Individual Dwellings Research Articles

Zooming in and out the outcomes of geophysical research at the Western Tripolye culture site Kamenets-Podolskiy (Tatarysky)

This paper reports the results of magnetic surveys contextualized with the landscape via water drainage analysis, and summarizes the results of excavations at the Cucuteni-Tripolye settlement Kamenets-Podolskiy (Tatarysky), 3950–3900 BCE. Incorporation of topographic information and water drainage analysis to the studies of settlement structures revealed by magnetometry makes it possible to understand how such features function and, therefore, the intentionality behind the arrangement of houses and utility structures. The correlation between magnetic susceptibility and the mass of burnt daub coming from the individual dwelling reveals a possible weakness in interpretations, due to the influence of heat on magnetization.

New evidence for Neolithic occupation in north-west Arabia: Standing Stone Circles on the Harrat ‘Uwayrid

Recent archaeological investigations in AlUla County have provided the first detailed chrono-cultural evidence for long-term Neolithic domestic occupation in this archaeologically unknown region of north-west Arabia. This paper presents the preliminary findings drawn from multi-scalar datasets collected through extensive aerial and ground surveys, and the excavations of ‘monumental’ architectural installations, named in this study as ‘Standing Stone Circles’. These structures were individual dwellings, constructed in concentrations of varying numbers with associated domestic installations, such as hearths. The Standing Stone Cicle sites presented in this paper demonstrate a scale of Neolithic occupation not previously recognized in Saudi Arabia. These structures provide evidence of ongoing occupation throughout the 6th and 5th millennia BCE, concurrent with a general florescence of human activity across north-west Arabia. The faunal remains indicate a mixed subsistence economy, dominated by domesticates but supplemented by wild species. Broader considerations of the Neolithic economy, and models of pastoralism and mobility, are made possible on the basis of this, and the associated assemblages of stone artefacts and small finds. The data provided in this article offers a general picture of the Neolithic period in AlUla, addressing the significant geographical and temporal gaps within the archaeological knowledge of north-west Arabia. The identification of diagnostic Late Neolithic Levantine projectile point types, in conjunction with architectural parallels with the Levant, provides further insight into the origins of neolithization in north-west Arabia.

A digital twin prototype to visualize heterogeneous seismic damage simulation results on web-GIS

ABSTRACT Access to a wide range of information tailored to specific purposes, including extensive damage projections and statistics for target areas and the potential for individual building and dwelling damage predicted through simulations, enhances cities’ resilience against large-scale earthquakes. Recognizing the significance of this, we have developed a prototype of a digital twin capable of comprehensively visualizing various simulations on a web-based geographic information system (GIS) platform. This prototype employs three seismic damage simulators: the Integrated Earthquake Simulation for area damage, the wallstat for wooden houses, and the E-Simulator for a reinforced concrete building. A trial of earthquake damage simulations was conducted to assess this prototype’s efficacy, focusing on the damage incurred in Mashiki Town during the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake. The trial successfully verified the capability of the system to visualize and integrate various types of simulation data alongside records obtained from actual earthquake disasters. This paper provides an overview of the digital twin prototype. It reports on the trial’s results, focusing on the visualization and integration achieved through this trial.

Reconceptualising resilience in housing policy: an actor-network approach

ABSTRACT During the pandemic, our needs and expectations of our housing stock rapidly expanded to cope with demands of lockdowns, working from home and restricted access to other neighbourhoods. Empirical studies over the last few years indicate how concepts such as multifunctionality, responsiveness, social connectivity and localisation became critical. In many cases, the pandemic deepened existing housing-related inequities. Households already struggling with lower incomes found themselves contending with even more challenges: constrained spaces, inadequate heating and the noise of neighbours. Given the strong link between housing and health, there is an urgent need to understand the ability of our current housing stock to meet the demands of such ‘shocks’. Of particular importance is the concept of resilience in housing systems. Resilience has become ubiquitous in policy discourse but is underdeveloped and undertheorised. We thus use actor-network theory (ANT) concepts to develop a multi-level conceptualisation of resilience, arguing that ‘housing resilience’ unfolds on five levels: resilience within an individual dwelling, within housing supply, within the housing supply chain, between dwellings and communities and between dwellings and the natural environment. We then demonstrated the robustness of this conceptualisation by mobilising it as a lens for an analysis, starting with 11 state-level housing policies in Australia. We selected the ‘best practice’ housing policy with the most extensive reference to resilience. We then evidenced how our multi-level conceptualisation allows us to identify critical gaps even in this ‘exemplar’ housing policy, interrogate its structure and prioritise future action plans.

Geographies of Bodily (Dis)Possession: Domestic Work, Unfreedom, and Spirit Possessions in Singapore

Singapore’s labor-migration regime has come under much scrutiny for the ways in which it unequally positions employers vis-à-vis their migrant “workers.” One domestic worker, Rosamie, described the work permit she was issued as a “curse,” as it bound her to her employers as property, leaving her vulnerable to exploitation and violence. Drawing on ethnographic research, this article argues that multiscalar geographies of bodily (dis)possession are produced by Singapore’s labor-migration regime, which shape migrant domestic workers’ everyday lives. By engaging directly with the concepts of possession and dispossession, this article reveals the ways in which migrant domestic workers are themselves rendered bodily possessions in Singapore; with the state, employers, employment agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and ghosts all involved in creating this dynamic. Indeed, as I demonstrate, the permanence, freedoms, and authority of both employers and (shelter-based) ghosts stood in stark contrast to the disposability, unfreedom, and powerlessness that domestic workers (particularly those residing in shelters) often experienced and felt. I also explain how domestic workers’ lack of autonomy and bodily (dis)possession was (re)produced at different geographic scales: within the nation, individual dwelling spaces, and the body.

Increased home energy use: unintended outcomes of energy efficiency focused policy

ABSTRACT Residential energy policies for individual dwellings predominantly provide minimum design standards for thermal performance and energy efficiency on a square metre basis. This paper quantifies predicted dwelling energy use on a national scale to enable evaluation of the effectiveness of this policy model. Utilizing Australia as a case study, analysis of 580,956 thermal energy design certificates for new detached dwellings verifies that, although minimum energy efficiency design standards were achieved, predicted energy use for thermal comfort increased by 10.4% per dwelling and 5.6% nationally in 2022 compared to 2018. The study examines the impact of both the number and floor area of new dwellings on dwelling energy use and highlights the disparate jurisdictional outcomes resulting from inconsistent implementation of national policy across multi-state governance. To deliver reductions in household energy use it is imperative that residential energy policies target household energy use, rather than only energy efficiency, of new dwellings, of which floor area is a key determinant. Furthermore, to achieve global climate change objectives, there is a need for complementary policy mechanisms that consider the collective energy use of the residential dwelling sector.

Sound insulation of slabs in dwellings

The well-being and sleeping quality of people in dwellings depends on appropriate sound insulation efficiency of building structures. In individual apartments, airborne sound is produced by people talking and music playing, and impact sound is produced by people walking and falling of various objects on the floor. The inter floor slab separating the individual dwellings is intended for airborne and impact noise insulation, so special attention is paid to its design and installation. Since the composition of this structure is primarily determined by the structural requirements, the improvement of the sound insulation performance is mainly carried out by developing the damping interlayer materials. The stone wool plate has been modified reducing the fiber intertwining to obtain a more uniform fiber directivity, thus reducing its dynamic stiffness. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the sound insulation efficiency of inter floor slabs with a new modification of stone wool damping interlayer in comparison with currently used mineral wool products. The experimental measurements in 50-5000 Hz frequency range were performed in construction site (real structures), the single-number quantities – weighted standardized level difference (DnTw) and weighted normalized impact sound pressure level (L‘nW) with living adaption term (C) were determined and compared. The research results demonstrated that the modified stone wool with reduced fiber intertwining and lover organic content used for damping interlayer enables to improve living sound insulation of inter floor slab comparing with existing stone wool materials.

Modelling and Evaluation of Noise Dispersion from Wind Turbine Operations

Abstract All over the world, the need for energy is increasing, and the methods of obtaining it are harmful to the environment. Traditional energy resources are rapidly depleting. During the extraction and burning of fossil fuels, many different pollutants enter the environment. One of the renewable forms of energy is wind energy. Wind energy is mainly used to generate electricity in wind farms. Wind turbines are a unique source of noise because they are installed at a high height above the ground, and the noise emitted is fluctuating and manifests itself in a wide frequency range. Noise from wind turbines as low as 32 dB(A) is a strong nervous system irritant for some people, while noise of 40 dB(A) and above causes severe discomfort for many people [1]. Detailed noise modeling was carried out in the considered area, assessing how noise affects individual dwellings, noise in the living environment of residential buildings were modeled. The noise level without background noise sources of the nearest residential environment was determined by modeling at 31.9 dB(A) during the night, while the limit value for the protection of human health according to HN 33:2011 is 45 dB(A).

Community stochastic domestic electricity forecasting

The domestic sector is a significant energy consumer – accounting for around 40% of global electricity demand – due to household demand diversity and complexity. An accurate and robust estimation of domestic electrical loads, environmental impacts, and energy-efficiency potential is crucial for optimal planning and management of energy systems and applications. However, uncertainties resulting from simplistic socio-technical attributes, microclimatic variations, and oversimplification of the effects of interdependent variables make domestic energy modelling challenging. In this research, a hybrid bottom-up community energy forecasting framework is developed to estimate sub-hourly domestic electricity demand using a combination of statistical and engineering modelling approaches by considering key factors influencing household consumption, including demographic characteristics, occupancy patterns, and the features, ownership, and utilisation patterns of electric appliances. The framework is tested on a community in Wales, UK and validated on an annual, daily, and sub-hourly basis with monitored electricity usage averages derived from the UK Energy Follow-Up Survey and the sub-national electricity consumption datasets. Results closely reflect annual and daily household demand at individual dwellings and aggregated levels, with an estimation accuracy of up to 90%. Moreover, the framework facilitates more reliable sub-hourly demand profiles compared to conventional simulation practices that overestimate daily electricity demand and sub-hourly peaks by up to 15% and 50%, respectively.

Data-driven method for optimized supply temperatures in residential buildings

The energy required for space heating amounts to approximately 68% of the total energy demand of existing buildings in Europe. The heat requirement of a building, and thus its carbon emission, can be lowered by optimizing the supply and return temperature of the heating system. A lower supply temperature enables a wider variety of transition pathways towards sustainable heating with reduced carbon emissions. However, the minimum supply temperature that guarantees acceptable indoor temperatures in existing dwellings during design weather conditions is still unknown. In this study, we determine the minimum supply temperature by fitting a 2 R–2C model to hourly measurement data. The measurement data is obtained from a representative set of 220 existing gas-fired dwellings in the Netherlands. The heating system of each dwelling was equipped with a pulse flowmeter and temperature sensors on both the supply and return side. Additionally, data was collected from the thermostat in the main living room and the gas boiler. The data was supplemented with weather data from a nearby weather station. The data-driven model shows that the minimum supply temperature can be lower than 55 °C for 60% of the dwellings during design weather conditions (i.e., −10 °C in the Netherlands). Moreover, the minimum supply temperature is poorly correlated with general building properties, such as the building typology, construction period or specific annual space heating demand (kWh/(m2yr)). On the contrary, the ratio between the required and installed heat output of the radiators in the heating system is a promising parameter to predict the minimum design supply temperature of an individual dwelling that guarantees an acceptable indoor temperature during design weather conditions.

In-between urbanism: The physical, functional, socio-cultural, and identity-forming role of the otla in informal settlements in Ahmedabad

Public/private interfaces play a key role in neighbourhood liveliness, economic exchange, safety, identity, and social life. In informal settlements, interfaces play additional roles in the incremental upgrading process and how open space is appropriated and contested. While typologies of public/private interfaces in informal settlements have been generalised, how informal interfaces change in response to cultural and place context are less understood. A detailed analysis of four communities in two informal settlements in Ahmedabad (India) – Ramapir No Tekro and Gandhi Vas – finds an interface typology unique to Ahmedabad: the otla. Data collection methods included participant observation, shared open space use observation, settlement and neighbourhood mapping, architectural documentation, creative activities with young people, and semi-structured interviews. Examining the physical dimension, practical function, socio-cultural role, and role in forming identity of otlas reveals that this relatively modest space effectively alleviates small dwelling size, contributes to individual dwelling and community identity, and provides an opportunity for residents to build social ties. Understanding the significance of otlas reveals the heterogeneity of informal settlements and can support interventions that better harness the potential of self-organised environments.

Just sharing? Energy injustices in the Norwegian solar policy mix for collective prosuming

There is increasing evidence that the energy transition incorporates new types of inequalities for different types of energy consumers. In many places, detached dwellings are highly overrepresented among the building types with solar PV installed. Based on document analysis and high-level interviews, this article analyses the policy mix for rooftop solar energy in Norway through an energy justice lens, focusing on multi-apartment buildings and housing cooperatives. Such cooperatives resemble both a Renewable Energy Community and a Citizen Energy Community as defined in the EU's ‘Clean Energy for all Europeans’-package. We identify several energy injustices in the solar PV policy mix, which effectively impede residents in multi-apartment buildings from collectively producing their own electricity. As a result, very few multi-apartment buildings and housing cooperatives produce their own electricity. Most importantly, current regulations add electricity taxes, grid fees and VAT to the collectively self-consumed electricity as soon as it enters each individual dwelling. By contrast, detached households are allowed to practise hourly net-metering, thereby consuming their self-produced electricity behind the meter without any additional taxes or fees. Finally, our findings show that perceptions of a ‘fair’ policy mix vary considerably, and that equal rules affect various groups of residents differently.

Measuring River-View Visibilities of Individual Dwellings for Planning of Compact Urban Riverside Neighborhood Blocks

Line-of-sight occlusion in compact cities commonly reduces the river views of riverfront residents. This study developed a new approach to measure the river-view visibilities of individual dwellings in urban riverfront neighborhood blocks. The objective of this study is to achieve a good integration between the morphology of building groups and the ideal river-view visibility of dwellings, and to provide assistance in building and landscape design through the proposed method. First, a design case of an actual riverside neighborhood block with two initial building layout schemes was selected. The complex layout scheme led to a better building-group morphology than the simple layout scheme. Second, 3D models were built using the Rhinoceros and Grasshopper software platforms, and 3D isovists were generated on the hypothetical River Surface Curve (RSC) equipartition points. Finally, the data from the 3D isovists were used to measure the river-view visibility of each dwelling. The results show that river views were available for all dwellings with the simple layout scheme; however, the complex layout scheme was polarized, with 3% of the dwellings having no river views, and a higher number of dwellings with high-quality river-view visibilities. The optimized layout scheme was based on repeated adjustments of the river-view visibility for all dwellings. The viewpoint clouds of the river views on the dwelling exterior walls are described for facade design guidance. The river-view measurement approach can accurately and efficiently measure the river-view visibility of each dwelling in the block, which can be used in optimizing of neighborhood block design.

Sustainable Energy Planning and Management Vol 37

This 37th volume of the International Journal of Sustainable Energy Planning and Management present novel analyses on the Nigerian electricity sector with focus on stakeholders in centralised and decentralised electricity supply. Analyses of Berlin-Brandenburg in Germany shows the prospects of 100 % renewable energy systems here. Industry is an important target in the energy transition, so a model is developed to analyse energy savings potentials. Within the heating sector, much of the individual dwellings in Central and Eastern Europe are impacted by a fuel trap, trapping them between two essentially undesirable options – biomass and natural gas. Also, within the residential sector, a new analysis probes in the feasibility of installing photo voltaics in India, and lastly, an interesting article investigates the local economic and employment effects of increased biofuel production.

Evaluation of residential demand response trials with smart heat pumps and batteries and their effect at the substation feeder

Residential demand response using low carbon technologies can potentially offer energy flexibility to the electricity network along with integration of renewable generation. This paper seeks to empirically evaluate the effectiveness of residential demand response trials on a low voltage feeder of a secondary substation in Barnsley (UK). The study used a sample of 14 well-insulated dwellings equipped with home batteries, heat pumps and solar photovoltaic systems coordinated using automated control. Statistical analysis was undertaken using time-series monitoring data obtained at the individual dwelling level, dwelling sample and at the feeder level of the local low voltage network. Resident experience of the trials was assessed through qualitative data obtained from household telephone surveys. Over three weeks of trials, daily demand response interventions of 2 h duration were applied to the sample of 14 dwellings. For evening peak times, the mean reduction in grid electricity import was found to be 1.3 kWh (67%) per dwelling for turn-down interventions which aimed to minimise import. For turn-up interventions between 1 and 3 pm, the mean increase in grid electricity import was found to be 5.8 kWh (645%) per dwelling. The effect of interventions was measured at the low voltage network level for two single-phase feeders, where penetration of trial homes was approximately one-third. A reduction in mean real power up to 21% was observed for turn-down interventions as well as an increase in real mean power up to 307% for turn-up interventions. In general, the trials had little effect on residents in terms of thermal comfort, hot water availability, noise disturbance or disruption to routines, and where such effects were noticed, they were broadly acceptable. The widespread implementation of residential demand response schemes will require increased roll-out of time-of-use tariffs, enhanced resident support and extensive monitoring of low voltage feeders in electricity substations.

Cultural identity in the architecture of individual dwelling in the conditions of industrialization

The development of fast construction methods that allow to speed up and cheapen the procedure of housing construction will form conditions for simplifying mortgage programs by financial institutions. Despite the positive aspects of industrialization, this process is characterized by signs of depersonalization and loss of regional authenticity in architecture. This leads to the erosion of national mentality and loss of cultural identity. The search for signs of cultural identity of the Russian individual dwelling is based on the volumetric and spatial analysis of the architecture of the traditional Russian dwelling house of the North-Western regions of the Russian Federation. Since this area corresponds to the third and fourth climatic zone, in which most of the territory of the Russian Federation is located. As a result of the analysis, the characteristic planning features of individual residential houses formed under the influence of natural and climatic conditions of the region are determined and the stable, not changing in time signs of identity are revealed. As a result of the study, the parameters of the optimal percentage ratio of warm and cold zones in the volume of the house for the formation of a sustainably developing system of national housing, and the stylistic and typological characteristics formed on their basis.

Native American Voting Rights in Utah: Federal Policy, Citizenship, and Voter Suppression

Native American Voting Rights in Utah: Federal Policy, Citizenship, and Voter Suppression

Solar chimney for enhancing thermal comfort in individual housing in a semi-humid climate

Nowadays, the rational use of energy resources is placed at the center of our concerns. The use of renewable energy sources such as solar energy, wind, and geothermal energy are very interesting alternatives to meet our needs for comfort inside our homes. In semi-humid climates, natural ventilation is recommended to improve thermal comfort. In this way, natural ventilation using renewable energy without the need for mechanical equipment has gained in importance. A solar chimney is one of this technology that can be used to improve the ventilation of a residential or commercial building and uses the same principle at a chimney. In this study, the effect of the presence of a solar chimney on hygrothermal comfort was evaluated. A simulation will be carried out by EDSL TAS software; to evaluate and compare the effect of natural ventilation on hygrothermal comfort in the winter period of the individual dwelling. Four scenarios are selected; without ventilation, with cross ventilation, and by the integration of the solar chimney. Also varied shapes of canals. The results show that a solar chimney based on the thermal chimney effect can improve natural ventilation.

Empirical evaluation of demand side response trials in UK dwellings with smart low carbon technologies

Low carbon technologies along with smart control have a role in residential demand side response (DSR) to shift the timing of household energy consumption away from peak times and align it with generation of renewable electricity. This paper empirically evaluates the impact of DSR trials on grid electricity import and resident experience regarding disruption to daily routines, thermal comfort and noise disturbance in 17 thermally efficient social housing dwellings (Barnsley, England). Four types of DSR trials were run through 22 interventions performed in March to April 2021. Each dwelling was equipped with a 5 kWh electro-chemical battery and air source heat pump, and all but one dwelling had solar photovoltaic (PV) panels (1.3–3.0 kWp). Interventions were applied against a flat (single) rate tariff as well as dynamic time-of-use tariffs. On average, secure turn-down interventions between 5 and 7 p.m. resulted in a reduction in grid electricity import of 1.2 kWh per household and a reduction in controllable load (heat pump plus battery energy) of 3.7 kWh per household. The batteries enabled 2.5 kWh per household of electricity to be exported to the grid for these interventions. On average, turn-up interventions between 1 and 3 p.m. resulted in an increase of 2.3 kWh per household in grid electricity import. Individual dwellings showed different levels of demand response depending on the levels and patterns of household electricity consumption.The resident experience was evaluated by means of a series of telephone surveys. Householders were generally accepting of the trials in terms of changes in indoor temperature, hot water availability, noise disturbance and disruption to household routines. However, some general concerns were raised about the energy systems relating to indoor temperature, hot water temperature and energy costs. The general acceptability of automated DSR, conditional on thermal comfort limits and manual override, is promising for the wider application of residential DSR driven by price signals, although ongoing household engagement in DSR schemes will require a continued focus on the householder experience with training and support in using new technologies. A routine period of inspection should be employed to identify any issues with energy system issues ahead of DSR initiation.

“Green technologies” elements by the individual residential buildings internal electrical networks operation

The article discusses the research results on the internal electrical networks operation of two independent individual residential buildings with a 0.38 kV voltage three-phase electrical input energy. It is established that these electrical networks operation is characterized by a significant currents and voltages unbalance level, which leads to a quality standards violation and electrical energy additional losses increase. When using the computer program “ModulHous”, which algorithm is based on the developed calculation methods, the currents and voltages unbalance calculation was performed. With the use of the MATLAB graphics editor technology, the obtained changes visualization in the currents and voltages unbalance has been implemented. The obtained diagrams analysis made it possible to establish the unbalance power consumption level and its impact on the internal power supply efficiency of the individual residential buildings. A special balancing device is proposed that automatically minimizes unbalancing flows in the internal individual dwellings electrical network. The developed software made it possible to establish the using balancing devices efficiency to improve the quality and reduce electrical energy additional losses in the considered electric networks of individual residential buildings.