Building Assessment Methods Research Articles

Compatibility of global environmental assessment methods of buildings with an Egyptian energy code

Several environmental assessment methods of buildings had emerged over the world to set environmental classifications for buildings, such as the American method “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design” (LEED) the most widespread one. Several countries decided to put their own assessment methods to catch up with the previous orientation, such as Egypt. The main goal of putting the Egyptian method was to impose the voluntary local energy efficiency codes. Through a local survey, it was clearly noted that many of the construction makers in Egypt do not even know the local method, and whom are interested in the environmental assessment of buildings seek to apply LEED rather than anything else. Therefore, several questions appear about the American method compatibility with the Egyptian energy codes – that contain the most exact characteristics and requirements and give the outmost credible energy efficiency results for buildings in Egypt-, and the possibility of finding another global method that gives closer results to those of the Egyptian codes, especially with the great variety of energy efficiency measurement approaches used among the different assessment methods. So, the researcher is trying to find the compatibility of using non-local assessment methods with the local energy efficiency codes. Thus, if the results are not compatible, the Egyptian government should take several steps to increase the local building sector awareness of the Egyptian method to benefit these codes, and it should begin to enforce it within the building permits after a proper guidance and feedback.

From Green to Sustainability—Trends in the Assessment Methods of Green Buildings

This research investigates recent developments in assessment methods of green buildings and compares the differences in rating systems among the United Kingdom, USA, and Germany. There are indications that the rating systems are moving from green buildings to sustainable buildings. In order to understand the recent research in academic areas, we survey the recent Ph.D. dissertations and literature related to green building assessment. Discussion is provided on the major research areas of green buildings, which cover accountability of life cycle cost, methodology for balancing the three pillars, and government vision and public policy.

The development of visible sky area as an alternative daylight assessment method for high-rise buildings in high-density urban environments

This research aims to develop a new daylight assessment method for high-rise residential buildings located in high-density urban environments. The new visible sky area (VSA) method was developed based on data gathered from an extensive survey of high-rise residential building plans and layouts in Hong Kong and followed by a large number of daylight simulation experiments. The results of simulations showed a very small daylight quantity arriving at windowpane of lower floor level of high-rise residential buildings due to high-obstruction from nearby buildings and also self-obstruction. The new method would guarantee the availability of sky area seen from windowpane in order to provide a good vertical daylight factor (VDF), which has been adopted as a performance-based daylight indicator in Hong Kong. A minimum VSA of 12% and 6% for habitable rooms and kitchens, respectively, is proposed for this situation.

A development of a rating method and weighting system for green store buildings in China

Store buildings usually have distinct characteristics of significant depth, high human density and heat-emitting sources, a high simultaneity usage coefficient for the air conditioning system, etc. The aim of this paper is to develop a rational rating method for green stores. By comparing the commonly used evaluation methods of green buildings, an assessment method for green store buildings in China has been developed. This method references the rating requirements set by the “China Green Building Evaluation Standard” and weighted credits for each category. This method attempts to avoid the effect of “imbalanced performance” when labeling green buildings. The Expert Group Decision AHP method has been used to develop the weighting system for green store buildings. The weight distributions highlight the importance of indoor environmental quality, energy efficiency and operation management within store buildings.

A 6D CAD Model for the Automatic Assessment of Building Sustainability

Current building assessment methods limit themselves in their environmental impact by failing to consider the other two aspects of sustainability: the economic and the social. They tend to be complex and costly to run, and therefore are of limited value in comparing design options. This paper proposes and develops a model for the automatic assessment of a building's sustainability life cycle with the building information modelling (BIM) approach and its enabling technologies. A 6D CAD model is developed which could be used as a design aid instead of as a post-construction evaluation tool. 6D CAD includes 3D design as well as a fourth dimension (schedule), a fifth dimension (cost) and a sixth dimension (sustainability). The model can automatically derive quantities (5D), calculate economic (5D and 6D), environmental and social impacts (6D), and evaluate the sustainability performance of alternative design options. The sustainability assessment covers the life cycle stages of a building, namely material production, construction, operation, maintenance, demolition and disposal.

Understanding and actioning BRE environmental assessment method: a socio-technical approach

The following research applies a socio-technical approach to an original study of the role of BRE environmental assessment method (BREEAM) in sustainable building practice. The primary objective is to gain insight into what facilitates and what weakens professional associations to implement a sustainability agenda in a building project. It focuses on understanding different sets of meaning which underlie engagement with BREEAM and how BREEAM is actioned. To do this, the research framework draws on social network analysis. However, this research does not consider that sustainable building is merely an outcome of planned action. Instead, sustainable building is seen to involve processes of engagement amongst different groups, technologies, materials and methods. Therefore, the conceptual framework adopted incorporates consideration of the materiality of sustainable building engagements, highlighting the relations between actors. Interviews with project professionals involved in a case study of a BREEAM Outstanding development provide the empirical basis for this work. This research will be of interest to scholars interested in socio-technical approaches to building development, environmental building assessment methods and sustainable building.

Develop a flexible method to assess buildings hosting major sports events environmentally through the world

Specific international institutions are responsible for managing and organizing major sports events besides choosing the hosting city for those events which is a difficult task, as there is a need for an appropriate decision using highly credible and justifiable mechanisms. Assessing the hosting city includes the assessment of sports buildings used in those events; however the diverse characteristics of countries aiming to host sports events raises the problem of obtaining fair environmental assessment results for the submitted projects. There are already a number of environmental assessment methods of buildings around the world and some were used to evaluate a group of major sports buildings in their countries. A particular version of Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) was used to assess the sports buildings hosting the Olympic Games in London 2012. However, it cannot be used outside England without the presence of several defects in the evaluation process, especially when dealing with different regional characteristics. Many countries are still without environmental assessment methods of their own, besides the unfairness in the comparison of results from available assessment methods among countries. Difficulty finding a standardized assessment method appears because of the spatial and temporal variables. The paper aims to show the importance of having a flexible method that could adapt to all the variables affecting environmental assessment of buildings with different characteristics and conditions of the countries hosting sports events as well as the different time periods, to get the utmost justifiable and precision results when choosing the hosting city.

SEISMIC RISK ASSESSMENT OF ALGERIAN BUILDINGS IN URBAN AREA

The recent earthquakes in Algeria have caused significant human and economic losses. The frequent occurrence of damaging earthquakes clearly demonstrates the urgent need of study on seismic risk assessment methods of buildings to effectively reduce the impact of earthquake in Algerian cities. This article contributes to the development and the application of a seismic risk method, appropriate to Algerian building specificities. This method considers five damage levels, defined accordingly to macroseismic intensity and the seismic quality of the building by means of a vulnerability index. The present paper summarises the development of a tool to integrate seismic hazard and structural information and support the decision making process in identification of seismic risk. This tool could be used in the inspection of buildings and the optimal prioritisation of strengthening and preventives remedial actions that are necessary prior to a major earthquake event.

The effect of BREEAM on clients and construction professionals

The effects and influence of the Building Research Establishment's Environmental Assessment Methods (BREEAM) on construction professionals are examined. Most discussions of building assessment methods focus on either the formal tool or the finished product. In contrast, BREEAM is analysed here as a social technology using Michel Foucault's theory of governmentality. Interview data are used to explore the effect of BREEAM on visibilities, knowledge, techniques and professional identities. The analysis highlights a number of features of the BREEAM assessment process which generally go unremarked: professional and public understandings of the method, the deployment of different types of knowledge and their implication for the authority and legitimacy of the tool, and the effect of BREEAM on standard practice. The analysis finds that BREEAM's primary effect is through its impact on standard practices. Other effects include the use of assessment methods to defend design decisions, its role in both operationalizing and obscuring the concept of green buildings, and the effect of tensions between project and method requirements for the authority of the tool. A reflection on assessment methods as neo-liberal tools and their adequacy for the promotion of sustainable construction suggests several limitations of lock-in that hinder variation and wider systemic change. Les effets et l'influence sur les professionnels du bâtiment des Méthodes d'évaluation de la performance environnementale du Building Research Establishment sont examinés. La plupart des discussions relatives aux méthodes d'évaluation des bâtiments portent principalement sur l'outil formel ou sur le produit fini. En revanche, la méthode BREEAM est analysée ici comme une technologie sociale en utilisant le concept de la gouvernementalité créé par Michel Foucault. Les données issues d'entretiens sont utilisées pour étudier l'effet de la méthode BREEAM sur les visibilités, les connaissances, les techniques et les identités professionnelles. L'analyse met en évidence un certain nombre d'éléments du processus d'évaluation BREEAM qui passent généralement inaperçus : la compréhension professionnelle et la compréhension publique de la méthode, le déploiement de différents types de connaissances et leur implication pour l'autorité et la légitimité de l'outil, et l'effet de la méthode BREEAM sur les pratiques standard. L'analyse constate que l'effet principal de la méthode BREEAM résulte de son impact sur les pratiques standard. D'autres effets comprennent l'utilisation des méthodes d'évaluation pour défendre les décisions de conception, son rôle à la fois dans l'opérationnalisation et le brouillage du concept de bâtiments verts, et l'effet des tensions entre les exigences des projets et de la méthode sur l'autorité de l'outil. Une réflexion sur les méthodes d'évaluation en tant qu'outils néolibéraux et sur leur adéquation pour la promotion d'une construction durable suggère plusieurs limites de blocage qui empêchent les variations et les changements systémiques plus larges. Mots clés: BREEAM, méthodes d'évaluation des bâtiments, client, pratiques de construction, outils d'évaluation environnementale, gouvernementalité, bâtiments verts, professionels, normes

Assessing the effect of facade variations on post-construction period environmental sustainability of residential buildings

Abstract An important amount of the environmental impacts based on building energy consumption in post-construction period is resulting from facade. Hence investigating these impacts and developing some measures are necessary to create a sustainable built environment. This issue is examined in a research project, which is being conducted to develop a sustainable building assessment method and sustainable renovation techniques for existing residential stock in Istanbul. To determine representative building types, field surveys were conducted, and the projects provided from the associated municipalities were analyzed. This study intends to investigate the effect of facade variations on post-construction period environmental sustainability of some determined building types. According to the results, the increase in the WWR slightly decreases the heating energy consumption, and consecutively the environmental impacts in the thermally not-insulated buildings, while it increases the heating energy consumption, and consecutively the environmental impacts in the thermally insulated buildings. Using thermal insulation, in both types of buildings, in all WWR's and orientations, is considerably effective for reducing both energy consumption and environmental impacts. Global warming potential (GWP) constitutes most of the environmental impacts resulting from building's heating energy consumption. Human toxicity, acidification, eutrophication and photochemical oxidation potentials are in negligible amounts when compared to GWP.

Primary Exploration of the New Assessment Method on Green Building Which Based on the Environment Disturbance and Ecological Compensation

This paper proposes some suggestions to perfect our current green building assessment system. Green building and ecological building is undoubtedly the trend of construction industry. Green building assessment systems play a directional function for the design, the construction and the use of green architecture. This paper introduces the development of green building assessment system at China and other country firstly. Through the comparison and analysis for some kinds of green building assessment systems, found that that the applicability for buildings and areas and the fairness for ecological environment and surrounding people of current assessment system should be optimized. Finally，proposed that several aspects must be considered, and thus establish the new system-A Green Building Assessment Method Which Based on the Environmental Disturbance and Ecological Compensation.

Integrating occupant preference and life cycle energy evaluation: a simplified method

Building energy evaluation and assessment methods have evolved over the last decades towards sophisticated tools, which can support designers in minimizing building energy use. However, the majority of building energy performance evaluation methods and tools generally do not include a life cycle perspective, choosing to ignore the use of resources associated with the additional materials and systems employed to reduce the energy use of buildings in operation. Considerations of ‘acceptable’ or ‘expected’ levels of comfort or occupant preferences are also frequently ignored outside the research community. This paper describes a simple methodology which integrates life cycle energy analysis and comfort expectations with building energy evaluation. It discusses the potential contribution of the occupants' preferences not only in the energy use of buildings in operation, but also the embodied energy associated with equipment and systems. The method is demonstrated in a case study considering a house in a maritime climate with the options of either mechanical or natural ventilation, and some differences in thermal and ventilation preferences. In the study it is observed that as ‘zero heating’ demand is approached, the embodied energy of materials and systems becomes significant. The differences in occupants' expected temperature and ventilation levels can be important issues to consider when selecting heating and ventilation systems for minimum life cycle energy use. Les méthodes d'évaluation énergétique des bâtiments ont évolué au cours des dernières décennies vers des outils évolués, qui peuvent aider les concepteurs à réduire au minimum l'utilisation d'énergie dans les bâtiments. Cependant, la majorité des méthodes et des outils d'évaluation de la performance énergétique des bâtiments n'intègre généralement pas la perspective du cycle de vie, préférant ignorer l'utilisation des ressources associées aux matériaux et aux systèmes complémentaires employés pour réduire l'utilisation d'énergie dans les bâtiments en service. La prise en compte de niveaux de confort « acceptables » ou « conformes aux attentes » ou des préférences des occupants est également fréquemment ignorée en dehors de la communauté des chercheurs. Cet article décrit une méthodologie simple qui intègre l'analyse énergétique du cycle de vie et les attentes en matière de confort à l'évaluation énergétique des bâtiments. Il discute de la contribution potentielle des préférences des occupants, non seulement s'agissant de l'utilisation d'énergie dans les bâtiments en service, mais également de l'énergie grise liée aux matériaux et aux systèmes. Une démonstration de cette méthode est apportée par une étude de cas qui examine une maison sous un climat maritime offrant le choix d'une aération mécanique ou naturelle et soumise à un certain nombre de différences concernant les préférences thermiques et d'aération. Il est observé dans cette étude que, lorsque l'exigence d'un coût de « chauffage zéro » doit être satisfaite, l'énergie intrinsèque des matériaux et des systèmes devient importante. Les différences relatives aux attentes des occupants concernant les niveaux de température et d'aération peuvent être des points importants à prendre en compte lors de la sélection des systèmes de chauffage et d'aération pour pouvoir obtenir une utilisation minimale d'énergie au cours du cycle de vie. Mots clés: confort, énergie grise, analyse énergétique, logement, cycle de vie, maisons basse énergie, comportement des occupants

Controllability of buildings: A multi-input multi-output stability assessment method for buildings with slow acting heating systems

The paper describes a methodology to assess the controllability of a building and its servicing systems, such as heating, lighting and ventilation. The knowledge for these methods has been transferred from design processes and methods used in the design of aircraft flight control systems to establish a modelling and design process for assessing the controllability of buildings. The paper describes a holistic approach to the modelling of the nonlinear and linear dynamics of the integrated building and its systems. This model is used to analyse the controllability of the building using Nonlinear Inverse Dynamics controller design methods used in the aerospace and robotics industry. The results show that this design approach can help the architects in their decisions on which building design and services to use. Furthermore, the results demonstrate how the same method can assist the control systems designer in developing complex control systems especially for buildings designed with a climate adaptive building (CAB) philosophy.

Building Sustainability Assessment

Although social, economic, and cultural indicators are of substantial importance to the concept of sustainable building, this concept is usually related to environmental characteristics. Any building level assessment method is complex and involves contradictory aspects. Moreover, emphasizing qualitative criteria only increases confusion. R&D and standardization are thus concentrated to transparency and usability of the environmental methods. Other directions of research aim at performance-based design and methods to take regional and cultural aspects into account. In this paper, the perspectives of the sustainability assessment of a whole building are presented, based on a state of the art, feasibility study on performance analysis and the development of an extended life-cycle assessment for buildings. Using various tools, and based on the case studies of building sustainability assessment, environmental indicators were often shown to be of lesser importance than the other, soft ones. The first steps in the development of a building sustainability assessment method for Portuguese residential buildings will be presented and discussed in the end.

Reconciling human and automated intelligence in the provision of occupant comfort

This article explores the relationship between increasing demands for personal control by building occupants and the changing role and expectations of the ‘intelligent’ building. It specifically examines the relationship between human and automated intelligence and how these are manifest in green buildings. Given that comfort expectations and technological prowess are culturally bound, the article contrasts the ways that ‘intelligence’ is evidenced in North American and Japanese green building assessment methods and green building practice. Conclusions reinforce the need to invest greater effort in understanding how buildings actually function and, more specifically, redefine design assumptions regarding the way that occupants engage with buildings and control strategies.

Briefing: Breeam 2008: moving beyond excellence

With a track record of nearly two decades, BRE's environmental assessment method (Breeam) for buildings is now firmly established as a world leader. Alan Yates of BRE reports on the latest updates to the scheme, including new versions for healthcare and education facilities.

The architect's perspective

Architect Phil Gusack profiles two innovative uk buildings that have won awards and scored “excellent” Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM ratings) — the world's most widely-used assessment method for buildings.

Sustainable construction—The role of environmental assessment tools

Construction has been accused of causing environmental problems ranging from excessive consumption of global resources both in terms of construction and building operation to the pollution of the surrounding environment, and research on green building design and using building materials to minimise environmental impact is already underway. However, relying on the design of a project to achieve the goal of sustainable development, or to minimise impacts through appropriate management on site, is not sufficient to handle the current problem. The aim for sustainability assessment goes even further than at the design stage of a project to consider its importance at an early stage, before any detailed design or even before a commitment is made to go ahead with a development. However, little or no concern has been given to the importance of selecting more environmentally friendly designs during the project appraisal stage; the stage when environmental matters are best incorporated. The main objectives of this paper are to examine the development, role and limitations of current environmental building assessment methods in ascertaining building sustainability used in different countries which leads to discuss the concept of developing a. sustainability model for project appraisal based on a multi-dimensional approach, that will allow alternatives to be ranked is discussed in detail in the paper.

Advancing key outcomes of sustainability building assessment

Sustainability assessment methods for building projects have a major role to play in introducing sustainability values and principles into mainstream construction practice. The paper reflects on potential measures that should advance building assessment practice in fostering sustainable construction and it advocates a redefinition of the objectives of building assessment methods. Arguably, the current emphasis in the building process and building assessment on a physical design and functional properties of buildings needs to be complemented with a concern for the quality of social and technical processes. To increase the effectiveness of any building assessment method, it is necessary to define clearly its desired outputs and outcomes. The paper suggests three significant outcomes of building sustainability assessment: integration; transparency and accessibility; and collaborative learning. These outcomes have emerged from a critical appraisal of the theory of Environmental Assessment and the Process Protocol. Environmental Assessment was examined as it provides valuable insights in terms of addressing sustainability at a project level. Lessons from the Process Protocol allow for the potential optimization of building projects using a building sustainability assessment method. Addressing these outcomes provides the means for proactive project enhancement, in terms of its sustainability and quality, by using a building sustainability assessment method. Les méthodes d'évaluation de la durabilité appliquées aux projets de construction ont un rôle majeur à jouer en ce qui concerne l'introduction de valeurs et de principes de durabilité dans les principales pratiques de la construction. Cet article expose les mesures potentielles qui devraient faire progresser les pratiques d'évaluation des bâtiments en favorisant la construction durable. Il défend également une nouvelle définition des objectifs des méthodes d'évaluation des bâtiments. Il est permis de croire que l'accent mis actuellement, dans le cadre des procédés de construction et de l'évaluation des bâtiments, sur les propriétés théoriques physiques et fonctionnelles des bâtiments doit être complété en se préoccupant de la qualité des procédés sociaux et techniques. Pour améliore l'efficacité de toute méthode d'évaluation des bâtiments, il est impératif de définir clairement les résultats recherchés. Cet article suggère trois résultats significatifs de l'évaluation de la durabilité des bâtiments: l'intégration, la transparence et l'accès et, enfin, l'apprentissage en collaboration. Ces résultats ressortent d'une appréciation critique de la théorie de l'évaluation environnementale et des protocoles de procédés. L'évaluation environnementale a été examinée car elle fournit des informations précieuses en termes de durabilité concernant un niveau de projet. L'enseignement tiré des protocoles de procédés permet une optimisation potentielle de projets de construction en utilisant une méthode d'évaluation de la durabilité des bâtiments. L'étude de ces résultats débouche sur des moyens propres à améliorer des projets proactifs, en termes de leur durabilité et de leur qualité, en utilisant une méthode d'évaluation de la durabilité des bâtiments. Mots-clés: évaluation de la durabilité des bâtiments, évaluation environnementale, intégration, protocoles de procédés, participation des intervenants, développement durable

Floor Vibration: A Possible Assessment Method for Historic Buildings

Floor Vibration: A Possible Assessment Method for Historic Buildings