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Ever-growing energy demand since the Industrial Revolution is likely to continue over the upcoming decades, and making the transition to renewable energy sources takes longer than anticipated. Solar energy is one of the most important renewable energy sources, and the cost of installing photovoltaic solar systems has decreased significantly as the global photovoltaic solar system industry has grown since the beginning of this century. In the United States, the adoption of residential photovoltaic solar systems has the potential to add up to a significant change, considering the ubiquity of solar irradiation and the prevalence of low-density residential development. This study investigated the diffusion of photovoltaic solar systems in residential buildings to support sustainable development goals. I built a series of regression models to analyze the impact of socio-economic, geographical, and technical factors on the photovoltaic solar panel adoption rate in residential buildings. I aggregated more than 1 million photovoltaic solar panel installation records at the ZIP code level, which allowed me to calculate the adoption rate and control the abovementioned factors. Moreover, I conducted in-depth interviews with key actors from the solar industry in New Jersey to understand how the solar industry adapts to the changes in solar policies and attitudes of residential users. The results indicate that electricity prices and solar irradiation are the most significant factors for residential users to install photovoltaic solar systems. Moreover, renewable energy policies increase the relative advantage of these systems and directly impact the adoption rates. Investigating California and New Jersey examples revealed that financial programs such as tax credits and renewable energy certificate trading mechanisms create the highest incentive for homeowners. Besides, standardization of the application process, permit fees, and inspections help to reduce the soft costs associated with installations. The case study on New ...

Ever-growing energy demand since the Industrial Revolution is likely to continue over the upcoming decades, and making the transition to renewable energy sources takes longer than anticipated. Solar energy is one of the most important renewable energy sources, and the cost of installing photovoltaic solar systems has decreased significantly as the global photovoltaic solar system industry has grown since the beginning of this century. In the United States, the adoption of residential photovoltaic solar systems has the potential to add up to a significant change, considering the ubiquity of solar irradiation and the prevalence of low-density residential development. This study investigated the diffusion of photovoltaic solar systems in residential buildings to support sustainable development goals. I built a series of regression models to analyze the impact of socio-economic, geographical, and technical factors on the photovoltaic solar panel adoption rate in residential buildings. I aggregated more than 1 million photovoltaic solar panel installation records at the ZIP code level, which allowed me to calculate the adoption rate and control the abovementioned factors. Moreover, I conducted in-depth interviews with key actors from the solar industry in New Jersey to understand how the solar industry adapts to the changes in solar policies and attitudes of residential users. The results indicate that electricity prices and solar irradiation are the most significant factors for residential users to install photovoltaic solar systems. Moreover, renewable energy policies increase the relative advantage of these systems and directly impact the adoption rates. Investigating California and New Jersey examples revealed that financial programs such as tax credits and renewable energy certificate trading mechanisms create the highest incentive for homeowners. Besides, standardization of the application process, permit fees, and inspections help to reduce the soft costs associated with installations. The case study on New ...

This deliverable includes the methodology in EnergyPROSPECTS for an in-depth study of energy citizenship. It features the criteria used for selecting the cases for indepth study, the list of cases selected for in-depth study as well as key research foci and empirical research questions.

This deliverable includes the methodology in EnergyPROSPECTS for an in-depth study of energy citizenship. It features the criteria used for selecting the cases for indepth study, the list of cases selected for in-depth study as well as key research foci and empirical research questions.

The delivery of precipitation through large and small scale precipitation features plays a key role in the hydrological cycle. Therefore, it is important to understand how the organization of precipitation will change as the earth warms. The organization of precipitation can be characterized into either widespread, mesoscale precipitation features (MPF) or short-lived, isolated precipitation features (IPF). The Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model was used to simulate precipitation features at a 3 km resolution during the 17-22 June 2010 period in the Southeast US under present and future climate conditions. In this methodology, the model is first run in present climate mode and then rerun with an adjusted initial state that adds projected temperature anomalies for the 2090s based on Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) 4.5 and 8.5 from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) in the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report (AR5). In the future climate simulations, small changes in precipitation occurred under RCP4.5 warming, but many significant changes were noted under RCP8.5 warming. Domain-averaged precipitation increased in the future climate simulations, with the largest changes over the ocean relative to the continent. In the future climates, IPF grew larger in length and eventually coalesced into MPF, reducing the total number of IPF and increasing the number of MPF. IPF and MPF also extended deeper into the troposphere and produced more precipitation overall.

The delivery of precipitation through large and small scale precipitation features plays a key role in the hydrological cycle. Therefore, it is important to understand how the organization of precipitation will change as the earth warms. The organization of precipitation can be characterized into either widespread, mesoscale precipitation features (MPF) or short-lived, isolated precipitation features (IPF). The Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model was used to simulate precipitation features at a 3 km resolution during the 17-22 June 2010 period in the Southeast US under present and future climate conditions. In this methodology, the model is first run in present climate mode and then rerun with an adjusted initial state that adds projected temperature anomalies for the 2090s based on Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) 4.5 and 8.5 from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) in the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report (AR5). In the future climate simulations, small changes in precipitation occurred under RCP4.5 warming, but many significant changes were noted under RCP8.5 warming. Domain-averaged precipitation increased in the future climate simulations, with the largest changes over the ocean relative to the continent. In the future climates, IPF grew larger in length and eventually coalesced into MPF, reducing the total number of IPF and increasing the number of MPF. IPF and MPF also extended deeper into the troposphere and produced more precipitation overall.

We are currently amidst a 6th mass extinction event precipitated by anthropogenic alterations of the environment, specifically urbanization. There have been declines across all classes of vertebrates, however amphibians have suffered the greatest declines among vertebrates. Urbanization is among the most detrimental types of habitat modifications because as areas are converted and modified to meet human needs it increases susceptibility and exposure to disease and chemicals, increases the probability of encountering invasive species, alters climate and microclimates, and ultimately leads to decreased recruitment and population size in amphibian populations. This disrupts the moist, cool conditions many amphibians rely on for basic survival conditions, and if these conditions for reproduction and foraging are not met, alteration in behavior or physiological processes may be observed. In response to stressors, many amphibians release a stress hormone called corticosterone. Corticosterone helps amphibians respond to a stressor appropriately by suppressing acutely nonessential functions such as digestion, reproduction, and growth, thereby freeing energy for vital processes such as muscle metabolism. It has been shown that some species of salamanders respond physiologically to environmental changes, suggesting a link between habitat quality and physiological stress response that could be crucial for evaluating the effects of habitat alterations. This study looks at the physiological response of Eastern red-backed salamanders, Plethodon cinereus, living in urban and non-urban sites using a novel method of stress hormone collection. We found that salamanders living in urban sites had lower levels of dermal corticosterone than those living in non-urban areas. This finding could be explained by microclimate effects that differ at each site or by the effects chronic stress may be having on the salamanders in the urban sites. ; URAP - Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship Program ; No embargo ; Academic Major: ...

We are currently amidst a 6th mass extinction event precipitated by anthropogenic alterations of the environment, specifically urbanization. There have been declines across all classes of vertebrates, however amphibians have suffered the greatest declines among vertebrates. Urbanization is among the most detrimental types of habitat modifications because as areas are converted and modified to meet human needs it increases susceptibility and exposure to disease and chemicals, increases the probability of encountering invasive species, alters climate and microclimates, and ultimately leads to decreased recruitment and population size in amphibian populations. This disrupts the moist, cool conditions many amphibians rely on for basic survival conditions, and if these conditions for reproduction and foraging are not met, alteration in behavior or physiological processes may be observed. In response to stressors, many amphibians release a stress hormone called corticosterone. Corticosterone helps amphibians respond to a stressor appropriately by suppressing acutely nonessential functions such as digestion, reproduction, and growth, thereby freeing energy for vital processes such as muscle metabolism. It has been shown that some species of salamanders respond physiologically to environmental changes, suggesting a link between habitat quality and physiological stress response that could be crucial for evaluating the effects of habitat alterations. This study looks at the physiological response of Eastern red-backed salamanders, Plethodon cinereus, living in urban and non-urban sites using a novel method of stress hormone collection. We found that salamanders living in urban sites had lower levels of dermal corticosterone than those living in non-urban areas. This finding could be explained by microclimate effects that differ at each site or by the effects chronic stress may be having on the salamanders in the urban sites. ; URAP - Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship Program ; No embargo ; Academic Major: ...

To improve the overall quality of education within under-performing schools across the United States and, in particular, to improve outcomes for diverse learners, it is imperative to find ways to increase the adoption of evidence-based practices. This study aims to illuminate the barriers and facilitators that confront teachers in the sustained implementation of arts integration using a scientifically research-based Constructivist methodology. Arts Integration (AI) has been proven to increase students’ literacy, mathematics, and critical thinking skills. For decades, the U.S. Department of Education has funded research studies revealing the efficacy of arts integration. Data, however, indicate a lack of sustained implementation of arts integration, most notably in schools where interventions targeting student literacy development are sorely needed. As observed in many schools hosting government-funded arts integration programs, AI curricula and strategies are often not sustained beyond the exit of the teaching artists and the depletion of grant-based funding. This qualitative study utilizes an educational ecosystem as the theoretical framework. The levels of the ecosystem are the microsystem (the individual teacher), the mesosystem (school culture), the exosystem (accountability structures), and the macrosystem (American public schools). The study, designed as a narrative inquiry, draws narrative accounts from participating teachers and teaching artists through semi-structured interviews. Interview questions elicit data to address the five research questions.

To improve the overall quality of education within under-performing schools across the United States and, in particular, to improve outcomes for diverse learners, it is imperative to find ways to increase the adoption of evidence-based practices. This study aims to illuminate the barriers and facilitators that confront teachers in the sustained implementation of arts integration using a scientifically research-based Constructivist methodology. Arts Integration (AI) has been proven to increase students’ literacy, mathematics, and critical thinking skills. For decades, the U.S. Department of Education has funded research studies revealing the efficacy of arts integration. Data, however, indicate a lack of sustained implementation of arts integration, most notably in schools where interventions targeting student literacy development are sorely needed. As observed in many schools hosting government-funded arts integration programs, AI curricula and strategies are often not sustained beyond the exit of the teaching artists and the depletion of grant-based funding. This qualitative study utilizes an educational ecosystem as the theoretical framework. The levels of the ecosystem are the microsystem (the individual teacher), the mesosystem (school culture), the exosystem (accountability structures), and the macrosystem (American public schools). The study, designed as a narrative inquiry, draws narrative accounts from participating teachers and teaching artists through semi-structured interviews. Interview questions elicit data to address the five research questions.

Исследование ландшафтов всегда было традиционным научным направлением географии. В России подобная направленность исследований остаётся актуальной, несмотря на то, что термины «геоэкология» и «ландшафтная экология» сегодня более распространены в англоязычном научном сообществе. Наш краткий обзор показывает значительное ускорение антропогенных ландшафтных изменений в Европе, Центральной Азии и азиатской части России за последние пять десятилетий. Ландшафтные исследования в антропоцене должны быть направлены на достижение и сохранение устойчивости ландшафта при его высокой производительности, что включает в себя прекращение деградации ландшафтов, развитие культурных и сохранение природных ландшафтов. Чистая вода и чистый воздух, плодородные и здоровые почвы для производства продуктов питания и других экосистемных услуг, а также биологически разнообразная зеленая среда являются атрибутами ландшафтов, обеспечивающих выживание и благополучие населения. Дисциплинарные и междисциплинарные исследования должны генерировать знания, инновации и правила принятия действенных решений. Генерация знаний в глобализованном мире основана на сборе больших массивов данных и моделировании сценариев. Международные длительные полевые опыты и системы агроэкологического мониторинга будут предоставлять данные для экосистемных моделей и систем поддержки принимаемых решений. Landscape research has been a traditional scientific discipline of geography. This is still the case in Russia, whilst the terms geo-ecology and landscape ecology have become established in the English speaking scientific community. Our short review reveals huge and accelerating anthropogenic landscape transformations in Europe, Central Asia and Asian Russia since the end the 1960s. Landscape research in the Anthropocene has to focus on achieving landscape sustainability at high productivity. This includes halting landscape degradation, developing cultural landscapes, and maintaining semi-natural landscapes. Clean water and air, fertile and healthy soils for food and other ecosystem services and a green and bio-diverse environment are attributes of landscapes for the survival and well-being of humans. Research has to generate knowledge, innovations and decision rules by disciplinary, interdisciplinary and trans-disciplinary work. Knowledge generation in a globalized world is based on big data gathering and scenario modelling. International long-term experiments and agri-environmental monitoring systems will deliver data for ecosystem models and decision support systems.