Design for sustainability: case of designing an urban household organic waste management system

Beyond product design, if the notion of product `lifecycle design' enforces the consideration of requirements from all the lifecycle phases of products, design for sustainability enforces the consideration of lifecycle design in the context of the lifecycles of other products, processes, institutions and their design. Consequently, sustainability requirements that need to be met by design are very diverse. In this article, we portray the nature of design process to address sustainability requirements. This is done taking an example of designing a urban household organic waste management system that requires less water and reclaims the nutrients.

A systems approach to characterise the dissemination process of household water treatment systems in developing countries

Abstract: Starting in the 1980s, household-level water treatment and safe storage systems (HWTS) have been developed as simple, local, user-friendly, and low cost options to improve drinking water quality at the point of use. However, despite conclusive evidence of the health and economic benefits of HWTS, and promotion efforts in over 50 countries in the past 20 years, implementation outcomes have been slow, reaching only 5-10 million regular users. This study attempts to understand the barriers and drivers affecting HWTS implementation. Although existing literature related to HWTS and innovation diffusion theories proposed ample critical factors and recommendations, there is a lack of holistic and systemic approach to integrate these findings. It is proposed that system dynamics modelling can be a promising tool to map the inter-relationships of different critical factors and to understand the structure of HWTS dissemination process, which may lead to identifying high impact, leveraged mitigation strategies to scale-up HWTS adoption and sustained use.

Evaluating the role of energy efficiency labels in the prices of household appliances: the case of refrigerators

4 p.

The use of “Bonus-Malus” schemes for promoting energy-efficient household appliances: a case study for Spain

32 p.

Design and implementation of fishery modules in integrated household surveys in developing countries

Fish and other aquatic animals contribute to the food security of citizens of developing countries, both as a source of income and as a component of healthy diets, yet fishing is not currently captured in most integrated household surveys. This sourcebook provides essential technical guidance on the design of statistical modules and questionnaires aimed at collecting fishery data at the household level. Background on the main policies important to the fishery sector, information on the data needed to analyze issues of policy relevance, and methodology on the construction of survey questions to collect necessary data are also provided. The document is organized to provide essential technical guidance on how to design statistical modules and questionnaires aimed at collecting fishery data at the household level. It includes an overview of the main technical and statistical challenges related to sampling fishery-dependent households. The document starts with an introductory section identifying the potential reasons why fisheries and in particular small-scale fisheries have not been adequately included in national statistical systems in a large number of countries. The report then proposes a succinct review of what is known (and what remains unknown) about small-scale fisheries and their contribution to the livelihoods of households in sub-Saharan Africa. It also provides readers with background on the main policies that are important to the fishery sector, information on the data needed to analyze issues of policy relevance, and methodology on the construction of survey questions to collect necessary data.

The effects of aquaculture on farm household economy: a case study in Omon District, Cantho Province, Vietnam

A study of the farming systems in the Mekong River Delta (Vietnam) indicate that fish culture brings to the household a higher level of net farm income and family labor use. In general, adoption of fish culture is strongly affected by: (1) decline of wildfish; (2) location of the farm; (3) farm size per person and available water bodies within the farm; (4) income of farm, excluding income from fish; (5) guidance from agricultural extension workers; (6) policies of local government on the development of agriculture including aquaculture.

Socioeconomic factors that influence the adoption of small-scale rural fish farming at household level in Zimbabwe

The study compares the socioeconomic profile of fish and nonfish farming households in three different agroecological regions in Zimbabwe. Some of the direct socioeconomic factors that influence the adoption of small-scale fish farming in the areas are also identified.

Household consumption pattern and buying behavior for fish in an area Mymensingh, Bangladesh

The study was conducted on 238 households in Bangladesh Agricultural University campus and its adjoining areas in Mymensingh. The household were divided into four groups based on their per capita income. Monthly expenditure on fish, income elasticity of demand and marginal propensity to consume were calculated. 'Weighted average' method was used to study the level of preference for fish by sex and age groups and frequency of its purchase. The per capita monthly expenditure on fish of overall households was found to be Tk. 178.83. The consumption increased considerably between and among the income groups rising from Tk. 63.95 in the lowest income group to Tk. 249.11 in the highest income group. Based on income elasticity the proportion of income spent on fish was found to be greater than the proportion of increase in income for lower middle and upper middle income groups. However, percent expenditure decreased from 8.15 in lowest to 5.49 in the highest income group. Female members between 20 and 40yrs had the highest preference for fish in general followed by male members of above 40 yrs. Children (0 to 8 yrs), on the other band, had the least preference for fish, Sing and Magur (Catfishes) were the most preferred fish species for each age and sex group. Rui, a carp, was the single most purchased fish while the introduced exotic fishes were the least bought. Freshness was found to be the most important factor followed by the appearance and taste perception that positively affected the fish purchase.