Browsing by Subject "cost benefit analysis"

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Open Access
A Cost-Benefit Analysis of Rainwater Harvesting
(2008-04-24T23:31:40Z) Hicks, William D
Rainwater harvesting has provided a water source for communities around the world dating back to circa 1500 B.C. This ancient technology continues to serve populations today, mainly in poor, rural or dry regions of the world and island communities. Contemporary green building and stormwater management programs (e.g., Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design – LEED, Low Impact Development – LID, Better Site Design) suggest that rainwater harvesting can serve as a valuable stormwater management tool even in areas where municipal water supplies are readily available. Regardless, private developers are most apt to incorporate these systems into commercial development designs if the benefits justify the costs. Analyses of local rainfall data and predicted potential water usage at commercial facilities in Arlington County, Virginia reveal that rainwater harvesting systems conserve potable water, protect surface water quality and minimize flood risk. However, economic analyses from the perspective of a private developer using two case studies of commercial developments in Arlington suggest that the benefits of incorporating rainwater harvesting into building designs do not justify the cost of implementing this technique. Notwithstanding, results from a sensitivity analysis indicate that charging tenants a modest price premium of one percent or less for the privilege of occupying a “green” building yields a positive return to investing in rainwater harvesting.
Open Access
Dissemination of Evidence-Based Recommendations for Sickle Cell Disease to Primary Care and Emergency Department Providers in North Carolina: A Cost Benefit Analysis.
(Journal of health economics and outcomes research, 2021-04) Tanabe, Paula; Blewer, Audrey L; Bonnabeau, Emily; Bosworth, Hayden B; Clayton, Denise H; Crego, Nancy; Earls, Marian F; Eason, Kern; Forlines, Grayson; Rains, Gary; Young, Matthew; Shah, Nirmish
Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic condition affecting primarily individuals of African descent, who happen to be disproportionately impacted by poverty and who lack access to health care. Individuals with SCD are at high likelihood of high acute care utilization and chronic pain episodes. The multiple complications seen in SCD contribute to significant morbidity and premature mortality, as well as substantial costs to the healthcare system. Objectives: SCD is a complex chronic disease resulting in the need for primary, specialty and emergency care. Many providers do not feel prepared to care for individuals with SCD, despite the existence of evidence-based guidelines. We report the development of a SCD toolbox and the dissemination process to primary care and emergency department (ED) providers in North Carolina (NC). We report the effect of this dissemination on health-care utilization, cost of care, and overall cost-benefit. Methods: The SCD toolbox was adapted from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute recommendations. Toolbox training was provided to quality improvement specialists who then disseminated the toolbox to primary care providers (PCPs) affiliated with the only NC managed care coordination system and ED providers. Tools were made available in paper, online, and in app formats to participating managed care network practices (n=1 800). Medicaid claims data were analyzed for total costs and benefits of the toolbox dissemination for a 24-month pre- and 18-month post-intervention period. Results: There was no statistically significant shift in the number of outpatient specialty visits, ED visits or hospitalizations. There was a small decrease in the number of PCP visits in the post-implementation period. The dissemination resulted in a net cost-savings of $361 414 ($14.03 per-enrollee per-month on average). However, the estimated financial benefit associated with the dissemination of the SCD toolbox was not statistically significant. Conclusions: Although we did not find the expected shift to increased PCP visits and decreased ED visits and hospitalizations, there were many lessons learned.
Open Access
EVALUATING THE ECONOMICS OF SMALL WIND POWER IN NORTH CAROLINA
(2010-04-30T18:17:53Z) Zhuang, Wenjie Jr
“Small wind” is defined as wind-powered electric generators with rated capacities of 100 kilowatts (kW) or less. Compared with utility-scale wind systems, small wind enjoys many economic and social advantages including reducing costs of building transmission lines, helping the public reduce peak power demand, diversifying the energy supply portfolio, and increasing regional economic growth. This Master’s Project is designed to evaluate the costs and benefits of small wind systems in North Carolina from the perspective of residents and communities. It establishes a basic Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) Model to calculate Net Present Value (NPV), Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE), and Payback Period (PP) of a specific small wind project in Class 3 wind region in North Carolina. The project addresses the impact of a potential carbon tax, a potential state rebate program, and a state tax credit without a cap on the economics of the typical small wind system in North Carolina. The results indicate that a potential carbon tax would not have a significant impact on small wind economics, but the combination of a state rebate program and a non-capped tax credit makes investments in small wind much more attractive. It is recommended that North Carolina adopt a combination of a state rebate program and a non-capped tax credit to stimulate the development of small-scale wind power.
Open Access
The Impacts of Rural Electrification in the Kingdom of Bhutan
(2017-04-28) Litzow, Erin L.
Since the 1990s, the Kingdom of Bhutan has made significant investments to achieve universal rural electrification (RE), with goals to improve education, health and employment outcomes and reduce fuelwood consumption. While planners expect that improved energy access generally enhances well-being, previous assessments of RE programs find highly varied, context-dependent impacts. To assess the impact of RE in Bhutan, I rely on survey data from three rounds of the Bhutan Living Standards Survey. Applying linear and non-linear regression methods as well as propensity score matching, I find that the RE program led to improvements in education and reduced fuelwood consumption. I find inconclusive evidence of the effects of RE on non-agricultural employment and find no effect on health. I conduct a cost-benefit analysis (CBA) to compare program costs, at both the government and household levels, against estimated benefits. Household level benefits outweigh costs, and the positive net benefits are robust to variation in multiple, estimated parameters. Societal net benefits are slightly negative, but this value is likely a lower bound estimate and is sensitive to parameter variation. Based on these analyses, I conclude that Bhutan’s RE program was a partial success in the time period studied, achieving fuelwood and education related outcomes and improving welfare in rural households.