The article is devoted to developing methodological approaches to multi-criteria resource optimization of technological solutions in Nature Use Projects, considering the growing shortage of water and energy resources, climate change, and post-war transformation of Ukraine’s agricultural sector. The need to transition from traditional technical and economic optimization models to integrated assessment approaches, which consider ecological, resource, and economic aspects of the project implementation effectiveness, is substantiated. The methodological basis of the study is a combination of Multi-Criteria Decision-Making and the Water-Energy-Food Nexus concept, enabling the necessary adaptive management and formalizing the process of project decision-making under multifactor uncertainty. A set of indicators of resource-ecological and economic efficiency is proposed, including indicators of productivity, weather and climate risk, resource use, environmental reliability, investment attractiveness, etc. A key feature of this approach is the transformation of resource-ecological indicators into a value form, ensuring their integration with economic indicators within a single optimization model. Based on a machine experiment for the conditions of the Kherson region, an assessment of the effectiveness of various irrigation regimes, which differ from the project irrigation regime in terms of watering and irrigation norms, in terms of their level of provision with water and energy resources, was carried out. It was determined that, under the studied conditions, in dry years (p = 70%), the permissible deficit threshold is approximately 30%, achieving a compromise between economic efficiency and environmental acceptability. Adaptive management of irrigation regimes has been shown to reduce the resource intensity of production without a significant loss of productivity. This creates a basis for revising outdated design standards, which focused on 100% satisfaction of water needs, in favor of adaptive models that account for the real resource potential of the territory. This approach transforms irrigation from a resource-intensive industry into a tool for sustainable territorial development, where the priority is the efficiency of each cubic meter of water and kilowatt-hour of energy used, rather than gross collection. It has been proven that the implementation of resource optimization as a basic principle of natural resource project management contributes to increasing the efficiency of natural capital use, minimizing ecological risks, and ensuring the sustainable development of the agricultural sector. The obtained results can be used to substantiate engineering solutions in projects for the restoration and modernization of water management and land reclamation systems in Ukraine.

Escalating energy prices have positioned households as pivotal agents in advancing demand-side energy efficiency. This study examines three complementary energy-saving strategies among Polish households: (1) habitual, low-cost actions such as switching off unnecessary lighting; (2) capital-intensive investments, including LED lighting and energy-efficient appliances; and (3) time-based and prosumptive strategies linked to dynamic tariffs and photovoltaic systems. The empirical analysis is based on a nationwide survey conducted using the Computer-Assisted Web Interviewing method, involving 401 respondents. The study’s contribution lies in integrating these strategies within a single analytical model and providing the first empirical evidence on their socio-demographic determinants in Central and Eastern Europe, with Poland as a representative case. The results show that older individuals more often adopt everyday habitual practices, whereas higher income and education levels are associated with investment-oriented behaviours. Urban households tend to favour technological solutions, while rural households more frequently adopt time-of-use tariffs and PV systems. Two complementary pathways are identified: a behavioural–habitual path and an investment–technological path. The findings offer guidance for public policy by showing that energy savings increase when financial incentives are combined with clear communication and low-effort decision tools that help households optimise energy use regardless of demographic profile.

The article is devoted to the developing methodological approaches to multi-criteria resource optimization of technological solutions in Nature Use Projects considering the growing shortage of water and energy resources, climate change, and post-war transformation of Ukraine’s agricultural sector. The need to transition from traditional technical and economic optimization models to integrated assessment approaches which consider ecological, resource, and economic aspects of the project implementation effectiveness is substantiated. The methodological basis of the study is a combination of Multi-Criteria Decision-Making and the Water-Energy-Food Nexus concept, enabling the necessary adaptive management and formalizing the process of project decision-making under multifactor uncertainty. A set of indicators of resource-ecological and economic efficiency is proposed, including indicators of productivity, weather and climate risk, resource use, environmental reliability, investment attractiveness, etc. A key feature of this approach is the transformation of resource-ecological indicators into a value form, ensuring their integration with economic indicators within a single optimization model. Based on a machine experiment for the conditions of the Kherson region, an assessment of the effectiveness of various irrigation regimes, which differ from the project irrigation regime in terms of watering and irrigation norms in terms of their level of provision with water and energy resources, was carried out. It was determined that, under the studied conditions, the permissible deficit threshold is approximately 30%, achieving a compromise between economic efficiency and environmental acceptability. Adaptive management of irrigation regimes has been shown to reduce the resource intensity of production without a significant loss of productivity. This creates a basis for revising outdated design standards, which focused on 100% satisfaction of water needs, in favor of adaptive models that account for the real resource potential of the territory. This approach transforms irrigation from a resource-intensive industry into a tool for sustainable territorial development, where the priority is the efficiency of each cubic meter of water and kilowatt-hour of energy used, rather than gross collection. It has been proven that the implementation of resource optimization as a basic principle of natural resource project management contributes to increasing the efficiency of natural capital use, minimizing environmental risks, and ensuring the sustainable development of the agricultural sector. The obtained results can be used to substantiate engineering solutions in projects for the restoration and modernization of water management and land reclamation systems in Ukraine.