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Due to environmental degradation caused by humans, there is a need for a behavioural change towards more sustainable behaviours. Although many studies have been made investigating environmentally friendly behaviours’ dependence on different factors, the results are inconsistent which partly can be explained by methodological weaknesses. Rather than following the footpath of previous research and using a statistical method, qualitative interviews are used in this study. The aim is to answer what determines environmentally friendly behaviour, how it is affected by situational influences, and how these factors interact. Five behaviours were investigated, and they are food consumption, energy consumption, everyday travel, long distance travel, and recycling. In the analysis, the four determinants health, comfort, economy, and environmental were identified. The behaviours are further affected by situational influences, such as distances and costs, that create barriers for environmentally friendly behaviours. In this study it was found that no factor is the only influence of a behaviour, but there is always an interaction. Either the factors work together and encourage an environmentally friendly behaviour, or they work against each other and discourage an environmentally friendly behaviour.

Master of Science / Department of Civil Engineering / Robert J. Peterman / Concrete box culvert floor slabs are known to have detrimental effects on river and stream hydraulics. Consequences include an aquatic environment less friendly to the passage of fish and other organisms. This has prompted environmental regulations restricting construction of traditional, four-sided box culvert structures in rivers and streams populated by protected species. The box culvert standard currently used by the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) is likely to receive increased scrutiny from federal and state environmental regulators in the near future. Additionally, multiple-cell box culverts present a maintenance challenge, since passing driftwood and debris are frequently caught in the barrels and around cell walls. As more structures reach the end of their design lives, new solutions must be developed to facilitate a more suitable replacement. Since construction can cause significant delays to the traveling public, systems and techniques which accelerate the construction process should also be considered. This thesis documents development of a single-span replacement system for box culverts in the state of Kansas. Solutions were found using either a flab slab or the center span of the KDOT three-span, haunched-slab bridge standard. In both cases, the concrete superstructure is connected monolithically with a set of abutment walls, which sit on piling. The system provides an undisturbed, natural channel bottom, satisfying environmental regulations. Important structural, construction, maintenance, and economic criteria considered during the planning stages of bridge design are discussed. While both superstructural systems were found to perform acceptably, the haunched section was chosen for preliminary design. Rationale for selection of this system is explained. Structural modeling, analysis, and design data are presented to demonstrate viability of the system for spans ranging from 32 to 72 feet. The new system is expected to meet KDOT’s needs for structural, environmental, and hydraulic performance, as well as long-term durability. Another option involving accelerated bridge construction (ABC) practices is discussed.

M. Tech. (Electrical, Applied Electronics and Electronic Communication, Faculty of Engineering and Technology) Vaal University of Technology| / The demand for efficient and environmentally friendly power sources has become a major topic around the world. This research explores the capability of the zinc-air fuel cell to replace conventional power sources for various applications, more specifically telecommunication systems. The research consisted of a theoretical study of the zinc-air fuel cell and its components, as well as their performance characteristics. A zinc-air fuel ce.ll and test rig were built, and the system was tested under various conditions. It was found that the zinc-air fuel cell has an advantage over other fuel cells in that it does not require any expensive materials or noble metals, reducing the overall cost of such a system. The fuel cell showed the potential to power various applications, but problems persisted in the fueling process as well as constant leaking of the aqueous electrolyte.

A presente tese teve como objetivo identificar fatores que influenciam o comportamento de consumo ambientalmente mais favorável e, a partir desse processo, evidenciar subsídios às decisões de marketing social voltado para a adoção desse comportamento. Para atender a esse objetivo, buscou-se organizar o referencial teórico inicialmente com um entendimento sobre o relacionamento entre marketing societal e marketing social, passando pelas aplicações de marketing verde e de marketing de idéias. Na seqüência, esse referencial incorporou aspectos teóricos que envolvem o comportamento do consumidor, bem como estudos aplicados à verificação desse comportamento sob a ótica ambiental. A análise exploratória realizada a partir desse referencial teórico-empírico evidenciou a presença de distintas dimensões comportamentais dentro do construto do comportamento de consumo ambientalmente favorável, além das conclusões controversas envolvendo vários fatores de influência sobre essas dimensões comportamentais, o que deu encaminhamento para a realização de uma pesquisa de campo que contribuísse para a identificação dos fatores com influência comum nessas dimensões comportamentais. O modelo de pesquisa de campo foi de caráter descritivo, utilizando o método quantitativo por levantamento amostral junto a 509 consumidores responsáveis pelas compras do domicílio, com idade a partir de dezoito anos, residentes na Região do ABC Paulista. Os resultados gerados, a partir da utilização da técnica de análise multivariada denominada General Linear Models (GLM), mostraram três fatores de influência comum estatisticamente significante sobre as dimensões comportamentais ambientalmente mais favoráveis (interesse ambiental, inconveniência de ser ambientalmente amigável e grau de comprometimento ambiental), do conjunto de vinte e um fatores integrados ao modelo, além de outros seis descartados durante o processo de estruturação desse modelo. Esse resultado, acrescido de orientações provenientes da análise exploratória, sugeriu o desenho de um modelo de comportamento de consumo ambientalmente favorável, cuja aplicação poderá ser implementada em novos estudos, bem como um conjunto de subsídios às decisões do composto de marketing social voltado para a adoção do comportamento ambientalmente mais favorável. / This current work has the purpose of identifying factors that influence the most environmentally favorable consumer behavior and, from this process on, evidence support to social marketing decisions oriented to the adoption of such behavior. In order to understand such purpose, an organization of the theoretical references was sought, initially trying to understand the relationship between societal marketing and social marketing, moving on to green marketing applications and the marketing of ideas. After that, these references incorporated theoretical aspects that involve consumer behavior, as well as studies applied to the verification of such behavior under the environmental standpoint. The exploratory analysis carried out after this empirical theoretical set of references evidenced the presence of distinct behavioral dimensions inside the environmentally favorable consumer behavior. Besides that, the controversial conclusions involving several influence factors regarding these behavioral dimensions, led to the performance of a field research that contributed with the identification of factors that bear common influence in those behavioral dimensions. The adopted research model was the one of descriptive character, using the quantitative method by sampling 509 consumers responsible for their household purchases, aged over eighteen, resident in the São Paulo State ABC Region. The generated results, after the use of the multivaried analysis called General Linear Models (GLM), showed three factors of statistically significant common influence over the most environmentally favorable behavioral dimensions (environmental interest, inconvenience of being environmentally friendly and degree of environmental commitment), out of a set of twenty-one factors integrated to the model, besides six others turned down during this model structuring process. This result, added with orientations from the exploratory analysis suggested the drawing of a environmentally favorable consumer behavior model, whose application may be implemented in new studies, as well as a set of inputs to social marketing decisions made in order to adopt the environmentally favorable behavior.

In seeking to develop environmentally friendly lead-free non-toxic bullets, the research ballistically evaluated the performance of copper-jacketed handgun bullets containing a pure bismuth core. The lead was first removed from 140 grain HornadyTM XTP® bullets of 38 caliber (.357 diameter) by melting. The empty jackets were then refilled with pure bismuth, including the forming of a correctly sized hollow-point cavity. Due to the lower density of bismuth as compared to lead, the bismuth-cored bullets consistently weighed 125 gains. Conveniently this allowed direct comparison to commercially available 125 grain HornadyTM XTP® lead-cored bullets of 38 caliber. Both bismuth-cored and lead-cored versions of the 125 grain bullets had identical nose dimensions and jacket material, the only dimensional difference being the bullet length below the cannelure. Shooting took place at an outdoor range using a 357 Magnum RugerTM SP101® revolver with 3" barrel as the test weapon. FBI protocols were followed when firing through clothing, wallboard, plywood, steel plates and laminated glass. Wound paths and bullets were captured in ballistic gelatin, with data collected for velocity, penetration, expansion, and weight retention. Bismuth compared favorably with lead in all but the laminated glass test, where it under penetrated due to jacket separation.

This study adapted the theory of planned behavior to investigate the relationship between purchase intention and purchasing behavior toward environmentally-friendly grocery packaging. This quantitative study collected 487 useable responses on the Amazon Mturk platform targeting a population of US consumers over 18 years old who purchase groceries. Using the collected data, a correlation and regression analysis was conducted. The socio-demographic variables were used as moderators to investigate the relationship between purchasing intention and actual behavior. The study's results suggest that a consumer's subjective norms substantially stimulate environmentally friendly grocery packaging purchase intentions, which further has or leads to the most decisive influence on actual behavior. Second, we discovered that purchase intention and perceived behavioral control are likely working in conjunction to help bridge the intention-behavior gap in environmentally friendly consumption. Third, this study supplied a fresh perspective on socio-demographics' role in environmentally friendly consumption, confirming that predominantly younger, unmarried consumers are likelier to act upon their intentions by purchasing environmentally friendly grocery packaging. Furthermore, conclusions from this study uncover the primary influences of consumer purchase intention and behavior towards environmentally-friendly grocery packaging. Lastly, but not less important, this study identifies the barriers to environmentally friendly consumption's intention and behavior gap. Results can also give government agencies and brands a clearer perspective to make consumers more knowledgeable on environmentally friendly packaging consumption.

The focus of this dissertation is on existing housing areas: in industrialised western countries, in 2005, the number of existing buildings that are taken care of, maintained, repaired, renovated or restructured for other functions is higher than the number of buildings that are (new) built. This is a review dissertation, based on empirical material and further reflections from previous research projects dealing with Swedish housing renovation: private-owned old single-family housing areas and large housing areas from the 1950s, 60s and 70s, mainly owned by housing companies. The concepts of careful renovation, environmentally-friendly renovation and sustainable renovation are analysed as different approaches to housing renovation. The aim is to present an interpretation of sustainable renovation that includes the goals both of careful renovation and of environmentally-friendly renovation as necessary components of sustainable development. This dissertation identifies and analyses the main issues that may be faced during renovation and that have a relevant impact on the environment, the architecture or the inhabitants, and describes the renovation actions that have been used in the studied projects. It concludes with reflections about positive results, incongruities and challenges that may be found in projects of sustainable renovation. / QC 20100928

This report investigates the possibility to use non-petroleum based adhesive (biobitumen) in asphalt. The main reasons for replacing bitumen are the fact that oil prices are rising, the threat of peak oil and the fact that the asphalt industry is becoming more environmentally friendly. The main purpose of this report is to investigate whether there are any non-petroleum based adhesives on the market. If so, how can they be used? The questions covered are: • Are there any other alternative asphalt coatings available? • Can bio-oils be used in asphalt? • If the bio-oils can be used, what are the details their properties? • How does a cold climate affect the bio binders? • What is the Swedish asphalt industry’s opinion about bio asphalt? The project was concluded through literature studies, consultations with people in the asphalt industry and through several interviews. The conclusion of this report is that there are some existing non-petroleum based adhesives on the market. They are mainly used for bike paths, sidewalks and parkareas. The biggest problem for greater use is the fact that it is expensive and performance in cold climate is unknown. The study indicates that Sweden could have a new potential industry in the field of producing bio-adhesives from both wood and waste from paper industry

Det ”alternativa livet” kan ses som en motrörelse till urbanisering, ökad konsumtion och ett allt snabbare tempo i samhället. Detta är en kvalitativ studie med syftet att undersöka det alternativa livet. Sex informanter intervjuades om deras upplevelser och uppfattningar av det alternativa livet. Intervjuerna transkriberades och analyserades utifrån en induktiv tematisk metod. Gemensamt för alla informanter är att de vill leva enkelt utifrån grundläggande behov, leva nära naturen, reducera saker livet som de upplever mindre viktiga, anta utmaningar och få mer tid över för sådant de upplever meningsfullt. Genom reduktion upplever infomanterna en större livskvalité och närvaro i nuet. Kombinationen av individuella faktorer och en vilja att leva mer miljömässigt hållbart kan ses som de stora orsakerna till varför de intervjuade väljer att leva alternativt. Resultaten har tolkats utifrån behovsmässig teori, existentiell psykologi och Antonovskys Känsla av Sammanhang. / The “alternative life” can be described as a counter movement to the urban society, increased consummation and a stressful lifestyle. The aim of this qualitative study is to examine the alternative life on the countryside. Six informants were interviewed about their experiences and views about the alternative life. The data is transcribed and analyzed with an inductive, thematic approach. The informants want to live with more simplicity, intimate with their basic needs, live close to nature, reducing less important things in life, challenging themselves and having more time for things they find meaningful. The informants experience more quality in life and presence in the moment through reduction. The main reasons for the informants to live an “alternative life” are the combination of individual factors and a desire to live more environmentally friendly. The results have been analyzed from behavioral theory, existential psychology and Antovskys “Sense of Coherence”.