The relationship between entrepreneurial energy efficiency orientation and carbon footprint reduction: The mediating role of green networking and identification of barriers to green practices.

Motivated by the growing attention to climate change and the crucial role businesses could play in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, this study investigates entrepreneurial energy efficiency orientation in the context of carbon footprint reduction initiatives of small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). We enhance understanding of the climate change action of SMEs by taking into account the mediating mechanisms (i.e., identification of green barriers and green networking) through which firm entrepreneurial energy efficiency orientation leads to superior carbon footprint reduction initiatives by overcoming barriers to green practices. A survey of 252 SME owners and top managers in the Tees Valley region, Northeast England, supported the direct impact of entrepreneurial energy efficiency orientation on overcoming barriers to green practices and the mediating role of identification of green barriers and green networking in this focal relationship. These findings reveal the importance of entrepreneurial energy efficiency orientation, identification of green barriers and green networking in helping SMEs overcome barriers to green practices and improving carbon footprint reduction initiatives.

Air pollution in a microclimate; the impact of different green barriers on the dispersion.

This paper studies the impact of different green barriers on the dispersion of air pollution in a neighbourhood. The study was performed with reference to air quality conditions in Manchester, UK. Manchester experiences a high level of NO2. Measured results showed that the average annual concentration level in 2018 was very close to the limit defined by European Union legislation. Maximum and minimum NO2 concentrations occurred during the winter and summer, respectively. Simulations of the dispersion of air pollution in a hypothetical neighbourhood showed that NO2 level was decreased by the increase of air temperature during the simulated day. In four perturbation scenarios, hedges and trees with different heights were added to the neighbourhood as green barriers. Hedges increased the pollution level near the street at the pedestrian level as a result of the reduced wind speed. The simulations demonstrated that using the trees facilitated the dispersion of pollution.