The UK’s housing stock is among the oldest and least efficient in Europe. 85% of the UK’s existing homes will still be standing and in use in 2050. Improving the energy efficiency of UK housing stock is an essential requirement in order for the UK to meet its 2008 Climate Change Act obligations. Energy efficiency in buildings is the focus of European (EU) policies with the intention of creating a low-carbon economy by 2020. Reducing energy consumption in existing buildings is essential to achieving this. Government policies are the primary mechanism for lowering energy consumption through changing consumer behaviour, promoting low carbon technology and energy efficient renovations of old building stock.The objective of this thesis is to investigate the effectiveness of UK policies at addressing factors affecting consumer decisions to carry out energy efficient renovations. This is with the intention of determining if UK policies are effectively contributing to the government’s long term climate change commitments.Using a theory developed by Parker (2000) as a conceptual framing of policy compliance, this study conducts interviews with consumers in order to analyse their awareness, understanding and perception of UK energy efficiency policies. Therefore, it can be determined how effective policies are at affecting consumer decisions to carry out energy efficient renovations.The thesis informs that consumers are motivated and willing to comply with policies but there are several key barriers preventing them from complying with these policies and therefore adopting energy efficient renovations. Policies are deemed to be somewhat ineffective at affecting consumer decisions to carry out energy efficient renovations.

Engineering directly impacts current and future regulatory policy decisions. The foundation of air pollution control and air pollution dispersion modeling lies in the math, chemistry, and physics of the environment. Therefore, regulatory decision making must rely upon sound science and engineering as the core of appropriate policy making (objective analysis in lieu of subjective opinion). This research evaluated particulate matter and ammonia concentration data as well as two modeling methods, a backward Lagrangian stochastic model and a Gaussian plume dispersion model. This analysis assessed the uncertainty surrounding each sampling procedure in order to gain a better understanding of the uncertainty in the final emission rate calculation (a basis for federal regulation), and it assessed the differences between emission rates generated using two different dispersion models. First, this research evaluated the uncertainty encompassing the gravimetric sampling of particulate matter and the passive ammonia sampling technique at an animal feeding operation. Future research will be to further determine the wind velocity profile as well as determining the vertical temperature gradient during the modeling time period. This information will help quantify the uncertainty of the meteorological model inputs into the dispersion model, which will aid in understanding the propagated uncertainty in the dispersion modeling outputs. Next, an evaluation of the emission rates generated by both the Industrial Source Complex (Gaussian) model and the WindTrax (backward-Lagrangian stochastic) model revealed that the calculated emission concentrations from each model using the average emission rate generated by the model are extremely close in value. However, the average emission rates calculated by the models vary by a factor of 10. This is extremely troubling. In conclusion, current and future sources are regulated based on emission rate data from previous time periods. Emission factors are published for regulation of various sources, and these emission factors are derived based upon back-calculated model emission rates and site management practices. Thus, this factor of 10 ratio in the emission rates could prove troubling in terms of regulation if the model that the emission rate is back-calculated from is not used as the model to predict a future downwind pollutant concentration.

Engineering directly impacts current and future regulatory policy decisions. The foundation of air pollution control and air pollution dispersion modeling lies in the math, chemistry, and physics of the environment. Therefore, regulatory decision making must rely upon sound science and engineering as the core of appropriate policy making (objective analysis in lieu of subjective opinion). This research evaluated particulate matter and ammonia concentration data as well as two modeling methods, a backward Lagrangian stochastic model and a Gaussian plume dispersion model. This analysis assessed the uncertainty surrounding each sampling procedure in order to gain a better understanding of the uncertainty in the final emission rate calculation (a basis for federal regulation), and it assessed the differences between emission rates generated using two different dispersion models. First, this research evaluated the uncertainty encompassing the gravimetric sampling of particulate matter and the passive ammonia sampling technique at an animal feeding operation. Future research will be to further determine the wind velocity profile as well as determining the vertical temperature gradient during the modeling time period. This information will help quantify the uncertainty of the meteorological model inputs into the dispersion model, which will aid in understanding the propagated uncertainty in the dispersion modeling outputs. Next, an evaluation of the emission rates generated by both the Industrial Source Complex (Gaussian) model and the WindTrax (backward-Lagrangian stochastic) model revealed that the calculated emission concentrations from each model using the average emission rate generated by the model are extremely close in value. However, the average emission rates calculated by the models vary by a factor of 10. This is extremely troubling. In conclusion, current and future sources are regulated based on emission rate data from previous time periods. Emission factors are published for regulation of various sources, and these emission factors are derived based upon back-calculated model emission rates and site management practices. Thus, this factor of 10 ratio in the emission rates could prove troubling in terms of regulation if the model that the emission rate is back-calculated from is not used as the model to predict a future downwind pollutant concentration.

Der vorliegende Band beschäftigt sich mit dem Verhältnis von Ordnung und Wandel mit Blick auf verschiedene der vorgenannten Facetten. Es nimmt damit ein Thema auf, das für Gert-Joachim Glaeßners wissenschaftliches Wirken prägend ist. Glaeßner hat sich immer wieder aus unterschiedlicher Perspektive mit der Frage beschäftigt, wie politische Ordnungen mit gesellschaftlichem Wandel umgehen, ob politische Systeme zu Reformen fähig sind, diese vielleicht sogar anstoßen können, oder ob sie Veränderungen behindern.

This thesis examines the Swedish political response to the challenges posed by gene technology, seen through the prism of governmental commissions. It discerns and analyses continuities and changes in the Swedish political conception of gene technology, over the course of two decades, 1980–2000. This is done by thematically following ideas of “risks” and “ethics” as they are represented in the inner workings and reception of three governmental commissions. The Gene-Ethics Commission (1981–1984), the Gene Technology Commission (1990–1992) and the Biotechnology Commission (1997–2000) form the empirical focal points of this analysis. The first two provided preparatory policy proposals that preceded the implementation of the Swedish gene technology laws of 1991 and 1994. The last one aimed at presenting a comprehensive Swedish biotechnology policy for the new millennium. The study takes into account the role of governmental commissions as arenas where science and politics intersect in Swedish political life, and illuminates how this type of “boundary organisation”, placed on the border of science and politics, impinges on the understanding of the gene technology issue. The commissions have looked into the limits, dangers, possibilities and future applications of gene technology. They have been appointed to deal with the problematic task of distinguishing between what is routine and untested practices, realistic prediction and “science fiction”, what are unique problems and what are problems substantially similar to older ones, what constitutes a responsible approach as opposed to misconduct and what it means to let things “get out of hand” in contrast to being “in control”. Throughout a period of twenty years, media reports have continued to frame the challenges posed by gene technology as a task of balancing risks and benefits, walking the fine line between “frankenfoods” and “miracle drugs”. One salient problem for the commissions to solve was that science and industry seemed to promote a technology the public opposed and resisted, at least in parts. For both politics and science to gain, or regain, public trust it needed to demonstrate that risks – be it environmental, ethical or health related ones – were under control. Under the surface, it was much more complicated than “science helping politics” to make informed and rational decisions on how to formulate a regulatory policy. Could experts be trusted to participate in policy-making in a neutral way and was it not important, in accordance with democratic norms, to involve the public?

Cette thèse s’interroge sur le phénomène du jeune téléspectateur contemporain. Je questionne cette « réalité », qui fait l’objet de discours et de pratiques sociales au quotidien. L’idée de l’existence « objective » de l’enfant téléspectateur depuis l’avènement de la télévision est si fertile, qu’elle a même contribué au développement d’un sous-domaine de recherche en communication : la communication jeunesse. J’inclus également ce sous-domaine dans la problématique. Ce faisant, je tente d’esquisser une théorisation de l’enfant téléspectateur, en le comprenant comme une formation discursive et sociale. Suivant le point de vue de l’analyse de discours de Michel Foucault (1969), j’axe son étude en articulant deux éléments qui forment les objets sociaux : le régime de vérité et les formations discursives. Ainsi, je réfléchis au jeune téléspectateur comme objet de savoir et de vérité, et comme fruit d’un ensemble de formations discursives. J’ancre empiriquement le questionnement du jeune téléspectateur contemporain dans le Chili « post-1990 ». Je propose une approche méthodologique et analytique me permettant de rendre compte de l’articulation d’éléments hétérogènes qui participent au façonnement discursif et social de celui-ci. Cet outil exploratoire est « le rhizome », que j’emprunte à Gilles Deleuze et à Félix Guattari (1976). Le rhizome m’est utile pour rendre compte des multiples portes d’entrée dans la formation discursive de l’enfant téléspectateur, du déplacement comme chercheuse à l’intérieur de celle-ci, et des figures qui se forment par l’articulation du discours et des pratiques entreprises à son égard. Ce faisant, je propose une archive d’époque de l’enfant téléspectateur du Chili « post-1990 ». Dans celle-ci, je montre des modalités particulières de sa formation discursive et des figures hétéroclites de celui-ci qui ont émergé dans les analyses. Finalement, je présente un ensemble de pratiques discursives qui ont également fait surface dans les analyses. Ces pratiques emploient la figure de l’enfant téléspectateur pour instaurer discursivement d’autres « réalités », qui ne le concernent pas directement. M’appuyant sur Jean-Michel Berthelot (1992), notamment sur son concept d’« opérateur discursif », je qualifie ainsi ces pratiques observées. / This thesis examines the contemporary child television viewer phenomenon. I challenge this « reality » which is the subject of everyday life discourse and social practices. Since the advent of television, the notion of an « objective » existence of a child television viewer has been so fertile that it has even contributed to the development of a sub-domain in communication studies: Children, Youth and the Media. I examine this sub domain as well. The thesis attempts to outline a theoretical approach to the child television viewer, understood as a social and discursive formation. Following Michel Foucault’s (1969) analysis of discourse, the study articulates two of the elements that are involved in the social construction of objects: the regime of truth and the discursive formations. I consider the child television viewer as an object of knowledge and truth, and as the product of a set of discursive formations. I challenge on an empirical level this phenomenon in the « post-1990 » Chile, through a methodological and analytical approach that allows me to articulate the heterogeneous elements involved in the shaping of the child television viewer. This exploratory tool is the « rhizome », borrowed from Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari (1976). « Rhizome » allows me to enter through multiple gateways into discursive formations of the child television viewer. Once inside, as a researcher I move in multiple directions and see different modalities of the social construction happening therein. These modalities produce multiple figures of the child television viewer emerging from the articulation of the discourse and of the social practices. I suggest an Archive of the child television viewer in Chile « post-1990 », showing the specifics of the discursive formations and the assorted figures that have risen to surface throughout the rhizomatic process of research. Finally, I present a set of discursive practices that have also emerged from the analysis. These practices employ the figure of the child television viewer to discursively establish other « realities » that do not concern him/her directly. Borrowing from Jean-Michel Berthelot (1992), I name these practices « discursive operator ». / Esta tesis se interroga acerca del fenómeno del niño telespectador contemporáneo. Cuestiono esta « realidad », que a diario es objeto de discurso y de prácticas sociales. Desde el advenimiento de la televisión, la idea de la existencia « objetiva » del niño telespectador ha sido tan fértil, que contribuyó a desarrollar un sub-dominio particular de investigación en comunicaciones: niños, adolescentes y medios. Incluyo igualmente este subdominio en la problemática. El trabajo intenta esbozar una teorización sobre el niño telespectador, entendiéndolo como una formación discursiva y social. Siguiendo el punto de vista del análisis de discurso de Michel Foucault (1969), este estudio articula dos elementos que intervienen en la construcción social de los objetos: el régimen de verdad y las formaciones discursivas. Reflexiono sobre el niño telespectador como un objeto de saber y de verdad, fruto de un conjunto de formaciones discursivas. El análisis de la formación discursiva del niño telespectador se ancla empíricamente en el Chile « post-1990 ». Propongo un enfoque metodológico y analítico que permite mostrar la articulación de elementos heterogéneos que le dan forma discursiva y social. Este recurso de exploración es el « rizoma », inspirado de Gilles Deleuze y de Félix Guattari (1976). El rizoma permite dar cuenta de las múltiples puertas de entrada a la formación discursiva, del desplazamiento como investigadora en su interior y de las figuras de niño telespectador que se forman por la articulación del discurso con las prácticas desplegadas en su nombre. La tesis propone un Archivo de época del niño telespectador del Chile « post-1990 ». En este se muestran las modalidades particulares de su formación discursiva, así como las figuras heterogéneas de niño telespectador que emergieron de los análisis. Finalmente se presenta un conjunto de otras prácticas discursivas, igualmente observadas, que emplean al niño telespectador para instaurar discursivamente otras « realidades », que no lo conciernen directamente. Califico a estas prácticas a partir del concepto del « operador discursivo » de Jean-Michel Berthelot (1992).

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