The aim of the study was to evaluate the potential to satisfy some energy needs of a rural municipality using renewable energy sources. The research was conducted in the territory of the Municipality of Nowa Słupia in Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, Poland. The novel aspect of this study was to assess current and potential production of energy from renewable sources. The study included consideration of sources of energy such as the sun, water, wind, and biogas of plant origin; and distinguishing actual, potential, and overall renewable energy sources in the period from the time of the study to 2025. The assessment was based on the sum of existing individual sources and also on opportunities revealed in a development trend analysis of these energy sources. Currently, the municipality does not consume energy from renewable energy sources. In view of the potential volume of energy from renewables, the municipality could meet the demands of its residents at 7.6%. The current volume of thermal energy from renewables, it is here estimated that the municipality could meet the demands at the level of 10.3%. In the future, this source could be developed further beyond the present level of 65.8%, which together with energy crop biomass obtained on set-aside land (approximately 70% of available land) would cover 76.1% of the requirements of municipality residents. This article also includes a few more general ideas about sustainable development and energy as suggested by the case study.

We sometimes blame persons, and we sometimes give them credit for the emotions they feel. We could, for example, speak of feeling hatred, resentment or envy as “reprehensible” in suitable circumstances, or say “He's to blame for feeling that way.” We could speak of feeling sympathy, affection or indignation as “commendable” in suitable circumstances, or say “He deserves credit for feeling that way.” And it is not just that we are assessing such emotion as somehow good or bad — in addition we may reproach or censure a person for the emotions he feels, or we may regard it as a credit to him that he feels as he does. In short, we apportion or impute responsibility to persons sometimes for the emotions they feel, and one important indication of this fact is in the sorts of judgments we can make about emotions.

No abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the possibility of using residual forest biomass as a renewable energy source based on the analysis and evaluation of production and use. We adopt elements of a systems approach to analyzing and evaluating forest biomass as part of an overall production (and use) process. The area relevant to the research was Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski Forest Inspectorate in Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, with a total of 17266.32 hectares. The study included areas in both exploitation and pre-exploitation stages, and was based on information from a data management plan for the years 2004-2013 in this inspectorate. The wealth of resources was established and characterized: e.g., the volume of forest stands, the thickness of the timber, expressed in m 3 /ha, the annual volume increment,and the average age of forest stands. The estimated realizable amount of woody biomass from forest and wood resources for energy purposes was specified. A logging indicator for economic purposes was set at 70% growth, and for energy purposes 25%. Waste wood resources (edgings, sawdust, chips, shavings, etc.) were assessed on the basis of logging for industrial purposes, including the rate of 20% of the initial resources intended for processing. In converting this to an energy value (18.72 GJ/t) it can be stated that the waste wood from the Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski Forestry Inspectorate can reach 170277 GJ per year. As an intuitive illustration, the resulting volume of energy resources could allow for annual electric lighting for 13844 people or warming 2936 houses. We can generally say that wood waste

No abstract