Green Rating Systems Research Articles

Design phase collaborative risk management factors: a case study of a green rating system in South Africa

PurposeWe explore the design risk factors and associated managerial practices driving collaborative risk management for design efficacy in green building projects. By illuminating project design risk as an important project risk category in its own right, the study contributes to our understanding of optimising design efficacies for collaborative project risk management.Design/methodology/approachThe study comprises exploratory interviews conducted with 27 industry project practitioners involved in the design and delivery/implementation of Green Star-certified building projects in South Africa.FindingsThe findings discursively highlight seven sources of design risk. We also identify seven specific collaborative risk management practices for design efficacy emerging from a consideration of how risk environments vary in the Green Star-certified projects, each with its own project design risk implications.Originality/valueThe study advances our understanding of how collaborations emerging from particular relational yet context-specific practices can be optimised to strengthen project risk management.

Quality assurance in cardio-pulmonary exercise testing

Abstract Introduction Quality assurance (QA) ensures agreed standards are being met and facilitates service improvement. Recent government initiatives aiming to increase diagnostic activity to reduce wait times emphasises the importance of a robust framework to assess standards and drive improvement. Quality frameworks exist for other areas of cardiac diagnostics but there is limited information on assessing quality in cardio-pulmonary exercise testing (CPET). Purpose We aim to develop and pilot a quality assurance framework for CPET. This will facilitate further QA development in this area and drive continuous service improvement. Methods Data were collected from June to November 2023. A random sample of 10% of tests were selected each month. A total of 39 tests were included. Our framework consisted of 30 checks across four domains: Requesting, data quality, reporting, and documentation. Checks were assessed for compliance using a Red, Amber, Green (RAG) rating system. Green - compliant. Amber - minor deviation (e.g., minor deviation from spirometry repeatability criteria). Red - significant deviation (e.g., incorrectly plotted VO2 peak). An overall test rating was then given: Green (≤ 3 amber), Amber (4 – 5 amber) and Red (> 5 amber or any red). Results The analysis comprised of individual domain checks and an overall test rating (OTR). Domain results (figure 1.) were: Requesting 95%; Data Quality; 89%, Reporting 96%; and Documentation 98%. OTRs (figure 2.) were as follows: Green (85%), Amber (13%) and Red (2%). Tests with a red OTR led to supportive discussions with operators, additional training and follow up QA. Protocol selection and spirometry repeatability were the most common individual check deviations (41% amber and 31% amber respectively). Conclusions Our QA framework showed that overall CPETs were being conducted to a high standard. There were however some variances identified which led to targeted staff training and additional audits to guide service improvement. Qualitative and subjective aspects of CPET make QA complex and a patient focused model should be employed. It is also salient to note that QA in CPET should be developed to be pragmatic and scalable to the service to ensure sustainability.Figure 1:Domain resultsFigure 2:Overall test rating

Towards green evolution in urban Egypt: assessing Al Rehab City through LEED-ND and BREEAM-communities frameworks

This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the application of green neighborhood rating systems, specifically Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND) and Building Research Foundation Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM)-Communities, in the context of Cairo, Egypt, focusing on Al Rehab City, a prominent urban area in New Cairo. The study begins by providing a background on Al-Rehab City, explaining its strategic planning, urban design, and demographic dynamics. It then delves into the current state of sustainable urban planning in Egypt, highlighting the challenges and opportunities that exist in this rapidly urbanizing context. The core of the article includes a comparative analysis of LEED-ND and BREEAM communities, assessing their adaptability and relevance to the Egyptian urban landscape, especially Al Rehab City. It explores many sustainability issues such as smart location, neighborhood pattern and design, green infrastructure, sustainable transportation, energy efficiency, water conservation, waste management, and community engagement. The discussion extends to examine how each of these aspects of sustainability applies to Al Rehab City, complemented by case studies and examples of current sustainable practices in Cairo. Furthermore, the article identifies specific local challenges in implementing these assessment systems, such as economic constraints, policy constraints, and cultural factors. It also suggests opportunities for improvement, including the potential for public–private partnerships, policy reforms, community engagement, technological innovation, and sustainable urban development modeling. In conclusion, the article provides insight into the future prospects of green urban planning in Cairo. The potential impact of adopting comprehensive assessment systems is discussed, with an emphasis on the role of Al Rehab City as a potential model for sustainable urban development in Egypt and the wider MENA region. The article aims to contribute to the discourse on sustainable urban planning, and provide a roadmap for integrating global sustainability standards into the unique context of Egyptian cities.

Is it feasible to nest a Trial within a Cohort Study (TwiCS) to evaluate an early years parenting programme? A Born in Bradford’s Better Start study protocol

BackgroundEvaluating the effectiveness of early years parenting interventions provides evidence to improve the development and wellbeing of children. This protocol paper describes a study to explore the feasibility of evaluating the Incredible Years Toddler early life intervention programme, which is offered to parents of 1–3-year-olds via the Better Start Bradford programme.The study aims to use a Trial within a Cohort Study (TwiCS) design that randomly selects individuals participating in a cohort to be offered an intervention. The TwiCS information and consent process is person-centred and aims to replicate real-world practice whereby only those who are offered the intervention are given information about the intervention.The cohort is the Born in Bradford’s Better Start (BiBBS) cohort, an interventional birth cohort recruiting expectant parents in three areas of Bradford, UK. The study will assess the feasibility of TwiCS procedures, staged consent, and intervention take-up.MethodsWe will conduct a feasibility TwiCS to test study procedures. We aim to establish the following: (1) whether TwiCS methodology can be implemented to create control and intervention arms, whilst documenting any incidences of contamination within the cohort; (2) whether satisfactory rates of intervention uptake are achieved among participants allocated to the intervention; and (3) whether satisfactory rates of retention of participants in the intervention can be achieved. A Red Amber Green (RAG) rating system has been applied to support the feasibility assessment of each objective: to be rated red (not achieved), amber (partly achieved), and green (achieved).Eligible participants in the BiBBS cohort will be individually randomised 1:1 to the intervention or control arms, with stratification by child age (1 or 2 years old at the time of randomisation) and ethnicity (White British, South Asian, or other). BiBBS researchers will seek consent from participants randomised to the intervention to pass their contact details onto Incredible Years’ delivery agents.DiscussionThis feasibility study will inform the utility of the TwiCs approach within an experimental birth cohort to evaluate interventions for infants, toddlers, and their families.Trial registrationThe study was prospectively registered on ISRCTN (ISRCTN16150114).

Research on the Evaluation System of Green Cabling of Cables Based on Neural Network

This paper mainly focuses on the results of the virtual wiring of the supporting trailer line behind the shield machine, and on this basis, the construction of the green evaluation system of the three-dimensional path of the cable is explored based on the neural exploration, so as to evaluate the excellence of the constructed path, make a reliable and realistic evaluation of the path planning, make the experimental results more realistic, and improve the calculation efficiency of the algorithm. Finally, the algorithm is applied to the cable layout in 3D space and the example analysis is carried out, and the simulation results prove the feasibility and effectiveness of the experimental results. Finally, the AxureRP9 was used for system prototyping. The purpose is to build a prototype of the web version of the green wiring evaluation system that has been operated and has a wide range of applications.

Customizing the green pyramid rating system for assessing university buildings' sustainability: A stakeholder-involved weighting approach

Universities are large institutions that consume significant amounts of energy and water, produce waste and greenhouse gases, and significantly impact the surrounding environment, making evaluating and improving universities' sustainability crucial. Egypt has its building sustainability rating tool called the Green Pyramid Rating System (GPRS), which is not specifically customized for university buildings. Hence, this study aims to develop a customized weighting system based on the green pyramid rating system to assess the sustainability of university buildings by involving stakeholders. A comprehensive questionnaire was developed and distributed to a targeted sample of experts and university building stakeholders, including architects, engineers, project managers, consultants, contractors, decision-makers, policymakers, operation managers, facility managers, and senior students majoring in architecture, construction, and sustainable engineering. The data collected was analyzed using statistical analysis and the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) to assign weights to each category and criterion. The results highlighted that the respondents prioritize Energy Efficiency (EE) with a weight of 21%, followed by Water Efficiency (WE) at 19%. Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) and Sustainable Sites (SS) are given equal priority with a weight of 17% each. Materials and Resources (MR) receive a weight of 14%, and Management Protocols (MP) have the lowest weight of 12%. Hence, prioritizing these aspects can significantly enhance university buildings' energy efficiency and overall sustainability.

Assessing Sustainable Practices: A Systematic Literature Review of Green Rating Frameworks for Pre-engineered Steel Buildings

Background: There is a growing interest in eco-friendliness in the building business, prompting the creation of green grading systems. Modern construction relies heavily on pre-engineered steel structures, and the efficiency with which they use their resources is of critical significance.
 Objective: The purpose of this SLR is to give a synopsis of the literature on pre-engineered steel building green rating frameworks. Our goal is to review the literature, draw conclusions, and recommend ways to improve sustainable building methods.
 Methodology: The SLR employs a methodical approach that includes extensive searches of major academic databases and scholarly sources. To pick appropriate and high-quality literature, we define inclusion and exclusion criteria. The studies chosen undergo a thorough evaluation of their methodology.
 Findings: This analysis traces the history of sustainability grading systems and how they have developed to include pre-engineered steel construction. Energy efficiency, materials, design, and life cycle analysis are common topics that keep popping up in the research. This analysis also highlights the study highlights the practical usefulness of these frameworks for industry stakeholders.
 Conclusion: This SLR helps fill up the gaps in our knowledge of existing green rating systems for prefab steel structures. This shows the importance of these frameworks in influencing sustainable building practices and calls for further study and innovation in this area. The results provide helpful information for those working in the field, as well as academics and politicians studying the construction business.

Sustainable construction projects management in the AEC industry: analysis and visualization

Within the last decade, sustainable construction projects (SCPs) management has become a hot topic in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry covering from building materials to the construction process. This study aims to systematically analyze literature concerning SCPs management between 2000 and October 2022 to improve the researchers’ overall understanding of SCPs management. From an objective analysis of co-occurrence keywords obtained by scientometric analysis, this study visualizes and conducts a detailed discussion about active studies and research trends. After discussing environmental, economic, and social sustainability indicators and their integration, the methods for improving SCPs management are summarized by a theoretical model. These methods include waste management, energy management, construction materials management, low-carbon management, green rating system, sustainable design, lean construction, knowledge management, capability building, value management, and implementation of new technology. Finally, future research directions are proposed, such as the social sustainability of different phases, the improvement of green rating systems, the development of green technologies, the collaboration of normative guidelines from different countries, and so on. This scientometric review explains the state-of-the-art research of SCPs management and encourages more interdisciplinary research involving relevant sustainability areas.

Impacts of green rating systems on the economy and society

This study examines the impact of green rating systems on the construction industry in sustainable development. Five widely used green rating systems, BREEAM, LEED, Green Star, Green Mark and CASBEE, were examined to identify their effectiveness in promoting sustainable construction practices, specifically in the economic and social aspects. Results revealed that all rating systems offer a comprehensive environmental performance assessment but have varying degrees of success in the rest pillars of sustainability. The rating systems have notably influenced the construction sector, motivating developers and designers to integrate sustainable elements into their structures. The advantages of such rating systems extend beyond singular buildings, benefiting society as well by decreasing environmental harm, advancing the health and well-being of occupants, and stimulating economic progress. Furthermore, the study suggests that construction companies that design and build green-certified buildings have a competitive advantage in the market. Overall, the study highlights the benefits of using green rating systems to promote their wider adoption in the construction industry.

Construction of a Green-Comprehensive Evaluation System for Flotation Collectors

The evaluation of flotation reagents performs an important role in the selection and green application of reagents. The green indexes and effect indexes of flotation collectors were selected by data literature method, system analysis method, mathematical model method, and qualitative and quantitative analysis method, and the green evaluation system of flotation collectors, flotation effect evaluation system, and comprehensive evaluation system of flotation collectors were established. The normalization method and expert evaluation methods were adopted to obtain the grade classification of quantitative and qualitative indicators, respectively. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was used to determine the weight of secondary indicators and tertiary indicators of the evaluation system and the weight of indicators at a lower level. Applying the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation (FCE), the trapezoidal function is selected to determine the index affiliation, the index system score is calculated according to the weighted average principle, and finally, the established evaluation system is applied in an example. The example application shows that the comprehensive evaluation system of flotation collectors can make a comprehensive evaluation of collectors from the aspects of the greenness of reagent, flotation effect, and cost, and it has a strong target and practicality for collectors evaluation. The establishment of the system has a guiding significance for the selection and use of flotation collectors.

A BIM-Based Tool for Assessing Sustainability in Buildings Using the Green Pyramid Rating System

Green construction management is an approach that aims to promote sustainable solutions in building design and construction. However, the complexity and variability in design scenarios often pose challenges to implementing these practices effectively. This study proposes a collaborative framework for green construction management that leverages automated and semi-automated simulations to facilitate performance-based decision making. The framework utilizes the green pyramid rating system (GPRS) as a third-party certification assessment provider. It employs various BIM analysis software tools, including Dynamo codes in Autodesk Revit and add-in plug-ins using Revit API, to extract information and parameters from the BIM model. The data are used to perform quantitative calculations and comprehensive analysis that aid decision makers in investigating, analyzing, improving, and assessing sustainability aspects throughout the project. The proposed framework enables a structured approach to green construction management that incorporates the building variable consecutive level of details/development (LOD) and life cycle phases. A case study of an office building in the new administrative capital in Egypt demonstrates the effectiveness of the framework in promoting sustainable solutions. The collaborative framework for interoperability design decisions proposed in this study provides a valuable tool for implementing green construction management practices. The use of automated and semi-automated simulations, following the GPRS, helps to ensure that sustainable solutions are advocated, interrogated, and refined throughout the project. The framework’s structured approach enables decision makers to investigate, analyze, improve, and assess sustainability aspects effectively.

Observations of Player (de)Selection Within a Professional UK Soccer Academy.

The present study engaged in an ethnographical observation of the processes used to determine player (de)selections within a professional academy. English category-2 youth academy players (n = 96) from U10-U16 age groups undertook anthropometric profiling (height, mass and somatic maturation) and fitness assessments (10m, 20m & 30m linear sprints, 505-agility test, countermovement and squat jumps). Each players lead coach (n = 4) subjectively graded players utilising a red, amber and green (RAG) rating system on a weekly (current performance) and quarterly (perceived potential) basis, across 25weeks. A MANCOVA, controlling for maturation, was applied to determine differences in (de)selection by physical performance. Mann Whitney-U tests were used to distinguish difference in (de)selection by subjective grading (weekly and quarterly). The key finding was that quarterly subjective gradings established a higher cumulative score of green ratings in selected players and a low cumulative score of red ratings, and vice versa for deselected players (P ≤ 0.001 to 0.03). However, whilst these findings suggest that quarterly subjective grades of potential were able to provide the best predictors for player (de)selection, the findings should be viewed with caution due to high potential for confirmatory bias.

Towards greener telecommunication towers: A framework for “LEED for telecom towers”

As climate change becomes an urgent issue that must be tackled immediately, several disciplines are making efforts to mitigate its effects. One of the disciplines that must be addressed to mitigate the negative impacts it has on the environment is the installation of telecommunication towers. An ever-increasing number of telecommunication towers may have negative impacts on the environment because of the use of diesel, not environmentally friendly materials or the waves emitted to the surrounding environment. Literature review showed different sustainable approaches that were proposed for use in telecommunication towers. However, there is a gap in having a comprehensive approach for making the overall factors of the telecommunication towers more sustainable. Green rating systems are used as guidelines for making buildings more sustainable. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system is the most widely used green rating system in the world; however, it doesn’t have any guidelines for applying sustainable measures in telecommunication towers. Therefore, this paper proposes a green rating system that is based on LEED’s main categories, to limit the negative impacts telecommunication towers have on the environment. Then, 21 questionnaires were distributed among engineers from various backgrounds in Egypt as a case study to come up with proposed weights for categories and subcategories. The questionnaire analysis is based on Analytical Hierarchy Process. It is concluded that the sustainable site category has the highest weight, as the optimum selection of site would help in improving the overall factors that affect the environmental behavior of the tower.

Relationship between Lean and Green buildings in Egypt

There is a lack of awareness about the added environmental value of theintegration between Lean and Green building design. This study is investigatingthe relationship between Lean and Green building design represented in theEgyptian rating system (Green pyramid).The research clarifies Lean Construction concepts and principles whichreduce waste and increase the quality through enhance building performance.Also, focuses on analyzing the Egyptian rating system (Green Pyramid) whichwas established to ensure sustainability in Egypt, reduce the environmentalimpact of construction and raising the awareness toward the importance of greenbuildings to the Egyptian environment.Based on analyzing previous concepts, studying literature review andconsidering the principles of Lean Construction with the criteria of GreenPyramid for certification of environmental performance of buildings forunderstanding the results of their integrations and proposing recommendations tobe added at the Green pyramid Egyptian rating system as approach for greenbuilding design in Egypt.

Fidelity and tolerability of two high-intensity interval training protocols in patients with COPD: a randomised cross-over pilot study

ObjectivesHigh-intensity interval training (HIIT) during pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may alleviate the symptom burden, but the fidelity and tolerability of HIIT using long or...

A comprehensive analysis of green building rating systems for data centers

The high energy consumption of data centers (DCs) has become a global issue that needs to be addressed, and as a result, their development of green rating systems (GBRSs) has been widely emphasized. Although GBRSs have been the subject of many studies for various building types, there has been few studies for DCs. This is the first study to comprehensively analyze GBRSs for DCs. The study established nine categories of standardized overall indicators and seven categories of standardized energy indicators, and furthermore reformatted and aligned the GBRS items accordingly. The study first compared GBRSs for DCs and other non-residential buildings to find out main concerns for a green DC, second compared different GBRSs for DCs to identify regional differences, and finally investigated GBRSs for DCs in China where digital infrastructure is booming. Power usage effectiveness (PUE) as a key indicator of DC energy efficiency was further analyzed. The results highlighted the importance of energy related criteria to DCs and discussed how to use the assessment criteria to appropriately guide and promote green DCs in future work. It also discussed the constraint for energy efficiency in DCs and the best practices that should be encouraged in the category of Innovation for green DCs. This study fills the gap in existing studies of GBRSs for DCs and contributes to the development of green buildings and the refinement of assessment criteria in DCs.

Application of LEED green rating systems in infrastructure of airport complexes

The main trends in the development of airport complexes in the international transport system includegrowingeco-movement and measures to reduce harmful emissions and greening their infrastructure. There are modern green rating systems for certification of green buildings and constructive objects, which equally impose requirements on the transport system. Along with them, there is anAirport Carbon Accreditation Programfocused only on airport complexes. It contains 6 levels and aims to minimize the negative impact of airport complexes, reducing the carbon footprint. This factor, according to scientists, is the root cause of global climate change. In addition to reducing emissions, measures are being taken to switch to renewable energy sources. This is very important because the energy and water consumption of this infrastructure is high.

Historical building information modelling (HBIM) integration with environmental analysis for green rating systems

Historical building information modelling (HBIM) integration with environmental analysis for green rating systems

Measuring Street Network Efficiency and Block Sizes in Superblocks—Addressing the Gap between Policy and Practice

This paper uses quantitative methods to evaluate the application of street connectivity policies stated by Abu Dhabi’s Urban Planning Council (UPC) on newly developed projects. The evaluation of the study was performed by measuring efficiency, i.e., how short and direct are paths between residential and nonresidential destinations to understand the ability of street networks to support sustainable transportation modes in the Capital District project. Efficiency is measured in twelve neighborhoods of the Capital District using Pedestrian Route Directness (PRD), a metric that meets Estidama—Abu Dhabi Green Rating System—walkability standards. Observation and analysis of the current stage of development show that more than 58% of the neighborhoods failed the route efficiency test to connect residential plots to one another. In addition, more than 40% of the neighborhood’s residential plots could not efficiently connect to nonresidential plots. The study includes recommendations for policymakers and project developers to enhance the street infrastructure to correlate with Estidama ratings by taking advantage of sikkak, the alleyways system that is found in other neighborhoods in the city. Significantly, recommendations are based on rigorous quantitative analyses that can be used for implementation in real-world projects, thus strengthening the connection between policy and practice.

Is it possible to develop a green management strategy applied to water systems in isolated cities? An optimized case study in the Bahamas

• Calibration optimized strategy to increase the sustainability. • Renewable energy systems working with LCOE values equal to 0.12 €/kWh. • Making decision tool to reduce 32% of the consumed energy. • Sustainable solutions to reduce 40% CO2 emissions. The inclusion of new strategies is crucial to achieve the different targets of the sustainable development goals for the guarantee of supply in the different cities and reduction the consumption of non-renewable resources. The development of these strategies implies the improvement of the sustainability indicators and green rating systems of the city. This research proposes a decarbonisation strategy, which includes different optimization procedures based on a self-calibration process according to recorded flow values over time. These stages are integrated into one tool to define the best making decision in the management of the supply system, analysing whether self-consumption of energy is feasible. It was applied on the Bahamas. The application of the strategy enabled the decrease of the annual consumption of energy equal to 32%. The self-consumption could represent 30% of the consumed energy of the pump station. The making decision to define the best operation strategy, establishing a Levelized Cost of Energy around 0.12 €/kWh when the feasibility of using photovoltaic systems combined with micro hydropower was done. It implies the reduction of 40% of the tCO2 emission, getting a cost of carbon abatement values around 400 €/tCO2 for different discount rates and scenarios.