Building Strategies Research Articles

Innovative strategies for capacity building in financial institutions: Lessons from successful microfinance models

Capacity building in financial institutions is crucial for enhancing financial inclusion and ensuring the sustainable delivery of financial services. This journal examines innovative strategies that have contributed to successful capacity building in financial institutions, with a focus on lessons learned from microfinance models. Microfinance institutions (MFIs) have pioneered unique approaches to financial inclusion, providing crucial insights into capacity building. This journal discusses key concepts, methodologies, and the impact of capacity-building strategies on institutional resilience, financial performance, and community empowerment.

Harnessing the past: Vibration analysis of organic additives in ancient plasters for sustainable building solutions

This study investigates plant-based organic additives and grains used in ancient earthen plasters from the caves of Karla, Bhaja, Pitalkhora, Ellora, and Aurangabad in Maharashtra, India, highlighting their relevance for sustainable modern construction. Stereo microscopy, FTIR spectrophotometry, and phytochemical analysis identified rice husk, millet, wheat, Chenopodium album, Paspalum, barnyard millet, foxtail millet, and Fumaria seeds as key organic components. Starch grain analysis confirmed the presence of wheat, millet, and mung bean starches, while polarized light microscopy revealed distinctive birefringence patterns, such as the Maltese cross. FTIR analysis of solvent extractions identified natural compounds, including starches, gums, proteins, oils, waxes, and tree resins. These organic additives, especially rice husk, prevalent in Karla, Bhaja, and Pitalkhora samples, and the balanced composition of hemp fibers, seeds, and gums in Ellora samples, contributed significantly to the strength and durability of the plasters. The use of beeswax and tree resins as natural binders further underscores the ingenuity of these ancient techniques. This research not only highlights the botanical diversity in ancient construction but also draws critical connections to modern sustainable practices. The carbon-negative potential of these materials, combined with their renewability and resilience, aligns closely with contemporary green building strategies, offering inspiration for eco-friendly construction rooted in traditional Indian architecture.

Practical methodology for quantifying the structural robustness of RC building structures

Several structural robustness requirements have been included in building codes over the past two decades. These mainly include measures to prevent collapse after an initial component failure by ensuring a minimum level of continuity within the structural system so that loads supported by the failed component can be redistributed to the rest of the structural system. However, there is still a general lack of consensus on how to evaluate the effectiveness of these measures. The present study proposes a practical methodology to evaluate the structural robustness of RC building structures by combining an efficient modelling strategy and suitable robustness indexes. The proposed computational modelling strategy for RC buildings accounts for relevant dynamic and nonlinear phenomena, including compressive arching, catenary action, and membrane effects. This strategy can be implemented at a reasonable computational expense in widely used commercial structural analysis software and has been validated by comparisons to selected experimental tests from the literature. The modelling strategy is then employed to compute four different robustness indexes proposed in the literature for three hypothetical building designs, allowing the indexes to be systematically compared. It was found that evaluating a system using multiple robustness indexes can provide a more holistic view of system performance compared to relying solely on a single index. Ultimately, the potential usefulness of the proposed methodology is demonstrated through two practical applications involving the estimation of component damage levels and the evaluation of different design and retrofitting solutions. Such a methodology can be useful for practising engineers to optimise the design of new buildings or to support decisions on the assessment and retrofitting of existing ones.

Evaluating the Impact of Phase Change Materials and Double-Skin Façades on Energy Performance in Office Buildings Under Climate Change Scenarios: A Case Study in Iran

The potential for energy efficiency in office buildings is critical, especially in regions facing rapid climate change impacts. This study investigates the use of phase change materials (PCMs) and double-skin façades (DSFs) to optimize energy performance in office buildings in Iran, a country with significant energy demands for heating and cooling. Utilizing Building Information Modeling (BIM) and EnergyPlus 24.1.0 software, we evaluated energy consumption trends across climate scenarios from 1981 to 2030. The findings underscore the rising energy demand due to global temperature increases and demonstrate that integrating PCMs and DSFs can mitigate energy consumption. This research highlights the importance of region-specific building strategies to achieve energy-efficient designs and contributes practical insights for developing sustainable energy policies in Iran.

The COOL e-Research and Researcher Development Experiences: A Mentor and Mentee Perspective

As information and communication technologies (ICTs) continue to advance, research projects and processes increasingly adopt ICTs, and terms like ‘e-research’ gain popularity. However, disparities in access to ICTs and users’ technology proficiency affect the adoption of e-research technologies. Despite these constraints, the COVID-19 pandemic forced many researchers (including postgraduate students), in diverse and unequal contexts, to take their research activities online. This paper reports on the ‘e-research’ experiences of the principal investigator, a research mentor and a researcher after the adoption of ICTs during the pandemic. This research took place in the context of the Cases on Open Learning (COOL) research project, commissioned by, and conducted jointly with, the Department of Higher Education (DHET) in South Africa. This was a multi-researcher (10 researchers located across the country, with varying degrees of research experience), multi-site qualitative social science research that took the form of 15 case studies, conducted across seven technical and vocational education and training colleges, six universities, two DHET sites, and a desktop study. The national lockdowns that were announced shortly after our first and only face-to-face project meeting forced us to conduct all aspects of the project entirely online. We used the Google suite for collaboration and Zoom for COOL team building, researcher knowledge and skills development sessions, and online interviews conducted by the researchers. WhatsApp played a dual role – supporting ongoing communication within the research group, and as a data collection tool. The paper highlights our experiences on what it meant to be part of a research team, as well as the opportunities and challenges of conducting research of this nature. It shed light on the COOL team building and researcher development strategies. Drawing on insights from our experiences, we recommend that higher education institutions (HEIs) develop both technical and human-oriented guidelines for conducting e-research. This paper could provide insights for independent researchers, postgraduate students, principal investigators, and supervisors considering a cohort-supervision model, comprising diverse students, who may be in dispersed geographical locations.

Energetic Analysis of Passive Solar Strategies for Residential Buildings with Extreme Summer Conditions

This study investigates the implementation of passive design strategies to improve the thermal environment in the extremely hot climates of Brazil, Portugal, and Turkey. Given the rising cooling demands due to climate change, optimizing energy efficiency in buildings is essential. Using the Trace 3D Plus v6.00.106 software, typical residential buildings for each country were simulated to assess various passive solutions, such as building orientation, wall and roof modifications, glazing optimization options, window-to-wall ratio (WTWR) reduction, shading, and natural ventilation. The findings highlight that Brazil experienced the higher discomfort temperatures compared to Mediterranean climates, with indoor air temperatures exceeding 28 ºC all year round and remaining between 34 ºC and 37 ºC for nearly 40% of the time. Building orientation had a minimal impact near the equator, while Mediterranean climates benefited from an up to 10% variation in energy demand. Thermal insulation combined with white exterior paint resulted in Şanlıurfa experiencing annual energy savings of up to 26%. Optimal roof solutions yielded a 19% demand reduction in Évora, while WTWR reduction and double-colored glazing achieved up to a 35% reduction in Évora and 19% in other regions. Combined strategies achieved energy demand reductions of 44% for Évora, 40% for Şanlıurfa, and 32% for Teresina. The study emphasizes the need for integrated, climate-specific passive solutions, showing their potential to enhance both energy efficiency and the thermal environment in residential buildings across diverse hot climates.

A strategy to what end? “The strategy of model building in population biology” in its programmatic context

“The Strategy of Model Building in Population Biology” published by Richard Levins in 1966 has been cited over 2500 times. For a paper concerned with modeling approaches in population biology a surprisingly large part of the attention. The Strategy received comes from history and philosophy of biology, and specifically from accounts on model and model formulation. The Strategy is an unusual paper; it presents neither new data nor a new formal model; at times it reads like a manifesto for some modeling approach, without specifying which broader program that approach intends to support. When these peculiarities of The Strategy are even mentioned, the philosophical literature tends to explain them away by invoking Levins’ Marxist commitments. In contrast, I argue that those peculiarities can be explained by examining the programmatic purpose of the paper; starting from his doctoral work, Levins was trying to establish a research program meant to account for the relations between fitness and environment in different terms than the prevalent lock-and-key view. My paper brings that program back to the discussion, explains its relation to competing approaches and examines Levins’ approach to modeling in light of that context

Understanding the Microstructure Evolution during Laser Metal Deposition of HSS M4 Obtained from Various Building Strategies, through Thermal Modelling, and Both Microstructural and Mechanical Characterizations

Understanding the Microstructure Evolution during Laser Metal Deposition of HSS M4 Obtained from Various Building Strategies, through Thermal Modelling, and Both Microstructural and Mechanical Characterizations

Future technologies for building sector to accelerate energy transition

This Editorial briefly introduces and organizes the worthy studies provided in the Special Issue of Energy and Buildings, entitled “Future technologies for building sector to accelerate energy transition: a special issue”. The main topics of selected papers are herein summarized, proposing scientific studies concerning the next generation buildings, and thus mandatory targets of energy efficiency, reduction of energy demands, novel technologies for building envelope and active energy systems, on-site conversion from renewable energy sources. Both areas of the building industry are considered, and thus decarbonization of existing buildings and novel constructions characterized by mandatory energy performance levels of nearly, net- and plus-energy buildings. These topics are crucial for improving building performance, and reducing energy consumption, with reference to both the heating and cooling seasons, therefore addressing the new and mandatory challenges of zero-energy and zero-emission buildings, also taking into account climate change. The results of manuscripts published in this special issue show worthy potential and real achievements, with significant reductions in energy demands and emissions, and therefore they underline the usefulness of traditional and novel technologies and strategies for buildings, highlighting the economic and environmental benefits of novel design and retrofitting methods and solutions. The debated topics are essential to dealing with climate change, reducing energy poverty, environmental impact, local overheating and UHIs, going, finally, in the direction of a mandatory, sustainable, and smart future for the building sector.

Improving Equipment Maintenance—Switching from Corrective to Preventative Maintenance Strategies

This paper explores different building maintenance strategies in commercial buildings in Sydney, Australia, focusing on corrective maintenance (CM) and preventive maintenance (PM). While CM involves rectifying issues after they occur, PM aims to enhance productivity by anticipating potential issues. Although PM seems more logical, the decision to implement this type of maintenance strategy are typically made based on item reliability, failure frequency, and downtime cost, commonly found in manufacturing facilities or critical environments. However, as found in the selected/surveyed commercial real estate buildings, CM was more frequently adopted in aged facilities with older infrastructure, and PM was favoured for buildings without structural deficiencies; however, operating equipment failures were common. However, in many cases, decision makers did not consider the broader effects of downtime beyond direct financial losses, costs associated with customer satisfaction, worker efficiency, rent abatements, and reputation damage. While each building is unique and may require a bespoke maintenance schedule, this study’s insights may help managers select the most appropriate maintenance strategy. Nonetheless, further research is needed to investigate the role of innovative technologies (such as machine learning and artificial intelligence) in enhancing maintenance efficacy and explore the influences of economic shifts, corporate and financial objectives, and the availability of technical resources.

Buildings in Hot Climate Zones—Quantification of Energy and CO2 Reduction Potential for Different Architecture and Building Services Measures

Reducing energy and associated greenhouse gas emissions in buildings is one of the key aspects of climate change on a global level. To put the building sector on a low carbon development path, policies and adequate financing play a crucial role in each region. In the global South, policies and regulations related to the decarbonization of the building stock are increasingly being implemented. For policy and decision makers, adequate data on the status quo of the building stock, as well as the quantification of energy reduction measures, are essential to make informed decisions on the building regulatory and funding framework. The objective of this study is to provide data-driven insights into the potential for energy and CO2 reduction in buildings across various hot climate zones in the Global South. A simulation-based approach was employed to model five different building types, ranging from residential homes to office buildings, under a variety of architectural and building services scenarios. The simulations were conducted using the dynamic building energy simulation tool EnergyPlus, which assessed the impact of various energy-saving measures under both current and projected future climate conditions. This study concludes that optimizing passive design features, such as improved windows, solar shading, and reflective surfaces, in conjunction with active systems like decentralized cooling units and renewable energy integration, can result in a notable reduction in energy demand and emissions. Our findings provide a robust basis for policymakers to develop targeted energy efficiency strategies for buildings in hot climate zones, which will play a crucial role in achieving climate goals in the Global South.

Bridging the "know-do" gap to improve active case finding for tuberculosis in India: A qualitative exploration into national tuberculosis elimination program staffs' perspectives.

In 2022, India's national tuberculosis (TB) elimination program (NTEP) commissioned a national level evaluation of active case finding (ACF) for TB to guide evidence-based strategic planning. As part of this evaluation, based on secondary data analysis we observed that the quality of ACF was suboptimal in 2021. Hence, this study aimed to understand the enablers, barriers, and suggested solutions to improve ACF for TB in India from NTEP staff (provider) perspective. This was a descriptive qualitative study involving key informant interviews from six districts and eight states, conducted between February and August 2023. We purposively selected key state- district- and sub-district-level program managers and implementers who were experienced and vocal. The interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim by research interns and investigators. Two investigators independently did manual descriptive thematic analysis, and a third investigator resolved inconsistencies. The themes and categories emerged by collating together the results of the coding process. A total of 34 key informant interviews were conducted and of these, four were repeat interviews. Adequate budgets for ACF including incentives, performance review mechanism, engagement of all stakeholders, adopting a community friendly approach, use of rapid diagnostic tests and digitalization were the perceived enablers. In some states ACF was implemented in general population (not restricted to high-risk population) following directives at state level. There were limited mechanisms to ensure ACF quality indicators were met before disbursing incentives and cross-verification of the aggregate ACF care cascade numbers that were reported in Ni-kshay (electronic TB information management system under NTEP). In addition to the state and district level implementers having limited understanding of concepts around ACF (quality indicators, number needed to screen and yield), we also inferred the presence of a 'know-do' gap for many activities under ACF. The suggested solutions were around capacity building and quality improvement strategies. The existing national ACF guidance should be revised to emphasize capacity building, need to carry out ACF in high-risk (not general) population, quality control-linked incentives, and regular implementation monitoring of the activities. This should contribute towards better coverage and improved quality translating into better ACF outcomes.

Research on Temporal–Spatial Partition Control Strategies for Luminous and Thermal Environment in High Space of Gymnasiums

The lighting design of large-space buildings in gymnasiums can impact the indoor luminous and thermal environment, resulting in an uneven light and thermal distribution. This paper investigates the luminous and thermal environment control strategies for high spaces in gymnasiums, by simulating the luminous and thermal environment under different lighting forms and establishing a comprehensive evaluation model. The results show that the weights of the indoor luminous environment, thermal environment, and comprehensive energy consumption change with season and time under different lighting forms, which provides a basis for developing a temporal–spatial partition control strategy. The temporal–spatial partition control strategy is proposed for summer and winter, including the shading angle control under the lighting forms of south-facing side windows, west-facing side windows, and top skylights. Under summer conditions, the south-facing side windows have no shading from 8:00 to 10:00 and 14:00 to 16:00, and the shading angle is 0° from 10:00 to 14:00; the west-facing side windows have no shading from 8:00 to 14:00, the shading angle is 0° from 14:00 to 15:00, and the shading angle is 15° from 15:00 to 16:00; and the top skylight has a shade angle of 15° from 8:00 to 9:00, 30° from 9:00 to 11:00, 45° from 11:00 to 13:00, and no shade from 13:00 to 16:00. Under winter conditions, the south-facing side windows have no shading all day; the west-facing side windows have no shading from 8:00 to 14:00, and the shading angle is 30° from 14:00 to 16:00; and the top skylight has no shading from 8:00 to 13:00, a shading angle of 45° from 13:00 to 15:00, and a shading angle of 75° from 15:00 to 16:00. This paper provides a set of scientific and reasonable luminous and thermal environment regulation strategies for large-space buildings, which can help optimize the building energy consumption and improve the indoor environment quality.

Energy-Saving Potential of Building-Integrated Photovoltaic Technology Applied to a Library in Changsha, China

With the increasing number of public buildings worldwide, their energy consumption has garnered significant attention. This study aims to promote building energy efficiency and emission reduction by exploring the application of Building-Integrated Photovoltaic technology in library retrofitting. Using a library in Changsha City as a case study, we conducted an energy consumption analysis of the building’s envelope and identified the window section as the highest energy consumer. We proposed a novel improvement scheme—the sun-shading photovoltaic panel (which shades the sun while generating electricity). Additionally, we utilized the roof space for the installation of conventional photovoltaic panels. Simultaneously, the primary objective of this paper was to derive a renovation strategy for public buildings in regions characterized by high summer temperatures and low winter temperatures based on the renovation case of this library. This paper comprehensively investigates the length and angle of sun-shading photovoltaic panels facing different directions, as well as the azimuth angle, tilt angle, and installation spacing of the conventional photovoltaic panels on the roof. Two retrofitting schemes were proposed. Through simulation and comparison, the second scheme was found to reduce the annual electricity consumption by 1,233,354 kWh, achieving a 35.4% decrease compared to the original building. Using the Changsha library as a template for public buildings, this study provided a retrofitting approach with Building-Integrated Photovoltaic technology via DesignBuilder, which could be extended to other geographic locations. The results demonstrated the significant energy-saving effects of the proposed retrofitting scheme.

What Determines Public Funding for Elementary Education in India? Evidence From Before and After a Policy Change

ABSTRACTKeeping to the increased emphasis on better educational quality across India as a tool of nation‐ building strategy, this study attempts to integrate demand components in analyzing the determinants of public spending for elementary education across states in India from 2005 to 2016. The study finds that the income (per capita) elasticity of per student government expenditure is higher in post‐reform period. The state government's share of income devoted to elementary education remains roughly constant. Applying a correlated random effect approach to linear balanced panel data, this paper concludes that over time, a major determinant of growth of per student government expenditure is the growth of income per capita. Household demand for education, which is positively correlated with states' levels of development, influences public funding for education across states. The results will be important for analyzing general equilibrium models where the government aims to fulfill household demand.

Experimental Evaluation Study of the Comfort and Energy Performance of Suspended Particle Device Smart Windows in a Residential Building: Achieving Optimal Control during the Cooling Season

In contrast to traditional windows, smart windows dynamically affect indoor visual and thermal environments through Visible light transmittance (VT) and Solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) changes. Therefore, for enhancing smart window application effects, it is necessary to analyze comprehensively the impacts of smart window tinting on indoor visual and thermal environments, and to establish appropriate tinting control methods. This study aimed to determine optimal smart window control strategies for residential buildings during the cooling season by evaluating visual and thermal comfort and energy performance in an actual building equipped with SPD smart windows. An experimental building was located in Sejong, South Korea (36.5°N latitude, 127.3°E longitude; temperate climate zone), and the measurements were conducted from July to August 2023 to compare glare, indoor daylight illuminance, thermal comfort, and cooling and lighting energy between typical and smart windows. And, optimal control methods were proposed from general comfort and energy performance perspectives. The measurements indicated that it was difficult to satisfy all aspects of the visual and thermal environment, and comprehensively it was recommended to employing “always tinting” on summer. However, on a clear day, jointly applying smart windows and lighting dimming control and controlling automatically based on indoor daylight illuminance levels were found to be the most effective as it not only secured visual comfort performance but also reduced lighting energy consumption.

Experimental study on buildability and mechanical properties of 3D printing cob

The application of 3D printing technology to earth buildings conforms to the development concept of low carbon, green and intelligent construction. The key issue lies in the development of earth material with both favorable buildability and sufficient mechanical properties. In this study, the printing parameters of mixture for 3D printing with different water contents were optimized. The optimum water content of 3D printing cob was determined based on the buildability. The result shows that when the flow spreading diameter is between 140 mm and 160 mm, 3D printing cob has good buildability performance. The optimum water content is 24.6 %. In addition, anisotropic performance was analyzed by compressive strength tests from three orthogonal directions. In particular, according to the test results of single printing limit height and yield stress, the buildability of 3D printing cob wall was analyzed. The building strategy of the printing divided into multiple times was obtained.

Contributing to Gastrodiplomacy through Culinary Experience: A Cooking Event in Spain

It is utilized by governments as a potent strategy for building and cultivating contacts with other countries and cultures, as well as contributing to nation branding through gastrodiplomacy, culinary arts, and public diplomacy. Within the framework of public diplomacy, gastrodiplomacy—also known as culinary diplomacy—can be characterized as the transfer of culture through the kitchen. In the context of gastrodiplomacy and nation branding, the study focuses on gastronomic experiences that highlight the distinctive qualities of a nation. The article will also refer to the work of Carmen Antón, which emphasizes the term 'culinary experience' to discuss the concept and focuses on travelers' unforgettable gastronomy experiences. The study examines the culinary experiences of academics from several countries in Spain between February 28 and March 4, 2022. Consequently, it aims to establish how the culinary experience contributes to Spain's nation branding and gastrodiplomacy.

A Comprehensive Review of Evolving Brand Image Strategies: From Universal Appeal to Targeted Resonance in Modern Marketing

In today’s fierce market competition, brand image building has become the object of attention of major corporations, more and more enterprises take brand image building as the key work of marketing, such as Amazon, and Disney. Therefore being fully aware of the model and internal mechanism of brand image sharping in enhancing brand market competitiveness, it can provide an effective reference for enterprises to improve the efficiency of brand image building. This paper is devoted to reviewing the history route of brand image building, and summarizing the typical cases, then summarize the business strategies of several different brands. Finally, we summarize the effective business strategy for brand image building, the first is high-quality products, good quality and cheap products always can attract more customers; the second is precise brand positioning, targeting customers to gain competitive advantages; the third is high-quality corporate culture, good cultural atmosphere can enrich the connotation of enterprises and the external competitiveness, to stand out from the homogenized products; the forth is great ethical image, enterprises though attend public welfare activities and other ways to create a positive brand image, then enhance customer’s loyalty.

Application of a decision tree approach to predict energy consumption in lightweight buildings under subtropical climate

PurposeLightweight building systems have emerged as alternatives to reduce the high environmental impact of conventional masonry. However, in subtropical climates, the low thermal inertia of lightweight envelopes negatively affects energy performance. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the thermophysical parameters that influence heating and cooling energy consumption in lightweight residential buildings under subtropical climates and develop a model to predict these parameters using statistical and machine learning tools.Design/methodology/approachA database was created with computer simulation data on the energy performance of 2048 building conditions generated by factorial combination of 10 parameters. Sensitivity analysis was performed to identify which parameters contribute most to energy performance indicators. Subsequently, decision trees were created using a classification and regression tree (CART) algorithm to visualize parameters and improve energy performance indicators, particularly cooling energy consumption.FindingsLow thermal transmittance and ground contact are interesting strategies for low thermal capacity buildings. Furthermore, the findings showed that relying only on the most influential properties does not ensure good energy performance; rather, it is the adequate combination of envelope properties that leads to good energy efficiency. The tree developed by CART can be used as a guide to assist designers and researchers in the initial selection of building envelopes, demonstrating the impact of each choice on electrical energy consumption for indoor climate control.Originality/valueBy adopting a global approach to assess the thermal performance of lightweight buildings, this study makes a significant contribution to synthesizing the results of a complex and time-consuming methodology into a guide for optimizing envelope design decisions and directing efforts and resources toward efficient strategies.