AbstractThe real estate sector is today responsible for 40 per cent of the total amount of energy consumption within the members of the EU. All over the world there are collaborations within research and projects to find ways of reducing the amount of energy consumed by the real estate sector. In Sweden, a directive from the European Union has posed demands on authorities as well as on the private sector to reduce the amount of energy consumed by new building constructions. Together with the directive from the EU there are also new requirements and demands from Boverket for the real estate sector.  These requirements mostly concern the energy consumption of kilowatt-hour per square metre and that the consumed energy also should be renewable.  The aim of this study is to explain what kind of value municipalities experience in using certifications and environmental investments for new and existing buildings. Within the chapter theory, essential areas are described such as; environmental certification systems, economical viability, proceeds connected to building green, difficulties with building green, the performance of green buildings when affected by the behaviour of tenants and customer value.  The following chapter describes the methodology with which we have conducted this study.

AbstractThe control of quality standard ISO 9001 has made the internal audit to be experienced as police authority and paragraph control. Because of that, motivation for internal auditors is low. To counteract the experience, there is a possibility to integrate internal audit with improvements in company?s processes. Theory has shown that a qualified and competent auditor can provide information that can help the organization's managements to make the right decisions that will improve product quality and result in new customer contracts.An opportunity to observe an internal and external audit at one of the case companies gave rise to this study.

Bactiguard is a Swedish company within the field of medichal technology. The company has been very prosperous since it was founded in 2005 and was electedÅrets MedTechföretag 2008 ?MedTech Company of the year 2008. According to a definition by NUTEK, Bactiguard is still considered a minor company ? despite high market value and international expansion.

The highly toxic man-made substance referred to as dioxin (polychlorinated dibenzo-para-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs)) causes severe health damages both to humans and other organisms, with lethality as its worst. Because of the toxicity several risk assessments has been performed on dioxins trying to determine at what concentration there are no risk of exposure. Resent years of research has discovered that these substances are not only anthropogenically but also producedin natural processes, like volcanoes and forest fires. To investigate if there is a need to take these naturally formed dioxins into account in the risk assessment processes, interviews with persons at relevant institutions in Sweden has been made. Analyses of existing risk assessment methods and political documents were also made to complete the picture.

Icke vinstdrivande organisationers förtroendeskapande webbkommunikation är en undersökning som syftar till att öka förståelsen för hur icke vinstdrivande organisationer etablerar förtroende i sin kommunikation på webben. Genom att analysera hur de tre icke vinstdrivande organisationerna Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), KRAV och Fairtrade skapar förtroende i textmaterial presenterat på respektive organisations hemsida söker uppsatsen belysa hur olika förtroendeskapande grepp används av icke vinstdrivande organisationer för att etablera förtroende mot allmänheten. Analysen visar att det mest förekommande sättet att skapa förtroende mot allmänheten bland de studerade icke vinstdrivande organisationerna är att framhäva sin expertis på det område organisationen verkar. Uppsatsen öppnar upp för ett nytt forskningsområde med fokus på hur den icke vinstdrivande organisationen etablerar förtroende på webben. För vidare forskning kan det vara intressantatt öka antalet analyserade organisationer för att öka möljligheten att fastslå samband mellan hur stor grad av förtroende allmänheten upplever sig ha för en organisation och vilken typ av förtroendeskapande kommunikationen organisation använder sig av..

Icke vinstdrivande organisationers förtroendeskapande webbkommunikation är en undersökning som syftar till att öka förståelsen för hur icke vinstdrivande organisationer etablerar förtroende i sin kommunikation på webben. Genom att analysera hur de tre icke vinstdrivande organisationerna Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), KRAV och Fairtrade skapar förtroende i textmaterial presenterat på respektive organisations hemsida söker uppsatsen belysa hur olika förtroendeskapande grepp används av icke vinstdrivande organisationer för att etablera förtroende mot allmänheten. Analysen visar att det mest förekommande sättet att skapa förtroende mot allmänheten bland de studerade icke vinstdrivande organisationerna är att framhäva sin expertis på det område organisationen verkar. Uppsatsen öppnar upp för ett nytt forskningsområde med fokus på hur den icke vinstdrivande organisationen etablerar förtroende på webben. För vidare forskning kan det vara intressantatt öka antalet analyserade organisationer för att öka möljligheten att fastslå samband mellan hur stor grad av förtroende allmänheten upplever sig ha för en organisation och vilken typ av förtroendeskapande kommunikationen organisation använder sig av..

Since Sweden joined the European Union all Swedish fruit and vegetables are classified according to EU Quality standards. One important function is the product description and how it can facilitate the trade; for example in better comparing prices and also to guarantee the quality of the product. This quality standards or product descriptions are written as words of an Act and obligatory for all countries that has joined the EU. It?s often a demand from the customers to be certificated according to some of many certificating systems. One example is the common worldwide GLOBAL GAP-certification system created by the organisation EUREP which represents the leading European retail traders.

This essay examines the criteria for a peaceful cemetery. First there is a short history of the Swedish funeral place. After that follows the definitions of a peaceful place according to environmental psychology. From these definitions an analysis method is constructed for identifying a peaceful cemetery. The analysis method contains six criteria, shape of the entrances, existence of sound, vegetation character, the cemetery?s demarcation, the cemetery?s management and what feeling the cemetery mediates.The analysis method is put into practice on three cemeteries, Överklinten cemetery, Stockholm forest cemetery and the old cemetery in Malmö.

Användningen av bränslen med skogligt ursprung har i Sverige ökat stadigt sedan 1980-talet. Tänkbara anledningar till ökningen är en ökad medvetenhet kring enregisystemens miljö- och klimatpåverkan samt att energipriserna stigit och gjort det lönsammare att ta ut bränslesortiment från skogen. De främsta förbrukarna av dessa bränslen är idag den svenska industrisektorn och kraft- och värmeverk. Samtidigt som denna ökning har skett så har stora förändringar gjorts inom det svenska skogsbruket vilket gått från att inom drivningen haft många människor anställda till att idag vara så gått som helt entreprenörsbaserat. Även dagens uttagssystem för skogsbränslen är entreprenörsbaserade och förädlingskedjan för skogsbränslen sköts idag av ett fristående entreprenadföretag som utför de olika processerna i kedjan. Syftet med denna studie är att kartlägga hur uttaget av skogliga bränslesortiment går till idag och hur avtalsförhållandena för de till uttaget och vidareförädlingen kopplade tjänsterna ser ut.

The aim of this study about wind power planning in forest was to examine the factors and restrictions, which represent technical limitations, biodiversity, tourism and amount of energy for wind farms in Kronoberg County. Suitable areas for wind power were identified from the collected information about planning principles and potential conflicts. From the suitable areas the potential energy gain is calculated. Methods used were mainly a literature review, interviews with experts and practitioners, GIS analysis and a rough calculation of the energy gain. The section of information and facts describes in general wind power planning and possible conflicts.

In this study I analysed how burning affects sprouting ability and survival of oak (Quercus robur) during the first season after a burn in southern Sweden. The study consisted of two separate field tests; in the first, two 300 m2- plots in western oak dominated forest were burned to analyze the fire behavior and the immediate mortality of oak and beech seedlings defined as individuals (> 20cm of height). At the end of the season almost 50% of the oak seedlings had resprouted while the beech seedlings had 100% mortality. An attempt to investigate the effect of the burn of artificially sown acorns was totally ruined by wild boar grouting before any conclusive results could be seen. In the second test the resprouting ability of oaks of varying diameters (average BHD 7-9 cm, range 2-42 cm) was examined one season after a prescribed burn in southeastern Sweden.

Human presence has always influenced the surrounding areas, the forest as well. Structure and species composition have changed during human land use. Knowledge regarding these changes should be of great interest for conservation and forestry. We have analyzed human impact on the tree species composition on five study sites during 2000 years in Ångermanland, Sweden. More specifically the change in tree species composition in percentage amongst alder, birch, spruce and pine over time.

AbstractThe purpose of my study is to examine how preschool children experience nature and how the educationalists at the preschool can make nature more exciting and support the children?s personal growth. I have also studied what the educationalists of the preschool do and what they can do to make nature more interesting and playful for the children. Observations and interviews have been conducted at a preschool in a small town. The preschool is situated close to nature, that is, close to a small forested area.

Tree fiber lengths controls properties like strength and smoothness in paper and other wood products. For forest researchers it is of interest to be able to determine the fiber lengths in standing trees. Mo?rling et al. (2003), among others, have developed methods to estimate fiber length distributions in standing trees without damaging them.

This thesis of 15 hp has been implemented at Halmstad University, in collaboration with Saab Dynamics in Linköping. Saab Dynamics is a company operating in the defence industry where competition is tough. This necessitates new ways to increase efficiency in the company, which is the basis for this thesis. Saab Dynamics wants to introduce simulation driven design. Since Saab Dynamics engineers have little experience of simulation, required a user methodology with clear guidelines.