ABSTRACT This study presents a literature review on human centric lighting, utilizing solid-state lighting and switchable glazing, which has immense potential to create comfortable and productive environments. Windows and shading devices of a building are the essential components that allow natural daylight to enter indoors, thereby maintaining a relationship between the interior and exterior environments. Artificial light sources are always integrated with natural light to provide the right lighting environment. Achieving a balance between natural and artificial light is crucial; the efficiency depends on how effectively artificial light is combined with daylight. This paper explores the benefits of intelligent solid-state lighting and switchable glazing technology in creating a comfortable and energy-efficient environment. Lighting metrics for assessing circadian entrainment and algorithms for optimizing visual and thermal comfort along with energy efficiency are the main topics of concern. By optimizing lighting and temperature control, workplaces can increase productivity and promote circadian entrainment. This review considers papers mainly from 2004 to 2023, challenges and problems in implementation, along with future directions are also considered. If the right spectrally controllable source is designed by giving a suitable light exposure for the right duration, it is possible to achieve comfort, health, and energy efficiency. This integrative lighting solution provides new and innovative ways to enhance our daily lives. Climate-responsive algorithms seem more reliable for switchable glazing; overall circadian performance improves when mixed with natural light.

ABSTRACT Low-income homeowners often face higher utility bills due to the poor condition of their homes, leading to increased energy and water consumption. This study examines the feasibility of low-cost renovations for these homes using optimization modeling. Twenty-three self-implementable retrofits were identified, with their costs and economic and environmental benefits calculated. An optimization model was then developed to find the best retrofits within a homeowner's budget, aimed at minimizing Global Warming Potential (GWP) and maximizing energy savings. The model was applied to a low-income home in Illinois, USA, with results showing that even small investments can yield significant savings and quick payback, along with reduced GWP. For example, a $200 investment can save over $500 and cut 2.6 tons of carbon emissions, while $2000 can lead to over 43% energy savings and a 65% reduction in emissions. The study further emphasizes that water conservation is as critical as energy conservation in creating sustainable homes.

ABSTRACT Reducing energy consumption in the production process of lightweight concrete facade panels, utilizing recycled materials, minimizing waste, enhancing strength-to-weight ratio and durability, as well as ensuring ease of service and assembly, play a significant role in sustainability. Previous studies have been conducted to improve the thermal insulation properties of these panels; however, these studies were limited and produced conflicting results regarding sustainability. Additionally, due to a high number of influencing parameters, a definite procedure for determining the optimal mix ratio for lightweight concrete facade panels was not established. This study aims to determine the optimal proportions of coarse/fine aggregates, lightweight aggregates, and recycled aggregates for lightweight facade concrete mixes in terms of weight/strength and thermal insulation performance criteria. The goal is to develop a sustainable lightweight concrete facade panel with sufficient strength for building facades, high insulation capacity, maximal usage of recycled aggregates, while being as low weight as possible. Within the scope of this study, a total of 15 different lightweight concrete mixtures were produced by substituting various ratios of pumice, perlite, and recycled concrete aggregate for fine aggregate in the control mix containing 100% limestone as fine aggregate. The cement content, coarse aggregate amount, coarse/fine aggregate ratio, and slump value were kept constant for all produced mixtures. It was determined that the mixture containing 40% recycled concrete aggregate and 60% pumice as fine aggregate exhibits superior performance in terms of unit volume weight, compressive strength, and thermal conductivity. Within the scope of the study, 15 different lightweight concrete mixtures were produced by substituting various proportions of pumice, perlite, and recycled concrete aggregate in place of fine aggregate in a control mixture containing 100% limestone as fine aggregate. In all produced mixtures, the cement content, coarse aggregate amount, coarse/fine aggregate ratio, and slump value were kept constant. It was determined that the mixture containing 40% recycled concrete aggregate and 60% pumice as fine aggregate exhibited superior performance in terms of unit weight, compressive strength, and thermal conductivity.

ABSTRACT Wood-based composites are a popular construction material, however, the use of formaldehyde adhesives as binders in their production can have toxic health effects. In addition, the increase in agricultural industry has resulted in an increase in agricultural waste, which often goes unprocessed and disposed of improperly. To address these issues, this study focuses on the production of composite boards made from a mix of agricultural residues and plastic waste, as a way to reduce the use of formaldehyde adhesives. The study aimed to determine the feasibility of using plastic waste as a binder, and evaluated the properties of the composite boards produced, including moisture content, thickness swelling, flexural strength, tensile strength, and thermal conductivity, compared to traditional plywood products. The composite boards were made from a mix of 55%, 60%, and 70% agricultural residues (rice straw and corn cob) and 45%, 40%, and 30% plastic waste (polypropylene and polyamide). The boards were produced using heat compression at 190°C and 220°C for 12 minutes, yielding a density of 400–900 kg/m3. The results showed that increasing the amount of plastic waste in the mix led to a decrease in density, water absorption, and thickness swelling, but an improvement in bending resistance and tensile strength. The composite boards made with higher amounts of plastic waste also had lower thermal conductivity. These results provide guidelines for the use of waste materials to produce composite boards that meet standards for architectural applications.

ABSTRACT This article discusses the utilization of industrial construction waste for resource recycling and disposal. It focuses on researching a new water-resistant, self-healing soil curing technology called “road liquid,” which is a fly ash-based soil curing agent. This technology is used for the curing of industrial construction waste disposal methods. For the first time, the soil curing agent is mixed into the construction waste along with cement stabilization. Different amounts of mixing are used as controls to evaluate the performance of the curing material after the construction waste is cured. The study focused on the material properties of cured construction waste, specifically examining strength, water resistance, and self-healing properties. The study showed that the curing agent “road liquid” enhanced the strength, water resistance, and selfhealing properties of the cured construction waste at various cement dosages. The 7-day unconfined compressive strength of recycled aggregates with a 5% cement dosage, added with the curing agent “road liquid,” was higher than that of recycled aggregates with a 6% cement dosage without the curing agent “road liquid.” The experimental results show that using this type of granular solid waste as pavement base material is more practical for engineering purposes. The curing agent “road liquid” can enhance the curing effect of recycled aggregate, thereby reducing the need for cementitious materials and achieving cost savings for the project.

ABSTRACT This research investigated the key factors that influenced patients’ individual thermal sensations in a rehabilitation ward. Maintaining thermal comfort is important for occupant's well-being in healthcare facilities. The commonly used Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) thermal comfort model has limitations on considering an individual's needs, especially if the individual has impaired health. There was a lack of thermal sensation studies in medical settings. This study conducted a ten-week fieldwork in a real rehabilitation environment in order to develop a thermal sensation analysis model that could help understand individual patient's thermal needs. Traditional statistical models and artificial neural network (ANN)-based models, using real-world data including spatial and healthcare-related parameters, were established for a comparative study. The results of the study unveiled the substantial influence of spatial and healthcare-related parameters on inpatients’ indoor thermal sensations. Furthermore, the ANN-based model demonstrated better performance in aligning with real-world conditions and in providing more accurate prediction outcomes compared to the traditional statistical model. These findings can be used by hospital designers and engineers to optimize the overall quality of the thermal environment within a healthcare environment.

ABSTRACT The presence of traditional school buildings in Egypt led to the absence of environmentally friendly buildings, which contributes to endangering the environment and promoting climate change. To attain sustainability, it is imperative to establish a harmonious interaction between the environment and buildings. The purpose of the present research is to study the microclimate impact with and without landscaping on the thermal performance of a building (traditional building, shipping container with and without insulation) and the material impact on the environment. Program simulation tools such as Envi-met, Design Builder, and One Click LCA are used to apply the methodology of the research. It includes a case study on New-Assiut City in Egypt, proposing four scenarios. The outcomes indicate that the thermal performance of a shipping container building is comparable to that of a traditional building. The reuse of shipping containers has a lower environmental impact than a traditional building. In addition, the presence of landscaping such as trees significantly lowers the dry bulb temperature and operative temperature of the building. The outcome implies that the Egyptian government must enhance the sustainability of reusing shipping containers as a green building to reduce the negative impacts that existing constructions have on the environment and people.

ABSTRACT Green construction practices can minimize buildings’ significant environmental effects, conserve resources, and provide economic benefits such as lower operating costs and enhanced property values. In Africa, the need for sustainable practices is critical due to the rapid urbanisation and population growth rates. However, research on stakeholders’ influence and receptiveness to green buildings is limited. Our study draws on the experiences of 38 green building experts from five African countries affiliated with either EDGE, LEED, Green Star or DGNB. Our findings indicate that construction professionals and private sector developers are the most receptive, environmental agency regulators are indifferent, and interest groups are the least receptive. In addition to construction professionals and private sector developers, local regulatory authorities are among the most influential stakeholders in construction projects. Further analysis of the nexus between receptiveness and influence suggests local regulatory authorities and landowners are less receptive than influential, highlighting a disconnect inhibiting green building adoption. This disparity suggests that policies and sensitization campaigns must actively consider the different stakeholders’ motivations and the balance of power in the African context towards promoting sustainable building practices to secure a more sustainable future.

ABSTRACT Utilizing micro-level individual data of Chinese cities across the years 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2019, this study employs metrics such as population size and personal population density to quantify the phenomenon of urban agglomeration. Its primary focus is to investigate the impact of urban agglomeration on wage levels, along with an exploration of whether the presence of urban rail transit further amplifies this impact, leading to enhanced wage premiums. The findings reveal that urban agglomeration contributes to the wage premium, with its primary effect concentrated in large cities with a permanent urban population of over one million. The introduction of urban rail transit expands the urban agglomeration effect and brings more wage premium. Specifically, the introduction of urban rail transit improves the scale effect of agglomeration and mitigates congestion issues. In addition, the agglomeration effect benefits labor of varying skill levels and genders. These results have implications for policy regarding the optimization of urban spatial structure and enabling urban development through urban rail transit.

ABSTRACT University campuses, characterized by their expansive scale and high proportion of green spaces, serve as crucial climate regulators in densely populated urban areas. In particular, the various water system structures within these campuses play a significant role in enhancing the microclimate of waterfront spaces. This research further elucidates the microclimatic regulatory functions of different water system configurations in waterfront areas located in regions with hot and humid conditions, thereby providing theoretical support for climate-adaptive development in similar urban environments. This study focuses on Xihua University, located in the suburbs of Chengdu, China, employing field measurements of the microclimate and numerical simulations using ENVI-met to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the microclimatic conditions at five distinct locations representing three types of water bodies on campus: overland permeable natural waterways, drainage channels, and ornamental lake surfaces. Notably, this research performs simulation analyses under extreme climatic conditions characterized by hot and humid conditions, assessing the microclimate regulation efficiency of various waterway structures based on meteorological factors such as air temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed. The research findings indicate that the efficiency of microclimate regulation varies significantly among different water systems within campus waterfront spaces. During the summer, the microclimatic regulatory function of the campus water system is relatively limited; however, in winter, the open landscape lake demonstrates a pronounced capacity for microclimate regulation. Additionally, factors such as the openness of waterfront spaces, surrounding buildings, and vegetation also exert a notable influence on the microclimatic environment. Moreover, in the development of urban waterfront spaces within regions characterized by hot and humid conditions, it is essential to consider the influence of vegetation, buildings, and surface materials on the microclimatic environment associated with water systems. Additionally, the arrangement and configuration of buildings and plants should be tailored to reflect seasonal variations in local climate conditions, thereby creating waterfront activity spaces that are well-adapted to these climatic factors.