Kiriaki Keramitsoglou | Democritus University of Thrace (original) (raw)
Papers by Kiriaki Keramitsoglou
International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, Dec 31, 2024
The protection of cultural resources from natural and human–induced hazards has been an area of i... more The protection of cultural resources from natural and human–induced hazards has been an area of intense scientific interest over time. The literature highlights that, despite the intensive research efforts to date, there is a lack of a commonly accepted hazard assessment framework that supports decision–making to limit their negative effects and contribute to the protection of cultural heritage. In this paper, a general method for assessing the intensity of multiple hazards on cultural resources is developed and applied. The proposed method utilizes a) the capabilities of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), b) open geospatial hazard data, and c) an original 7–step integrated method developed in this research. Key features of the proposed method are its ability to consider and synthesize intensities of quantitative hazards such as earthquakes, floods and hazards expressed on a qualitative scale, such as wildfire and landslide. The proposed method is applied to assess the exposure of 918 cultural resources of the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Greece, to earthquake, flood, landslide, sea level rise, wildfire, soil erosion, and industrial–technological accident and develop an aggregate multi–hazard intensity index (mhii) for each of the cultural resources in this region. The proposed method can be applied to hazard intensity assessment for resources other than cultural, such as a region's human capital, infrastructure, environment, and economic facilities. This provides researchers, scientists, and managers of cultural sites with a tool to set priorities for designing appropriate mitigation strategies to reduce the negative impacts of hazards.
Σχεδιασμός σημάτων για τις ανανεώσιμες πηγές ενέργειας Σύμφωνα με το άρθρο 3 της Οδηγίας 2009/28/... more Σχεδιασμός σημάτων για τις ανανεώσιμες πηγές ενέργειας Σύμφωνα με το άρθρο 3 της Οδηγίας 2009/28/ΕΚ του Ευρωπαϊκού Κοινοβουλίου και Συμβουλίου της 23ης Απριλίου 2009 για την προώθηση της χρήσης ενέργειας από ανανεώσιμες πηγές, συστήνονται η χρήση ετικετών ενέργειας, οικο-ετικετών (eco-labels) ή άλλων κατάλληλων πιστοποιητικών σχεδιασμένων σ’ εθνικό επίπεδο ή επίπεδο κοινότητας για την ενθάρρυνση της χρήσης συστημάτων ανανεώσιμων πηγών ή εξοπλισμού. Γενικά, η ετικέτα είναι μία σήμανση που εμπεριέχει μια σειρά από αξίες εύκολα αναγνωρίσιμες από το κοινό σε διαφορετικές συνθήκες περικλείοντας όλες τις πληροφορίες και προσδοκίες που σχετίζονται μ’ ένα προϊόν ή υπηρεσία. Επιπρόσθετα, έχει την ικανότητα να σηματοδοτεί ότι μία εταιρεία έχει αναλάβει την ευθύνη των περιβαλλοντικών της επιπτώσεων επενδύοντας στις ανανεώσιμες πηγές ενέργειας. Συνεπώς, η ενσωμάτωση των κοινωνικών και ευρύτερων περιβαλλοντικών αξιών στις απαιτήσεις ενεργειακής πιστοποίησης που λειτουργεί οπτικά είναι θεμελιώδης για την καλύτερη προώθηση της πολιτικής και στρατηγικής που σχετίζονται με τη χρήση των ανανεώσιμων πηγών.Ένας στόχος της έρευνας είναι να αιχμαλωτίσει τη συναίσθηση του κοινού, σκέψεις, αντιλήψεις, εικόνες, εμπειρίες, πιστεύω, συνήθειες του που σχετίζονται με τις ανανεώσιμες πηγές για τη σχεδίαση σημάτων-συμβόλων που τις απεικονίζουν.Σχεδιασμός μέσων για την ανακύκλωση Η διαχείριση των αποβλήτων δεν αποτελεί μόνο τεχνολογική πρόκληση, αλλά γνώση και αντίληψη όλων των παραγόντων, περιβαλλοντικών, οικονομικών, πολιτιστικών, πολιτικών, νομοθετικών και θεσμικών για το σχεδιασμό και την εφαρμογή ολοκληρωμένων συστημάτων αειφόρου διαχείρισης αποβλήτων. Η επιτυχής εφαρμογή ενός σχεδίου διαχείρισης αποβλήτων εξαρτάται από το αν όλες οι εμπλεκόμενες ομάδες συμμετέχουν ενεργά στην λήψη των αποφάσεων σε όλα τα στάδια του. Η ανακύκλωση θεωρείται η πιο ολοκληρωμένη λύση στη διαχείριση των απορριμμάτων με τεράστια οικονομικά, περιβαλλοντικά και κοινωνικά οφέλη. Η κύρια πρόκληση για την εφαρμογή της ανακύκλωσης είναι η αλλαγή στάσης προς τα απορρίμματα από τους πολίτες – καταναλωτές. Η καλή πρόθεση των ατόμων και η περιβαλλοντική τους ευαισθητοποίηση αλλά και ένα καλά οργανωμένο σύστημα ανακύκλωσης φαίνεται ότι δεν είναι αρκετά για την επιτυχία ενός προγράμματος ανακύκλωσης, παράγοντες όπως ο διαθέσιμος χρόνος, χώρος και η προσωπική προσπάθεια παίζουν σημαντικό ρόλο για την ενεργή τους συμμετοχή.Ως σήμερα, έχουν χρησιμοποιηθεί πολλά είδη κάδων διαφορετικού χρώματος, μεγέθους, σχήματος και αισθητικής, παράμετροι σχεδιασμού για τις οποίες αποφασίζουν κατασκευαστές, εταιρείες συλλογής ανακυκλώσιμων υλικών, δήμοι ή άλλοι κρατικοί ή ιδιωτικοί φορείς (εκ των άνω εφαρμογή προγραμμάτων ανακύκλωσης), και τα οποία δίνουν την εντύπωση ότι δεν έχουν κανένα αποτέλεσμα αναφορικά με αυτά τα χαρακτηριστικά. Η αφιέρωση σημαντικού χρόνου στην επιλογή του κατάλληλου κάδου, εκτός από τα λάθη, δεν ενισχύει την συνήθεια και πρακτική της ανακύκλωσης. Επιπλέον, ο διαχωρισμός των υλικών απαιτεί κόπο και κατάλληλο χώρο, και δεν εμφανίζεται συσχέτιση χρώματος κάδου και υλικού ανακύκλωσης.Η υπόθεση της έρευνας θεωρεί ότι η σχεδίαση κατάλληλων κάδων θα επηρεάσει προς την θετική κατεύθυνση τους παράγοντες χώρο, χρόνο και προσωπική προσπάθεια γι ανακύκλωση.
The protection of cultural resources from natural and human–induced hazards has been an area of i... more The protection of cultural resources from natural and human–induced hazards has been an area of intense scientific interest over time. The literature highlights that, despite the intensive research efforts to date, there is a lack of a commonly accepted hazard assessment framework that supports decision–making to limit their negative effects and contribute to the protection of cultural heritage. In this paper, a general method for assessing the intensity of multiple hazards on cultural resources is developed and applied. The proposed method utilizes a) the capabilities of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), b) open geospatial hazard data, and c) an original 7–step integrated method developed in this research. Key features of the proposed method are its ability to consider and synthesize intensities of quantitative hazards such as earthquakes, floods and hazards expressed on a qualitative scale, such as wildfire and landslide. The proposed method is applied to assess the exposure of 918 cultural resources of the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Greece, to earthquake, flood, landslide, sea level rise, wildfire, soil erosion, and industrial–technological accident and develop an aggregate multi–hazard intensity index (mhii) for each of the cultural resources in this region. The proposed method can be applied to hazard intensity assessment for resources other than cultural, such as a region's human capital, infrastructure, environment, and economic facilities. This provides researchers, scientists, and managers of cultural sites with a tool to set priorities for designing appropriate mitigation strategies to reduce the negative impacts of hazards.
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
Sustainability
UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre has set ten criteria for assessing Outstanding Universal Values (O... more UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre has set ten criteria for assessing Outstanding Universal Values (OUVs) for the inscription of properties on the World Heritage List. Recognising the growing challenge for heritage conservation and the need for professionals to work within systemic, holistic, and integrated frameworks in managing cultural heritage and using biodiversity as an OUV, this paper investigates how the intangible and tangible cultural and natural heritage of the Region of East Macedonia and Thrace, Greece is interconnected over the course of centuries. We review the evolution of the existing legislative framework to protect archaeological treasures and local flora and fauna and document the richness of ongoing ecological and biological processes in the region for strengthening the arguments for an integrated protection and management system. Locating the archaeological sites and monuments in protected natural zones and areas of exceptional beauty with the use of the open code ...
Frontiers in Sustainability
IntroductionDespite increasing research on the transition of a well-established linear-oriented e... more IntroductionDespite increasing research on the transition of a well-established linear-oriented economic system toward the circular economy (CE) model, existing literature on the adoption and implementation of educational approaches that reinforce CE concept in secondary education seems to be limited. In light of the current challenges and the critical role of education in empowering students to explore new paths of sustainable development and grow into active citizens, conscious producers, and consumers, this study focuses on experiential learning as an effective tool for teaching CE and sustainability concepts. The literature review has revealed a research gap as regards the formulation of educational approaches to support CE concepts for secondary education students effectively, particularly in Greek vocational education. The present study describes and critically discusses how a virtual enterprise could introduce secondary-level students to the circularity and sustainability per...
SAGE Open, 2022
In recent years, environmental education has focused on developing pupils’ knowledge of the natur... more In recent years, environmental education has focused on developing pupils’ knowledge of the natural environment rather than enhancing their connectedness with nature, which could have a greater contribution to addressing the environmental problems caused by human activity. This study explores the impact of an environmental education program on participants’ nature connectedness using Schultz’s Inclusion of Nature in Self emotional scale (INS). The analysis of data collected from 283 primary school students indicated the positive effect of outdoor activities on pupils’ knowledge and awareness. In addition, it was found that students with previous experience of environmental education programs tend to feel more connected with nature but also retain the knowledge obtained compared to other students.
In recent years, environmental education has focused on developing pupils' knowledge of the natur... more In recent years, environmental education has focused on developing pupils' knowledge of the natural environment rather than enhancing their connectedness with nature, which could have a greater contribution to addressing the environmental problems caused by human activity. This study explores the impact of an environmental education program on participants' nature connectedness using Schultz's Inclusion of Nature in Self emotional scale (INS). The analysis of data collected from 283 primary school students indicated the positive effect of outdoor activities on pupils' knowledge and awareness. In addition, it was found that students with previous experience of environmental education programs tend to feel more connected with nature but also retain the knowledge obtained compared to other students.
Σχεδιασμός σημάτων για τις ανανεώσιμες πηγές ενέργειας Σύμφωνα με το άρθρο 3 της Οδηγίας 2009/28/... more Σχεδιασμός σημάτων για τις ανανεώσιμες πηγές ενέργειας Σύμφωνα με το άρθρο 3 της Οδηγίας 2009/28/ΕΚ του Ευρωπαϊκού Κοινοβουλίου και Συμβουλίου της 23ης Απριλίου 2009 για την προώθηση της χρήσης ενέργειας από ανανεώσιμες πηγές, συστήνονται η χρήση ετικετών ενέργειας, οικο-ετικετών (eco-labels) ή άλλων κατάλληλων πιστοποιητικών σχεδιασμένων σ’ εθνικό επίπεδο ή επίπεδο κοινότητας για την ενθάρρυνση της χρήσης συστημάτων ανανεώσιμων πηγών ή εξοπλισμού. Γενικά, η ετικέτα είναι μία σήμανση που εμπεριέχει μια σειρά από αξίες εύκολα αναγνωρίσιμες από το κοινό σε διαφορετικές συνθήκες περικλείοντας όλες τις πληροφορίες και προσδοκίες που σχετίζονται μ’ ένα προϊόν ή υπηρεσία. Επιπρόσθετα, έχει την ικανότητα να σηματοδοτεί ότι μία εταιρεία έχει αναλάβει την ευθύνη των περιβαλλοντικών της επιπτώσεων επενδύοντας στις ανανεώσιμες πηγές ενέργειας. Συνεπώς, η ενσωμάτωση των κοινωνικών και ευρύτερων περιβαλλοντικών αξιών στις απαιτήσεις ενεργειακής πιστοποίησης που λειτουργεί οπτικά είναι θεμελιώδης...
Designing signs for renewable energy sourcesAccording to article 3 of the Directive 2009/28/ΕΚ of... more Designing signs for renewable energy sourcesAccording to article 3 of the Directive 2009/28/ΕΚ of the European Parliament and the European Council, April 23, 2009, on the promotion of the use of renewable energy sources, it is recommended to use energy labels, eco-labels or other appropriate certificates designed at national or European community level in order to encourage the use of renewable energy source systems or equipment. In general, labels are signs that carry a series of values easily recognizable by the public under different circumstances; they also include information about and raise expectations from a product or a service. Besides, the label has the ability to communicate that a company has taken up responsibility for its environmental impact investing on renewable energy sources. Therefore, the inclusion of social and wider environmental values in the requirements of the energy certification which function as visual reminders is fundamental for the better promotion o...
Current Urban Studies, 2017
The simultaneous involvement of aesthetic variables and economic, social and environmental object... more The simultaneous involvement of aesthetic variables and economic, social and environmental objectives in urban design and planning is quite rare, and difficult to be implemented and interpreted within a local context. The top-down approach has been the most common strategy employed in urban planning, whereas sustainability principles call for more participatory methods. This study presents a design approach to the unification of archaeological sites in the town of Didimoticho, Greece, based on public participation and sustainability criteria. A fully structured questionnaire was used to define aesthetic parameters. Six options were designed and then evaluated by the local community. Thus, taking into account the local conditions, a list of Must and a list of Wants were established according to selected sustainability criteria, which are significant tools for the Kepner-Tregoe model application. The proposed methodology revealed the optimal design solution. This systemic participatory approach applicable to urban design and planning can be implemented in other cases as well.
Sustainability, 2017
The "Euro-leaf" organic certification logo was adopted and made compulsory by the European Union ... more The "Euro-leaf" organic certification logo was adopted and made compulsory by the European Union (EU) a few years ago; the level of consumers' recognition of this logo has been explored. This paper provides important insights into the effectiveness of the logo in the Greek market. The "Euro-leaf" logo was compared with the two previous EU organic logos; i.e., the voluntary "Organic Farming" and the withdrawn "Bio". In total, 472 face-to-face interviews were conducted using actual presentations of five officially certified food products. The aim of this research was to investigate the consumers' willingness-to-buy (WTB), willingness-to-pay (WTP), and their preference towards each of the three logos used for the certification of organic products. Our analysis concludes that for the time being the new logo has failed to develop into a powerful instrument for affecting consumers' WTB and WTP. Furthermore, it was found to have been the least influential factor that determined their preferences. Design changes and improvements might be necessary in order to better communicate the organic food message.
Sustainability
The "Euro-leaf" organic certification logo was adopted and made compulsory by the European Union ... more The "Euro-leaf" organic certification logo was adopted and made compulsory by the European Union (EU) a few years ago; the level of consumers' recognition of this logo has been explored. This paper provides important insights into the effectiveness of the logo in the Greek market. The "Euro-leaf" logo was compared with the two previous EU organic logos; i.e., the voluntary "Organic Farming" and the withdrawn "Bio". In total, 472 face-to-face interviews were conducted using actual presentations of five officially certified food products. The aim of this research was to investigate the consumers' willingness-to-buy (WTB), willingness-to-pay (WTP), and their preference towards each of the three logos used for the certification of organic products. Our analysis concludes that for the time being the new logo has failed to develop into a powerful instrument for affecting consumers' WTB and WTP. Furthermore, it was found to have been the least influential factor that determined their preferences. Design changes and improvements might be necessary in order to better communicate the organic food message.
Sustainability
Recycling bin design has been shown to be important in guiding and changing waste management prac... more Recycling bin design has been shown to be important in guiding and changing waste management practices. The top-down imposition of recycling scheme components, the various colour signage, the different types of recycling bins per material even in the same city, and in light of the limitations cited in the relevant literature, our contribution examines the citizens’ involvement in designing recycling bins. Analyzing the responses of 757 participants randomly selected, we initially defined design variables, i.e., shape, colour, and type of lid and insert slot. The next step was to design six bins per recyclable and non-recyclable material, which were printed in a card in a random order. In total, 12 cards were evaluated by 430 residents of a typical Greek town without previous experience in recycling; personal interviews were conducted and citizens gave a score on a scale from one to six. The results highlight the public preference for specific lids and insert slots, and a rectangular...
Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2016
The modifiers “green” and “clean” and associated color stimuli are used alternatively for describ... more The modifiers “green” and “clean” and associated color stimuli are used alternatively for describing and illustrating renewable energy sources (RES), an inconsistency that is likely to limit the cumulative impact of diverse efforts to increase public support and consumer preference for RES. Effective descriptive and illustrative materials identify and incorporate stimulus elements that currently evoke relevant consumer behavior due to prior learning histories. The present studies tested the differential intuitive or pre-established meaning of the terms “green” and “clean” and their associated colors in representing RES. Children of various ages and adults, from the Thrace region of Greece, chose a color that best represented RES. An unambiguous age-related differentiation was observed: younger children strongly preferred the colors white and yellow and the descriptor “clean energy” for representing RES, a preference that gradually shifted over age groups to the color green and the descriptor “green energy,” presumably in accordance with an age-related accumulation in exposure to this form of representation of RES in school curriculum material and in other media. These preliminary findings are interpreted as indicating that the descriptor “clean energy” and its associated colors might be superior to “green energy” in terms of its implicit or untrained power to represent RES and evoke relevant consumer behavior.
This exploratory paper investigates the modality between data collected using an online questionn... more This exploratory paper investigates the modality between data collected using an online questionnaire filled in on a mobile phone device and on laptop computer and a paper-and-pencil questionnaire. An experiment was conducted on 5th of July 2013 in thermal comfort conditions of a lab at the University of Ljubljana, excluding external effects. A total of 75 students were randomly assigned to three experimental conditions. A short questionnaire included questions on knowledge, attitudes and behaviour towards organic food products. The two online questionnaire versions were designed in a way that the visual design was most similar to the paper-and-pencil version. In order to explore the participants’ willingness-to-buy and willingness-to-pay for organic certified food, the paper-and-pencil version involved the actual presentation of a glass bottle of organic apple juice of 1 L and a package of organic spaghetti of 500 gr, while the online surveys involved the video projection of both o...
Renewable Energy, 2020
This contribution looks into logos as a powerful designing tool which can promote the implementat... more This contribution looks into logos as a powerful designing tool which can promote the implementation of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) policy. Given the lack of universal logo which would communicate the RES-derived products and services effectively, we initially explored the public’s emotions, thoughts, perceptions, images, experiences, beliefs and attitudes towards RES and non-RES through their design illustration. Experts decoded a total of 769 RES and 737 non-RES designs of four different sample groups ranging from the less informed children to well-informed engineers, and defined the design variables of a RES logo. On the basis of these design guidelines, professional designers created 60 RES logos. Besides, 432 participants randomly selected evaluated the logos on a score scale from 1 to 6. Interdisciplinary, cross-cultural and semiotic analysis of the winner logo revealed that in order to promote the RES use, a logo should be of round shape; present a sense of movement; conve...
International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, Dec 31, 2024
The protection of cultural resources from natural and human–induced hazards has been an area of i... more The protection of cultural resources from natural and human–induced hazards has been an area of intense scientific interest over time. The literature highlights that, despite the intensive research efforts to date, there is a lack of a commonly accepted hazard assessment framework that supports decision–making to limit their negative effects and contribute to the protection of cultural heritage. In this paper, a general method for assessing the intensity of multiple hazards on cultural resources is developed and applied. The proposed method utilizes a) the capabilities of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), b) open geospatial hazard data, and c) an original 7–step integrated method developed in this research. Key features of the proposed method are its ability to consider and synthesize intensities of quantitative hazards such as earthquakes, floods and hazards expressed on a qualitative scale, such as wildfire and landslide. The proposed method is applied to assess the exposure of 918 cultural resources of the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Greece, to earthquake, flood, landslide, sea level rise, wildfire, soil erosion, and industrial–technological accident and develop an aggregate multi–hazard intensity index (mhii) for each of the cultural resources in this region. The proposed method can be applied to hazard intensity assessment for resources other than cultural, such as a region's human capital, infrastructure, environment, and economic facilities. This provides researchers, scientists, and managers of cultural sites with a tool to set priorities for designing appropriate mitigation strategies to reduce the negative impacts of hazards.
Σχεδιασμός σημάτων για τις ανανεώσιμες πηγές ενέργειας Σύμφωνα με το άρθρο 3 της Οδηγίας 2009/28/... more Σχεδιασμός σημάτων για τις ανανεώσιμες πηγές ενέργειας Σύμφωνα με το άρθρο 3 της Οδηγίας 2009/28/ΕΚ του Ευρωπαϊκού Κοινοβουλίου και Συμβουλίου της 23ης Απριλίου 2009 για την προώθηση της χρήσης ενέργειας από ανανεώσιμες πηγές, συστήνονται η χρήση ετικετών ενέργειας, οικο-ετικετών (eco-labels) ή άλλων κατάλληλων πιστοποιητικών σχεδιασμένων σ’ εθνικό επίπεδο ή επίπεδο κοινότητας για την ενθάρρυνση της χρήσης συστημάτων ανανεώσιμων πηγών ή εξοπλισμού. Γενικά, η ετικέτα είναι μία σήμανση που εμπεριέχει μια σειρά από αξίες εύκολα αναγνωρίσιμες από το κοινό σε διαφορετικές συνθήκες περικλείοντας όλες τις πληροφορίες και προσδοκίες που σχετίζονται μ’ ένα προϊόν ή υπηρεσία. Επιπρόσθετα, έχει την ικανότητα να σηματοδοτεί ότι μία εταιρεία έχει αναλάβει την ευθύνη των περιβαλλοντικών της επιπτώσεων επενδύοντας στις ανανεώσιμες πηγές ενέργειας. Συνεπώς, η ενσωμάτωση των κοινωνικών και ευρύτερων περιβαλλοντικών αξιών στις απαιτήσεις ενεργειακής πιστοποίησης που λειτουργεί οπτικά είναι θεμελιώδης για την καλύτερη προώθηση της πολιτικής και στρατηγικής που σχετίζονται με τη χρήση των ανανεώσιμων πηγών.Ένας στόχος της έρευνας είναι να αιχμαλωτίσει τη συναίσθηση του κοινού, σκέψεις, αντιλήψεις, εικόνες, εμπειρίες, πιστεύω, συνήθειες του που σχετίζονται με τις ανανεώσιμες πηγές για τη σχεδίαση σημάτων-συμβόλων που τις απεικονίζουν.Σχεδιασμός μέσων για την ανακύκλωση Η διαχείριση των αποβλήτων δεν αποτελεί μόνο τεχνολογική πρόκληση, αλλά γνώση και αντίληψη όλων των παραγόντων, περιβαλλοντικών, οικονομικών, πολιτιστικών, πολιτικών, νομοθετικών και θεσμικών για το σχεδιασμό και την εφαρμογή ολοκληρωμένων συστημάτων αειφόρου διαχείρισης αποβλήτων. Η επιτυχής εφαρμογή ενός σχεδίου διαχείρισης αποβλήτων εξαρτάται από το αν όλες οι εμπλεκόμενες ομάδες συμμετέχουν ενεργά στην λήψη των αποφάσεων σε όλα τα στάδια του. Η ανακύκλωση θεωρείται η πιο ολοκληρωμένη λύση στη διαχείριση των απορριμμάτων με τεράστια οικονομικά, περιβαλλοντικά και κοινωνικά οφέλη. Η κύρια πρόκληση για την εφαρμογή της ανακύκλωσης είναι η αλλαγή στάσης προς τα απορρίμματα από τους πολίτες – καταναλωτές. Η καλή πρόθεση των ατόμων και η περιβαλλοντική τους ευαισθητοποίηση αλλά και ένα καλά οργανωμένο σύστημα ανακύκλωσης φαίνεται ότι δεν είναι αρκετά για την επιτυχία ενός προγράμματος ανακύκλωσης, παράγοντες όπως ο διαθέσιμος χρόνος, χώρος και η προσωπική προσπάθεια παίζουν σημαντικό ρόλο για την ενεργή τους συμμετοχή.Ως σήμερα, έχουν χρησιμοποιηθεί πολλά είδη κάδων διαφορετικού χρώματος, μεγέθους, σχήματος και αισθητικής, παράμετροι σχεδιασμού για τις οποίες αποφασίζουν κατασκευαστές, εταιρείες συλλογής ανακυκλώσιμων υλικών, δήμοι ή άλλοι κρατικοί ή ιδιωτικοί φορείς (εκ των άνω εφαρμογή προγραμμάτων ανακύκλωσης), και τα οποία δίνουν την εντύπωση ότι δεν έχουν κανένα αποτέλεσμα αναφορικά με αυτά τα χαρακτηριστικά. Η αφιέρωση σημαντικού χρόνου στην επιλογή του κατάλληλου κάδου, εκτός από τα λάθη, δεν ενισχύει την συνήθεια και πρακτική της ανακύκλωσης. Επιπλέον, ο διαχωρισμός των υλικών απαιτεί κόπο και κατάλληλο χώρο, και δεν εμφανίζεται συσχέτιση χρώματος κάδου και υλικού ανακύκλωσης.Η υπόθεση της έρευνας θεωρεί ότι η σχεδίαση κατάλληλων κάδων θα επηρεάσει προς την θετική κατεύθυνση τους παράγοντες χώρο, χρόνο και προσωπική προσπάθεια γι ανακύκλωση.
The protection of cultural resources from natural and human–induced hazards has been an area of i... more The protection of cultural resources from natural and human–induced hazards has been an area of intense scientific interest over time. The literature highlights that, despite the intensive research efforts to date, there is a lack of a commonly accepted hazard assessment framework that supports decision–making to limit their negative effects and contribute to the protection of cultural heritage. In this paper, a general method for assessing the intensity of multiple hazards on cultural resources is developed and applied. The proposed method utilizes a) the capabilities of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), b) open geospatial hazard data, and c) an original 7–step integrated method developed in this research. Key features of the proposed method are its ability to consider and synthesize intensities of quantitative hazards such as earthquakes, floods and hazards expressed on a qualitative scale, such as wildfire and landslide. The proposed method is applied to assess the exposure of 918 cultural resources of the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Greece, to earthquake, flood, landslide, sea level rise, wildfire, soil erosion, and industrial–technological accident and develop an aggregate multi–hazard intensity index (mhii) for each of the cultural resources in this region. The proposed method can be applied to hazard intensity assessment for resources other than cultural, such as a region's human capital, infrastructure, environment, and economic facilities. This provides researchers, scientists, and managers of cultural sites with a tool to set priorities for designing appropriate mitigation strategies to reduce the negative impacts of hazards.
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
Sustainability
UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre has set ten criteria for assessing Outstanding Universal Values (O... more UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre has set ten criteria for assessing Outstanding Universal Values (OUVs) for the inscription of properties on the World Heritage List. Recognising the growing challenge for heritage conservation and the need for professionals to work within systemic, holistic, and integrated frameworks in managing cultural heritage and using biodiversity as an OUV, this paper investigates how the intangible and tangible cultural and natural heritage of the Region of East Macedonia and Thrace, Greece is interconnected over the course of centuries. We review the evolution of the existing legislative framework to protect archaeological treasures and local flora and fauna and document the richness of ongoing ecological and biological processes in the region for strengthening the arguments for an integrated protection and management system. Locating the archaeological sites and monuments in protected natural zones and areas of exceptional beauty with the use of the open code ...
Frontiers in Sustainability
IntroductionDespite increasing research on the transition of a well-established linear-oriented e... more IntroductionDespite increasing research on the transition of a well-established linear-oriented economic system toward the circular economy (CE) model, existing literature on the adoption and implementation of educational approaches that reinforce CE concept in secondary education seems to be limited. In light of the current challenges and the critical role of education in empowering students to explore new paths of sustainable development and grow into active citizens, conscious producers, and consumers, this study focuses on experiential learning as an effective tool for teaching CE and sustainability concepts. The literature review has revealed a research gap as regards the formulation of educational approaches to support CE concepts for secondary education students effectively, particularly in Greek vocational education. The present study describes and critically discusses how a virtual enterprise could introduce secondary-level students to the circularity and sustainability per...
SAGE Open, 2022
In recent years, environmental education has focused on developing pupils’ knowledge of the natur... more In recent years, environmental education has focused on developing pupils’ knowledge of the natural environment rather than enhancing their connectedness with nature, which could have a greater contribution to addressing the environmental problems caused by human activity. This study explores the impact of an environmental education program on participants’ nature connectedness using Schultz’s Inclusion of Nature in Self emotional scale (INS). The analysis of data collected from 283 primary school students indicated the positive effect of outdoor activities on pupils’ knowledge and awareness. In addition, it was found that students with previous experience of environmental education programs tend to feel more connected with nature but also retain the knowledge obtained compared to other students.
In recent years, environmental education has focused on developing pupils' knowledge of the natur... more In recent years, environmental education has focused on developing pupils' knowledge of the natural environment rather than enhancing their connectedness with nature, which could have a greater contribution to addressing the environmental problems caused by human activity. This study explores the impact of an environmental education program on participants' nature connectedness using Schultz's Inclusion of Nature in Self emotional scale (INS). The analysis of data collected from 283 primary school students indicated the positive effect of outdoor activities on pupils' knowledge and awareness. In addition, it was found that students with previous experience of environmental education programs tend to feel more connected with nature but also retain the knowledge obtained compared to other students.
Σχεδιασμός σημάτων για τις ανανεώσιμες πηγές ενέργειας Σύμφωνα με το άρθρο 3 της Οδηγίας 2009/28/... more Σχεδιασμός σημάτων για τις ανανεώσιμες πηγές ενέργειας Σύμφωνα με το άρθρο 3 της Οδηγίας 2009/28/ΕΚ του Ευρωπαϊκού Κοινοβουλίου και Συμβουλίου της 23ης Απριλίου 2009 για την προώθηση της χρήσης ενέργειας από ανανεώσιμες πηγές, συστήνονται η χρήση ετικετών ενέργειας, οικο-ετικετών (eco-labels) ή άλλων κατάλληλων πιστοποιητικών σχεδιασμένων σ’ εθνικό επίπεδο ή επίπεδο κοινότητας για την ενθάρρυνση της χρήσης συστημάτων ανανεώσιμων πηγών ή εξοπλισμού. Γενικά, η ετικέτα είναι μία σήμανση που εμπεριέχει μια σειρά από αξίες εύκολα αναγνωρίσιμες από το κοινό σε διαφορετικές συνθήκες περικλείοντας όλες τις πληροφορίες και προσδοκίες που σχετίζονται μ’ ένα προϊόν ή υπηρεσία. Επιπρόσθετα, έχει την ικανότητα να σηματοδοτεί ότι μία εταιρεία έχει αναλάβει την ευθύνη των περιβαλλοντικών της επιπτώσεων επενδύοντας στις ανανεώσιμες πηγές ενέργειας. Συνεπώς, η ενσωμάτωση των κοινωνικών και ευρύτερων περιβαλλοντικών αξιών στις απαιτήσεις ενεργειακής πιστοποίησης που λειτουργεί οπτικά είναι θεμελιώδης...
Designing signs for renewable energy sourcesAccording to article 3 of the Directive 2009/28/ΕΚ of... more Designing signs for renewable energy sourcesAccording to article 3 of the Directive 2009/28/ΕΚ of the European Parliament and the European Council, April 23, 2009, on the promotion of the use of renewable energy sources, it is recommended to use energy labels, eco-labels or other appropriate certificates designed at national or European community level in order to encourage the use of renewable energy source systems or equipment. In general, labels are signs that carry a series of values easily recognizable by the public under different circumstances; they also include information about and raise expectations from a product or a service. Besides, the label has the ability to communicate that a company has taken up responsibility for its environmental impact investing on renewable energy sources. Therefore, the inclusion of social and wider environmental values in the requirements of the energy certification which function as visual reminders is fundamental for the better promotion o...
Current Urban Studies, 2017
The simultaneous involvement of aesthetic variables and economic, social and environmental object... more The simultaneous involvement of aesthetic variables and economic, social and environmental objectives in urban design and planning is quite rare, and difficult to be implemented and interpreted within a local context. The top-down approach has been the most common strategy employed in urban planning, whereas sustainability principles call for more participatory methods. This study presents a design approach to the unification of archaeological sites in the town of Didimoticho, Greece, based on public participation and sustainability criteria. A fully structured questionnaire was used to define aesthetic parameters. Six options were designed and then evaluated by the local community. Thus, taking into account the local conditions, a list of Must and a list of Wants were established according to selected sustainability criteria, which are significant tools for the Kepner-Tregoe model application. The proposed methodology revealed the optimal design solution. This systemic participatory approach applicable to urban design and planning can be implemented in other cases as well.
Sustainability, 2017
The "Euro-leaf" organic certification logo was adopted and made compulsory by the European Union ... more The "Euro-leaf" organic certification logo was adopted and made compulsory by the European Union (EU) a few years ago; the level of consumers' recognition of this logo has been explored. This paper provides important insights into the effectiveness of the logo in the Greek market. The "Euro-leaf" logo was compared with the two previous EU organic logos; i.e., the voluntary "Organic Farming" and the withdrawn "Bio". In total, 472 face-to-face interviews were conducted using actual presentations of five officially certified food products. The aim of this research was to investigate the consumers' willingness-to-buy (WTB), willingness-to-pay (WTP), and their preference towards each of the three logos used for the certification of organic products. Our analysis concludes that for the time being the new logo has failed to develop into a powerful instrument for affecting consumers' WTB and WTP. Furthermore, it was found to have been the least influential factor that determined their preferences. Design changes and improvements might be necessary in order to better communicate the organic food message.
Sustainability
The "Euro-leaf" organic certification logo was adopted and made compulsory by the European Union ... more The "Euro-leaf" organic certification logo was adopted and made compulsory by the European Union (EU) a few years ago; the level of consumers' recognition of this logo has been explored. This paper provides important insights into the effectiveness of the logo in the Greek market. The "Euro-leaf" logo was compared with the two previous EU organic logos; i.e., the voluntary "Organic Farming" and the withdrawn "Bio". In total, 472 face-to-face interviews were conducted using actual presentations of five officially certified food products. The aim of this research was to investigate the consumers' willingness-to-buy (WTB), willingness-to-pay (WTP), and their preference towards each of the three logos used for the certification of organic products. Our analysis concludes that for the time being the new logo has failed to develop into a powerful instrument for affecting consumers' WTB and WTP. Furthermore, it was found to have been the least influential factor that determined their preferences. Design changes and improvements might be necessary in order to better communicate the organic food message.
Sustainability
Recycling bin design has been shown to be important in guiding and changing waste management prac... more Recycling bin design has been shown to be important in guiding and changing waste management practices. The top-down imposition of recycling scheme components, the various colour signage, the different types of recycling bins per material even in the same city, and in light of the limitations cited in the relevant literature, our contribution examines the citizens’ involvement in designing recycling bins. Analyzing the responses of 757 participants randomly selected, we initially defined design variables, i.e., shape, colour, and type of lid and insert slot. The next step was to design six bins per recyclable and non-recyclable material, which were printed in a card in a random order. In total, 12 cards were evaluated by 430 residents of a typical Greek town without previous experience in recycling; personal interviews were conducted and citizens gave a score on a scale from one to six. The results highlight the public preference for specific lids and insert slots, and a rectangular...
Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2016
The modifiers “green” and “clean” and associated color stimuli are used alternatively for describ... more The modifiers “green” and “clean” and associated color stimuli are used alternatively for describing and illustrating renewable energy sources (RES), an inconsistency that is likely to limit the cumulative impact of diverse efforts to increase public support and consumer preference for RES. Effective descriptive and illustrative materials identify and incorporate stimulus elements that currently evoke relevant consumer behavior due to prior learning histories. The present studies tested the differential intuitive or pre-established meaning of the terms “green” and “clean” and their associated colors in representing RES. Children of various ages and adults, from the Thrace region of Greece, chose a color that best represented RES. An unambiguous age-related differentiation was observed: younger children strongly preferred the colors white and yellow and the descriptor “clean energy” for representing RES, a preference that gradually shifted over age groups to the color green and the descriptor “green energy,” presumably in accordance with an age-related accumulation in exposure to this form of representation of RES in school curriculum material and in other media. These preliminary findings are interpreted as indicating that the descriptor “clean energy” and its associated colors might be superior to “green energy” in terms of its implicit or untrained power to represent RES and evoke relevant consumer behavior.
This exploratory paper investigates the modality between data collected using an online questionn... more This exploratory paper investigates the modality between data collected using an online questionnaire filled in on a mobile phone device and on laptop computer and a paper-and-pencil questionnaire. An experiment was conducted on 5th of July 2013 in thermal comfort conditions of a lab at the University of Ljubljana, excluding external effects. A total of 75 students were randomly assigned to three experimental conditions. A short questionnaire included questions on knowledge, attitudes and behaviour towards organic food products. The two online questionnaire versions were designed in a way that the visual design was most similar to the paper-and-pencil version. In order to explore the participants’ willingness-to-buy and willingness-to-pay for organic certified food, the paper-and-pencil version involved the actual presentation of a glass bottle of organic apple juice of 1 L and a package of organic spaghetti of 500 gr, while the online surveys involved the video projection of both o...
Renewable Energy, 2020
This contribution looks into logos as a powerful designing tool which can promote the implementat... more This contribution looks into logos as a powerful designing tool which can promote the implementation of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) policy. Given the lack of universal logo which would communicate the RES-derived products and services effectively, we initially explored the public’s emotions, thoughts, perceptions, images, experiences, beliefs and attitudes towards RES and non-RES through their design illustration. Experts decoded a total of 769 RES and 737 non-RES designs of four different sample groups ranging from the less informed children to well-informed engineers, and defined the design variables of a RES logo. On the basis of these design guidelines, professional designers created 60 RES logos. Besides, 432 participants randomly selected evaluated the logos on a score scale from 1 to 6. Interdisciplinary, cross-cultural and semiotic analysis of the winner logo revealed that in order to promote the RES use, a logo should be of round shape; present a sense of movement; conve...