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This article explores a number of current issues and challenges in sustainability, both of and in academic libraries of the future, using as a case study the new library opened at Macquarie University, Sydney in 2011. Issues covered include sustainable design and operation of library buildings, sustainability in relation to library collections, and the reframing of library organisational design and service provision for the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The boom of the tourism industry has led to a huge interest in investing largely in hotel lodgings. Tourists have become aware and started considering new and far from ordinary tourist issues, like environmental protection, waste treatment measures, energy efficiency, renewable energy, green-house gas emissions, etc. The aims of the study are three-fold: (i) to assess the application of energy efficiency practices in the hotel industry; (ii) to explore the determinants of energy consumption; and (iii) to pose valuable recommendations for boosting development of eco-friendly hotels. The research was conducted in Macedonia for the purpose of identifying the impacts of several factors of managing environmental protection practices, in the first line by measuring their current level of influence. The data were obtained by an online survey conducted among managers of three-, four- and five-star hotels and processed by descriptive statistics. The results showed that managers have high positive perceptions on environmental protection issues and pose high awareness of the benefits produced by this concept, thus supporting the European environmental impact assessment regulation. The study recommends new approaches in challenging the hotel industry to decrease the operating costs and suggests that managers are in need for better understanding of the importance of energy efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Realtors are seen as important enablers of behavior change toward a low-carbon future through the communication of sustainability measures to home buyers and sellers. In 2012/2013, research was conducted to assess Californian Realtors' knowledge of, and perceptions towards, sustainable housing using an online survey instrument. The majority of respondents consider good insulation to be the most important feature to contribute to a more sustainable home, yet the green features that buyers most commonly ask about are dual-paned windows and tankless hot water. The biggest barriers to incorporating energy-efficient features into a home continue to focus on cost and poor access to information. Realtors could play a key role to overcoming barriers by providing accurate and relevant information to consumers to improve their understanding of energy efficiency and address misconceptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]