Environment Of Residential Buildings Research Articles

Co-creation of urban agriculture through participatory processes in residential building environment: Insights from Finland

In the face of an increasingly global climate and food system crisis that unfolds alongside increasing urbanization, the importance of identifying novel ways of producing food in urban areas and linking this to achieving multiple sustainability objectives has increased. Previous evidence from Finland suggests that the growth in popularity of urban farming is driven by an interest in revitalizing the city, developing a sense of community, and increasing awareness about the value of food. These motives have encouraged different levels of governance to participate in developing urban agriculture (UA) in Finnish cities. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the suitability, benefits, and obstacles to the co-creation of UA in residential areas with housing companies. The results indicate that flexible module-based planning and availability of key site actors and factors (access to information and irrigation) are crucial to achieving UA's benefits. Additional benefits in the apartment building environment were perceived in terms of social capital, with respect to community-building, enhanced living comfort, and enhanced quality in the living environment.

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).

Reexamining the built environment, commuting and life satisfaction: Longitudinal evidence for gendered relationships

There is considerable interest in identifying factors of life satisfaction. However, current evidence on its relationships with the built environment (BE) and commuting has been limited to cross-sectional analyses, and few studies have identified gender differences in their links. Using two-wave survey data of 1002 pairs of spouses collected in 2014 and 2016, the study investigates the longitudinal relationships between the residential BE, commuting attributes, and life satisfaction and how the relationships differ between spouses. The results of cross-lagged models suggest that the residential BE and commuting attributes have significant effects on life satisfaction within each wave. Those who commute by active modes are more likely to have lower life satisfaction in the near future. All residential BE variables show lagged effects on husbands' life satisfaction, whereas only residential density and entropy matter to wives. The findings offer implications for transport policies and BE planning.

Evaluation of healthy indoor acoustic environments in residential buildings by the occupants: A mixed-method approach

With the well-established importance of healthy indoor acoustic environments, this study aims to investigate how occupants evaluate, understand, and characterise healthy indoor acoustic environments in residential buildings. A mixed-method approach with both qualitative and quantitative study designs was used. For the qualitative study, interview transcripts from 35 respondents were coded using a grounded theory approach. In the subsequent quantitative study, a questionnaire was developed based on the interview data, and the answers of 720 participants were analysed using structural equation modelling. The results presented the elements, conceptual framework, and evaluation model of a healthy indoor acoustic environment in residential buildings from the occupant's perspective. Among all elements, Attachment, Privacy, Autonomy, and Controllability were identified as the four characteristics of a healthy indoor acoustic environment at home. Controllability, which is the most significant factor (total effect size = 0.475), had a positive influence on the evaluation of healthy indoor acoustic environments in residential buildings by reducing negative emotions, physical discomfort, and behavioural disturbances caused by noise. Attachment also contributed favourably to the evaluation, particularly in individuals aged 18 to 29. The evaluation model varied according to gender and age. Women exhibited more complex evaluation mechanisms and diverse understandings than men, both of which tended to become simpler with age. The results of this study provide a theoretical reference for designing acoustic environments for healthy housing.

Interactive Design of Interior Environment of Residential Buildings Based on 3D Modeling

Interactive Design of Interior Environment of Residential Buildings Based on 3D Modeling

Simulation Study on Outdoor Wind Environment of Residential Complexes in Hot-Summer and Cold-Winter Climate Zones Based on Entropy-Based TOPSIS Method

Driven by a large digital simulation environment, CFD calculation software is used to simulate test results so that they can be effectively applied to engineering practice. This paper explores the suitable outdoor wind environment for residential areas in the hot summer and the cold winter. Taking Xishan Huijing in Changsha as an example, the most unfavorable wind field environment is used as the boundary condition, and the optimal design mode for this residential area is explored based on the Butterfly platform. The research in this paper is mainly divided into five steps: (1) using Rhino 7.0 to establish a 3D model; (2) using the Butterfly 0.0.05 platform to simulate the wind field and export the data at the same time, and to realize the preview through the visualization method; (3) processing the exported simulation data and the calculation of related indices; (4) applying the entropy-based TOPSIS method on the MATLAB 2020 platform to rank the preferred scheme and obtain the corresponding index weights; and (5) using a K-means cluster analysis on SPSS 26 software to optimize the scheme. The results show that (1) the wind environment quality will be overestimated in the summer if the influence of neighboring buildings on the site is not considered, while the opposite is true in the winter, with the error of both reaching two times. (2) The weights of the indicators determined by the TOPSIS entropy weighting method indicate that wind protection in the winter should be prioritized over natural ventilation in the summer in this area. The maximum wind speed in the winter has the most significant weight, reaching 0.287, and the uniformity of the wind field in the summer is the most important, reaching 0.1102. (3) In the layout design of the residential district, the staggered layout of the 60 m high slab houses in the northern, northeastern, and northwestern directions of the site creates a better wind field environment, which attains the highest score by the TOPSIS entropy weighting method, reaching 0.1539, with the second highest score, reaching 0.1511, for the layout method. The research results will provide a scientific basis for the design of residential buildings in the hot-summer and cold-winter regions in China, and also help designers to better grasp the outdoor wind environment of residential buildings in the pre-design stage.

The influence of architecture, design and physical environment in residential buildings on cardiovascular disease - rationale and protocol for an overview of systematic reviews.

Introduction and Objective. Architecture and design solutions profile the environment and living conditions in residential housing and may have an impact on health. The aim of the study was to summarise all published systematic reviews (SRs) with or without meta-analysis (MAs), which assess the effect on cardiovascular disease (CVD) of the architecture, design and physical environment in residential buildings. Materials and method. This study presents the rationale and protocol of an overview of SRs. It was prepared according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P). Four bibliographical databases will be searched. Eligible SRs can include RCTs, quasi-RCTs and observational studies. Results and Summery. The expected results of the completed overview of SRs will comprehensively summarise evidence concerning the influence of residential environment on cardiovascular health. This might be of importance to physicians, architects, public health professionals and politicians.

Review of multiport modular multilevel converters for residential applications: A control perspective

AbstractDistributed generation and storage systems have become important in the residential building environment. One of the more promising power electronic interfaces between these systems and the grid/building are multiport modular multilevel converters (MPMMCs). These converters can potentially improve efficiency and flexibility, however their control can pose challenges. Here, MPMMC topologies will be reviewed and analysed from a control standpoint (i.e. what control structures they require and what control outcomes they can achieve). This paper first determines a criteria for selecting a MPMMC for a residential building. It then presents a set of review criteria that can be used as guide for future multiport multilevel modular converters. It then applies these review criteria to analyse the converters that passed the selection criteria. Based on a detailed comparison of these topologies an appropriate multiport modular multilevel solution can be arrived at for a given application.

The Impact of Meteorological Changes on Human Comfort in Residential Buildings

This research article investigates the effect of meteorological changes on the comfort of residents in Imo State, Nigeria, which is situated in a tropical monsoon climate. The study aims to assess the state of the indoor environment in residential buildings in Imo State, considering thermal changes caused by meteorological variations. A case study approach was adopted, focusing on a selected residential building in Umuasonye, Orji, Owerri North, Imo State. The study spanned a period of 10 years, from 2011 to 2021, and included physical observation, measurement, and qualitative analysis of the collected data. A case study approach was employed to overcome limitations in accessing a large sample size of individual residential buildings. The selected residential building in Umuasonye, Orji, Owerri North, Imo State served as a representative example for the study. Data collection involved physical observation, measurement, and qualitative analysis over a 10-year period, from 2011 to 2021. This approach allowed for a comprehensive understanding of the indoor environment and its relationship with meteorological changes. Findings reveal significant climate and weather changes in Imo State, leading to thermal variations in building spaces. The study assesses the impact on resident comfort and identifies adaptive strategies employed. During dry seasons, residents utilized cooling systems, ventilation, and reduced hot water usage. In wet seasons, measures such as closing windows, wearing thick clothing, and increased hotwater usage were observed. This research provides valuable insights into the impact of meteorological changes on resident comfort in Imo State, Nigeria. It highlights the importance of climate-responsive building design and systems, showcasing adaptive strategies employed by residents. The case study approach contributes to knowledge for architects, building industry stak eholders, and users interested in promoting climate-responsive buildings and systems

METHODICAL APPROACHES TO DESIGNING CABINET KITCHEN FURNITURE

The aim of this study is to identify the main approaches and develop methods for creating individual design of kitchen cabinet furniture. The kitchen with its furniture and equipment is an important part of the environment of residential buildings. Since equipping the kitchen with modern furniture, the latest materials and accessories also influences the formation of the artistic appearance of the interior, the study of the design of cabinet furniture in the living space is very important and timely at the present stage.
 Methodology. The study used the analysis of literature sources on the design of furniture; structural and system analysis; synthesis of research results; computer modelling.
 Results. Two main approaches to the design of kitchen cabinet furniture are identified: "from consumer to product" and "from product to consumer"; a method of creating individual design of kitchen furniture within the "from consumer to product" approach is developed; features of the "from product to consumer" approach are formulated. It is determined that the first approach is related to the individual design of furniture, in which certain wishes, requirements and ideas of the customer create the algorithm of work. These requirements can be dictated by the specifics of the interior of the room from aesthetic and functional points of view. The second approach is aimed at mass-produced kitchen furniture, which is more in line with large furniture production, where it is the manufacturer who selects the design, and the consumers adjust their desires to the offer of the company, which is more suitable for low-income consumers.
 Scientific novelty. For the first time, the basic approaches to the design of kitchen cabinet furniture are defined and characterized, and methods of creating individual design of kitchen cabinet furniture within the "from the consumer to the product" approach are developed.
 The practical significance of the obtained results lies in the possibility of their application for designers and manufacturers in the design of kitchen cabinet furniture.

Influence of the Urban Intersection Reconstruction on the Reduction of Road Traffic Noise Pollution

The authors present the unsolved issue of the contextual design of urban intersections (UI) from the point of view of traffic noise emissions around residential buildings in the Slovak context. Noise barriers are very rarely used in urban areas, due to such reasons as lack of space for their installation, traffic safety (view at intersections), architectural factors, as well as the fact that they represent a barrier for pedestrians and cyclists. The use of low-noise asphalt pavements is limited in urban areas primarily due to the high cost of production and maintenance of these covers, their limited durability in a colder climate, and lower efficiency compared to the roads outside urban areas. From this aspect of urban intersection design, the authors focused on the identification of individual factors associated with the significant reduction (2–8 dB) of traffic noise induced by the reconstruction of non-signalized urban intersections into roundabouts. The authors draw attention to the fact that both new surfaces of intersection branches and the change in traffic processes contribute to the aforementioned reduction. This finding was obtained by comparing direct measurements of noise levels and the results of their predicted values using validated 3D models in the CadnaA program. Noise emissions were measured by a noise analyzer (NOR-1210), and traffic noise emissions were predicted by the “Nouvelle Méthode de Prévision du Bruit” methodology (NMPB-1996). Based on the analysis of the measured and predicted traffic noise levels, the authors objectivized the share of reduction in traffic processes in the 2–3 dB range. The authors objectified the share of traffic noise reduction due to the change in traffic processes as being in the 2.2–3.3 dB range. The presented research results could contribute to a quantifiable reduction in the noise load in the external environment of residential buildings using the contextual design of intersections.

Three-dimensional numerical simulation of indoor thermal comfort for sleeping environments: A case study of residential buildings in the city of Bandjoun, Cameroon

Thermal comfort is a feeling of well-being in an indoor environment. It is a guarantee of a good development of people in a building. For more than three months, many complaints were recorded in the West region of Cameroon and particularly in the city of Bandjoun. Indeed, people complain of high temperatures during sleep (between 10p.m and 4 a.m). These temperature increases led to a situation of indoor thermal discomfort in residential buildings in sleeping environments. This paper investigates numerically the three-dimensional indoor thermal comfort for sleeping environments in residential buildings constructed with local materials (concrete blocks and compressed earth bricks) in the city of Bandjoun. The novelty of the present work resides first in the computation of the direction of the incident solar radiation over the simulation time from longitude, latitude, time zone, time of the year, and time of the day. Secondly, it takes into account the various materials used for the roof (aluminum), ceiling (Bubinga wood), walls (concrete blocks/compressed earth bricks), window (glass), door (Bubinga wood) and its handle (aluminum). Finally, the solar and ambient wavelength dependence of emissivity model is used to account for differing emissivities in different wavelength bands. The multidimensional calculations were performed using Comsol Multiphysics 5.6. In addition, a questionnaire was developed to obtain the perception of residents. The numerical results obtained were in good agreement with the overall perception of residents because it was observed average increases of temperatures of 0.38 °C (between 24.57 °C and 24.95 °C) and 0.53 °C (between 24.77 °C and 25.3 °C) between 10p.m and 4 a.m respectively for buildings made with compressed earth bricks material and concrete blocks material.

İRAN'DA SÜRDÜRÜLEBİLİR MİMARİ YAKLAŞIMLI KONUT BİNALARININ SICAK VE KURAK ALANLARDA İNCELENMESİ

The culture and knowledge of the residents and users of the building is one of the most important and influential factors in the formation of the form and space of architecture and its interior design. Since the degree of attachment of users and residents to the space and environment in residential buildings is much more than other uses, and also because the sense of ownership and freedom of action of residential building users is higher than other buildings and spaces, so the importance and role of culture in design and the development of residential spaces will be doubled. The aim of this study is to analyze and explain the aspects of culture and its influence on the interior design of traditional Iranian dwellings in hot and dry climates. The research method of this article is analytical-descriptive.

Individual-based insight into occupants' interaction with windows in apartments in Beijing

Window opening plays a decisive role in indoor environments in residential buildings. To date great efforts have been conducted to explore the driving characteristics of window opening behavior based on a group of samples. In this context, at the level of one individual residential unit, more understanding of occupant interactions with windows is still required. Based on one-year field measurements of indoor and outdoor environmental parameters and window status of three apartments in Beijing and semi-structured interviews with occupants, this study provides an engineering and sociological analysis of the realistic characteristics of window opening behavior during the heating, transition, and cooling seasons for each apartment. These single apartment-based findings show that window opening is a complex occupant behavior under the combined influence of numerous environmental and non-environmental factors, which cannot be exhaustively listed. Moreover, the environmental and non-environmental factors interact with each other on their impacts on window opening behavior, and the interaction between the two kinds of factors is difficult to quantify. It is thus difficult to generalize the driving characteristics of window opening even based on window state transitions. Also due to this, window opening exhibited significant individual differences among these apartments. Nevertheless, it is more important to note that the indoor environment of these apartments, regulated only by opening the window, is statistically the same during the transition season. Based on thermal adaptive approach, these environmental outcomes illustrate that the indoor environment regulated by window airing alone can represent the environments acceptable to occupants under natural ventilation. Accordingly, comprehensively accurate investigation of the driving characteristics of window opening behavior would not be practical. In this context, this study suggests that a probabilistic model of window states is necessary to describe window opening behavior when focusing on window states and their effects on indoor environment. As long as the simulated indoor environment is guaranteed to be acceptable to occupants, the inferred model based on window state can be considered to be appropriate. More importantly, based on these new insights, this study presents a new research perspective compared to existing studies on occupants’ interaction with windows. It will contribute to more comprehensive understanding about the environments acceptable to occupants under natural ventilation, and more accurate predictions of indoor environments and energy consumptions in the real buildings, and thereby enhancing the application values of the study about occupants' interaction with windows.

Evaluating the Annual Effect of the Sky View Factor on the Indoor Thermal Environment of Residential Buildings by Envi-met

The effect of the sky view factor (SVF) on outdoor thermal comfort has been extensively explored, while its impact on the indoor thermal environment is ignored. This research combined Envi-met and kriging models to explore the annual effect of the sky view factor on the indoor thermal environment. Different from previous studies, this study explored the effect of the sky view factor on indoor temperature rather than outdoor temperature, and from the perspective of a full year instead of a typical summer day. The analytical results reveal that an increase in the sky view factor raised the indoor air temperature every month. Although a low sky view factor was beneficial to the insulation of the built environment at night, it was proven that in Chenzhou city, the indoor air temperature was still higher in a built area with a high sky view factor than with a low sky view factor. In addition, the sky view factor was shown to have a nonlinear relationship with indoor thermal comfort throughout the year. When the sky view factor increased from 0.05 to 0.45, the indoor temperature increased by around 10 °C at 16:00 and increased by about 4 °C throughout the night for each month, and from the view of the annual cycle, the cooling demand duration increased by 1611.6 h (18.4%), and the heating demand duration decreased by 1192.3 h (13.61%).

Design of the passive solar house in Qinba mountain area based on sustainable building technology in winter

This paper aims to make better use of solar energy through the application of passive design concept. The test results show that the average temperature of the case building is about 7.2 °C, indicating that the indoor thermal comfort of rural houses in Qinba mountain area is poor in winter For the purpose of improving the indoor thermal comfort of rural buildings in this area, the simulation is carried out by using ANSYS. CFX software, and the effects of direct benefit solar house and additional solar house are compared. The results reveal that adding additional solar space can achieve better results. The average temperature of the first floor is increased by 1.1 °C ∼1.4 °C and that of the second rises by 0.7 °C ∼1.1 °C. Compared with the original building, the energy saving rate of the building with additional solar space in the heating period is more than 50%. Therefore, the additional solar house can be promoted as a low-energy heating measure for rural buildings in this area. The promotion of additional solar house will certainly play an important role in improving the indoor thermal environment of residential buildings reducing energy use in building and promoting green buildings.

Exploring commute mode choice in dual-earner households in a small Chinese city

Most research on the impact of the built environment (BE) on travel behavior and residential self-selection (RSS) has focused at the individual rather than the household level. Using data collected in the small Chinese city of Ganyu, the present research explored how BE factors at spouses’ residential and work locations influence their joint commute mode choice, and the extent to which RSS occurs. Based on the results of nested logit modeling, we found that spouses’ travel mode choice is less related to residential BE factors and instead significantly associated with workplace accessibility. Moreover, we also found less evidence of RSS, which is related to individuals’ residential preferences and travel environment in small cities. These findings suggest that the impact of BE on travel behavior and RSS is context specific, and that policies aimed at reducing traffic volume should differentiate between small and large Chinese cities.

Improving Indoor Thermal Environment of Residential Buildings Under Typical Space Heating Methods in Xinjiang, China

In order to improve the thermal environment of residential buildings in winter for Xinjiang, this research conducted a field test and a survey of residential buildings under typical heating methods. The results show that the indoor temperature and humidity are dynamically changing, and the variation of central heating and gas wall-mounted furnace fluctuated less than that of coal heating. Furthermore, the thermal environment evaluation shows that the thermal comfort level under gas wall-mounted furnace heating are the highest, which belongs to category Ⅰ. For the central heating and coal stove, only 12% and 26% of buildings achieve to category Ⅱ. Moreover, it is found that the acceptable temperature range of coal furnace heating residents can be as low as 19.5°C, while that of central heating and gas wall-mounted furnace heating is 20.3°C~25.7°C, which relate to the clothing insulation of residents under different heating methods. In addition, all residents almost have the same habit of window opening behaviour during heating period, and 72% of residents open windows for ventilation. Correspondingly, 62% of residents feel dry during heating season, which induce xerosis cutis, dry mouth and other uncomfortable symptom, and can be improved by using humidifier, planting plants and so on.

Study on a thermophysiological model for health assessment of showering environment in China

In China, the thermal environment of family showers in old communities is quite different from that of other living spaces, especially when the thermal environment changes drastically during showering, which can easily cause health problems. The human thermal physiological model is an effective tool to predict and evaluate the non-uniform and unstable shower thermal environment and human health risks. In this research, the showering experiment was carried out in a typical bathroom in an old community in China, during which environmental parameters such as air temperature, wall temperature and water temperature of the bathroom during the showering were recorded, and physiological parameters such as skin temperature, core temperature and blood pressure during the whole showering process were detected. Based on the multi-node numerical human body model of Stowljik and a cardiovascular control model with human body temperature as the driving force, a temperature-blood pressure coupling prediction model was established. The validity of the proposed model was examined for blood circulation. This predictive model can accurately reflect changes in physiological parameters and is verified as suitable for the health assessment of showering environment in residential buildings.

How Work From Home Has Affected the Occupant's Well-Being in the Residential Built Environment: An International Survey Amid the Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract This paper presents the results from an international survey that investigated the impacts of the built environment on occupant well-being during the corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic when most professionals were forced to work from home (WFH). The survey was comprised of 81 questions focusing on the respondent's profiles, residences, home indoor environmental quality, health, and home working experiences. A total of 1460 responses were collected from 35 countries, and 1137 of them were considered complete for the analysis. The results suggest that home spatial layout has a significant impact on occupant well-being during WFH since home-life distractions and noises due to the lack of a personal workspace are likely to prevent productive work. Lack of scenic views, inadequate daylighting, and poor acoustics were also reported to be detrimental to occupant productivity and the general WFH experience. It is also revealed from this survey that temperature, relative humidity, and indoor air quality generally have higher satisfaction ratios compared with the indoor lighting and acoustic conditions, and the home layout. Hence, home design for lighting, acoustics, and layout should also receive greater attention in the future.