65 research outputs found
Sustainable earth walls to meet the building regulations
No full textThe thermal conductivity and diffusivity of un-fired clay bricks, a straw clay mixture and straw bales have been measured using a thermal probe technique, with an iterative method for data analysis. The steady-state air-to-air thermal transmittance, or U-value, and the time-dependent thermal properties of some proposed sustainable earth wall constructions are presented. Sustainable cavity walls of un-fired clay bricks with paper, straw or wool cavity insulation have thermal transmittances less than 0.35 W/m2 K, and therefore meet the current United Kingdom Building Regulations. A review of possible methods for thermally up-grading existing earth walls, by adding an internal insulated timber frame construction, again demonstrates possible compliance with the current UK thermal regulations
The thermal properties of cob buildings of Devon
No full textSIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:DXN041753 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo
Motivational direction diverges from valence for sadness, anger, and amusement: A role for appraisals?
No full textRecent work has cast doubt on whether the strength of motivation (strength of avoidance or approach tendencies) experienced while viewing emotion-eliciting pictures is dissociable from felt valence (negative versus positive). The present study extended this work by testing specific discrete emotions (amusement, anger, awe, desire, sadness). Previous work has proposed separate motivational direction (avoid versus approach) from valence. In Study 1, participants (N = 60) rated the motivational direction or valence they experienced while viewing 100 pictures that each evoked one of the five discrete emotions. We found significant differences between average motivational direction and valence ratings for sadness, anger, and amusement. Critically, underlying these averages, we found that while valence responses were highly consistent, there was large variability in motivational direction, with some people indicating they wanted to approach and others indicating they wanted to avoid while viewing the same picture. Individual differences in motivational direction were largest for sadness, so in Study 2 (N = 100) we tested whether they were predicted by appraisals of the situation (e.g., ratings of how welcome or useful people believed their help would be). The three appraisals tested accounted for 64% of the variance in motivational direction, after which valence made a very small unique contribution. These findings highlight that motivational direction and valence can diverge. Given the variability in individuals' motivational direction responses, future studies designed to assess the effects of motivational direction on cognitive processes need to tailor stimuli for each participant to ensure they activate the intended motivational direction. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).This research is supported by an Australian Government Research
Training Program Scholarship awarded to Niamh M. Campbell. This work
was supported by an Australian Research Council (ARC) Future
Fellowship (FT170100021) awarded to Stephanie C. Goodhew
The perceived barriers to the inclusion of rainwater harvesting systems by UK house building companies
No full textThis work investigates the barriers that exist to deter the implementation of rainwater harvesting into new UK housing. A postal questionnaire was sent to a selection of large, medium and small house-builders distributed across the UK. Questions were asked concerning potential barriers to the inclusion of rainwater harvesting in homes separated into five sections; (1) institutional and regulatory gaps, (2) economic and financial constraints, (3) absence of incentives, (4) lack of information and technical knowledge, and (5) house-builder attitudes. The study concludes that although the knowledge of rainwater systems has increased these barriers are deterring house-builders from installing rainwater harvesting systems in new homes. It is further acknowledged that the implementation of rainwater harvesting will continue to be limited whilst these barriers remain and unless resolved, rainwater harvesting's potential to reduce the consumption of potable water in houses will continue to be limited
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Measured Indoor Temperatures, Thermal Comfort and Overheating Risk: Post-occupancy Evaluation of Low Energy Houses in the UK
No full textAbstractThere is growing concern in Western Europe that higher insulation and air tightness of residential buildings leads to increased overheating risk. This paper discusses temperature monitoring from identical houses in the Southwest of the UK that were built to low energy standards (Code for Sustainable Homes Level 5). The temperature data were analysed using both established static overheating criteria (CIBSE Guide A) and an adaptive thermal comfort standard (BSEN15251). The houses can be considered uncomfortably warm during summer and are at risk of overheating. The study suggests that occupant behaviour plays an important role in reducing or increasing internal temperatures
Making Heat Visible: Promoting Energy Conservation Behaviors Through Thermal Imaging
No full textHouseholders play a role in energy conservation through the decisions they make about purchases and installations such as insulation, and through their habitual behavior. The present U.K. study investigated the effect of thermal imaging technology on energy conservation, by measuring the behavioral effect after householders viewed images of heat escaping from or cold air entering their homes. In Study 1 (n = 43), householders who received a thermal image reduced their energy use at a 1-year follow-up, whereas householders who received a carbon footprint audit and a non-intervention control demonstrated no change. In Study 2 (n = 87), householders were nearly 5 times more likely to install draught proofing measures after seeing a thermal image. The effect was especially pronounced for actions that addressed an issue visible in the images. Findings indicate that using thermal imaging to make heat loss visible can promote energy conservation
A combined technological, behavioural and quality systems approach to achieving near zero defect buildings.
No full textTo achieve carbon reduction targets the emissions from buildings need to be near zero. Thermal defects inbuildings pose a significant risk to this goal and contribute to energy performance gaps for space heating. Ahigh-performance building envelope is a fundamental requirement towards meeting emissions targets andproviding comfort and affordable warmth. Defects in design and installation (e.g., discontinuity of insulation,incorrect detailing, incompatible building systems) can lead to high rates of heat loss, structural damage frommoisture build-up and poor user satisfaction. Many defects are invisible upon completion but can be madevisible through the correct use of thermal cameras (thermography). Thermal images can help to improve siteoperatives’ awareness towards defects, due to their visual appeal. The DeViz research project trains and guidessite supervisors, on UK based construction sites, to use thermal cameras at the ‘first fix’ construction stage, whenthere is still time to remedy defects quickly and cheaply. The aim is to provide new, engaging feedback loops toimprove quality control in designing and constructing energy efficient building envelopes and close the designenergy performance gap. DeViz pilots a protocol for overcoming the challenges of; a) achieving the required10oC temperature difference for imaging, in a mid-construction space, b) accessing the site at the midconstruction point where measurements are meaningful (with the potential for cost effective rectification).Acknowledging the reluctance of some construction professionals to focus on what could be perceived as theirmistakes, DeViz, instead frames defect identification as a ‘normal’ pathway towards better quality, rather than‘blaming the operative’. We investigate the acceptance of and potential barriers to this intervention withconstruction professionals, using focus groups and survey methods. We present our learnings to date and discussthe implications for continuous improvement quality systems
Improving the visibility of energy use in home heating in England: Thermal images and the role of visual tailoring
No full textThis study examined the use of thermal imaging as a communication tool that allows householders to \u27see\u27 where a building is losing heat. We tested the effect of tailored and non-tailored thermal images on energy beliefs, behavioural intentions and a simple self-report behaviour question in an English field study. Householders received tailored thermal images of their home, thermal images of other homes with typical problems for the area (\u27non-tailored\u27), or information on the same typical problems in text format. A post-intervention survey (N = 233) indicated that showing occupants any thermal image (tailored or non-tailored) led to higher vividness when recalling the communication, compared to text-only information. Householders engaged with the reports to a greater extent when they were personal to their home: the tailored thermal images were more likely to be shared with others and led to stronger energy saving intentions and reporting energy efficiency behaviour compared to non-tailored reports. This is a promising approach integrating technology and social science knowledge and methods
An investigation into the practical application of residential energy certificates
No full textThe Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) 2002/91/EC introduced various obligatory requirements intended to achieve the reduction of use of energy resources in buildings and consequentially the reduction of the impact of energy use in buildings. Article 7 of the directive formally specified the current European requirement for the energy certification of buildings. In order to implement this requirement, a general framework for establishing a methodology of calculation of the total energy performance of buildings became necessary. The Maltese methodology for the issuance of energy performance certificates for residential property was developed and introduced by the Ministry of Resources and Rural Affairs in 2010. This methodology differs from that of most other European countries since the energy used for cooling in summer is taken into consideration when carrying out the calculation. Most states only consider the energy for heating in winter for residential energy certificates. A study of the results produced by the Maltese certification process is being used to identify whether the methodology implemented is an accurate tool for environmental monitoring of energy use in Maltese residential property. The analysis is utilised to establish a benchmark for energy use in different residential property typologies. This analysis is developed further to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the certification procedure as a design tool, and to understand whether the procedure can be effectively applied in the cost optimisation of residential construction or refurbishment projects.peer-reviewe
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