Promoting behavioral change towards lower energy consumption in the building sector

Climate change and environmental issues have been increasingly in the forefront of the media and government agendas. However, despite much discussion and fanfare, little has been done in the way of serious commitment and clear course of actions since the adoption of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in 1992 to bring carbon emissions to sustainable levels. To tackle the immensity of the climate change challenge, a paradigm shift in understanding is necessary to balance the course of global human development with energy demand and consumption patterns. Accounting for over 40% of global energy demand and more than 30% of greenhouse gas emissions, the building sector offers the greatest mitigation potential for reducing carbon emissions in both the short and long term, with positive implications for a range of associated sectors and industries. Promoting behavioral change among end-users for reduced energy consumption as well as encouraging the building industry to embrace sustainable design, low-carbon construction practices and materials, and renewable technologies, is fundamental to mitigating the impact of the built environment on planetary biospheres and preserving quality of life for generations to come. This paper starts by drawing attention to the building sector and related EU policy, outlining the challenges and opportunities for reducing energy consumption and carbon emission levels. Such policy provides the essential framework to engage stakeholders and allow supporting factors to foster progress in the sector. The paper contends that information on climate change has not led to significant improvements in meeting global targets and that what is needed is behavioral change among individuals and society as a whole. On the basis of research project experiences and literature review, it puts forth and explores five key elements contributing to behavioral change for reduced energy consumption and lower carbon emissions in the building sector, focused on: information and education; financial incentives and energy services; modern technologies and sustainable design; social and community norms; and biophilia (contact with the natural environment). The paper suggests opportunities for further research and concludes with recommendations for policy-makers and related stakeholders.     

经济法起源与发展新探

学界一般认为经济法源于垄断资本主义条件下国家对经济运行的调节或干预.这一认识值得商榷.通过对西方有关国家经济发展史的考察,可以发现事实上各主要资本主义国家在其经济发展过程中均采用了各种积极的产业政策和贸易政策.由此可以认为经济法源于自由资本主义阶段,国家干预经济构成了经济法的一大源头.而在20世纪晚期第三部门兴起、"第三之手"作用于经济领域的过程中又产生了经济法的另一源头.二者均反映了法的社会化趋势.本文亦对我国经济法发展、特别是其中的第三部门问题做了简要探讨.     

Participation satisfaction and organizational commitment: moderating role of employee's cultural values

This paper explores the moderating role of cultural values on relationships between participation satisfaction (PS) and employees’ organizational commitment (OC). A survey of 1390 employees of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, a Government of India Public Sector Undertaking providing telecommunication services across India, shows that PS is directly related to OC, and is moderated by employees’ cultural values at individual level. The form of moderation reveals: positive and insignificant relationship between PS and affective commitment for employees high in uncertainty avoidance; positive and significant relationship between PS and normative commitment for employees high in individualism/collectivism, low in masculinity/femininity, and low in power distance. No moderation has been found in the relationship between PS and continuance commitment.     

英汉第三人称指示语的语用意义及对比

关于人称指示语,近年来国内外已有不少学者对第一和第二人称指示语的语用意义进行了研究,而对第三人称指示语的语用意义的研究则有很大的发展空间。文章试图对表示指示意义的第三人称指示语的语用意义进行浅析,挖,掘英汉第三人称指示语在言外行为和文化属性方面的语用意义。     

21世纪初中美制造能力差距缩小的证据及战略含义

本文对1998-2005年中美两国制造业内部结构进行了深入的比较,有三个重要的发现:一是中美制造能力差距在这七年间缩小的幅度是惊人的,即中国制造业增加值从为美国的13%提高到52%,到2007年则进一步上升到76%.二是中国制造业劳动力数增加了50%,其中资本和技术密集型制造业的劳动力增加数超过了劳动密集型制造业;而美国制造业则经历了劳动力数的减少.三是中国制造业劳动生产率提高了2.78倍,远高于美国49.5%.显然,中国制造能力迅速缩小与美国的差距意味着工业发展水平的提高,并使世界工业实力重排座次.     

发现“第三者”:中国现代文学婚恋叙事片论

中国现代文学婚恋叙事中的"第三者"乃是一个现代认识装置,它是现代婚恋观念的普及及其制度化所导致的一个必然结果.现代文学场域中的"第三者"可以归结为两股叙事潮流:一是以五四运动中的重要作家为代表的启蒙文学潮流;一是以蛰居上海的现代主义作家叶灵凤、穆时英为代表的先锋文学潮流.二者之间偶有重合之处,它们所蕴含的价值、道德、伦理判断依然泾渭分明,风格迥异.     

索绪尔语言哲学思想中几个核心概念的比较与诠释——读索绪尔《普通语言学读本》

索绪尔的<普通语言学教程>、<第三次普通语言学教程>和<普通语言学读本>是当今语言学界探讨他的语言哲学思想的主要依据.与前部教程相比,<普通语言学读本>强调,语言是纯粹差别的,它的形式和意义不可分,而且也不能脱离社会.这部著作更易于准确把握索绪尔的语言哲学观.     

仲裁第三人制度批判性反思

本文通过对理论界所提出的关于构建仲裁第三人制度意见的剖析,批判性地吸收其合理成分,摒弃其谬误,提出应坚持意思自治原则并主张以有独立请求权第三人为构建该制度的原则和主体。     

三重螺旋：创新型国家建设的一种战略选择

“三重螺旋”是当代产业、大学、政府关系的一种创新模式。然而在国内,对此相关问题却很少有系统地研究。虽有人曾有所涉及,但研究均未涉及中国大学产业与政府关系的基本问题及其症结,从而也就无法适应或能动于创新型国家建设的基本诉求,在理论深度或现实关注层面上存在明显的落差。因此,剖析我国“产学研”的理论疏漏和实践缺陷,并在建设创新型国家的愿景中,给出一个在一定程度上堪与之相对适应或更加匹配的“产学官”的使命与应对,建立一个能够充分发挥高校主导作用、迎合创业型大学兴隆的中国产学官三重螺旋创新模式,不仅是需要的,而且是必须的。     

三阶线性齐次微分方程解的Sturm比较定理

研究了一类三阶线性齐次微分方程解的Sturm比较定理的理论,在三阶线性齐次微分方程的Sturm基本定理的基础上得出了Sturm比较定理,所得结论推广了现有文献的相应结果。