Residential Renovation Research Articles

Dynamic Wood Consumption Forecast in Germany from 2020 to 2050

Against the backdrop of pressing environmental challenges such as global warming, nations are intensifying efforts to reduce energy consumption and emissions in the future. The carbon-neutral attribute of wood is being reassessed, signaling a potential shift in consumption patterns. This study aims to forecast wood consumption in Germany from 2020 to 2050 and evaluate the ability of domestic forests to meet demand. Employing a material flow analysis approach and considering recent data alongside Germany’s Climate Action 2050 goals, consumption projections were made for sectors such as building, paper, energy, furniture, and packaging. Results indicate a significant surge in wood consumption, particularly in the scenario with a high residential renovation rate, necessitating substantial wood imports to fulfill demand. Energy and building emerge as pivotal sectors for reducing wood consumption. This research fills a gap in prospective prediction on wood consumption, which is essential for aligning strategies with environmental objectives.

Comprehensive Evaluation of Urban Renewal Based on Entropy and TOPSIS Method: A Case of Shandong Province

This study offers a comprehensive evaluation of urban renewal efforts in Shandong Province, China, by employing the entropy method combined with the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). An evaluation index system was constructed to assess the weights of key factors influencing urban renewal, including the renovation of old residential areas, improvement in sewage treatment quality, development of sponge cities, adoption of clean heating, and enhancement of air quality. Analysis of 16 prefecture-level cities in 2019 reveals significant disparities in performance, with Jinan achieving the highest ranking due to notable improvements in infrastructure and environmental management. Meanwhile, other cities displayed varying levels of success, reflecting different developmental stages and capacities. The findings underscore the necessity for tailored strategies to optimize urban renewal outcomes, focusing on high-weight factors such as sewage treatment, clean heating, and residential renovation. This study provides actionable insights for policymakers, advocating adaptive renewal strategies that align with local contexts and encourage continuous innovation. The results highlight the importance of targeted policy interventions to enhance urban renewal quality across Shandong Province, promoting sustainable urban development and better living standards.

A case study of residential waste plumbing noise control

Home renovations occasionally include the optimization of the residential layout by changing the use of the original rooms to different uses. A recent residential renovation involved changing a top floor bedroom into a full bathroom to provide the homeowners with a toilet and shower closer to the bedrooms on the upper floor of the residence. With this change, a new toilet on the upper floor was located over a portion of a kitchen ceiling on the lower floor below, raising the concern for fluid flow noise in the kitchen when the toilet was flushed. This paper will review the laboratory testing of pipe noise, conditions associated with plumbing of this case study, the noise control approach that was implemented, and measurements of the mitigation at different times prior to the final result.

Research on Cost Management Evaluation of Urban Renewal Projects under EPC Mode

Compared with developed countries, the research on modern urban renewal in China is relatively late. However, with the landing of more and more projects in recent years, since Guangzhou, Shenzhen and other places took the lead in urban renewal, urban renewal has gradually entered a period of market-oriented and diversified operation. In recent years, under the influence of urban renewal strategy, the construction of old residential renovation projects is in full swing. In order to reduce the risk of construction, the construction unit often selects EPC project general contracting mode as the contract form of old residential renovation projects. However, the EPC project general contracting mode not only reduces the investment risk of the construction unit, but also greatly improves the difficulty of the general contracting unit's cost management of the renovation project of the old residential area. In order to complete the renovation project of the old residential area within the range of the budget estimate approved by the government and obtain the expected social benefits, cost management has become the control point of the project management of the EPC project general contractor. Based on the perspective of the general contractor, this paper takes the renovation project of the old residential area under EPC mode as the research object, uses AHP and fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method to evaluate the project cost management, analyzes the deficiencies in the actual cost management and puts forward countermeasures and suggestions.

Is pickleball a good neighbor?

Upscale multi-family residences need the latest amenities to attract tenants. A recent project featured a party room, exercise facility, and pickleball court on the top floor of a low-rise, adaptive reuse of an office building to residential renovation. Pickleball courts located directly above residential units allowed for measurements of sound transmission during pickleball play and comparison to traditional airborne and impact isolation metrics.

BIM-based environmental assessment of residential renovation projects during the operational phase

ABSTRACT Reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions to combat global climate change has become an international necessity. A large portion of energy consumption is attributed to old buildings, with increased operational costs and decreased occupational comfort. These buildings require renovation measures that can be viewed as an opportunity to implement sustainable construction and create traditionally designed buildings based on sustainable construction. This study proposes a combination of building information modeling (BIM) with Design Builder and Meteonorm software to evaluate the environmental impact of renovating buildings during the operational phase. The process involved is demonstrated in a case study application to a typical two-story single-family residential building in Tehran city, in which the building’s materials, weight, and volume are determined using Revit software, and Design Builder is used to simulate the renovation effect on various building components – showing that, by combining the most effective insulation, glass, heating system, and doors, a 15% reduction in energy consumption and 44% reduction in CO2 emissions could be achieved. The study significantly advances knowledge in sustainable building practices by introducing a practical framework for decision-making in environmentally conscious building renovations, focusing on such crucial elements as insulation materials, window glass types, heating systems, and door materials. It also provides valuable insights into the practical implications of weather data for accurate environmental forecasting, emphasizing the methodology's applicability and adaptability to similar contexts, as evidenced by its successful application in a real-world case in Tehran.

Improving the Energy Performance and Economic Benefits of Aged Residential Buildings by Retrofitting in Hot–Humid Regions of China

The existing building stock faces the challenge of low energy efficiency and requires renovation and upgrading to meet society′s goals of carbon reduction and sustainable development. This study presents an optimization framework utilizing genetic algorithms to develop robust retrofit plans that balance the need for improved energy efficiency, cost-effectiveness considerations for householders, and uncertainties regarding climate conditions. A case study of an aged residential building in a hot and humid region of China is used to demonstrate the proposed method. The optimization results show a potential energy demand reduction of 81.5%. However, due to the relatively long time required to realize economic benefits from high investments, short-term optimization tends to favor solutions with high energy demand and low primary costs. To effectively reduce carbon emissions, it is recommended to consider the long-term economic benefits of retrofits and prioritize solutions with high energy efficiency. However, it is important to acknowledge that the expensive nature of retrofit investments may pose barriers to residents. Society should provide adequate support and guidance to facilitate residential renovation efforts.

Overview of international and Moscow experience in urban renovation

Introduction. The problem of rehabilitation and modernization of panel residential buildings covered many European countries in the nineties. The renovation programme started in Moscow in 2017. Despite the typical panel mass housing construction in European countries and in Russia, there are still many urban planning, architectural and construction differences, and therefore different methods of residential renovation have been adopted. Considerable positive and negative construction experience has been accumulated over the past period which should be taken into account for the extension of the renovation to Russian regions.
 Materials and methods. The analysis of socio-economic methods of rehabilitation and modernization of residential buildings in several European countries was carried out, and the experience of residential buildings renovation in Moscow was studied in detail. The organizational and financial conditions for the implementation of residential rehabilitation and renovation programs have been studied and a number of features have been noted.
 Results. Based on the studied methods of implementation of rehabilitation, modernization and renovation programs in Euro­pean cities and in Moscow, a table with positive and negative factors was compiled. Considering these factors, a flowchart for the choice of renovation method in relation to the specific built-up area was developed. The socio-economic vector ofthe renovation programme on the management of the housing and communal services has been proposed.
 Conclusions. When choosing a method of renovation of residential buildings, it is necessary to consider the interests of residents and business entities. For megacities where the number and density of the population is high, the Moscow model of renovation may be preferable, taking into account positive and negative experience. For small cities in Russia, where low-rise buildings are of historical and architectural value and a population density is low, the European renovation experience can be applied. When developing renovation programs, it is important to maintain a balance between new construction and the preservation of historically established urban development.

Prenatal and postnatal decoration in residence are associated with childhood allergies and respiratory diseases: A 10-year repeated retrospective observational study

The previous studies reported inconsistent associations of early residential decoration with childhood allergies and respiratory diseases. In this study, we conducted a 10-year retrospective observational survey among preschoolers from three urban districts in Chongqing of China in 2010 and in 2019, to investigate the associations of the prenatal and postnatal residential decorations with the childhood asthma, allergic rhinitis, eczema, wheeze, rhinitis, and pneumonia. We collected data from 4976 to 3971 of 3-6-year-olds preschoolers in the 2010 and 2019 surveys, respectively. The results showed that proportions of prenatal and postnatal residential decorations in different durations in 2010 were significantly higher than in 2019 (4.1%–19.6% vs. 2.1–5.3%). Except for allergic rhinitis (6.1% vs. 9.5%), prevalences of the studied diseases in 2010 also were significantly higher than in 2019 (for example: asthma: 8.2% vs. 6.1%; wheeze: 17.1% vs. 7.7%; rhinitis: 40.6% vs. 24.0%). In the two-level (district-child) logistic regression analyses, surveys in both 2010 and 2019 revealed that residential renovation and buying new furniture in prenatal and postnatal periods consistently increased odds of most studied diseases (ranges of adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 1.31–1.86). The prenatal decoration exposures had stronger associations with childhood allergies and respiratory diseases than the postnatal decoration exposures. The early residential decoration activities had stronger associations with allergies and respiratory diseases among girls and preschoolers without history of family allergy. Our findings indicate that prenatal and postnatal household decoration behaviors are risk factors for childhood airway diseases and allergies. Girls and children without family history of allergy are vulnerability groups.

Renovation Potential Evaluation and Type Identification of Rural Idle Residential Land: A Case Study of Yuzhong County, Longzhong Loess Hilly Region, China

The land problem is the key to the implementation of the rural revitalization strategy, and the land suitability evaluation is the basis for the renovation and classification of idle rural residential areas. Taking Yuzhong County in the Loess Hilly region of Longzhong, China as the research area, this study constructed an idle residential identification matrix by combining the evaluation results of ecological protection suitability, agricultural production suitability, and construction and development suitability, and realizing renovation zoning of rural residents through the advantage type identification method. The results show that: (1) The waste in rural residential is serious, and there are significant phenomena of “one household with two houses” and “one household with multiple houses.” The renovation potential of 1700 idle rural residential patches is 1.18 km2. (2) The spatial differences in the suitability of rural residents in Yuzhong County are significant, and through the rational guidance and planning layout of rural residential renovation, it can provide an important decision-making basis for the rational utilization of rural residents and national land–space planning. (3) The renovation of rural residential should be guided by national land–space planning; make a solid plan for the renovation of rural residential areas; formulate a scientific plan for the renovation, relocation, and reuse of rural “hollow houses”; stimulate the vitality of rural land resources; and promote the revitalization of the countryside and the improvement of the rural living environment.

Effect of existing residential renovation strategies on heating and cooling load in Shanghai

To provide a reference for the renovation of Shanghai’s existing residential districts, this study quantifies and compares the relationships between common renovation strategies, microclimate, heating and cooling loads. These common strategies include improving the greening rate (G), improving the reflectivity of pavement (P), improving the reflectivity of wall materials (W), and improving the reflectivity of roof materials or applying green roof (R). These strategies are applied to a typical model extracted from existing residential areas in Shanghai, China. ENVI-met and EnergyPlus are combined to simulate the microclimate represented by the average meteorological parameters in front of building surfaces and the building heating and cooling load on a typical meteorological day in winter and summer. The results show that applying microclimate data around target building contributes to a significant difference in air conditioning load in both summer and winter. For summer, G, W, and R reduced their total cooling load, whereas P increased this parameter. R contributed the most significant decrease in the total cooling load, followed by W, and G contributed the least. G3P1W3R3 and G1P3W1R1 were the scenarios with the lowest and highest cooling load. The total cooling load under G3P1W3R3 was 136 kWh (12.7%) less than that under G1P3W1R1. For winter, P and applying green roof (R4) reduced the heating load of the target building, whereas G, W and improving roof reflectivity (R2, R3) increased it. G1P3W1R4 and G3P1W3R3 were the scenarios with the lowest and highest heating load. The heating load under G1P3W1R4 was 145 kWh (14.5%) less than that under G3P1W3R3.

Development of a mechanism to improve the efficiency of residential renovation projects on the example of the city of Moscow

Implementation of the residential renovation program, which is currently underway in the city of Moscow, as well as in other cities of the Russian Federation, helps to create comfortable and safe living conditions for citizens. In addition, one of the most important tasks of this program is the integrated development of urban areas: development of public spaces, landscaping of districts, organization of parks and recreation areas. But as practice has shown, at the stage of pre-project analysis, carried out at the stage of land plot selection, insufficient attention is paid to possible risks that can lead to an increase in project implementation time, as well as an increase in the cost of works. The study under consideration proposes to introduce a mechanism for selecting a project implementation strategy depending on the performance indicator of the land plot using the developed economic and mathematical model based on the main evaluated parameters. The proposed strategies will make it possible to form a system for assessing the conditions on the land plot under consideration and reduce the risks of unforeseen situations at further stages of project implementation.

The impact of building-renovation program on the city’s environment

Implementation of the residential renovation program, which is currently underway in the city of Moscow, as well as in other cities of the Russian Federation, helps to create comfortable and safe living conditions for citizens. In addition, one of the most important tasks of this program is the integrated development of urban areas: development of public spaces, landscaping of districts, organization of parks and recreation areas. These aspects help to create more favorable living conditions and also have a positive impact on the environmental component of the area. As renovation of residential buildings is a combination of renovation or modernization of existing buildings, more attention is being paid to the energy efficiency of buildings, as well as their impact on the environment. For example, modernizing the engineering systems, improving the thermal conductivity of the building envelope and other aspects can reduce greenhouse gas emissions; reduce energy consumption and so on. Thus, the implementation of the housing renovation program, due to its massive scale, has a favorable impact on the environmental condition of the city and its districts.

СНИЖЕНИЕ СТОИМОСТИ РЕКОНСТРУКЦИИ ЖИЛЫХ ОБЪЕКТОВ: ПРОГРЕССИВНЫЕ СТРАТЕГИИ ОПТИМИЗАЦИИ БЮДЖЕТА И ОБЕСПЕЧЕНИЯ КАЧЕСТВА ЧЕРЕЗ ПРОЕКТНОЕ УПРАВЛЕНИЕ

This article explores the strategic application of advanced project management methods to achieve significant cost reductions in residential renovation projects. In modern conditions, where clients face challenges such as budget overruns, project delays, low quality, and lack of transparency, this study provides a comprehensive analysis of how project management practices can optimize both financial and operational aspects of renovations. The article advocates for a shift from the traditional interaction pattern in the residential real estate market, where clients typically hire general contractors under «turnkey» conditions, to a more progressive model. In this model, the general contractor acts as a project manager, and all subcontractors are selected through an open and transparent bidding process based on clear evaluation criteria, such as price, quality, and reputation. The general contractor operates under an «open book» principle, with all subcontractor pricing transparent to the client, and the general contractor’s work is compensated as a percentage of the budget. The article emphasizes the importance of involving an independent expert, hired by the client, to assess the effectiveness and transparency of subcontractor selection by the general contractor. This scheme is widely used in large-scale industrial and civil construction projects, but its implementation in the residential market was previously difficult due to relatively small budgets that did not allow for additional oversight and supervision. This study examines the implementation of electronic document management systems, digital project management, and financial accounting as key drivers for increasing the efficiency of renovation projects. A structured approach to contractor management, material procurement, and quality assurance demonstrates how project managers can effectively mitigate risks, ensure compliance with timelines, and deliver high-quality work within the approved budget.

Life cycle assessment for carbon emission impact analysis for the renovation of old residential areas

Urban residential buildings are the prime contributors to carbon emissions, whose reduction is significantly affected by old residential areas as essential components of urban renewal. In current studies on the potential for carbon reduction in residential localities, the measurement standard mostly used is the amount of carbon reduced during operations because of the energy-saving renovation of building monomers. This study conducted a life cycle assessment for the carbon emission impact analysis of the renovation of old residential areas, with a comprehensive consideration of carbon emissions at the materialization, demolition, and use stages of the renovation process. Five systems in these areas were evaluated: landscape greening, building monomers, water resources, solid waste, and infrastructure. An actual residential renovation case was used as a reference in comparing the life cycle carbon reduction effects of different technical measures. The results showed that carbon reduction effects are overestimated by 5.54% (from 29.59% to 35.13%) when embodied carbon is disregarded. Among the renovation measures, adding green spaces, recycling garbage, and replacing energy-saving lamps in public areas offer short carbon payback, whereas the addition of rooftop solar photovoltaic panels is the most efficient carbon-reduction measure. This study completes and expands the scope of accounting for residential renovation from spatial and temporal scales. It can also guide the low-carbon renovation of old residential areas to help cities save energy and reduce emissions.

The Role of Non-Energy Impact Assessment in Boosting Energy Efficiency and Urban Regeneration Projects: The RenOnBill Project and Experiences from Liguria Region

Buildings play a significant role in terms of energy consumption and polluting emissions production across Europe and this huge contribution to consumption and environmental impact becomes even more alarming when attention is switched from single buildings to entire urban systems. Although great efforts have been made to support energy efficiency investments, distrust and suspicion are shared attitudes among private investors (and stakeholders in general) towards large-scale implementation of these kinds of projects. Within this framework, on-bill schemes were implemented in the United States more than 30 years ago. In particular, on-bill energy efficiency is a method of financing energy efficiency improvements that uses the utility bill as the repayment vehicle. A detailed analysis of on-bill schemes is currently addressed by the H2020 RenOnBill project, which focuses on these schemes to enhance and support large-scale investments for energy efficiency and deep residential stock renovation. In this study, firstly, the authors focus on assessment methodologies for non-energy benefits of retrofitting projects; then, a case study of the Liguria region (Italy) is examined in depth for its interesting legal framework regarding energy efficiency-led urban regeneration projects. The results deriving from the initial analysis of projects and the case study lead the authors to reiterate that, even today, projects based on energy efficiency usually focus exclusively on energy impacts and that energy performances and urban quality are addressed in separate ways.

Application of cumulative prospect theory in understanding energy retrofit decision: A study of homeowners in the Netherlands

Retrofitting residential buildings can help mitigate the effects of climate change. Cognitive biases are systematic deviations from rationality in decision making and can lead to inaction, delay, and uncertain decisions. Understanding the cognitive biases involved in residential renovation decisions and developing interventions to overcome them can help increase residential renovation rates. Despite their importance, few studies have examined the impact of cognitive biases on energy retrofits. The question addressed in this study is: “Can accounting for cognitive biases improve the prediction of homeowners’ actual investment decisions, and how can the outcomes be used to recommend potential behavioural interventions?”. Expected Utility Theory (EUT) and Cumulative Prospect Theory (CPT) are compared to evaluate which model(s) more accurately describes actual decision-making behaviour regarding energy retrofits. The EUT assumes a rational decision maker. The CPT is a quantitative model that assumes a decision-maker operating under risk and uncertainty and subject to the cognitive biases of reference dependence, loss aversion, decreasing sensitivity, and probability weighting. The influences of cognitive biases on energy retrofit decisions can be quantified if the relative performance of CPT versus EUT is more accurate. The data for these analyses come from housing surveys conducted in the Netherlands in 2012 and 2018, which also collected data on energy modules. 2,784 and 2,878 homeowners were surveyed, respectively. The model is validated by estimating the coefficients of EUT and CPT and identifying the similarities and differences between the results of the two datasets. Before estimating the parameters, four household clusters are identified using grey relational analysis and the K-Means cluster. For the first time, the EUT and CPT parameters are estimated for four clusters and two energy retrofits, double glazing and insulation, using a genetic algorithm because the equations are nonlinear. The results confirm that CPT provides a better description of the actual decision behaviour than EUT using the two previously established initial values of Layard et al. (2008) and Häckel et al. (2017) as well as the parameters estimated by the genetic algorithm. In the latter case, CPT correctly predicts the decisions of 86% of homeowners to renovate their homes to be energy efficient or not. EUT, on the other hand, overestimates the number of decisions to renovate: it incorrectly predicts retrofit for 52% of homeowners who did not renovate for energy efficiency reasons. Using the estimated parameters of CPT, the cognitive biases of reference dependence, loss aversion, diminishing sensitivity, and probability weighting can be clearly seen for different target groups. The groups with the highest average incomes and house values had the highest loss risk aversion parameters. These households invested more in installing insulation and double glazing.

PENERAPAN AKAD MURABAHAH TERHADAP PRODUK PEMBIAYAAN KPR iB BAROKAH DI BANK JATIM SYARIAH CABANG KEDIRI

The development of islamic banking in indonesia is a manifestation of the public’s demand for an alternative banking system which in addition to providing sound banking or financial services and also complies with sharia principles. In economic develoment activities, the financial sector is one of most important sectors in the success of an achievement in the indonesian economy. One of which is the kediri branch of the islamic bank of East Java, which provides financing for people who want to have a house namely the KPR IB Barokah financing. Kpr Ib barokah is short, medium or long-term finance the purchase of residential houses (consumptive) and renovation,both new and used ind developer and non – developer environments, in accordance with sharia principles and the contracts used are murabahah,IMBT and MMQ contracts. The formulation of the problem is about how the financing mechanism for Kpr Ib Barokah and whether the murabahah contract in Kpr Ib Barokah is in accordance with sharia principles.Key word: Islamic banking, KPR Financing,Murabahah

Methodology for Increasing the Competences of Housing Managers in Climate Change Issues

Abstract In order to identify the necessary competences and develop the study course programme, within the framework of the EUKI (The European Climate Initiative; Die Europäische Klimaschutzinitiative) project “From Housing Manager to CLImate Manager”, research [1] has been conducted, describing the Latvian residential fund, analysing the principles and activities of multi-apartment residential buildings, as well as identifying and describing the parties involved in shaping the housing policy. Special attention is paid to energy efficiency issues for buildings – looking at Latvia’s potential for climate changes, analysing energy consumption in buildings in relation to energy efficiency requirements, as well as assessing the medium and long-term objectives of buildings in Latvia and the obstacles to achieving them. In order to clarify more precisely the necessary competences of housing managers for the successful implementation of the residential renovation process, a survey has been carried out for stakeholders in the project. Based on an analysis of the situation and the performed survey results, a methodology has been developed to increase the competences of housing managers in relation to the renovation of residential buildings in order to mitigate climate change.

Effect of existing residential renovation strategies on building cooling load: Cases in three Chinese cities

To provide a reference for the renovation of existing residential districts, this study quantifies and compares the relationships between common renovation strategies, microclimate, and cooling loads. These common strategies include improving the greening rate, improving the reflectivity of pavement, improving the reflectivity of wall materials, and improving the reflectivity of roof materials or applying green roof. These strategies are applied to a typical model extracted from existing residential areas in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. ENVI-met and DesignBuilder are combined to simulate the microclimate represented by the average meteorological parameters in front of building surfaces and the building cooling load on a typical meteorological day in summer. The results show that increasing the vegetation has the most significant effect on the microclimate, and improving the roof reflectivity can yield the most reduction in the cooling load. Generally, all the strategies tend to be more effective under a climate zone with a stronger solar radiation. The sensible cooling load is underestimated and the latent cooling load is overestimated if neglecting microclimate effect. Furthermore, the difference in the total cooling load, between considering microclimate results and not, was affected by the proportion of sensible and latent cooling loads. To sum up, high-reflectivity roofs should be given priority, and building energy consumption should be simulated with microclimate results, especially relative humidity and wind speed.