Building Research Articles

Research on effects of reducing temperature and CO2 emissions by green wall: Case study of G city

Climate change is currently the most crucial environmental problem, and policies on responses to climate change are actively being promoted worldwide. Particularly, greenhouse gas emissions in the city have been a continuous reminder of the need to reduce the effects of climate change. There has been interest in reducing greenhouse gas emissions using the green wall. Therefore, this research analyzed the temperature reduction characteristics and performance evaluation of the green wall system based on monitored data. The target area selected was public building. The monitoring point of the wall was the front of the wall with the installation point (glass and behind the green wall), and readings were taken for 10 min. The results of the analysis showed that the surface temperature of the building was affected by the performance of the green wall point during working hours (09:00 to 18:00). Finally, the data and greenhouse gas emissions were analyzed the data and greenhouse gas emissions of 45 to 72 %.

Building Assessment Post Earthquake 21 November 2022 in Cianjur District

The earthquake that occurred in the Cianjur area, West Java on Monday 21 November 2022 at 13.21 WIB resulted in 635 fatalities and 56,000 houses that were damaged. The results of the assessment found that many houses and public facility buildings still did not meet the requirements for earthquake-resistant buildings, especially in the use of concrete materials, main reinforcement, stirrups in columns, beams, foundations and beam-column joint, and did not have a strong column-weak beam planning concept. This can be seen from the inability of the column to withstand/ carry the working load which causes the column to collapse and damage. Therefore, it is very necessary to pay attention to building planning in Disaster Prone Areas (DPA) in accordance with earthquake resistant building regulations SNI 1726:2019 and SNI 2847:2019

Actions to improve energy efficiency on the example of selected historic buildings in Poland in the context of European Union guidelines

The article presents, in the context of the guidelines of the "Long-Term Strategy for Renovation of Buildings" valid until 2050, examples of renovations of historic buildings carried out in Poland in 2018-2021, which serve as public facilities. They were designed and constructed in a manner consistent with the guidelines for the transformation of a climate-neutral economy, which stem from Article 2a of Directive 2010/31/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of May 19, 2010. The purpose of the article is a comparative analysis of selected Polish examples of revaluation of public buildings from the point of view of the Architecture of these objects. These are: the Wagner Villa in Kostrzyn on Oder, the railway station in Białystok, the Teodor Sixt Villa in Bielsko-Biała, the office building of the Forestry Commission in Elbląg, the building of the Savings Bank in Ropczyce and the former granary in Żukowo. Also cited are the current financial tools available and the basic measures needed to ensure high energy efficiency and low-carbon performance of public buildings in the run up to 2050.

Analysis of Library Building Design from the Concept of Green Building

Library is a symbol of urbanization in the present era. The external shape of the library is more elegant and solemn, and the interior also pays more attention to the convenience and comfort. In the design, we need to pay attention to the enjoyment of architectural art beauty, and at the same time, we need to make the layout of the library more scientific and applicable, and meet the needs of the public reading. As a public building with huge flow of people, the library needs to consume a lot of energy when it is open, which is not in line with the characteristics of green building advocated at present. Therefore, in order to implement the concept of environmental protection, it is necessary to integrate the design of library building with the concept of green building. At the same time, the library is also a cultural building, and it needs to reflect the scientific concept of humanistic care and people- oriented. Therefore, this paper mainly analyzes and discusses the library design under the concept of green building.

The passive optimization mechanism of winter thermal performance in commercial complex based on coupled multi-spatial parameters

In cold regions, public buildings often suffer from suboptimal thermal performance due to cold air intrusion. This study explores the synergistic impact of multiple spatial parameters on winter thermal environments to discover the passive optimization potential in commercial complexes. Airflow analysis covers the entire connected space from the entrance to the large atrium, integrating the collective effects of all critical spatial parameters. Based on 4500 Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation, the study establishes how these parameters influence wind resistance and thermal comfort. Key findings reveal that the “Atrium-plan Ratio,” “Transitional Space-width,” and “Atrium-height,” are most impactful on wind resistance, contributing over 53 % collectively. For thermal comfort, “Atrium-volume,” “Atrium-section Form,” and “Atrium-height,” are most significant, with a combined weight exceeding 57 %. As wind speed increases, the effect of single parameters gradually diminishes, highlighting the synergistic effect of spatial combinations. A case study demonstrates an 80.5 % improvement in thermal performance score following optimization, underscoring the potential for low-carbon, high-efficiency design in commercial complexes.

Robust analysis and best practices in flood economic loss assessment using HEC-FIA and GO-Consequence software for climate-ready risk management

Evaluating economic losses is essential for effective flood mitigation and rescue missions. While tools such as HAZUS and HEC-FIA have been extensively used for estimating economic losses, there remains a notable gap in exploring the nuanced intrinsic data of these software systems. This study evaluates HEC-FIA and GO-Consequence, delving into methodologies governing key parameters, including the depth-damage function, National Structure Inventory (NSI) dataset utilization, structure replacement costs based on occupancy type, foundation height considerations, and nuanced flooded depth calculations. Additionally, the research appraises and validates the recently disclosed NSI dataset by the US Army Corps of Engineers, underscoring its pivotal role in economic loss assessment.The analysis suggests that HEC-FIA overestimates by about 15 % compared to GO-Consequence. This overestimation in loss estimation varies across categories, especially in commercial and public buildings. Identified anomalies in estimated loss values emphasize the importance of validating input data sources and cross-referencing with alternative models. The percentage difference between model estimations increases for higher loss values, suggesting factors such as interpretation of damageable value from depth-damage function, flooded depth, occupancy type, and number of stories influence estimation discrepancies. GO-Consequence aligns closely with actual loss values, showcasing state-of-the-art capabilities, advanced features, and enhanced functionalities. Its integration with open data sources makes GO-Consequence a superior choice for future flood loss assessments. The outlined methodology is a best practice for researchers, engineers, and stakeholders, offering insights into estimated value uncertainties.

Analysis of Carbon Emission Reduction Potential of Different Star Green Science and Technology Museums in Cold Regions of China

Low-carbon development in the field of buildings is an important means to achieve the goal of “carbon peaking and carbon neutrality”. In public buildings, the operation of science and technology museum buildings (TMB) has high carbon emissions, and the application of green building technology for energy saving and carbon reduction has great potential. In this paper, typical TMB in cold areas are selected and built, and energy consumption is simulated by Designbuilder. The calculation boundaries and carbon emission factors of carbon emissions are set according to current standards, and the carbon reduction potential of green science and technology museum buildings (GTMB) under different levels is compared. The results show that compared with the benchmark building based on GB 55015-2021, the carbon emission of the GTMB is significantly reduced, and the carbon emission reduction rates of silver, gold, and platinum TMB are 7.9%, 13.4%, and 29.6%, respectively. Based on the existing optimization design of passive measures such as natural ventilation and natural lighting, the GTMB should pay more attention to the realization of its optimal control strategy and automatic control.

Delivering holistic energy-saving operation for heterogeneous all-parallel chiller plant systems through two-stage optimization assisted by input convex neural networks

With the rapid growth of building cooling demand and energy consumption, the potential for energy-saving operations gave rise to the popularity of implementing heterogeneous all-parallel chiller plant systems in large-scale public buildings. Meanwhile, heterogeneity, multi-dimensionality, and tight coupling interactions considerably complicate the holistically optimal operation of the system. Although artificial neural networks (ANN) have achieved great success in complex system identification, the endogenous non-convexity of classical feedforward neural networks (FNN), which are widely applied in model-based optimization for chiller plant operation, makes conventional optimizers prone to falling into local optima, forcing previous methodologies to sacrifice model precision for computational tractability. In this study, a special type of ANN named input convex neural network (ICNN) was leveraged to identify five individual convex models for energy-consuming units in the chiller plant system, providing convex input-output mappings while preserving high-resolution representations. Then, a two-stage optimizer with a sequential integration of a global searcher and a local optimizer was developed to effectively solve the holistic energy-saving problem by optimizing ten decision variables including chilled water supply temperature, partial load ratio of chillers, speed ratios of pumps and cooling tower fans, cooling water flow rate of cooling towers, and on/off states of devices. Finally, the methodology was deployed to a case study using on-site operation data and was compared with conventional candidates. Average holistic energy-saving ratios of 13.37% and 9.14% were achieved with average runtimes of 1.12 s and 1.07 s by the proposed optimizer in the high-load and light-load scenarios, respectively, showcasing more advantageous in resolving the operation optimization of complicated chiller plant systems.

Reinforcement learning for occupant behavior modeling in public buildings: Why, what and how?

Effective control of energy consumption in public buildings holds paramount significance for global sustainable development. However, uncertainty in occupant behavior during operational phase often leads to a substantial discrepancy between the designed and actual energy consumption. While there is existing research on occupant behavior in public buildings utilizing stochastic modeling, statistical modeling, data mining, and agent-based modeling methods, the connotations and formation mechanisms have not been systematically revealed, rendering these developed models weak in applicability and reliability in practical scenarios. Reinforcement learning, which can perceive aspects of external environment and learn from stochastic interactions spontaneously, has been distinguished as a promising method for occupant behavior modeling. This research aims to develop a paradigm for reinforcement learning application in occupant behavior modeling in public buildings. Semi-structured interviews and literature review were combined to collect relevant information, while reasons for using reinforcement learning and applicable algorithms were discerned through qualitative analysis. Finally, detailed frameworks were proposed and validated through focus groups, offering a comprehensive guide that will serve as a reference for future research. This includes steps for collecting occupant-related data, selecting appropriate algorithms, and training and deploying reinforcement learning agents effectively. This research innovatively proposed a “panorama” of reinforcement learning for occupant behavior modeling in public buildings, laying a solid foundation for indoor environment and energy efficiency improvement in public building operations.

Centering Social Justice and Equity in Research on Accessibility to Public Buildings for Individuals with Mobility Disabilities: A scoping review

Purpose To explore how principles of social justice and equity are integrated into research concerning accessibility to public buildings for individuals with mobility disabilities. Methods Utilising a scoping review methodology to assess literature based on the criteria set by the Joanna Briggs Institute, seven databases were screened. Studies were selected using the framework: “persons with mobility disabilities” AND “accessibility” AND “public buildings”. A theoretical framework helped to extract codes and develop themes through an inductive-deductive analysis method. The results are presented descriptively. Results The examination of 84 studies uncovered a complex interplay between agencies, systemic challenges, discriminatory practices, and societal attitudes perpetuating marginalisation of individuals with mobility disabilities in their access to public buildings. The recommendations emphasize importance of practical measures, research imperatives, and policy developments to promote inclusivity. We present a ‘Ten-step approach’ to integrate social justice and equity into research on accessibility in public buildings for people with mobility disabilities. Conclusion Integrating diversity, active participation, and inclusive methodologies are essential to address systemic issues, discriminatory practices, and societal attitudes that hinder accessibility and inclusion. Collaborations with diverse stakeholders are crucial for policy changes, resource allocation, and advancing social justice and equity in accessibility research and practice.

Method development to evaluate public buildings as safe air shelters during smoke episodes

Method development to evaluate public buildings as safe air shelters during smoke episodes

Comparison of energy consumption prediction models for air conditioning at different time scales for large public buildings

Large public buildings have complex functions and high air conditioning energy consumption, and the prediction of energy consumption for air conditioning in different time scales can realise different energy saving management needs. Taking a large public building in Guangzhou as a research case, the long and short-term memory neural network (LSTM) is used as the basis to establish the machine learning model for energy consumption prediction for air conditioning at different time scales in terms of 10 min, hourly and daily, and a comparative analysis is carried out. The original data were analysed and processed by Z-Score and Local Outlier Factor (LOF) outlier detection methods. The relationship between meteorological parameters for Typical Meteorological Year (TMY) and the actual local meteorological parameters and energy consumption for air conditioning was analysed using linear regression, Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients, taking meteorological parameters as input variables. The results show that comparing energy consumption for air conditioning with the meteorological parameters in TMY and actual local meteorological parameters, the actual meteorological parameters had a stronger correlation energy consumption for air conditioning. When the actual local meteorological parameters are taken as input variables, the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) is reduced by about 0.85 %, and the coefficient of determination (R2) is increased by about 0.01. At the same time, the MAPE and R2 of the 10-min energy consumption prediction model are about 6.43 % and 0.9738, respectively, the MAPE and R2 of the hourly prediction model are about 9.29 % and 0.9568, respectively, while the MAPE and R2 of the daily prediction model are about 25.76 % and 0.7998. Meanwhile, an improved energy consumption prediction model is proposed to reduce the daily energy consumption prediction error to 6.36 % for MAPE, and the R2 of this model is 0.9927.

The Influence of Interior Design in Public Buildings on Gen Z's Safety During Disasters

The Influence of Interior Design in Public Buildings on Gen Z's Safety During Disasters

The impact of double skin facades on thermal comfort in public buildings in Constantine, Algeria

In recent years, and in order to obtain energy-efficient buildings, double-skin facades have been used by builders as an alternative to reduce energy consumption, mainly in public buildings. In Algeria, double skin facades have become very popular and widely used especially for their aesthetic value. In this work, we show the role of the DSF to optimize the thermal comfort in public buildings and the contribution of the types of building materials in the optimization. For this, we studied three types of public buildings (of a cultural nature) in Constantine, a city in the North-East of Algeria, characterized by a semi-arid climate. All of these buildings had double skin façade and were designed and built differently in terms of construction technique and choice of construction materials. This research is focused on the comparative study of the (03) three public buildings and their respective temperature status, carried out by in-situ measurements (indoor and outdoor) in two extreme periods (under-heating period in winter, and overheating period in summer) during the day. The results of this work show that the DSF improves thermal comfort by increasing the difference in temperature between the interior and the exterior, up to 10°C in winter and up to 24°C in summer, and that the building materials constituting the DSF and the orientation influence its thermal performance.

On the influence of solar insolation and increase of outdoor temperature on energy savings obtained in heating system with forecast control

Throughout the world there is an ongoing emphasis on the implementation of modern technologies and services to reduce the carbon footprint and increase the energy efficiency of existing and new buildings. Of particular interest are energy-efficient measures that can be easily implemented in existing building stock and at a low cost, such as a forecast controller for heating systems. However, there is a lack of detailed measured data for assessing the influence of varying outdoor conditions on energy savings from a heating system controlled by a forecast controller. The work aimed to assess the influence of variations in solar insolation and outdoor air temperature on the supply temperature, power demand, and heat consumption within thirteen buildings equipped with a forecast control system. The application employs simple correlations, utilizing an equivalent outdoor temperature derived from an online weather prediction application (API) leveraging the data from nearby meteorological stations. The algorithm utilises the weather predictions for changes in outdoor conditions, such as wind speed, temperature, and solar insolation, to optimise the conditions of the heat supplied to buildings.The field research was conducted for one year. It was found that the use of the forecast controller in four public buildings and nine residential buildings reduced heat consumption by an average of 9.0% and 11.8%, respectively, for the case when the variations of the outdoor temperature or the solar insolation were taken into account independently. Higher energy savings (16.5%) were achieved for the case when the outdoor temperature increase as well as solar insolation were taken into account at the same time in the process of forecast control of the heating system.

Navigating Delays: A Comprehensive Study of Public Building Retrofitting Projects in Kathmandu Valley

The objective of the study was to find out the present scenario of delays of retrofitting of public building with case of 11projects of Kathmandu valley. An observation and study of the project document is carried out along with questionnaire survey with 50 respondents. The maximum rate of delay in the retrofitting project is found to be 167% time overrun and minimum is found to be 42% of time overrun. Only one project among them is within the schedule with physical progress of 22%. A multiple linear regression analysis was performed to examine the influence of the variables Time overrun (Months) and Time extension with respect to initial contract (%) on the variable Physical Progress. A model summary model is obtained as follows: Physical Progress = 0.57 + 0.02 * Time overrun (Months) - 0.15 * Time extension with respect to initial contract (%) The top ranked specific delay contributing factors in a retrofitting project are as found as Impractical project schedule and duration (frequent changes in critical path), Unavailability of the numbers and skilled workforce for retrofitting projects, Delays occurred due to lack of coherence in architectural, structural, electrical, sanitary, and HVAC drawings, Approvals of shop drawings submitted by the contractor and Unavailability of the specific materials as per BOQ.

The Carbon Emissions from Public Buildings in China: A Systematic Analysis of Evolution and Spillover Effects

Public buildings, being the primary source of carbon emissions in China’s construction sector, present a pressing need for emission control. This imperative task not only ensures the sustainable progression of China’s building industry but also holds pivotal significance in the realm of global energy conservation and emission curtailment. This study analyzed the spatiotemporal evolution of carbon emissions from public buildings in China and assessed the spatial influence of related factors using a dataset covering 30 provincial units from 2006 to 2021. The analysis employed Theil’s index, Moran’s I index, standard deviation ellipse, and the spatial Durbin model. The study revealed an upward trajectory in carbon emissions from public buildings in China, although the growth rate was generally decreasing. Disparities in emission distribution among provincial units stem largely from intra-regional distinctions, notably prominent in the Low-Intensity High-Economy regions. Provincial carbon emissions from public buildings exhibited significant spatial correlation, manifesting as clusters of high–high and low–low patterns, indicative of mutual influence among adjacent areas. Additionally, the shift in carbon emission focal points from the northeast to the southwest underscored a more pronounced surge in the southwestern regions. Variables such as energy intensity, energy structure, per capita public building area, disposable income per capita, openness level, and environmental governance directly impact carbon emissions from public buildings. Among these, energy intensity, energy structure, disposable income per capita, and environmental governance also had spatial spillover effects. These findings provide a scientific reference and a foundation for policy-making, aiding local administrations in crafting strategies to mitigate carbon emissions from public buildings and foster sustainable progress.

Predictive modelling of multi-domain factors on window, door, and fan status in naturally ventilated school classrooms

Most studies regarding the investigation of occupant behaviour (OB) in school classrooms addressed the environmental influence on window operation solely and were conducted in oceanic climates. This study aimed to identify and quantify the influence of multi-domain factors (including thermal, indoor air quality, contextual and multi-behaviour domains) on window, door, and fan status in naturally ventilated school classrooms in a humid subtropical climate, in order to predict OB. Environmental variables, manual operation of windows, doors and fans, and occupancy rate were monitored and questionnaires were applied in a set of classrooms of three public school buildings in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, during four rounds at two-month intervals, resulting in a comprehensive year-long study. During part of the physical monitoring, restrictive occupancy measures due to the COVID-19 pandemic were observed. Generalized Linear Mixed Models were applied to assess the influence of the recorded parameters on the window, door, and fan status and to generate OB predictive models. Results showed that indoor environmental variables influenced window, door, and fan status in school classrooms, with few exceptions. Yet, the models including school routines, social norms and teachers’ behaviour as predictors led to the highest accuracy. This suggests that, while a more complex model with additional predictors can provide more accurate predictions of OB, it also becomes more context-dependent and less generalizable. The trade-off between model complexity and generalizability is an important consideration in this research study, and it highlights the nuanced relationship between multi-domain factors affecting occupant behaviour in school buildings.

Shaking table test on progressive collapse of the double-layer cylindrical reticulated shell with infilled wall

Double-layer cylindrical reticulated shell has made rapid development in recent decades in China, which is widely used in the large-scale public buildings such as gymnasiums, airplane terminal, Shopping mall, etc. Stability and progressive collapse mechanism have been attracting a lot of attention because the large span space structure is largely affected by the geometry nonlinear, which makes it sensitive to the local damages. The infilled wall has a greater impact on the stiffness of the lower supporting structure due to sparse column grid. However, the influence of infilled walls on the collapse mechanism of large-span spatial structures is very complex due to the coupling of upper and lower structures. Therefore, the effects of infilled walls on double-layer cylindrical reticulated shell was investigated by a series of progressive collapse tests with shaking table. In order to evaluate the seismic performance and the capacity of resisting progressive collapse, the structural dynamic characteristics and response laws were obtained under different ground motions and input principal directions. The results indicated that the existence of infilled wall made the coupling between the lower supporting structure and the upper roof structure more complicated. The infilled walls influenced the structural damage evolution and development, mitigated the damage from the earthquake and changed the progressive collapse pattern, which made the catenary collapse mechanism occur when the structure collapsed. Although the further quantitative study is still needed, this paper provides lots of useful test data and conclusions, which gives references to the infilled wall design and seismic performance evaluation for double-layer cylindrical reticulated shell.

Evaluation of elderly-friendly open space and public service buildings in madiun city using importance performance analysis (IPA)

<p>The Age-Friendly City Policy in Madiun City aims to improve the quality of life for the elderly by providing friendly and easy access to open spaces and public buildings. However, challenges in implementation may include appropriate infrastructure management and effective international policies to ensure the availability and availability of services that meet the needs of the city's aging population. This research aims to bridge the perception gap and provide concrete recommendations for improving Madiun's elderly-friendly infrastructure. This research is a development evaluation with a mixed approach (mixed method). The research sample includes various parties, starting from the Madiun City government, which is involved in planning and implementing development for the elderly in Pangongangan Village, the city center, who are users and beneficiaries of these facilities. The data analysis method in this research consists of quantitative and qualitative analysis. Based on the analysis, the majority of the construction of open space facilities and public service buildings in Madiun City is in accordance with development needs, according to the perception of the government and older people. Both parties were satisfied with the development results, especially on items of high essential and performance. However, there needs to be more perception between older people and the government regarding items considered necessary. This shows the need for synchronization between government perceptions and the needs felt by elderly people in developing elderly-friendly infrastructure. </p>