Bioclimatic Research Articles

A Platinum-Graded Green Hospital Building in India during COVID-19 Pandemic: From Planning to Execution and Outcome

Background: A green hospital building has superior qualities over general hospital buildings in terms of energy conservation, use of natural resources, clean indoor air quality, green housekeeping, and other characteristics that improve patient outcomes. During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare organizations worldwide faced significant challenges and difficulties running hospitals. These challenges motivated the healthcare administration to find possible solutions for possible protocols for the functioning of the hospital. Methods: It was a prospective study conducted at a tertiary care hospital in north India from March 2020 to Feb 2022. After multiple changes in the fields of committee formation, human resource management, training, setting of the donning area and the doffing area, setting of the patient care areas and the infection control practices, equipment utilization, protocols for the support services, patient status updation to family members, and finally maintaining the patient data for the official purpose. Results: The hospital statistics showed a recovery rate of 81%, a mortality rate of 18%, and average length of stay of 8 days in COVID-19 patient care. Conclusion: The experiences, the challenges learned, and the solutions made to combat this pandemic will be the guide for future pandemics. The green hospital building proved its supremacy in patient outcomes and is recommended by hospital administrators as a future hospital building.

A Review of Policy Progress in China's Ecological Civilization Demonstration Zone

Under the background of increasing urbanization rate and global warming, China urgently needs to address the issue of promoting economic growth while reducing the intensity of carbon emissions to achieve harmony between economic growth and environmental protection and promote sustainable development. This study takes China's ecological civilization demonstration areas construction policy as the main object of analysis. The literature review method would summarize the specific pathways of this policy to achieve carbon emission reduction in terms of eco-economy and eco-institution. By classifying and analyzing its existing carbon reduction pathways, this study found that reforms and innovations were made in this policy, mainly in eco-economy and eco-institution. China's Ecological Civilization Demonstration Zones (ECDZs) policy, to achieve carbon emission reduction and carbon neutrality, has used both green technological innovation and economic reforms to upgrade the industrial structure and improve the energy structure. However, the above policies are broad and cannot meet the regional differences. Therefore, this paper gives the corresponding recommendations: to increase the support of financial and financing policies, optimize the energy infrastructure in urban areas, and develop green transport and green buildings.

Experimental study on buildability and mechanical properties of 3D printing cob

The application of 3D printing technology to earth buildings conforms to the development concept of low carbon, green and intelligent construction. The key issue lies in the development of earth material with both favorable buildability and sufficient mechanical properties. In this study, the printing parameters of mixture for 3D printing with different water contents were optimized. The optimum water content of 3D printing cob was determined based on the buildability. The result shows that when the flow spreading diameter is between 140 mm and 160 mm, 3D printing cob has good buildability performance. The optimum water content is 24.6 %. In addition, anisotropic performance was analyzed by compressive strength tests from three orthogonal directions. In particular, according to the test results of single printing limit height and yield stress, the buildability of 3D printing cob wall was analyzed. The building strategy of the printing divided into multiple times was obtained.

Mechanical carbon emission assessment during prefabricated building deconstruction based on BIM and multi-objective optimization

Machinery operation is a major source of carbon emissions in building deconstruction. Early intervention through Design for Deconstruction (DfD) is crucial for emission reduction, yet the factors influencing these emissions are underexplored. This study integrates parametric BIM with multi-objective optimization (MOO) to assess mechanical carbon emissions in deconstruction. Using the Octopus solver in Grasshopper for Rhino, the study analyzes independent variables—possible working hours (PWH), vertical speed (VS), and horizontal speed (HS)—and dependent variables—minimum mechanical carbon emissions (MCE (min)), minimum deconstruction period (DP (min)), and maximum working efficiency (WE (max)). A lightweight steel roof truss structure is analyzed, comparing real-world deconstruction with optimized DfD schemes. Sensitivity analysis for BIM-MOO optimized results reveal that: (1) Adjusting PWH, VS, and HS significantly affects WE and DP, though with limited impact on carbon emissions; (2) VS influences WE and DP more than HS; (3) Limiting DP is essential for balancing WE, DP, and MCE, with WE adjusted to 20–60% and modifications to PWH and VS achieving balanced management. This study underscores the importance of early design and real-time adjustments for efficient, low-emission deconstruction, supporting the advancement of green building practices.

Innovative Energy Design for Energy Efficient Buildings - An Example from the Bullitt Center

In recent years, the extreme climate caused by global warming has brought serious consequences to the world. In order to alleviate the problem of global warming, many scholars have started to analyse energy-saving green buildings. Taking the Bullitt Center as an example, this paper illustrates the innovative applications of energy-efficient buildings in solar power generation, rainwater collection and utilization, toilet water conservation and resource utilization and room temperature regulation. It focuses on the differences in the use of solar power generation in winter and summer, the process of purification of rainwater into water, the comparison between composting toilets and vacuum toilets and the steps of regulating the room temperature by windows and ground-source heat pumps. This paper also talks about the limitations of these innovative applications. It could probably give reference to the subsequent construction of buildings, thus promoting energy saving and emission reduction in buildings and mitigating global warming.

Road to net zero: Greenness of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and California Green Building Standards Code in the multifamily sector

AbstractThis study evaluates the effectiveness of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and California Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen) sustainability programs in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in multifamily buildings. We find that CALGreen effectively reduces GHG emissions by 7.2%–11.6%. However, among properties completed during the CALGreen period (on or after 2015), LEED‐certified properties exhibit 14.1%–20.8% higher GHG emissions compared to non‐LEED‐certified buildings. We attribute this result to the emphasis on theoretical design versus actual energy performance of those programs. Furthermore, our research reveals that LEED‐certified buildings completed before the implementation of CALGreen command a rent premium of 4.7%–5.4%. However, this LEED premium diminishes during the CALGreen period. Non‐LEED properties completed during the CALGreen period show limited evidence of rent premiums.

Hygrothermal behavior of hemp concrete and conventional concrete: a comparative analysis

This study presents an in-depth comparative analysis of the hygrothermal behavior of hemp concrete and conventional concrete, with a focus on their energy-saving potential and moisture regulation capabilities. Through detailed numerical simulations, the research examines how these two materials perform under identical climatic conditions, highlighting key differences in their ability to retain heat and manage moisture. The results reveal that hemp concrete provides up to 80% less thermal energy dissipation through building walls compared to conventional concrete, making it a far superior material for thermal insulation. In addition, hemp concrete exhibits improved moisture regulation, which not only enhances indoor comfort but also promotes healthier living environments by preventing excessive humidity. The study emphasizes hemp concrete's potential in significantly reducing energy consumption in buildings, thus promoting its application in sustainable construction. While hemp concrete lacks the mechanical strength required for load-bearing applications, its numerous environmental benefits, cost-effectiveness, and suitability for non-structural components make it an attractive choice for eco-friendly construction projects. This research also paves the way for future exploration of innovative uses for hemp-based materials in green building practices.

Multifunctional shape-memory smart window based on femtosecond-laser-printed photothermal microwalls

Abstract Smart windows (SWs) garner significant potential in green buildings owing to their capability of on-demand tuning the solar gains. Apart from solar regulation, people always desire a type of slippery SW which can repel the surface hydrous contaminants for anti-fouling application. Unfortunately, the up-to-date slippery SWs that respond to electrical/thermal stimuli have drawbacks of inferior durability and high energy-consumption, which greatly constrain their practical usability. This article presents our current work on an ultra-robust and energy-efficient near-infrared-responsive smart window (NIR-SW) which can regulate the optical transmittance and droplet’s adhesion in synergy. Significantly, laser-printing strategy enables us to seed the shape-memory photothermal microwalls on a transparent substrate, which can promote daylighting while maintaining privacy by near-infrared (NIR) switching between being transparent and opaque. As a light manipulator, it turns transparent with NIR-activated erect microwalls like an open louver; however, it turns opaque with the pressure-fixed bent microwalls akin to a closed louver. Simultaneously, the droplets can easily slip on the surface of erect microwalls similar to a classical lotus effect; by contrast, the droplets will tightly pin on the surface of bent microwalls analogous to the prevalent rose effect. Owing to shape-memory effect, this optical/wettability regulation is thus reversible and reconfigurable in response to thealternate NIR/pressure trigger. Moreover, NIR-SW unfolds a superior longevity despite suffering from the raindrop’s impacting more than 10 000 cycles. Remarkably, such a new-type SW is competent for thermal management, anti-icing system, peep-proof screen, and programmable optics. This work renders impetus for the researchers striving for self-cleaning intelligent windows, energy-efficient greenhouse, and so forth.

An assessment of the seasonally dependent biophysical mechanism and dynamic land use change: A Research Effort from Emerging Urban Agglomeration of West Bengal

The behavior of the biophysical components needs to be closely observed while taking seasonal perspectives into account. This study focuses on seasonal analysis of biophysical components and dynamics of land use changes. This study examines the spatiotemporal seasonal variation among land surface temperature (LST), NDVI, and NDWI, with a focus on the two main sub-tropical climatic seasons summer and winter. We use correlation and regression analysis to assess the season-wise relationship between LST and biophysical indices with the help of grouped marginal plots. The comparison analyses of the biophysical components and land use change for a longer period from 1991-2021 with their matrix was undertaken in five urban agglomerations (UA) like Asansol, Siliguri, Kolkata, English Bazar and Kharagpur. The maximum likelihood classification technique was used to categorize multi-temporal Landsat images for each of the five growing UA in West Bengal. The most intriguing finding is that in all UAs, from 1991 to 2021, built-up area increased to become the predominant land. Thus, the vegetation and agricultural land are in danger in every location of West Bengal, whether it is plain or hilly, because of the land's gradual conversion to concrete or built-up areas over time. Additionally, the result shows that in summer and winter seasons, LST was observed growth due to the rapid urban built-up area expansion. It is also found that LST and NDVI have a close negative relationship, but LST and NDWI do not have any perfect relationship. Therefore, to lessen the warming effect of urban microclimates, policymakers should be concerned about future urban expansion that is both horizontal and vertical. An appropriate strategy for environmentally friendly construction, green buildings, and cool roof technologies should be developed.

Microstructural properties of Asian hornet nest paper-like materials: Preliminary step towards biomimicry materials for civil engineering applications

This paper presents a comprehensive examination of the microstructure and mineralogy of the paper-like material found in Asian hornet nests (referred to as AHN P-LM) and the nearby tree leaves, utilising scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The analysis conducted through SEM-EDS demonstrates that AHN P-LM is primarily composed of plant fragments, with slight traces of inorganic substances (such as CaOx). The thread-like morphologies observed in the SEM analysis, which are linked to the secretion of hornets, warrant attention due to their significance in understanding the microstructure of AHN P-LM. The presence of nitrogen (N) in the EDS analysis of AHN P-LM, in contrast to its absence in analysed leaves, strongly implies that the nitrogen originates from hornet saliva. Additionally, SEM-EDS analysis revealed the impact of chemical composition variations on colour differences within AHN P-LM. Furthermore, X-ray diffraction analysis on ash samples from AHN P-LM confirmed the presence of minerals such as quartz, lime, phlogopite, and microcline. These findings about mineral composition align closely with results obtained from SEM-EDS analyses, presenting various aspects related to understanding the structure and compositional makeup of AHN P-LM. Biomimicry principles can be applied to draw inspiration from the AHN P-LM for replication in the civil engineering field, facilitating innovative solutions. Understanding hornet behaviour and nest material composition is essential. Future outlook includes utilising these materials in wood construction, 3D printing for structural components, shelters, infrastructure repair, green building, and architectural innovation.

CO2 Emission in Green Buildings: An Analysis of Energy Efficiency and Financial Viability in Jordan

CO2 Emission in Green Buildings: An Analysis of Energy Efficiency and Financial Viability in Jordan

Bioclimatic criteria in the AMOF building to reduce the emission of Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) - Lima - Peru 2021

This research aims to analyze the influence of the application of bioclimatic criteria in buildings to obtain integral well-being, energy efficiency and reduction of carbon dioxide (CO₂) to the environment. The growing trend for the use of sun-exposed glass in buildings, which causes the greenhouse effect, increases the interior temperature of the building and causes glare, promoting artificial cooling by inefficiently using energy; heating a room naturally and then cooling it artificially is a bad practice and stimulates the closing of the curtains, which causes the lighting of luminaires; with which the building emits carbon dioxide (CO₂) to the environment, contributing to global warming. It has been developed, with a methodological approach based on the principles of bioclimatic architecture, the analysis of the variables that allow to study this influence, in the office buildings in Miraflores (Lima, Peru), considering the AMOF building under adverse thermal and light conditions. With the results obtained, it is verified that the solution with solar geometry proposed for the AMOF building solves problems of thermal wellbeing, lighting and decreases the emission of carbon dioxide (CO₂) by 74.07 %. Therefore, it is concluded, that these considerations that were not regarded, influence the conditions of habitability and well-being of users, making the window the weakest point of the building to achieve human well-being, energy efficiency and reduction of pollution to the environment.

Barriers to the Effective Selection of Sustainable Materials for Residential Building Projects: A Qualitative Study

Although sustainability in Tanzania’s construction sector has been explored in areas such as energy efficiency and green building practices, little attention has been given to understanding the specific barriers to the selection of SBMs in residential projects. This study fills that gap by identifying and analyzing the critical barriers hindering the effective selection of SBMs in Tanzania’s residential construction sector. Through qualitative interviews with experts from regulatory bodies, public developers, and academic researchers, this research provides a comprehensive examination of these barriers. Using Atlas.ti 23 software for a qualitative data analysis, six key categories of barriers were identified: (1) Regulatory and Policy Barriers, (2) Financial Barriers, (3) Knowledge and Awareness Barriers, (4) Technical Barriers, (5) Market and Supply Chain Issues, and (6) Cultural and Social Barriers. Among these, lack of awareness and limited knowledge emerged as particularly significant, alongside regulatory and policy barriers, in hindering the effective selection of SBMs. This study’s novelty lies in its focus on the Tanzanian context, depth of the analysis of the unique challenges, and categorization of the barriers. The findings underscore the need for targeted policy interventions, particularly in raising awareness, offering financial incentives, and establishing comprehensive regulatory frameworks. Furthermore, this study presents a graphical representation to illustrate the categories and constructs of these barriers, adding a visual dimension to the understanding of the issues. Future research should expand the scope to include private developers and material suppliers, whose roles are critical in enhancing the availability and adoption of SBMs in Tanzania’s construction industry.

Practice Exploration of Green Building Design in Prefabricated Residential Building Design

Practice Exploration of Green Building Design in Prefabricated Residential Building Design

Development of International Green Building Rating Systems And Local Implementation

Development of International Green Building Rating Systems And Local Implementation

Green Buildings for Greening Supply Chains – Selected Organisational and Legal Solutions on the Polish Commercial Warehouse Space Market

Green Buildings for Greening Supply Chains – Selected Organisational and Legal Solutions on the Polish Commercial Warehouse Space Market

Research on 3D Model Calculation of Green and low-carbon New Buildings

Due to the widespread use of solid clay bricks in building houses in China, the annual destruction of farmland by burning bricks amounts to about 100000 acres. Faced with these problems, China has an extremely urgent demand for green and low-carbon buildings. Therefore, this article conducts computational research on the 3D model of a new type of green and low-carbon building. Due to the significant differences in the geometric form and texture representation of a large number of green and low-carbonl new buildings, it is difficult to uniformly quantify their level of detail. This article considers the usefulness and accessibility of 3D model calculation data separately. The shadow length is generally the distance from the selected building's facade roof to the end of the shadow, which can avoid the influence of building shape on its length. The determination of these two points and the calculation of the distance between them will directly affect the accuracy of shadow length calculation. Therefore, when users need to add an application subsystem to the system, they must add information such as the input and output data structures of the subsystem to the module. The height information calculation method uses the building and shadow imaging geometric modeling to calculate the building height by establishing the relationship between the shadow length and the corresponding building height.

An Analysis of Real Estate Market Responses towards Climate Resilient Policies in Malaysia and Indonesia

As global warming increases climate-related disasters, countries must address its impact on real estate. Malaysia’s National Policy on Climate Change, Green Building Index, and National Urbanisation Policy, along with Indonesia’s National Action Plan on Climate Change, Climate Resilience and Adaptation Strategy, and Disaster Management Law, highlight climate resilience in real estate. This study examines these policies and their effects on the real estate markets in Malaysia and Indonesia using qualitative methods. The findings reveal that property values in both countries have increased due to a growing emphasis on sustainability and durability in the market.

The Improvement Plan of Natural Ventilation Performance Evaluation of Residential Buildings in Green Building Certification (G-SEED)

The Improvement Plan of Natural Ventilation Performance Evaluation of Residential Buildings in Green Building Certification (G-SEED)

Thermal behavior of construction and demolition waste-based geopolymer

Unsorted Construction and Demolition Waste (CDW) from residential building was tested as solid precursor for obtaining eco-sustainable alkali activated materials with potential applications in the building industry. Suitable reactive systems for material consolidation were tested, including alkaline solutions of sodium hydroxides and/or silicates at different concentrations. Metakaolin (MK) was also tested as an additional precursor together with CDW in different ratios to optimize geopolymerization. An MK/CDW weight ratio of 40/60 and sodium silicate as alkaline activator allowed the production of a well-reacted and cohesive material, with a bulk density of 1.35 g/cm3, a monomodal mesoporosity with a modal pore size of 0.0214 µm (open porosity ∼42 vol%), and a compressive strength of 25 MPa, thus showing similar features to those of pure metakaolin based-geopolymers. Thermal characterization was performed up to 1000°C showing that the material can exhibit thermal stability up to 650°C. Above that temperature a shrinkage due to viscous flow occurred, followed by an expansion over 750°C with the formation of macropores and dense struts. Based on these results, the developed CDW-based geopolymer has the potential for use in green building applications, with adequate thermal stability up to medium-high temperatures.