Users’ Perceptions of Green Roofs and Green Walls: An Analysis of Youth Hostels in Lisbon, Portugal

How negative factors influence youth hostel stay aftermath COVID-19 pandemic

The bookings and revenues of youth hostels have significantly decreased because of the multiple effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is necessary to investigate young consumers' perceptions of visiting youth hostels aftermath this pandemic. The current study examines the relationship between multi-dimensions of perceived risk, three types of images, willingness to pay and visit intention. A convenience sampling was developed where 534 questionnaires were received, followed by subsequent empirical testing of the proposed hypotheses using SPSS and AMOS-SEM. Results showed that perceived risk negatively influenced cognitive and affective image, respectively. Cognitive and affective image positively influenced overall image and finally influenced willingness to pay and visit intention separately. In addition, cognitive image positively influenced affective image. The theoretical framework satisfactorily accounted for willingness to pay and intention, and our results help youth hostels practitioners invent efficient strategies to boost young consumers' willingness to pay and intention to visit youth hostels.

Attention and Sentiment of the Chinese Public toward a 3D Greening System Based on Sina Weibo

The rapid development of global urbanization over the years has led to a significant increase in the urban population, resulting in an imbalance in the urban green space structure. Transforming the urban 2D space green quantity into a 3D space green quantity to create 3D greenery systems (TGS) is a space resource that cannot be ignored in the process of urban green space expansion. This research gathered and analyzed Sina Weibo post information and user information related to TGS to investigate the changing trend of attention status and emotional orientation of the Chinese public on TGS. We employed web crawler technology and text mining to search and analyze the data on the Sina Weibo platform. This research aids policymakers and stakeholders in comprehending the general public's perspective on TGS and showing the transmission channel of public sentiment and the origins of negative sentiment. Results indicate that the public's attention to TGS has greatly increased since the shift in the government's idea of governance, although it still needs improvement. Despite TGS's good thermal insulation and air purification effects, 27.80% of the Chinese public has a negative attitude toward it. The public's negative sentiment of TGS housing is not solely due to pricing. The public is mainly concerned about the damage to the structure of buildings caused by TGS, the subsequent maintenance of plants, the increase in indoor mosquitoes, and lighting and humidity problems. This research helps decision makers understand the public opinion communication process via social media and provides corresponding solutions, which is of great significance for the future development of TGS.

Public Perceptions of Green Roofs and Green Walls in Tokyo, Japan: A Call to Heighten Awareness

Many cities advocate retrofitting green roofs and green walls (GRGW) to create additional green areas, especially in cramped urban areas. Yet, worldwide, only a handful of studies have evaluated the public views towards the benefits and negative issues and promotion policies of this innovative greening option. To address this gap in the literature, we conducted a survey (N = 500) of residents' opinions towards GRGW in Tokyo, a city with mandatory installation of GRGW for almost two decades. Respondents mostly agreed with the contribution of GRGW to thermal comfort, air quality, and cityscape but weakly endorsed other potential benefits. High costs as well as mosquitoes and plant litter nuisances were the most recognized negative issues. Mandatory installation was the least preferred promotion policy. Instead, respondents expected installation on public buildings and provision of installation guidance. Respondents predominantly held a "moderate" view towards both the benefits and negative issues, showing indifferent attitudes towards GRGW. Income level and housing type shaped the overall perceptions, whereas age, sex, and current living environment influenced perceptions of individual aspects. Our findings signified a need for a bottom-up strategy to heighten public awareness for the advanced development of GRGW to complement and prime the top-down mandatory installation policy.

Emergence of Centralized (Collective) and Decentralized (Individual) Environmentally Friendly Solutions during the Regeneration of a Residential Building in a Post-Socialist City

Our paper deals with a micro-study of one residential building in the city center of Brno (Czech Republic) where we strived to identify and better understand the main factors behind the successful implementation of environmentally friendly solutions during the regeneration process. We followed the unique, complicated, and often conflictual story of the regeneration (conducted during the years 2010–2020) of the residential building, which was originally built in the 1930s. In total, 18 solutions were discussed—all four solutions on the state level of centralization were realized, only two of six solutions on the building level of centralization were materialized, and six of eight decentralized solutions were realized during the regeneration process. In the field of energy savings requiring high investments, a significant dominance of centralized solutions (on the state level) was identified. Centralized solutions on the building level such as heat pumps or solar panels were not realized. In the area of waste management and care for community greenery (that did not require large investments), we see as the most beneficial the promotion of decentralized solutions in the form of community-funded communal composting or the planting of new greenery. The formation of various regeneration options, which is discussed in detail, appeared as an integral instrument for dealing with conflicts among residents during the planning phase.