Renovation Costs Research Articles

Tail-End Evaluation Based on the Cost-Effectiveness of Bridge Life Cycles

The number of bridges in China is increasing year by year. The contradiction between the declining performance of bridge structures and the increasing traffic volume in China is becoming increasingly prominent, causing a concentrated upsurge in operation and maintenance needs during the service life of the bridges. In accordance with the goal and vision of the comprehensive construction of the Bridge Structural Health Monitoring (BSHM) system, the study of bridge cost-effectiveness now focuses on the installation, operation, and maintenance costs of the BSHM system, the renovation costs of bridge structure repair and maintenance, and the benefits of the BSHM system in assisting in expansion of the service life of bridges. In this study, a new cost-effectiveness framework is proposed that could be used for the operation and maintenance period. The cost-effectiveness framework is constructed from five perspectives: installation, operation, and maintenance costs of the BSHM system; repair and renovation costs during the operation and maintenance period; demolition costs; operation benefits during the operation and maintenance period; and the recovery benefits. The difference between costs and benefits is calculated to evaluate the cost-effectiveness, the service life, and the structural reliability of bridges, in order to provide auxiliary decision making for bridges. A bridge in China is used as an example; the difference between the reliability and operation of the bridge and the maintenance benefits and costs corresponding to different operating times is calculated, and maintenance decision analysis is performed. This can greatly extend the service time of the bridge without major repairs when the bridge reliability meets the requirements. Therefore, the BSHM operation and maintenance cost-effectiveness framework reduces resource waste, reduces operation and maintenance costs, and maximizes resource utilization and benefits, while ensuring the safety of the bridge structure and extending the service life of the bridge.

Use of Sustainable Energy Sources and Technologies in Primary and Secondary School Buildings in Greece. Can They Eliminate their Carbon Footprint?

School buildings consume energy covering their energy demand. The most of them utilize fossil fuels and grid electricity while the use of renewable energies is rather limited. School buildings should eliminate their carbon emissions in order to achieve the global target for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The energy consumption and the carbon emissions in schools have been evaluated. School buildings in Greece consume less than 100 kWh/m2 year. Solar thermal energy, solar photovoltaic energy and high efficiency heat pumps can cover all the energy demand in school buildings in Greece replacing the use of conventional energy sources. These energy technologies are reliable, mature and cost-effective. There are 7,756 primary and secondary school buildings in Greece consuming 1.67 TWh/year. The total cost of energy renovation eliminating their carbon emissions is estimated at 1,156,000 €/school or 8.96 billion € for the 7,756 schools in the country. For achieving the target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, 310 Greek schools should be energy refurbished every year eliminating their carbon footprint in the next 25 years. Taking into account the availability of benign energy sources and technologies the main barrier for eliminating the carbon emissions in school buildings in Greece by 2050 is the high investment cost. Our results could be useful for the development of the required policies for decarbonization in school buildings.

Optimizing Energy Renovation in Building Portfolios: Approach and Decision-Making Platform

The building sector contributes significantly to energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, with many buildings being energy inefficient. In response, the European Green Deal promotes improving energy efficiency to support decarbonization goals. However, managing energy consumption and integrating data from multiple sources presents challenges, especially for large building portfolios. This study introduces a novel methodology designed to optimize energy renovation strategies, balancing technical, financial, and maintenance considerations. The methodology is implemented in CERPlan 1.0, a web-based decision-support platform that combines data on building energy performance, renovation costs, and maintenance needs. Through simulations, CERPlan 1.0 helps decision-makers prioritize retrofit interventions based on economic criteria while leveraging synergies between energy improvements and regular maintenance. Application of this methodology to real estate portfolios reveals opportunities to enhance cost-effectiveness and energy savings. The results show that integrating maintenance into renovation planning reduces payback times and allows for more comprehensive renovation strategies. The conclusions highlight CERPlan 1.0’s potential to improve decision-making, making building renovations more efficient and sustainable.

Application and renovation evaluation of Dalian's industrial architectural heritage based on AHP and AIGC.

This paper takes the example of industrial architectural heritage in Dalian to explore design scheme generation methods based on generative artificial intelligence (AIGC). The study compares the design effects of three different tools using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). It first establishes the key indicator weights for the renovation of industrial architectural heritage, with the criterion layer weights as follows: building renovation 0.230, environmental landscape 0.223, economic benefits 0.190, and socio-cultural value 0.356. Among the goal layer weights, the highest weight is for the improvement of living quality at 0.129, followed by resident satisfaction at 0.096, and educational and display functions at 0.088, while the lowest is for renovation costs at only 0.035. The design schemes are generated using Stable Diffusion, Mid Journey, and Adobe Firefly tools, and evaluated using a weighted scoring method. The results show that Stable Diffusion excels in overall image control, Mid Journey demonstrates strong artistic effects, while Adobe Firefly stands out in generation efficiency and ease of use. In the overall score, Stable Diffusion leads the other two tools with scores of 6.1 and 6.3, respectively. Compared to traditional design processes, these tools significantly shorten the design workflow and cycle, improving design quality and efficiency while also providing rich creative inspiration. Overall, although current generative artificial intelligence tools still have limitations in understanding human emotions and cultural differences, with continuous technological iteration, this method is expected to play a larger role in the design field, offering more innovative solutions for the renovation of industrial architectural heritage.

Study on pretreatment technology of Oilfield Industrial Sewage

Abstract At present, Oilfield industrial sewage treatment has not yet formed mature technology. However, with the development of tight oil blocks and the construction of large-scale fracture network fracturing, the industrial sewage generated in A oilfield (including fracturing flow-back fluid, substitution fluid, water for well-flushing, pressure relief water, etc.) has increased year by year. The quality of produced water in oilfield has gradually deteriorated. Oilfield wastewater treatment is becoming more and more difficult. The built oil-bearing wastewater treatment process has shown inadaptability. In recent years, by analyzing the process operation parameters, studying the characteristics of oily wastewater treatment process, and combining with years of practical management experience, A oilfield has optimized the industrial wastewater pretreatment process. Optimize the process flow according to the actual development and production. This study ensures the development effect of the oilfield. It lays the foundation for further reducing the investment and operation cost of sewage station renovation. At the same time, it is great significance to study and optimize the pretreatment process of industrial sewage in oil field.

A data-driven standardised generalisable methodology to validate a large energy performance Certification dataset: A case of the application in Ireland

Energy performance certificate (EPC) databases are crucial for analysing building stocks and informing relevant policy interventions across Europe. Initially designed for building-to-building energy efficiency assessments, EPCs and resultant EPC databases, are now used to inter alia, evaluate stock energy efficiency, monitor impacts of national policies, and estimate financial viability of interventions. Consumers use EPCs when seeking financial incentives like “green” mortgages, while financial institutions use EPCs to consider renovation costs in mortgage assessments. The range of stakeholders using EPC data thus extends beyond those who are expert in building energy rating.Errors in manually inputting data from on-site surveys into calculations can undermine EPC results. Currently, no standardised method exists for validating EPC datasets. This research introduces the first automated, data-driven validation of an EPC dataset. It adapts as the database evolves. Seventeen unique filters were developed, revealing that 30% of EPC entries were erroneous and/or outlier data, with 80% related to misassessment of geometrical features. Errors in one field often correlated with errors in others, indicating some Assessors’ low responsibility towards data quality.The validation method, automated through Python and R language scripts, align the Irish EPC database taxonomy with Irish and European Building Stock Observatories, facilitating consistent future reporting. Recommendations are provided to enhance EPC data quality.

Optimizing the Integration of Building Materials, Energy Consumption, and Economic Factors in Rural Houses of Cold Regions: A Pathway

Limited material options and economic conditions significantly restrict the potential for energy efficiency improvements in rural houses in China’s cold regions. It is worth exploring how to propose suitable energy-saving renovation plans for rural houses in cold regions under practical constraints. By using Grasshopper within Rhinoceros 8 software, an algorithm integrates material selection, energy consumption calculations, and economic analysis. The method efficiently generates thermal optimization schemes, providing insights into energy use, costs, and payback periods. In a case study of a typical rural house in Daqing City, the optimized scheme achieved over 70% energy savings compared to traditional homes, with renovation costs amounting to less than 40% of residents’ annual income and a 2-year payback period. This significant improvement highlights the potential of the proposed method in enhancing the energy efficiency and economic viability of rural house renovations.

Radial Basis Function (RBF) and Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) Comparative Analysis on Building Renovation Cost Estimation: The Case of Greece

Renovation of buildings has become a major area of development for the construction industry. In the building construction sector, generating a precise and trustworthy cost estimate before building begins is the greatest challenge. Emphasizing the value of using ANN models to forecast the total cost of a building renovation project is the ultimate objective. As a result, building firms may be able to avoid financial losses as long as there is as little discrepancy between projected and actual costs for remodeling works in progress. To address the gap in the research, Greek contractors specializing in building renovations provided a sizable dataset of real project cost data. To build cost prediction ANNs, the collected data had to be organized, assessed, and appropriately encoded. The network was developed, trained, and tested using IBM SPSS Statistics software 28.0.0.0. The dependent variable is the final cost. The independent variables are initial cost, estimated completion time, actual completion time, delay time, initial and final demolition-drainage costs, cost of expenses, initial and final plumbing costs, initial and final heating costs, initial and final electrical costs, initial and final masonry costs, initial and final construction costs of plasterboard construction, initial and final cost of bathrooms, initial and final cost of flooring, initial and final cost of frames, initial and final cost of doors, initial and final cost of paint, and initial and final cost of kitchen construction. The first procedure that was employed was the radial basis function (RBF). The efficiency of the RBFNN model was evaluated and analyzed during training and testing, with up to 6% sum of squares error and nearly 0% relative error in the training sample, which accounted for roughly 70% of the total sample. The second procedure implemented was the method called the multi-layer perceptron (MLP). The efficiency of the MLPNN model was assessed and examined during training and testing; the training sample, which made up around 70% of the overall sample, had a relative error of 0–7% and a sum of squares error ranging from 1% to 5%, confirming specifically the efficacy of RBFNN in calculating the overall cost of renovations.

Multi-objective optimization of rural residential envelopes in cold regions of China based on performance and economic efficiency

Building envelope renovation solutions are critical to building performance and post-renovation economics. Building renovation is easier to carry out if the impacts of building envelope renovation solutions on building performance and post-renovation economic efficiency can be foreseen and a more sustainable and efficient renovation design can be achieved. This paper explores the optimal design of building envelope renovation using genetic optimization algorithms and statistical analysis methods, taking the performance of the renovated building and the economic efficiency of the renovation solution as the starting points. In Qingdao, a cold region of China, a survey was carried out on typical rural areas in seven regions. The selected design variables include the external wall and roof insulation material type(TWall, TRoof), external wall and roof insulation thickness(δWall, δRoof), type of window construction(TWc), and area radio of the window to the wall(WWR). Minimization of total building energy consumption(E) and renovation cost(COSTRE) and after renovation maximization of the combined incremental cost-benefit ratio over a 20-year life cycle(CICBR20-year life-cycle), effective natural daylighting illuminance(UDI), and percentage of time spent in indoor comfort(PTC) were considered in the optimization of the envelope. The results show that in cold regions, different envelope renovation solutions affect the optimization objectives to different degrees; changing the south-facing window-to-wall ratio(S_WWR) has a bigger effect on E, PTC, and UDI; and choosing different TRoof has a bigger effect on COSTRE and CICBR20-year life-cycle. Renovation of the selected typical rural residence with the optimal solution results in an energy-saving rate(Re) of 53.08 %, an increase of 940.86 h/year in annual indoor comfort hours(HIC) and 377.00 h/year in annual effective natural lighting hours(HUDI).

Thermal Performance Optimization of Building Envelopes in a Low-Cost and Energy-Saving Rural Dwelling in Severe Cold Region—Taking Central Area of Liaoning as an Example

The thermal performance of rural building envelopes is mostly non-standardized in Northern China, resulting in significant heat loss. In this study, we take, as an example, the central area of Liaoning province, with the objective of proposing some low-cost and energy-efficient solutions. Through our investigations, we found that heating energy consumption was reduced by 20% and construction costs increased by less than CNY 8000 (USD 1108), which can be accepted by rural residents. In order to achieve this target, the NSGA-II algorithm integrated with Rhino + Grasshopper and EnergyPlus simulation kernel was used to establish a thermal performance optimization model for the heat transfer of rural building envelopes in this severe cold region. Among the above-calculated Pareto optimal solutions, the recommended thickness of insulation layers for room floors, roofs, and external walls was about 70 mm, 50 mm, and 40 mm, respectively. Furthermore, we tried to reduce the window-to-wall ratio as much as possible. Finally, based on both the lower building renovation cost and energy-saving rate, three technical solutions from which rural residents could select, according to their specific needs, are put forward.

Instruments for Supporting Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals for Construction Sector – Case of Poland

Currently, three billion people face dangerous levels of air pollution and rely on non-renewable energy sources for cooking and heating. Due to its environmental impact, the construction sector is a particularly important area for implementing sustainable development policies. On July 10, 2023, the UN published The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2023 (SDGs). In accordance with the provisions of Goal 7 (which was discussed in the above document), the international community should increase its share of renewable energy sources in the global energy mix and promote investment in clean energy technologies by 2030. Achieving this goal necessitates the introduction of support mechanisms to enhance the energy efficiency of residential buildings. Hence, this study aims to showcase the legal and financial tools that aid the growth of energy-efficient construction in Poland, to compare the renovation costs of an existing residential building in order to meet energy-efficiency standards, and to detail the financial support that is available for planned thermal-modernization efforts.

Case study of condominium management in Brazil: survey of 30 years of maintenance and renovation costs of a 1982 multifamily residential building

Case study of condominium management in Brazil: survey of 30 years of maintenance and renovation costs of a 1982 multifamily residential building

Pemilihan Lokasi Usaha Terhadap Kesuksesan Usaha

The research objective is to analyze the effect of business location selection. The type of research used in this research is a type of library research, namely research conducted using literature, both in the form of books, notes, and reports on previous research results using references, where the data sources are taken from google scholar. The approach used in this research is a qualitative approach with domain data analysis, namely the researcher's efforts to obtain an overview of the data to answer the research focus. Business location on the trader's income variable includes a negative correlation and insignificant relationship. This shows that a strategically chosen location is unlikely to generate more income. Factors to consider in choosing a location, although there are several influential factors, are the proximity to the market (consumers). This location can be seen: 1) The business environment, namely regarding the proximity of the business location to other businesses / competitors, proximity to consumers, proximity to suppliers, and proximity to providers of production equipment / equipment. 2) Location costs, namely regarding building rental prices, whether or not there are renovation costs, interest rates, labor costs, and the amount of taxes. Based on the results of the study, several conclusions can be drawn, namely that business location has a significant influence on business location.

Comparative analysis of European vertical landing reusable first stage concepts

AbstractReusable launch systems have the potential to significantly impact the space launch service market if both a high reliability and low refurbishment costs can be achieved. This study delves into the Vertical Takeoff and Vertical Landing (VTVL) methodology, as currently employed by SpaceX, and forms a segment of the ENTRAIN study by DLR. This broader study encompasses an examination of both Vertical Takeoff Horizontal Landing (VTHL) and VTVL reusable first stages, exploring their performance across high-level design parameters. This manuscript’s primary objective is to assess the quantitative impact of high-level design factors on launch vehicle performance, particularly in relation to the development of a future European reusable launch system featuring a VTVL first stage. For a two-stage vehicle with a payload performance of 7.5t into GTO, the effect of varying propellant combinations, staging velocities and engine cycles are assessed. The study encompasses an iterative, multidisciplinary analysis and sizing process for ten different configurations. Each design iteration not only entails a structural design analysis but also includes optimization of the ascent and descent trajectories. Finally, the developed vehicle concepts are compared to derive quantitative insights into the trade-offs associated with key design choices.

A Final Cost Estimating Model for Building Renovation Projects

The construction sector in Greece has been developing radically in the field of building renovations. The foremost problem for projects in the building construction industry is producing an accurate and reliable cost estimate at the onset of construction. The artificial neural network (AΝΝ) approach, using data available at the early stages of the project, can help resolve or prevent any kind of difficulty that could make the successful completion of a building less likely. ANNs have been highly efficient in gaining results which could prevent the failure of building constructions projects. The ultimate goal is to highlight the usefulness of the adoption of ANNs models to predict the final cost of a building renovation project. Thus, construction companies could avoid financial failure, provided that the gap between cost prediction and final cost for renovation projects is minimized. This paper presents an artificial neural network (ANN) approach for predicting renovation costs in Greek construction projects. The study, based on a comprehensive literature review and real renovation data from construction companies, employs IBM SPSS Statistics software to build, train, and test the ANN model. The model, which uses initial cost, estimated time, and initial demolition cost as inputs, is based on the radial basis function procedure. The model presents high performance with up to 2% sum of squares error and near zero relative error, demonstrating the ANN’s effectiveness in estimating total renovation costs.

ANALYSIS OF SHIPPING FINANCING SOURCES IN THE CONTEXT OF UNCERTAINTY

The article is aimed at identifying the peculiarities of financing shipping under conditions of uncertainty and analysing the sources of financing of shipping companies. Methodology. This study is based on the analysis of trends in the socio-economic, military-political and environmental situation, which cause global uncertainty and limit the ability of shipping companies to obtain external financing. The article compares the Petrofin Global Ship Finance Index with the dynamics of seaborne trade volumes for the period from 2008 to 2022, determines the correlation coefficient of these indicators and identifies the leaders among the banks-creditors of the shipping industry in terms of the volume of shipping loans in the loan portfolio. Results. The study shows a direct correlation between the shortage of shipping financing and the three main forms of global uncertainty. The results of comparing the Petrofin index with the growing dynamics of seaborne trade indicate a decrease in the role of banks and an increase in the role of alternative sources to cover the shortfall in shipping financing, such as raising resources from capital markets, financial and leasing companies, private equity funds, private equity and venture capital investments, investment platforms, hedge funds, state capital, and capital from international organisations. The main reasons for the change in the structure of shipping companies' funding sources are the conservative lending policy of banks in the crisis, tighter regulation, higher interest rates, lending only to borrowers with a positive credit history, and increased loan collateral requirements. Instead, the advantages of alternative sources of financing are flexibility, speed, less regulation compared to banks, the ability to provide large volumes, new types and forms of financing, and more competitive rates. Practical implications. The volatile external environment complicates the process of finding financing for shipping companies, which directly affects fleet renewal, the increase in the cost of ship construction and refurbishment, and the digital and environmental modernisation of shipping. Therefore, shipping companies should diversify their sources of financial resources, have a margin of safety in equity, and redistribute their borrowing portfolio between bank loans and alternative forms of financing. Value/Originality. The analysis of traditional and alternative sources of financing for shipping in the context of macroeconomic instability allows to identify key trends in investment policy towards shipping companies, to identify the specific needs of shipping companies in the face of various forms of global uncertainty and to outline the features of the most common sources of financing.

How photovoltaics make energy refurbishment more affordable in apartment buildings

The costs of energy efficiency renovation of Germany’s postwar apartment buildings have sharply increased since pre-covid years, as have interest rates and hence the costs of servicing loans that finance these renovations. Despite increases in energy costs, it has become virtually impossible to recoup energy-efficiency renovation costs through energy cost savings, with many projects bringing substantial losses. The common method of third parties offering rotating finance to ease the initial costs, and being repaid after short payback periods, therefore no longer works. On the other hand, rooftop photovoltaics have decreased sharply in price, and continue to do so. This study explores the economics of installing photovoltaics, with or without heat pumps, along with energy-efficiency renovation, based on two typical case study apartment buildings in North Rhine-Westphalia. Using fine-grained energy flow modelling and net-present value cost-benefit analysis, it finds that energy-efficiency renovation brings losses of over 80% but that these can be substantially reduced by the gains from rooftop PV, especially when a heat pump is included. The larger the PV system, the larger the gains, but roof size limits this. The study recommends that shared rooftop PV systems be promoted as the norm with comprehensive energy-efficiency renovation in Germany.

Subsidies or green taxes? Evaluating the distributional effects of housing renovation policies among Dutch households

Despite persistent housing affordability issues, energy policy and housing renovation are usually investigated separately from housing costs other than energy. Researchers have examined the financial viability of renovation attending to building conditions and the socio-economic characteristics of their occupants. However, the distributional impacts of renovation incentives and the potential of fiscal policy to redistribute housing costs remain understudied. Dutch fiscal policy, favouring homeownership, offers a relevant context to evaluate how property taxation can boost renovation rates. The novelty of this paper resides in investigating the impact of two policies, the current direct subsidy and a proposal for a green tax, on both the financial viability of renovation and the subsequent distribution of housing costs. The proposed green tax combines energy efficiency and taxation of property revenue. We employ a model considering marginal costs of housing renovation, obtained from a government dataset, and marginal benefits, drawn from a hedonic regression. We assess the distributional impacts of different policy scenarios by examining changes in user costs across income deciles. Our findings indicate that existing renovation subsidies exacerbate the regressive distributional impacts resulting from the current housing taxation system in the Netherlands. Introducing energy-efficiency-linked property taxation can make homeownership fiscality less regressive while incentivising housing renovation. Ultimately, this study highlights the importance of incorporating housing affordability as a fundamental element in renovation policies to balance environmental and distributional objectives.

Food safety regulations implementation and their impact on food security level in Malaysia: A review

The purpose of the present review paper is to provide a preliminary review related to current research on the implementation of food safety regulations, and the impact on three dimensions of food security level namely food resources, food production, and logistics. All 16 research papers published in 2016 - 2023 on implementation of food regulations among food industries in Malaysia were collected from Google Scholar and discussed herein. The main factors that contribute to low number of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with food safety assurance certification are due to high certification and business renovation costs, language barrier between industries and authorities, as well as lack of motivation and knowledge among SMEs. In addition, the negligence of food manufacturers in following regulations leaves negative impact on Malaysia’s food security level. The present review suggests future research on food fraud, food defence, and stability of food resources to secure higher level of food safety and security.

ОРГАНИЗАЦИОННО-ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКИЕ АСПЕКТЫ ПОВЫШЕНИЯ ЭФФЕКТИВНОСТИ ПРОЦЕССОВ РЕНОВАЦИИ ЖИЛИЩНОГО ФОНДА

The authors’ study of the organizational and economic problems of the implementation of the State Housing Renovation Program revealed the relevance of the problem of accurately determining the level of budget financing in the presence of various series of mass-built buildings and renovation technologies (demolition, reconstruction or dismantling). The organizational and economic aspects of improving the efficiency of housing renovation processes are considered. The author analyzes modern approaches to the renovation of residential buildings. The main focus is on possible ways to optimize renovation processes in order to increase their efficiency. At the same time, there is no inclusion of measures for possible compensation of budget costs for renovation of the housing stock.