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Research on renewal strategy of residential buildings with light environment optimization under the guidance of rural traditional construction techniques -- A case study of Matou Village of China
No full textBased on the inheritance and modern translation of traditional Chinese rural arts and culture, this paper hopes to take the traditional residential houses in Matou Village, Jing Town, Anhui Province, China, as an example, to explore the optimization methods of light environment based on the traditional Chinese rural construction technics. Firstly, through field investigation and simulation calculation, the status quo of lighting and the related residential architectural technics of Matou Village in Jing Town were summarized, thus to conclude and evaluate the lighting efficiency related to the architectural technics. Then, by using Ladybug and Honeybee software related to lighting coefficient simulation, the coefficient data before and after the renovation of the four residential buildings in the village was simulated and compared through four different architectural technics named Patio, Door, Light Hopper and roof glass tile. Finally, based on the concrete construction measures combined with four traditional construction technics in the reconstruction and the simulation results, the relative relationship between several reconstruction strategies and the improvement of lighting performance is analysed and concluded , so as to provide basic principles and strategies for the practice of combining light environment optimization and traditional techniques in the reconstruction of traditional residential buildings in rural communities in the future
Fire safety on green roofs: analysis of plant species and sustainable solutions for the Brazilian context.
Get PDFsuch as thermal comfort, reduction of urban heat islands, energy efficiency and promotion of sustainable development. However, their implementation brings challenges, especially with regard to fire safety, since plants can increase the fire risk and spread due to their flammability and interaction with other building materials. This article investigates fire safety in buildings with green roofs, focusing on the conditions of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The research analyzes plant characteristics, such as density, moisture content and leaf structure, which directly affect their combustibility. Dry plants with volatile compounds have a higher flammable potential, while those with thick leaves and higher moisture content are more fire resistant. The study proposes guidelines to mitigate fire risks, suggesting the use of plants with low flammability, such as succulents and woody shrubs, in addition to the implementation of efficient irrigation systems. The article also recommends that green building projects should consider adequate safety measures, such as the careful selection of plant species, to ensure that the sustainability of green roofs does not compromise fire safety, offering a solution that combines environmental benefits and risk protection
Evolving Expectations: A Five-Year Study on Bridging Academia and Industry in Virtual Design and Construction Education
No full textThe construction industry is rapidly evolving, driven by technological advancements and increasing project complexities, highlighting the need to bridge the gap between academic curricula and industry expectations, particularly in Virtual Design and Construction (VDC). This study employs a five-year Delphi method to evaluate the skills and knowledge required of fresh graduates, focusing on competencies in Building Information Modeling (BIM), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), model management, VDC skills, and collaboration. A panel of 24 experts, evenly split between academia and industry, assessed these competencies, revealing disparities in priorities: academia emphasizes foundational knowledge, while industry demands advanced technical proficiency and practical applications. Over time, industry expectations for emerging technologies, such as generative design and AI-driven tools, have increased, exposing gaps in academic preparation for these evolving skills. The findings highlight the critical need for construction education to align with technological trends and workforce demands by integrating advanced modeling techniques, simulation tools, and collaborative platforms into curricula. By offering actionable insights into curriculum enhancement, this research aims to foster a more adaptable and future-ready workforce, guiding educators and industry stakeholders in equipping graduates with the skills necessary to thrive in the rapidly changing construction landscape
Exploring and comparing gendered experiences in Construction Management Education in Ireland
No full textDespite efforts by Irish governments and construction industries, women are still distinctly underrepresented in 3rd level construction management courses in Ireland. This study investigates the age-old barriers and challenges faced by women in pursuing careers in construction management, focusing on gender stereotypes, the industry\u27s image, access to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) education, and the role of career guidance. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research combines a literature review with semi-structured interviews conducted with eight students from Technological University Dublin. The findings reveal that gender stereotypes remain pervasive, with female students facing challenges such as lack of female role models, isolation in male-dominated environments, and insufficient guidance in school. Key motivations for choosing construction management include financial prospects and job security, with family influences playing a stronger role for female students. The research also highlights a lack of exposure to construction-related subjects in secondary education, particularly for female students, which limits their engagement with the industry. This research contributes valuable insights into the gender dynamics in construction management education and highlights areas for future policy and industry development
Integrating Nature into Norms: Evaluating Biophilic Design Attributes in Building Rating Systems
Get PDFThis paper examines the integration of biophilic design attributes within building rating systems. Biophilic design, which emphasizes human connections to the natural environment through the use of natural elements in architectural and landscape design, has been increasingly recognized for its positive effects on human well-being and environmental sustainability. Despite its growing popularity, the extent to which biophilic design principles are incorporated into existing building rating systems remains unclear. To address this gap, our study systematically reviews 29 prominent building rating systems worldwide, identifying and categorizing credits that align with biophilic design attributes, such as sunlight, natural shapes, and water. Through a detailed content analysis, we assess the prevalence and distribution of biophilic design attributes across these systems, providing a comprehensive analysis of the current landscape of biophilic integration in building assessments. Preliminary findings suggest a varied incorporation of biophilic principles, with certain attributes being more frequently adopted than others. This disparity raises questions about the underlying factors influencing the integration of biophilic design in building standards and the potential barriers to its wider adoption. The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications of these findings for the future development of building rating systems and recommendations for more effectively embedding biophilic design principles to promote human and ecological well-being. This research contributes to the broader discourse on sustainable design and development, offering insights for policymakers, designers, and practitioners involved in creating and evaluating nature-inspired sustainable built environments
Critical Review of Biodiversity Criteria in Sustainable Real Estate Finance
Get PDFThe speed of global biodiversity loss has highlighted the urgency of directing more capital into nature-positive investments. Subsequently, green real estate finance has an important role to play in filling this finance gap. Against this backdrop, the paper employs a case study methodology to critically review the harmonies and disparities between two alternative approaches to incorporate biodiversity in the building sector: the EU Taxonomy, representing a regulatory “top-down” push for minimum standards, and the “Biodiversity Building” concept which portrays an industry-driven “bottom-up” approach aimed at ecological regenerativity. The analysis reveals some fundamental differences between the scope, content, and applicability of the biodiversity criteria between the two paradigms. In essence, the EU Taxonomy criteria are limited to reducing the impact at the building site, aligned with the “Do No Significant Harm” principle. In contrast, the Biodiversity Building strives for nature-positive outcomes by setting requirements for the entire lifecycle and value chain of the building. These findings indicate a need to harmonise the site-specific and lifecycle-oriented approaches to biodiversity to ensure that the criteria can be applied in practice without misinterpreting responsibilities and lowering standards. This is necessary for securing that green funding is directed at truly sustainable investments, making the results relevant for policymakers, practitioners and researchers alike
Assessing the Sustainability Skills Gap between Industry Needs and Academic Training in Construction Management
Get PDFAccording to the Building Science Education Guidelines, construction managers must evaluate the integration of whole building systems and analyze building science principles, particularly regarding energy efficiency and building enclosure, to promote sustainable construction. However, current construction management (CM) programs often lack comprehensive training in these areas through design and construction integration. While curricula include some building science and systems training, available resources remain scattered or limited to specific topics, potentially misaligning with industry needs. In this respect, this research examines the sustainability skills gap between industry practice and academic curricula. Using a task inventory analysis approach, this research identifies key industry-required sustainability tasks and compares their competencies with academic offerings, highlighting areas needing course transformations and interventions. The findings of this research will help better prepare construction management students for workforce success while promoting sustainable design and construction practices in the built environment
Life Cycle Assessment of the Decarbonisation Opportunities of a Brick Manufacturing Facility in Australia
Get PDFThis research tackles the urgent challenge of reducing carbon emissions within the construction industry, where building materials—especially bricks—play a significant role in global greenhouse gas emissions. Brick manufacturing, in particular, significantly contributes to the industry’s carbon footprint, underscoring the need for decarbonisation strategies. This study examines potential pathways to achieve this by exploring alternative fuel options and assessing their environmental impact using life cycle assessment (LCA). Focusing on a brick manufacturing plant in Australia, identified as Plant A, the study uses a cradle-to-gate LCA approach to establish baseline emissions and evaluate the benefits of various fuel-switch scenarios. Key results show that switching the current mixed grid electricity and natural gas to solar power delivers the most significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, achieving cuts of 69%. Switching natural gas to biomethane leads to a 58% reduction while moving from grid electricity to solar achieves a 16% decrease. These findings highlight the significant carbon savings achievable through fuel-switching in brick production, aligning with sustainable construction goals and climate targets. It is evident from the study that renewable energy integration should be prioritised, biomethane should be considered as a practical interim solution, and hydrogen’s viability for longer-term decarbonisation should be assessed. Future research should expand to a cradle-to-cradle perspective to capture the full environmental benefits of brick production, including reuse, recycling, and circular processes
Integrating Sufficiency in Sustainable and Green Building Rating Tools - The Sufficiency Investigation, Gain and Notification (SIGN) Framework
Get PDFSufficiency can be defined as a situation when a purpose has been achieved, a need has been met and a desired and optimal state has been achieved. In terms of sustainability, it is seen as a strategy for achieving human needs without exceeding the Earth\u27s planetary boundaries. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has identified sufficiency as having a critical role in achieving climate targets. Sufficiency is also increasingly being integrated in national energy and sustainability strategies. However, sufficiency has not been included as an explicit factor in sustainable and green building rating tools. This study investigates the implications of sufficiency for these tools. It develops a sufficiency framework for the built environment and uses this to evaluate a sustainable building rating tool, the Sustainable Building Assessment Tool (SBAT). The evaluation finds that while sufficiency is acknowledged implicitly in the tool, this concept is not addressed explicitly. The study recommends that existing SBAT criteria be modified. It also recommends that new criteria with a sufficiency focus be developed. Implications of these recommendations for other green building rating tools are shared. The paper concludes that the concept of sufficiency has an important role to play in meeting sustainable development and climate change targets and should integrated into sustainable and green building rating tools
Heat Recovery Chiller for Education on Low Carbon HVAC Technologies
Get PDFReducing carbon emissions during the life cycle of a building is critical for mitigating the impacts of climate change. This problem is particularly challenging in the U.S., where buildings account for nearly 40% of annual CO2 emissions for heating, cooling, lighting, and other routine operations. Although a variety of new energy efficient technologies for buildings are being deployed, that alone is not sufficient for success. It is also critically important to provide technical training for facility managers so that these new technologies operate as intended once they are installed in buildings. Delivering this technical training is the rationale for the installation of a new Heat Recovery Chiller (HRC) in an HVAC instructional laboratory at a large university. A HRC is a high efficiency vapor compression heat pump that provides both heating and cooling in a single device, which is ideal for reducing carbon emissions in a building. Although the heat recovery concept is straightforward, careful attention is needed during design and operation to achieve the intended levels of performance. Multiple teams of university students worked on the design, installation, and commissioning of this HRC over two academic years, including the development of a web-interface so that large numbers of university students can access data from this equipment in real-time as part of their HVAC coursework. This paper provides an overview of the HRC system, highlighting the opportunities for educating facility managers on some of the operational challenges with this equipment