1,721,174 research outputs found
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Sustainability in the built environment
No full textThis introductory chapter sets the scene for the book, providing an overview of sustainability in the built environment. With a bias towards buildings and the urban environment, it illustrates the range of issues that impinge upon global carbon reduction and the mechanisms available to help bring about change. Climate change, and its impact on built environment, is briefly introduced and sustainability in the built environment and associated factors are described. The specific topics relating to sustainable design and management of the built environment, including policy and assessment, planning, energy, water and waste, technology, supply and demand, occupants’ behaviour and management have been highlighted. This chapter emphasises the importance of a systemic approach in delivering a sustainable built environment
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Modelling urban microclimates
No full textA microclimate refers to a distinctive climate of a small-scale area, such as a garden, park, valley or part of a city. Urban microclimates are both complex and dynamic. Modelling urban microclimate can provide robust measures for analysing urban physical parameters including wind, temperature and solar radiation in complex urban areas at different scales; assessing outdoor thermal environments and performing parametric studies for successful urban planning and design of a liveable urban environment for citizens. This chapter introduces a robust and fast-running tool that can be used to simulate urban solar radiation, surface temperatures, and air temperature. A case study of the implementation of this tool is demonstrated
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Building simulation
No full textThis chapter aims to provide an overview of building simulation in a theoretical and practical context. The following sections demonstrate the importance of simulation programs at a time when society is shifting towards a low carbon future and the practice of sustainable design becomes mandatory. The initial sections acquaint the reader with basic terminology and comment on the capabilities and categories of simulation tools before discussing the historical development of programs. The main body of the chapter considers the primary benefits and users of simulation programs, looks at the role of simulation in the construction process and examines the validity and interpretation of simulation results. The latter half of the chapter looks at program selection and discusses software capability, product characteristics, input data and output formats. The inclusion of a case study demonstrates the simulation procedure and key concepts. Finally, the chapter closes with a sight into the future, commenting on the development of simulation capability, user interfaces and how simulation will continue to empower building professionals as society faces new challenges in a rapidly changing landscape
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Urban microclimates and simulation
No full textThis chapter examines the workings of urban microclimates and looks at the associated causes and effects of the urban heat island (UHI). It also clarifies the relationship between urban form and the key climatic parameters (sun, daylight, wind, temperature). A particular section is devoted to the concepts of UHI intensity and sky view factor (SVF); these are useful indicators for researchers in this area. The challenge of how to model urban microclimates is covered, featuring the six archetypal urban forms familiar to analysts involved in using simulation software. The latter sections address the issue of urban thermal comfort, the importance of urban ventilation and finally what mitigating strategies can be implemented to curb negative UHI effects
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Outdoor thermal comfort and heat exposure risks
No full textPeople in cities use outdoor space for a wide range of activities such as exercise, rest and socialising. Climate change, Urban Heat Islands and extreme heatwave events are threats to pedestrians’ health and well-being. Good urban planning and design can provide a high-quality urban living environment by meeting the need for outdoor thermal comfort and thermal resilience. People’s thermal sensations and perceptions are greatly affected by the local microclimate and their thermal experience whilst, in turn, outdoor thermal comfort affects the decisions on whether to use a space. This chapter presents the human adaptation mechanism for achieving outdoor thermal comfort, the factors that influence it, strategies for thermal resilience, the management of heat risk, and thermal comfort assessment methods to use. Finally, a case study for evaluating thermal perception in public squares is introduced
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Energy efficient building design
No full textThis chapter covers the basic concepts of passive building design and its relevant strategies, including passive solar heating, shading, natural ventilation, daylighting and thermal mass. In environments with high seasonal peak temperatures and/or humidity (e.g. cities in temperate regions experiencing the Urban Heat Island effect), wholly passive measures may need to be supplemented with low and zero carbon technologies (LZCs). The chapter also includes three case studies: one residential, one demonstrational and one academic facility (that includes an innovative passive downdraught cooling (PDC) strategy) to illustrate a selection of passive measures
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Sustainable Built Environment and Construction, Chongqing University
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Introduction
Full text linkThis introductory chapter sets the scene for the book, providing an overview of sustainability and resilience in the urban environment. It illustrates the impact of climate change on the living environment thus affecting people’s health and well-being. Interventions to mitigate the impact through instruments of policy and technical solutions are provided. Computer modelling and simulations provide tools for scenario analysis to assist risk forecasting and decision makings of mitigation strategies. Case studies provide examples of sustainable and resilient urban design and policy implementation which are hoped to be useful to the readers
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