• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.1288-1294
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• 2022

Hydrogen as an environmentally friendly energy carrier has received special attention to solving uncertainty about the presence of renewable energy and its dependence on time and weather conditions. This material can be prepared from different sources and in various ways. In previous studies, fossil fuels have been used in hydrogen production, but due to several limitations, especially the limitation of the access to this material in the not-too-distant future and the great problem of greenhouse gas emissions during hydrogen production methods. New methods based on renewable and green energy sources as energy drivers of hydrogen production have been considered. In these methods, water or biomass materials are used as the raw material for hydrogen production. In this article, after a brief review of different hydrogen production methods concerning the required raw material, these methods are examined and ranked from different aspects of economic, social, environmental, and energy and exergy analysis sustainability. In the following, the current position of hydrogen production is discussed. Finally, according to the introduced methods, their advantages, and disadvantages, solar electrolysis as a method of hydrogen production on a small scale and hydrogen production by thermochemical method on a large scale are introduced as the preferred methods.

• Journal of the Korea Furniture Society
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.398-408
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• 2015

Though the physical environment of life through technological evolution has rapidly improved, the quality of life due to a variety of undesirable environmental issues has been seriously damaging. This study has tried to suggest the positive & sustainable direction of space design which can contribute to improving the quality of human lives by reviving 'place property' which a site itself has, trying to analyze the recycling space which the sustainability has been applied to in a true sense. For this cause, we've tried to draw four 'methods of realizing place property' such as meeting a site, understanding a site, finding the identity of a site, and adding novelty to a site through advanced research. I've tried to suggest the design direction for reviving space which can relieve the artificial aspect of design with pursuing the co-existence with nature on the foundation of realizing 'place property' through case analysis selected on the basis of this, and can express the 'sustainability' through environment-friendly space structures & high efficiency of its function.

• International conference on construction engineering and project management
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• 2013.01a
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• pp.367-374
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• 2013

Underground infrastructure systems provide essential public services and goods through buried structures including water and sewer, gas and petroleum, power and communication pipelines. The majority of existing underground infrastructure systems was installed in green field areas prior to development of complex urban built environments. Currently, there is a global trend to escalate major demand for underground infrastructure system renewal and new installation while minimizing disruption and maintaining functions of existing superstructures. Therefore, Engineers and utility owners are rigorously seeking technologies that minimize environmental, social, and economic impact during the renewal and installation process. Trenchless technologies have proven to be socially less disruptive, more environmentally friendly, energy conservative and economically viable alternative methods. All of those benefits are adequate to enhance overall sustainability. This paper describes effective sustainable solutions using trenchless technologies. Sustainability is assessed by a comparison between conventional open cut and trenchless technology methods. Sustainability analysis is based on a broad perspective combining the three main aspects of sustainability: economic; environmental; and social. Economic includes construction cost, benefit, and social cost analysis. Environmental includes emission estimation and environmental quality impact study. Social includes various social impacts on an urban area. This paper summarizes sustainable trenchless technology solutions and presents a sustainable construction method selection process in a proposed framework to be used in urban underground infrastructure capital improvement projects.

• The Journal of Sustainable Design and Educational Environment Research
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.26-37
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to prepare a plan for the development of an ecological audit program that can be applied to the elementary school curriculum for sustainability education. School ecological audits enable students or groups of students to identify and solve the school's environmental problems on their own, thereby fostering sustainable decision-making and attitudes. As a result of the study through literature research, an ecological audit project learning program applicable to the elementary school curriculum was developed. The developed program is aimed at 6th graders and is composed of 16 steps reflecting the procedural and ecological processes of the ecological audit. In order to settle the developed program in the school site and improve the school sustainability of the developed program, it is necessary to introduce a school environment management system that can periodically monitor the school environment, strengthen the capacity of school teachers, and provide a professional certification system outside the school. In addition, with this bottom-up policy-making system, students can expect to spread a sustainable school culture through environmental education activities.

• Asian Journal of Business Environment
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between portfolio quality and financial sustainability of microfinance institutions in Kenya. Research Design, Data, and Methodology: The analysis was based on a panel dataset of 30 microfinance institutions for the period of 2010 to 2018. Data was obtained from the Microfinance information exchange (MIX) database, and it was analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistics with the aid of STATA. Based on the results of the Hausman test, the study adopted the fixed effect regression model to test the research hypothesis. Results: The study found that portfolio quality had a positive significant effect on financial sustainability of Microfinance institutions in Kenya (β= 0. 211; p-value < 0.05). For the control variables; firm age had a positive effect (β= 0.773; p-value <0.05), while firm size (β= -0. 749; p-value < 0.05) had a negative effect on financial sustainability. Conclusions: The study concluded that portfolio quality has an important influence on the financial sustainability of microfinance institution. The study recommends that managers of microfinance institutions should devise good collection policies to improve portfolio quality while lessening loan default rate. The portfolio quality may improve the overall profitability and enhance investor confidence in their strategic decision-making on refinancing.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.447-465
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• 2007

The purpose of this study is to assess the sustainability in 45 cities of all over Gyeongnam and Gyeongbuk using weights and assessment system developed in leading research. The materials of assessment used statistical data and spatial data were standardized for the systematic result. The assessment score was established using the normal distribution from 25 to 125 for removal of the very smallest and maximum value. According to the results, Tongyeong was assessed the highest by 82.5 score in environmental sustainability index. In economical sustainability index, Pohang, Gumi, Changwon, Yangsan were more than 79 score but Busan, Daegu, Andong were less than 70 score. Ulsan, Geoje, Yangsan were assessed higher in society-institutional sustainability index and Jinju, Munkyeong, Changnyeong were showed higher than other cities by more 79 score in quality of life(QOL)'s sustainability index. In case of integrated sustainability index, Jinju that was the highest sustainability in QOL was assessed by first city. However, Ulsan was assessed the lowest city among others. Therefore cities which have high sustainability will prepare a politic investment program for maintaining current conditions. Cities which have low sustainability will grasp closely the environmental characteristics of urban and present the improvement direction through monitoring continuously. Overall, these results can be used as tools to assess the current cities and predict the future one. It is also necessary to establish a systematic urban planning for livable and sustainable city.

• Journal of Korea Port Economic Association
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.211-220
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• 2016

In accordance with the environmental changes that surrounds the port, there seems to be a trend of increasing interest in a sustainable development and operation of port. Considering that sustainability assessment utilizing Triple Bottome Line(TBL) has been conducted actively in various fields of research, it is essential to evaluate port sustainability including not only economic aspect but also social as well as environmental ones. In this regard, this study aims to measure the relative importance of port sustainability index using AHP. Moreover, sustainability of Korean four major ports has been tested by adopting the newly developed index in this study. From the results, it can be concluded that in addition to securing high value cargoes, increasing efficiency of port operation and infrastructure together with capital investment are essential. Growth harmonized with surrounding area of port and environment-friendly port operation should not be disregarded.

• Journal of the Korean housing association
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.107-119
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to provide basic information about the study of model development of sustainable housing area. So, this study identified the concept of sustainable development and condition after investigation Habitat Agenda II, and the 10 items of agenda were used to constitute the case study framework. This study found the development characteristics through the case study of 6 sustainable housing areas in the world(US, UK and Australia), and searched the missing point in the sustainable development concept. The major findings are summarized as follows: First, the attempt of environmental sustainability was restrictive such as minimal environment pollution and waste, water resource protection and conservation of nature ecosystem. Second, in social-culture sustainability, the effort of right to housing, solution of urban squatter and housing welfare eliminated. Third, in economic sustainability, the attempt of prevent natural disaster, technological and industrial disaster excluded.

• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.158-166
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to suggest a direction for eco-friendly healing space design for healthcare facilities in the future. Theoretical review and case study on the concept of sustainable design, spatial expression and behavioral affordance were used as research method. Through these reviews, the 3 elements of the total healing environment -physical, psychological and social- have correspondence with elements of spatial expression; Refuge, Flow, Prospect and Void. And these are related to the eight kinds of Behavioral affordance which are subdivided into WORK&STUDY, REST, CIRCULATION, VISUAL SEQUENCE, SOCIAL EXCHANGE, REFRESHMENT, COMMUNITY and MEDITATION. And the concept of sustainable design consists of 6 principles ; Natural system, People, Place, The cycle of life, Energy & natural resources and Process. Through correlation analysis of behavioral affordance and 6 principles, the result of this study presents that the physical elements of the total healing space was mainly associated with the principles of people, place and the cycle of life. Psychological element was related to principle of natural system, human, place and process. And social element was associated with the principles of human, place and process. According to this analysis, the case study of four low-rise eco-friendly medical facilities was undertaken. Sustainability was evaluated in total healing environmental through this case study.

• Asian Journal of Business Environment
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.5-16
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• 2013

Purpose - Micro-finance institutions (MFIs) are critical to Vietnam's quest for poverty alleviation among the poor in the rural and agrarian communities. The current study attempts to investigate the impact of microfinance outreach programs undertaken by formal and semi-formal MFIs in Vietnam targeting the poor rural and agrarian communities. Research design, data, methodology - An enquiry was made as to whether the poor and rural communities accessed the micro credit offered by Government supported MFIs and NGOs through their microfinance outreach programs. Furthermore, the current study attempted to explore if the current mode of operations adopted by MFIs in Vietnam is sustainable. Results -The findings indicate that significant progress has been made in Vietnam to alleviate poverty among the poor rural communities through micro finance outreach programs. Conclusions - There are also pointers of MFIs sustainability in Vietnam. However, it still remains to be seen if the current sustainability pointers are long lasting without government subsidies or some international organizations financial support to microfinance outreach programs.