1. Event square and multipurpose center with library in the city of StrugaJeta Ajdari, 2024, master's thesis Abstract: This thesis addresses the redevelopment of a centrally located site in Struga, currently occupied by a large, unadorned parking lot devoid of greenery. Surrounded by key state institutions, including the Health Insurance Office, Municipal Archives, and the Main Post Office, as well as public amenities, such as restaurants and pharmacies, the site offers a unique opportunity for urban revitalization.Until 2016, this location served as the central square of Struga. Following the restoration of the "Monument of Revolution," it was expected that the area would be transformed into a modern, attractive space for local residents. However, contrary to these expectations, it has since been repurposed as a parking lot. This project envisions reclaiming the site as a multifunctional space that serves as a cultural hub and social gathering point for both residents and visitors.Struga, situated on the shores of Lake Ohrid in the Republic of North Macedonia, has a population of approximately 50,000 and is a popular summer tourist destination. Despite this, the city faces a deficit of social gathering places and environments conducive to student collaboration and study. The existing city library, with its outdated facilities and limited collection of 8,000 books, fails to meet modern standards. Furthermore, Struga’s renowned Poetry Nights festival underscores the lack of dedicated public spaces for cultural events, highlighting the need for proper outdoor venues. The absence of adequate library resources and diverse social spaces for various age groups further exacerbates these challenges.This project proposes a comprehensive solution by transforming the parking lot into a multifaceted community facility. The envisioned development includes an open square for events, a gallery and exhibition hall, an innovative city library, study areas, communal spaces, green zones, and a children’s playground. Outdoor reading areas and organized play activities will be integrated into the design, promoting relaxation and leisure within an inviting, green environment.By combining diverse indoor and outdoor programs, the project seeks to foster social interaction across all age groups, enhancing community cohesion. This multi-generational event center and library will become a landmark for Struga, enriching the city’s cultural, recreational, and educational landscape while significantly improving the quality of life for its residents. Keywords: contemporary architecture, library, multigeneration building, square, public space, common space, green space, Struga. Published in DKUM: 13.01.2025; Views: 0; Downloads: 32
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2. Urban hedges facilitate spontaneous woody plantsEva Horvat, Mirjana Šipek, Nina Šajna, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: Most trees and other woody plants growing within urban areas are deliberately cultivated native or non-native plants. Opportunities for spontaneous establishment and spread of woody species are scarce in an urban environment, especially if the establishment begins from seeds. We hypothesized that urban hedges might offer safe sites for the spontaneous establishment of woody plants, which reach the hedges through propagule dispersal. We recorded the species composition of urban hedges in Maribor (NE Slovenia) in a gradient from the city centre outwards and evaluated the species' invasive potential and ecological requirements, along with hedge characteristics. Results show that hedges facilitated the survival and growth of 69 woody plants from 28 families. Among these, 62% were non-native and 10% were locally invasive. Most of recorded non-native woody plants were ornamentals. Moreover, for native species, we show that the stressful, warmer urban environment mostly facilitates the establishment of species in the genera Hedera and Acer. Comparison of non-native and native plants showed the former are more drought and heat tolerant than the latter. We further show that with distance from the city centre, the number of bird-dispersed species increases, in contrast to the wind-dispersed species. Additionally, our results suggest evergreen hedges may be less permeable to wind-dispersed propagules than deciduous hedges. Next, we stress the importance of paved surfaces and urbanization, selecting for the thermophile, drought tolerant, wind-dispersed woody plants that find refuge in urban hedges. Our results suggest urban hedges can facilitate the establishment of a wide range of woody plant species. Keywords: biodiversity, green infrastructure, ornamental plants, species richness, urban ecosystem, vegetation Published in DKUM: 03.12.2024; Views: 0; Downloads: 0
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4. A bibliometric network analysis of green information technology and green information systems researchAnja Žnidaršič, Daria Maltseva, Alenka Brezavšček, Matjaž Maletič, Alenka Baggia, 2021, original scientific article Abstract: Background: In recent years, the concepts of Green Information Technology and Green Information Systems (Green IT/IS) have attracted the attention of many researchers. Several environmental and sustainability studies have suggested that smart usage of Green IT/IS is one of the most important enablers for sustainable development in organizations and plays an essential role in greening the planet.
Objectives: This paper aims to examine the development of the Green IT/IS field based on the published works. The focus is on analysing the keywords of related papers obtained from the Web of Science database.
Methods/Approach: Based on the twomode network of papers and keywords, the analysis of co-occurrence of keywords is provided. The most frequent keywords discovered by the temporal network analysis are presented from the perspective of the most prominent journals.
Results: The main pillars of knowledge in Green IT/IS research are highlighted, and a chronological map of the field is provided.
Conclusions: Green IT/IS's studied field shows constant growth in the last decades, and the results indicate the trends of future development in the field. The paper is one of the first studies that apply the bibliographic network analysis approach to the field of Green IT/IS. Keywords: green information system, green information technology, bibliographic networks Published in DKUM: 14.11.2024; Views: 0; Downloads: 8
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5. Climate change and agriculture management : Western Balkan region analysisFranc Željko Županič, Danka Radić, Iztok Podbregar, 2021, review article Abstract: Background: This paper aims to analyze the possibilities of the agricultural sector of the Western Balkan to assess compliance with the European Green Deal, which provides for the implementation of activities, which should enable the transition to sustainable agriculture and climate change mitigation. This paper is among the first to present the causality of agriculture and climate change (status, mitigation, and perspectives) in general and in light of the European Green Deal for the Western Balkan territory.
Main text: Agricultural production is a leading industry in the Western Balkan. Climate change and predictions that temperatures will increase by 4 °C in the coming decades pose a risk not only to agricultural production but also to the safety of the population, because agriculture is the main source of income for a significant part of it. Uncontrolled floods and droughts caused by climate change are a particular danger for agriculture and human existence. This paper demonstrates that agriculture in the WB can be considered critically affected by climate change.
Conclusions:Unless appropriate measures are taken and risk management for water resources and agriculture is improved, there will be a further decrease in precipitation and an increase in dry days by 20%. Such a scenario endangers not only the already vulnerable climate sustainability and biodiversity of the region but also the existence of a population employed in agriculture and the contribution of the agricultural sector to the gross domestic product. However, future planning based on the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) and European Green Deal, the adoption of a related regulatory framework, the establishment and regular monitoring of supporting financing mechanisms, regional cooperation, and improving risk management (with emphasis on the local level) can mitigate the present impact and decrease the expected negative impact of climate change on agriculture and biodiversity in the WB region. Keywords: climate change, sustainable agriculture, risk management, Western Balkan countries, European Green Deal Published in DKUM: 08.11.2024; Views: 0; Downloads: 5
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6. Environmental responsibility and communication in selected companies in the Podravska statistical regionZala Virant, Janez Osojnik, Andreja Kozmus, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: The paper presents best practices pursued by eight companies from the Podravska statistical region selected because they promote green transition in this society. In the theoretical section, the article presents environmental responsibility as part of corporate social responsibility and deals with the type of communication needed to address and motivate people to implement the EU Green Deal goals. The empirical section analyses eight semi-structured interviews with representatives from selected companies in the Podravska statistical region. The results highlight long-term efforts to raise public awareness about the environmental crisis (without major visible effects), financial aid as the main motivation factor to implement green practices, shortage of specific training courses in communication, and the need for locally focused training. Keywords: environmental responsibility, sustainability, sustainable organisational practices, green motives, communication, Podravska statistical region Published in DKUM: 11.10.2024; Views: 0; Downloads: 0 |
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8. Enhancing knowledge on energy refurbishment of buildings and green procurement through living labsMaršenka Marksel, Nina Pavletič, Tomislav Letnik, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: Buildings account for a significant portion of energy consumption and greenhouse gas
emissions, underscoring the urgent need for energy refurbishment and green procurement strategies.
This study explores the potential of Living Labs, a collaborative and user-centered approach, to
bridge knowledge gaps and foster innovation in these areas. The research employed a comprehensive
methodology, including stakeholder surveys and statistical analyses, to evaluate knowledge enhancement in various domains such as green policies, mentoring, funding possibilities, and green public
procurement. The results demonstrated statistically significant improvements in knowledge across
different fields and stakeholder groups. This study contributes to the objectives of the European
Green Deal by highlighting the role of Living Labs in advancing knowledge critical to achieving
energy efficiency and sustainability targets. Based on these findings, several recommendations are
proposed to further leverage the effectiveness of Living Labs in promoting the energy refurbishment
of buildings and green public procurement. Keywords: living labs, energy refurbishment, green public procurement, European Green Deal Published in DKUM: 25.09.2024; Views: 0; Downloads: 1
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9. Eco friendly functional finishes of polyester fabric using keratin from wool and feather wastesLidija Fras Zemljič, Maja Čolnik, Darinka Fakin, Tanja Pušić, Vanessa Wendy Bračko, Tjaša Kraševac Glaser, Mojca Škerget, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: This research showcases the use of hydrothermally extracted solutions from poultry feathers and wool as ecofriendly and versatile textile finishes. These solutions, derived from waste biomass containing the keratin
biopolymer, were obtained through environmentally conscious hydrothermal degradation processes. Initially,
the study focused on analysing the chemical parameters and properties of both dialysed and non-dialysed solutions extracted from feathers and wool. The investigation tracked primarily the presence of keratin within these
solutions. Upon application to polyester textiles as the reference material, the presence of these solutions on the
fabric surface was confirmed successfully. A thorough physicochemical analysis of the treated textiles involved
various analytical techniques. These encompassed surface composition analysis via X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), assessment of wettability through Contact Angle measurements, determination of surface charge using surface zeta
potential, and examination of the thermal and flame-retardant properties via Differential Scanning Calorimetry
(DSC), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), and calorimetric tests. In addition, the colour, UV radiation transmission and antioxidant activity were evaluated using standard tests.
The remarkable effects of the treatment have been observed in the exceptional antioxidative action, fire
resistance, UV protection and enhanced hydrophilicity of these innovative multifunctional textiles. This
approach holds significant implications across research, economics and society, enriching Material Science by
deepening the understanding of materials and their multifaceted properties. Moreover, it promotes resource
efficiency, opens new sustainable textile market prospects, and contributes to social impact by supporting
environmental sustainability, engaging communities and ensuring health and safety benefits. Keywords: poultry feathers and wool, hydrothermal extraction, polyester, finishing, green, multifunctionality Published in DKUM: 03.09.2024; Views: 43; Downloads: 16
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10. Sustainable developement in logistic : a strategy for management in terms of green transportDorota Klimecka-Tatar, Manuela Ingaldi, Matevž Obrecht, 2021, original scientific article Abstract: Supply chain management is one of the most important elements of sustainable development. And due to the fact that the world market is driven by supply and demand, and the determinant of access to products is regional and international logistics, this paper focuses on the possibilities of implementing a green transport strategy in the context of sustainable development in logistic enterprises. This paper presents the results of the SWOT anal-ysis pointing out the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats of green vehicles market for the transport enterprises. It was noticed that the situation on the green vehicles market for the transport enterprises is charac-terized by the advantage of strengths and these strengths should be used to maximize the use of green vehicles. It emphasized that subsidies for green vehicles would allow to invest in a modern fleet, new solutions (e.g. own charging stations) can have an impact on the greater energy efficiency (self-sufficiency), increase of social aware-ness would force enterprises to take appropriate actions in the field of environmental protection and develop-ment of publictransport based on green vehicles. Keywords: logistic enterprises, green transport strategy, green vehicles, SWOT analysis, environmental protection, sustainable development, green logistics, sustainability Published in DKUM: 27.08.2024; Views: 66; Downloads: 6
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