleworking: Implications for productivity and work‐life balance

AbstractThe rise of home‐based teleworking and the ageing of the workforce constitute two major trends impacting the future of work. Managing these trends well requires a good understanding of how worker age and telework intersect and which mechanisms link age and telework outcomes. We integrated perspectives of boundary theory and the lifespan model of selection, optimization, and compensation and investigated in two studies the relationship between employee age and two telework outcomes (work–life balance and unfinished tasks) as mediated by boundary management tactics aimed at segmenting work and nonwork roles. Across Study 1 (a two‐wave study with 172 teleworkers) and Study 2 (a three‐wave study with 282 teleworkers), we found positive associations between age and use of segmenting boundary management tactics during telework. We further identified indirect effects of age on higher productivity in terms of fewer unfinished tasks (both studies) and better work–life balance (Study 2) through boundary management tactics use. Robustness checks indicated that age effects remain significant after controlling for a number of demographic characteristics, work and home demands, motivational factors, and self‐regulatory skills. Findings suggest that older workers effectively navigate the blurred work‐nonwork boundaries in home‐based telework using self‐regulatory behaviour that supports positive telework outcomes.

Changing perspectives of international second home tourists towards recreational activities in Türkiye

Study Objective: This study aims to empirically analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on changes in international second residence tourists' perspective on recreational activities and their recreational experiences.Methodology/approach: An empirical qualitative perspective was adopted in the study. Online surveys were sent to a total of 500 international second residence tourists in Alanya/Turkey. Analyzes were made on the 430 response data returned.Orginality/value: Recreational areas are extremely important in the destination selection of international second home tourists’. There is a gap in studies focusing on changes in their recreational experiences during the pandemic. For the sustainability of the demand for second homes in the destination, it is necessary to follow the changes experienced during the pandemic process and to make provision for negativities. The study compares the purposes of participating in recreational activities of international second home tourists before the pandemic and during the pandemic period. It also comparatively analyzes the level of participation in indoor, outdoor and virtual recreational activities before the pandemic and during the pandemic period.Main results: Study results confirmed that the COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on the recreational activities in which second residence tourists participated.While the pandemic has reduced the interest in indoor activities, it has also increased the interest in outdoor and virtual activities significantly. Theoretical/methodological contributions: The pandemic process has not yet been fully clarified. Thus, the black swan theory remains valid for the Pandemic Process. The results of this study provide an understanding of the effects of COVID-19 specific to the experiences of international second residence tourists. The results of this study will guide the ongoing studies on second homes. Social/management contributions: In the new normal process, the demand for recreation areas has increased. Thus, carrying capacity problems arose. As a result, the destination satisfaction of international second home tourists may decrease and may decide to leave the destination. Locals who cannot use recreational areas may feel displaced. It must be taken into account that the pandemic has brought xenophobia to the agenda. Local governments should definitely make a new plan for the use of recreational areas in order to prevent possible conflicts between international second home tourists and local people.

The 3 Decades Global Financial Policy Failure in Housing Market, Runaway Home Prices, Today’s Growing Homeless Crisis: Eddison Walters Real Estate Housing Technology Structural Change Transformational Theory

Failure to address technological-driven structural changes in the real estate market that began three decades ago has caused runaway home prices that developed countries are experiencing today. The real estate crash that preceded the Global Financial Crisis, and the entire Global Financial Crisis resulted from the panic that was created about the rapid increase in home prices that was falsely labeled a real estate bubble by the media which was quickly adapted by policymakers. Policymakers and the media blamed greedy mortgage brokers for the rapid increase in home prices, accusing mortgage brokers of providing mortgages to too many people for homes that the borrowers could not afford. It turns out that the media and policymakers were completely wrong when mortgage brokers were falsely blamed for creating a real estate bubble because a real estate bubble never existed. The true cause of the rapid increase in home prices was the early stages of a real estate boom from technological-driven structural changes in the real estate market. Failure to address structural changes in the real estate housing market which started three decades ago, has resulted in runaway home prices in the United States and developed countries around the world. As a result of the failure widespread economic hardship from homelessness is a significant risk as working families find themselves priced out of the housing market. Three decades of economic policy failures and the mismanagement of the housing sector have resulted in a looming housing crisis that continues to increase as developed countries face runaway home prices. Policymakers throughout developed countries eagerly accepted the media-driven misinformation of a real estate bubble without any evidence presented supporting the narrative. The failure of policymakers to gain an understanding of factors that have been driving the rapid increase in home prices which began three decades ago, resulted in the real estate crash, Global Financial Crisis, and Great Recession. Much of the economic hardship and the looming housing crisis facing working families today could have been avoided. For many working American families, the prospect of home ownership no longer exists due to skyrocketing home prices. The looming homeless crisis facing the developed world today is the direct result of economic policy failures that have ignored the structural changes in the housing market for three decades. The move from print media real estate listings to online real estate listings and the adaptation of online mortgage loan applications along with automated mortgage underwriting between 1995 and 1999, exponentially increased the quantity of inventory needed in the housing market of developed countries. The shift in the demand curve for housing structurally changed the housing market in developed countries resulting in the complete transformation that saw the demand for housing skyrocket by 2000. New homebuyers who previously only had access to local housing markets before the transformation of the housing market began in 1995, had full access to homes listed anywhere online in other real estate markets by the end of 1999. The increased demand caused the rapid growth in home prices. Failure to implement policies to drastically increase home inventory in developed countries to address the structural transformation of the housing market which drastically increased the demand for homes was a significant economic policy failure. Instead of implementing policies to significantly increase home inventory, new construction was idle for over a decade as policymakers adopted the media-driven misinformation of a real estate bubble and supported policies to address the nonexistent real estate bubble.

The Potential of Tube Industry Development in Conditions of Instability

The research deals with estimating the potential of Russian enterprises of tube industry and possibilities of their efficient adaptation to fast changes. Academic results of the research include systematization, summarizing and author’s appraisal of processes taking place in Russian tube industry, as well as proposals aimed at its development. According to the research, Russian tube industry rather quickly adapts to changes and is still stable in spite of difficult situation and high sectoral risks. Today the potential of the increase in home demand for tubes is not realized in full, especially for products with high added value. Tube industry is facing the problem of importsubstitution in equipment purchase and production modernization. To resolve it a set of measures is necessary, such as starting the mechanism of innovation development in machine-building manufacturing; working-out the program of developing home industry of electronics, software, systems of management and engineering; motivating the growth in production capacities of machine-building enterprises. It is necessary to raise investment from countries importing tube products in Asia, Africa and Middle East. These regions can become both the marketing targets and sources of investment. In conditions of instability tube industry is strategically important for the country and needs measures of state support.

Work from home effects on working mothers in a patriarchal society during pandemic times: A study from India

The study examines the effects of work-from-home (WFH) on working mothers in India, characterized by a patriarchal mindset, during the COVID-19 pandemic. A survey involving 560 mothers from various sectors, all utilizing WFH due to pandemic measures, was conducted. A moderated mediated model was analyzed in the quantitative study using structural equation modeling. The results showed the absence of domestic help and family work guilt affected the job satisfaction of working mothers. The results showed that the overall dual-stage moderated mediation index from home demands (HDs) to job satisfaction via family–work conflict was significant. In addition, the first stage (HDs × absence of domestic help family–work conflict) and second stage (family–work conflict × family–work guilt job satisfaction) moderations were significant. This article also outlines the limitations of the current work and presents future scope for research.

Playing in the “Third Place”: How Games and Play Are Transforming Public Libraries

Games and play are a growing presence in public libraries, part of a suite of new spaces and services that respond to digitization and new urban policy imperatives. Drawing on observation of library spaces and interviews with library staff in Australia, Finland, and Singapore ( n = 27), we examine the myriad ways games and play are transforming the library: from its architectural design and furnishings to its daily rhythms, atmosphere, and acoustics. Games and play, we argue, are more than adjuncts to traditional library services. Often spilling out of designated zones and beyond the library’s walls, they mirror the wider integration of libraries into urban policy agendas and the city’s economic and cultural life. This trend underscores the growing tensions libraries face in balancing their conscription into instrumental objectives with their traditional role as “third places” bounded by the utilitarian demands of work and home.

Back to the suburbs? Millennial residential locations from the Great Recession to the pandemic

In the past decade, there has been a great deal of attention paid to and speculation about the residential mobility and location decisions of millennials. Academics and practitioners alike have been trying to determine where millennials are moving and why, including whether they are leading a ‘back to the city’ movement or whether they are moving to the suburbs as previous generations did at their age. Using US Census data, this article examines the geographical population distribution of young adults in the USA in recent decades. Categorising neighbourhoods by their urban or suburban character and by their central or peripheral location, we find that millennials lived in urban areas on the heels of the Great Recession at higher rates than previous generations. However, over the decade, the millennial population gradually shifted towards suburban areas: central urban and peripheral urban neighbourhoods largely lost millennial residents from 2011 to 2021, while peripheral suburban neighbourhoods experienced substantial gains. When it comes to neighbourhood amenities (e.g. restaurants and parks), millennials largely left amenity-rich areas for neighbourhoods with fewer amenities, though these amenities grew faster in the neighbourhoods that gained millennials the most. Millennial suburbanisation seems to be associated with housing affordability and demand for larger homes, as the population shift was more pronounced in the metros that have lower housing affordability and a lower share of larger homes in their central urban neighbourhoods. The results indicate the importance of affordable and right-sized housing, complemented with neighbourhood amenities, in attracting and retaining this population group.

Impact of skilled labour migration on energy, environment and economic growth in home and host countries: A computable general equilibrium analysis

AbstractMigration of both skilled labour force can alter economic conditions and environmental sustainability of both host and home countries. Therefore, this study aims to explore the effect of skilled labour force migration on economic growth, energy demand and environmental sustainability of home and host countries. This objective is realised by constructing a multiregional computable general equilibrium model for developed and developing countries. Furthermore, developing countries are subcategorized into four groups such as high income, upper middle‐income, lower middle‐income and low‐income countries. The results of policy simulations indicate that skilled labour migration can reduce the gross domestic product, welfare, energy consumption and carbon emissions in home countries, and the reverse is true for the host countries. Whereas the inflow of remittances to home counties can enhance their economic growth, energy consumption, and CO2 emissions, while reverse trend of remittances outflow is observed in host countries. Similarly, reverse migration can increase economic increase in developing countries along with increasing energy demand and carbon emissions. The study urges for developed countries for utilise skilled immigrants in environment friendly manufacturing industries.

Extending the job demands-resources model to understand the effect of the interactions between home and work domains on work engagement.

Scholars have extensively used the job demands-resources model to explain the dynamics underlying work engagement and proposed several versions of the model. However, in theoretical terms, nonwork elements have not been incorporated into the model. This study investigated the roles of home demands and resources in the model by testing the boost/buffer hypotheses for work engagement from the perspective of the work-home interface. We demonstrated that (1) the demands of a domain boost the positive impact of resources drawn from another domain on work engagement, (2) the resources of a domain buffer the negative impact of demands derived from another domain on work engagement; and (3) the buffering and boosting effects of home demands and resources impact work engagement. We conducted a diary study on a group of coffee shop employees in Ireland. The results partially supported the proposed hypotheses but nevertheless indicated support for the cross-domain boost/buffer hypotheses with regard to work engagement. The proposed model may serve as a theoretical foundation for research on issues related to the impact of work and nonwork domains on work engagement.

Exploring the Potential of Floating Architecture & its Energy Challenges in the UAE

The rising issues of climate change & the increase in global population call for an intensive approach to an underutilized canvas for reimagining the way we live, work, and connect with nature. With three-quarters of the earth’s surface covered with water bodies, it becomes inevitable to expand livelihood into the water thus, Floating architecture is a more sustainable approach as opposed to the conventional methods of land reclamation with minimal environmental disruption. The UAE is a nation characterized by its rapidly growing population, rising sea levels, and initiatives in making use of its strategic location and resources to explore renewable energy sources like solar panels and wind turbines, while incorporating with blues and greens in architecture. This has led to a drastic impact on the demand for sustainable homes, communities, and cities leading to the necessity for innovative solutions in developing land around coastal or marine space because of pressing current issues. This research paper aims to delve into the potential of floating architecture and blue economy strategies as pioneered by UAE, in addressing energy challenges. Through the process of primary research, literature review, case studies, and analysis, the paper examines the functionality, construction and design of floating structures in UAE, assessing their potential to generate renewable energy & contribute to positive climate impact.