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Peer-Review Record

Innovative Ecological Transformations in the Management of Municipal Real Estate

Sustainability 2022, 14(21), 14373; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142114373

by Michał Dziadkiewicz¹

, Renata Włodarczyk^2,*

and Katarzyna Sukiennik¹

Reviewer 1:

Hesham Ahmad

Reviewer 2:

Yara Saifi

Reviewer 3:

Natalija Lepkova

Sustainability 2022, 14(21), 14373; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142114373

Submission received: 26 August 2022 / Revised: 15 October 2022 / Accepted: 31 October 2022 / Published: 2 November 2022

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Urban and Rural Development)

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The subject of the paper is important and linked to the quality of life and comfort of people living in urban areas. But, in my opinion, the study is not in the level to be published in this journal. The paper needs major revision and improvement before considering for submission to the journal. The paper has weakness in the review of related research. Also, the aim and the contribution of the research are not clear. In my opinion, there is a need to add a section for the literature rivew and method of research. The following is a summary of my comments and recommendations:

1. The abstract needs improvement to provide better summary of the research including the used methodology, the population and sample size, the study contribution and how it is different from previous related studies. Also, a brief of the results should be provided in the abstract.

2. A section for review of previous related research should be added to the paper, with linking and comparing these studies to the current study. The authors are advised to show how the current study is different from previous studies, and how the current study adds to the current knowledge of the study area.

3. The study requires extensive review and improvement of the writing and language. Some paragraphs (in section 3) are too long that make reading more difficult. The authors are recommended to divide the long paragraphs when moving between different subjects or objectives.

4. The authors are recommended to provide better review of recent innovative pro-ecological methods.

5. A section for Methods of Research is recommended to better describe the methods used in the study, and to show how the studied pro-ecological activities were collected and approved for the study. Also, the authors should clarify the reason for using the Likert scale in this way. Why the authors did not use scale 1 as definitely insignificant, and 3 for Neither significant nor insignificant? Please clarify your choices for the method of scaling. Also, please clarify your choice to divide the pro-ecological activities into two criteria. Please correct the sentence "The division is presented in Table 3 and Table 5" (instead of 4).

6. All the figures need review and correction. In Figure 1, there is no need for legend. The use of bar chart will be more suitable in my opinion for all the figures. Titles for the vertical and horizontal axis are important to be added for all the figures. Similar format should be used in the different figures. If you use rounded dots in Figure 3, then you should use the same format in the next figure. The titles of the figures should be placed below the figures.

7. In the analysis of the results, the authors did not differentiate the employees of the municipal housing manager form others. It is expected that those employees may have higher degree of awareness than others in the studied sample. So, their percentage in the sample is very important and may affect all the results of the study.

8. In equation 1, the symbols defined should be written in the same way as in the equation.

9. In Table 2, I think there are errors in calculating the Mean and Standard Deviation.

10. The aim of the study is to evaluate the awareness of the implementation of ecologically innovative activities. Show how the study has fulfilled this objective.

11. The presentation of the results and discussion in very poor. The analysis of the results should be improved. The discussion of the results should be linked and compared to results from other related studies.

12. Conclusion section should be improved. More discussion about the future research work, the recommendations of the study, and the implications of the results should be added.

Author Response

Answer to Reviewer #1

Thank you very much for all your comments and time. Thanks to your comments, this manuscript has gained new value.

Below we present the changes that were made to the manuscript and the responses to the remarks of the honorable Reviewer:

The abstract needs improvement to provide better summary of the research including the used methodology, the population and sample size, the study contribution and how it is different from previous related studies. Also, a brief of the results should be provided in the abstract.

Explanation added in the Abstract:

Thank you very much for your important remark regarding the insufficient description of the research results in the abstract.

The research presented in the article was conducted in the first and second quarter of 2021 among the residents and employees of the municipal housing manager in the city of Częstochowa in Poland. The research was conducted with the use of a questionnaire method among 400 respondents, the number of which was considered sufficient to show the opinion of a part of the population on the studied topic. The measurement instrument was a questionnaire prepared by the authors, which included closed, single and multiple-choice questions. The study was conducted by the authors of the article and has a large contribution to the acquisition of a sufficient amount of data to consider the number of respondents as a sufficient research sample. The obtained research results show the willingness and great awareness of the respondents about the implementation of modern ecological solutions allowing to reduce maintenance costs and unfavorable actions against the natural environment.

A section for review of previous related research should be added to the paper, with linking and comparing these studies to the current study. The authors are advised to show how the current study is different from previous studies, and how the current study adds to the current knowledge of the study area.

Explanation:

According to the authors of the article, their research is a priority in terms of the detailed topic and the research sample. This study allows us to present an opinion on care for the natural environment in the residential context in one of the cities in Poland in the Silesian Voivodeship, which is considered not to be environmentally friendly. The authors of the article did not perform a comparative analysis with other studies due to the thematic diversity in the context of environmental protection. Other scientific articles describing issues in the context of housing do not show such detailed examples of activities. Therefore, conducting such research may be necessary in the future to analyze the topic in comparison to other cities in Poland or with cities in other countries.

The study requires extensive review and improvement of the writing and language. Some paragraphs (in section 3) are too long that make reading more difficult. The authors are recommended to divide the long paragraphs when moving between different subjects or objectives.

Explanation added in the manuscript:

The manuscript content was translated by a professional translator before being submitted to the Sustainability editorial office. Following the Reviewer's comments, it was submitted for review. The length of the sentence is dictated by the translation and context of the sentence.

The authors are recommended to provide better review of recent innovative pro-ecological methods.

Explanation:

Thank you for your attention, however, the authors of the article focused only on selected activities considered innovative in terms of environmental protection in areas related to housing. To obtain confirmation of the hypothesis, the issues that will allow for its verification were selected. The types of innovative activities presented are possible to implement and are implemented in the studied community. This is mainly due to the financial outlays that the ZGM TBS in Częstochowa can spend on pro-ecological activities.

A section for Methods of Research is recommended to better describe the methods used in the study, and to show how the studied pro-ecological activities were collected and approved for the study. Also, the authors should clarify the reason for using the Likert scale in this way. Why the authors did not use scale 1 as definitely insignificant, and 3 for Neither significant nor insignificant? Please clarify your choices for the method of scaling. Also, please clarify your choice to divide the pro-ecological activities into two criteria. Please correct the sentence "The division is presented in Table 3 and Table 5" (instead of 4).

Explanation:

Thanking you for your valuable attention, we would like to acknowledge that the description of the research used in Chapter 4 "Characteristics of sociodemographic data" is, according to the authors, sufficient, bearing in mind the limitations related to the length of the article. Readers may not need a more detailed description. In scientific articles, the most important issue is the research results and the acquisition of scientific research knowledge in the analyzed topic. According to the authors of the article, the use of the Likert scale was justified due to the more detailed description of the answers. The respondents, having a three-scale possibility to answer the question, could answer less precisely. A five-point scale was used to measure the intensity of "consent" with the statements. The division made in the article into two criteria of pro-ecological activities was created by the authors in order to distinguish between activities. The first criterion relates to individual activities that each resident can implement without major financial outlays. The second criterion, on the other hand, relates to the area of the entire community. These actions can only be undertaken jointly because in the initial stage they generate high investment costs, therefore the consent of the majority is necessary. The second criterion also relates to possible savings, which undoubtedly differ from the measures indicated in the first criterion.

All the figures need review and correction. In Figure 1, there is no need for legend. The use of bar chart will be more suitable in my opinion for all the figures. Titles for the vertical and horizontal axis are important to be added for all the figures. Similar format should be used in the different figures. If you use rounded dots in Figure 3, then you should use the same format in the next figure. The titles of the figures should be placed below the figures.

According to the authors of the article, the presented charts are visually attractive and sufficiently legible for the recipient.

Changed:

Fig. 1. Structure of the sample by gender of respondents. Source: Own research and calculations, n= 362.

Fig. 2. The structure of the study sample according to the education of the respondents (%). Source: Own research and calculations, n= 362.

Figure 3. The structure of the sample according to the indication of the significance of pro-ecological activities

Figure 4. Structure of the sample of pro-ecological activities influencing the financial aspect in relation to its significance. Source: Own research and calculations, n= 362.

In the analysis of the results, the authors did not differentiate the employees of the municipal housing manager form others. It is expected that those employees may have higher degree of awareness than others in the studied sample. So, their percentage in the sample is very important and may affect all the results of the study.

Explanation:

The authors concluded that the pro-ecological awareness of the inhabitants is important to the same extent for "ordinary" inhabitants and employees. They act in the common interest. Bearing in mind your own good and the benefits of saving and caring for the natural environment, the entire research group should be treated on one level. We will use this valuable remark for subsequent articles focusing on the differences in relation to the group of respondents.

In equation 1, the symbols defined should be written in the same way as in the equation.

Changed:

(1)

where:

s - standard deviation

- mean

x - another observation in the sample

N - number of people in the sample

In Table 2, I think there are errors in calculating the Mean and Standard Deviation.

Changed:

Corrected calculations:

Table 2. The coefficient of the mean measure and standard deviation of the study sample

Parameters	Total
Age
Less than 18	4
18-25	19
26-35	52
36-45	100
46-55	98
56-65	66
Above 65	23
Mean	45.4
Standard deviation	1.31

Source: Own research and calculations, n= 362.

The aim of the study is to evaluate the awareness of the implementation of ecologically innovative activities. Show how the study has fulfilled this objective.

Explanation:

The conducted questionnaire research made it possible to analyze whether, according to the respondents, there is a significant impact of the implemented pro-ecological activities. The survey shows that the respondents consider it important to implement such measures. The data presented in Charts 3 and 4 show that among the pro-ecological measures indicated in the survey, the vast majority of respondents indicate the importance of their introduction. The obtained results prove the awareness of the respondents. The majority willingness to change the implementation of pro-ecological activities proves the high assessment of environmental awareness.

The presentation of the results and discussion in very poor. The analysis of the results should be improved. The discussion of the results should be linked and compared to results from other related studies.

Explanation:

The authors of the article presented individual research results considered to be the most important in the context of the aim of the article. The research indicated which pro-ecological activities are the most important for the respondents. With regard to valuable comments from the reviews, chapter 5 has been revised.

Added in the manuscript (line 292):

The conducted research results show the structure of responses indicating a very high level of respondents' awareness. In the context of implementing innovative pro-ecological solutions, it can be noticed in the study that definitely important activities are indicated by the vast majority of respondents. Relating the results of the conducted research to the division into two criteria. In the first one, i.e. the data presented in Tables 3 and 4, the most important activities should consist in planting new trees and shrubs (this answer was given 121 times), creating green garbage cans (according to 83 answers) and creating recreational routes (according to 81 answers). As it results from the structure of the responses, activities conducive to direct contact with nature are the most expected and, according to the respondents, the most socially beneficial. On the other hand, when analyzing the second group of activities significantly influencing energy saving, we mention LED lighting, installation of photovoltaic panels and heat pumps. Such activities were most often indicated in the survey as the most important and the most influencing of the natural environment. The example of activities implemented in the city of Częstochowa located in Poland shows that even small cities care for the natural environment. The possible energy crisis will force implementations in the indicated areas and will naturally have a lower environmental impact. Local awareness of pro-ecological activities will contribute to a global improvement of the environment. The conducted and analyzed studies prove the necessity to disseminate ecological activities all over the world.

Conclusion section should be improved. More discussion about the future research work, the recommendations of the study, and the implications of the results should be added.

Added in the manuscript:

Discussion: The ecological situation in Poland as a European country requires the implementation of more activities and innovative solutions to support the process of reducing the harmful impact of socio-economic life on the natural environment. The number of pro-ecological initiatives in Poland is too small to protect the natural environment. Therefore, in order to achieve global improvement, local initiatives should be appreciated and implemented. The article presents the opinions of the residential community in Częstochowa in relation to pro-ecological activities concerning the area of their residence. These activities are positively received by the inhabitants of ZGM TBS and therefore such behavior should be promoted in other European countries.

Conclusions: The subject matter under study is topical in many European Union countries that are considering the use of financial resources in pro-ecological activities in various areas. Particularly unconventional ecological activities in Polish cities prove that ecological social responsibility is noticeable and well accepted by the society in various EU countries. The presented research results may be useful for analyzing the issue before making the final decision on where and what ecological solutions should be implemented in urban spaces. According to the respondents, the pro-ecological solutions implemented and analyzed in the article contribute to improving the lives of residents and promoting ecological behavior. The possibility of using modern technologies enabling the introduction of modern and ecological solutions allows you to save money, which is very important today in all EU countries. Cities that generate increasing costs of living are currently facing many challenges that encourage governments to save in many ways. Many savings opportunities in EU cities are presented in the study.

Answer to Reviewer #1

Thank you very much for all your comments and time. Thanks to your comments, this manuscript has gained new value.

Below we present the changes that were made to the manuscript and the responses to the remarks of the honorable Reviewer:

Explanation added in the Abstract:

Thank you very much for your important remark regarding the insufficient description of the research results in the abstract.

A section for review of previous related research should be added to the paper, with linking and comparing these studies to the current study. The authors are advised to show how the current study is different from previous studies, and how the current study adds to the current knowledge of the study area.

Explanation:

The study requires extensive review and improvement of the writing and language. Some paragraphs (in section 3) are too long that make reading more difficult. The authors are recommended to divide the long paragraphs when moving between different subjects or objectives.

Explanation added in the manuscript:

The authors are recommended to provide better review of recent innovative pro-ecological methods.

Explanation:

A section for Methods of Research is recommended to better describe the methods used in the study, and to show how the studied pro-ecological activities were collected and approved for the study. Also, the authors should clarify the reason for using the Likert scale in this way. Why the authors did not use scale 1 as definitely insignificant, and 3 for Neither significant nor insignificant? Please clarify your choices for the method of scaling. Also, please clarify your choice to divide the pro-ecological activities into two criteria. Please correct the sentence "The division is presented in Table 3 and Table 5" (instead of 4).

Explanation:

All the figures need review and correction. In Figure 1, there is no need for legend. The use of bar chart will be more suitable in my opinion for all the figures. Titles for the vertical and horizontal axis are important to be added for all the figures. Similar format should be used in the different figures. If you use rounded dots in Figure 3, then you should use the same format in the next figure. The titles of the figures should be placed below the figures.

According to the authors of the article, the presented charts are visually attractive and sufficiently legible for the recipient.

Changed:

Fig. 1. Structure of the sample by gender of respondents. Source: Own research and calculations, n= 362.

Fig. 2. The structure of the study sample according to the education of the respondents (%). Source: Own research and calculations, n= 362.

Figure 3. The structure of the sample according to the indication of the significance of pro-ecological activities

Figure 4. Structure of the sample of pro-ecological activities influencing the financial aspect in relation to its significance. Source: Own research and calculations, n= 362.

In the analysis of the results, the authors did not differentiate the employees of the municipal housing manager form others. It is expected that those employees may have higher degree of awareness than others in the studied sample. So, their percentage in the sample is very important and may affect all the results of the study.

Explanation:

In equation 1, the symbols defined should be written in the same way as in the equation.

Changed:

(1)

where:

s - standard deviation

- mean

x - another observation in the sample

N - number of people in the sample

In Table 2, I think there are errors in calculating the Mean and Standard Deviation.

Changed:

Corrected calculations:

Table 2. The coefficient of the mean measure and standard deviation of the study sample

Parameters	Total
Age
Less than 18	4
18-25	19
26-35	52
36-45	100
46-55	98
56-65	66
Above 65	23
Mean	45.4
Standard deviation	1.31

Source: Own research and calculations, n= 362.

The aim of the study is to evaluate the awareness of the implementation of ecologically innovative activities. Show how the study has fulfilled this objective.

Explanation:

The presentation of the results and discussion in very poor. The analysis of the results should be improved. The discussion of the results should be linked and compared to results from other related studies.

Explanation:

Added in the manuscript (line 292):

Conclusion section should be improved. More discussion about the future research work, the recommendations of the study, and the implications of the results should be added.

Added in the manuscript:

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Innovative ecological transformations in the management of 2 municipal real estate

The article examines ecological awareness of residents in a given setting and indicate on the importance of considering the implementation of such solutions among different communities. It provides a useful view on people/residents opinion in relation to such manners, though limited use is made of the survey about the management of ecological systems in regard to its aim: “The conducted research was aimed at providing knowledge about innovative pro-ecological solutions in municipal real estate management.”

There are a number of issues where clarification or additional data would help to improve:

- It is not clear why the authors choose a sample of both citizens (residents of a certain community) and employees of the municipal management. I have not seen the justification of addressing these people specifically, and why the employers and residents together? why did you choose to mix, are you seeking residents awareness of certain laws or practice and employees’ implementation of such law? And did you differentiate in the type of questions you addressed to both groups, questions/views should have been different I suppose. Also number of participants from each group and sample representative need clarification!

- Another issue is that you did not explain about your location. what is that you find important/lacking in this area that you want to study? why not another location? It would be more clear if you can say that Czestochowa, is located in Poland right from the beginning, do not assume readers know. Similarly is with the Ministry of the Environment on page 2, ministry of who?

- Considering your sample, there are issues that needs clarification, the 400 participants are representative of what percentage of the larger sample/population ?

- It is not clear how the survey was sent to people? Which medium??

- On page 4, 4^th section, it is not clear what your questions were in relation to the topic and what were people asked about? apart from general information!! these need to be clarified here!

- Page 4 line 77, you have a missing number of the reference.

- Figure 1, it is not clear why do you need such figure, and in relation to the gender issue you say on page 4 line 196 that: “As you can read from the above list, more men1than women took part in the study” why? how many men did you approach and how many women? And then you contradict on page 11 line 326 saying: “As can be seen from the above research and analyses, regardless of factors such as age, education and sex” So why did you ask such questions? how did collecting such information affected the results!

- The numbers before the ages in Table 1 under parameters are confusing, if necessary put in a different column. Same table, what do you mean with “odd” job?

- It is not clear what your questions were in relation to the topic? apart from general information!! these need to be clarified. These need outlining in the text and not in the table only.

- An important issue to address is the criteria/ or set of issues presented in table 5, that represent the major issues of this survey, how they are defined is not clear, what is the criteria of selecting these topics specifically? and why? for example a simple issue that comes to mind, you have not asked about grey water and irrigation, and many other related issues!! So why are these important specifically to this location, country, standards, policies .etc.

- I think your results are directed towards wishful answers by the citizens and therefore results can be expected. People do really wish for change, however, can they afford it or when it comes to implementation would they do it? I think your questions should have allowed people to direct you about policies to achieve such changes like can they afford it? who will make the changes, will they pay .... which could have fulfilled your aim: at providing knowledge about innovative pro-ecological solutions in municipal real estate management. I have not seen an argument about management! And as far as we have not seen the questionnaire in details, we cannot make sure that people knew what these issues mean and really understood their need and importance!

- The sentence: “What is also important for the respondents is activities that allow them to combine ecology with education by creating gardens with environmental education,|” how did you know? what questions and response did you get from people in relation to activities? I have not seen anything related to this earlier!

- The last paragraph in you discussion is ok, but not a proper way to end your discussion here especially when you have really cut your discussion very short!

- The conclusion is also cut short and does not really tell much and looks like it was not worked out much! I suggest reconsidering.

- You references need revising in terms of formatting and 17, 19 and 21 need clarification, dates, websites, date of access. Etc.

Author Response

Answer to Reviewer #2

Thank you very much for all your comments and time. Thanks to your comments, this manuscript has gained new value.

Below we present the changes that were made to the manuscript and the responses to the remarks of the honorable Reviewer:

There are a number of issues where clarification or additional data would help to improve:

Explanation:

The completed surveys allowed us to recognize the significance and acceptance of social innovations implemented by the Company.

The study participants were residents and employees of the ZGM TBS Sp. z o.o. housing cooperative in Częstochowa in Poland, Silesian Voivodship, who also live in the company’s resources. These surveys can be described as surveys of incidental, random communities because the respondents were not selected according to a purposeful scheme or they only had to be residents of ZGM TBS. In total, 400 completed surveys were received, of which 90.5% (n = 362) were completed correctly. It is noted that the employees taking part in the survey were not representative of the entire staff of ZGM TBS, so it was not seen as reasonable to interpret the answers given in separate statistical analyses. It was also not possible to prevent employee-residents from participating in an anonymous survey. The surveys were available to the public at stakeholder service areas. The surveys can be described as random surveys of a selected population, since the respondents were not selected according to a purposive scheme or they only had to be residents of ZGM TBS municipal resources. The question from the survey metric on place of employment indicated that eight ZGM TBS employees completed the survey, which accounted for 2.21% of all correctly completed surveys. The questionnaire was divided into the main part and the data sheet.

The research tool was a structured questionnaire prepared by the authors of the article. The prepared study was in the form of a questionnaire consisting of a research part and respondents' data. The developed survey questionnaire contained the main research problems concerning various aspects of the quality of life in the municipal resource. The preparatory stage of the project included the development of questionnaire forms so that the opinions of the respondents could be used to verify the hypotheses. In accordance with the principle of disclosure of respondents' data, the questionnaire was completed anonymously and contained a set of three types of closed questions: questions with unambiguous answers, questions like "yes, no, don't know". They are characterized by a specific number of responses in the absence of an open response option. Closed questions had one choice - disjunction questions and conjunction questions, which allowed for the selection of more than one of the possible answers given to them. The questions were clearly formulated so that everyone could understand them. The questionnaire was structured in such a way that each question was about one specific thing only.

Explanation added in the manuscript:

Thank you very much for your valuable remark regarding the location, which may not be so obvious to all readers.

The location of the study was determined due to the place of residence and work of the authors who have full access to data from the Zakład Gospodarki Mieszkaniowej (ZGM TBS). This plant is located in Częstochowa, which is located in Poland, in Central Europe. The survey was addressed to residents and employees because they are also largely residents of ZGM TBS. The opinion of all residents was crucial for the authors of the study in the implementation of the article and in order to prove the hypotheses.

The full name of the Ministry of Climate and Environment in Poland will also be added to the text:

In the document “Polska 2025, a long-term strategy of sustainable development” prepared by the Ministry of Climate and Environment in Poland, it is indicated that to ensure the welfare of the society, both in material and environmental terms, is the overarching goal.

Considering your sample, there are issues that needs clarification, the 400 participants are representative of what percentage of the larger sample/population ?

Explanation:

The participants of the study were residents and employees of Spółdzielnia Mieszkaniowa ZGM TBS Sp. z o.o. in Częstochowa, voivodeship Śląskie, who also live in the company's resources. These studies can be described as incidental, random communities, because the respondents were not selected according to a deliberate scheme / they had to be only residents of ZGM TBS. 400 completed questionnaires were received, of which 90.5% (N = 362) were completed correctly.

It is not clear how the survey was sent to people? Which medium??

Explanation:

The questionnaire was handed over to the respondents personally during their stay at the premises of ZGM TBS in Częstochowa.

On page 4, 4th section, it is not clear what your questions were in relation to the topic and what were people asked about? apart from general information!! these need to be clarified here!

Explanation:

The survey questionnaire is attached as pdf version.

During the survey, various multi-faceted groups of questions arose, which form the basis for further considerations in other articles. The text limitations of the article do not allow for a detailed description of the entire survey as well as the implementation of research and confirmed research hypotheses

Page 4 line 77, you have a missing number of the reference.

Missing reference (added in the manuscript):

Dziadkiewicz M., Organizational Models for the Management of Municipal Housing Resources [w:] A. Ulfik (red.), Koncepcje zarządzania zadaniami własnymi realizowanymi przez samorząd terytorialny, Wydawnictwo Akademii Wychowania Fizycznego w Katowicach 2015, 69-91.

Figure 1, it is not clear why do you need such figure, and in relation to the gender issue you say on page 4 line 196 that: “As you can read from the above list, more men1than women took part in the study” why? how many men did you approach and how many women? And then you contradict on page 11 line 326 saying: “As can be seen from the above research and analyses, regardless of factors such as age, education and sex” So why did you ask such questions? how did collecting such information affected the results!

Explanation:

When creating the questionnaire, the authors wanted to have full detailed data on the respondents, therefore the questionnaire included questions related to age, gender, etc.The impact of responses in terms of gender is important for hypotheses due to the sample characteristics, which are part of illustrating women's views towards men in the respondent. subject area. The number of women and men participating in the study is random and was not assumed by the authors in advance. It arose during later analyzes. The gender difference in the context of hypotheses is not a priority value.

- The numbers before the ages in Table 1 under parameters are confusing, if necessary put in a different column. Same table, what do you mean with “odd” job?

Change in the manuscript:

Parameters	Total	Coefficient %	Women	Coefficient %	Men	Coefficient %
Age
1-less than 18	4	1	2	50	2	50
2-18-25	19	5.2	14	73.7	5	26.3
3-26-35	52	14.3	31	60	21	40
4- 36-45	100	28	54	54	46	46
5- 46-55	98	27	42	42.8	56	57.1
6-56-65	66	18.2	23	35	43	65
7-above 65	23	6.3	7	30.4	16	69.6
Education
1-primary	21	6	9	42.8	12	57.1
2- vocational	51	14	16	31.4	35	68.6
3-secondary	136	37.5	63	46.3	73	53.7
4- higher	154	42.5	85	55.2	69	44.8
Primary source of income
1- employment (full-time or part-time)	201	55.5	103	51.2	98	48.7
2- living off agriculture	3	0.8	2	66.7	1	33.3
3-student/pupil	12	3.3	7	58	5	42
4- own company	48	13.2	17	35.4	31	64.6
5- contract work	30	8.3	15	50	15	50
6-retired/ disability pensioner	33	9.1	13	39.4	20	60.6
7- odd job periodic job	17	4.7	7	41.2	10	58.8
8- unemployed	9	2.5	5	55.5	4	44.4
9-other	9	2.5	4	44.4	5	55.5

- It is not clear what your questions were in relation to the topic? apart from general information!! these need to be clarified. These need outlining in the text and not in the table only. An important issue to address is the criteria/ or set of issues presented in table 5, that represent the major issues of this survey, how they are defined is not clear, what is the criteria of selecting these topics specifically? and why? for example a simple issue that comes to mind, you have not asked about grey water and irrigation, and many other related issues!! So why are these important specifically to this location, country, standards, policies .etc.

Explanation:

For the purposes of this article, the focus is on innovative solutions used in ZGM TBS in recent years, which were considered the most important by the authors. Of course, we see an opportunity to study the topic in more detail, but the focus was on specific solutions that should quickly bring the expected results for both residents and managers. The main aim of the article was to examine the social awareness of the implementation of ecologically innovative activities influencing the contact with the natural environment among the respondents.

Explanation:

As the article shows, the respondents show their willingness to create appropriate natural conditions in their living space in Table 4 and Table 5. Being surrounded by nature increases the competitiveness and attractiveness of places of residence, which in the current market situation is very important and highly appreciated by residents. The subject of innovative ecological solutions that allow for savings and care for the environment are topics generally understood by all social groups. From an early age, schools implement awareness-raising programs for children and youth. On the other hand, middle-aged people are aware of saving resulting from the global view and the wealth of their own wallets. Anyone who can look for solutions that are most beneficial to them. Therefore, the authors of the article assumed that social awareness in the areas studied does not require additional explanations. In order to introduce ecological changes globally, actions should be started locally, which is why many respondents are willing to support initiatives by incurring the costs of such investments initially.

Explanation:

In Tables 4 and 5, the vast majority of respondents marked the answers relating to the creation of initiatives influencing education, starting activities and encouraging the youngest residents to do so. Such activities will certainly pay off in the future due to the ecological awareness of a greater number of inhabitants of the studied area.

- The last paragraph in you discussion is ok, but not a proper way to end your discussion here especially when you have really cut your discussion very short!

- The conclusion is also cut short and does not really tell much and looks like it was not worked out much! I suggest reconsidering.

Added in the manuscript:

- You references need revising in terms of formatting and 17, 19 and 21 need clarification, dates, websites, date of access. Etc

The text of the manuscript was checked and changed as recommended by the Reviewer

Change to:

Osho, Miłość, wolność, samotność. Nowe spojrzenie na związki między ludźmi. Wydawnictwo Czarna Owca, Book edited in Warszawa 2015, page 84.

Change to:

Hołdys A., „Wiedza i Życie” 6/2015, page 10.

Change to:

Report European Commission, Promoting sustainable urban development in Europe- Achievements and Opportunities, European Union- Regional Policy, April 2009, Brussels.

Change also in another references:

Dziadkiewicz M., Cichowski P., (2018) Participation of Tenants and the Quality of Management Services of Communal Apartments, Vol. 26 (2), European Journal of Service Management. Pp. 61-69
Dziadkiewicz M., Bajdor P., (2020) Social Innovations in Municipal Housing Management, International Business Information Management Association (IBIMA), 2020, 9151-9163.
Dziadkiewicz M., Organizational Models for the Management of Municipal Housing Resources [w:] A. Ulfik (red.), Koncepcje zarządzania zadaniami własnymi realizowanymi przez samorząd terytorialny, Wydawnictwo Akademii Wychowania Fizycznego w Katowicach 2015, pp. 69-91.
M. Łaguna, M. Witkowska- Dąbrowska, Ekonomiczne podstawy zarządzania środowiskiem i zasobami naturalnymi, Wyd. Ekonomia i Środowisko, Białystok 2005, p.. 9.
Kobyłko, (2007) Proekologiczne zarządzanie przedsiębiorstwem, Wyd. AE, Wrocław 2007, s. 56.
Geels, F.W., Deuten, J.J., (2006). Local and global dynamics in technological development: a socio-cognitive perspective on knowledge flows and lessons from reinforced concrete. Sci. Public Policy 33, 265–275.
About-de Chastenet, C., Belziti, D., Bessis, B., Faucheux, F., Le Sceller, T., Monaco, F.-X., & Pech, P. (2016). The french eco-neighbourhood evaluation model: Contributions to sustainable city making and to the evolution of urban practices. Journal of Environmental Management, 176, p.72.
T Butler, R. Hackney, (2021) The role of informational mechanisms in the adoption of Green IS to achieve eco-sustainability in municipalities, Information & Management, Volume 58, Issue 3, April 2021, 103320.
Koebel, C.T., (2008). Innovation in homebuilding and the future of housing. Journal of the Americal Planning Association 74, 45–58.
Ustawa z 27 kwietnia 2001 r. – Prawo ochrony środowiska, DzU 2001, nr 62, pp. 627.
Hodson, M., Marvin, S., (2009). Cities mediating technological transitions: understanding visions, intermediation and consequences. Technolology Analises Strategii Management 21 (4), 515–534.
Polska 2025. Długookresowa strategia trwałego i zrównoważonego rozwoju Ministerstwo Środowiska, Warszawa 2007, s. 13, mrr.gov.pl (access: June 2022)
Kabus J., Jędrzejas N., Mynarzova M., (2018) Environmental sustainability management on the example of selected European cities, International Conference on European Integration 2018 Ostrava, Czech Republic, 605-618.
Howaniec H., Działania prośrodowiskowe jako element odpowiedzialności przedsiębiorstw w:R. Borowiecki, A. Jaki, Wyzwania dla zarządzania współczesnym przedsiębiorstwem, Wyd.DEOE, Kraków 2009, 109.
Ibrahim, Livable Eco-Architecture, Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 216 ( 2016 ) pp. 46 – 55
Francese D, Mensitieri G, Iannace S, Balestra C (2013). New Materials for Ecological Building Products. Characterization and Development of Biosystems and Biomaterials Advanced Structured Materials. p.209.
Guo Q, Liang QY, Zhao LQ (2013). Ecological Development of Building Materials. Advanced Materials Research. p.887.
Osho, Miłość, wolność, samotność. Nowe spojrzenie na związki między ludźmi. Wydawnictwo Czarna Owca, Book edited in Warszawa 2015, page 84.
Smith Morris, E. (2011). Down with eco-towns! Up with eco-communities. Or is there a need for model eco-towns? A review of the 2009–2010 eco-town proposals in Britain. In: T.-C. Wong and B. Yuen (eds) Eco-city planning: policies, practice and design. Dordrecht; London: Springer, pp. 114-116.
Hołdys A., „Wiedza i Życie” 6/2015, page 10.
Fidor J.,(2017) Ekologiczne osiedla w Polsce – tendencje i perspektywy, Architecturae et Artibus - 3/2017, page 39.
Report European Commission, Promoting sustainable urban development in Europe- Achievements and Opportunities, European Union- Regional Policy, April 2009, Brussels.
Kabus J., Nowakowska-Grunt J., Uwarunkowania rozwoju lokalnego na przykładzie powiatu częstochowskiego, Turystyka i Rozwój Regionalny, T. 5, 2016, s. 39-47
Pow, C. P. and Neo, H. (2013). Seeing red over green: contesting urban sustainabilities in China. Urban Studies 50 (11), p. 2262.
Shiuh-Shen, C. (2013). Chinese eco-cities: a perspective of land-speculation-oriented local entrepreneurialism. China Information 27 (2), p. 185.
van Dijk, M. P. (2011). Three ecological cities, examples of different approaches in Asia and Europe. In: T.-C. Wong and B. Yuen (eds) Eco-city planning: policies, practice and design. Dordrecht; London: Springer, p. 49.
Kabus J. Development of Entrepreneurship with Support of Local Self-Governments, on the example of Belchatow County, Zeszyty Naukowe Politechniki Częstochowskiej, Nr 27 t. 1 (2017) s. 162–171 DOI: 10.17512/znpcz.2017.3.1.14
Joss, S. (2011). Eco-cities: The mainstreaming of urban sustainability–key characteristics and driving factors. International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning, 6 (3), p. 271.
Joss, S. (2015). Eco-cities and sustainable urbanism. International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences, 2(6), p.831
Manso, J.Castro-Gomes, Green wall systems: A review of their characteristics, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 41(2015) pp. 863–871
M. Klopp, D. L. Petretta, The urban sustainable development goal: Indicators, complexity and the politics of measuring cities, Cities 63 (2017) pp. 92–97.
Kline, E. (2000). Planning and creating eco-cities: indicators as a tool for shaping development and measuring progress. Local Environment 5 (3), p. 345.
Afiff, S. A. (2010). Challenges to implementing the eco-city concept in Indonesia's major cities. In: L. F. Lye and G. Chen (eds) Towards a liveable and sustainable urban environment: eco-cities In East Asia. Singapore: World Scientific Publishing, p. 139.
Lye, L. F. and Chen, G. (2010). Towards eco-cities in East Asia. In: L. F. Lye and G. Chen (eds) Towards a liveable and sustainable urban environment: eco-cities in East Asia. Singapore: World Scientific Publishing, p. 15-17.
Surjan, A. and Shaw, R. (2008). “Eco-city” to “disaster-resilient eco-community”: a concerted approach in the coastal city of Puri, India. Sustainability Science 3 (2), p. 259.
Włodarczyk, R. Zarzycki, Z. Bis, (2018) Combined system of energy generation from biomass and solar energy,E3S Web of Conferences 49, 00132 (2018) https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/20184900132.
-A. Kenai, L. Libessart, S. Lassue, D. Defer, Impact of plants occultation on energy balance: Experimental study, Energy and Buildings 162 (2018) pp. 208–218.
Faucheux, S., Nicolaï, I., 2011. IT for green and green IT: a proposed typology of ecoinnovation. Ecol. Econ. 70 (11), 2020–2027
Sexton, M. and Barrett, P. 2005. Performance-based building and innovation: Balancing client and industry needs. Building Research & Information, 33(2): pp. 142–148.
Srivastava, V. Kumar, (2018) The methods of using low cost housing techniques in India, Journal of Building Engineering 15 (2018) pp. 102–108.
Janasz, P. Kałużyński, Zielona infrastruktura wyzwaniem dla logistyki miejskiej, http://dx.doi.org/10.18778/8142-085-3.14 (in polish)
Gorgoń, Znaczenie i rola błękitno-zielonej infrastruktury w adaptacji do zmian klimatu, http://www.ietu.katowice.pl/aktual/Poleko2016/4_Gorgon_J_Znaczenie_i_rola_BZI_w_ adaptacji_do_zmian_klimatu_zab.pdf [dostęp 20.04.2017] (in polish)
Petrini, P. Rosasco, Is greening the building envelope economically sustainable? Ananalysis to evaluate the advantages of economy of scope of verticalgreening systems and green roofs, Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 20 (2016) 328–337
Manso, I. Teotonio, C. M. Silva, C. O. Cruz, Green roof and green wall benefits and costs: A review of the quantitative evidence, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 135 (2021) 110111
Puzdrakiewicz, Green infrastructure as a multifunctional tool of sustainable development, Studia Miejskie, vol. 27 (2017) 155-174, doi: 10.25167/sm2017.027.12
Serra, L. Bianco, E. Candelari, R. Giordano, E. Montacchini, S. Tedesco, F. Larcher, A. Schiavi, (2017) A novel vertical greenery module system for building envelopes: Theresults and outcomes of a multidisciplinary research project, Energy and Buildings 146 (2017) 333–352.
Raport Budownictwo. Innowacje. Wizja Liderów Branży 2025, 19-25/ www.unibep.pl/" unibep.pl/ (access: June 2022)
Slaughter, E. S. (2000). Implementation of construction innovations. Building Research and Information, 28(2): 2–17.
Suchocka, (2013)Tree as a part of the green infrastructure, 2013, Drzewo jako element zielonej infrastruktury. T. XXXVI, pp. 85-94.
Wolf K.L. (2005). Business District Streetscapes, Trees and Consumer Response. Journal of Forestry 103, 8, pp. 396-400.
World Health Organization, Regional Office of Europe, A review of evidence, Copenhagen, 2016.
Bras, C. Ravijanya, V.T. de Sande, M. Rley, R.V. Ralegaonkar, (2020) Sustainable and affordable prefab housing systems with minimal whole life energy use, Energy and Buildings, 2020, p. 110030
Caprotti, F. (2014). Eco-urbanism and the eco-city, or, denying the right to the city? Antipode, 46(5), p.1295.
H. Louis Lee, C.Y. Jim, (2019) Energy benefits of green-wall shading based on novel-accurate apportionment of short-wave radiation components, Applied Energy 238 (2019) pp. 1506–1518.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

The article is interesting and relevant to the field. The structure, length, and selected methods are suitable for analysis and clearly described. The abstract is clear and presents the research results as well, as well as the conclusion section.

The authors of the article clearly presented the contributions of the presented study. The article has practical value.

I have the following comments for the authors:

The survey questions (questionnaire template) should be presented as a separate Annex to the article.
Page 4, row 177 there are empty [] left, maybe there has to be a reference number?

3. The list of cited literature is long, but I found only 3 sources up to date (of 2020 and 2021 y of publication). The suggestion is to cite more up-to-date scientific articles in the text of the article.

4. Some references in the reference list missing information, for example, reference number 1 does not contain the year of publication and page numbers. Should be cited like: Dziadkiewicz, M., & Cichowski, P. (2018). Participation of tenants and the quality of management services of communal apartments. European Journal of Service Management, 26, 61-69.

Please check all the reference list for accordance with the requirements of the journal.

How the results of the research can be applied/ or can be useful for other EU countries? The authors have to underline this in the text.

Author Response

Answer to Reviewer #3

Thank you very much for all your comments and time. Thanks to your comments, this manuscript has gained new value.

Below we present the changes that were made to the manuscript and the responses to the remarks of the honorable Reviewer:

I have the following comments for the authors:

The survey questions (questionnaire template) should be presented as a separate Annex to the article.

The survey questionnaire is attached as pdf version.

Page 4, row 177 there are empty [] left, maybe there has to be a reference number?

Missing reference (added in the manuscript):

3. The list of cited literature is long, but I found only 3 sources up to date (of 2020 and 2021 y of publication). The suggestion is to cite more up-to-date scientific articles in the text of the article.
Some references in the reference list missing information, for example, reference number 1 does not contain the year of publication and page numbers. Should be cited like: Dziadkiewicz, M., & Cichowski, P. (2018). Participation of tenants and the quality of management services of communal apartments. European Journal of Service Management, 26, 61-69.

Change in the manuscript:

References

Dziadkiewicz M., Cichowski P., (2018) Participation of Tenants and the Quality of Management Services of Communal Apartments, Vol. 26 (2), European Journal of Service Management. Pp. 61-69
Dziadkiewicz M., Bajdor P., (2020) Social Innovations in Municipal Housing Management, International Business Information Management Association (IBIMA), 2020, 9151-9163.
Dziadkiewicz M., Organizational Models for the Management of Municipal Housing Resources [w:] A. Ulfik (red.), Koncepcje zarządzania zadaniami własnymi realizowanymi przez samorząd terytorialny, Wydawnictwo Akademii Wychowania Fizycznego w Katowicach 2015, pp. 69-91.
M. Łaguna, M. Witkowska- Dąbrowska, Ekonomiczne podstawy zarządzania środowiskiem i zasobami naturalnymi, Wyd. Ekonomia i Środowisko, Białystok 2005, p.. 9.
Kobyłko, (2007) Proekologiczne zarządzanie przedsiębiorstwem, Wyd. AE, Wrocław 2007, s. 56.
Geels, F.W., Deuten, J.J., (2006). Local and global dynamics in technological development: a socio-cognitive perspective on knowledge flows and lessons from reinforced concrete. Sci. Public Policy 33, 265–275.
About-de Chastenet, C., Belziti, D., Bessis, B., Faucheux, F., Le Sceller, T., Monaco, F.-X., & Pech, P. (2016). The french eco-neighbourhood evaluation model: Contributions to sustainable city making and to the evolution of urban practices. Journal of Environmental Management, 176, p.72.
T Butler, R. Hackney, (2021) The role of informational mechanisms in the adoption of Green IS to achieve eco-sustainability in municipalities, Information & Management, Volume 58, Issue 3, April 2021, 103320.
Koebel, C.T., (2008). Innovation in homebuilding and the future of housing. Journal of the Americal Planning Association 74, 45–58.
Ustawa z 27 kwietnia 2001 r. – Prawo ochrony środowiska, DzU 2001, nr 62, pp. 627.
Hodson, M., Marvin, S., (2009). Cities mediating technological transitions: understanding visions, intermediation and consequences. Technolology Analises Strategii Management 21 (4), 515–534.
Polska 2025. Długookresowa strategia trwałego i zrównoważonego rozwoju Ministerstwo Środowiska, Warszawa 2007, s. 13, mrr.gov.pl (access: June 2022)
Kabus J., Jędrzejas N., Mynarzova M., (2018) Environmental sustainability management on the example of selected European cities, International Conference on European Integration 2018 Ostrava, Czech Republic, 605-618.
Howaniec H., Działania prośrodowiskowe jako element odpowiedzialności przedsiębiorstw w:R. Borowiecki, A. Jaki, Wyzwania dla zarządzania współczesnym przedsiębiorstwem, Wyd.DEOE, Kraków 2009, 109.
Ibrahim, Livable Eco-Architecture, Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 216 ( 2016 ) pp. 46 – 55
Francese D, Mensitieri G, Iannace S, Balestra C (2013). New Materials for Ecological Building Products. Characterization and Development of Biosystems and Biomaterials Advanced Structured Materials. p.209.
Guo Q, Liang QY, Zhao LQ (2013). Ecological Development of Building Materials. Advanced Materials Research. p.887.
Osho, Miłość, wolność, samotność. Nowe spojrzenie na związki między ludźmi. Wydawnictwo Czarna Owca, Book edited in Warszawa 2015, page 84.
Smith Morris, E. (2011). Down with eco-towns! Up with eco-communities. Or is there a need for model eco-towns? A review of the 2009–2010 eco-town proposals in Britain. In: T.-C. Wong and B. Yuen (eds) Eco-city planning: policies, practice and design. Dordrecht; London: Springer, pp. 114-116.
Hołdys A., „Wiedza i Życie” 6/2015, page 10.
Fidor J.,(2017) Ekologiczne osiedla w Polsce – tendencje i perspektywy, Architecturae et Artibus - 3/2017, page 39.
Report European Commission, Promoting sustainable urban development in Europe- Achievements and Opportunities, European Union- Regional Policy, April 2009, Brussels.
Kabus J., Nowakowska-Grunt J., Uwarunkowania rozwoju lokalnego na przykładzie powiatu częstochowskiego, Turystyka i Rozwój Regionalny, T. 5, 2016, s. 39-47
Pow, C. P. and Neo, H. (2013). Seeing red over green: contesting urban sustainabilities in China. Urban Studies 50 (11), p. 2262.
Shiuh-Shen, C. (2013). Chinese eco-cities: a perspective of land-speculation-oriented local entrepreneurialism. China Information 27 (2), p. 185.
van Dijk, M. P. (2011). Three ecological cities, examples of different approaches in Asia and Europe. In: T.-C. Wong and B. Yuen (eds) Eco-city planning: policies, practice and design. Dordrecht; London: Springer, p. 49.
Kabus J. Development of Entrepreneurship with Support of Local Self-Governments, on the example of Belchatow County, Zeszyty Naukowe Politechniki Częstochowskiej, Nr 27 t. 1 (2017) s. 162–171 DOI: 10.17512/znpcz.2017.3.1.14
Joss, S. (2011). Eco-cities: The mainstreaming of urban sustainability–key characteristics and driving factors. International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning, 6 (3), p. 271.
Joss, S. (2015). Eco-cities and sustainable urbanism. International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences, 2(6), p.831
Manso, J.Castro-Gomes, Green wall systems: A review of their characteristics, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 41(2015) pp. 863–871
M. Klopp, D. L. Petretta, The urban sustainable development goal: Indicators, complexity and the politics of measuring cities, Cities 63 (2017) pp. 92–97.
Kline, E. (2000). Planning and creating eco-cities: indicators as a tool for shaping development and measuring progress. Local Environment 5 (3), p. 345.
Afiff, S. A. (2010). Challenges to implementing the eco-city concept in Indonesia's major cities. In: L. F. Lye and G. Chen (eds) Towards a liveable and sustainable urban environment: eco-cities In East Asia. Singapore: World Scientific Publishing, p. 139.
Lye, L. F. and Chen, G. (2010). Towards eco-cities in East Asia. In: L. F. Lye and G. Chen (eds) Towards a liveable and sustainable urban environment: eco-cities in East Asia. Singapore: World Scientific Publishing, p. 15-17.
Surjan, A. and Shaw, R. (2008). “Eco-city” to “disaster-resilient eco-community”: a concerted approach in the coastal city of Puri, India. Sustainability Science 3 (2), p. 259.
Włodarczyk, R. Zarzycki, Z. Bis, (2018) Combined system of energy generation from biomass and solar energy,E3S Web of Conferences 49, 00132 (2018) https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/20184900132.
-A. Kenai, L. Libessart, S. Lassue, D. Defer, Impact of plants occultation on energy balance: Experimental study, Energy and Buildings 162 (2018) pp. 208–218.
Faucheux, S., Nicolaï, I., 2011. IT for green and green IT: a proposed typology of ecoinnovation. Ecol. Econ. 70 (11), 2020–2027
Sexton, M. and Barrett, P. 2005. Performance-based building and innovation: Balancing client and industry needs. Building Research & Information, 33(2): pp. 142–148.
Srivastava, V. Kumar, (2018) The methods of using low cost housing techniques in India, Journal of Building Engineering 15 (2018) pp. 102–108.
Janasz, P. Kałużyński, Zielona infrastruktura wyzwaniem dla logistyki miejskiej, http://dx.doi.org/10.18778/8142-085-3.14 (in polish)
Gorgoń, Znaczenie i rola błękitno-zielonej infrastruktury w adaptacji do zmian klimatu, http://www.ietu.katowice.pl/aktual/Poleko2016/4_Gorgon_J_Znaczenie_i_rola_BZI_w_ adaptacji_do_zmian_klimatu_zab.pdf [dostęp 20.04.2017] (in polish)
Petrini, P. Rosasco, Is greening the building envelope economically sustainable? Ananalysis to evaluate the advantages of economy of scope of verticalgreening systems and green roofs, Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 20 (2016) 328–337
Manso, I. Teotonio, C. M. Silva, C. O. Cruz, Green roof and green wall benefits and costs: A review of the quantitative evidence, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 135 (2021) 110111
Puzdrakiewicz, Green infrastructure as a multifunctional tool of sustainable development, Studia Miejskie, vol. 27 (2017) 155-174, doi: 10.25167/sm2017.027.12
Serra, L. Bianco, E. Candelari, R. Giordano, E. Montacchini, S. Tedesco, F. Larcher, A. Schiavi, (2017) A novel vertical greenery module system for building envelopes: Theresults and outcomes of a multidisciplinary research project, Energy and Buildings 146 (2017) 333–352.
Raport Budownictwo. Innowacje. Wizja Liderów Branży 2025, 19-25/ www.unibep.pl/" unibep.pl/ (access: June 2022)
Slaughter, E. S. (2000). Implementation of construction innovations. Building Research and Information, 28(2): 2–17.
Suchocka, (2013)Tree as a part of the green infrastructure, 2013, Drzewo jako element zielonej infrastruktury. T. XXXVI, pp. 85-94.
Wolf K.L. (2005). Business District Streetscapes, Trees and Consumer Response. Journal of Forestry 103, 8, pp. 396-400.
World Health Organization, Regional Office of Europe, A review of evidence, Copenhagen, 2016.
Bras, C. Ravijanya, V.T. de Sande, M. Rley, R.V. Ralegaonkar, (2020) Sustainable and affordable prefab housing systems with minimal whole life energy use, Energy and Buildings, 2020, p. 110030
Caprotti, F. (2014). Eco-urbanism and the eco-city, or, denying the right to the city? Antipode, 46(5), p.1295.
H. Louis Lee, C.Y. Jim, (2019) Energy benefits of green-wall shading based on novel-accurate apportionment of short-wave radiation components, Applied Energy 238 (2019) pp. 1506–1518.

Please check all the reference list for accordance with the requirements of the journal.

How the results of the research can be applied/ or can be useful for other EU countries? The authors have to underline this in the text.

Explanation added in the manuscript:

The subject matter under study is topical in many European Union countries that are considering the use of financial resources in pro-ecological activities in various areas. Particularly unconventional ecological activities in Polish cities prove that ecological social responsibility is noticeable and well accepted by the society in various EU countries. The presented research results may be useful for analyzing the issue before making the final decision on where and what ecological solutions should be implemented in urban spaces. According to the respondents, the pro-ecological solutions implemented and analyzed in the article contribute to improving the lives of residents and promoting ecological behavior. The possibility of using modern technologies enabling the introduction of modern and ecological solutions allows you to save money, which is very important today in all EU countries. Cities that generate increasing costs of living are currently facing many challenges that encourage governments to save in many ways. Many savings opportunities in EU cities are presented in the study.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

The authors have conducted some changes and improvements to their paper. However, the reviewer still think that the paper should go through major revision before publishing. The following is a list of the reviewer recommendations:

1. The authors are recommended to conduct a review of related studies. The reviewer think there are many research works that studied and evaluated pro-ecological activities. These studies should be reviewed and compared to the current study. Furthermore, the authors should clarify how their study is different from and makes improvement for previous related studies.

2. The reviewer recommends conducting extensive language proofreading and editing.

3. Providing a review of recent innovative pro-ecological methods is important to provide an idea of possible opportunities for future development.

4. A model of research methodology is important to help readers following and understanding the research procedure.

5. The figures are still need more corrections. The title of axes need review. For example, the Y-axis in some of the figures should be the percentage of respondents, and the X-axis should be the pro-ecological activities.

6. The results and conclusions of the current study should be linked and compared to results and conclusions from previous studies.

Author Response

REviewer 1

The authors are recommended to conduct a review of related studies. The reviewer think there are many research works that studied and evaluated pro-ecological activities. These studies should be reviewed and compared to the current study. Furthermore, the authors should clarify how their study is different from and makes improvement for previous related studies.

Explanation and answer:

Of course, there are studies relating to environmental activities in many areas. Most often they are carried out in the areas of large cities or villages. The authors' idea was to present the topic on the basis of the medium-sized city of Częstochowa, located in Poland. According to the authors of the article, the most reliable analysis would be obtained from studies of a similar group that were carried out in relation to similar premises. The authors did not cite research on other areas and other research groups, because the aim of the article was to show pro-ecological activities in the community of a specific group living in the space belonging to ZGM TBS. The analysis of the responses of respondents living in the city of Częstochowa in Poland is an innovative solution that shows the knowledge and possibilities of introducing changes in smaller cities with limited funds for ecological investments. Nowadays, when there are initiatives that are more needed to be implemented than pro-ecological activities. The presentation of such research was an introduction to the creation of a series of articles in which the authors want to establish national and international cooperation in order to analyze the implementation of such activities, pro-ecological initiatives among the inhabitants of urban housing resources. Citing many different studies would force the authors to change the nature of the article into an analysis that would have to be carried out on the basis of at least several different studies from different cities and countries. In such an analysis, one should refer to the selection of these studies and show their advantage over other similar ones. Showing and analyzing the results of various studies would not allow for a sufficient presentation of the studies carried out by the authors2.

The reviewer recommends conducting extensive language proofreading and editing.

The text has been analyzed by a native speaker

Providing a review of recent innovative pro-ecological methods is important to provide an idea of possible opportunities for future development.

The review of the latest pro-ecological activities was analyzed on the basis of the document "Poland 2025, a long-term strategy of sustainable development" prepared by the Ministry of Climate and Environment in Poland "and, according to him, areas were selected for the creation of the questionnaire. The questionnaire contains specific measures that, according to the authors, are possible to implement in the studied area.

A model of research methodology is important to help readers following and understanding the research procedure.

Added in the text:

The study was conducted on the basis of a simplified research model presented below (Fig. 1):

Fig. 1. A simplified research model. Source: Own research

The figures are still need more corrections. The title of axes need review. For example, the Y-axis in some of the figures should be the percentage of respondents, and the X-axis should be the pro-ecological activities.

Fig. 1 has been deleted.

Fig. 2. The structure of the study sample according to the education of the respondents (%). Source: Own research and calculations, n= 362.

Figure 3. The structure of the sample according to the indication of the significance of pro-ecological activities. Source: Own research and calculations, n= 362.

Figure 4. Structure of the sample of pro-ecological activities influencing the financial aspect in relation to its significance. Source: Own research and calculations, n= 362.

The results and conclusions of the current study should be linked and compared to results and conclusions from previous studies.

The results of the research will not be compared with the previous research, because the presented article is the first research on the subject on the basis of the ZGM TBS in Częstochowa. The authors plan to create a series of articles based on current and future research, and then a detailed analysis of the research will take place in relation to the research presented today.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

I do not think that the authors took the comments and suggestions seriously and did not attempt to integrate them into the manuscript in a way that can better improve and clarify major issues here.

I see their comments as a way to justify what they submitted previously, many of which are not integrated into the corrected manuscript, assuming that readers also have an access to read their answers and justifications. therefore, I think certain issues need to be clarified within the text and not only to the reviewer. here are my comments:

Yes, I suggested that you integrate a few sentences related to your methodology into your abstract, however, it is too long now and descriptive lengthly. You need to summarise instead and integrate in fewer sentences! the abstract is too long now!

The justification you provide in relation to the sample of your study is still not convincing, specifically regarding the employees. They are just residents similar to the others and they live in this area, just like the others. The fact that they work for the developing company is not taken into consideration in the arguments and does not change anything in relation to your results, why mention them!!

The justification of choosing the location is also not clear, it needs to tell about the place itself, site forces, etc, and not only the availability of the data and ability of the authors to reach data, this is scientific research and needs to be objective! this section need to answer the question of: why does this area need studying?

Regarding the questionnaire and the questions you asked people, these need to be briefly integrated into the text, not necessarily all of them in length, you can add some general questions and summarise. Shortage of medium cannot be a reason why you cannot integrate them and allow readers to understand! a separate pdf cannot be reached by all readers.

Again, in the revised manuscript I do not see clear problem definition, research question/s, and objectives!

A major issue is: It is not clear what your questions were in relation to the topic? apart from general information!! these need to be clarified. These need outlining in the text and not in the table only. An important issue to address is the criteria/ or set of issues presented in table 5, that represent the major issues of this survey, how they are defined is not clear, what is the criteria of selecting these topics specifically? and why? and tour answer was:For the purposes of this article, the focus is on innovative solutions used in ZGM TBS in recent years, which were considered the most important by the authors. The authors cannot decide on what is important without justifying it, you cannot make assumptions, this is a scientific research!!

Overall, the current version of the manuscript cannot be suitable for publication as it lacks the rigorous for a scientific research, and it needs major revisions.

Author Response

Answer to Reviewer #2

Thank you very much for all your comments and time. Thanks to your comments, this manuscript has gained new value.

Answer:

Thank you for your valuable comments and we would like to mention that we have tried to make changes in accordance with the comments of all reviewers. We hope that the summary as presented now will be accepted.

Changes made to the manuscript:

Abstract: Innovative ecological transformations are implemented in order to improve the quality and comfort of people's lives also in urban space. The ecological awareness of the society has increased in recent years, which resulted in the emergence of the growing number of social initiatives in the field of ecological activities. The main purpose of the article was a survey conducted in order to examine the environmental awareness of the inhabitants and the need to implement pro-ecological solutions in their area of residence. The article analyzes the results of research carried out among the residents of ZGM TBS Sp. z o. o. in Częstochowa. The authors' own research presented in the article was conducted in the first and second quarter of 2021 among the inhabitants of a medium-sized city in the Śląskie Voivodeship. Research conducted in Częstochowa, a specialized Silesian region, as one of the most polluted pollutants in Poland, is a reserved research stand. The survey was conducted with the use of a questionnaire method among 400 respondents, the number of whom was considered sufficient to express the opinion of a part of the population on the topic under study. The obtained results of the research prove the awareness of the respondents about the implementation of modern ecological solutions allowing for the reduction of maintenance costs and unfavorable actions for the natural environment. The results of the study clearly indicate the need to adapt urban space to the requirements of its community and the respondents' willingness to implement ecological solutions. Ecological changes in the management of municipal real estate should be implemented and modernized in accordance with the standards set by modern society.

Answer:

By justifying the division of the respondents into residents and employees who are more experienced and oriented in the procedures related to the costs and implementation of pro-ecological investments, the authors wanted to show the point of view of each of the groups mentioned. We would like to mention that the text has been corrected with regard to this division.

Additional information in the manuscript:

The main goal set by the authors of the article was to conduct research on the environmental awareness of the inhabitants. Respondents were asked questions related to the need to implement pro-ecological solutions in their area of residence.

The research presented in the above article was conducted in the first and second quarter of 2021 among the residents including employees of the municipal housing manager in Czestochowa, the Department of Housing Management - Social Housing Association in Czestochowa LLC (ZGM TBS Sp. z o.o.)

Answer:

Referring to this suggestion, we would like to mention that the research area we chose resulted not only from the availability of data, but above all from the city's location. Częstochowa is a city in the Silesian Voivodeship, which is considered to be one of the most polluted voivodships in Poland. There are many factors, such as: developed industry, a small number of ecological activities that negatively affect the quality and comfort of life in the city. Therefore, the authors of the article wanted to conduct research on environmental awareness in this location. The text includes information on the choice of location.

Additional information in the manuscript:

The participants of the study were residents and employees of the municipal housing manager. 400 completed questionnaires were received, of which 90.5% (i.e., 362 questionnaires) had been correctly completed. The location of the research was determined in Częstochowa, which is located in Poland, Central Europe. Częstochowa is a city in the Silesian Voivodeship, considered to be one of the most polluted voivodships in Poland. In the Barcelona Institute for Global Health ranking, Częstochowa was ranked 46th for cities with smog problems in Europe. [55] There are many factors, such as: developed industry, a small amount of ecological ac-tivities that negatively affect the quality and comfort of life in the city. Therefore, the authors of the article wanted to conduct environmental awareness research in this lo-cation. The research results and information about the study participants are presented below. The survey was aimed at residents and employees as they are also largely resi-dents of ZGM TBS. The opinion of all residents was crucial for the authors of the study in the implementation of the article and in order to prove the hypotheses.

The questionnaire was divided into a main part and a specification containing the fol-lowing information: gender, age, education and basic sources of income. The research results and information about the study participants are presented below.173 women and 189 men participated in the study, which constituted 47.8% and 52.2% of the respondents, respectively.

Answer:

The article enlarges the description of the research carried out in part 4 "Characteristics of sociodemographic data". The responses are characterized so that the reader has the opportunity to learn more about the research carried out.

Additional information in the manuscript:

The smallest group were people under the age of 18, only 2 women and 2 men. 154 respondents had higher education, 55,2% women and 44,8% men. On the other hand, at least 21% were people with primary education, 42,8% women and 57,1% men. On the other hand, the most frequently indicated primary source of income was full-time employment, constituting 55.5% of all the answers provided. Women constituted 51,2% of answers, and men 48,7%. The full-time employment was indicated by 98 men and 103 women participating in the study.

Figure 2 presents the education of the respondents among women and men. Most of the respondents are women with high education 55,2%, secondary 46,3%, primary 42,8% and vocational 31,4%. On the other hand, most of the surveyed men have vocational education in 68,6%, primary 57,1%, secondary 53,2% and higher 44,8%.

Again, in the revised manuscript I do not see clear problem definition, research question/s, and objectives!

Answer:

In the introduction and in the text, a few sentences related to the objectives of the study have been added.

Additional information in the manuscript:

Answer:

A detailed description of the test criteria and results presented in Table 5 has been added.

The second group of innovative activities are investments related mainly to the use of renewable energy sources such as the sun and earth energy, i.e. the installation of photovoltaic panels (particularly important for 101 respondents) and heat pumps (definitely important for 87 respondents) (see Table 5). Respondents are aware that the use of renewable heat sources will reduce the costs of electricity and heat in buildings. Ensuring safety in terms of health and safety of gray water demand, the so-called rainwater is very important for 70 and 100 respondents, respectively. When analyzing the answers to all the questions related to pro-ecological activities from the second group, it is important that all the proposals listed in Table 5 are significant and constitute a significance coefficient above 69% (Table 6).

Overall, the current version of the manuscript cannot be suitable for publication as it lacks the rigorous for a scientific research, and it needs major revisions.

Answer:

Thanking you for your valuable comments, we hope that the revised version will be considered suitable for printing by the respected reviewer.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

The authors of the article have corrected it according to the reviewers' comments.

I have no more comments.

Author Response

We would like to thank the Dear Reviewer for valuable comments and time.

Round 3

Reviewer 1 Report

The authors have responded adequately to my comments.

Author Response

Thank you very much for all your comments and time. Thanks to your comments, this manuscript has gained new value.

Reviewer 2 Report

I think it is ok now.

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