No description available.

No description available.

The Passive House as a type of energy-efficient and cost-efficiency housing, has been implemented widely around the world, and made great contribution to energy saving and environment protection. Although the Passive House requires higher investment in early stage compared to conventional houses, it has many benefits including improving indoor climate and saving energy consumption. However, the development of Passive House in China has been slow due to the lack of information regarding the extra investment and benefits. To provide a clear insight on how the extra investment and benefits of the Passive House balance each other, this study establishes an evaluation model to identify and calculate the additional costs through the life cycle of the Passive House. With the cost and benefit calculated, we can also analysis the payback period to see how many years it takes to recover the extra investment. After the model is established, we evaluated a representative Passive House in Hebei, China. The result showed that the benefits of the extra investment outweigh the additional costs, and the payback period is approximately 12 years, which is acceptable for housing projects. The evaluation model not only provides the developers and consumers a tool to understand the costs and benefits, but also illustrate the economic feasibility of Passive House in China. / Passivhuset som en typ av energieffektiva och kostnadseffektiva bostäder har implementerats i hela världen och har bidragit stort till energibesparing och miljöskydd. Även om Passive House kräver högre investeringar i ett tidigt skede jämfört med konventionella hus, har det många fördelar inklusive att förbättra inomhusklimatet och spara energiförbrukning. Utvecklingen av Passive House i Kina har dock varit långsam på grund av bristen på information om extra investeringar och fördelar. För att ge en tydlig insikt om hur de extra investeringarna och fördelarna med Passive House balanserar varandra skapar denna studie en utvärderingsmodell för att identifiera och beräkna extrakostnaderna genom passivhusets livscykel. Med beräknad kostnad och nytta kan vi också analysera återbetalningsperioden för att se hur många år det tar att återfå den extra investeringen. Efter att modellen har upprättats utvärderade vi ett representativt passivhus i Hebei, Kina. Resultatet visade att fördelarna med extrainvesteringar uppväger extrakostnaderna och återbetalningsperioden är cirka 12 år, vilket är acceptabelt för bostadsprojekt. Utvärderingsmodellen ger inte bara utvecklarna och konsumenterna ett verktyg för att förstå kostnaderna och fördelarna utan illustrerar också den ekonomiska genomförbarheten hos Passive House i Kina.

Since bio-gasification is a potentially more efficient way to utilize bio-energy, the economic feasibility becomes one of the greatest issues when we apply this new technology. Evaluation of economic feasibility of a bio-gasification facility needs understanding of its production unit cost under different capacities and different working shift modes. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the unit cost of bio-syngas and biouel products at different capacities by using economic modeling method. Result showed that economic feasibility of a power facility was significantly affected by its production capacity and operating mode (one shift, two shifts, or three shifts mode). Economic feasibility could be improved by increasing production capacity or by changing operating mode to two or three shifts from one shift. The economic evaluation model and cost analysis software developed in this study could be a good tool for economic analysis of bio-syngasand biouel products from biomass gasification.

No description available.

No description available.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of a prenatal and postnatal nutrition and lactation consulting facility in either of two locations in the Tidewater region of Virginia, Virginia Beach or Williamsburg. Experts in nutrition and lactation, a registered dietitian and licensed lactation consultant, would be the ideal means of providing adequate nutritional and lactation advice for the mother and infant to foster healthy, optimal pregnancy outcomes and lactation success. A web-based search for adequate data on the demographic sketches of the two cities was done to develop an understanding of meeting the needs of the target population for this type of facility. Women of higher socioeconomic status, higher education level, and with emotional support from spouse/family were targeted. This study will act as the initial step in conducting further research in development of a business plan for a potential facility.

Numerous studies in the hospitality field have focused on the importance of the convention industry to the economic well being of the local tourism industry. Because of intense competition between convention centers, destinations are practicing strategies of expanding their convention facilities and related infrastructure. Unfortunately, many of these expansions appear to have been based on feasibility studies that failed to present rigorous reviews and examinations regarding alleged claims of positive impacts and over-optimistic operational pro-forma statements. The main objective of this study is to propose an alternative framework for feasibility studies, which consists of an updated, rigorous methodology to calculate a more comprehensive picture, on what convention centers can deliver on public and private investment. Data from the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) in Orlando, Florida were used for assessing this proposed framework.

INTRODUCTION: Device discontinuance is a widespread problem with assistive technology (AT) and durable medical equipment (DME), affecting approximately one third of people with disabilities who successfully acquire equipment. Consumers’ dissatisfaction with service and device-related factors can directly lead to AT device non-use. Roger’s Diffusion of Innovation Theory provides a foundation for understanding how to address device discontinuance, potentially through follow-up services. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this doctoral capstone is to discuss the piloting and feasibility of using follow-up outcome measures in an outpatient occupational therapy rehabilitation setting in order to identify and address challenges with equipment discontinuance. METHODS: A sample of 69 clients receiving equipment recommendations from a specialty AT clinic were contacted. The COPM, ATUFS, and QUEST 2.0 were piloted to measure device use and satisfaction. The feasibility of using these measures within a follow-up protocol for this outpatient practice was then evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 63% of the sample (N=69) was successfully contacted. The site-specific protocol successfully determined whether these clients had acquired and used their devices, subsequently allowing AT practitioners to provide additional supports for clients who had experienced discontinuance or non-acquisition. CONCLUSION: Using standardized outcome measures to follow-up with clients in this setting was deemed not feasible secondary to time constraints and difficulty contacting clients. Recommendations for improving follow-up with and without use of standardized measures is discussed. Follow-up encouraged clients to schedule additional appointments, utilize recommended funding resources, or seek out referrals.

The conversion of red oak small diameter timber (SDT) into solid wood products was investigated. The objectives of this research were to 1) determine the yield of lumber, pallet and container parts, and residues from SDT and the market potential for these products; 2) determine the economic feasibility of a SDT sawmill and pallet part mill located in Southwest Virginia; 3) develop a business plan for a SDT sawmill and pallet part mill located in Southwest Virginia. The methods for this research consisted of resource, yield and economic analyses, and the development of a business model. The resource analysis indicated an ample supply of red oak SDT available in Southwest Virginia. The yield analysis used red oak SDT logs, which were manufactured into lumber, container parts and wood residues. The yield of 3" wide container parts from cants varied from 63% to 66%. The 1" nominal lumber produced was mainly 2A and 3A, 74%, and 24% was 1 common. The economic analysis utilized break even, net present value and internal rate of return analyses to determine the economic feasibility of utilizing red oak SDT. The results of the study indicated that the sawmill-only processing level scenario is not economically feasible given the specified conditions and assumptions. However, the results showed that the sawmill and pallet part mill, actual yield scenario at $35/ton delivered log cost is economically feasible. The hypothetical business model for Southwest Custom Hardwoods was economically feasible. The final net present value was calculated to be over $750,000 and the final internal rate of return was 11%. Future yield studies should weigh logs so that the yield of residues and solid wood products can be directly compared. Future research into the utilization of hardwood SDT should include yield studies of other species and other product mixes. / Master of Science