The acoustic impact of the new EPBD4 in urban context

The building sector plays a key role in the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the European Union (EU). The revision of the Energy Performance of Building Directive (EPBD) sets out how Europe can achieve a decarbonised building stock by 2050. This paper offers an overview of the recent policy developments and examines the introduced provisions on new and existing buildings. While nearly zero energy buildings (NZEBs) remains the current building standard since 2011 for new buildings, zero emission buildings (ZEBs) are set as the future building target as of 2030. Accordingly, this paper provides insights into ZEBs, clarifying how and when this concept brought out. In particular, it discusses the key methodological aspects that ZEBs should address, outlining the decisive role of energy efficiency and renewable energy. This paper provides the main features of a pragmatic ZEB definition which should be distinguished from other building concepts. It suggests an approach to ZEBs calculations of grouping energy uses and associated emissions, as well as the steps to derive numerical benchmarks for operational energy. Furthermore, it examines the link with other policies as well as the market readiness for zero carbon buildings. The study points out how ZEBs are a crucial component of the EU strategy towards climate neutrality, able to trigger additional benefits, such as resilience, recyclability, security, and health. Within that framework, the ZEB concept must be promptly transposed, avoiding the downturn that characterized the initial NZEBs implementation. Giving the essential elements to move from a theoretical to an empirical ZEB level, this paper highlights how binding requirements based on a holistic approach are urgently needed in order to tackle GHG emissions in the building sector and move rapidly towards a climate neutral continent.

High energy and material demand in the building sector causes large greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This sector needs large-scale technological improvements in the transition to a future low-emission society. Extensive research is carried out on highly energy-efficient and zero emission buildings (ZEB), but the new technologies slowly penetrate the market. Until now, no bottom-up studies have applied a dynamic building stock energy model at the national level to quantify effects of a large-scale ZEB introduction. Using the RE-BUILDS 2.0 model, we explore and extensively discuss the aggregated potential for energy and GHG emission savings in the Norwegian building stock towards 2050. A Baseline scenario is compared with two ZEB scenarios assuming introduction of the ZEB definition and ZEB technologies applied in the future new built and renovated buildings, with an increased ambition level over time. The results reveal a large potential for energy and GHG emission savings of ZEB deployment towards 2050. Hence, stricter future regulations and practice will have important aggregated effects. Due to the long lifetime of buildings and potential lock-in effects, it is urgent that ZEB policies are implemented if the climate change mitigation potential of the Norwegian building stock is going to be reached.

This paper deals with actual European “modal shift to rail transport” concept and related environmental issues and experience in the Republic of Serbia. The planned increase in volume of railway transport and planned railway electrification should reduce air pollution in Serbia, particularly in the urban environment. On the other hand, achieving this goal would lead to the increase in noise level in the urban environment and environmental issues in the region of thermal power plants, which are the main sources of electricity in Serbia. This paper suggests concrete measures to reduce the railway carbon footprint and noise level during the planning, design and service life of railway infrastructure.

The European building sector significantly contributes to the EU’s greenhouse gas reduction goals, with the 2024 Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) aiming to achieve a decarbonised building stock by 2050. By focusing on an existing office building representative of the Italian building stock, this research evaluates various energy efficiency measures and integrates renewable energy systems to transform the building into a Zero-emission Building (ZeB). Moreover, it also utilises future weather data to address the effects of climate change. Results highlight the actions needed for an empirical ZeB transition, offering insights into challenges and key performance indicators across different intervention scenarios. The findings contribute to establishing national ZeB standards, emphasising the importance of the national building renovation plan in compliance with the EPBD recast requirements.

The intensity of traffic flows increases every year and intensifies its impact significantly on urban territory's ecologic situation and natural environment. In Ukrainian cities, the growth of noise pollution is quite a topical problem as it has a significant impact on the environment because of the increase in car numbers. Traffic flow intensity and densification of the built-up area cause the increase of the noise level. As analytical methods of calculation of determination of traffic noise level have several disadvantages, then for assessing the level of noise on arterial streets of Lviv city, research is carried out with consideration of traffic flow indicators. One of the critical criteria that have an impact on noise pollution in the urban environment is traffic flow composition. Conducted research indicates that the speed of traffic flow creates significant noise pollution, especially on those streets where cobblestone is a road pavement. Freight and passenger transport that moves along arterial streets causes the increase of noise level and increases its impact on the city territory. On sections of arterial streets in peak periods of the day with high values of volume-capacity ratio and general share of freight and public transport of more than 30% in a flow, the noise exceeds the acceptable norms and has a harmful impact on the environment. That is why it is necessary to assess noise pollution and the development of protection measures from noise during the planning and construction of some urban regions or residential areas. It is established that to lower the noise level on streets, it is necessary to consider existing intersections of arterial streets and the regime of movement on them. To lower transport noise, it is necessary to distribute freight and transit transport by city streets more rationally, use qualitative public transport, and limit the maximal speed regime on city streets. Further research on the road network will provide an opportunity to assess the noise level distribution of traffic flows in Lviv city. It will help to determine the problem places and propose methods of combating traffic noise.

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

The influence of different electricity-to-emissions conversion factors on the choice of insulation materials

The construction sector increasingly adopts off-site prefabricated systems for deep retrofitting, reducing waste while enabling fast and customizable solutions. When combined with efficient heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems and renewable energy sources (RES), off-site prefabricated envelope components have occurred as a powerful strategy for achieving Nearly Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB). However, alongside the anticipated improvements in energy performance, there is an emerging need to comprehensively assess the environmental footprint of these energy retrofits. In this context, the concept of Zero Emission Buildings (ZEB) is evolving as a progression of the NZEB framework within European Union policies, with a focus on both operational efficiency and the use of low embodied carbon materials. This study examines a timber-framed prefabricated façade panel for the deep renovation of a residential building in Berlin, coupled with energy efficient systems to meet ZEB standards. The aim is to select the optimal insulation material through a multi-criteria analysis in terms of sustainability metrics, economic viability, and indoor environmental quality. The analysis assesses energy savings achieved through the decreased heat loss and the improved HVAC efficiency. Besides, a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is conducted to quantify the embodied carbon of the retrofitting components covering the product stage (A1-A3), the end-of-life stage (C1-C4) and the operational energy use (B6). Additionally, Life Cycle Cost (LCC) and thermal comfort indexes are calculated for each scenario. The results indicate that the proposed bio-based façade panel offers an optimal solution, significantly reducing total energy consumption and supports ZEB targets. Although the retrofit’s initial embodied energy is significant, the amount of operational energy savings offset this over time.

The pandemic of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) led to the need for drastic control measures around the world to reduce the impact on the health of the population. The confinement of people in their homes resulted in a significant reduction in human activity at every level (economic, social, industrial, etc.), which was reflected in a decrease in environmental pollution levels. Studying the evolution of parameters, such as the level of environmental noise caused by vehicle traffic in urban environments, makes it possible to assess the impact of this type of measure. This paper presents a case study of the acoustic situation in Cáceres (Spain) during the restriction period by means of long-term acoustic measurements at various points of the city.

The ZEB Lab project, coordinated by SINTEF and NTNU, aims at building a ZEB (Zero Emission Building) in Trondheim (Norway) in 2019, to be used both as office building and living laboratory. An innovative latent heat storage (LHS) unit using phase change material (PCM) will be integrated in the centralized heating system. The LHS unit will be able to store excess heat from various heat sources connected to the heating system, when they are not required for space heating. One challenge is to make use of the full potential of the PCM latent heat to have a compact and effective unit, while the unit itself should have a low associated CO2-footprint. The LHS system consists of two units designed for a total heat storage capacity of 0.6 MWh, corresponding to the heat needed on top of the heat pump to cover for up to 3 consecutive days in the coldest period of the year, with a maximum combined effect of 26 kW. A bio-based wax is used as PCM with melting temperature 37 °C and measured latent heat 198 kJ/kg. Dynamic system modelling is used to support the design of the LHS unit and ensure sufficiently high heat transfer rates.

Acute effects of visits to urban green environments on cardiovascular physiology in women: A field experiment

With the exponential growth of numerous drone operations ranging from infrastructure monitoring to even package delivery services, the laws and privacy regarding the use of drones in the urban planning context play an essential role in future smart cities. This study provides a comprehensive survey of the regulation of drone application and drone management systems, including a comparison of existing rules, management methods, and guidelines in drone operation to guarantee the safety and security of people, property, and environment. Evaluating existing regulations and laws practiced worldwide will assist in designing drone management and regulation. In Vietnam, the current rules can manage and regulate general guidelines of drone operations based on prohibited, restricted, and controlled areas within the urban context. The legislation, however, is unclear as to how it regulates smaller civilian unmanned aircraft used in the country. In the legal aspect, the potential consequences consist of the inefficiency of compensation responsibility, the violation of drone regulations, and information insecurity.

This paper describes the challenges and issues involved in mainstreaming disaster risk reduction in education from a periurban perspective. Periurban spaces, that combine features of both rural and urban environments, are rapidly growing in importance and geographical spread as urbanisation advances in the global south. These spaces face threats both from urbanisation and climate change. Yet most studies on vulnerability, adaptation and resilience focus on rural or urban spaces and contexts. This chapter looks at the unique nature of vulnerability and resilience in periurban contexts and highlights an approach that will be needed to mainstream disaster risk reduction in higher education curricula. It highlights key concepts and issues that need to be part of such curricula as well as important aspects of approach and pedagogy. The paper draws attention to the factors that shape vulnerability in periurban contexts as distinct from rural or urban contexts. Social capital is often eroded, gender relations are transformed because of rural–urban migration or land use change, and land acquisition processes give rise to several other changes, such as insecure tenure and access to water, that shape the vulnerability of periurban communities. In education programmes for urban planning or rural development practitioners, attention needs to be paid to building a perspective on periurban vulnerability and disaster risk reduction. This requires building an understanding of the concept of periurban and the drivers and features of periurbanisation processes. The weakening of social capital, transformation of gender relations and the fluidity of land tenure and changing water security are important subjects to be engaged with. Finally, an appropriate pedagogy would rely on case studies on vulnerability and disaster risk reduction in the periurban spaces of the global south.

This study focuses on assessing collaborative governance from the perspective of power dynamics in a disadvantaged neighbourhood in southern Spain: Las Palmeras. Increasing global urbanisation in recent decades has exacerbated problems of segregation within cities, posing a major challenge to achieving healthy urban environments for harmonious coexistence. Public policies have struggled to address this challenge, particularly following the adoption of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which have underlined the importance of fostering inclusiveness and sustainability in urban environments. In this context, collaborative governance has emerged as a prominent strategy for democratising the implementation of public policies in urban contexts. However, the efficacy of collaborative governance is hampered by the dynamics of power relations, which limits its effectiveness. The aim of this study is understanding how these dynamics mediate collaborative processes in urban regeneration contexts, an area little addressed so far. Through a case study and the systematisation of experiences, the study proposes strategic recommendations for managing these dynamics within collaborative governance. The insights drawn from this study can serve as a basis for better addressing urban challenges, thus fostering greater inclusiveness and sustainability in urban areas as well as offering valid lines for future research in the field.

Safety Performance Functions (SPFs) play a key role in identifying hotspots. Most SPFs were built at the micro-level, such as for road intersections or segments. On the other hand, in case of regional transportation planning, it may be useful to estimate SPFs at the macro-level (e.g., counties, cities, or towns) to determine ad hoc intervention prioritizations. Hence, the final aim of this study is to develop a predictive framework, supported by macro-level SPFs, to estimate crash frequencies, and consequently possible priority areas for interventions. At a province-wide level. The applicability of macro-level SPFs is investigated and tested thanks to the database retrieved in the context of a province-wide Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (Bari, Italy). Starting from this database, the macro-areas of analysis were carved out by clustering cities and towns into census macro-zones, highlighting the potential need for safety interventions, according to different safety performance indicators (fatal + injury, fatal, pedestrian and bicycle crashes) and using basic predictors divided into geographic variables and road network-related factors. Safety performance indicators were differentiated into rural and urban, thus obtaining a set of 4 × 2 dependent variables. Then they were linked to the dependent variables by means of Negative Binomial (NB) count data models. The results show different trends for the urban and rural contexts. In the urban environment, where crashes are more frequent but less severe according to the available dataset, the increase in both population and area width leads to increasing crashes, while the increase in both road length and mean elevation are generally related to a decrease in crash occurrence. In the rural environment, the increase in population density, which was not considered in the urban context, strongly influences crash occurrence, especially leading to an increase in pedestrian and bicyclist fatal + injury crashes. The increase in the rural network length (excluding freeways) is generally related to a greater number of crashes as well. The application of this framework aims to reveal useful implications for planners and administrators who must select areas of intervention for safety purposes. Two examples of practical applications of this framework, related to safety-based infrastructural planning, are provided in this study.