Major Renovation Research Articles

Austrian GHG emission targets for new buildings and major renovations: an exploratory study

To avoid uncontrollable and uncompensated effects of climate change, within the ratification of the Paris Agreement, 197 countries including Austria have committed to limit their emissions of greenhouse gases to hold the warming below 2°C. Achievement of this objective will oblige Austrian society to stay within a carbon budget of 1000 Mt CO2eq until 2050. Due to the long-life span of buildings as well as their high contribution and reduction potentials regarding embodied and operational greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, specific environmental benchmarks are required for new buildings and major renovations. The evaluation of environmental targets presented in this paper follows a methodology combining top-down and bottom-up approaches. First, GHG emissions and reduction targets are calculated for the emission intensity of the Austrian energy mix with the help of top-down decomposition. Second, a hybrid top-down-bottom-up approach is applied as a basis for establishing GHG emission targets on building level. The embodied and operational impacts of Austrian building stock and from construction of new buildings are evaluated. Following on from this and using the Austrian carbon budget, the reduction targets are set at building level based on the hypothesis for 2050. This paper present and exploratory study and can be presented as a basis for definition of GHG targets.

Acoustic analysis and identification of smart solutions for the acoustic insulation of a large historical building

The object of the present paper is the acoustic study of Palazzo Borghese, one of the most important buildings of the neoclassical period present in Florence, which occupies the entire block between Via Ghibellina and Via dei Pandolfini. The Palace has been interested by various architectural interventions occurred in different historical periods. In 1437 a series of grandiose works of unification, enlargement and modernization were undertaken by Michelozzo who created a grand palace with a large open loggia much admired at the time. In 1709 a large, still existing, ballroom was built with a stage for the orchestra. The last major renovation was carried out at the beginning of the nineteenth century by Camillo Borghese: on the first floor, the monumental rooms, above all the main hall and the hall of mirrors, stand out for their magnificence, with a great profusion of gilded stuccoes, marble statues, columns, carved chandeliers, paintings.Currently some areas of the building are used for receptions, conferences and events, while others are part of a receptive structure, residences and offices. The contiguity of spaces, characterized by very different acoustic requirements and by the presence of three very silent internal courtyards on which these spaces overlook, led to the emergence of numerous acoustic problems whose solution is made particularly delicate by the historical-artistic constraints present on the building. In order to identify the acoustic criticalities, several campaigns of acoustic measurements have been carried out, both during the reception activities and through the use of a sample source.This investigation allowed to determine the structural weaknesses of the building and to identify the most appropriate technical and smart interventions compatible with the structural constraints and historical-artistic protection of the property.

The nZEB concept and its requirements for residential buildings renovation in Southern Europe: The case of multi-family buildings from 1961 to 1980 in Portugal and Spain

Southern Europe has an old housing stock and has the challenge, as the rest of European Union Member States, to transform it into a decarbonized one, by means of transforming the existing buildings into Nearly Zero Energy Buildings (nZEB). Member States have a large margin of discretion when defining the requirements for nZEB.In this paper, the nZEB requirements for the renovation of residential buildings in Portugal and Spain are studied in detail (unlike the usual more general comparative studies) for a specific building typology with poor energy performance. This is done by checking whether an existing residential building, renovated with different combinations of improvements of the envelope and active systems in two comparable cities in each of these two countries, fulfills the requirements or not, and by comparing the results of CO2 emissions reductions. One of the improvements of the envelope considered are those necessary to fulfill the compulsory major renovation requirements in both countries to check how much we are already approaching to the decarbonization of the residential sector.The results show that nZEB standards applied to the renovation of typical multi-family buildings of 1961–1980 in both countries will significantly contribute to the descarbonization of the building stock for this type of building typology, with reductions of 80–96% of CO2 emissions for Portugal and 71–94% for Spain, if they are applied. However, some aspects of the regulations could possibly be improved such as more restrictive requirements for the current regulations for major renovations in Portugal or the way energy from renewable sources is ensured in Spain, among others.

Home renovation waste upon change of ownership: A Coasian way of addressing an urban externality

Using data of 1.4 million non-aggregate, publicly available, private residential property resale transactions for Hong Kong from 1991 to 2015, this paper addresses a public policy question raised by Demsetz from a Coasian angle. It estimates the impact of a less explored but ecologically problematic realm of renovation waste upon change of ownership of property units in a highly commodified property market. The estimate shows the extent and possibly high cost of the government in addressing negative externalities. Informed by the findings, this paper puts forward the recommendation of a prepaid lump sum waste monitoring levy, which is reimbursable upon self-reporting of waste generation. The collected information, when made open to the public, may help market forces to address poor building quality which causes legitimate major renovations and encourage better workmanship for future edifices.

Benefits of retrofitting school buildings in accordance to LEED v4

Pursuing green building certification for major renovation projects, including schools, has become common due to its associated resource efficiency, reduced operation cost, and enhanced indoor environmental conditions. The perceived renovation costs may discourage professionals from pursuing the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating systems. To attain cost-effective LEED certifications, the authors developed an optimization model capable of identifying practical credits then ranking them by their associated costs. A case study was performed using a random sample of nine constructed schools in Dubai. The model output revealed that schools could be renovated to LEED Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum with average cost increases of 0.15%, 0.46%, 1.42%, and 4.97%, respectively. Because of the insignificant cost differences between upgrading to LEED Certified, LEED Silver, and LEED Gold, the authors advise upgrading most school buildings to the Gold certificate level.Furthermore, average energy and water consumption savings at the LEED Platinum tier are estimated to be 30% and 27%, respectively. Some sample schools were built to meet the city's mandatory green building regulations, thus allowing the model to identify the effects of local regulation. Finally, the proposed investments in water and energy conservation could be retrieved within a maximum of seven years.

Yale University School of Medicine.

Yale University School of Medicine.

Why a National University Hospital should Prioritize and Fund Research

Why a National University Hospital should Prioritize and Fund Research

CMS: A Continuous Machine-Learning and Serving Platform for Industrial Big Data

The life-long monitoring and analysis for complex industrial equipment demands a continuously evolvable machine-learning platform. The machine-learning model must be quickly regenerated and updated. This demands the careful orchestration of trainers for model generation and modelets for model serving without the interruption of normal operations. This paper proposes a container-based Continuous Machine-Learning and Serving (CMS) platform. By designing out-of-the-box common architecture for trainers and modelets, it simplifies the model training and deployment process with minimal human interference. An orchestrator is proposed to manage the trainer’s execution and enables the model updating without interrupting the online operation of model serving. CMS has been deployed in a 1000 MW thermal power plant for about five months. The system running results show that the accuracy of eight models remains at a good level even when they experience major renovations. Moreover, CMS proved to be a resource-efficient, effective resource isolation and seamless model switching with little overhead.

The Challenges of Major Tank Coating Refurbishment Projects for On-Station Floating Assets

The objective of this paper is to acknowledge that major tank coating refurbishment projects to FPSO’s and FSU’s are likely to be required during the life of these assets. It highlights the key challenges of achieving these major coating projects in an offshore environment, whilst the assets remain operational and in-production. As these floating assets age the original coatings applied to protect the internal (and external) hull, deteriorate. In an industry with a reluctance for extensive dry-dockings, there is an expectation that any coating refurbishment campaigns can be achieved safely and efficiently whilst the assets remain on-station and in-production, in preference to costly steel renewal’s which may be required at a future date if coatings are not maintained in good condition. With often complex, congested and hazardous topsides processing equipment and pipework directly above the hull tanks, there’s a need for systems, procedures, and specialist equipment to ensure the safety of the personnel entering confined spaces for extended periods. There’s also a need to plan and engineer the works appropriately, using best practice and emergent technologies to improve safety, reduce bedding impacts and to ensure the success of the coating campaign. This paper explores the challenges of major coating projects by discussing the importance of planning and preparation, the need to create a safe working environment within the confined space worksites, the role surface preparation plays in the success of coating projects, and finally the application of coatings and the challenges this operation can present. The key considerations are summarised in 10 specific conclusions as guidance to promote successful project outcomes.

Pediatric urological surgery readiness condition (PedsUROCON).

Pediatric urological surgery readiness condition (PedsUROCON).

Factors influencing volatile organic compounds in Canadian homes

Volatile organic compounds, several of which may impact health, have many possible indoor sources. To further investigate this, we tested the association between indoor concentrations of 47 passively collected volatile organic compounds and both home characteristics and occupant behaviours in a Canadian population-based sample of 3454 participants. Homes with smokers were excluded from analysis. Homes with a door connecting to an attached garage had greater concentrations of hexanal, benzaldehyde, all the measured alkyl benzenes and ketones, most of the simple hydrocarbons and terpenes. Major home renovations within the past month were associated with higher concentrations of most or all of the volatile organic compounds in the categories of alcohols, alkyl benzenes, ketones, simple hydrocarbons and terpenes. Using paints and stains within the past week were associated with an increase in concentrations of the majority of alcohols, alkyl benzenes and simple hydrocarbons. Several building characteristics and occupant’s behaviours appear to increase exposure to volatile organic compounds. Modification of these factors is generally under the control of the occupant(s), suggesting that education could result in reduced indoor volatile organic compound exposure in the Canadian population.

The Burrell Renaissance: Unpicking a Collection and Its Building

ABSTRACT The Burrell Collection, which opened in 1984, was built to display and house the fine and decorative art collection given to the City of Glasgow by the ship owner, politician and philanthropist Sir William Burrell. The building design was chosen via a competition in the 1970s, with the structure fully listed in the early twenty-first century. It is one of the best examples of late twentieth-century architecture in Scotland. Despite its relatively young age, the building now requires major refurbishment, and the collection has been removed ahead of a planned redisplay and re-installation in 2020–21. The Burrell Renaissance Project has provided the opportunity to examine the relationships between the objects, the building and the public. When the Burrell Collection first opened the important relationship was that between the objects and the building, with the structure including specific design solutions for the collection. During the Burrell Renaissance Project this has been broadened to emphasise the relationships of the public to the building as well as the collection. For conservation staff, this has meant an evaluation of how the building and collection had been related, the re-examining of the methods of display, treatment, installation and maintenance, development of new methods and an acknowledgement of conservators’ own emotional relationship with the objects in their care.

Measured and Simulated Energy Use in a Secondary School Building in Sweden—A Case Study of Validation, Airing, and Occupancy Behaviour

In this case study, the energy performance of a secondary school building from the 1960s in Gävle, Sweden, was modelled in the building energy simulation (BES) tool IDA ICE version 4.8 prior to major renovation planning. The objectives of the study were to validate the BES model during both occupied and unoccupied periods, investigate how to model airing and varying occupancy behaviour, and finally investigate energy use to identify potential energy-efficiency measures. The BES model was validated by using field measurements and evidence-based input. Thermal bridges, infiltration, mechanical ventilation, domestic hot water circulation losses, and space heating power were calculated and measured. A backcasting method was developed to model heat losses due to airing, opening windows and doors, and other occupancy behaviour through regression analysis between daily heat power and outdoor temperature. Validation results show good agreement: 3.4% discrepancy between space heating measurements and simulations during an unoccupied week. Corresponding monthly discrepancy varied between 5.5% and 10.6% during three months with occupants. Annual simulation indicates that the best potential renovation measures are changing to efficient windows, improved envelope airtightness, new controls of the HVAC system, and increased external wall thermal insulation.

The Application of Smart Home Concept into Existing Typical Malaysian Single-storey Terrace Houses: Device Installation

A Smart Home Concept is often referred to the application of smart system technology into residential typology of building. It is a system in which provide home automation that used by the home owner in order to adjust the condition of the house either they are home or away from home. In Malaysia, typical single-storey terrace houses builds according the specifications through a conventional construction complied with Universal Building By-Laws 1985 that help occupants to live in safe and comfort. However, with the introduction of new concept and new technology of Smart Home, Malaysian residential building is upgraded. Thus, aim of this study is to identify the aspects of Smart Home Concept that will inform its usage and application into existing typical Malaysian single-storey terrace houses in terms of device installation. Three major Smart Home system providers were interviewed in order to gain information for the analysis. The analysis is basically to test the applicability of the system in terms of its ideal positioning and installation construction. At the end of this paper, the objective of the study is achieved, in which, smart home concept requires proper planning of home furnishing for them to work effectively. In terms of installation construction, there is no needs to do major renovation or hacking of the existing houses.

Development of an Iot Based Energy Management System for Air Handling Unit

The emergence of automation and smart power management systems pave to create a better energy management system. Measuring energy savings and potential reduction of peak demand in a building due to adjustment of AHU (Air Handling Unit) setpoint during working hours is critical for ideal demand-side allocations. Since Air Handling Units are one of the major energy consuming system in a building. This has been a great challenge given too many variable physical characteristics and AHU system thermal dynamics in commercial buildings. Based on the building model, developed and authenticate against measured power consumption data from a smart energy meter, this project deals with how energy savings and peak demand reduction potentials of a building are impacted by AHU, setpoint changes during a working period. It is of the utmost necessity to make a prototype for an existing AHU in order to minimize wastage of power in older buildings without any major renovation. This can be achieved by making the existing system into a closed loop system by our model prototype.

Rethinking environmental LCA life stages for transport infrastructure to facilitate holistic assessment

AbstractLife cycle assessment (LCA) aims to provide a near full accounting of impacts from the complete life of a product, to avoid burden shifting between different parts of the life cycle. However, this is exceptionally difficult with transport infrastructure because important parts of their impact lie outside the widely applied industrial‐product‐oriented LCA life stages: production, manufacturing, use, and end of life. To account for those missing impacts, we propose a new framework for assessing the life cycle impacts of transport infrastructure. This framework takes account of the differences between transport infrastructure and the industrial product system to which LCA is most attuned. First, rather than a linear process from material extraction to disposal, this LCA framework accommodates the multiple iterations of transport infrastructure through circular life stages. These reflect the long lifetimes, durability, persistence, and feedback loops of transport infrastructure. Second, this framework recognizes the impact at the start of the life cycle created by demolition of previous infrastructure or land clearing. Third, the tightly linked external impacts that transport infrastructure induces, including influences on travel behavior, local land use, land use, land use change and forestry, and network effects are captured. Fourth, this framework recharacterizes “end of life” as “partial end of life,” in reflection of the widespread reconstruction, major refurbishment of and persistence of indirect impacts from transport infrastructure.

Development and Performance Assessment of Prefabricated Insulation Elements for Deep Energy Renovation of Apartment Buildings

A need for the refurbishment and renewal of the existing building stock has been in focus for many decades, principally because of excessive global energy consumption and pollution. This paper presents a methodology and the results of analysis of choices of realizable sets of timber frame prefabricated insulation elements for major renovation of apartment buildings. Numerous combinations of elements with different characteristics were analyzed by applying measurements, interviews, and building performance simulation software, and thereupon their performance, installation eligibility, and concurrent cost levels were compared. Mineral wool board with a special wind barrier facing was found to be the best material as a wind barrier from the perspective of hygrothermal performance. An air and vapor barrier should have sufficient vapor permeability to allow dry-out of constructional moisture. It is possible to renovate apartment buildings to meet the nZEB energy performance requirements and their moisture safety can be guaranteed without paying high relative difference cost. Calculations showed that the global cost was lower for solutions with some mold growth risk. Great care is needed when decreasing costs without simultaneous hygrothermal analyses. The facade cladding was found to have the highest influence on the initial cost of the prefabricated insulation element.

Developing a collaborative HBIM to integrate tangible and intangible cultural heritage

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to report on the development of a collaborative Heritage Building Information Modelling (HBIM) of a 19th-century multi-building industrial site in the UK. The buildings were Grade II listed by Historic England for architectural and structural features. The buildings were also a key element of the industrial heritage and folklore of the surrounding area. As the site was due to undergo major renovation work, this project was initiated to develop a HBIM of the site that encapsulated both tangible and intangible heritage data.Design/methodology/approachThe design of the research in this study combined multiple research methods. Building on an analysis of secondary data surrounding HBIM, a community of practice was established to shape the development of an HBIM execution plan (HBEP) and underpin the collaborative BIM development. The tangible HBIM geometry was predominantly developed using a scan to BIM methodology, whereas intangible heritage data were undertaken using unstructured interviews and a focus group used to inform the presentation approach of the HBIM data.FindingsThe project produced a collaboratively generated multi-building HBIM. The study identified the need for a dedicated HBEP that varies from prevailing BIM execution plans on construction projects. Tangible geometry of the buildings was modelled to LOD3 of the Historic England guidelines. Notably, the work identified the fluid nature of intangible data and the need to include this in an HBIM to fully support design, construction and operation of the building after renovation. A methodology was implemented to categorise intangible heritage data within a BIM context and an approach to interrogate these data from within existing BIM software tools.Originality/ValueThe paper has presented an approach to the development of HBIM for large sites containing multiple buildings/assets. The framework implemented for an HBEP can be reproduced by future researchers and practitioners wishing to undertake similar projects. The method for identifying and categorising intangible heritage information through the developed level of intangible cultural heritage was presented as new knowledge. The development of HBIM to bring together tangible and intangible data has the potential to provide a model for future work in the field and augment existing BIM data sets used during the asset lifecycle.

Development and upgrading of public primary healthcare facilities with essential surgical services infrastructure: a strategy towards achieving universal health coverage in Tanzania

BackgroundInfrastructure development and upgrading to support safe surgical services in primary health care facilities is an important step in the journey towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Quality health service provision together with equitable geographic access and service delivery are important components that constitute UHC. Tanzania has been investing in infrastructure development to offer essential safe surgery close to communities at affordable costs while ensuring better outcomes. This study aimed to understand the public sector’s efforts to improve the infrastructure of primary health facilities between 2005 and 2019. We assessed the construction rates, geographic coverage, and physical status of each facility, surgical safety and services rendered in public primary health facilities.MethodsData was collected from existing policy reports, the Services Availability and Readiness Assessment (SARA) tool (physical status), the Health Facility Registry (HFR), implementation reports on infrastructure development from the 26 regions and 185 district councils across the country (covering assessment of physical infrastructure, waste management systems and inventories for ambulances) and Comprehensive Emergence Obstetric Care (CEMONC) signal functions assessment tool. Data was descriptively analyzed so as to understand the distribution of primary health care facilities and their status (old, new, upgraded, under construction, renovated and equipped), and the service provided, including essential surgical services.ResultsOf 5072 (518 are Health Centers and 4554 are Dispensaries) existing public primary health care facilities, the majority (46%) had a physical status of A (good state), 33% (1693) had physical status of B (minor renovation needed) and the remaining facilities had physical status of C up to F (needing major renovation). About 33% (1673) of all health facilities had piped water and 5.1% had landline telecommunication system. Between 2015 and August 2019, a total of 419 (8.3%) health facilities (Consisting of 350 health centers and 69 District Council Hospitals) were either renovated or constructed and equipped to offer safe surgery services. Of all Health Centers only 115 (22.2%) were offering the CEMONC services. Of these 115 health facilities, only 20 (17.4%) were offering the CEMONC services with all 9 - signal functions and only 17.4% had facilities that are offering safe blood transfusion services.ConclusionThis study indicates that between 2015 and 2019 there has been improvement in physical status of primary health facilities as a result constructions, upgrading and equipping the facilities to offer safe surgery and related diagnostic services. Despite the achievements, still there is a high demand for good physical statuses and functioning of primary health facilities with capacity to offer essential and safe surgical services in the country also as an important strategy towards achieving UHC. This is also inline with the National Surgical, Obstetrics and Anesthesia plan (NSOAP).

EnergyPlus, IDA ICE and TRNSYS predictive simulation accuracy for building thermal behaviour evaluation by using an experimental campaign in solar test boxes with and without a PCM module

For the design of new buildings or buildings undergoing major renovations, the use of building performance simulation (BPS) tools is a key instrument to sizing the envelope or to select the best solution to be integrated. Nowadays, many BPS tools are available and are used by researchers and designers, each of which was independently validated, by considering different operating conditions, and rarely were directly compared in the same conditions. The objective of this work is to evaluate the prediction accuracy of the most popular BPS tools, namely TRNSYS, EnergyPlus and IDA ICE, by means of a comparison of the simulated results and the experimental measurements detected under real operating conditions. For this issue, two different small-scale solar test boxes (STBs) with one glazed wall exposed to the outdoor environment of Rome were employed for the experimental investigation. The envelope of the reference STB is insulated and made by conventional materials. In the other case, the STB floor is equipped also with a commercial phase change material (PCM) panel. Both STBs were equipped with a data acquisition system to detect the internal air temperature, the glass external and internal surface temperature and, for the PCM-based STB, also the PCM floor internal surface temperature.A wide description and comparison of the mathematical models used by the three BPS tools are provided, followed by a geometric, weather data, technical and heat transfer parameters alignment was developed to put all the tools in the same conditions. Three different experimental campaign periods were considered and used for the evaluation of each BPS tool accuracy.Some common accuracy indices were used for the comparison, such as the R2, RMSE and normalized RMSE, and an overall accuracy index that summarizes the previous ones in the different experimental campaign periods. The results have shown have highlighted the most accurate mathematical models for the prediction of the dynamic thermal behaviour of the STB in the absence and presence of a PCM. In the absence of PCM in the STB, all the three tools are comparable providing high overall accuracy index in all periods with a rank variable as a function of the period owing to the different treatment of the solar radiation modelling. In the presence of PCM in the STB, IDA ICE leads to the highest overall accuracy index in all periods. Unlike to IDA ICE, TRNSYS and EnergyPlus do not take into account the PCM hysteresis phenomenon. Instead, TRNSYS model provides the worst accuracy since it neglects both hysteresis and phase change temperature range, that is instead implemented both in IDA ICE and EnergyPlus. However, TRNSYS predictions can be retained acceptable for a preliminary evaluation since only low data and very low computational cost is required.