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Effective implementation of renewable energy sources (RES) is one of the main challenges in regard to the organization of local energy microgrids with buildings. One of the solutions is the use of dynamic building façades with photovoltaic (PV) panels, in particular the innovative perovskite solar cells (PSCs). This paper describes a case study performed on a pilot installation of perovskite PV panels located in Poland, Central-Eastern Europe. Results of preliminary measurements on this installation are provided in terms of verifying its energy efficiency and the possibility of selecting settings for the façade dynamics control system. Our experiments have considered the sun-tracking mechanism and its energy consumption as well as the impact of weather conditions at different times of the year. The energy efficiency results for the PV system, with average levels below 10%, are rather low. Therefore, even small energy savings in the operation of the PV system itself are significant. Changes in control scenarios for sun-tracking have been proposed and have obtained a reduction from 5% to 1% of energy consumption in autumn and from almost 3.2% to 0.6% in spring, in relation to overall energy produced by the PV system. The need for further experimental research from the perspective of the development and extension of the analyzed installation is pointed out as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The public procurement system in Poland remains highly centralized, although thanks to European Community directives, it is part of European law. Therefore, it has established procedures for sustainable public procurement, including so-called green public procurement. In addition to the Public Procurement Law of 11 September 2019, other provisions introducing specific instruments (e.g., energy labels, environmental labels) should be taken into consideration, as such provisions make it easier for contracting authorities to take environmental aspects into account in tender procedures. Bearing in mind the existing legal regulations, this article features a diagnosis of the degree of use of measures to improve energy efficiency in public procurement procedures and models activities related to improving this situation. For this purpose, surveys were conducted for 120 entities applying the provisions of the Public Procurement Law. Taking into consideration the results obtained in the survey, 15 factors related to the improvement of energy efficiency in tender procedures were selected with the help of 12 purposively selected experts connected with the issues raised in this article. Thanks to their expert knowledge, three key factors determining the wider use of this instrument were modeled by means of the systems theory–based methodology of network thinking. The paper also attempts to indicate the key factors determining the wider use of this instrument, using the network thinking methodology for this purpose. As a result of the conducted research, it was found that these factors include human capital, industry, and the energy crisis. Research on the subject in the Polish literature remains innovative and allows for the formulation of application recommendations for decision makers. The concept of energy efficiency in this paper refers to the ratio of the results obtained to the energy input. Efficient use of energy aims to reduce the amount of energy needed to deliver products and services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nearly 60% of commercial customers are connected to a low-voltage network in Poland with a contractual capacity of more than 40 kW and are assigned a fixed tariff with flat prices for the whole year, no matter the usage volume. With smart meters, more data about how businesses use energy are becoming available to both energy providers and customers. This enables innovation in the structure and type of tariffs on offer in the energy market. Customers can explore their usage patterns to choose the most suitable tariff to benefit from lower prices and thus generate savings. In this paper, we analyzed whether customers' electricity usage matched their optimal tariff and further investigated which of them could benefit or lose from switching the tariff based on the real dataset with the hourly energy readings of 1212 commercial entities in Poland recorded between 2016 and 2019. Three modelling approaches, i.e., the k-nearest neighbors, classification tree and random forest, were tested for optimal tariff classification, while for the benchmark, we used a simple approach, in which the tariff was proposed based on the customers' previous electricity usage. The main findings from the research are threefold: (1) out of all the analyzed entities, on average, 76% of them could have benefited from the tariff switching, which suggests that customers may not be aware of the tariff change benefits, or they had chosen a tariff plan that was not tailored to them; (2) a random forest model offers a viable approach to accurate tariff classification; (3) the policy implication from the research is the need to increase the customers' awareness about the tariffs and propose reliable tools for selecting the optimal tariff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid growth of sustainability has created a plethora of options for expanding zero-energy buildings (ZEBs) and energy efficiency in all aspects of life. In recent years, there has been a rise in interest in ZEBs, and many countries have adopted ZEBs as future energy targets to promote the sustainable development paradigm. The primary goal of this paper was to conduct a bibliometric review of current research on ZEBs and energy efficiency. The first part of this paper identifies new knowledge gaps as well as practical demands in the field of sustainable development. Furthermore, bibliometric analysis was performed using the Scopus database (i.e., 2592 articles) and a screening process was undertaken, with the result being 252 papers. This study draws attention to a body of knowledge by reviewing trends and patterns, major research topics, journals, countries, new approaches, emerging trends, and future directions for sustainable development. This study is unique in that it provides a comprehensive, updated review of ZEBs and energy efficiency trends. Moreover, this study could help identify limitations for future policymakers, practitioners, and academics. The empirical section of this paper, through a case study, presents an example of a low-energy single-family building located in Poland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving energy efficiency includes a number of measures implemented as part of the greening of the energy industry, which in turn is a prerequisite for the creation of a sustainable energy industry to ensure energy and environmental security for the world. Despite the adoption of the EU directives on energy efficiency, there is still insufficient public awareness in this area in Poland and Slovakia. This is particularly surprising because improving energy efficiency not only brings national and global benefits, but also has a significant impact on the well-being of individuals and households. The main purpose of the paper is to analyze the national policies of Poland and Slovakia, which are based on the European Directive 2012/27/EU on energy efficiency, and which introduce new measures aimed not only at increasing energy efficiency, but also at increasing the well-being of households and individuals. Methods of desk research and content analysis were used. The current situation in both countries is illustrated by case studies that document the administrative process (Slovakia) and the calculation of energy savings (Poland) when using renewable energy sources in the case of family houses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A contemporary challenge for the construction industry is to develop a technology based on natural building materials which at the same time provides high energy efficiency. This paper presents the results of an airtightness test and a thermal imaging study of a detached house built with technology using cross laminated dowelled timber panels. The thermal conductivity coefficients of the wood wool used to insulate the walls and ceiling of the building have also been measured, the linear heat transfer coefficients of the structural nodes have been numerically determined, and calculations have been made regarding the energy efficiency of the building. On the basis of the research, it was found that the air exchange rate in the analyzed building n50 is at the level of 4.77 h−1. Air leaks were also observed in the places of connection of longitudinal walls with the roof and at the junction of window frames with external walls. The experimentally determined thermal conductivity coefficient of the wood wool was ~10% higher than that declared by the manufacturer. Calculations for the energy performance certificate showed that an increase of ~10% in the thermal conductivity coefficient of the wood wool used to insulate the building results in a heating demand increase of 2.1%. It was also found that changing the value of the parameter n50 from 1.0 h−1 to 4.77 h−1 leads to a 40.1% increase in heat demand for heating the building. At the same time, the indicators for final energy demand EK and non-renewable primary energy demand EP increase by 18.1%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aims of the article are to assess the legal conditions for improving energy efficiency in the energy-intensive food industry in Poland, including the rules for financing enterprises from public funds, and to assess the extent of state aid for these enterprises in their pursuit of energy saving goals. A critical analysis of the literature and of legal regulations on energy efficiency in EU and Polish law has been performed. The analysis of state aid is based on SUDOP data, and it takes into account the time span, the food industry structure, the enterprise size, the type and purpose of aid granted, and the degree of aid concentration. The conducted research showed that the largest share of state aid is received by energy-intensive industries, i.e., meat, fruit and vegetables, and dairy products (65.5%), and by large- and medium-sized enterprises (82.4%). This aid was allocated through various programmes and in various forms, the most important of which were subsidies. The aid focused on three objectives, i.e., promotion of energy from renewable sources, high-efficiency cogeneration, and measures supporting energy efficiency. The study shows the development of legislation on energy efficiency and possibilities for financing investments, both at the EU and national levels. Tightening climate policy will enhance the importance of energy efficiency in the food industry, which should be reflected in an increase in the relatively low current level of this aid (amounting to 0.04% of total state aid and 0.17% of aid for environmental protection and energy purposes). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The formula of engaging an energy service company (ESCO) in Poland is not a new form of accounting for investments in improving energy efficiency. The results of our survey confirm that many entities still lack sufficient knowledge about this subject. The research problem this paper is concerned with is the conditions of applying the ESCO formula (a model of investment financing with the participation of a specialised company) to support local government units and enterprises in energy-industry project development. For the purpose of this study, the research questions were formulated to analyse of the following issues: the reasons for interest in the ESCO formula and the sources of knowledge about this solution; activities and other factors that can increase or reduce interest in the ESCO formula; services in terms of ESCO formula implementation; the attractiveness of alternative instruments for financing energy industry projects, the benefits of using the ESCO formula and the influence of current and future target groups on ESCO formula development in Poland. This paper, therefore aims to recognise the conditions under which the ESCO formula can be applied by local government units and enterprises implementing energy industry projects in Poland. The research problem was solved using a triangulation of research methods: empirical qualitative research (desk research analysis, individual in-depth interviews, computer-assisted web interview (CAWI) survey, and focus group interviews) and one of the foresight methods (an expert panel). The research revealed that the lack of knowledge amongst local government units and enterprises with regard to the ESCO formula, although not unique to Poland, is insufficient to explain the low level of interest in this solution. One of the key conclusions is the need to educate local government units and enterprises on energy efficiency. This is vital to arouse their interest in the more complex ESCO implementation solutions that they have not yet investigated. Furthermore, by following and analysing the project implementation process in the ESCO formula, we can conclude that the risk generated is primarily on the part of the energy service company itself. For this reason, it is doubtful that energy service companies will invest the equity necessary to develop this challenging market. Based on the research conclusions, we indicate some recommendations that the government and related public institutions should consider in order to boost this market and support ESCO companies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy efficiency of the building should be understood as the degree of preparation of the building to ensure the comfort of its use in accordance with its intended use with the lowest possible energy consumption of the building. The article presents an in-depth analysis of the possibility of changing the utility function of a historic building in such a way that ensures all aspects of comfort while meeting energy efficiency conditions. Combinatorics methods were used for this purpose. Four possible utility functions were proposed, including the reference state, i.e., the existing state. Five aspects of comfort were considered: thermal comfort, carbon footprint, energy efficiency, noise and vibration. For these five aspects of comfort, boundary conditions were adopted depending on the adopted building class. The selected utility function is therefore the result of comfort, energy efficiency and economic aspects. The purpose of the study was to verify whether the developed methodology for the selection of the utility function for historic buildings, based on combinatorial analyses, would allow the selection of the optimal function from the point of view of energy efficiency, user comfort and environmental impact. The methodology was tested on a historic building located in southern Poland. The new utility function for the analyzed building is to use the historic villa (or some part of it) as an Art Gallery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land consolidation in rural areas is greatly influenced by a number of social, agricultural, and economic factors. They extend the time and complicate activities related to the implementation of this project. Land consolidation is a huge investment, requiring a good and up-to-date map. Up-to-date data that reflects reality are the basis for good and efficient land consolidation in rural areas. To improve the creation of a land consolidation project, the most appropriate solution would be to place all the necessary data to create a land consolidation project on "geoportals" websites. Providing data on the websites of geoportals in Poland and Finland in the form of a map portal would enable both visual and substantive analysis of spatial changes in rural areas. Therefore, this article pursues two main scientific goals. The first purpose of this article is to analyze the history and scope of land consolidation in Poland and Finland in order to learn the specifics of land consolidation in a given country. Comparisons and analyses were made on the basis of the authors' experience in Poland and Finland with land consolidation in the areas described. The second scientific goal of the article is to compare the availability of geospatial data in the context of the methodology of performing land consolidation in rural areas, which leads to increased energy efficiency in agricultural production by reducing the need for energy, especially fuel for agricultural machinery. The results from the table with a list of geoportals in Poland and Finland are a summary of the data available for free. Thanks to it, land consolidation contractors around the world will have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with and perhaps use this data when creating a rural land consolidation project. Good land consolidation planning will lead to effective and economical use of rural space. This is part of the 2030/2050 strategy. Reducing agricultural production costs, lower fuel consumption, and a smaller carbon footprint. This is what Poland and Finland are striving for as countries belonging to the European Union. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to assess urban policies from the point of view of their impact on energy efficiency as a factor enhancing local competitiveness in Poland. To achieve this objective, we carried out an original study. The first step was to conduct a literature review. Next, an attempt was made to present the prevailing state of knowledge regarding the management of the competitiveness of cities and regions, as well as the functioning of energy efficiency in the economy. The development strategies of 18 selected cities serving as provincial capitals or playing other administrative roles at the regional level were also analysed. Importantly, the impact envisaged for municipal authorities to improve energy efficiency largely focuses on investments in the modernisation of public transport infrastructure and renewable energy sources. These investments certainly yield substantial cost savings, which are presented in the article. Nevertheless, it is essential to bear in mind that these are not the sole advantages of increased energy efficiency of local socio-economic systems. The investments also have the potential to enhance the perception of cities, increase the value of municipal real estate, and improve the health of urban residents by reducing emissions into the atmosphere. Still, a clearly discernible link between these arguments and a positive impact of cities' energy savings on their competitive standing and competitive edge is absent from the analysed city development strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The steel sector is crucial for the national economy of Poland and the global economy. In response to the challenges of the global steel market and the need to increase the sector's competitiveness, a number of actions have been taken to increase the energy efficiency of steel production. Based on the synthesis of the literature and our own research, we describe the issues related to energy efficiency and the Industry 4.0 concept. The main aim of this paper is to identify energy efficiency trends in enterprises, especially those that focus on increasing the energy efficiency of production processes, and to make recommendations for investment policy for the Polish steel sector in the era of Industry 4.0. To achieve our goals and answer the research question, we used data from 2000–2019 for the Polish steel industry. The calculations and models in this paper were made by using Gretl software. Using direct research, an econometric model was built that verified the hypothesis regarding the relationship between investment in new technologies and the energy efficiency of steel production. Future investment policies should take the implementation of Industry 4.0 tools in the steel sector into account, which, according to the authors, will measurably improve energy efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents theoretical and practical contributions to the environmental dimension of enterprises' corporate social responsibility (CSR) in sustainable development. Interest in the environment is related to CSR through environmental cost optimization and energy-efficiency management. The practical stage of the research, obtained using the computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) method, allowed for presenting case studies of the best practices used by international enterprises operating in Poland. This study describes the practical tools and advice companies can use to improve efficiency and environmental responsibility. The article is an in-depth study of the growing role of enterprises in shaping sustainable and socially responsible businesses and aims to assess the extent to which these companies prioritize energy efficiency as a part of their CSR initiatives. The authors highlight the role of energy efficiency in achieving broader corporate environmental responsibility. This research aims to encourage businesses to adopt responsible environmental strategies for a greener and more sustainable future. The implementation of this goal helped develop and indicate conclusions regarding the development of environmental tools related to corporate responsibility in sustainable development, encouraging scientific debates and promoting responsible monitoring of the implementation of this concept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper studies the problem of assessing the vehicle energy efficiency on the streets of urban road network. As a result of morphological analysis of the system "Vehicle—Traffic flow—Road—Traffic Environment" 18 significant morphological attributes of its functional elements, that affect the energy efficiency of vehicles, were identified. Each attribute is characterized by 3–6 implementation variants, which are evaluated by the relevant quantitative or qualitative parameters. The energy efficiency of vehicles is determined by the criteria of their energy consumption considering the vehicle category, type of energy unit, mode of vehicle movement and adjustment factors—road, climatic and others. The input parameters values of the system in the process of traffic flow on the linear fragments of streets and road networks of the cities of Ukraine and Poland were measured. The set of independent system parameters is determined by applying the Farrar-Glober method based on statistical estimates. The specified set is the basis of the studied system and is formed of 10 independent input parameters. The presence in the basis of parameters that correspond to the morphological features of all four functional elements, confirmed the importance of these elements of the system. The mathematical dependence of the impact of vehicle characteristics, traffic flow, road and environment on vehicle energy efficiency is built. The standard deviation of the model values from the tabular ones equals σ ´ = 0.0091 . Relative standard deviation equals S ´ r = 1.5 % . The results of the study could be used in the development of new and optimization of existing intelligent traffic control systems of urban transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The e-commerce industry has been developing extremely dynamically for many years. This development was intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the research conducted by the authors of this paper, in Poland, during the pandemic, the number of delivered parcels increased 20–100%, depending on the courier company. The research of the authors of this article focused on the energy efficiency of the last mile, which is very important for the efficiency of the entire delivery process to customers. As the authors calculated, the last mile can consume over 70% of energy of the whole distribution channel. The article presents the results of research concerning the energy efficiency of deliveries performed by couriers and express companies in Poland. Two models of distribution used Poland have been compared—direct deliveries to final customers, and deliveries to parcel lockers. The research methods are interviews with the managers and couriers, analysis of the literature, and the simulation method. According to the results of the simulations performed by the authors, distribution with the use of parcels lockers can help reduce the consumption of fuel even by 74–87% per parcel or 36% per m3. Apart from this, the authors calculated the impact of scale of operations on the energy efficiency of the transport processes on the last mile, which is an indirect effect of the growth of the e-commerce market, caused by the pandemic. Based on the results of the original research of the authors, it can be assessed that the growth of the number of the delivered parcels during the pandemic resulted in the consumption of fuel per one parcel being reduced in some cases by over 36%. The novelty of the authors' research is that the conducted simulations regarded not only the efficiency of the processes, but also the energy consumption in delivering parcels at the last mile and during the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions in the construction industry is one of the daunting challenges to be addressed in the context of global warming. The purpose of these analyses was to examine how the energy class of a multi-family residential building regarding thermal insulation and type of ventilation affects the usable energy demand for heating and ventilation purposes, the length of the heating season, and the amount of demand for energy consumed by auxiliary devices. This article presents the energy analyses of multi-family residential buildings with identical technical parameters located in different locations in Poland. For research purposes, a total of 354 energy balances were compiled, covering 59 meteorological stations, 3 types of ventilation systems, and 2 building insulation standards. This article presents the ways in which the location and energy class of buildings affect the length of the heating season and the demand for energy required for heating and ventilation purposes. The results of the analyses carried out in this article show that the location and the energy class of the building have a significant impact on the demand for primary energy (EP). As a result, it was concluded that when designating a reference building for the energy rating system, its location should be taken into account and reference buildings should be designated considering climate zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Economical and efficient use of energy is promoted around the world as a model of conscious care for the environment in which we live. A mere change of habits in the use of energy can reduce its costs by 5% to 15%, and investments in energy-saving technologies can pay for themselves after just a few years. This case study shows how significant steps can be taken in saving energy in the building of public utility buildings through deep thermomodernization using renewable energy sources—compressor heat pumps and photovoltaics. The article presents a comprehensive thermomodernization of a school building made according to Polish regulations. A detailed description of the tested object is given, and the calculation procedure is described. Next, the optimal investment variant and ex post analysis are described. The implementation of these projects significantly improved the energy efficiency of the building and generated final energy savings of 80%, which will significantly reduce the school's operating costs. Thanks to the applied improvements, it was possible to save 72.30% of thermal energy in the building, which directly translates into lowering the building's operating costs. The improvement of energy efficiency indicators ranges from 66% for usable energy to almost 85% for non-renewable primary energy. Furthermore, by reducing the demand for energy used in the building by nearly 74%, we see a reduction in CO2 emissions. The methods used were desk research and an extended case study of Poland, a country facing a number of problems related to energy prices during the energy crisis. In this article, we identify the challenges faced by Poland due to its geopolitical situation, and the solutions introduced to the difficult situation in the energy market come in the form of the thermomodernization of buildings. It was on this basis that Poland was selected as a case study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transport costs are strongly influenced by fuel prices and fuel consumption in transport, i.e., energy efficiency. The aim of the article is to present the problem of energy efficiency in freight transport with the use of Heavy Duty Vehicles (HDV). The authors presented the factors of energy efficiency in road transport, energy efficiency of the road vehicles, the share of fuel costs in the total costs of transport companies and the relationship between the increase in fuel prices and the increase in transport rates. Research methods include, apart from literature analysis, interviews conducted in Polish transport companies in 2022 and the analysis of data collected by the authors on the transport services market over the last 20 years. The increase in rates over the last 20 years, until 2021, largely coincided with the increase in fuel prices, while in 2022, for the first time in this period, the increase in fuel prices was greater than the increase in rates. However, the prices for transport services increased with the increase in energy consumption costs, not with changes in fuel prices. The cost of energy consumption depends on the efficiency of its use, which is constantly increasing, although to a small extent. Research shows that the efficiency of fuel consumption in high-tonnage transport changes at a rate of 0.8–1% per year while the proportion of fuel costs in Polish transport companies transporting goods by road in the last 20 years oscillates between 29% and 46%. There was also an increase in the freight rates on this market, in most cases by over 30%. Despite this, however, the profitability of some companies deteriorated. A large increase in transport rates, compensating for the increase in fuel prices, applies mainly to transport companies whose strategy is to compete with the quality of services, and when high-value loads are transported, while a small increase in transport rates, which does not compensate for the increase in fuel prices, applies mainly to companies whose strategy is to compete on the price of transport services and when low-value cargo is being transported. The results of research on the market in Poland conducted by the authors of the article agrees with the results and opinions of other authors and researchers from other countries. The authors also agree with the view that the possibilities of increasing the efficiency of energy consumption in road transport by the carriers themselves are limited. The road transport market, especially in Poland, is highly competitive, which results in high efficiency of transport processes. However, this efficiency is largely affected by factors beyond the control of these companies (technological factors, infrastructure and energy sources). It seems that the involvement of the state is necessary. The research carried out by the authors of the article also confirmed the existing relationships between the weight of the transported cargo and energy consumption identified by other authors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mobility is one of the basic needs for modern people. The transport system is one of the largest consumers of energy. The largest dimension of mobility activity is concentrated in metropolitan areas, which also shows energy consumption by transport. The research looked at the potential for improving the energy efficiency of a functional and spatial structure, using the example of a medium-sized city and its functional area. The study refers to the idea of the pervasiveness of spatial structure and to the criteria of New Urbanism, as a multifunctional and sustainable urban form. The gravity fields concept was also used. This article presents simulation modeling that has made it possible to model the potential for optimizing an urbanized area towards a reduction in energy consumption in the mobility sphere and to compare the scale of the potential in this respect of its segments in relation to the movement relationships of the destinations (residence, services, workplaces, and leisure). Results show the greatest energy-saving potential located in the peripheral areas with longer distances from centers and the worst equipment of services and infrastructure. The analytic model presented in the article, based on the concept of pervasiveness, could be used for the evaluation of the multifunctionality and sustainability of urban structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the results of the analysis of parameters describing electricity consumption in individual phases of the production cycle on a poultry farm. One full broiler rearing cycle on the farm was analyzed. Electrical parameters were tested during the broiler rearing process using a power quality analyzer with a measurement interval of 1 min. During the tests, the analyzer recorded the active and reactive power, phase and line voltage, power factor, and frequency. On the basis of collected data, original indicators describing electricity consumption per chicken wkA, wkQ, and per unit area wiA, wiQ were determined. The regression curves of active and reactive power consumption in particular stages of the cycle were also determined, and the minimum and maximum values of active and reactive power consumption were determined. The accomplished research can be used in planning electricity demand in energy-self-sufficient areas. The presented original indicators can be used to determine power demand on broiler farms, depending on the planned production volume or size of farm buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Polish as well as the global energy economy, including in particular heat generation, is to a great extent based on facilities for the combustion of liquid and gaseous fuels. Globally, a considerable part, and in Poland a vast majority of these facilities are much worn out, and, consequently, they work with low efficiency producing considerable amounts of pollutants, which have a very negative impact on the environment. Therefore, it is of crucial importance to develop innovative solutions that enhance the efficiency of fuel combustion and at the same time reduce emission of pollutants. The paper presents a solution which renders it possible to increase the efficiency of fuel conversion by heating up substrates of combustion processes, heat recovery from combustion gases as a result of their cooling and water vapor condensation and which contributes to a reduction of pollution. The solution brings about significant fuel consumption savings and thus a considerable enhancement of economic and ecological efficiency of heat sources is achieved. The solution is specially dedicated to heat sources of low and medium power. The technology developed and described herein will also allow an elimination of environmental burdens caused by inefficient heat sources already in operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the biggest challenges of a modern enterprise is finding a balance between achieving environmental goals and being competitive in the era of Industry 4.0 requirements. The digital revolution is forcing companies to overcome various challenges that contribute to reducing energy consumption. Micro and small enterprises carry out activities in the field of energy efficiency by implementing measures to save energy and reduce total energy consumption. However, these activities are limited by many barriers to resources, which means that these activities are much smaller than those in large companies. The purpose of this study was to assess the performance of micro and small enterprises following environmental objectives in improving energy efficiency. The research study, based on a structured and standardized survey questionnaire, was conducted with the use of the CATI technique between April and May 2022 among the owners of micro and small enterprises operating in Poland. The study showed that: (a) the activities of Polish micro- and small-sized companies were aimed at improving energy efficiency through the implementation of environmental objectives; (b) the operation of enterprises in accordance with contemporary environmental requirements improved energy efficiency; and (c) Polish micro- and small-scale enterprises took actions in compliance with environmental requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the results of analyses of energy efficiency and environmental outcomes of putting into operation high-speed trains—first of that kind in Poland—in 2014 on upgraded 3 kV DC lines. Comparative analyses of these trains in Poland have not been carried out so far and provide a new approach to assessing the feasibility of their adoption and, in a broader context, the advisability of replacing conventional with high-speed rail transport. The analysis supports the advantages of high-speed railway (HSR) and the need to develop a network of high-speed connections using energy-efficient trains in Poland. Putting these trains into service reduced CO2 emissions, which is significant in Poland as a country relying heavily on power generated in coal power plants and complies with the assumptions of the sustainable development policies and EU Green Deal. The outcomes of our analysis can be used for transportation planning to mitigate climate change and the presented approach provides a method of quantification of environmental impacts of HS trains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study presents an investigation of thermal energy consumption for heating in an educational building located in the north-eastern part of Poland in 2017–2020, after deep thermomodernization. An evaluation of the actual energy effects was made based on measurements carried out over a 4-year operational period. They were compared with the results of theoretical calculations included in the energy audit and an attempt was made to describe the reasons for the discrepancies. The planned and achieved economic efficiency indicators were assessed and the amount of reduction of pollutant emissions was determined. The performed analysis allowed for an assessment of the impact of deep thermomodernization in terms of reducing heat energy consumption for central heating purposes, as well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions such as CO2, SOx, NOx and benzo(a)pyrene to the atmosphere. The implementation of thermomodernization in buildings led to savings of about 43% in terms of heat energy consumption for heating and a reduction in pollutant emissions. The theoretical savings based on the audit were 50.4%. The obtained results show that deep thermomodernization contributes to the improvement of energy and ecological efficiency in educational buildings, however, without the possibility of using subsidies, the investment is unprofitable. All the obtained results were discussed with the available literature sources and have been summarized with appropriate conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy is crucial to economic development, but its production usually has a negative impact on the environment. This ambivalence leads to the need for methods to improve energy efficiency. Transportation is one of the largest global energy consumers. Therefore, improving the energy efficiency of transportation is crucial for sustainable development. The aim of this article is to show the limitations of energy management in railways, resulting from the model of market regulation. The question in this context is whether only technological methods can be used in railways to steer its energy efficiency, as is suggested by the existing research. Critical analysis, desk research and a case study of Polish railway undertaking were used to find an answer to the research question. The discussion of the results shows that the European regulatory system leads to greater complications in the field of energy management than in other global regions, where railways are also important for the economy. Due to these limitations, rail operators use indirect methods to measure energy efficiency. Results indicate that although energy efficiency improvements are being achieved, they are mainly due to organizational measures and not technological ones as could be expected based on previous research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The issues addressed by the article concern the assessment of energy efficiency in rail transport, resulting from the proper organization of rail traffic. The problems related to energy consumption and, thus, the negative impact of rail transport on the natural environment are highly significant in terms of the green deal concept, climate change and sustainable development. In this article, energy efficiency is investigated in the context of minimizing the energy consumption necessary to satisfy a specific transport requirement. The essence of this article is to present an approach to energy-efficient planning of rail freight traffic. This article aims to develop a method covers the allocation of railway vehicles dedicated to freight traffic (locomotives and railcars) to perform a defined transport task, taking into account the energy efficiency assessment of the solution, routing the train launched with regard to the accomplishment of the defined transport task on the railway network, and determining the conditions of transport for a defined transport task, taking into account the allocated rolling stock (locomotives and railcars) and the route. In this article, based on the presented state of knowledge, a decision-making model has been proposed, including the model's parameters, the values being searched for, indicators for assessing the quality of the solution, as well as the limitations and boundary conditions of the problem. The function of minimizing the energy consumption necessary to transport a shipment within the railway network (determining the energy efficiency of the proposed solution) has been proposed as the criterion. In addition, a description of the proprietary method of selecting rolling stock for accomplishing tasks, based on the assessment of the energy efficiency of the solution and a case study illustrating the operation of the method on the example of the area of Poland, has been presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are numerous studies assessing the influence of individual sociological, political, and demographic factors on attitudes towards climate change. However, there is still a need for a deeper understanding of the reasons behind these attitudes and for research based on results from more than one country. This study empirically examines a range of psychosocial and demographic determinants of support for climate policy (renewable energy, energy efficiency and carbon tax) in Germany and Poland (n = 1969). The results show that the societies of both countries, despite significant differences in income, culture and political stance on climate change, similarly support implementation of climate policies. For both countries valid predictors of support are: awareness, emotional response to climate crisis, sense of control, and belief in effectiveness of solutions; the study also shows predictors relevant in only one country. Factor analysis identified similar dimensions of attitudes toward climate change in both countries. The main findings show that support for climate policy is high in both countries and that the public is ready to accept more ambitious climate goals. Despite the differences between the countries, a coherent climate policy seems justified. The study also shows differences between the countries and provides recommendations for policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the face of severe air pollution and implementation of energy and climate policy, it remains a challenge to develop effective strategies addressing the problem of solid fuels use in single-family houses (SFH) in rural areas in Poland. This study investigated the correlations between thermal modernization of SFH, the changes of heat sources from coal to clean energy, including heat pumps driven by prosumers' photovoltaic (PV) installation, and the disposable income of households in Polish rural areas. It also provided an analysis of the current support mechanisms promoting energy efficiency and PV development. The application of simulation modelling of energy consumption and costs in the research has proved that comprehensive thermal modernization of rural SFH constructed in the period of 1945–1970 and investments supporting PV/heat pump systems would enable the most cost-effective way of heating to be implemented. Considering that, today, spending on energy for heat puts a burden on the budget of rural households, especially those living in the SFH aged 50 years and more that dominate rural areas in Poland, the changes in energy supply–demand patterns would be an enhancement of their economic, energy and environmental security. The research argued that, in the wider process of energy transformation and solving air pollution problems, the role of rural households should not be neglected in public policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A numerical model of a solar wall (SW) with transparent insulation (TI) is proposed in this article. The model is based on the finite-difference method and thermal conductivity equation, with a heat source term for the absorber. Using this model, the energy efficiency of a solar wall with transparent insulation (SW-TI) with honeycomb insulation made of modified cellulose acetate was analyzed in the case of different climatic conditions prevailing in Poland, different orientations of the envelope, and different insulation thicknesses. Simulations were carried out throughout the whole heating period. Monthly energy balances and temperature distributions for the analyzed envelopes at individual moments of the heating period are the basic results of the simulations. It was found that the use of 108 and 88 mm thick insulation was the most recommended in the considered temperate climate. Placing transparent insulation on a wall with an eastern or western orientation caused the annual heat balance of the envelope to decrease by 24–31% in relation to the value of this balance in the case of a southern orientation. The monthly heat balances obtained using the proposed model give results consistent with the method of calculating heat gains for opaque building envelopes with transparent insulation included in the PN-EN ISO 13790:2008 standard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]