Sustainable Building Design

Life off the Grid: An ethnographer and videographer meet the people whose homes produce all the energy they need

by Phillip Vannini

Co-authored with Jonathan Taggart, published in Canadian Geographic, June 2012

REMEDIATING SHOPPING CENTRES FOR SUSTAINABILITY

by Kirsty Máté

Presented at the Interior Educators Conference 2012, London, UK

The modern day shopping centre is so entrenched and so familiar a building form in most countries in the world,... more The modern day shopping centre is so entrenched and so familiar a building form in most countries in the world, particularly the developed nations, it is hard to believe they did not exist in the living memory of those who today are sixty years or older. While this new way of shopping brought convenience, variety, comfort and a new shopping experience, the repercussions from its almost overnight infiltration and takeover from the retail experiences of the past were realized too late.
In the last 20-30 years, there has been a growing concern in regard to mass consumption and its impact on our planet. As temples of mass consumption, will the modern day shopping centre be able to adapt itself effectively for a sustainable future or will it die as swiftly as it appeared?

Enabling low carbon living in UK housing developments

by Helena Titheridge

Broer, S. and Titheridge, H. (2010) Enabling low-carbon living in new UK housing developments. Management of Environmental Quality, 21 (1). pp. 90-107. ISSN 14777835

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe a tool (the Climate Challenge Tool) that allows house builders to... more Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe a tool (the Climate Challenge Tool) that allows house builders to calculate whole life carbon equivalent emissions and costs of various carbon and energy reduction options that can be incorporated into the design of new developments. Design/methodology/approach – The tool covers technical and soft (or lifestyle) measures for reducing carbon production and energy use. Energy used within the home, energy embodied in the building materials, and emissions generated through transport, food consumption and waste treatment are taken into account. The tool has been used to assess the potential and cost-effectiveness of various carbon reduction options for a proposed new housing development in Cambridgeshire. These are compared with carbon emissions from a typical UK household. Findings – The tool demonstrated that carbon emission reductions can be achieved at much lower costs through an approach which enables sustainable lifestyles than through an approach which focuses purely on reducing heat lost through the fabric of the building and from improving the heating and lighting systems. Practical implications – The tool will enable house builders to evaluate which are the most cost-effective measures that they can incorporate into the design of new developments in order to achieve the significant energy savings and reduction in carbon emissions necessary to meet UK Government targets and to avoid dangerous climate change. Originality/value – Current approaches to assessing carbon and energy reduction options for new housing developments concentrate on energy efficiency options such as reducing heat lost through the fabric of the building and improving the heating and lighting systems, alongside renewable energy systems. The Climate Challenge Tool expands the range of options that might be considered by developers to include those affecting lifestyle choices of future residents.

The future of UK housebuilding

by Chris Goodier

The Multispace adaptable building concept and its extension into mass customisation

by Chris Goodier

Off-grid Mobilities: Incorporating a Way of Life

by Phillip Vannini

Published in Transfers: Interdisciplinary Journal of Mobility Studies

Drawing from sensory ethnography, the present multimodal writing—accompanied by photography and digital... more Drawing from sensory ethnography, the present multimodal writing—accompanied by photography and digital video—documents and interprets the mobilities of off-grid living on Lasqueti Island, British Columbia, Canada. The data presentation focuses in particular on the embodied experience of off-grid inhabitation, highlighting the sensory and kinetic experiences and practices of everyday life in a community disconnected from the North American electrical grid and highway network. The mobilities of fuel and energy are presented in unison with ethnographic attention to the taskscape of everyday activities and movements in which off-grid islanders routinely engage. The analysis, based on Tim Ingold's non-representational theory on place, movement, and inhabitation, focuses on how the material and corporeal mobilities of off-grid life body forth a unique sense of place.

Navigating multi-dimensional results from large parametric building simulation studies

by Graeme Stuart

co-authored with Ivan Korolija and Ljiljana Marjanovic-Halburd

Advances in computing in recent years allow for many thousands of building energy simulations to be computed in the... more Advances in computing in recent years allow for many thousands of building energy simulations to be computed in the time previously required for a single simulation run. Software tools exist that allow for a single input file to be modified in a number of different ways to generate thousands of self-similar input files which can then be automatically simulated. The problem with this approach is not the simulation time but the time and effort required for the analysis of the vast set of results generated.

Large, multi-dimensional result sets cannot be easily visualised as a whole. One approach is to view the results as a non-linear, interactive document in which only a small part of the results is viewed at any one time. With the addition of simple navigation to select the next sample to view, this approach allows the analyst to easily browse the large result set. More concretely, a one-dimensional sample (a selection of simulations which vary in only one aspect) can be selected from the dataset and visualised as a simple bar chart. Simple rules can then be applied to identify a collection of similar, one-dimensional samples for navigation.

To examine this approach, a prototype tool was developed as a web-based application. The basis for this tool was a multi-parameter simulation study of office building energy consumption including 1,440 individual simulations varying across six dimensions including four building types, five building fabrics, three percentages of glazing, the inclusion of daylight control, two glazing types and six HVAC system types (including building load calculations). The tool included a basic report comparing a one-dimensional sample of results and a detailed report showing time series results for an individual case. Navigation panels allowed for simple traversal of the results set and to move between the two reports. The tool was found to be very useful for navigating the multi-dimensional data and the method is generic enough to be transferable to similar datasets.

Guidelines for the retrofit of the school building stock for sustainable urban regeneration of the city of Rome.

by carola clemente

Carola Clemente, Claudia Calice, Livio de Santoli, Fabio Fraticelli, 2012, WIT Press

The City of Rome is trying to come into line, culturally and strategically, with European standards of environmental... more The City of Rome is trying to come into line, culturally and strategically, with European standards of environmental health and energy savings. This study is designed as a roadmap for the retrofit of existing building stock, through the analysis of case studies of major significance in terms of building characteristics and period of construction. The recognition of the consistency of the existing school building stock and the subsequent selection of the buildings that are representative of general conditions allowed us to compare results and draw from them intervention guidelines that are applicable to almost all of the school building stock. The guidelines developed by the authors take into account the optimisation of the building envelope and plant system, as well as the pay-back period of each case. The interventions, with their low investment costs, have significant benefits in terms of energy efficiency, with a subsequent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, and in terms of indoor and outdoor environmental quality, and propose a systemic approach to the retrofit of Mediterranean cities, which often have ancient and monumental historic centres that need to be protected and enhanced, as well as in the established suburbs, defined as those that appeared up to the ‘70s-‘80s. For these buildings, characterised by great potential for transformation and often with poor architectural and technological quality, the energy retrofit is also an opportunity to redesign and redefine the levels-objectives of indoor comfort. The reduction of energy consumption in school buildings, estimated at about 40% for the envelope and 20% for the plant, other than the evident environmental benefits to the territory, also has a significant impact on the education of the individual awareness of the users. Widespread retrofit of public structures at the disposal of young students, other than having a powerful impact in the reduction of greenhouse gases, constitutes a fundamental element in education on environmental issues and quality of the built, creating an unquantifiable extra value for sustainable development in the City of Rome and for the construction of more liveable and civilised cities.

Energy Efficiency in Architectural Designs in the Indus Valley Civilization: Lessons learnt for new designing

by Siddhartha Mukherjee

Co-authored with Shreyas Panambur and Sat Ghosh

The Indus Valley civilization flourished between 2750-1900 B.C. We present a case study for Lothal, an extension of... more The Indus Valley civilization flourished between 2750-1900 B.C. We present a case study for Lothal, an extension of the Indus Valley civilization currently located in the state of Gujarat in India. Their double storied buildings were clustered around geometrical grids comprising of three divisions, including a citadel, a middle town and a lower town. An on-site visit revealed that the buildings were suitably oriented for maximum solar gains. The standardised stone blocks used had thermal transmissivities (“U” values in today’s architectural parlance) that retained indoor coolth substantially. The rectangular building forms ensured the presence of active and passive zones even then.

As Mechanical engineers, we have used Autodesk Ecotect Analysis to calculate Daylight Factors, Solar Radiation and Water Usage. We have explored quantitatively the fascinating world of light and shadows, coolth and warmth, and obtained answers for the following questions:

1. Were the orientation and the clustering perfect in the city of Lothal?

2. Can these architectural designs prevail with some modifications in today’s times?

After all, modernists believe that vernacular architecture can also be sustainable.

3. How feasible is it to use engineered eco-fabrics in modern settlements (keeping in mind the versatility of traditional fabrics)?

In this paper we shall present a prototype of a new proposed city called “The Sanctuary” housing 40,000 inhabitants (possibly the population in Lothal in 2500 B.C.). Our analysis shows how architectural structures adapt to driving rain, the ingress of winds and a glaring sun. Ecotect calculations elucidate contrasting patterns of energy use in residential areas of Lothal vis-à-vis the dwellings in The Sanctuary. To our knowledge, this is a first study exploring energy efficiency in Lothal.

SOLAR MODELLING OF COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS

by Michael Donn

Building people into plans: Insights into decisions about heating and cooling New Zealand homes

by Brendan Doody

Improving the sustainability and performance of existing housing stock is a significant challenge. Agencies and... more Improving the sustainability and performance of existing housing stock is a significant challenge. Agencies and organisations have promoted various policies and programmes to address these matters including retrofitting insulation and the installation of energy-efficient heating and cooling technologies. Such initiatives could be enhanced through a more thorough understanding of how such technologies correspond to people’s everyday lives. We argue that the way in which people respond to these and other initiatives are mediated by their personal and familial needs and desires, as well as, broader social, political and economic factors.

Our social scientific study examined the ways people heat and cool their homes and the processes they go through in deciding whether to replace or retain their existing forms of heating and cooling. Twenty qualitative interviews were conducted with residents in their homes in Christchurch and Lower Hutt. Subsequently a quantitative questionnaire survey was developed and delivered to 3500 residential homes in Auckland, Rotorua, Tauranga, Christchurch and Dunedin. This research is part of a multidisciplinary GNS Science project funded by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology (FRST). The project is aimed at helping to facilitate the development and utilisation of low-temperature (
150ºC) geothermal resources in New Zealand.

Results of the study show typical New Zealand households use electricity and/or a wood burner to heat one or two rooms in the house. The lounge is most commonly heated, although some households (particularly those occupied by young families and elderly residents) heat bedrooms in the interest of maintaining their health and wellbeing. Most households rely on natural ventilation through windows and doors to cool their homes. When selecting new forms of heating or cooling, people typically interpret information in light of its source, and triangulate particular information ‘packages’ with data available from other sources they consider to be relevant. In this context, discussions with family and friends can be equally, if not more, influential than expert consultations and information provided by suppliers, companies, councils and government agencies. In concluding we argue that it is critical to recognise that improving the sustainability and performance of existing houses and buildings is inextricably a social process.

UAD Product Design

by Gianluca Medri

“Torricelliana” (ISSN 1827-4919), The Bullettin of Società Torricelliana di Scienze e Lettere di Faenza. v. 61-62, pp. 53 – 64. (2010-2011).

The design and development of disposable, or Use-And-Discard (UAD), products are analyzed from a more conscious... more The design and development of disposable, or Use-And-Discard (UAD), products are analyzed from a more conscious engineering standpoint. A comprehensive definition of UAD products is proposed and specific design suggestions are reported for the sake of product sustainability.

A Stochastic Hybrid Embodied CO2eq Analysis of Apartment Buildings in Ireland

by Aidan Duffy

Comparative Embodied Energy Analysis of a Steel and Concrete Structural System in Ireland

by Aidan Duffy

Stochastic hybrid embodied CO2-eq analysis: An application to the Irish apartment building sector

by Aidan Duffy

Evolution and sustainability of in-situ concrete flat slabs in office buildings

by Oscar Liebana

Co-authored with G. Pulido, MD; Gómez Hermoso J.
XXXVII IAHS World Congress on Housing (October 26 – 29, 2010, Santander, Spain)

In the current office building construction practice, flat plate is the most common floor structural system due to its... more In the current office building construction practice, flat plate is the most common floor structural system due to its economic and practical advantages. Traditionally, high material costs have had a great impact on total construction cost, so voided options as ribbed or waffle slab have been used extensively. However, recently there is a tendency to design solid slabs options, especially due to rising labor costs, simpler and quicker construction, which reduces execution timeframe and increases construction safety.
The use of post-tensioned (PT) floors in building structures has been growing in recent years. This type of construction allows thinner slabs and thus, it creates lighter structures, produces a large reduction in rebar tonnage, with the subsequent advantages in transportation, storage or labor. Also, these slabs have other advantages as reduced cracking and deflections, reduced floor to floor height or quick construction. In most countries these design mechanical and economical features have enabled the system to compete economically with traditional in-situ concrete floor slabs; however, this is not the case in some other countries like Spain. Introduction of sustainability criteria and specialization in construction can allow for this system to be introduced in the market, which can also mean lower costs, improved performance and focusing on sustainability in construction.
Different solutions have been studied for an actual project, in terms of material quantities, minimum structural thickness and it has also been checked the impact of costs and environmental criteria based on CO2 emission. With these data, we could assess that the current status of low production of flat slabs in Spain it is not related to real economic reasons; it is actually related to a combination of reasons as lack of technical knowledge of designers or builders, inconsistencies or deficiencies in current national codes in each country. The construction industry is following an inertial period that resists changing known systems, apparently satisfactory, and that especially shows an unsustainable view of the construction. Post-tensioned concrete slabs will not always be the most suitable and sustainable option, but it should be evaluated while considering other more familiar techniques of construction with updated considerations.

The planning tools as quality control device of the urban sustainable projects. The case of the news local urban planning in Rome

by carola clemente

Arbizzani E.,Clemente C., Civiero P., Nocera M., Piermattei P,  (2007) “The planning tools as quality control device of the urban sustainable projects. The case of the news local urban planning in Rome”, in Braganca L., Pinheiro M.D., Jalali S., Mateus R., Amoêda R., Guedes M.C. (2007), Portugal SB07. Sustainable Construction, Materials and Practices. Challenges of the industry for the new Millennium (vol. 2, pp. 741-748). ISBN: 978-1-58603-785-7. Amsterdam: IOS Press (Netherlands);

The sustainability defines and invests concepts that only a variety and integration of knowledge can be able to... more The sustainability defines and invests concepts that only a variety and integration of knowledge can be able to govern, and raise different scales in which it can be researched and caught up. In this context, the conducted experience of the Municipality of Rome is inserted which marks a very important step in an initial stage of innovation and sensibilities of the new mode to conceive and manage building participants. At the threshold of a new season of social housing the quantity requirements are placed side by side with quality research which privileges many aspects of atmospheric and technological quality and characterizes both the interaction and natural atmosphere.

Local actions to improve the sustainable construction in Italy

by carola clemente

Clemente C., (2007).“Local action to improve sustainable construction in Italy”, in Braganca L., Pinheiro M.D., Jalali S., Mateus R., Amoêda R., Guedes M.C. (2007), Portugal SB07. Sustainable Construction, Materials and Practices. Challenges of the industry for the new Millennium. (vol. 1, pp. 98-104). ISBN: 978-1-58603-785-7. AMSTERDAM: IOS Press (Netherlands);

Evolution of environmental sensitivity and spreading of the consciousness of a socially sustainable common acting,... more Evolution of environmental sensitivity and spreading of the consciousness of a socially sustainable common acting, economically and technologically, supported by the acknowledgment of a few European and domestic laws, led to definitions of a few local normative tools for the preliminary definition and control of building activity in energy and environment vision. The current experimentations highlight as to make sure that the sustainable building becomes a diffuse and constant practice it is necessary, by the local governments, a deep revision of the methodologies up to today adopted as usual general procedures and in the editing of the urban and implementing planning tools.

Articolo_Tettonica_architettura_cont_Arch_Tecn_2010

by Spartaco Paris

Tettonica e architettura contemporanea

by Spartaco Paris

Paris S.,
Tettonica e architettura contemporanea,  in Bagnato V., Paris S., Architettura e Tecnologia. Lectures, , RDesign Press, Roma,
2010, pag. 32-43, ISBN 978-88-89819-17-3

"In swing between the expansion of technics of production and the aesthetic
process of deconstruction and... more "In swing between the expansion of technics of production and the aesthetic
process of deconstruction and entertainment, may the reference to the tectonic
architecture have the effect to architecture back to its foundation?" (V.
Gregotti , introduction, K. Frampton, 1999)
Trying to answer the Gregotti’s, question, the main issue is to try to assess
whether today is not anachronistic and outside the territory of current of
architecture, consider the notion of tectonics as a "poetics of construction"
and as concept able to hold together the spheres of art and technique, proper
essences of architecture.