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The article raises selected issues in the scope of renewable energy sources. The theoretical, technical and economic energy potential of waters in Poland and Lodz Voivodeship was presented. Estimated economic potential depends on the current energy policy and applied support mechanisms. Generally the utilization of accessible energy potential, both in Poland as well as in Lodz Voivodeship, is low. The article discusses the history, status quo and perspectives for the development of water power in Poland and Lodz Voivodeship. Selected natural, business and economic factors that influence energy production in water-power plants were discussed. The article presents external effects in water-power engineering.
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The paper provides a short overview of the current situation and directions of development of Polish energy sector. It also considers the chances and limitations that may come from different EU regulations and focuses mainly on the possibilities of developing the extensive geothermal potential in Poland using domestic and foreign examples and experiences. A brief characteristic of the life cycle of a geothermal resource is provided as a proof for its relevance to sustainable development. There is also some potential for developing hydro plants in Poland. This process should be connected with making elaborate plans for multi-purpose projects that would benefit the region in a number of ways, not just energy. Developing those relatively expensive to build but cheaper to maintain technologies can help Poland to be more secure and independent and provide an economic boost for local communities while encouraging them to cooperate on joint projects.
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From the time of transformation, Poland has overcame a long way and improved its energy efficiency. The further work should be planned in Polish energy sector because of guidelines and liabilities of the European Union. The main aim of this work is the approximation of changes which appeared in the area of improving the energy efficiency in Poland with the prediction of development for Polish energy sector. Individual parts of this work show the main aim of this article which includes the meaning of energy efficiency, current status of energy efficiency in Poland and predictions for the development of Polish energy sector. The work has theoretical-empirical character. Aggregate statistical studies, reports, state documents and literature have been used in this work.
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Together with the evolution of EU sustainable development strategy, the EU environmental policy and Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the solutions in order to reduce the impact of agriculture on climate change were increasingly implemented. As a result of activities aimed at greening of agriculture (agri-environmental programs, cross-compliance, organic farming support), GHG emissions were reduced in all groups of Member States (in years 1990−2010). It can be considered that applied instruments effectively contributed to the environmental pressure limitation. Moreover, it took place along with the growth of the value added in agriculture. In Poland the process was conducted in a similar way but the scope of protective action was smaller than in the EU-15. Consequently, it can be observed that the intensification and concentration of agricultural production (which took place after the accession to the EU) contributed to the severity of Polish agriculture impact on climate change. The trend of reduction of GHG emission has been reversed. The most important factor was the increase in the level of fertilization, which was the result of increased financial support from the direct payments.
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The article presents some results of the research conducted in 2012 among 50 sports halls of Lower Silesia. Studies include the analysis of energy audits and analyzes done to improve energy efficiency, prepared as part of doctoral dissertation. The purpose of this paper is to analyze and evaluate the management of energy in sports halls. The work focused on the possibilities of upgrading the existing facilities, but the proposed solutions and management policies can also be used in new projects in the field of sport and recreation.
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The “permanent renewal” scenario proposed in the “Europe 2020” strategy takes “endogenous technological change“ as its base, which is defined as intelligent and balanced development serving social inclusion. The case study proves that this change does not only include new industries but should include all branches of economy, also agriculture. Apart form new industrial policy, which promotes “instructions” supporting the economical use of resources, the external effects of the net generated by the European Digital Platform should be used while introducing this new strategy. The case study shows the directions of transformation of European model of agriculture and the role of the external effects of the net, provided that there should be a rule of strong balance in agriculture.
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The aim of the study was to analyze the management of the farm land having the status of agricultural production cooperative, which is located in a particularly favorable for agricultural production under natural conditions commune of Święta Katarzyna in Lower Silesia. Using the methods in terms of vertical comparative, descriptive and first-degree synthetic it was possible to present numerical material from the years 2008-2011. Against the background of the characteristics of production factors, structure, organization, technical and economic efficiency, the principles and actions used by the cooperative for the conservation and rational use of the land factor were described. Despite the annual decrease in the area of agricultural land in the country in the analyzed farm, their area has not decreased in the four-year study period. The most important effect rationalizing the efficiency of land use was the establishment of willow plantations in flood plains − marginal. Revenue from the sale of willow in the third year of cultivation, largely contributed to the increase in productivity and marketability of the land in 2010. The use of erosion control treatments, reduced fertilization and partial replacement of it by the use of catch crops legumes, low intensity of farm organizations adapted to market requirements are an expression of caring for the land factor in the era of micro-scale degradation and loss at the macroeconomic level.
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This paper presents the results of analyzes of the impact assessment of selected activities of the CAP in favor of environmental protection. The analysis is based on data of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Management Information System, ARMA, the results of the agricultural census of 2010 and the results of the own research in 2011, covering 8,5% beneficiaries of agri-environmental programme in Warmia-Mazury Voivodeship. The analysis shows that the CAP can make a measurable support efforts towards the environmental protection. The most important step towards the environmental sustainability is certainly the combing area payments with the need to fulfil the cross-compliance requirements, particularly good agricultural condition (GAC). The analyses shows that norms of GAC are too extended and its necessity is the separation of agricultural production support and services provided by farmers to reduce climate change as part of the CAP operations.
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According to recent conclusions of the European Council, it is necessary to stress the need to increase the energy efficiency in the EU so as to achieve the objective of saving 20% of the energy consumption compared to projections for 2020 as estimated by the Commission in its Green Paper on Energy Efficiency and to make good use of their National Energy Efficiency Actions Plans for this purpose ( i.e. Second NEEAPs from 30 June 2011). It should improve the industrial competiveness of EU with a potential for the creation of substantial benefits for households, business and public authorities.
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The purpose of this article is the identification of relationships between the natural and the economic value of ecosystem. The authors attempt to answer the question how the natural value of ecosystems affects its economic value. The object of the analysis is 16 lakes of Central Pomerania, Poland. They have been grouped into 4 classes, adequate for their natural value. The natural value of each of the lakes has been determined on the basis of specially adopted criteria. Economic valuation has been based on two methods: the travel costs method and willingness to pay (WTP). The results of the analysis indicate the relationships between the natural value and the economic valuation of ecosystems. Using the travel cost method of valuation, the relation between those values is directly proportional. The WTP method indicates that an average nature valued lakes obtain the highest economic value. Lakes with a high natural value are less valued in terms of their economic value.
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The aim of this article is to analyze the role of discounting in the climate change policy. The first part of the paper provides an overview of key issues related to discounting, such as different approaches to the choice of discount rate, the components that make up the so called social rate of time preference and hyperbolic discounting. This part of the study also includes discount rates adopted by chosen economists dealing with the climate change issues. The article also discusses how the level of the discount rate affects the climate policy as well as presents conclusions drawn from the research of climate economists (especially N. Stern and W. Nordhaus) choosing different discount rates in their analysis. The conclusions relate to the optimal rate of carbon tax (carbon dioxide tax) or desired expenditure on the fight against climate change.
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The article presents the results of questionnaire investigations of energy efficient management in Prusice poviat conducted in 2012 in the households by ENERGYREGION project. The aim of the article is the analysis and the assessment of the way of energy management in Prusice poviat at individual consumers. Investigations were conducted in August 2012 in the region of Lower Silesia. The first part of the article presents the methodology of investigations. The results of investigations were analyzed in terms of energy management. The results show that it is hard to name the presented energy management energy efficient. The ecological consciousness of energy consumers is still in the early phase of development.
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In the article chosen methodical and methodological problems of the evaluation of the natural capital elements were introduced. The author presented various functions of the natural capital. He discussed the procedures and account challenges connected with the introduction of the natural capital to the economic accounts as well as introduced chosen challenges connected with the evaluation of the components of the natural capital and static and dynamic analysis in the accounts with the natural capital.
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Polish power industry sector has recently faced serious challenges. Due to steadily increasing electricity demand and confirmed ecological commitments in the EU, Poland is in position to diversify the structure of electricity generation. From ecological point of view the good and economical alternative for the electricity generation from variable resources can be nuclear power industry.
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In the article, the use of selected resources of energy is analyzed in the context of the energy policy of the European Union (EU). The aim of the research is to assess the influence of this policy on the use of energy resources in the countries of the EU and the largest economies in the world. It tries to give an answer to the question what should be done to increase this influence. The research may be useful for reducing resource intensity in energy production. In order to achieve the aim of the paper, the use of raw materials for energy and predictions for their future use are analyzed based on documents and statistical data. It will be argued that while the EU energy policy influences the use of some resources of energy in member countries, there is no relation with the use of such resources outside the EU. The author proposes to apply instruments used in the EU in other countries in order to support similar development in their energy sectors.
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The study concerns methodological aspects of valuing social costs of energy supply insecurity. There are presented methods of valuation: market price methods, revealed preference approaches based on surrogate market prices and stated preference approaches based on simulated markets. The article also provides a short analysis of advantages, drawbacks and applicability of techniques. It presents world and Polish literature surveys results concerning the value of lost load (VOLL) as monetary expression for the costs associated with inter- or disruptions of electricity supply as an effect of production, transmission or distribution failures.
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The authors identified the definition of non-conventional natural gas and its various types. They also showed differences between gas deposits and forms of appearance of non-conventional gas as well as conventional gas and presented environmental circumstances of exploitation of various types of non-conventional gas taking into account the criteria of sustainable development. They characterized potential benefits resulted from the analysis of possibility of the reduced use of another carriers of prime energy as a result of non-conventional gas exploitation and presented opinions of the impact of increase of geological identification of gas as well as the increase of the volume of exploitation and the use of non-conventional gas on the macroeconomic indicators of economic growth and development.
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Moscow is a village, artist Andrei Bartenev says – for worse or for better.
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