Environmental Performance Of Buildings Research Articles

Energy Efficiency and Sustainability in Food Retail Buildings: Introducing a Novel Assessment Framework

One of the primary global objectives is to decrease building energy consumption to promote energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. The large-scale food retail trade sector accounts for over 15% of total primary energy consumption in Europe, posing a significant challenge to the transition towards green energy. This study proposes a simple method for energy efficiency, environmental sustainability, and cost-saving assessment and improvement in large-scale food retail trade buildings. It aims to analyze the energy and environmental performance of building–plant systems, establishing an interactive network to assess intervention potential for the energy transition. The investigation focuses on the proper selection and analysis of the benefits of retrofit solution implementation, emphasizing potential energy savings in current and future climate change scenarios. Dynamic simulation with the Building Energy Model (BEM) was used to evaluate the impacts of building–plant system retrofit solutions, such as high thermal insulation, photovoltaic (PV) panels, Light Emitting Diode (LED) installation, waste heat recovery, and improvement in refrigeration units. The results show a reduction in annual energy consumption for the PV panel installation by up to 29% and lighting systems with high-quality LED to 60%. Additionally, CO2 emissions can be decreased by up to 41% by combining these two strategies.

Perception of Implementing a Green Building Rating System for Energy Savings in Nigeria’s Construction Projects Industry

A green building rating system is an evaluation tool that assesses a building's environmental performance throughout its life cycle. It includes criteria addressing various aspects of design, construction, and operation. This study reviews existing research on green building rating systems, aiming to establish their applicability for energy saving in Nigeria, identify obstacles to implementation, and determine the necessary factors for successful adoption. The study is analytical, relying on secondary data sources such as published articles, books, and websites. Additionally, the paper highlights the potential benefits for Nigeria in developing its own green building rating system. By doing so, Nigeria can align with global efforts to create sustainable built environments and develop effective strategies for energy efficiency and environmental stewardship. The study recommends awareness programs, educational talks, and government policies to promote the implementation of green building rating systems in Nigeria based on the analysis conducted.

Referentna vrijednost za novu drvenu zgradu s gotovo nultom potrošnjom energije u Europi

To mitigate dangerous climate change, a drastic reduction of CO2 emissions is needed by 2030. Buildings contribute significantly to emissions, with the use phase of existing buildings being responsible for the majority of energy consumption. In addition, environmental problems associated with the production of raw materials, construction, and the end of life of buildings are serious concerns that require urgent solutions. Life cycle assessment (LCA) and the EU-recommended Environmental Footprint (EF) are widely accepted tools to measure environmental impacts throughout a product life cycle. However, assessing the environmental performance of wooden buildings remains a challenge. This study presents a benchmark for an average new European wooden building fulfilling the European nearly Zero Energy Building (nZEB) requirement. The benchmark utilizes the recommended EU EF impact categories with normalization and weighting, allowing for easy and quick comparisons. The results communicate the average environmental impact per square meter of floor area over one year. This benchmark is a suitable comparison point for new wooden building designs and is used as an effective tool for architects and designers during the initial planning stages of wooden buildings. By using this benchmark, the environmental performance of the building can be improved, and the communication and interpretation of LCA results can be facilitated for customers and other relevant stakeholders.

Neighbourhood North: maximum gain, minimum pain – transformational office redevelopment

This article explores the project aims, challenges, solutions and lessons learned in redeveloping an existing 1980s quayside office block in southwest England. A full-height side extension introduced a double-height atrium entrance and unlocked the full potential of the office floorplates. New, larger windows were added in the existing facades, which improved the building's environmental performance, including more daylight and reduced heat loss. The client has a strong sustainability ethic and cross-laminated timber floor slabs were included in the design, which aspires to achieve BREEAM Outstanding accreditation. The project achieved an overall SCORS rating of A+, bordering on A++, at 53kg/CO2e/m2, despite the extension itself having a SCORS rating of F.

SM-BIM: A NEW CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK FOR MULTI-CRITERIA DECISION-MAKING PROCESS BASED ON SMART MATERIALS AND BUILDING INFORMATION MODELING

ABSTRACT Because the construction sector exerts a considerable environmental effect, especially on building materials, a growing interest in environmental design and construction has emerged. The United Nations has set sustainable development goals (SDGs) for 2030 to protect the environment, including energy conservation and doubling the global rate of improving energy efficiency, because building materials significantly affect energy consumption. Thus, building-material selection at the initial design phase is critical, and random selection of building materials often involves subjectivity, uncertainty, and ambiguity. This process costs time and resources while resulting in the inefficient environmental performance of buildings. Therefore, this study proposes the use of building-information modeling (BIM) as a tool because of its importance in attaining sustainability to aid in the selection process of smart materials (SMs) based on specified criteria and make the selection process faster and more accurate. This method is accomplished through a theoretical study of SMs and using a conceptual framework through four phases for multicriteria decision-making to improve energy efficiency and reduce the energy consumption of buildings. To pursue SDG 7, a theoretical and deductive approach is used.

A Theoretical Framework to Promote LCA in the Construction Industry of Saudi Arabia

The building and construction sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), experiencing rapid growth, is in the early stages of embracing sustainability measures. In the years ahead, the booming building sector in business-as-usual scenarios may pose serious energy and environmental challenges for the Kingdom. This situation will require the Saudi building sector to adopt robust sustainability measures. Embedding life cycle assessment (LCA) as a standard practice can be a useful strategy for improving the energy and environmental footprint of buildings. This paper proposes a theoretical framework within which to promote LCA in the Saudi Arabian construction industry. This framework comprises three pillars: policy, social, and technical. The framework covers the role of the Saudi building sector’s stakeholders such as policy makers, building industry professionals, representatives of relevant governmental bodies, and academics. Adaptation of this LCA framework can help substantially improve the energy and environmental performance of buildings. The proposed LCA framework is aligned with the international as well as the Saudi government’s drive for sustainability in the building sector.

Development of a new acoustic prediction tool by integration of life cycle assessment

Recently, environmental awareness has been the key driver for using renewable materials that have low environmental impact and fulfill constructional requirements, such as timber. Despite the advantages of wood as a building material, it has a lower subjective quality of sound insulation. To fulfill the sound insulation requirements, it is, therefore, unavoidable to complement based-wooden assemblies with additional element(s). However, identifying the acoustic performance is costly and time-consuming. Therefore, developing an accurate prediction tool is vital. Since wood-based structures have been developed to consider the environmental aspects, the environmental performance of buildings should be integrated into the acoustic design. This paper aims to develop an acoustic design methodology for wooden structures using artificial neural network approach by integration of life cycle assessment (LCA). Various Lab-based measurements are used to develop the acoustic prediction tool. Then, a LCA study is conducted on the test assemblies. This paper initially found that wooded assemblies generally increase the environmental impacts to achieve better acoustic insulation. Moreover, different assemblies can meet the sound insulation requirements. Therefore, designers should cognize of environmental and acoustic trade-off by selecting assemblies that consider both aspects.

Façade feature extraction for urban performance assessments: Evaluating algorithm applicability across diverse building morphologies

Urban feature extraction methods have presented multiple opportunities in the field of environmental building performance studies, and urban assessments. With reference to façade features, window size and position are key parameters that influence occupant perception and environmental performance of indoor spaces. A myriad of methods have been proposed to automatically detect façade window layouts from street view images yet it is still unclear how to assess the strengths and limitations of these methods or how they can be combined for higher detection performance. This paper aims to add clarity for those aiming to use computer vision techniques for façade layout extraction for urban level sustainability assessments. An automated pipeline to enable the extraction and detection of WWRs (Window to Wall ratios) is introduced that is based on two fundamentally different computational approaches; a grammar-based edge detection framework (Method 1) and a learning-based method (Method 2) that utilizes CNNs (Convolutional Neural Networks). The paper then compares the detection efficacy of both methods, focusing on WWR accuracy, in New York and Lisbon, including their ability to extract more detailed façade properties such as floor-to-floor heights. The study finds that the learning-based method shows lower error scores across the two cities. In Lisbon, 69 % of conditions were detected within the 10 % error range and 91 % were within the 20 % range under Method 1. Under Method 2, 82.5 % of conditions were within the 10 % error range and 95 % were within the 20 % range. In New York, 66 % of conditions were within the 10 % error range and 90 % were within the 20 % range under Method 1 while 77.5 % of conditions were within the 10 % error range and 93 % were within the 20 % range under Method 2. Finally, a hybrid method is proposed to leverage the strengths of the two models, and higher accuracies are obtained in both the New York and Lisbon dataset. In New York, 96.5 % are now detected within the 20 % error range and 81.5 % within the 10 % error range. In Lisbon, 96 % are now detected within the 20 % error range and 83.5 % within the 10 % error range. With reference to the total building height extraction formulated under Method 2, the results show a relative error of 3.5 % in height estimation in the sample set.

Temporal considerations in life cycle assessments of wooden buildings: Implications for design incentives

The building and construction sector plays a vital role in mitigating climate change. Consequently, the use of wood and bio-based materials as a strategy for reducing the environmental impact of buildings is increasing. However, along with realising the potential environmental benefits of biomass, the focus on assessment methods and their inherent uncertainties increases. Typically, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is used for quantifying the environmental performance of buildings but is often criticised for not considering temporal factors related to emissions. Therefore, dynamic LCA approaches have been developed. To understand how dynamic LCA influences building design incentives, this study compares traditional LCA and dynamic LCA results on 45 cases of wooden buildings. The study finds that the overall ranking of the buildings’ environmental performance is stable, irrespective of the method used. However, the dynamic biogenic carbon accounting methods significantly influence the results and shift burdens between upfront and future emissions. Therefore, methods for time-distributed biogenic carbon accounting crucially need addressing in LCAs of wood and bio-based products.

Development of a Green Building Assessment System at The Green Building Planning Stage in Indonesia

The fact that more people are living in cities is an important challenge for the construction industry in designing and developing cities. This industry emphasizes to have sustainable construction development principles, one of which is Green Building strategies. Because of this, several developed countries have implemented Green Building Rating Systems (GBRS) to assess Green Building achievements. Green Building Rating Systems were developed to help professionals measure building performance, and meet the requirements of sustainable design and construction. In Indonesia, there are 2 assessment standards as a Green Building Rating System, namely PUPR Ministerial Regulation No. 21 of 2021 which is a regulation issued by the Ministry of PUPR as the Ministry in charge of Public Works and Public Housing Affairs in this case includes buildings and GREENSHIP as a product of the Green Building Council Indonesia (GBCI), which is a independent institution. Different GBRS have similar objectives such as verifying the environmental performance of buildings, using natural resources efficiently, estimating the energy performance of buildings, and encouraging more energy-efficient building designs. The purpose of this research is to identify Green Building variables that are most suitable and relevant to the current conditions in Indonesia with a comparative analysis.

Digital twin for educational purpose, the case study of the U-building at the KTH in Stockholm

Nowadays, the Digital Twin (DT) concept is one of the most talked-about topics in the building sector. Previous research has addressed both the definition of DT concept and the development of applications for specific purposes, such as facility and asset management, built environment performance monitoring etc. However, the specificity of such applications reduces both its replicability and understanding. This results in the spread of confusion when approaching such concepts. For this reason, this study explores how DTs can be effectively used for educational purposes. The methods used include the integration of several systems and tools, highlighting different approaches for data integration and capture. The proposed methodology was tested on a real case study, the U-building on the KTH Campus in Stockholm, which is equipped with a Building Management System (BMS). The building is used as a pilot in master courses to allow students to produce a first attempt of using a DT, by connecting real-time monitored data and digital objects. The results show how efficient data communication helps towards the organization and assimilation of complex concepts. Furthermore, the testing of several approaches proves the replicability and flexibility of the method within different environments and for several uses.

Actual sources of life cycle impacts: Elementary processes and flows causing environmental impacts for a typical Brazilian building

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a valuable tool to enhance the environmental performance of buildings. However, the increasing number of impact categories required by construction LCA standards makes it difficult to collect primary data and understand LCA results. Furthermore, most LCA studies only analyse aggregated impact results, failing to identify the specific processes that should be optimized to mitigate environmental impacts. This work shows the additional insights that can be gained from analysing disaggregated LCA results. We identify the specific elementary processes and flows causing each environmental impact for a typical Brazilian building used as a case study. This cradle-to-grave LCA study covers the 16 impact categories required by EN 15804. The findings reveal that the environmental impacts of buildings are primarily caused by a few elementary processes and flows. Multiple impact categories share common sources, implying that at least half of the indicators convey redundant information for decision-making as they point to the same actions for mitigating those impacts. Additionally, some impacts are caused by background elementary processes beyond the influence of construction stakeholders. Interpreting LCA results at the elementary process level allows us to reflect on the suitability of LCA to support decisions. It suggests potential strategies to streamline the LCA scope currently specified in construction LCA standards by excluding redundant indicators or impacts determined by uncontrollable background processes. Streamlining LCA can expedite the adoption of the life cycle approach in the construction sector and improve its contribution to informed decision-making.

Developing a multi-objective optimization model for improving building's environmental performance over the whole design process

This study is built upon two previous articles which focus on identifying the key design variables affecting the life-cycle environmental impacts in each design stage of the building design process. This research aims to investigate the trade-offs between embodied and operational impacts and explore potential reduction in the total environmental impacts of a building by varying the identified design variables in each stage of the design process. A multi-objective optimization model based on BIM and LCA integration has been developed to find out the design solution with the optimal trade-offs between the embodied and operational impacts and the option with the minimal environmental impacts. Applying the proposed model to a mid-rise residential building, the results showed that the design process has the potential to lower the environmental impacts of the building by approximately 47.6 %. Moreover, the potential for reducing carbon emissions is greater in the early design stages, with the potential to lower emissions by up to 32.5 %, compared to the lower emission reduction potential of approximately 7.5 % in the detailed and construction design stages. Furthermore, solutions aimed at addressing the trade-off between embodied and operational impacts were identified in each design stage. The study provides an insight into the understanding of how building design can be optimized to mitigate environmental impacts.

Analysis of the Green Building Concept in the Green Lake Viev Cimanggis Depok Apartment Building Based on Greenship EB 1.1

The growing human demand for space will continue to rise with the passage of time. Buildings serve as a tangible manifestation of this need for space. With increasing space requirements and development, the corresponding need for energy and its associated environmental impact is also on the rise. This necessitates in-depth studies related to Green Building practices. The primary objective of this research is to assess the environmental performance of buildings, with a specific focus on key aspects such as energy efficiency, water management, indoor air quality, and waste management. The research methodology involves conducting field surveys, gathering data through interviews with apartment management, scrutinizing relevant documentation, and conducting direct measurements related to energy and water consumption. The analysis of the Green Lake View Apartment in Cimanggis Depok reveals a Bronze category rating, amounting to 18 points, with a 37% achievement rate across several categories, including Land Use Appropriateness (ASD), Health and Comfort in Space (IHC), and Building Environment Management (BEM). To enhance the existing ratings, it is imperative to incorporate design recommendations to attain higher scores in future developments, aligning with the principles of sustainability within the construction industry. This research aspires to provide a comprehensive perspective on the practical application of Green Building concepts in apartment buildings. It further aims to offer valuable insights for the advancement and refinement of sustainable practices within the construction industry for the future.

A statistical analysis of life cycle assessment for buildings and buildings’ refurbishment research

This study aims to examine the literature related to environmental Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for buildings and buildings' refurbishment from 1994 to 2022 by implementing a statistical analysis based on 'Web of Science' databases. LCA is viewed as a consolidated process that measures the environmental performance of buildings and their services, aiming to address the potential environmental impacts over the life cycle of buildings. A total of 1336 retrieved journal publications for LCA for buildings and 169 journal publications for LCA in building refurbishment. The articles' patterns were investigated in terms of subject categories, journals, countries, and the most highly cited articles. The findings reveal that LCA publications for buildings and building refurbishment have increased over the period 1994–2022, with China being the leading country contributing to the largest number of articles and possessing the most significant influence, followed by the USA for LCA in buildings. While Portugal is the leading country, followed by Italy, for LCA Buildings' Refurbishments. 97.08% of the publications were written in English, 2.04% in German, and 0.68% in Spanish. French and Japanese were the remaining languages, each with one publication, accounting for 0.2% of the 1336 building LCA publications. In contrast to refurbishment, LCA publications were written in only two languages, English (98.7%) and German (1.3%). Results show that the subject area differs depending on the type of LCA publication, with building LCA focusing on construction engineering while refurbishment focused on environmental topics. According to the IF, the most influential journal was renewable & sustainable energy for buildings and refurbishment LCA. However, journal distribution within LCA is still limited, and assessment methods and theme analysis still need to catch up with a clear gap in LCA in environmental impact mitigation and analysis methodologies, which will be a prominent direction of future building LCA research.

Developing a tool to assess the performance of educational built environments for students with multiple sclerosis

ABSTRACT Statistics indicate that cases of multiple sclerosis (MS), which can cause mobility and sensory disabilities, are increasing worldwide. While design criteria for educational built environments that meet MS students’ needs have been researched, the creation of holistic design guidelines (DG-MS) has rarely been investigated. This study uses holistic DG-MS to create an educational building performance assessment tool (MS-BPAT) to evaluate the suitability of educational built environments for meeting MS students’ needs. A multimethodological approach is used in which academic and medical experts evaluate the MS-BPAT for its importance, affiliation, and clarity. The MS-BPAT is then tested by assessing two high school buildings in Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The results indicate that the MS-BPAT tool can accurately assess the fulfillment of MS-DG design criteria in educational built environments and detect the design barriers. The MS-BPAT’s validity as an assessment tool is confirmed by comparing its results with field visits, interviews, and student satisfaction. The MS-BPAT is then finalized, and recommendations are made for improving educational built environment performance to meet the needs of students with MS.

A practical decision process for building façade performance optimization by integrating machine learning and evolutionary algorithms

ABSTRACT With the development of building design parameterization, more and more designers want to explore design options that optimize performance. However, the enormous time and costs that accompany optimization exploration are often beyond the reach of design practices. The application of machine learning in the construction field in recent years has offered potential solutions. Training predictive models through machine learning enables the rapid assessment of built environment performance and thus brings the optimization process closer to reality. In this paper, we mainly developed a process that integrates machine learning predictive model and multi-objective algorithms to achieve rapid evaluation and obtain optimal solutions. Using façade design as a case study, we demonstrate the design decision process with regard to the optimized solutions. The results showed that, through the proposed visual design decision process, designers can easily compare the performance and design appearance of different solutions and make informed decisions. In addition to saving 87% of time compared to the traditional simulation process, the integrated process also introduced the predictive model, which can achieve optimization exploration in one day. These results all demonstrate that the use of an integrated approach boasts considerable time advantages and potential feasibility in design practice.

Development of an innovative translucent–photoluminescent coating for smart windows applications: An experimental and numerical investigation

Glazed envelopes play a strategic role in the environmental performance of buildings, significantly affecting indoor comfort and energy consumption while allowing the penetration of natural light into the interior space. Over the last few years, the research activity related to the building envelope has been focused on the achievement of higher energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality standards, looking towards promising solutions to satisfy the management of solar gains and building occupants’ needs. In this view, the present study introduces photoluminescent materials as an innovative coating for smart window applications, exploring their potential for visual comfort. An innovative, small-large scale experimental methodology is developed and applied to evaluate the dynamic response of such innovative applications under realistic boundary conditions. Results prove that a translucent–photoluminescent solution can provide a homogeneous daylight diffusion during the day and guarantee a general sense of orientation during the evening without demanding artificial lighting. Furthermore, numerical simulations showed the remarkable ability of the translucent–photoluminescent material to reduce both the intensity and the perception of glare throughout the year.

Approaches for assessing embodied environmental effects during the building design process

Buildings and construction are among the leading contributors towards global greenhouse gas emissions, resource demands, waste, and pollution, placing a massive strain on our natural environment. Until recently, mitigation strategies have primarily concentrated on reductions in operational energy, failing to account for embodied effects; those associated with the manufacture of construction goods, construction activities, and end of life considerations. In recent years, there has been an increased recognition of the growing significance of embodied effects, and the opportunity to reduce these during the building design process. However, life cycle assessment (LCA) tools used to quantify environmental flows are often perceived as being too time-consuming or complicated to incorporate into prevalent building design workflows. The aim of this study was to review approaches for assessing embodied environmental effects during the building design process, including the LCA tools and environmental data used to achieve this. A systematic review was conducted of academic and grey literature. The study identified three main approaches for incorporating LCA into the building design process: simplified LCA, detailed LCA and incremental LCA. Further analysis of these approaches was conducted, based on case studies. General attributes and design considerations were identified, and mapped against the early design, and detailed design stages. A wide variety of LCA approaches were reviewed, responding to various challenges for incorporating LCA into the building design process, with no singular approach able to completely satisfy all requirements. Findings highlight the lack of incremental LCA approaches, and the need for further research to understand how LCA approaches can be better used to improve the embodied environmental performance of buildings during the design process.

BIM and LCA integration methodologies: A critical analysis and proposed guidelines

There is growing concern about mitigating the environmental impacts of the construction industry. In this context, research has increasingly sought methods to integrate life cycle assessment (LCA) with building information modeling (BIM) to enhance the management of information in the development process of engineering projects and to increase the environmental performance of buildings. Despite the importance and urgency of the theme, this research finds that publications on the subject are mostly recent and that 70% of all publications were published between 2020 and 2022. In this context, there is a need for greater standardization in the research to be produced on the subject with regard to best practices and conclusions, thus enabling a better comparison between them to direct the best paths to be adopted by the construction industry. Although there are review articles highlighting the challenges and opportunities involved in the use of integrated BIM and LCA (BIM-LCA) methodologies, the choice of reference article for adoption is often hampered by the absence of a conceptual and methodological framework. The purpose of this article is to perform a systematic review based on the ProKnow-C methodology, perform critical analysis and present guidelines for the preparation of BIM-LCA articles. A total of 75 studies, 13 reviews and 62 original articles, are selected, and it is found that there are gaps and challenges in the implementation of BIM-LCA methodologies in the construction industry to be explored. The production of standardized articles that present consolidated and adequately presented best practices will enable the construction of a relevant benchmark to reduce subjectivity in decision making in regard to the design and development of engineering projects and in the execution of constructions, increasing environmental performance.