Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the use of the purchase power of the higher education system to catalyze the economy of scale necessary to ensure market competitiveness for solar photovoltaic electricity. Design/methodology/approach: The approach used here was to first determine the demand necessary to construct "Solar City…

This report offers suggestions on finding, planning, and financing a home rehabilitation project. Information on finding a "fixer-upper" includes deciding where to look, learning what to look for in a house and neighborhood, learning about local building and zoning codes, deciding what characteristics of houses and neighborhoods are…

Processes involved in making estimates of the value of missing information that could help in a decision making process were studied. Hypothetical purchases of ground beef were selected for the study as such purchases have the desirable property of quantifying both the price and quality. A total of 150 students at the University of Iowa rated the…

Among the 90 papers on topics relating to the consumer are "Academics and Advocates" (Brobeck); "Economic Profile of the Young and Elderly" (Ryscavage); "Estimation of Savings Needs To Adequately Fund Baby Boomers' Retirement" (Burns); "Saving and Dissaving in Retirement" (Hogarth); "Analysis of Effects of Children on Consumption and Savings…

This seven-chapter publication was designed to assist administrators, architects, and engineers in understanding the functions of microprocessor-based energy management systems. The information provided can be used by these individuals to develop an energy management project, select the proper system, and accurately install the system to fit…

A model approach is suggested for the selection of a microcomputer network that will identify specific needs and arrive at solutions with maximum flexibility to avoid technological obsolescence. Chapter 1 specifies functional needs for a network design. This chapter discusses the process of evaluating whether a network is appropriate; examines and…

Designed to assist prospective buyers in making such important decisions as whether to buy a new or older home and within what price range, the guide provides information on the purchase process. Discussion of the purchase process covers the life-cycle costs (recurring homeownership costs that must be met every month); selection of a home;…

To assist the Division of Vocational Education (DVE) of the Florida State Department of Education, the author conducted a cost analysis of state-level models for acquiring competency-based instructional materials in vocational education. Two DVE-developed models of materials acquisition were examined: a centralized, single-option model in which…

To assist the youthful learner of English as a second language in dealing with the purchase of clothing and personal items, a series of dialogs, comprehension questions, readings, and points of discussion are presented. The text is illustrated. (JB)

Many factors need to be considered when a librarian decides on vendors for his orders. By using information from existing trade journals and from questionnaires completed by publishers, a handbook was developed to assist librarians; it discusses some 450 publishers in terms of their: (1) address, (2) promptness of delivery, (3) price discounts…

This guide to consumer health contains two parts, the first of which covers consumerism, cosmetics (aids for skin problems, dandruff, deodorants, dentifrices), food shopping, and clothes shopping. Part 2 discusses health quackery, including arthritis quackery, and mail-order "doctoring", food quackery, weight-reducing products, and how…

Both microfilm readers and reader-printers (RRP) for cartridge, roll, microfiche, and aperture card use are evaluated in this report. A method of selection is described which uses a seven-step procedure. The first step for a user is to fill out his requirements on a form which is provided in the report. The second step is to review the…

The purpose of this guide is to assist specifiers in properly specifying carpet made of Monsanto Acrilan acrylic fiber. As carpet is used in an expanding range of applications, it must meet increasing and varying regulatory requirements. Performance needs vary with the type of environment in which the carpet is installed. Carpet construction must…