Building Environmental Assessment System Research Articles

Global building environmental performance assessment systems and theirrole in environmental conservation: Developing an environmental performance assessment system for the Saudi environment

Global building environmental performance assessment systems and theirrole in environmental conservation: Developing an environmental performance assessment system for the Saudi environment

Global building environmental performance assessment systems and their role in environmental conservation: Developing an environmental performance assessment system for the Saudi environment

This paper discusses the principles of environmental performance for buildings and their direct effects on the depletion of environmental resources. The research is significant in proposing ways of reducing resource depletion and improving utilization by developing systems to assess buildings’ environmental performance and their feasibility for environmental, sustainable, and conservation development. The paper introduces an assessment system that can measure the environmental performance of buildings aiming to make them more efficient and address their impact. It starts with the theoretical approach, focusing on two areas. The first discusses the concept of the environment, defining its terms, identifying the environmental components and problems encountered and discussing the extent of the effect on the quality of human life. The second discusses buildings’ environmental performance, specifically their responsiveness and adaptation to the environment, studying the elements that influence the quality of buildings and their suitability given environmental and climatic conditions. The empirical analysis then examines and compares global environmental performance assessment systems—Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM), and the Pearl Rating System (PRS)—and usage methodology. The paper concludes by proposing a new environmental assessment system adapted to the study area to assess buildings, thus making a contribution to knowledge.

Evaluation of Family Houses in Slovakia Using a Building Environmental Assessment System

The presented study is focused on the verification of a Building Environmental Assessment System (BEAS). A total of 13 detached family houses representing typical construction sites in Slovakia were chosen for analysis, evaluation and certification by using a BEAS which contains several main fields: A—Site Selection and Project Planning; B—Building Construction; C—Indoor Environment; D—Energy Performance; E—Water Management; and F—Waste Management. The results of this study show that the current construction method for family houses does not respect the criteria of sustainable construction as much as it possibly can. The reason for this is that investment costs for construction are prioritized over environmental and social aspects. Therefore, one house with a score of 1.10 is certified as BEAS BRONZE, ten family houses with scores of 1.56–2.88 are certified as BEAS SILVER and only two family houses with total scores of 3.59 and 3.87, respectively, are certified as BEAS GOLD. The overall results show that the weakest fields of sustainability are Waste management, Energy performance and Building construction. The best-rated fields are Site Selection and Project Planning, Indoor Environment and Water Management. In the future, it is essential to pay attention to those areas where the sustainability criteria have not been reached, as well as to raise project teams’ awareness of sustainability issues and subsequently to transfer them to building practices.

Verification of building environmental assessment system for houses

Abstract Sustainable construction and its architecture of buildings seeks to minimize the negative environmental impact of buildings by efficiency in the use of materials, energy, and development space and the ecosystem at large. Sustainable buildings use a conscious approach to energy and ecological conservation in the design of the built environment in cities. This article is devoted to the environmental assessment of three family houses which represent three different material and design solutions. The houses were evaluated through the Slovak building environmental assessment system (BEAS), which has been developed for Slovak conditions at the Faculty of Civil Engineering, TUKE. This study shows that the influence of green design, compared to traditional construction, is important and more beneficial for the practice of designing sustainable buildings. It creates the most comprehensive relationship between the building and its environment and significantly affects building sustainability.

THE GREEN STANDARD FOR ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN (G-SEED) FOR MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING RATING SYSTEM IN KOREA: A REVIEW OF EVALUATING PRACTICES AND SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT

ABSTRACT Sustainability is an important objective for architecture as buildings contribute significantly to the quality of the environment. For this reason, various building environmental assessment systems have been developed and applied around the world since 1990. There is currently little research investigating newly developed systems unlike many previous studies on LEED, BREEAM, etc. To fill this gap, the present study focuses on the G-SEED system in Korea by comparing and contrasting its environmental categories and evaluation criteria with those of other major building environmental assessment systems. We introduce and examine the G-SEED system by addressing the Korean context and local needs to understand the forces between globalization and localization. Methods include a dense review of government documents and reports and interviews with practitioners. The results demonstrate that while the Korean rating system shares many similarities with other systems due to the influence of these predecessors on its development, the G-SEED has customized its practices to meet various local needs by developing unique evaluation criteria such as noise and safety.

Interlinked Sustainability Aspects of Low-Rise Residential Family House Development in Slovakia

This paper compares the sustainability aspects of three family houses according to the Slovak building environmental assessment system (BEAS). Various categories of family houses were evaluated, including site selection, project planning, building construction, indoor environment, energy performance, and water and waste management. Based on the results, Family Houses 3 and 2 are certified as BEAS SILVER, with scores of 2.46 and 2.01, respectively. Family House 1 is certified as BEAS BRONZE, with an overall score of 1.44. The results show, not only the importance of the site in terms of availability, connectivity to the network and the potential to use renewable energy sources, but also the importance of the design and construction of the building, including the application of environmentally friendly building materials, ensuring the quality of the indoor environment and the energy efficiency of the building. The aims of this study were to highlight the current trend in the design and construction of low-rise residential family houses in Slovakia and to identify gaps in the design and construction of key sustainability aspects through the existing building environmental assessment system. In the future, many low-rise residential family houses will be assessed to modify and validate BEAS.

Analysis of human factors in a building environmental assessment system in Korea: Resident perception and the G-SEED for MF scores

This study investigates the relationships between the scores of the Green Standard for Energy and Environmental Design for Multi-Family Housing (G-SEED for MF) and resident perception ratings in Korea. Various sets of data were collected and analyzed, including the G-SEED for MF scorecards, resident surveys, and focus group interviews with professionals and residents. Results show that residents in the certified apartments have low awareness of the system. There are differences between the presence of G-SEED for MF features and the occupants' perception of those features. Additional differences are found between the expectations of professionals and resident ratings on the system's features. Its higher scores do not necessarily mean higher resident perception ratings of such features. The studied residents' perceptions often differ from those of professionals. The professionals are inclined to give more focus on construction costs of projects rather than living environments for occupants. The G-SEED for MF is currently evaluated on its economic benefits and energy consumption disregarding residents' opinions on the actual performance of green buildings. Suggestions for future development imply that perspectives of different end users need to be examined from varied research angles and methodologies to make the G-SEED for MF a comprehensive set of evaluation including significant human factors: building users' experience and perception.

A Study on the Construction of Interior Architecture in Hankou

In this article, we set out from the library practical application, combined with the design of the built environment of space, lighting, color and other basic elements, build a library building to explore the internal environment. Application by Building Environment and Energy Engineering Practice teaching profession as well as social needs of research, combined with the professional status of teaching practice, Jiangsu University, discusses the necessity to build a new practice teaching system. In the student-oriented, systematic principles and openness from the three aspects of the practice of teaching objectives, practical teaching, practice teaching management and examination and evaluation systems of practical teaching system reform, to make the practice of teaching students to become ability , the real meaning of the ability to solve practical problems and innovative spirit are reflected, for training for the development needs of the times by the employers and qualified personnel create the conditions. Entering the new century, sustainable development has become a more serious topic in the world, in order to more effectively control and use of our environmental resources, many countries have formulated relevant building environmental assessment system.

Sustainable Building Assessment Tool in Slovakia

In recent years, the evaluation of building performance in terms of environmental, social and economic aspects has become a topic of discussion in the Slovak Republic. A new Building Environmental Assessment System (BEAS) has been developed at the Institute of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Košice. The main fields and indicators of BEAS are proposed on the base of available information analysis from particular fields and also on the base of our experimental experiences. The proposed indicators respect Slovak standards and rules. Percentage weight of fields and indicators are determined on the basic their significance, according to multi-criteria decision analysis.

한국과 홍콩의 공동주택 친환경 인증제도의 비교분석 연구

In line with the recent public concern on the environmental issues in building industry, there has been a rise in demand for a healthy, sustainable housing environment in South Korea. In order to achieve a healthy environment in residential buildings, considerable efforts have been made in a wide range of sectors. Among others, the development of the certification schemes to promote environment-friendly planning and building construction is remarkable. In urban South Korea, recently built houses tend to be significantly high-rise, high-density buildings. Global warming has brought about drastic climate change and continued to increase the average annual temperature year by year. These changes should be well reflected on the government's implementation of the building environmental assessment system. For guidance, therefore, this study looks to the case of Hong Kong which is well known for high-density housing development and subtropical climate conditions. It compares the features of the green building certification schemes for newly developed multifamily housing in two regions, namely HK-BEAM in Hong Kong and G-SEED in South Korea. Based on the findings, it argues that the G-SEED implementor should have expanded roles in providing training programs and follow-up services in collaboration with the certification authorities. It is also argued that G-SEED professionals should be involved in the early stages of design processes, and training programs and licence systems to produce green building professionals should be developed. Finally, it points out that the assessment indicators should be more detailed and diversified.

RATING OF INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY IN SYSTEMS OF SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT OF BUILDINGS

Indoor environmental quality (IEQ) has an important impact on health and wellbeing of building users. In order to maintain an acceptable IEQ, policies, strategies and guidelines on achieving the required IEQ have been developed. Control and evaluation of indoor air factors is needed for ensuring the sufficient air quality. Impact of emmisions from building materials, furnishings and HVAC systems to indoor air quality should be included in the assessment of indoor environmental quality. In many systems for sustainability assessment of buildings is put a great emphasis on indoor environmental quality. This paper provides an overview of sustainability assessment systems for rating of indoor environmental quality. The criteria included in LEED, BREEAM and other well known systems for assessment of indoor environmental quality are presented. Building environmental assessment system (BEAS) developed for application in Slovakia is also introduced. Worldwide used rating systems were based on the development of BEAS. This is multi-criteria system contained six main fields such as site selection and project planning; building construction; indoor environment; energy performance; water and waste management. System consist from 53 indicators of assessment.

Building environmental assessment — waste management

The Slovak building environmental assessment system (BEAS) was developed on the basis of existing systems used in many countries. BEAS as a multi-criteria system which is incorporated in proposed main fields: site selection&project planning; building construction; indoor environment; energy performance; water management and waste management. The goal of waste management is to minimize the waste generated from construction, renovation, and demolition of buildings and to minimize waste generated during the building occupancy. The field of waste management will be introduced in the paper. The aim is also weighting and analysis of significance of waste management indicators using AHP method.

Multi-criteria analysis of building assessment regarding energy performance using a life-cycle approach

The sustainability assessment methods used over the world were the basis of new system development for Slovak conditions. The proposed fields are site selection and project planning; building construction; indoor environmental quality; energy performance; water and waste management. The evaluated indicators were proposed on the basis of available information analysis from particular fields of building environmental assessment and also on the basis of our experimental experiences. The aim of this paper is to present developed building environmental assessment system oriented to energy performance and the significance weight determination. Percentage weight of fields and indicators was determined on the basis of their significance, according to mathematical method.

Energetic and Ecological Analysis of Energy Saving and Passive Houses

Abstract In this paper results of influence of building-installation system parameters on value of energetic coefficients were calculated. Three types of buildings (standard, energy saving and low energy) with heating surface of 100, 150 i 200 m2 were used. The above types of buildings differ on thermal barrier and heating system efficiency. The influence of the gravity and mechanical ventilation systems on the final heat energy of different kinds of houses was shown. Parameters of the certificate for energy characteristics of building were used. Mathematics models of influence of thermal barrier parameters and heating surface on the value of energy characteristics, namely final energy EF, primary energy EP and useful energy EU were established. Influence of such parameters as heating energy factors, ventilation system and energy sources on the energy efficiency improvement of buildings was analyzed. The building environmental assessment system was proposed on the base of energetic and ecological analysis of houses.

Environmental Assessment of Building Materials and Constructions

Since previous instances the requirements of environmental safety, suitability and responsibility of buildings have increased. The criteria of sustainability are included in building environmental assessment systems and tools used in different countries for evaluating their sustainable and environmental performance. The purpose of this paper is to introduce the one of most significant filed in building environmental assessment system (BEAS), which was developed at the Technical University of Košice. The Slovak system was developed on the basis of existing systems used in many countries. BEAS as a multi-criteria system which is incorporated in proposed main fields: site selection&project planning; building construction; indoor environment; energy performance; water management and waste management. Selection of building materials and structures is very important in term of embodied energy and emissions of pollutants. The field of building construction will be introduced in the paper. The aim is also weighting and analysis of significance of building construction indicators in system BEAS with is applicable in Slovak conditions.

Energy performance indicators developing

The building environmental assessment systems and tools used over the world were the base of new system development for Slovak conditions. The proposed fields are site selection and project planning; building construction; indoor environmental quality; energy performance; water and waste management. The fields and indicators were proposed on the bases of available information analysis from particular fields of building environmental assessment and also on the base of our experimental experiences. The aim of this paper is presented developed building environmental assessment system oriented to energy performance and the significance weight determination of mentioned field. Percentage weight of fields and indicators was determined on the base of their significance, according to mathematical method.

Shared markets: coexisting building environmental assessment methods

The evolution of market-based building environmental assessment methods is explored to show how they are influenced by, and subsequently influence, other systems. Two contexts are considered – Hong Kong and North America – where there are two or more voluntary systems operating in the same market. The dynamic interactions of the coexisting systems are the primary focus rather than the evaluation of the characteristics, strengths and weaknesses of each method individually. While it is clearly difficult to predict how building environmental assessment systems will evolve in the future, or whether coexisting systems will be effective in furthering green building practices, a number of valuable observations can be made. The coexistence of systems can potentially offer a powerful driver for excellence and ease of use or, if there is no clear differentiation, it can confound the market. In practice, the organizational and market context in which the systems operate, the financial and political support they receive, and personal interests and biases are all complicit in their market acceptance and influence. There is a need for a greater understanding of the evolution and relationship between coexisting assessment methods, and for a strategic approach to evaluating changes in the marketplace as a result of their presence. L'auteur étudie ici l'évolution des méthodes d'évaluation environnementale des bâtiments basées sur le marché pour montrer comment elles sont influencées et, par conséquent, comment elles influencent d'autres systèmes. L'auteur étudie deux contextes – Hong Kong et l'Amérique du Nord – où l'on compte au moins deux systèmes volontaristes sur le même marché. Les interactions dynamiques des systèmes coexistants sont plus intéressantes que l'évaluation des caractéristiques des points forts et des points faibles de chaque méthode prise individuellement. Alors qu'il est très difficile de prévoir comment des systèmes d'évaluation environnementale de bâtiments évolueront dans l'avenir ou de savoir comment des systèmes coexistants seront efficaces dans la promotion des pratiques de bâtiments ‘verts’, l'auteur fait un certain nombre d'observations précieuses. La coexistence de systèmes peut être un facteur puissant d'excellence et de facilité d'utilisation ou, s'il n'y a pas de différenciation précise, elle peut être un facteur de confusion pour le marché. En pratique, le contexte organisationnel et commercial dans lequel ces systèmes fonctionnent, le soutien financier et politique qu'ils reçoivent et les intérêts et les partis pris personnels sont tous complices dans leur acceptation et leur influence sur le marché. Il est nécessaire de mieux comprendre l'évolution et les relations entre des méthodes d'évaluation coexistantes et de disposer d'une approche stratégique pour évaluer les changements sur le marché du fait de leur présence. bâtiments, méthodes coexistantes, évaluation environnementale, Amérique du Nord, Hong Kong