1. Energy efficient building design : lecture notes : study material for the subject Energy efficient building design, master's programme in Sustainable built environmentKatja Malovrh Rebec, 2026, reviewed university, higher education or higher vocational education textbook Abstract: This study material serves as the primary lecture notes for the course EnergyEfficient Building Design within the Master's programme in Sustainable BuiltEnvironment. The first part covers the fundamental principles and objectivesof energy-efficient building design, the relevant legislative framework,indicators and methods for classifying and certifying building energyperformance, energy sources, building energy flows, climatic and siteinfluences, basic design parameters, living comfort, passive design strategies,and active technical systems, illustrated through best-practice examples. Thesecond part addresses disruptive technologies, including artificialintelligence, and building resilience to climate change. The material isstructured as a continuous, systematic treatment of the subject intended tosupport independent study and exam preparation, and is complemented bya glossary and lists of used and recommended literature.
Keywords: energy efficient building design, sustainable buildings, building performance, building energy modeling
Published in RUP: 03.09.2026; Views: 164; Downloads: 2
 Full text (3,13 MB) |
2. Scaling up the clean energy transition in Turkey : the role of financial development, green technologies, and economic complexityFoday Joof, Mehdi Seraj, 2026, original scientific article Abstract: The transition to a low-carbon economy represents a significant challenge and opportunity for Turkey, whose energy mix is 90% fossil fuel. In this context, this research aims to analyse the role of financial development (FD), economic complexity (EC), and environmental technology (PET) on renewable energy consumption (REC) in Turkey over the period from 1980 to 2020. The Fourier Bootstrap ARDL (FBARDL) approach, a new technique that can capture up to five smooth structural breaks and address small sample biases, indicates that a significant ‘green structural lock-in’ exists, where a 1% rise in FD and EC causes a 1.12% and 0.70% decrease in REC, respectively. In other words, Turkey’s financial development and economic complexity are still locked into fossil fuel consumption. In contrast, PET positively influences REC, where a 1% rise in PET causes a 0.12% rise in REC. The Granger causality test further confirms that FD and PET have a one-way causality to REC. The research contributes to the existing literature on the Turkish energy equilibrium, providing a much-needed antidote to the prevailing ‘positive finance’ assumptions in non-OECD economies.
Keywords: financial development, renewable energy, environmental technology, Turkey, Fourier Bootstrap ARDL
Published in RUP: 24.08.2026; Views: 239; Downloads: 6
Full text (428,50 KB)
This document has more files! More... |
3. Some results on ▫$\sigma_t$▫-irregularitySlobodan Filipovski, Darko Dimitrov, Martin Knor, Riste Škrekovski, 2026, original scientific article Abstract: The (\sigma_t)-irregularity (or sigma total index) is a graph invariant defined as [ \sigma_t(G)=\sum_{{u,v}\subseteq V(G)}(d(u)-d(v))^2, ] where (d(z)) denotes the degree of a vertex (z). This irregularity measure was proposed by Réti in 2019 and recently rediscovered by Dimitrov and Stevanović in 2023. In this paper, we remark that (\sigma_t(G)=n^2\operatorname{Var}(G)), where (\operatorname{Var}(G)) is the degree variance of the graph. We show that among all complete bipartite graphs on (n) vertices, one of the corresponding complete bipartite graphs whose part sizes are closest to (n(2-\sqrt{2})/4) and (n(2+\sqrt{2})/4) has the maximum sigma total index. Moreover, various upper and lower bounds for (\sigma_t)-irregularity are provided. In this direction, we establish a relation between the graph energy (\mathcal{E}(G)) and (\sigma_t)-irregularity and derive bounds related to the Laplacian eigenvalues of the graph.
Keywords: irregularity, total irregularity, energy of graphs, Laplacian eigenvalues
Published in RUP: 14.08.2026; Views: 188; Downloads: 6
Full text (335,30 KB)
This document has more files! More... |
4. How valid are wearable devices in team sports? : a systematic reviewNebojša Čokorilo, Nikola Manolopoulos, Tamara Matijević, Ranko Rajović, 2026, review article Abstract: The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the validity and accuracy of wearable technologies used for monitoring physiological metrics in team-sport athletes. A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed and Scopus databases, with additional studies identified through supplementary searching. Studies published between 2015 and 2025 were included if they assessed wearable devices in team-sport populations and compared their measurements with gold-standard methods. A total of eleven studies met the inclusion criteria. The findings indicate that heart rate monitoring demonstrates consistently high validity across different wearable devices, particularly in controlled laboratory conditions. In contrast, energy expenditure estimation shows substantial variability and systematic underestimation, especially during high-intensity and intermittent activities typical of team sports. VO2max estimation presents mixed validity depending on device type and testing protocol, while respiratory frequency measurement demonstrates high agreement with gold-standard methods when assessed using specialized devices. Overall, wearable technologies provide valuable insights into athlete monitoring; however, their accuracy varies considerably depending on the physiological parameter and testing environment. These findings highlight the need for improved validation protocols and caution in the application of wearable-derived data in high-performance team-sport settings.
Keywords: physiological monitoring, team sport athletes, heart rate, energy expenditure, VO2max, inertial sensors, validation studies
Published in RUP: 30.06.2026; Views: 349; Downloads: 9
Full text (725,41 KB)
This document has more files! More... |
5. |
6. Agri-environmental schemes reduce variable input costs : evidence from Slovenian farmsŠtefan Bojnec, Imre Fertő, 2026, original scientific article Abstract: Agri-environmental schemes (AES) are central policy instruments designed to promote environmentally friendly agricultural practices by financially supporting the adoption of sustainable land management. While a substantial body of research examines how AES influence environmental outcomes and overall farm performance, far less is known about their direct effects on farm-level variable input costs, particularly in terms of energy, fertilizer, and crop protection expenditures. Existing studies typically analyse eco-efficiency or broad economic-environmental indicators, leaving a critical empirical gap regarding whether and how AES reshape the cost structure of farms during and after adoption. This study addresses this gap by estimating the causal impact of AES participation on key variable input costs using Slovenian Farm Accountancy Data Network data and a Differences-in-Differences (DID) design with staggered adoption, supported by robustness and sensitivity analyses. The findings indicate that AES participation leads to significant reductions in pesticide and energy costs, while fertilizer expenditures tend to increase in the short term before stabilizing or declining over time. These patterns suggest that AES trigger structural adjustments in production—such as reduced tillage intensity and transitions to organic or biological inputs—that can initially raise some input costs but contribute to longer-term sustainability. The study therefore offers new empirical evidence on the cost implications of AES, improving understanding of how environmental policy instruments affect farm-level economic decisions. These insights are essential for designing AES that support both environmental objectives and the economic viability of farmers, particularly in regions where sustainability transitions may involve short-term trade-offs.
Keywords: agri-environmental schemes, resources in agriculture, energy, fertilizer, crop protection, variable input costs, Slovenian agriculture
Published in RUP: 23.03.2026; Views: 646; Downloads: 19
Full text (1,44 MB)
This document has more files! More... |
7. Adherence and metabolic outcomes of early and late time-restricted eating with energy restriction vs. energy restriction alone : a 6-month follow-upTanja Črešnovar, Bernarda Habe, Nina Mohorko, Saša Kenig, Zala Jenko Pražnikar, Ana Petelin, 2026, original scientific article Abstract: Background/Objectives: Long-term weight maintenance remains challenging with conventional dietary strategies due to various barriers. Time-restricted eating (TRE) has recently attracted attention as a potential approach to improve adherence, but evidence on long-term maintenance is limited. We investigated the 6-month follow-up (6FU) of early time-restricted eating with energy restriction (eTRE + ER), late time-restricted eating with energy restriction (lTRE + ER) and energy restriction alone (ER). Methods: This 6FU included 69 of 93 participants from a previously conducted 3-month intervention (3INT). After the intervention, participants returned to free-living conditions without dietary guidance. Outcomes included adherence, perceived barriers, body composition, blood pressure, cardiometabolic risk factors, metabolic hormones, subjective appetite, and dietary intake. Results: Adherence of at least ≥5 days per week was low: 7.7% (eTRE + ER), 18.2% (lTRE + ER), and 9.5% (ER). Reduced adherence during the 6FU was associated with a partial reversal of improvements in body mass, body composition, cardiometabolic risk factors, metabolic hormones, and subjective appetite observed during the 3INT. Analysis of perceived barriers showed that environmental and psychosocial barriers were significant predictors of changes in body mass during the 6FU, while environmental and behavioral barriers were associated with extension of the eating window. These associations were most pronounced in the eTRE + ER group. Conclusions: During the 6FU, differences between dietary strategies gradually diminished, although some remained clinically meaningful. Long-term adherence was low across all three dietary strategies, with psychosocial, environmental, and behavioral barriers particularly evident in the eTRE + ER group. Further research is needed to confirm long-term adherence before TRE + ER interventions can be widely applied in clinical practice.
Keywords: early time-restricted eating, late time-restricted eating, energy restriction, overweight, obesity
Published in RUP: 22.03.2026; Views: 1052; Downloads: 35
Full text (2,14 MB)
This document has more files! More... |
8. Analysis of the Effect of Eco-Efficiency on Asset Return in Food and Beverage Manufacturing Companies Listed at the Johannesburg Stock ExchangeDimakatso Hellen Malapa, Collins C. Ngwakwe, 2025, original scientific article Abstract: This article examines the effect of eco-efficiency on corporate return on assets (ROA). The paper aimed to analyse whether corporate eco-efficiency performance (represented by energy consumption, water consumption, carbon emission and waste generation) affects the performance of ROA. Data on the eco-efficiency and ROA was collected from fourteen food and beverage companies listed in the Johannesburg Stock Exchange for a period of ten years (2012 to 2021). Using the STATA Software, the data was analysed by applying the Generalised Method of Moment (GMM) statistical technique, which enhanced the statistical analysis robustness. Findings from the GMM analysis showed different results. On the one hand, the results indicate that energy and water consumption in the food and beverage companies have a positive (but insignificant) effect on ROA. On the other hand, the results show that waste generation has a negative (but insignificant) effect on ROA; and that carbon emission has a negative and significant effect on ROA.
Keywords: environmental accounting, return on assets, financial performance, eco-efficiency, energy consumption, water consumption, carbon
emission, waste generation, sales revenue
Published in RUP: 18.12.2025; Views: 735; Downloads: 5
Full text (277,54 KB)
This document has more files! More... |
9. Agri-environmental schemes and input costsŠtefan Bojnec, Imre Fertő, 2025, published scientific conference contribution abstract (invited lecture) Abstract: Agri-environmental schemes (AECS) are integral components of the European Union’s Common Agricultural Policy, designed to promote environmentally sustainable farming practices and mitigate the adverse impacts of agriculture on ecosystems by providing financial incentives to farmers (Unay-Gailhard and Bojnec, 2016; Ait Sidhoum, Canessa, and Sauer, 2023). This study analyses the impact of AES participation on variable input costs for energy consumption, fertilizer use, and crop protection in Slovenia. Findings indicate that AES participation significantly reduces fertilizer, pesticide, and energy costs. While AES lower input costs, they may also lead to short-term yield reductions, potentially affecting farm profitability and farm efficiency (Baráth, Fertő, and Bojnec, 2020). These results highlight the need for complementary policies that enhance sustainable yield improvements and farm resilience. By promoting resource-efficient practices, AES contributes to reducing environmental externalities such as soil and water pollution and improving population wellbeing (Fukuyama, Hashimoto and Weber, 2020). The study underscores AES as essential for the transition to sustainable agriculture while emphasizing the challenge of balancing environmental, economic, and other sustainability objectives (Fertő and Bojnec, 2024, 2025). Policymakers should consider strategies that support both ecological benefits and farm income stability, ensuring long-term agricultural sustainability and resilience in the face of environmental and economic challenges.
Keywords: agri-environmental schemes, costs, energy, fertilizer, crop protection, Slovenia
Published in RUP: 18.08.2025; Views: 1136; Downloads: 9
Full text (598,18 KB) |
10. |
