The electric power sector is analyzed from the standpoint of well-being and a number of political priorities are considered that go beyond the traditional tasks of the so-called “energy trilemma”, namely reliable, affordable and carbon-free energy. This shows the importance of solving the problem at different levels as it can help the Government of Kazakhstan more reliably achieve synergy between actions to combat climate change and other priorities and, consequently, achieve double harmonization. The purpose of the study is to consider the cost and pricing surveys in the conditions of the functioning of the electricity market of Kazakhstan. Electricity is of key importance for human well-being. Electricity is highly necessary for many basic services, infrastructure and economic activities. Despite the increase in energy efficiency, the global electricity demand increased by 115% between 1990 and 2020, which is significantly higher than the population growth rate over the same period. This trend will undoubtedly continue conditioned upon economic growth, increased access and the electrification of end users. The assessment of electricity generation technologies from the point of view of well-being requires the use of the full cost method, which includes all applicable external costs, risks and benefits to determine the low-carbon energy balance, which in the Republic of Kazakhstan, is compatible with sustainable development. This assessment clearly needs to go beyond the plant level to consider the network infrastructure and demand to get a holistic view of the social costs of electricity. The practical significance lies in the analysis of cost and pricing in the conditions of the functioning of the electricity market of Kazakhstan.

The study attempts to link the descriptive economics with the
theoretical model of permanent income and life cycle hypothesis (PILCH)
to shed some light on a low private savings rate for Polish households.
These may be explained by the households' belief that the public pension
are a collateral to borrow against, which could discourage the buffer
stock effect. The study comprises two research fields: 1) the estimation
of so called augmented wealth, and, 2) the marginal propensity to
consume (MPC) out of different types of wealth with the permanent income
model. The mean augmented wealth (i.e. net wealth plus public pension
wealth) per household in PLN amounted to 705 thousands, consisting of
public pension wealth of 388 thousands and net wealth of 415 thousands.
The model perfectly matches the augmented wealth Lorenz curve. The
average MPC out of all types of wealth reaches 10% on average, ranging
6-20%, with a negative MPC to wealth correlation, and 60% of
hand-to-mouth households. The explanation for this perfect match may
stem from a high wage growth (also public pension contributions wedge)
that that builds the public pension wealth. The Ricardian-type
households may then mentally account the future pensions as a collateral
(fiduciary money) for current high MPC, which may implicate crowding out
their propensity to save for retirement privately.

The impact of harmonic distortions on power grids is a major issue in contemporary power networks as a result of the extensive application of non-linear loads. The purpose of this article is to explore the problem of harmonic distortion in power grids and its impact on the elements of the power grid, such as cable lines and transformers. The Schaffner PQS software product was used in this study to model power grids. New techniques for modeling power grids and finding technical solutions that meet the IEEE 519-2014 standard were introduced. The study finds that harmonic distortion can lead to an additional heat load being placed on cable lines and reduces the power available to transformers, which can decrease their rated power. The application of modern software reduces the time and complexity of calculations, and the availability of software solutions for limiting harmonic distortion simplifies the creation of solutions that meet this standard. Using the methods presented in the study, engineering solutions can be improved, the reliability of electrical systems can be increased, and the loss of electrical energy can be reduced. This can enhance efficiency for design engineers and technical specialists involved in the operation of power grids.

This paper proposes the usage of the fuzzy rule-based Bayesian algorithm to determine which residential appliances can be considered for the Demand Response program. In contrast with other related studies, this research recognizes both randomness and fuzziness in appliance usage. Moreover, the input data for usage prediction consists of nodal price values (which represent the actual power system conditions), appliance operation time, and time of day. The case study of residential power consumer behavior modeling was implemented to show the functionality of the proposed methodology. The results of applying the suggested algorithm are presented as colored 3D control surfaces. In addition, the performance of the model was verified using R squared coefficient and root mean square error. The conducted studies show that the proposed approach can be used to predict when the selected appliances can be used under specific circumstances. Research of this type may be useful for evaluation of the demand response programs and support residential load forecasting.

Contemporary design of food labels use different landscape pictures. Using the landscape in trade and market as a way of serving the message has long history and is very common. It was the main reason to create the concept of consumers landscape. According to research results two basic landscape images were observed — images of real landscape (pictures of recognizable and existing places, sites, cities, buildings, etc.) and images of imaginary landscape (imaginary view suggesting the certain type of landscape). The results of conducted researches could be helpful in recognizing the difference between real landscape and imaginary landscape. Conducted researches could be used not only in landscape architecture, but also in trade and marketing. Wide range of phenomenon called consumers landscape allows for expanding the studies on the dependency between a landscape vista and recognizing and selling the product.

The purpose of this paper is to estimate levels of pesticide residues present on or in greenhouse vegetables of che south-eastern Poland. Samples taken by trained inspectors of Inspectorates of Plant Protection (national monitoring program) and by personnel of the Experimental Station (surveillance programme) were generally analysed unwashed and unpeeled. The results obtained were compared to their MRLs and then were used for che assessment of che long (chronic) and short-term (acute) exposure of adult consumers. Detectable residues (above limie of determination) were found in 45%, 36%, and 20% of che tomato, pepper and cucumber samples (national monitoring program), respectively, and in 78%, and 52% of che tomato and cucumber samples (surveillance programme). Long-term intake of residues by an adult consumer of the south-eastern Poland did not exceed the level of 0.2% of che ADI, indicating that sufficient margin of safety exist for the consumer. From shore-term exposure, only consumption of tomatoes containing DTCs and chlorochalonil residues were close to levels of respective ADIs.

The paper presents the idea of a prosumer energy cloud as a new service dedicated to electricity prosumers. The implementation of the cloud should generate a number of benefits in the following areas: settlements between prosumer and electricity supplier, the development of distributed energy sources in microprocessors and the development of e-mobility. From the prosumer point of view, the proposed idea of a prosumer cloud of energy is dedicated to the virtual storage of energy excess generated in the micro-installation. Physical energy storage in the cloud means recording the volume of electricity introduced into the electricity system from the prosumer’s microprocessors. It is assumed that the energy equivalent to the volume registered in the prosumer cloud can be used at any time at any point in the network infrastructure of the National Power System. Any point of network infrastructure shall be understood as any locally located point of connection of an electricity consumer provided with access authorization. From the point of view of the power grid operators, the idea of a prosumer energy cloud is a conceptual proposition of a service dedicated to the new model of the power system functioning, taking future conditions concerning the significant development of prosumer energy and e-mobility into account. In this concept, electricity would be treated as a commodity only to partial physical storage and above all to trade. In this model a key aspect would be virtual energy storage, that is, the commercial provision by the cloud operator (trading company) of any use of the electricity portfolio by its suppliers. It should be stressed, however, that in the prosumer’s energy cloud functioning, a significant factor would be the cost of guarantees of the use of energy by prosumers at any time and point of connection to the network. This results in the need of taking the presence of certain market risks, both volumetric and cost incurred by clouds operator, which can be minimized by passing a portion of the accumulated volume of generated energy to the cloud operator into account. It should be emphasized that this article presents the first phase of the development of the concept of prosumer energy cloud. However, it is planned to be expanded by the following stages, which include the possibility of controlling and supervising the operation of prosumer installations such as: sources, receivers and physical energy stores, e.g. home energy storage or batteries installed in electric vehicles. Ultimately, it is assumed that the proposed prosumer energy cloud will be outside of the storage of energy (virtual and partly physical) and that aggregation of prosumer resources will create new possibilities for their use to provide a variety of regulatory services, including system ones.

The “plain and intelligible language” requirement performs a dual function within the framework of Council Directive 93/13/EEC of 5 April 1993 on unfair terms in consumer contracts. First, it is listed as a requirement for application of the exemption included in Art. 4(2) as regards policing terms relating to the main subject matter of the contract or to the adequacy of the price and remuneration. Second, the “plain and intelligible language” requirement is a general requirement addressed at all consumer contracts executed in writing (Art. 5). This paper examines the boundaries of the precept, and places particular emphasis on the recent developments in both EU and Polish law, where the requirement has been used to imply a host of information duties aimed at enhancing consumers’ capacity to foresee the consequences of the terms that they are assenting to. This apparently novel approach, which has been developing in piecemeal fashion in the CJEU’s ever-expanding case law, may trigger significant consequences in the field of consumer contract law. In some ways, expansion of the substantive scope of the requirement may be said to be motivated by the fact that courts, under Art. 4(2) of Directive 93/13, are unable to subject the adequacy of the price and remuneration against the services or supply of goods received in exchange to the substantive fairness test under Art. 3(1) (examination of terms through the prism of the notions of good faith and significant imbalance in the parties’ rights and obligations to the detriment of the consumer).

A field trial on the transfer of pyrimethanil, cyprodinil and cyflufenamid residues from apple trees of Idared cultivar to hives by honeybees Apis mellifera was carried out. Two days after spraying (Faban 500 SC and Kendo 50 EW), and on the day of spraying (Chorus 50 WG), the quantities of residues on leaves and flowers of apple trees and pollen were as follows: pyrimethanil: 1.45 μg per cm2 of leaves, 11.51 μg per single flower and 7.18 μg · g ⁻¹ of pollen, cyprodinil:1.35, 8.64 and 7.94 μg, and cyflufenamid: 0.064, 0.266 and 0.11 μg, respectively. All of them subsequently disappeared exponentially. Two days after, and on the day of spraying, pyrimethanil (1.81 μg · g ⁻¹), cyprodinil (up to 0.55 μg · g ⁻¹) and cyflufenamid (0.04 μg · g ⁻¹) were found in worker bees. Residues of all used chemicals were found in the brood, honey and wax samples. The residues of pyrimethanil, cyprodinil and cyflufenamid in worker bees exceeded the level of 0.2% of the LD50, which indicates that their application rates (doses) are safe for the honey bee.

Load profiles of residential consumers are very diverse. This paper proposes the usage of a continuous wavelet transform and wavelet coherence to perform analysis of residential power consumer load profiles. The importance of load profiles in power engineering and common shapes of profiles along with the factors that cause them are described. The continuous wavelet transform and wavelet coherence has been presented. In contrast with other studies, this research has been conducted using detailed (not averaged) load profiles. Presented load profiles were measured separately on working day and weekend during winter in two urban households. Results of applying the continuous wavelet transform for load profiles analysis are presented as coloured scalograms. Moreover, the wavelet coherence was used to detect potential relationships between two consumers in power usage patterns. Results of coherence analysis are also presented in a colourful plots. The conducted studies show that the Morlet wavelet is slightly better suitable for load profiles analysis than the Meyer’s wavelet. Research of this type may be valuable for a power system operator and companies selling electricity in order to match their offer to customers better or for people managing electricity consumption in buildings.

This study offers an overview of how changing habits in consuming a cup of tea can contribute to make better environment. As the initial existing scenario, survey for picturing Indonesian consumers in preparing their cup of tea from dried leaves was conducted to urban and suburban citizens. According to the survey, both respondent groups were using LPG as the first choice in boiling water for preparing tea, followed by using an electric dispenser as the second choice. This habit causes CO2 emission from processing a cup of tea by Indonesian consumer was 24 g CO2-eq per cup of tea, excluding the tea organic waste. The portion of CO2 emission from boiling water in tea preparation was 41.93% of whole CO2 emission from plantation to served cup. The emission can be significantly reduced by converting dried tea (initial scenario) into the ready-to-drink product, in the form of powdered tea (second scenario) and boxed tea (third scenario). This study simulated an integrated system of tea product manufacturing system with biogas utilization produced from tea organic waste. Simulation conducted based on daily manufacturing process at the Gamboeng green tea factory. Additional required energies were simulated from the wood pellet, which is the best practice in the Gamboeng Tea factory. By shifting tea consuming habit from dried tea to powdered tea and/or boxed tea, the emission from a cup of tea can be reduced, with range of reduction varied from 8.87 g to 22.13 g CO2-eq per cup of tea. If the Gamboeng green tea daily production capacity of the factory is fully converted into powdered tea, the potency of CO2 emission reduction reaches 26.92 metric ton CO2. However, the factory should pay attention to providing the water for the manufacturing process. The required water was 45.23 m3 of drinking water if all dried tea converted to powdered tea. Moreover, 11.53 m3 of water is required as irrigation for the biogas process in converting all tea organic waste into biogas.