Search

The discharge of hygienic waste down domestic drains has become a socio-environmental problem that is causing serious damage to aquatic ecosystems and wastewater management systems. In this paper, we report the results of our study to determine the effectiveness of an environmental education (EE) program to raise awareness of this problem among primary school students. A longitudinal study was carried out using a survey methodology. A questionnaire, including Likert-scale items, was designed (n = 4362). A study of the reliability and validity of the measure was carried out using validations conducted by experts, Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient, factor analysis, and the categorical analysis of principal components (CATPCA). The analyses showed that there were significant differences between the educational cycles of primary education and two different versions of the program. For example, a second version of the EA program, with a more positive approach, produced an improvement in the acquisition of knowledge, behaviors, and attitudes regarding the development of good habits concerning the use of household drains. The conclusions show the suitability of this cross-sectoral EE program for actively involving students and their families in the proper management of household hygienic waste.

Training university students so that they become professionals who will promote an improvement in the relationship between socio-economic activity and the environment is one of the main challenges in higher education. Thus, it is important to evaluate the Environmental Education Programmes offered by public institutions to the university community. The objective of this research is to assess the impact of the "˜Red Andalucia Ecocampus University of Malaga" Programme in relation to the involvement of the university community in the environmental sustainability of its setting. A mixed methods design was used. Research participants included teachers, students and administrative and service staff at different research and training centres of the University of Malaga (n = 387). The results in this research work reveal that this Programme has an effective methodological design when it comes to acquiring concepts and strengthening environmental values in the university community. Keywords: Environmental education, programme evaluation, sustainability, higher education.

Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems represent one of the highest energy consumptions for office buildings. They are traditionally based on fixed setpoint temperatures during working hours and disregard outdoor conditions. The use of natural ventilation coupled with HVAC systems is frequently proposed when considering the global tendency towards reducing energy consumption in buildings. Buildings working under mixed mode instead of full air-conditioned mode, are a climate adaption development and usually lead to a decrease in energy consumption. However, there is no consensus on comfort thresholds and it is difficult to predict energy demand and consumption when considering global warming. This research focuses on quantifying the application of an adaptive comfort control mode in mixed mode office buildings. It consists of using daily setpoint temperatures based on the adaptive thermal comfort approach, in both present and future scenarios. The results show a 74.6% reduction in energy demand and a 59.7% drop in energy consumption when the adaptive comfort control implemented model (ACCIM) is applied in the current scenario. Results also establish that the ACCIM is more resilient to climate change, despite the fact that an increase in energy demand and consumption can be expected. The reduction of the energy demand ranges, with respect to the baseline model, from 31.0% currently to 39.1% in 2080, while energy consumption changes from 40.2% to 62.0% in 2080.

Environmental education plays a fundamental role in the fight against climate change and the transformation towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly socio-economic model. This study shows how to evaluate the effectiveness of a program for compulsory education students in Spain. The subject of the program focused on the effects of climate change in relation to our consumption model and the generation of waste. A mixed research methodology is proposed that combines a quantitative (10 items on the Likert scale, n = 714) and qualitative approach (category construction and analysis on open-ended questions). A study of the reliability and validity of the measure was carried out through a categorical principal component analysis (CATPCA). The multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) correlates the gender and educational level of the students to the learning acquired in the program. For example, the results show how students are convinced that adopting minimal pro-environmental habits (turning off lights and unplugging electronics, choosing public transport to get around, or using solar and wind power to produce electricity) can help mitigate climate change. The conclusions show the difficulties and challenges of education for responsible consumption, emphasizing the development of environmental education programs for reducing the effects of climate change.

This study evaluates the content, didactic resources and methodological dynamization of the “Change my model of consumption (CamBio mi modelo de consumo)” Environmental Education program. The objective of this program is that participants discover the importance of reducing the generation of waste in their daily behavior to preserve natural resources and not jeopardize the satisfaction of the needs of future generations. We start from a theoretical frame of reference which includes fundamental aspects related to the contribution of environmental education to sustainable development as one of the main challenges of today’s society. A mixed methods design (quasi-experimental quantitative and qualitative) has been used, which has taken into account the participation of students and teachers of Compulsory Primary and Secondary Education. The results obtained show the transversality and relationship of the contents of the evaluated program with those that are taught in these educational levels. For this reason, it is considered that the research carried out can be useful to promote the participation in non-formal environmental education activities that are offered by public or private entities to the educational system in the school environment.

Various public and private entities are currently making efforts to render the higher education curriculum more environmentally friendly, and in this regard knowledge of students’ pro-environmental attitudes is relevant in order to know how best to direct these efforts. In view of this, this research aims to examine whether university students have differences in attitudes towards sustainability, both in the total score of the instrument used (Questionnaire on Education for Sustainability, CEPS, Spanish acronym) and in the general principles of educational, economic-environmental and socio-environmental sustainability, according to gender, year of study, degree and branches of knowledge (Social and Legal Sciences, Health Sciences). To this end, we have studied a sample of undergraduate students (n=428) from different degree courses at the University of Granada. In the analysis, mean comparisons were made for independent samples (Mann-Whitney U) and analysis of variances (Kruskal-Wallis). The results indicate that female students have a better environmental attitude, except in economic-environmental aspects. In the same way, differences have been identified between some degree courses, with the trend being towards a better pro-environmental attitude in the Social Education students with respect to the other degrees. Thus, we conclude that women and those in degrees related to social education or physical activity seem to be more sensitive to the actions proposed by Education for Sustainability.

This study analyses the durability of rammed-earth wall construction techniques. The analysis focuses on three medieval masonry types from the Castle of Villavieja (Castellón, Spain) using two variations of lime-reinforced rammed earth in its walls: lime-crusted rammed earth and brick-reinforced rammed earth. Materials analysis reveals the good properties of the materials used in the outer wall facing despite its age. It also clearly shows how deterioration depends more on the construction technique (construction of the wall with a base, cornice, facings, core; on-site installation, bonds, etc.) than on the material itself. These two types of lime-reinforced rammed earth (lime-crusted rammed earth and brick-reinforced rammed earth) are the most common kinds of fortified architecture in the Iberian Peninsula as well as in northern Africa and the Middle East. The case presented herein is therefore highly relevant as it advances our knowledge of the behaviour of the materials comprising these walls and lays the foundations for suitable future conservation works of a vast array of architectural heritage.

Se simuló la acción agresiva de los denominados iones fundamentales (sulfato, cloruro y magnesio) y los gases agrios presentes en el gas natural (CO2 y H2S) sobre un cemento API clase H utilizado en pozos gasíferos a presión y temperatura elevadas, al objeto de observar sus alteraciones fisicoquímicas por la acción combinada de tales gases y las aguas de formación. Se prepararon varias probetas del material cementante para su inmersión en disoluciones neutras, conteniendo los iones fundamentales en concentraciones fijas, dentro de reactores tipo Parr. Se analizaron durante más de dos meses una serie de disoluciones en contacto con el cemento utilizado; así como, mediante DRX, la evolución de la mineralogía de dicho material entre los 14 y los 60 días. Los principales efectos de ambos gases, en conjunto o por separado, sobre la durabilidad del cemento fueron, respectivamente, la formación de carbonato cálcico y la lixiviación de algunos componentes. This paper discusses the attack of the major ions (sulfate, chloride, and magnesium) and sour gases, present in natural gas (CO2 y SH2), on API class H cement, the type used in gas wells under high pressure and temperature. The effects of these chemical agents on this cement was simulated to study the physicochemical changes due to the action of sour gases and formation water. Cement specimens were immersed in neutral solutions containing fixed concentrations of the major ions inside Parr reactors. These solutions were analysed and XRD analyses were conducted for over two months to identify mineralogical variations from 14 to 60 days. The objective of this research was to determine the effects of the joint attack of major ions and sour gases on cement pastes. The main effects of both gases, jointly or separately, on cement durability were, respectively, the carbonation process and the leaching of some components.