AbstractThe widespread use of disposable facemasks during the COVID‐19 pandemic has led to environmental concern due to microplastic pollution. Biodegradable disposable facemasks are a first step to reducing the environmental impact of pandemics. Here, high‐performance facemask components based on novel poly(ester amide)s (PEA) grades synthesized from biosourced materials and processed into nonwoven facemask components are presented. PEA‐based polymers present an excellent compromise between mechanical performance and biodegradability. Importantly, the properties of the PEA can easily be tuned by changing the ratio of ester and amide, or by varying diol and diacid parts. Seven polymers are synthesized which are optimized for biodegradability and processability. Among them, two grades combines 1) electrospinning process compatibility with 2) full degradation within 35 days, using a normalized biodegradation test. The ultra‐thin filters thus developed are evaluated for performance on a custom‐made characterization bench. The filters achieve microparticle capture efficiency and air permeability comparable to commercial filters. Another PEA grade is optimized to reach optimal viscothermal properties that made it compatible with solvent‐free melt‐spinning process as demonstrated with continuous fiber production. Overall, this environmentally friendly solution paves the way for the fabrication of high‐performance fibers with excellent biodegradability for the next‐generation facemasks.

This data article provides high spatial resolution (1 cm) datasets and related figures of the penetrometer resistance (PR) and soil bulk density (BD) data of nine agricultural 50 × 160 cm soil profiles exposed to three tillage treatments and including a wheel track. Soil treatments are moldboard plowing (MP), deep loosening (DL), and minimum tillage (MT). It also provides bulk density data, soil moisture content at various suctions and the parameters of van Genuchten's model for 27 soil cores, and saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) of 49 soil cores. Both sample sets were sampled to cover the profile heterogeneity in two agricultural plots subjected to moldboard plowing and minimum tillage. Examples of reuse potential include (i) the use of these spatially explicit data in studies seeking to understand better and integrate the effect of treatment and machine traffic-induced soil structure in soil hydraulic and soil physical quality, and (ii) the development of pedotransfer functions with data incorporating the soil structural heterogeneity. This Data in Brief article complements the companion paper by Alonso et al. (2021) “A hybrid method for characterizing tillage-induced soil physical quality at the profile scale with fine spatial detail” in Soil and Tillage Research[1].

Radon is a noble, natural, and radioactive gas coming mainly from the ground which might accumulate indoors and lead each year to 200-300 deaths from lung cancer in Switzerland. A brand new and innovative living lab will be built as of 2023 in Fribourg (Switzerland) which will allow to tackle the built environment and the relationship with its occupants. Among a large panel of environmental parameters, radon gas will be continuously monitored under and around the building as well as in the building envelope. This paper aims to present the overall process of the radon dataflow: 1) design of the sensor probes, 2) implementation of the radon sensor probes in the ground and 3) go-live with the data sharing platform with the building users. Such an infrastructure will bring the opportunity to researchers to lead new and innovative radon-related research.

This study presents a novel approach to simplify the dynamic life cycle assessment (DLCA) of buildings by identifying and prioritizing influential dynamic parameters (DPs) to improve building energy performance and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Current life cycle assessment (LCA) methodologies lack temporal considerations, which can significantly impact a building’s environmental footprint over its multi-decade life span. We conducted an extensive literature review on DPs in DLCA, informing the creation of a multi-scenario parametric framework. A case study was then selected to apply the developed DLCA methodology and perform a global Sensitivity Analysis to pinpoint the most influential DPs on global warming potential. The DLCA framework integrates data from the French database for environmental product declarations and utilizes EnergyPlus simulations for operational emissions assessment. The study identifies ten DPs, revealing the most impactful ones to be industry and waste sector emissions reductions, building occupancy, and global warming. Additionally, we found minimal interactions between DPs, which facilitates the simplification of the DLCA process. This research enables building stakeholders to focus on a more selective set of parameters, enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of building life cycle assessments. Overall, our findings contribute to the continuous improvement of LCA methodologies and promote sustainable building practices.

This paper presents an innovative methodology for enhancing energy efficiency assessment procedures in the built environment, with a focus on the Switzerland’s Energy Strategy 2050. The current methodology necessitates intensive expert surveys, leading to substantial time and cost implications. Also, such a process can’t be scaled to a large number of buildings.Using machine learning techniques, the estimation process is augmented and exploit open data resources. Utilizing a robust dataset exceeding 70’000 energy performance certificates (CECB), the method devises a two-stage ML approach to forecast energy performance. The first phase involves data reconstruction from online repositories, while the second employs a regression algorithm to estimate the energy efficiency.The proposed approach addresses the limitations of existing machine learning methods by offering finer prediction granularity and incorporating readily available data. The results show a commendable degree of prediction accuracy, particularly for single-family residences. Despite this, the study reveals a demand for further granular data, and underlines privacy concerns associated with such data collection. In summary, this investigation provides a significant contribution to the enhancement of energy efficiency assessment methodologies and policy-making.

We integrated 18 kg of PCM in 80 cells of a plate heat exchanger which were placed between a water charge and an air discharge circuit fed by the air renewal. The 0.1 m3 thermal battery can replace radiators to heat and cool, store heat and cold and perform air renewal independently for each room. The narrow PCM cells and the relatively large temperature difference between the PCM with fusion temperature of 25°C and the renewed air allowed to achieve average discharge powers of 300W and 440W for heating and cooling respectively. The integrated total heat and cold storage capacities were found to be 1.5 kWh and 1.8 kWh respectively. By replacing each radiator of a house with such a battery substantial thermal storage can be achieved. The liquid thermal battery, cooled with outdoor air of 17°C, completely solidified in less than 7h. This means that cool summer nights can charge the PCM to cool the room the following day.

Targeting urban and sub-urban building archetypes, generic but practice-oriented materializations of basic construction elements (slabs and walls) and their combinations were conceived for heightening of existing buildings by two to four floors. The developed concepts considered numerous construction materials and requirements from architecture, structural engineering, building physics, and fire protection. Evaluations explored the effects on embodied carbon, weight and estimated cost per surface unit of market-oriented element combinations, to identify suitable (and inappropriate) materializations and to detect governing elements and materials. Globally, a heightening by four floors is better than by two, in terms of relative carbon and cost impacts, but some trade-offs in architectural floor plan layout may be required. Seeking cost reductions is generally disadvantageous for embodied carbon while an investment increase does not necessarily provide a reduced carbon footprint. Overall, timber construction results in the lowest embodied carbon (around 5 kg CO2, eq/m2·a) while being up to 10% more expensive than the cheapest and up to 15% heavier than the lightest materializations (which depend on the floor plan layout). Lightweight concrete construction can be the most economic materialization but is also up to 200% heavier than the lightest (which can possibly not be supported by the existing building), and results in up to 45% more embodied carbon than constructing with timber.

A promising strategy to reduce the environmental impact of the construction industry is the reuse of structural elements resulting from the deconstruction of existing buildings. However, despite a growing interest from the academic and industrial communities, practical examples of the reuse of structural elements remain very scarce at present, especially in the case of reinforced concrete buildings, which generally consist of a monolithic load-bearing skeleton that has not been designed for dismantling or reuse. This paper presents the results of a study on the reuse of concrete blocks from the deconstruction of an existing building as components for the in-situ construction of a new retaining wall. A real case study is considered. It consists of a building constructed in the 1970s. The developer of the new building wishes to reuse parts of the old building to create a new retaining wall on the boundary of the plot, with a length of 105 metres and a variable height between 60 and 250 cm. The dimensions and shape of the concrete blocks can vary considerably depending on the deconstruction technique used. In order to take into account this aspect, as well as the variable height and the mechanical support of the retaining wall, alternative solutions have been analysed. This paper presents the conceptual design and preliminary dimensioning of these solutions, as well as a discussion of their ability to meet all the technical and normative requirements.

ABSTRACT Between the 1960s and 1990s art historian Giovanni Previtali identified a group of polychrome wood trecento sculptures from the Umbrian-Abruzzo region of Italy as the work of one hand. He named his artist the Maestro della Santa Caterina Gualino after one of the pieces considered to epitomize the style he had identified. Previtali's attribution has since been universally accepted in art historical publications and catalogs. This study tests this assertion through scientific analysis of two of the sculptures named in the group. A team from National Museums Scotland, Edinburgh and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston compared a statue of the Madonna and Child (Edinburgh) and Saint Agnes (Boston) using a variety of analytical tools. Cross-references were made to three other sculptures in the group to which access was gained. The results of this analysis highlight the challenges of testing stylistic associations in the laboratory. Despite taking a scientific approach to data collection and collation there is still much scope for subjectivity in interpretation. Rather than providing a conclusion, our work has opened the door wider still for multiple interpretations, illustrating the limitations of analysis in supporting definitive statements about the authorship of Medieval polychrome sculpture.