Shade Type Research Articles

Growth of arabica coffee seeds (Coffea arabica L.) Sigarar Utang Variety as a response of treatment of various growth regulators and types of shade

Productivity of arabica coffee (Coffea arabica L.) Sigarar Utang Variety in Indonesia is still relatively low, especially in Simalungun Regency, Sumatera Utara. Some factors that need to be considered in nurseries are growth regulator and shade. This study aims to find out information on the type of growth regulators and the best shade density for the growth of arabica coffee seedlings. The experiment was carried out from March to June 2022 in Nagori Ujung Bawang, Simalungun Regency and Research Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Sumatra Utara. The experiment used a Split Plot Design consisting of 2 factors and repeated 3 times. The first factor (main plot) consists of 4 levels, namely without shade, 50%, 70%, and 90% shade, while the second factor (sub-plot) consists of 3 levels are auxin growth regulator, cytokinin, and the combination of auxin with cytokinin. The results showed that the interaction of shade treatment and growth regulators had a significant effect on root canopy ratio. Root canopy ratio had a significant effect on the interaction of 90% shade treatment and a combination of auxin cytokinin of 5.27 g.

Leaf character of sugar palm on various shades and concentrations of liquid organic fertilizer

Palm sugar has been developed to produce various products and raw materials for their derivatives. There is a very high morphological diversity of sugar palm plants, while the morphological identification of different sugar palm plant species in Banten province is still limited. The aim of this research is to determine the effect of different treatments, such as shade percentage, liquid organic fertilizer concentration, and a combination of both, on the properties of palm leaves. The experimental design used in this study was the 2-factor RCBD split plot with 3 levels each. The first factor is the variation of the shadow percentage, namely N0 (no shadow), N1 (55% shadow), and N2 (85% shadow). The second factor is different concentrations of liquid organic fertilizer (POC), namely P0 (0 ml/liter water), P1 (1 ml/liter water), and P2 (2 ml/liter water). The results showed that different types of shade yielded insignificant results in terms of variable number of leaves, total leaf area, and leaf greenness. The different types of liquid organic fertilizer concentration treatments and treatment combinations of shade percentage and liquid organic fertilizer concentrations did not influence any of the observed variables.Keywords: growth, organic fertilizer, palm, shade

Multi-objective optimization of energy, thermal and visual comfort for dormitory buildings in the cold climate of China

The dormitory building design is a comprehensive procedure that requires the integration of multiple objectives to meet the demands of occupants and society. However, building energy consumption and thermal and visual comfort are often contradictory during the preliminary design process. This study proposes a multi-objective optimization framework based on Pareto front solutions to optimize the energy, thermal and visual performance of dormitory buildings in a cold climate. Three typical spatial layouts and important design variables of dormitory buildings, including orientation, geometric dimension, window-to-wall ratio, U-value and solar heat gain coefficient of glazing, shading type, openable window area ratio and green roof are systematically discussed. The results show that compared to the reference design, the multi-objective optimization method can simultaneously reduce energy use density by 27%–46% and summer thermal discomfort time by 6%–10% and improve Useful Daylight Illuminance by 0%–5%. The potential for energy saving and thermal comfort of the double-sided corridor layout is the greatest, while the single-sided open corridor layout has the greatest daylighting potential. Furthermore, optimal ranges of design variables for different spatial layout types are recommended. Architects can choose appropriate space layout types and corresponding design variable values according to actual engineering needs towards a sustainable indoor built environment.

Prediction of Annual Daylighting Performance Using Inverse Models

This paper presents the results of a study that developed improved inverse models to accurately predict the annual daylighting performance (sDA and lighting energy use) of various window configurations. This inverse model is an improvement over previous inverse models because it can be applied to variable room geometries at different weather locations in the US. The room geometries can be varied from 3 m × 3 m × 2.5 m to 15 m × 15 m × 10 m (length × width × height). The other variables used in the model include orientation (N, E, S, W), window-to-floor ratio, window location in the exterior wall, glazing visible transmittance, ceiling visible reflectance, wall visible reflectance, shade type (overhangs, fins), shade visible reflectance, lighting power density (LPD) (W/m2), and lighting dimming setpoint (lux). Such models can quickly advise architects during the preliminary design phase about which daylighting design options provide useful daylighting, while minimizing the annual auxiliary lighting energy use. The inverse models tested and developed were multi-linear regression (MLR) models, which were trained and tested against Radiance-based annual daylighting simulation results. In the analysis, 482 cases with different model conditions were simulated, to develop and validate the inverse models. This study used 75% of the data to train the model and 25% of the data to validate the model. The results showed that the new inverse models had a high accuracy in the annual daylighting performance predictions, with an R2 of 0.99 and an CV(RMSE) of 15.19% (RMSE of 58.91) for the lighting energy (LE) prediction, and an R2 of 0.95 and an CV(RMSE) of 14.38% (RMSE of 8.02) for the sDA prediction. In addition, the validation results showed that the LE MLR model and sDA MLR model had an R2 of 0.96 and 0.85, and RASE of 121.89 and 8.54, respectively, which indicate that the inverse models could accurately predict daylighting results for sDA and lighting energy use.

Effects of agro-forestry systems on the physical and chemical characteristics of green coffee beans.

Twenty agroforestry systems consisting of different management practices (conventional and organic) and shade types were set up for coffee plantations in 2,000 at the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE), Turrialba, Costa Rica. The physical (density, bulk density, moisture content, and roasting loss) and chemical attributes (mineral, total lipid, fatty acids, caffeine, and carbohydrate contents) of harvested green coffee beans were investigated. The full sun and Erythrina shade tree systems significantly improved (p < 0.05) the density of the green coffee beans and decreased (p < 0.05) the moisture content and roasting loss of the green coffee beans. The intensive organic (IO) management practice significantly increased some mineral contents, such as K, P, and Ca, in green coffee beans. The full sun system also significantly promoted (p < 0.05) some mineral contents, such as Ca and Mn, in green coffee beans. In terms of total lipid and fatty acids (FAs), compared with the moderate conventional (MC) management practice, the IO management practice was beneficial as it significantly increased (p < 0.05) the total lipid and FAs contents in the green coffee beans, while the Erythrina shade tree system significantly increased (p < 0.05) the total lipid and FAs contents of green coffee beans more efficiently than the other shade types. The caffeine content of green coffee beans was significantly higher (p < 0.05) under the intensive conventional (IC) and IO management practices than under the MC management practice and higher under the full sun system than under the shaded system. The Erythrina shade tree system significantly improved (p < 0.05) the carbohydrate content of green coffee beans. Overall, in consideration of sustainability, the IO management practice associated with the Erythrina shade tree system would be a useful combination for the local farmers to grow coffee trees.

차광재배에 따른 차나무 생육특성 및 말차의 품질변화

The term matcha means that tea leaves cultivated under shade are prepared by pulverizing the leaves with a grinding machine (such as a stone mill or a ball mill), turning the tea leaves into a fine powder. There is a great difference in quality depending on cultivation techniques such as the shading period and the type of shade. This study investigates the effect on growth and physiological changes of tea leaves for the production of high-quality green tea depending on the use of sequential double shading (SD-SD) and sequential single shading (S-SD). Leaf area, moisture content, photosynthetic capacity, and G-value increase based on the amount of shade in the following order: SD-SD &gt; S-SD &gt; no shade. Total phenolic compound and catechin content were highest in unshaded matcha. Antioxidant activity was highest in unshaded matcha, which also coincides with the highest phenolic compound content, such as catechins. Sugar content was highest from no shade, with leaves absorbing the most light energy, and the free amino acid content was highest under SD-SD. The results of taste analysis through an electronic tongue showed the highest sour taste and umami from S-SD, a salty taste from no shade, and sweet taste, bitter taste, astringent taste, and spicy taste from SD-SD. The overall physiological and growth status and beneficial ingredients showed that SD-SD increases the color of the tea leaves more than S-SD, and sequential double shading is effective in reducing stress on tea plants.

Robust optimization of shading types to control the performance of water reservoirs

Managing evaporation losses and water quality is critical in improving farm-level water reservoir performance. Applying shading cloths over water reservoirs reduces solar radiation and wind acting on the water surface, possibly affecting the evaporation losses and water quality therein. The complex thermal fluid dynamics, including biochemical reactions, make it difficult to answer the question of which color and intensity shading cloth best controls water reservoirs’ performance in a specific climate. This study aims to establish a systematic approach to determine the best portfolio of shading cloths in the framework of robust optimization with demonstrations in the arid and semi-arid climates of Jordan. Firstly, intensive experiments were conducted at a site in a steppe climate, using thirty class-A evaporation pans covered by ten different shading treatments, including the control. Secondly, a physical model was developed to represent the dynamics in each pan. The experimental results were utilized for the calibration-validation procedure for the physical model. Then, robust optimization problems are formulated with uncertainty sets, where numerical solutions of the physical model determine nominal values of evaporation rates. However, the experimental results exclusively do the uncertainty intervals of evaporation rates and the whole uncertainty sets of chlorophyll-a. Computational searches for optimal portfolios are performed to satisfy the necessary conditions according to the Karush-Kuhn-Tucker theorem. Significant results were obtained from the robust optimization, including the cases of no solution, the best single type of shading, and diverse types of shadings.

Impact of shading on evapotranspiration and water stress of urban trees

AbstractEvapotranspiration of urban street trees is essential in mitigating urban heat islands due to its cooling effect. However, current shifts in rainfall and temperature regimes towards drier and hotter periods in Central Europe have caused substantial water stress for street trees. Quantifying and subsequently managing these changing dynamics as well as estimating evapotranspiration and water availability is necessary but at the same time extremely challenging in urban environments. Both dynamics are influenced by soil sealing and complex shading patterns of the surrounding street canyon, which vary on a small spatial scale as a function of the canyon layout and orientation. In the present study, the diurnal patterns of six typical urban shading types for street trees were derived by considering a large set of street orientations, widths and tree positions within the street canyon. A shading model was integrated into a hydrological urban tree model to assess the impact of those shading types on diurnal patterns of radiation and evapotranspiration rates calculated using the Penman–Monteith approach and the resulting soil moisture conditions for several vegetation seasons and water‐supply scenarios. The modelling results showed that the six shading patterns significantly influenced the simulated hourly, daily and seasonal potential and actual evapotranspiration rates and water availability. Shaded trees have a substantially reduced, simulated water stress period, regardless of initial water supply, and are able to provide a longer‐lasting cooling function during dry periods due to higher evapotranspiration rates later in the summer season.

Balancing Thermal Comfort and Energy Consumption in Residential Buildings of Desert Areas: Impact of Passive Strategies

Modern building materials using reinforced concrete are considered the most popular in the production of housing in Algeria, specifically in desert areas such as the city of Ouargla, which is characterized by its hot and arid climate. These dwellings must be more adaptable to this difficult climate. An example is the Ouargla Ksar, which contains traditional dwellings that have proven their effectiveness in terms of the heat problem, as has been revealed in several previously conducted studies, but these dwellings have decreased in demand as they are not suitable for contemporary urban life. Therefore, the aim of this study is to improve the performance of the most recognized house typologies in the city of Ouargla in terms of thermal comfort and energy consumption by using passive strategies. In this regard, we used a research methodology based on field measurements and model simulations wherein we adopted TRNSYS 17 to determine the most often encountered problems. The simulated model was validated by statistical correlation; afterward, a simulation of a full year was run, during which many aspects of construction were studied and compared, such as insulation, the mass of the roof and walls, dimensions and types of windows, orientation, and solar shading. The results show that the studied modern house can be considered inappropriate for a desert climate, and the use of solar shading combined with insulated walls and roof allows for an increase of 35% in annual thermal comfort hours (−0.5 ≤ PMV ≤0.5) and for a 22.73% reduction in the energy consumption. We then compared the simulated scenarios with a traditional house characterized by a bioclimatic architectural design that we used as a reference building. The obtained results may be useful in guiding both refurbishment interventions on existing buildings and the design of new ones. Although the simulated interventions have been widely studied in the literature, it is very important to determine their impact on the perception of the indoor environment and on the energy consumption in this specific geographic area.

External shading and its effect on the energy efficiency of Tehran's office buildings

AbstractModern office building designers tend to propose highly glazed façades that provide occupants with a view and daylight; however, the use of such façades has consequences, like glare and high energy consumption, especially in warm climates. Shadings affect energy usage for cooling, heating, and artificial lighting, defined as the objectives and output in the optimizer algorithm. The input variables are shading type, WWR, the depth of the shading, the distance between the shading and the window, the distance between fins, the number of fins in shading, and the distance from the top of the window. This research aims to comprehensively study external shadings and window‐to‐wall ratios to reduce the high energy consumption in modern office buildings in Tehran and cities in locations with a similar climate. The results can benefit all scientists researching building science, architects, instructors, and those wanting to buy a low‐energy consumption office. Energy consumption was calculated in Ladybug–Honeybee; the best objectives were obtained for each shading with the optimization process by the Octopus plugin in Grasshopper. Results were analyzed and rated compared with a window without shading. The best scenario was obtained for Egg‐crate with a 14.86% reduction in cooling energy and a 20.04% increase in useful daylight illuminance.

Location-specific cultivation techniques for Arabica coffee in Bener Meriah Regency

Gayo coffee is one of the leading commodities originating from the Gayo Highlands, one of which is Bener Meriah Regency. The Gayo coffee commodity cultivated by farmers is Arabica coffee, consisting of Gayo 1, Gayo 2, and Gayo 3 clones. Arabica coffee has been developed by the Gayo community for many years with a continuous cultivation system throughout the year. This coffee farming business is relatively advanced, various introductions have been made, which are based on experience gained from generation to generation (location specific) so that it can affect the performance of the coffee farming business being cultivated. The use of cultivated land for years with a coffee cultivation system causes a decrease in land fertility, resulting in a decrease in coffee production. This study aims to determine the location-specific cultivation techniques for Arabica coffee in Bener Meriah Regency that have been carried out by farmers from generation to generation. The method used is descriptive quantitative analysis using survey methods. The survey method was conducted by conducting direct interviews with respondents, namely farmers who cultivate Arabica coffee. Respondents were determined through Stratified Random Sampling. The results showed were generally farmers using mixed varieties in one garden (59.34%), the spacing varied generally 2.5 meters x 2.5 meters (59.34 %), 82.42% used organic and inorganic fertilizers, only 5.49% used organic fertilizers and 12.09% used inorganic fertilizers. Organic fertilizers are sourced from composted coffee husks. Soil and water conservation measures carried out in coffee plantations are only vegetative methods, the type of shade is generally Lamtoro (Leucaena leucocephala) plants. Generally, herbicides were used for weed control (83.52%) and only 12.09% famers used pesticides to control plant pest organisms.

IMPACT OF WINDOW SHADING ON THE THERMAL PERFORMANCE OF RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS OF DIFFERENT FORMS IN JORDAN

Introduction: Window shading is considered one of the most effective passive design approaches that improves indoor thermal performance, minimizing the usage of HVAC and reducing energy consumption. Purpose of the study: We aimed to investigate the impact of external window shading on thermal performance of three existing residential buildings having different forms (rectangular, L-shaped, and U-shaped) in hot-dry climate in Amman, Jordan. Methods: Three types of shading, namely: vertical, horizontal, and combined, of different lengths (0.75 m, 1.00 m, and 1.25 m) were introduced to the existing buildings. The effect of those types of shading was studied using the OpenStudio SketchUp 2020 plugin and EnergyPlus simulation program. Results: It was established that vertical shading slightly improves the indoor air temperature in all building forms, while horizontal shading and combined shading improve the thermal performance of buildings to a more significant extent. Combined shading of 1.25 m in length shows the optimum behavior in all buildings since it reduces the indoor air temperature in the range of 2.6–3.3°C. Besides, it improves thermal sensation, which seem to be closer to the comfort zone, by reducing the predicted mean vote (PMV) and predicted percentage of dissatisfied (PPD) values as compared with the baseline situation without shading. In addition, the rectangular building demonstrated the best response for shading by showing the largest reduction in the indoor air temperature.

A Study of Shading Devices in Modern Architecture for the Hot Humid Climate of Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Due to global warming caused by carbon dioxide emissions, for the last decade or longer, there has been a strong focus on reducing energy consumption. Among the many technologies, old and new, available for this purpose, one is a shading device, which is required in a hot and humid climates to protect building interiors from solar radiation that can penetrate the building, increasing the energy demand for the cooling load. Such shades are well-known and have been used widely since the dawn of the modern architectural era. In Phnom Penh, there are different kinds of shading devices in modernist architecture that demonstrate creativity in the shading of façades. To maximize their effectiveness in contributing to the fight against global warming, it is necessary to study their fundamental shadowing behaviors so that new technology can be developed and applied to today’s buildings. &#x0D; This study aims to explore the shading types in modern architecture in Phnom Penh, and evaluate different aspects of these shading devices in terms of shadow performance by using an extension tool in Sketch-UP, Shadow Projector V.7 by TIG. &#x0D; The results show that shading devices on modern buildings in Phnom Penh are defined by a deep overhang, and horizontal louvers hung from the overhang. Vertical fins, slanted fins, and egg-crate patterns are also used on the façades. According to the evaluation results, egg-crate provided the best shading performance among all shading cases and orientations studied. It was also found that a horizontal louver hung from the overhang can increase shading performance by 20% in all directions, and that it is more efficient than vertical fins for East, West, SE, and SW orientations. Moreover, the overhang is the most efficient in north-facing façades. Vertical fin types, on the other hand, are unreliable for East, West, SE, and SW orientations. The vertical slanted fin type is also unreliable in any orientation or season due to the slanted position and the sun's travel path. &#x0D; The results of this study will help designers optimize the shadowing behavior of shading devices, particularly with respect to building orientation. The research findings highlight the fundamentals, which can be enhanced future studies that focus on compatibility assessment of shading devices used in new-era buildings.

Retrofitting of a High-Rise Residential Building for Energy Efficiency with OTTV as an Assessment Tool

Buildings account for nearly 50% of the total energy consumption. The use of air-conditioning is one of the major influencers to the high energy consumption in buildings. To tackle this high energy consumption, buildings are required to be more energy efficient. This study aimed to investigate the retrofitting of existing residential building for energy efficiency by using the Overall Thermal Transfer Value (OTTV) as an assessment tool. Various retrofitting measures were involved, including varying the colour of the opaque wall with different solar absorptivity, the U-value and shading coefficient of the Glazing system, and the type and projection of the external shading. The results showed that applying the retrofitting measures individually (i.e., using light colour with low solar absorptivity, replacing the glazing system to have lower shading coefficient and U-value, and the installation of external shading systems with low shading coefficient) can decrease the OTTV by 26% to 33.4%. However, combining these measures managed to decrease the OTTV by up to 75.6% (i.e., the OTTV decreased from 82.87 W/m² to 20.19 W/m²). This can improve the building energy efficiency as it contributes to less cooling load for the air-conditioned buildings, while it provides a better indoor environment in non-air-conditioned buildings.

Effect of Coffee Ages and Shade Types on Soil Moisture and Soil N, P, K Availability in UB Forest

Water and nutrients is important for plant which has its characteristics. This study has been carried out in the UB (Brawijaya University) forest about soil moisture content during rainy and dry seasons, Total-N, -P, -K from litter on different types of shade and age of coffee plants, and their effect on soil Available-N, -P, and -K. There are P1 (control), P2 (4-year-coffee + pine), P3 (7-year-coffee + pine), P4 (4-year-coffee + mahogany), and P5 (7-year-coffee + mahogany). These treatments affected to total soil moisture storage, Total-N, -P, -K of litter, and Available-N, -P, -K in the soil. The soil moisture storage change between rainy and dry seasons was 36.97 mm. The highest Total-N, -P, and -K of litter was 11.00 kg ha-1 y-1 at P3, 1.06 kg ha-1 y-1 at P2, and 4.35 kg ha-1 y-1 at P3, which was inconsistently associated with high soil nutrients. The highest Total-N was 0.40 (0-20 cm), 0.27 (20-40 cm), 0.30% (40-60 cm) at P4, Available-K was 1.69 (0-20 cm), 1.64 (20-40 cm), 1.87 cmol kg-1 (40-60 cm) at P5, and Available-P was 15.21 (0-20 cm), 14.06 (20-40 cm), 12.64 mg kg-1 (40-60 cm) at P1.

Implementing natural ventilation and daylighting strategies for thermal comfort and energy efficiency in office buildings in Burkina Faso

In recent years, efforts to lessen the environmental impact of the building sector have focused more on passive strategies to develop eco-friendly buildings that reduce energy use and improve thermal comfort. To reduce the construction sector’s resource use, particularly in fast-urbanizing sub-Saharan countries, a paradigm shift is needed. Although integrated daylighting and natural ventilation solutions in building design and construction are still under development in sub-Saharan Africa, their scientific contributions to the construction industry are growing. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to investigate natural ventilation and daylighting improvements in Burkina Faso office buildings to maximize thermal comfort and energy efficiency. The country’s meteorological data from 2004 to 2018 was examined for climatic analysis and utilized in Integrated Environmental Solutions Virtual Environment (IESVE) for natural ventilation and daylight simulations and in Design-Builder (DB) for thermal comfort and energy consumption simulations. 4 simulation rounds were conducted in order to determine respectively from round 1 to 4 the effects of building shape, glazing type, window shading type, and window-to-wall ratio on the daylighting and natural ventilation office building model performances. The findings indicated that on a south–north axis orientation, a ”H”-shaped structure with blue-tinted glass, horizontal louvers for shading, and 30% window-to-wall ratio, is the best option. The best overall option reduced annual energy demand, cooling energy demand, and solar gains by 14.9%, 25.3%, and 68.3% respectively. Hourly average airflow increased by 64.8% and 2% in hot and cold seasons respectively. Indoor air temperature decreased by 3.4 °C in the hot season and increased by 0.4 °C in the cold season. The daylighting analysis results demonstrated benefits with measurements that did not reflect too much light, implying reduced glare and discomfort with Useful Daylight Illuminance (500-2500lux): 56%, Spatial Daylight autonomy (50%): 44.7%, Annual Sunlight Exposure: 12%. This research laid the groundwork for a sustainable, bioclimatic office building model in a landlocked developing nation like Burkina Faso by integrating Climate Based Design Modeling (CBDM) and natural ventilation parameters into the design process.

The role of coffee agroforestry on available water capacity and root length density in smallholder plantation

Abstract. Khoirunnisak A, Prijono S, Wicaksono KS. 2023. The role of coffee agroforestry on available water capacity and root length density in smallholder plantation. Biodiversitas 24: 55-61. The application of coffee agroforestry has several advantages, such as increasing the cycle of nutrients and soil organic matter as well as improving soil physical properties. However, there is still an information gap related to the interaction between coffee plants and shade plant roots. This study aimed to evaluate coffee agroforestry on available water capacity (AWC) and root length density (RLD). The research was carried out at the smallholder coffee plantation in Dampit District in four shade types (coffee-open, shaded with Musa sp., shaded with Gliricidia sp., and shaded with L. leucochepala). Soil and root samples were taken at three depths (0-20 cm, 20-40 cm, and 40-60 cm) and at two distances (near the coffee stems and between the coffee shade). The variables observed were AWC, RLD, soil organic C, soil aggregate stability, and soil penetration resistance. The result was coffee plants with shade trees increased AWC value and root density compared to coffee-open. The type of shade significantly affected RLD, where shaded with Gliricidia sp., and shaded with L. leucochepala were better than coffee-open. This indicates that there was no root competition between coffee plants and shade trees. However, shaded with Musa sp. had lower RLD than coffee-open. Soil depth had a significant effect on the AWC value and root length density of coffee plants, where the most AWC values ??and coffee root distribution were higher at a depth of 0-20 cm.

A Study on the Optimization of Atrium Daylight and Energy Performance through Skylight and Shading Design in Commercial Buildings in Cold Zones

Atriums play an irreplaceable role within the plan of modern commercial buildings. However, the presence of skylights makes the atrium suffer from unfavorable conditions such as overheating, high energy consumption, and glare, which can be partially reduced by the sun-shading design of skylights. In this paper, we conducted a field test and questionnaire survey on the daylight quality of commercial buildings in cold zones in China to find out the current problems of daylight quality in atriums and to establish a model of commercial atrium. After the dynamic daylight and energy consumption simulation, the sensitivity analysis of daylight and energy performance is performed for the skylight and shading (SAS) design parameters under three shading types. Finally, the Pareto front solution set of optimized commercial atrium daylight, visual comfort, and energy performance for the three shading types has been obtained using a multi-objective search tool. The results show that SRR has the greatest effect on sDA, DGP, and EUI in all shading cases; while SGT has a greater effect on EUI than on daylight quality; FC has a greater effect on EUI than FV on EUI; and LS and LI have a more significant influence on daylight and visual comfort. The optimal SAS values of no shading, fabric shading and louvered shading were screened as SRR is 0.4–0.5, SGT is Double silver Low-E insulating glass; SRR is 0.5–0.6, SGT is Double silver Low-E insulating glass, FV is 0.5–0.7, FC is 0.5–0.6; SRR is 0.6–0.7, SGT is Double silver Low-E insulating glass, LS is 100 mm/125 mm, and LI is 60–70°. It is expected that this study will provide some information and reference for the design of commercial atriums in cold zones in the future.

Energy Saving Opportunities through Glazing and Shading Alternatives

Windows are the weakest elements due to their high heat transfer coefficient and are responsible for 60% energy heat/gain loss. Healthcare buildings are one of the biggest consumers of energy due to continuous occupation hours and medical requirements, providing comfortable conditions for people in need of care and staff; yet recently less attention was given to healthcare buildings due to their unique operational requirements and advanced medical equipment. Thus, the main purpose of this study was to evaluate energy saving potentials of windows through glazing and shading alternatives over a case study. Within this study, a single patient room in Izmir Turkey has been chosen as a case study, and the room was simulated for sixteen scenarios generated by using four different glazing and shading systems. Each design scenario was simulated using DALEC for their lighting, heating, cooling, and total energy consumption. Results showed that lighting energy consumption constitutes the highest energy demand (up to 52%) and high transmitting glazing usage can reduce lighting loads. Finally, up to 16.3%, energy saving is possible only by changing shading and glazing types. Though there is a great diversity of glazing and shading types, this study’s outputs only reflect the selected four glazing and four shading system types that are offered by DALEC. Healthcare buildings spend a vast amount of energy to provide thermal and visual comfort for various user profiles. Considering the large number of patient rooms in healthcare facilities, only careful consideration of glazing or shadings can significantly contribute to energy savings. This study focuses on shading and glazing alternatives as an energy-saving strategy. For simulation, an underrecognized BES tool DALEC was hyped to show integrated thermal and visual energy consumption. The findings highlight that energy savings of up to 16.3% is possible.

Impacts of Ecological Shading by Roadside Trees on Tea Foliar Nutritional and Bioactive Components, Community Diversity of Insects and Soil Microbes in Tea Plantation.

Roadside trees not only add aesthetic appeal to tea plantations, but also serve important ecological purposes for the shaded tea plants. In this study, we selected tea orchards with two access roads, from east to west (EW-road) and from south to north (SN-road), and the roadside trees formed three types of ecological shading of the adjoining tea plants; i.e., south shading (SS) by the roadside trees on the EW-road, and east shading and west shading (ES and WS) by the roadside trees on the SN-road. We studied the impacts of ecological shading by roadside trees on the tea plants, insects, and soil microbes in the tea plantation, by measuring the contents of soluble nutrients, bioactive compounds in the tea, and tea quality indices; and by investigating the population occurrence of key species of insects and calculating insect community indexes, while simultaneously assaying the soil microbiome. The results vividly demonstrated that the shading formed by roadside tree lines on the surrounding tea plantation (SS, ES, and WS) had adverse effects on the concentration of tea soluble sugars but enhanced the foliar contents of bioactive components and improved the overall tea quality, in contrast to the no-shading control tea plants. In addition, the roadside tree lines seemed to be beneficial for the tea plantation, as they reduced pest occurrence, and ES shading enhanced the microbial soil diversity in the rhizosphere of the tea plants.