Solar photovoltaic technology (PV) is a promising clean energy source that assists in climate change mitigation. This is due to solar PV having minimal greenhouse gas emissions when operating compared to burning fossil fuel. Solar PV is also a versatile technology owing to its multiple applications within the built environment. Buildings are responsible for nearly half of the world’s energy consumption; thus, reducing buildings’ energy usage through environmentally-responsive design techniques, in addition to the application of PV products, can not only assist in reducing the energy consumed by buildings, but also contributes to mitigating the adverse effects of climate change. Architects, in particular, play a substantial role in achieving sustainable/environmentally responsive designs; hence, their collaboration is essential. This study investigated American and Canadian architects’ level of awareness and interest in Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) and Building Applied Photovoltaic (BAPV) products. It also aimed to shed light on the barriers that are responsible for slowing down the adoption process. This study was conducted in two phases: a) a web-based survey questionnaire administered to architects who have an active membership in the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC), and the American Institute of Architects (AIA); b) in-depth interviews with architects and key informants in the solar industry. The results indicated that architects are aware of PV benefits and the products available for buildings’ application; however, they lack essential practical knowledge. Furthermore, the results indicated that PV systems’ capital cost is the major perceived barrier to PV adoption in the building industry. Other reported barriers are: the lack of government financial incentives in some jurisdictions, the problematic grid connection process and the lengthy application lead times. Recommendations based on this study’s results include, but are not limited to, providing financial support mechanisms, simplifying the administrative procedures of financial support mechanisms and grid access permits, and offering education and training to architects through architectural associations and academic institutions.

The analysis of big data points and the use of data analytics have proven successful in improving corporate business efficiencies, growing profits, and increasing competitive advantages. The theory of academic capitalism, which holds that institutions of higher education are becoming more like corporations due to declining operating funds and the need to become more efficient, transparent, and competitive, guided this study. Despite the positive outcomes that analytic tools may produce in advanced efficiencies and competitive growth, college academic administrators have not yet adopted these tools, due in part to barriers facing the administrators. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the nature of those barriers in a community college. Ten academic managers in 6 community college divisions who reported accountability for criterion-based key performance indicators were interviewed on their perceived use of academic analytic tools and barriers in adopting these tools. The interviews were collected and analyzed through preliminary grouping, reducing and eliminating outliers, clustering descriptions into categories, and constructing themes. The managers' narratives suggested that there were 4 perceived barriers that prevented the adoption of tools such as organizational bureaucracy (climate), restricted organizational data (policy), training, and infrastructure. An important area for further research involves identifying the strategies managers could use to overcome these barriers. The findings of this study will assist college administrators in implementing analytic tools. Such tools will improve key performance indicators, resulting in a more cohesive and cost-effective academic experience for students, faculty, administrators, and the community.

The role of shelterbelts within prairie agriculture is changing. In the past, shelterbelts have been promoted and adopted for soil stabilization and their ability to protect farmsteads and livestock from harsh prairie climates. In today’s agricultural landscape advances in production technology, an increase in farm size, and changes to policy have changed the circumstances in which decisions related to shelterbelts are made. The objective of this research is to identify the costs, benefits and the barriers to adoption and retention of shelterbelts that influence agricultural producers and landowners’ management decisions related to shelterbelts in the Canadian Prairies. In the summer of 2013, surveys of producers and landowners from throughout the province of Saskatchewan (and several from Alberta) were conducted. Using the information collected in the surveys, the costs and benefits (both economic and non-economic), and potential barriers to adoption and retention of shelterbelts that influence producer’s management decisions were identified and analyzed. This research identified that overall shelterbelts removal is increasing and that there are many barriers to adoption and retention for agricultural producers related to the economic costs. In addition, it was found that many of the benefits of shelterbelts are non-economic and more difficult for producers and landowners to recognize within their operations. Going forward, shelterbelts have the potential to play a major role in climate change mitigation by sequestering significant amounts of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) into the soil and as biomass carbon in aboveground and belowground parts of planted shelterbelt trees or shrubs within the agricultural landscape. In addition, shelterbelts provide many ecological goods and services to landowners and society. In conclusion, understanding the context in which producers are making decisions related to shelterbelts within their operations is important from an agricultural production, climate change, and policy perspective.

The purpose of this descriptive-correlation study was to examine the variables associated with Northern Utah farmers’ adoption of auto-guidance technologies in alfalfa and corn silage production and determine training preferences. Participants in this study engaged in an experiential training session utilizing an auto-guidance system comparable to those available for use on their own farm. A survey was administered to identify autoguidance technology adoption and farmers’ preferences for related training. The majority of participants reported being male (f = 56, 98.2%). Half of the participants in this study (50.8%) indicated using auto-guidance technology in some form in their farming practices. Most attendees used auto-guidance technology with tractors (36.1%) and self-propelled windrowers (32.8%). Agricultural equipment businesses and Extension agents should help non-users to embrace new technology by using implementation statistics that include peer usage and management benefits.