Within Hungary, the Koppányvölgye rural area was chosen due to its unique natural circumstances with its broad green nature, concerning the inhabitants’ habit for the usage and knowledge of renewable energy for residential heating. Through quota-based sampling method we collected the demographic, social and economic variables to examine their level of influence on wood for residential heating usage. We received the Likert scale values through the questionnaire, which had to be recoded for the binomial logistic regression model that we chose to use because of the indicator variable’s trait, and in aim to examine the explanatory variables’ significance. As a result, for the wood indicator variable, the age of the respondent turned out to be a significant variable, the higher age compared to lower age is a chance decreasing category for wood usage, employed compared to unemployed increased the likelihood, thereby rejected the energy ladder phenomenon, as well as more people in one household increased the chance for wood usage. The higher education, environmental awareness and insulation level of a house turned out to be non-significant for wood usage. Therefore, we strengthened those statements from the earlier studies, that in this rural region, the change of the residential heating technology is more likely to be supply driven than demand driven.

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This paper is intended to show the importance of spatial accounting, the practicality ofmapping and illustration. To this end, biomass potential that can be grown on arable lands and the resulting indicators were studied on the example of the Tabi járás (Tabi district) of Hungary. The processed data was projected onto maps for mapping the absolute potential, but also specific indicators such as values per hectare or per capita. The results are plotted in equal intervals and along with natural fractures classification of the data. The results thus obtained emphasize the heterogeneity caused by spatial unevenness. Taking such information into account can improve the efficiency of state interventions, investments, developments and the decentralization of other decisions.

The paper describes some of the main economic indicators such as the Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI), Sustainable Net Benefit Index (SNBI) and the Human Development Index (HDI) that have been intended to replace or supplement Gross Domestic Product. Based on our analysis, we conclude that none of the indicators is still able to replace GDP because of the difficulties in data collection and the lack of sufficient objectivity in the types of information used. Meanwhile, each indicator draws attention to important trends that are not visible from GDP so they can provide useful signals for building and evaluating policies. The study was created for the Economics Seminar of Kaposvár (KAKTUSZ) which is organized annually by the Kaposvár University. It is closely related to the paper by Varga et al. (2018) titled “Theoretical overview of MEW and ISEW alternative economic indicators” (in the present issue) and can be conceived as a continuation of that.

Abstract.Worldwide, there is a huge demand for the application of renewable energy technologies mainly due to the current environmental problems that mostly originated from our fossil-based energy system. This study is aiming at presenting areas which require a bigger share of renewables from the global energy mix but only for economic reasons. We highlight that these alternatives can bear with advantageous economic effects compared to the non-renewable ones. We take into account renewables-based business opportunities, and then we discuss the positive effects of renewables on economic development. Finally, we look at the issuant security of energy supply and talk about benefi cial labor market impacts caused by renewable energies.