Slovakia, as part of the European Union, participates in all forms of regional development and sustainability. A transparent form of regional development and sustainability is regional labeling, which has a 10-year tradition. Our regions represent excellent potential for the development of domestic products. Acceptance of essential requirements for regional products (domestic raw materials, manual work share, respect for the environment) opens up opportunities for the labor market, promotes tourism, and increases citizens’ purchase ability, none of which are clearly demonstrable in Slovak regions. Residents of individual regions have specific approaches in relation to regional brands depending on the region studied. For the purpose of the survey, four regions of southern Slovakia (with common environmental morphology and different industrial development) were selected. Indicators of age, gender, education, monthly income, and location relative to regional product preferences were studied. The results obtained were processed by cluster analysis (as a way of segmenting consumers). An average conscious purchaser of regional products is a local productive middle-aged person with a secondary or tertiary education, either male or female, and from a more economically advanced region. The results show regional branding as a mobilizing function for connecting inhabitants and the subsequent joint presentation of regional activities.

Legislative regulations and standards have been approved for noise control, aimed at controlling noise minimization. This problem is also under the public interest, because noise is increasing in many counties. EU directive 70/157/eec determines and controls limits of environmental noise and is aimed at creating less noisy and more pleasant outdoor and indoor environments for European residents within “sustainable development in Europe”. This study focused on the utilization of new, so-called acoustic more convenient materials, based on and produced from old materials from automobiles, e.g. foam, textile, rubber, and tires. The chosen acoustic parameters—sound absorption coefficient and sound transmission loss—of these materials were tested, and the acoustic properties of materials were subsequently improved compared to tested values and potential applications for them were found.

This paper explores the joining of materials by a new progressive method of thermal drilling. Many types of joints are utilized in industrial production, especially in the automotive industry, which requires the joining of different types of materials with different thicknesses. For these needs, it will be appropriate to apply the joining method of thermal drilling technology. The used material, its mechanical properties, and the preparation of the joint by assembly and disassembly operations play an equally important role. By using new friction technologies, we can reduce production time, increase joint quality, offer automation in certain types of operations, save economic costs, and protect the environment. In this contribution, the authors present the results of their scientific research work focused on an investigation, comparison and testing of thermal drilling effects on the behavior of aluminum alloys (AlMgSi). The holes, collars and bushings formed by the drilling method were subjected to visual shape evaluation. Based on the evaluation of the samples, the quality of the evaluated joints was assessed. The best shape and strength properties at higher speeds of the drilling machine were obtained at 3400 rpm. The results of the methods of macroscopy and microscopy investigations, as well as the results of the methods of scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDS), are presented in this contribution.

Understanding the determinants of electricity consumption is essential for designing effective economic and energy policies in advanced economies. This study examines the macroeconomic, institutional, and environmental factors influencing electricity consumption in 19 Euro Area countries during 2006–2024. Using a balanced panel dataset and a fixed-effects regression model, the analysis examines the associations between electricity consumption and GDP per capita, manufacturing value added, regulatory quality, electricity prices, renewable energy share, and heating degree days. The results indicate that GDP per capita, manufacturing value added, and regulatory quality are positively associated with electricity consumption, suggesting that higher levels of economic development, industrial activity, and institutional quality are associated with higher electricity demand. In contrast, electricity prices and renewable energy are negatively associated with electricity consumption, highlighting the importance of market incentives and structural changes related to the energy transition. Heating degree days exhibited the strongest estimated association with electricity consumption, highlighting the importance of climatic conditions across the Euro Area. The study contributes to the energy economics literature by providing an integrated assessment of economic, institutional, and environmental drivers of electricity consumption within a highly integrated economic region. The findings offer relevant implications for policymakers seeking to balance economic growth, energy transition objectives, and long-term electricity demand management.

Automotive textile waste is a potential secondary raw material for acoustic insulation; however, the sound transmission loss (TL) of loose textile recyclate under controlled compaction remains insufficiently described. This study evaluates TL in loose, compacted, and compact forms. Loose fractions were tested without compaction and after compaction at 250, 500, and 750 kPa, while compact textile specimens served as references. Specimens 20, 45, and 70 mm thick were measured in a four-microphone impedance tube over 100–2500 Hz. Transmission coefficients, a relative transmission ratio, regression models, and dominance analysis were used to compare configurations and quantify the effects of frequency, thickness, and compaction pressure. The uncompacted fraction showed the lowest TL, increasing only from 4.20 to 6.27 dB as thickness increased from 20 to 70 mm. At 750 kPa, average TL increased from 14.98 dB at 20 mm to 36.34 dB at 70 mm. For loose fractions, the pressure–thickness interaction dominated TL (Std. beta = 0.764; R² = 0.933), whereas compact specimens were governed mainly by the frequency–thickness interaction (Std. beta = 0.806; R² = 0.976). Within the tested configurations, increasing compaction resulted in a pronounced reduction in the transmission of acoustic energy through the loose textile fraction, and at the highest compaction levels the TL values were comparable to or higher than those measured for the reference CT configurations.

The target and goal of psychoacoustics is to understand how people perceive and experience different sounds. Psychoacoustic is joining the field of acoustic and psychology. Sound quality is a perceptual reaction to the sound that reflects the listener’s reaction.