This thesis describes the development of a Reduced Data Dynamic Energy Model (RdDEM) for simulating the energy performance of UK houses. The vast quantity of Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) data stored at the national scale provides an unprecedented data source for energy modelling. The majority of domestic energy models developed for the UK houses in recent years, including the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) model used for generating EPCs, employ BREDEM (Building Research Establishment Domestic Energy Model) based steady state calculation engines. These models fail to represent the transient behaviours that occur between building envelope and systems with external weather conditions and occupants. Consequently, there is an ongoing debate over the suitability of such models for policy making decisions; which has raised the interest in dynamic energy models to overcome these shortcomings. The RdDEM eliminates the main drawback associated with dynamic energy modelling, namely the large amount of required input data compared to steady-state models, by enhancing a reduced set of data which was originally collected for EPCs. A number of new inferences and methodological enhancements were tested and implemented in the RdDEM using a sample of semi-detached houses. In this way, SAP equivalent input data could be converted automatically for use in dynamic energy modelling software, EnergyPlus. Simulations of indoor air temperatures and space heating energy demand from the RdDEM were compared to those from SAP for 83 semi-detached houses. The comparison was also carried out with more detailed models, on a sub-set of the modelled dwellings. Finally, the predicted energy savings that resulted from energy efficiency improvements of the dwellings were compared and estimated potential for saving energy from the RdDEM was quantified. ii The results show that it is technically feasible to develop dynamic energy models of these houses using equivalent inputs. In the majority of cases, the RdDEM predicted lower indoor air temperatures than SAP, and consequently the energy demands were lower. The RdDEM predicted annual space heating demand to be lower than SAP in 72% of the houses, however the difference was less than 10% in 94% of the houses. The RdDEM predicted slightly higher (< 2%) energy saving potentials compared to SAP when the same set of energy saving measures were implemented in both models. The development of these new methods for automatically creating SAP equivalent inputs from reduced data but for use in a dynamic energy model offers new opportunities for inter-model comparisons as well as a dynamic alternative to the SAP when variations in energy demand and indoor air temperatures are required.

M.Comm. / The study was concerned with the problem of the long-term survival and success of SMEs in the tourism industry in a turbulent global operating environment, as well as in hostile conditions, such as unexpected changes, or disaster in the operating environments of the small businesses. The study was prompted by the high failure rate of SMEs worldwide and in SA. The tourism industry has a predominance of small business and was identified by SA as the industry of choice to support for the achievement of macroeconomic goals that include economic stability, poverty alleviation and employment creation. The overall objective of the study was to explore and examine factors located within the three operating environments (macro, industry and micro), that contribute to the survival and long-term success of tourism SMEs (five guest houses on the Dolphin Coast), operating in a turbulent global environment and hostile conditions such as disaster and unexpected events. The study explored and explained factors from four interrelated perspectives, namely a macro, meso, micro and chrono contexts; to examine the way in which the guest houses engaged with their environments; to determine the role of networks and clusters in the process; and to determine the impact of industry-specific and sector-specific factors on success. The study used an embedded case study methodology to assess five tourism SMEs, guest houses, located on the east coast of SA in a region known as the Dolphin Coast. The area was studied over a three year period from 2005 to 2007, a period of favourable economic and industry conditions globally and nationally (SA). Slowing economic conditions, severe coastal storms, rates increases and changes in the external environment provided conditions of turbulence and hostility in which to assess the responses of the guest houses, compared to activity and perceptions in the prior stable conditions. Porter’s (1980; 1990; 1996; 2000) theoretical frameworks, including the Diamond Model, the Five Forces Model and augmentations to these models were used to guide the research and interpretation of results. The study concluded that various sets of interlinked factors located in the macro, industry and internal (micro) operating environment of the firm, contributed to the success and constraints experienced by the guest houses. The presence of elements in the environments does not facilitate or ensure success, but success is dependent on the actions and choices of leaders and managers. These actions and choices are, in turn, guided by the values and culture present in the environment and are affected by human agency and efficacy.

AFRIKAANS: Daar word vasgestel dat Eskom 'n probleem met die spitsverbruik van elektristeit deur die stedelike huishoudelike sektor ondervind en dat die bewoners nie binnenshuise termiese gemak in hul huise ervaar nie. Albei hierdie probleme kan moontlik verminder word deur gebruik te maak van passiewe sonenergieontwerpbeginsels by die ontwerp van huise. Suid-Afrika het 12 klimaatstreke, elk met 'n eie termiese gemaksone waarbinne die bewoners gerieflik kan wees. Die vraag ontstaan of die huise in hierdie streke ontwerp word sodat toestande binne die termiese gemaksone gehou word. Die ontwerpnorme wat deur argitekte in die verskillende klimaatstreke gebruik word, word met die toepaslike Iiteratuur vergelyk en daar word vasgestel dat argitekte nie klimaatstreke en seisoene in ag neem wanneer huise ontwerp word nie. Volgens die argitekte ervaar die bewoners wel binnenshuise termiese gemak. 'n Geografiese Inligtinstelsel word gebruik om die gewenste dT-waardes en maksimum toelaatbare amplitudeverhoudings vir elke klimaatstreek vir somer- en wintertoestande te bepaal. Die bogenoemde twee faktore kan nie onafhanklik van mekaar beskou word wanneer hulle gebruik word vir die aanbeveling van ontwerpnorme vir huise in die verskillende kJimaatstreke nie. ENGLISH: It has been identified that Eskom experiences a problem with urban households' peak hour electricity consumption and that residents do not experience indoor thermal comfort. Both problems could possibly be mitigated by the use of solar passive design principles for houses. South Africa has 12 climatic regions each with its own thermal comfort zone within which indoor thermal comfort can be experienced by residents. The question that is raised is, whether South African houses are designed in order to achieve thermal comfort. During the study the design standards used by architects are compared with those proposed in the relevant literature to obtain thermal comfort. It is determined that architects do not take climatic regions and seasons into consideration when designing houses but according to the architects residents do experience indoor thermal comfort. A Geographical Information System is used to determine the strictest dT values and amplitude ratios for every climatic region in summer and winter. The abovementioned factors can not be used independently when suggesting standards for the design of houses. / Dissertation (MSc (Applied Science))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Architecture / unrestricted

Kansas State University master's non-thesis project.

This thesis concerns home insurance, with the main goal of raising awareness of this topic among both the public and specialists in the field. In reaching this goal, a wide range of statistical methods is used. The text contains five chapters. The first theoretical chapter deals with basic terms and an overview of the Czech home insurance market while the remaining four chapters concern practical aspects. From the four practical chapters, each deals with the topic from a different point of view. The second chapter deals with polls, the third looks at comparing different home insurance products on the Czech market, the fourth describes trends and forecasts of premiums and claims using a time-series analysis, and the last uses regression and cluster analyses to further describe this market. The set aim was reached using appropriate statistical methods and procedures. The analysis of the data received from polls, the comparison of different products and the creation of forecasts for further periods represent the biggest contribution to this thesis.

M.Tech. (Biological and Health Technology) / The manner in which ritual slaughterings are executed in the R.S.A. is unknown to the majority of the population. The requirements with which religious slaughterings must comply as well as the facilities used for that purpose are even less familiar. The subject of the Jewish method of slaughter (Shechita) has especially elicited much discussion, due to the major divergence of opinion between the Jewish community and animal welfare organisations, as far as the slaughter technique and restraining facilities are concerned. This study was undertaken in an endeavour to find a solution to the problems in the form of restraining facilities acceptable to both groups. The first phase comprised a literature study of Shechita. The second phase consisted of a study tour to the United States of America and Israel, to become acquainted with the latest technology employed for Shechita. The last phase entailed the construction of a prototype restrainer facility at the Johannesburg Abattoir to facilitate experiments for the development of a head clamp. The function of the head clamp is to restrain the animal in such a manner that it can be slaughtered in the upright position but still in full compliance with the rules of Shechita. This study represents an endeavour to contribute meaningfully to and supplement existing knowledge and know-how applicable in South African circumstances.

Is it possible to create new architecture in an area with a strict architectural costume without making a pastiche or turning your back against the existing architecture? The village of Flängan in Bergslagen is quintessential Swedish countryside. When moving along the gravelled main road, one can not help but notice the homogenous architectural character of the village - two story wooden houses with gable roofs, red-painted facades and white corners.  The project aims to create new architecture in such an area without being bound by the traditional formal rules of the existing houses, which is often copied to create new “contextual architecture”. / Är det möjligt att skapa ny arkitektur i ett område med en strikt arkitektonisk kostym utan att göra en pastisch eller vända ryggen mot den befintliga arkitekturen ? Byn Flängan i Bergslagen är emblematisk svensk landsbygd . När man rör sig längs grusvägen genom byn, kan man inte undgå att märka av områdets arkitektoniskt homogena karaktär - två våningars trähus med sadeltak, rödmålade fasader och vita knutar. Projektet syftar till att skapa ny arkitektur i ett sådant område utan att vara bunden av de traditionella formella reglerna i befintliga hus, som ofta kopieras för att skapa nya " kontextuell arkitektur " .

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