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Unemployment is one of the most important problems affecting people in all countries. It affects the functioning of entire economies, industries, and enterprises; it also reduces the level and quality of people’s lives. The dynamic changes that are taking place in the labor market are forcing entrepreneurs to adopt a flexible approach to labor market resources – that is, employees – and also to choose appropriate forms of human capital management. This may lead to a reduction in unemployment in the market. Consequently, tackling unemployment is one of the important challenges facing the European Union, especially on its way to achieving sustainable development goals. High levels of unemployment could significantly hamper the achievement of the Agenda 2030 employment targets (SDG8), leading to poverty, social and economic inequality, and social instability. Therefore, the subject of this study is unemployment in EU countries; the main objective is to examine unemployment levels across EU member states. The deliberations and analysis are carried out in the context of the Agenda 2030 Goal 8 (SDG 8) for sustainable development. Taking into account the different degrees of implementation of SDG8 by individual Member States, and thus the different results in this respect, the study finds differences and similarities among the surveyed Member States in terms of types and levels of unemployment. The research is based on Eurostat data for 2022, and uses multidimensional comparative analysis methods such as cluster analysis and linear ordering. A review of selected sources on international and European law focuses on employment policy standards, including the problem of unemployment; this serves as a background for the analyses. The considerations are embedded in the concept of sustainable development, which influences the functioning of entire economies, but also in the processes of enterprise management. Based on the literature and the results of the analyses, it is concluded that levels of unemployment vary greatly in the analyzed countries. The best conditions for availability and accessibility of work are found in the Czech Republic and Malta; the worst are in Spain and Greece, where unemployment is very high.

Zero-emission buildings, which do not emit CO2 or other greenhouse gases throughout their entire life cycle, play a crucial role in sustainable development and the fight against climate change. Achieving carbon neutrality in construction requires considering emissions associated with material production, construction, operation, as well as demolition and disposal. These buildings utilize energy-efficient technologies, renewable energy sources, and low-carbon materials, minimizing their environmental impact. The building sector accounts for a significant percentage of global greenhouse gas emissions, making it a key area for climate action. In Poland, where aging and energy-inefficient buildings prevail, the need for a transition towards zero-emission buildings is particularly urgent. This paper assesses the feasibility and hurdles of retrofitting existing buildings to achieve zero emissions by utilizing renewable energy systems like solar photovoltaic and heat pump technologies. The publication discusses the technical, economic, and legal aspects of this transformation, with particular emphasis on the Polish context and available support programs. The purpose of this publication is to disseminate practical knowledge and foster innovation among architects, investors, and decision-makers engaged in the development of a sustainable built environment. A key example is Net Zero Energy Buildings (NZEBs), which generate as much energy as they consume over a year through technologies such as photovoltaic panels, solar collectors, and heat pumps. NZEBs combine effective insulation, energy-efficient systems, and smart energy management to minimize consumption, and may even produce excess energy that feeds back into the grid. Despite challenges in construction and maintenance, the increasing adoption of zero-emission and NZEBs worldwide reflects their long-term ecological, economic, and health benefits. The focus of this publication is to analyze the potential for transforming standard buildings, as defined by current regulations, into zero-emission buildings powered entirely by renewable energy sources. This case study analyzes the energy potential of a residential building located in Krakow, Poland. The building’s energy efficiency potential was assessed through computer simulations using Audytor OZC software (version 7.0 Pro, Sankom), taking into account local climate conditions and building standards. The study analyzed the impact of various strategies, such as upgrading thermal insulation, using energy-efficient windows, and installing photovoltaic panels, on energy consumption and CO2 emissions.

Improving energy efficiency indicators and reasonable use of energy resources in the context of the increasing demand for energy are sectors that must definitely be paid attention to. The fight against climate change must start in the construction sector, as buildings are the main consumers of energy. Saving energy through the rational use of energy sources and good thermal insulation of buildings allows you to reduce the amount of heating and/or cooling bills as well as to care for the environment by reducing emissions. This article presents aspects of improving the energy efficiency of a health clinic building in Mszana Dolna through the use of comprehensive thermal modernization of the external envelope. Thermal modernization of the most energy-intensive and leaky external partitions in the building, i.e., the external walls below and above the ground and the ventilated flat roof, managed to save 53% of the building’s thermal energy, which directly translates into lowering the building’s operating costs. We managed to achieve an improvement in energy efficiency ratios from 37% to almost 60%, and a reduction in CO2 emissions at a level of nearly 50%.

Economical and efficient use of energy is promoted around the world as a model of conscious care for the environment in which we live. A mere change of habits in the use of energy can reduce its costs by 5% to 15%, and investments in energy-saving technologies can pay for themselves after just a few years. This case study shows how significant steps can be taken in saving energy in the building of public utility buildings through deep thermomodernization using renewable energy sources—compressor heat pumps and photovoltaics. The article presents a comprehensive thermomodernization of a school building made according to Polish regulations. A detailed description of the tested object is given, and the calculation procedure is described. Next, the optimal investment variant and ex post analysis are described. The implementation of these projects significantly improved the energy efficiency of the building and generated final energy savings of 80%, which will significantly reduce the school’s operating costs. Thanks to the applied improvements, it was possible to save 72.30% of thermal energy in the building, which directly translates into lowering the building’s operating costs. The improvement of energy efficiency indicators ranges from 66% for usable energy to almost 85% for non-renewable primary energy. Furthermore, by reducing the demand for energy used in the building by nearly 74%, we see a reduction in CO2 emissions. The methods used were desk research and an extended case study of Poland, a country facing a number of problems related to energy prices during the energy crisis. In this article, we identify the challenges faced by Poland due to its geopolitical situation, and the solutions introduced to the difficult situation in the energy market come in the form of the thermomodernization of buildings. It was on this basis that Poland was selected as a case study.

Improving energy efficiency includes a number of measures implemented as part of the greening of the energy industry, which in turn is a prerequisite for the creation of a sustainable energy industry to ensure energy and environmental security for the world. Despite the adoption of the EU directives on energy efficiency, there is still insufficient public awareness in this area in Poland and Slovakia. This is particularly surprising because improving energy efficiency not only brings national and global benefits, but also has a significant impact on the well-being of individuals and households. The main purpose of the paper is to analyze the national policies of Poland and Slovakia, which are based on the European Directive 2012/27/EU on energy efficiency, and which introduce new measures aimed not only at increasing energy efficiency, but also at increasing the well-being of households and individuals. Methods of desk research and content analysis were used. The current situation in both countries is illustrated by case studies that document the administrative process (Slovakia) and the calculation of energy savings (Poland) when using renewable energy sources in the case of family houses.

Celem artykułu jest identyfikacja i klasyfikacja instrumentów i narzędzi TI wykorzystywanych w nauczaniu zdalnym oraz omówienie szczególnie tych aplikacji, które mają zastosowanie w odniesieniu do e-learningu korporacyjnego w sektorze MSP oraz prezentacja wyników badań empirycznych. Przyjęto założenie, że osiągnięcie wysokiej efektywności nauczania możliwe jest tylko dzięki dopasowaniu narzędzi TI do przedmiotu i elementów e-learningowych. Do realizacji tak nakreślonego celu wykorzystano metody badawcze: analiza wyników badań poprzedników oraz ocena ekspercka narzędzi TI wykorzystywanych w korporacjach. W szczególności przedstawiono rozwój technologii informatycznych w nauczaniu zdalnym, scharakteryzowano systemy LMS i LCMS zapewniające sprawne i skuteczne przeprowadzenie szkoleń w trybie e-learningowym. W artykule przedstawiono również dyskusję wokół pojęcia zdalnego nauczania, e-learningu korporacyjnego, podkreślając przy tym znaczenie tego procesu dla rozwoju społeczno-gospodarczego kraju. Określono stadia rozwoju (generacje) technologii informatycznych wykorzystywanych w zdalnym nauczaniu oraz zaprezentowano formy szkoleń w trybie e-learningu. W zakończeniu artykułu podkreślono problem mniej znany szerszemu gronu czytelników, a mianowicie ograniczania wiedzy niejawnej w procesie zdalnego nauczania – stanowi to ważny czynnik w pozyskiwaniu wiedzy przez różne organizacje. Przekazując coraz więcej informacji, Internet i inne narzędzia IT tworzy coraz większe pokłady wiedzy niejawnej – co silnie oddziaływa na jakość podawanych informacji.