Contemporary societies have shifted their focus towards sustainable and resilient public buildings, transcending the institutional and functional role of the physical structures. School buildings ...remain the second highest expenditure of municipalities' total running costs. The impact on well-being and improved knowledge, and the average lifespan of school buildings, imply the necessity to pay special attention to its expected performance from the early design phase.
The present research aims to estimate the impact of early design evaluation of open-school building morphology on energy performance in four climatic contexts of Southeast Europe. Design variables, including building shape and orientation, are selected for a comprehensive whole-building energy performance analysis. The results highlight the method's efficiency in reducing a maximum of 35.4% of the annual energy demand and increasing a maximum of 1.21 °C the thermal comfort in classrooms through geometry optimization. Suggestions are made on the appropriateness level of each typology for each studied climatic context. A fundamental framework for early design decision-making stages is generated through the performed simulation results.
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•Early design evaluation of school morphology on energy and thermal performance.•Building shape and orientation design variables are used for energy analysis.•The buildings' energy reduced up to 35.4%, and thermal comfort improved to 1.15 °C.•A fundamental framework towards early design decisions for sustainable principles.
The seismic vulnerability assessment of critical facilities, such as hospital and school buildings, is of paramount importance to avoid the collapse in ordinary conditions and to guarantee their ...immediate functionality in the post-earthquake emergency. Due to the high number of school buildings, and to the need to perform the assessment in a short time, a simple methodology for ranking the more vulnerable buildings through a seismic risk index is highly desirable. In this study, a Rapid Visual Screening (RVS) methodology is proposed. The method aims to prioritize the buildings prone to higher seismic risk and to assist decision-makers in the implementation of seismic risk reduction strategies. The methodology allows to assess the seismic risk of reinforced concrete (RC) school buildings through the compilation of a factsheet. The main sources of structural and non-structural vulnerability are considered in the survey form. The influence of the hazard and exposure are also accounted for in the calculation of the safety index through simplified parameters. The proposed RVS method can be quickly applied to a large number of buildings to identify those that require more accurate analyses. The proposed methodology has been applied to a sample of typical school buildings in Apulian Region, Southern Italy. The results obtained using the proposed RVS method were compared with those of more advanced numerical analyses in order to assess its effectiveness.
Data-driven green building design in BIM is challenged by the lack of a comprehensive data integration framework with the capabilities of building life-cycle performance data management and ...application. This paper proposes a performance integrated BIM (P-BIM) framework for building life cycle energy efficiency and environment optimization. A school building is presented as a case study to verify the P-BIM framework and the design optimization workflow established. The results show that the optimization can improve IEQ by 11.5% and reduce LCC by 36.8%. The influences of different envelope constructions on indoor environment, energy consumptions, and costs are also studied. The P-BIM framework and the optimization methodology built on it demonstrate that the methodology developed can expand the application scope of BIM and contribute to data-driven green building design. More application scenarios focusing on the stage of facility management and different sustainability performance will be conducted in P-BIM framework in future works.
•The lack of performance data integration in BIM hinders green building design.•A green building performance data integrated BIM (P-BIM) framework is proposed.•P-BIM prototype of a general multi-objective optimization model is developed.•A case study in a school building is conducted to verify the efficacy of P-BIM.•A variable-controlling approach is applied to analyze envelope influences.
•Lack of studies on zero energy school buildings in hot climates.•A validated simulation model was used to analyze net zero energy schools.•Energy-efficient design strategies reduce 1/3 of the ...schools’ energy demand.•PV systems can provide up to 2/3 of the schools’ energy demand.•Zero-energy school buildings are possible to achieve in hot climates.
The concept of net-zero energy, with its holistic consideration of energy-efficient passive, active, and renewable energy systems, is a critical step toward decarbonizing the built environment. This work aims to assess the feasibility of net-zero energy schools in hot climates and propose practical and realistic design solutions. The design of a net-zero energy school was developed and analyzed using DesignBuilder software in hot-humid, hot-dry, and warm-humid climatic zones in Oman. A multiphase methodology was followed, including data collection, an energy audit, fieldwork measurements, and energy simulation modeling. Integrating judicious passive design strategies such as thermal insulation for walls and roofs besides high-performance windows resulted in moderate potential reductions in energy cost and consumption in all climatic zones. Considering active design strategies like light-emitting diode (LED) lights, lighting control, and variable refrigerant volume/variable refrigerant flow (VRV/VRF) air conditioning systems resulted in additional reductions in energy cost and consumption. For the energy cost, the reductions were estimated at 29.9%, 29.5%, and 25.9% in the hot-humid, hot-dry, and warm-humid climatic zones, respectively. The corresponding reductions in energy consumption reached 28.53%, 27.90%, and 25.14%. Integrating a photovoltaics (PV) system aiming to reach the net-zero energy status supplied the school with demanded energy and managed to export 42.78%, 43.53%, and 45.75% to the national grid in the hot-humid, hot-dry, and warm-humid climatic zones, respectively. Similar reductions were achieved for CO2 emissions and energy costs.
In the current practice, the design of energy refurbishment interventions for existing buildings is typically addressed by performing time-consuming software-based numerical simulations. However, ...this approach may be not suitable for preliminary assessment studies, especially when large building portfolios are involved. Therefore, this research work aims at developing simplified data-driven predictive models to estimate the energy consumption of existing school buildings in Italy and support the decision-making process in energy refurbishment intervention planning at a large scale. To accomplish this, an extensive database is assembled through comprehensive on-site surveys of school buildings in Southern Italy. For each school, a Building Information Modelling (BIM) model is developed and validated considering real energy consumption data. These BIM models serve in the design of suitable energy refurbishment interventions. Moreover, a comprehensive parametric investigation based on refined energy analyses is carried out to significantly improve and integrate the dataset. To derive the predictive models, firstly the most relevant parameters for energy consumption are identified by performing sensitivity analyses. Based on these findings, predictive models are generated through a multiple linear regression method. The suggested models provide an estimation of the energy consumption of the “as-built” configuration, as well as the costs and benefits of alternative energy refurbishment scenarios. The reliability of the proposed simplified relationships is substantiated through a statistical analysis of the main error indices. Results highlight that the building's shape factor (i.e., the ratio between the building's envelope area and its volume) and the area-weighted average of the thermal properties of the building envelope significantly affect both the energy consumption of school buildings and the achievable savings through retrofitting interventions. Finally, a framework for the preliminary design of energy refurbishment of buildings, based on the implementation of the herein developed predictive model, is proposed and illustrated through a worked example application.
Worth noting that, while the proposed approach is currently limited to school buildings, the methodology can conceptually be extended to any building typology, provided that suitable data on energy consumption are available.
•Time-consuming simulations are required for energy refurbishment of buildings.•Simplified methodologies may support the energy requalification of buildings.•The results of refined energy analyses of existing school buildings are considered.•A Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) model is trained to obtain a predictive tool.•A framework for a preliminary design of energy refurbishment interventions is proposed.
Issues linked to aerosol physics within school buildings and related infection risk still lack a proper recognition in school safety regulations. Limited spaces and limited available window-surfaces ...require to precisely investigate the seasonal airing factors and the occupancy/volume ratios in each classroom in order to assess the specific risk levels from viral loads of potentially infective sources. Moreover, most schools are still not provided with mechanical HVAC systems nor with air quality sensors. Fundamental questions are therefore: how the specific classroom volume and the specific airing cycle affects the long-range contagion risk in a given classroom? is linear social distancing the right way to assess a volumetric risk problem? We present here the results of an extended quantitative analysis based on the GN-Riley infection risk model applied to a real classroom scenario. The study discusses seasonality of the airing flow and the effectiveness of single and combined mitigation interventions, such as limiting student groups, equipping teachers with microphones, increasing classroom volumes, and equipping classrooms with CO2 sensors to safely drive airing intervals. Moreover, we show experimental CO2 concentrations as well as occupancy and airing factors monitored in real time in a real classroom scenario. In agreement with recent literature, the results emphasize the need for a dynamic evaluation of the complex risk function over the whole exposure time (and not just the monitoring of the istanteneous CO2 concentration) in order to correctly control the infection risk from aerosolization.
•Aerosol infection risk assessment from in situ CO2 measurements with real occupants in a school classroom is shown.•Riley-Gammaitoni box model has been extended with additional thermal gradient to model summer and winter airing conditions in classrooms.•Comprehensive risk mitigation strategy based on (CO2-driven) manual ventilation cycles, class splitting and voice reduction is presented.•A revision of social distancing norms in schools towards volumetric base safety criteria is proposed. Positive evaluation of historical educational buildings with large rooms is provided.
The Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction (2021) finds that in 2020, the building sector accounted for 36 per cent of global final energy consumption and 37 per cent of energy related ...CO.sub.2 emissions, as compared to other end use sectors. CO.sub.2 emissions from building operations fell 10 percent in 2020 to around 8.7 gigatons, down from around 9.6 gigatons in 2019, as a result of the shift in building-related energy use patterns. This paper studied the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on energy use, and carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) emissions, for more than one hundred buildings at a major university campus located in a hot and humid climate. The time series of energy consumption on the annual period between March 2019 through February 2020 were compared to the year of March 2020 through February 2021, when the pandemic started. The annual electricity (ELE) uses for the entire campus during the pandemic decreased by approximately 8%, resulting in an avoided annual electricity use of approximately 20,702 MWh, with a cost savings of $1.6 million and a reduction of 17.9 million pounds of CO.sub.2 emissions. The monthly electricity uses for the whole campus decreased by 3% - 18%. electricity use reduction in April and May was much higher than in other months due to the lockdown policy for these two months. For different types of campus buildings, pandemic impacts on energy use varied largely: Office/classroom, general/dining/sport type buildings had high electricity reduction, approximately 10%. The dorm/ residence type buildings have the lowest electricity reduction, less than 4%. Eighty-five percent of the total studied buildings showed a reduction during the pandemic start year, and annual electricity use reduction for a single building could be as high as 45%. While the pandemic resulted in an overall reduction in electricity consumption across the building in campus, the impacts on chilled water (CHW) and heating hot water (HHW) consumption were not as clear. The changes in occupancy and schedules during the pandemic should have led to reduced consumption of these energy sources, but to prevent the spread of COVID-19 an increased on the fresh air intake was set in place, which counteract any potential reductions in CHW and HHW consumption.
•Building basic information, heat sources and energy consumption of 119 public buildings in North China have been analyzed.•Energy consumption level for three typical function public buildings have ...been analyzed by using the statistical data.•Factors influencing building energy consumption have been analyzed by using eQUEST building energy simulation software.•Energy saving and emission reduction suggestions are given to reduce the building energy consumption and pollutant emissions.•Energy consumption baseline and carbon emissions index of public buildings have been determined.
In order to investigate the characteristics of public building energy consumption, energy consumption of 119 public buildings in North China have been counted and discussed. Main factors influencing the energy consumption of public building are analyzed by using eQUEST software. Based on the statistics, energy consumption variants and carbon emissions index of public buildings are determined under four situations. The results indicate that the average comprehensive energy consumption per unit area is 147.20kWh/(m2a) and the average power consumption is 47.96kWh/(m2a). Energy consumption level and characteristics of three typical public buildings are investigated. The comprehensive energy consumption per unit area of office, hospital and school buildings varies from 26.76 to 475.27kWh/(m2a); from 91.94 to 329.94kWh/(m2a) and from 50.85 to 204.30kWh/(m2a), respectively, and the average values are 188.36, 194.64 and 103.27kWh/(m2a), respectively. It is found that the energy consumption of hospital building is much higher than that of office and school buildings. The power consumption per unit construction area in north of China is considerably lower than that of the United States and the United Kingdom, but closer to Japan. Among the discussed factors, air conditioning system, lighting density and building envelope are the most significant impacts influencing the building energy consumption. Different functional public buildings have different energy consumption variants and carbon emissions indexes. Based on the statistics, the average energy consumption variants of government office building, non-government office building, hospital building and school building are 169.98, 197.71, 206.92 and 118.54kWh/(m2a), respectively. The average power consumption variants are 66.38, 75.88, 87.44 and 28.13kWh/(m2a), respectively. The average carbon emissions indexes are 85.62, 93.22, 102.46 and 55.04kg/(m2a), respectively.
Adaptable buildings are a promising enabler in the transition towards a more circular economy, with the ambition of using materials as efficiently as possible. To exploit adaptable buildings to their ...full potential, HVAC designers should critically rethink how to design technical services and ventilation systems in particular. This case study illustrates how five ventilation strategies perform from an environmental point of view in a school building where the configuration of the floorplan changes every five years, each of the changes reflecting a pedagogical vision. Consequential LCA is used to assess the environmental impact. A decentralized balanced mechanical ventilation system, which requires almost no adaptations when the configuration changes, has the lowest environmental impact while mechanical exhaust ventilation has the highest. However, when the configuration of the floorplan layout alters more rapidly, the relative environmental impact of the latter decreases substantially. The main conclusion is that, in a flexible context, the material-related environmental impact gains importance over the energy-related impact. With respect to this conclusion, a key finding is that minimizing the material use of ductwork (rather than oversizing ductwork dimensions to decrease the energy consumption of the fan) is more sustainable from an environmental point of view. Finally, distributing the ductwork over two shafts offers more flexibility and results in a lower environmental impact as this allows for the use of smaller dimensions of ductwork.
•Integrating ventilation in adaptable building is crucial for optimal building usage.•Decentralized mechanical ventilation has the lowest impact in this case.•Mechanical exhaust ventilation has the highest environmental impact in this case.•The material-related environmental impact increases in a flexible context.•Estimating future use of a building is crucial to make sustainable decisions.
Student central Cotter, Louise
Irish arts review (2002),
12/2021, Letnik:
38, Številka:
4
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Cotter discusses the Student Hub at University College Cork, winner in the Adaptation and Re-use category in the 2024 Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland Awards. The hub at University ...College Cork was long envisaged as a central location for student services on the campus and finally opened its doors in January 2020. The project brings new life to the venerable Windle Building, once the medical school, which has been surgically rejuvenated by architects O'Donnell and Tuomey. If a university campus may be considered as a microcosm of the city, then the transformation of the Windle Building is representative of a mature phase of urban development on the 175-year-old site, where the focus is on adaptation and reuse underpinned by a resilient masterplan. University College Cork benefits from a distinctive landscape setting, perched on a wooded escarpment overlooking the River Lee.
