Environmental Performance Of Buildings Research Articles

Study on Three-Dimensional Building Performance in Landscape Design

Landscape dynamic roaming produced according to drawings on a computer to simulate the real environment of the virtual landscape, the evolution of the past, we changed the traditional paper model or three-dimensional model of the digital model through digital technology to simulate real environmental landscape in the computer. In this thesis, a three-dimensional computer architecture design methods, the performance of the method proposed three-dimensional landscape design, engineering calculated by the environmental performance of buildings with different fiber, help to improve the level of digital three-dimensional architecture.

Sustainable target value design: integrating life cycle assessment and target value design to improve building energy and environmental performance

Buildings are the largest consumer of energy and greatest contributor to climate change in the United States—consuming approximately half of energy produced and contributing close to half of greenhouse gas emissions. Building designers, contractors, and owners currently have few methods to effectively control a building's life cycle energy and environmental impacts during the design phase. Managing and reducing these impacts during design requires rapid information turnaround and decision-making. When left unconsidered, poor environmental design decisions leave potential design value uncaptured. This research combines life cycle assessment (LCA) and target value design (TVD) to rapidly produce more sustainable building designs. By establishing site-specific sustainability targets and using dynamically-updating life cycle assessments, this research demonstrates that buildings can be designed to perform at higher environmental standards than those designed without a target in place. The research also offers unique opportunities to analyze the tradeoffs between design and operational decisions.

The Evaluation of Energy Consumption and CO<sub>2</sub> Emission on Green Building Certification Apartments in Korea

With G-SEED (Green Standard for Energy and Environmental Design), an environment-friendly building certification system, Korea is promoting the efficient energy management in the building. In particular, apartments account for the biggest share of the G-SEED authentication results. However, there has not been enough evaluation or research on the environmental performance of buildings certified by G-SEED as well as its own institutional issues. Therefore, this study compared energy consumption and CO2 emissions of G-SEED certified apartments and non G-SEED certified apartments to analyze the environmental performance of G-SEED certified apartments. The analysis shows that G-SEED certified apartments have better results than non G-SEED certified apartments in terms of energy consumption and CO2 emissions.

Remote energy management benefits in retail building portfolios

Purpose– The study aims to investigate the effects of a remote energy management service to the energy consumption of retail buildings. The study focuses on analysing the changes in energy consumption after the implementation of a facility service concept where building processes are optimized with a remote energy management system. The paper seeks to demonstrate that remotely operated building management practices, which allow high competence service for all facilities, have a positive impact, beyond traditional facility services, on energy and environmental performance of buildings.Design/methodology/approach– The research analyses the metered energy consumption of two retail building portfolios comprising altogether 44 properties. Additionally, secondary data are collected from archive reviews, observation and interviews.Findings– The research shows that remote energy management service reduced the total energy consumption during the two-year service period by 12 and 6 per cent depending on the portfolio. Electricity consumption was found to decrease by 7 per cent and heating energy by 26 per cent on the average in the first portfolio, and 7 and 4 per cent in the second one, respectively.Research limitations/implications– Variation between buildings was found to be relatively high as the individual characteristics and history of the different buildings inevitably affect the achieved results.Practical implications– The study indicates that remote energy management offers an effective means to reduce the energy consumption and costs, and ultimately climate impacts derived from buildings.Originality/value– The study adds to the knowledge of facilities management in context to energy management and environmental performance of buildings.

Environmentally Friendly Construction Products Selection Based on Building Model Data

This paper presents the general scheme of the decision making support system which would allow to optimize building's environmental performance by supporting the environmentally friendly construction products selection process. Moreover, it identifies the elements of the proposed system that could be realized with currently available technologies and resources, and reveals the areas in which there is still a need for development.

PERCEPCIONES DE UNA PYME DEL SECTOR DE LA CONSTRUCCIÓN HACIA LA IMPLEMENTACIÓN DE MEJORAS BASADAS EN EL ANÁLISIS DEL CICLO DE VIDA

ABSTRACT: The construction industry generates large environmental impacts throughout the life cycle of their products. Companies and particularly Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are forced to be competitive and add value to their proposals to survive. A way to add value is through the improvement of the environmental performance of buildings, to obtain savings of time, money and materials. In this paper, we inspect the perceptions of SMEs to the proposed improvements based on Life Cycle Analysis (LCA). The methodology consists of 3 phases: life cycle assessment of modular housing, improvement of the proposals attending LCA results, and evaluation of the proposals by the company, based on criteria determined by them. The results of this case indicate that there is a limited understanding of the concept of life cycle, although a positive disposition to incorporate environmental criteria into design decisions. However, the implementation of improvements based on the LCA must produce short-term results, not influence the relationship with suppliers, and not affect quality perceived by final customer.

Embodied Energy and CO<sub>2</sub> Analyses of Mud-brick and Cement-block Houses

In building projects, the extraction of vast quantities of materials is too common. The extraction of materials and the erection of buildings consume embodied energy and emit carbon dioxide (CO2) that impact negatively on the environment. Therefore it is necessary to consider embodied energy and CO2 amongst other factors in selecting building materials for use in building projects. In most developing countries, building environmental performance analysis has yet to gain interest from the construction community. However, with recent increase in sustainability awareness, both developed and developing nations have engaged in efforts to tackle this challenge. Embodied energy and CO2 are among the leading parameters in assessing environmental building performance. In Cameroon, studies about the assessment of embodied energy and CO2 of building projects are scarce. Hence, professionals find it difficult to make alternative choices for building materials to use in their different building projects. This study uses a detailed process analysis approach supported by two popular housing types in Cameroon (mud-brick and cement-block houses) to assess the embodied energy and CO2 impacts from building materials. The emerging Building Information Modelling (BIM) tool was used to validate the computational results of the process analysis method. The findings revealed the embodied energy and CO2 for the mud-brick houses are 137934.91 MJ (2007.8 MJ/m2) and 15665.56 Kg CO2 (228.03 Kg CO2/m2); the cement-block houses are 292326.81 MJ (3065.51 MJ/m2) and 37829.19 Kg CO2 (396.7 Kg CO2/m2) respectively. Thus, the cement-block house expends at least 1.5 times more embodied energy and emits at least 1.7 times more embodied CO2 than mud-brick house. Although these findings cannot be generalized, they nonetheless indicate the importance of considering embodied energy and CO2 in making alternative choices for use in different building projects.

Method to analyse the contribution of material's sensitivity in buildings' environmental impact

The assessment of environmental performances of building is now commonly based on a life cycle approach. The current studies comparing such performances highlight the problems related to uncertainties in the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) results. The aim of this study is to identify the sensitivity and robustness of LCA models to uncertainties related to building materials in order to strengthen comparisons which can be done between building projects and secure the assessment of the building environmental performance calculation. However, in this study, all uncertainties are not covered and we restricted our calculation to uncertainties related to the use of building materials during the life cycle of the whole building. We have considered that the relative contribution of each material to the environmental impact of building is sensitive to three key points which are submitted to uncertainties: the service life of the building component; the environmental impact of this building component's production and the amount of material used in the building. The assessments of the uncertainties are treated at two levels: the material or element level and the building level. A statistical method, based on Taylor series expansion is developed to identify the most sensitive and uncertain parameters, with standpoint to strengthen comparison between projects. The first results are promising, although further work remains to be done to better quantify the uncertainties at the material scale. ?? 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Bioclimatic Analysis State School in the City of Macapá-Amapá/Brazil

The growth of cities shows the importance of seeking solutions that minimize the environmental impacts due to the fact that civil construction is among the activities that cause most environmental degradation. Bioclimatic architecture, that relates man to climate, optimizes the energy relations with the surrounding natural environment through architectural designs and particular strategies. The architectural design is the most adequate stage for implementing sustainability guidelines in the building. In the context of school building in the State of Amapa, the standard design developed by SEINF-AP asserts itself as a school building defined according to the construction rationalization for the generation of economy in public administration; however it has been found that due priority has not been given to the building environmental performance. The implantation of the building on the site and its physical configuration in the school environment should adapt itself to the climatic characteristics of the region and the terrain where it may be built. The lack of flexibility in these projects entails unfavorable conditions – especially thermal comfort in the building – which interfere in productivity, motivation and concentration of the users. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2013.v4n11p621

A Study on the Estimation Method of the Environmental Load Intensity for Analyzing GHG Reduction Effect of Han-Ok

The Korean government recently has rediscovered the potential value of Han-Ok, the Korean traditional house, as an eco-friendly building. In order to objectively verify the environmental performance of Han-Ok as a low carbon green building, this paper suggests the analysis method of GHG emission load of Korean traditional house, based on Life Cycle Assessment, which is commonly abbreviated to “LCA”. The environmental impacts caused by building construction and operation can be analyzed through the sum of input and output data from every phase. The study particularly describes the GHG reduction effect by using traditional building materials such as wood products, traditional clay roof tiles, and mud, which are mainly used to construct Han-Ok. Also the study proposes the method for comparative analysis of quantity of GHG emissions in building’s entire life cycle so that the data can be used as a reliable basis to optimize the environmental performance of building.

An optimal control strategy with enhanced robustness for air-conditioning systems considering model and measurement uncertainties

Model-based optimal controls in HVAC systems involve uncertainties due to model uncertainties and measurement uncertainties. These uncertainties affect the accuracy and reliability of the outputs of optimal control strategies, and therefore affect the energy and environmental performance of buildings. This study proposes a method to enhance the robustness of optimal control strategies. A fuzzy approach is adopted to predict the errors in models outputs. Such predicted errors are then used to correct the model outputs. The method is validated in an optimal control strategy for HVAC cooling water systems. The operation data of a real building system is used to validate the error prediction method. A simulation platform is built to validate the enhanced strategy. Measurement uncertainties are deliberately added to the simulated system for validation tests. Test results indicate that the method is effective in predicting the errors in model outputs. Significant energy savings are achieved compared with the conventional optimal control method.

Develop an environmental assessment technique for human comfort requirements in buildings

Environmental assessment methods have emerged to assess the environmental performance of buildings across the world. Accurate results obtained using these methods are considered highly important, especially when taking into account the global trend of being obligatory and the use of their results to compare the environmental performance of buildings creating a fair competition amongst them. They are used for assessing green buildings regarding issues such as energy, water …, etc. The indoor quality is one of these issues and human comfort is evaluated in those methods using a set of items to assess achieving the identified comfortable ranges by evaluating a number of factors influencing them. These items are using quantitative measurements, so the current assessing way is considered complex besides the consumption of time and effort without reaching significantly accurate results. Therefore the research problem appears in the lack of an appropriate mean in the current assessment methods to evaluate items linked with sensation and emotions. The research paper aims to propose a more credible and an accurate assessment approach to assess those items, and also helps evaluating another set of items which are linked to the psychological comfort. The previous type of comfort rarely appears in current assessment methods despite being one of the green architecture principles. The ‘Kano Model’ is the proposed way used for the application of questionnaires that are put through the information network and linked to assessment methods to get more accurate and creditable results when assessing human comfort items.

Occupant stimulus response workplace productivity and the vexed question of measurement

PurposeThe purpose of this paper to develop a better understanding of the behavioural challenges in workplace performance evaluation and how the issues raised regarding validity and reliability of Likert scales could be addressed in future occupant surveys.Design/methodology/approachA review of the literature was conducted to identify some of the more important issues in occupant evaluations of built environment performance. Disparate fields of research were particularly given the changing nature of the workplace and work itself. The appropriateness of the Likert scale was then examined in some depth, with evaluation data presented by this method analysed to gauge the extent of error in reporting self‐assessed or perceived workplace productivity.FindingsThe review points to significant challenges in obtaining valid and reliable information in occupant self‐evaluations of workplace performance using linear Likert scales. When the occupant rating is negative, arithmetic means were found to be significantly lower than geometric means. The converse was found to be true for positive ratings. Magnitude estimation using a free modulus approach has been shown to be potentially free of bias and scale limitationsResearch limitations/implicationsThe survey data available for analysis were limited, but the implications of the findings for the credibility of workplace performance evaluation are significant given the widespread use of linear Likert scales. Researchers are encouraged to pursue the questions raised and test the propositions further.Practical implicationsWith modern work becoming more complex, information rich, mobile and team oriented, more sophisticated occupant performance evaluation tools and methods are needed to replace simplistic self‐assessment questionnaires.Originality/valueThis paper addresses the paucity of research into the validity and reliability of self‐assessed measures for workplace productivity. It integrates findings from disparate fields including aviation and cognitive functioning. It presents a stronger behavioural emphasis in evaluation, while encouraging the development of more effective measurement methods.

Use of LCA as a Tool for Building Ecodesign. A Case Study of a Low Energy Building in Spain

This paper demonstrates how to achieve energy savings in the construction and operation of buildings by promoting the use of life cycle assessment techniques in the design for new buildings and for refurbishment. The paper aims to draw on the application of a specific methodology for low energy consumption, integrated planning, environmental performance evaluation of buildings, and design for sustainability and LCA techniques applied to buildings. The ENergy Saving through promotion of LIfe Cycle assessment in buildings (ENSLIC) methodology based on LCA for use in an integral planning process has been promoted to stakeholders who require a means to optimize the environmental performance of buildings. Feedback from the stakeholders has facilitated the creation of simplified LCA guidelines, a systematic approach guiding the user through the alternative options regarding software choices, their strengths and weaknesses, the databases available, the usefulness of different indicators, aggregation, definition of limits and options for simplifying the process. As a result, this paper presents the applied results of a case study where this methodology is implemented serving as an energy savings evaluation tool for decision makers, end-users, professionals involved in the different stages of construction, etc. Finally, it is demonstrated how LCA can facilitate comparisons between different buildings, showing the influence of all variables on a building’s life cycle environmental impact and showing the potential for energy savings. Removing market barriers to sustainable construction is actually stricter and this is good news for promoting higher energy efficiency in buildings.

Life Cycle Assessment and the Environmental Certification Systems of Buildings

The life cycle assessment (LCA) is an important methodology for the assessment of building components and systems and should be used within the building environmental performance certification systems. The present paper reports on the state of the art of LCA as a tool for the assessment of building components and analyzes its application in the environmental certification systems of building. The analysis of the existing systems for the environmental certification of buildings has revealed that among the four main and most employed systems of environmental certification of buildings currently used, Green Globes is the only one which uses the LCA methodology to evaluate the environmental performance of building components. The other systems use the assessment of building components by the recognition of product attributes, such as cost, durability, renewability and recycled content. The weakness of the attributes approach lies in the fact that these attributes are treated in isolation and lack the whole concept of impact.

Facilities management driving green building certification: a case from Finland

PurposeThe aim of this study is to identify and understand the role of facility services in the environmental performance of existing office buildings.Design/methodology/approachThe study observes how a facilities management (FM) service provider develops its service processes to meet environmental efficiency objectives. The environmental objectives are adopted from a commonly used green building rating system. The developed processes and services are then analysed and tested against a case facility.FindingsThe results indicate that FM service processes have both direct and indirect influence on the building environmental performance metrics. The results show that, by relatively light changes and modifications to the FM service processes, quite extensive environmental benefits can be achieved.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is preliminary and the results are based on the single case study. Only one service provider was assessed. Moreover, the case study represents a situation where all FM services are provided by one service provider.Practical implicationsFM providers readily hold a great portion of the data required for green management. It can be argued that FM services play a central role in the environmental performance of an office building and FM organizations can significantly support client organizations in their efforts to minimize their total environmental impact.Social implicationsThe majority of carbon dioxide emissions caused by buildings are created during the operating phase of existing buildings. In other words, the way a building is managed and maintained has a major impact on the environmental performance of the building.Originality/valueThe study contributes to the discussion on the role of FM in climate change.

Ecosystems Biomimetics: Ecological Systems Diagrams for Characterization of Environmental Performance of Buildings

Ecosystems Biomimetics: Ecological Systems Diagrams for Characterization of Environmental Performance of Buildings

Impact of Energy and Environmental Factors in the Decision to Purchase or Rent an Apartment: The Case of Sweden

In this paper, I examine the importance of environmental factors in the residential property market. The paper presents results from a quasi-experimental study and survey responses from 733 occupants of green and conventional buildings. The findings show that energy and environmental building performance factors have rather a minor impact on the purchasing or renting decision. The findings indicate that when discussing the impact of energy and environmental factors on a customer purchase decision, the availability of information should be considered.

Overall Environmental Modelling of Newly Designed Curtain Wall Façade Configurations

There has been a rapidly growing interest among contemporary architects in recent years in the innovative use of curtain walls as a building enclosure. A curtain wall is a glass and metal skin that wraps the entire building in a continuous, transparent layer. This modern design provides a relatively desirable environment for the occupants. The glass façade allows light and diffused views into the surroundings during the day and can become a glowing and aesthetically pleasing aspect of the skyline at night. The key visual features of curtain walls are the glazing appearance and sightlines, but the window selection plays a key role in determining the overall building's environmental performance. The complex layering of glass should be strategic as well as artistic, balancing light and shade to optimize light and minimize heat gain. Recently, a series of curtain wall system have been developed with an emphasis on the technical issues, such as structural stability, energy efficiency, sustainable strategies, daylighting, and materials. This design case project explores in depth the overall environmental performance of the leading-edge curtain wall assemblies using computer programs such as Virtual Environment and Radiance, which allow estimation of total U-values and helps predict daylighting performance.

Sustainability assessment of renovation packages for increased energy efficiency for multi-family buildings in Sweden

In this paper, we propose a method for assessing renovation packages drawn up with the goal of increasing energy efficiency. The method includes calculation of bought energy demand, life-cycle cost (LCC) analysis and assessment of the building according to the Swedish environmental rating tool Miljöbyggnad (MB). In this way the methodology assesses economic, indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and specifically environmental aspects associated with energy demand of such packages from a sustainability point-of-view. Through MB, energy efficiency packages are placed in context with other necessary measures required to improve environmental performance in buildings, providing a consistent and systematic basis other than simply financial performance by which to compare capital improvements.The method is further explained and analyzed by applying it in three case studies. In each case study a multi-family building representing a typologically significant class in the Swedish building stock is considered, and for each building a base case and two renovation packages with higher initial investment requirement and higher energy efficiency are defined. It is shown that higher efficiency packages can impact IEQ indicators both positively and negatively and that packages reducing energy demand by approx. 50% have somewhat higher LCC. Identified positive IEQ impacts point to added value for packages that may not otherwise be communicated, while negative impacts identify areas where packages need to be improved, or where MB indicators may be referred to as specifications in procurement procedures.