Browsing by Subject "Rhode Island"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • No Thumbnail Available
    ItemOpen Access
    Physical activity-related and weather-related practices of child care centers from 2 states.
    (J Phys Act Health, 2015-02) Ball, Sarah C; Gillman, Matthew W; Mayhew, Meghan; Namenek Brouwer, Rebecca J; Benjamin Neelon, Sara E
    BACKGROUND: Young children's physical activity (PA) is influenced by their child care environment. This study assessed PA practices in centers from Massachusetts (MA) and Rhode Island (RI), compared them to best practice recommendations, and assessed differences between states and center profit status. We also assessed weather-related practices. METHODS: Sixty percent of MA and 54% of RI directors returned a survey, for a total of 254. Recommendations were 1) daily outdoor play, 2) providing outdoor play area, 3) limiting fixed play structures, 4) variety of portable play equipment, and 5) providing indoor play area. We fit multivariable linear regression models to examine adjusted associations between state, profit status, PA, and weather-related practices. RESULTS: MA did not differ from RI in meeting PA recommendations (β = 0.03; 0.15, 0.21; P = .72), but MA centers scored higher on weather-related practices (β = 0.47; 0.16, 0.79; P = .004). For-profit centers had lower PA scores compared with nonprofits (β = -0.20; 95% CI: -0.38, -0.02; P = .03), but they did not differ for weather (β = 0.12; -0.19, 0.44; P = .44). CONCLUSIONS: More MA centers allowed children outside in light rain or snow. For-profit centers had more equipment—both fixed and portable. Results from this study may help inform interventions to increase PA in children.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    The Future of Heating: Evaluating Options for Aquidneck Island, Rhode Island
    (2021-04-29) Lazinski, Chris; Lee, Cheryl
    Natural gas service to Aquidneck Island, Rhode Island is currently being supplemented by trucked-in liquefied natural gas (LNG) to meet peak winter heating demand due to a pipeline capacity constraint. Projections to 2024 show gas demand increasing while pipeline capacity to the island remains constant. The majority of gas usage is directed to space heating, and therefore reducing the island’s space heating needs could bring gas consumption back in line with pipeline capacity. To prioritize solutions, a custom evaluation tool was constructed and technological solutions were evaluated over seven categories: time horizon, serving capability, costs, return, environment, regulatory environment, and stakeholder support. The results of this analysis show air- and ground-source heat pumps along with district heating systems as the most impactful and feasible technologies overall.  These strategies were then divided into short-term and long-term options. Short-term recommendations include the deployment of electric air- and ground-source heat pumps. Long-term strategies include the deployment of geothermal district heating or seawater-based district energy based around large usage customers within population-dense areas.