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Protests during the 2021 Climate Conference in Glasgow exemplified our dilemma. The establishment perpetuates old thinking, while young people demand a new approach to mitigate the impact of climate change. The authors agree with the young people, and as a solution we propose to replace the current fragmentary approach with a new holistic one. The passive house approach that was conceptualized by the University of Illinois and built in Canada in 1977 showed us that energy consumption can be reduced about half of that used in the traditional design. Seventeen years later, a European passive house was built in Darmstadt. In 2008, a demonstration house in Syracuse, NY, showed that integrated passive measures produced energy use by about half of the NY state code for 2004. At the same time, some advanced houses in the USA showed total energy use of about 70 kWh/(m2∙y). In 2008, at the first Building Enclosure Science and Technology Conference, two equally important objectives for 2030 were proposed by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory: (1) a 90% reduction of energy use in new buildings and (2) 50% for the retrofitting of existing buildings, i.e., to the level achieved in the 1980s. The first objective has recently been achieved in small buildings while the large residential buildings remain on the level obtained in the 2000s. Yet, the retrofitting of existing buildings (the second objective) has been a dismal failure. This paper acknowledges progress in hydronic heating and cooling involving electric heat pumps and hybrid solar panels, building automatics used for operation of HVAC, and modification of air distribution systems that comes from experience with the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Furthermore, it highlights that to accelerate energy efficiency and carbon emission reductions, there must be broad public-private educational programs with demonstrations of a new generation of retrofitting. Economically and ecologically retrofitted buildings will create a new approach to real estate investment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to the intensification of urbanization, characterized by increasingly dense land use, the proliferation of high-rise residences has emerged as a predominant housing solution, particularly evident in developed cities like those in China. With a primary aim of enhancing the residential living environment within high-rise structures, this study advocates for a comprehensive whole life cycle perspective. By employing digital technology and conducting experiments centered on a representative case study, this paper focuses on optimizing the functional layout of public activity spaces within high-rise residential projects. Specifically, this article aims to address challenges such as the inadequate configuration and articulation of various public spaces, along with the underutilization of peripheral activity areas. Central to the optimization efforts is the utilization of the Kruskal algorithm, which enables the analysis of flow lines and functions, ultimately leading to the derivation of optimal solutions. Through a detailed analysis of our case study, this paper provides actionable insights into enhancing the feasibility and effectiveness of public spaces within high-rise residential projects. Recognizing the pivotal role of public space layout in shaping residents' living experiences, the importance of addressing this issue early in the design phase was emphasized. By integrating scientifically driven digital technology solutions, smart, inclusive, and convenient communities that cater to the diverse needs of their inhabitants are aspired to be created. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on an overview of two programs applied to the residential building stock of Bucharest (Romania), namely, the seismic strengthening program and the thermal rehabilitation program. The methodology for seismic risk assessment given in the current generation of Romanian codes, as well as in previous regulations, is examined. A brief review of other seismic risk assessment methodologies currently applied in various seismically prone countries is also presented. Examples of high-rise buildings in Bucharest that suffered significant damage during the Vrancea 1977 earthquake and that were thermally rehabilitated without any strengthening works are shown in this paper. The consistent differences between the current outcomes of the two programs are presented and discussed. Finally, this review paper highlights the lack of coherence in terms of seismic risk assessments for the same class of buildings, inducing, in some situations, a false feeling of safety in the building inhabitants. In addition, a combined procedure for both seismic strengthening and thermal rehabilitation is mandatory, considering the seismicity of Romania, as well as ongoing climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper considers the issue of the thermal refurbishment of residential buildings built between 10 and 40 years ago in some European countries. It suggests that, while facade retrofitting is the most effective solution for older dwellings, all actions are equally less effective for newer dwellings built in this millennium. According to the current situation, as society shifts away from the use of fossil fuels, this paper presents the expected energy and financial savings that were calculated using one of four different heating sources. The study shows that the efficiency of the additional thermal retrofitting of the structures is low when the building is heated with a heat pump. The addition of thermal insulation to already well-insulated roofs or floors results in minimal savings of approximately 0.15 kWh per square meter of heated floor area per year. The potential advantage of replacing existing windows with new windows in a top thermal quality was shown. After window replacement, the financial benefits could be twice as high in houses heated by district heating compared to houses heated by gas or a heat pump, including an alternative heat pump with photovoltaics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the ageing of the population in Western countries, the prevalence of disability and mobility problems is increasing, highlighting the urgent need to improve accessibility in environments where people spend a significant amount of time, such as collective housing. This paper examines the accessibility of building entrances in collective housing in the Region of Murcia, south-eastern Spain, where 9.8% of the population is estimated to live with disabilities. Starting with a thorough review of national and regional accessibility regulations, this study applies a robust methodology by conducting fieldwork in 150 buildings to assess compliance and identify barriers. The methodology involved a systematic assessment of the accessibility of entrances, using criteria derived from the regulations, and a specific proposal of the accessibility solutions required for each case. The key findings show that the most effective way for improving the accessibility is a properly constructed ramp, with over 40% of buildings requiring the installation or improvement of ramps, either as a stand-alone solution or in combination with other adaptations. In 54% of cases, a multi-faceted approach was required to meet accessibility standards. It was also noted that older buildings typically require higher adaptation costs. Based on these findings, the study provides specific recommendations, such as the construction of ramps and other critical interventions, to improve the accessibility of buildings. These recommendations have the potential to guide public policy and drive improvements in urban planning to make residential areas more accessible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rise in outdoor temperatures and heatwaves highlights the limitations of buildings in adapting to warming conditions, even in temperate climates. This paper analyses the indoor overheating of residential dwellings in Pamplona (a city in northern Spain, with a Cfb climate) using an urban-scale diagnostic methodology and presents different envelopes' retrofitting scenarios as a strategy to reduce it. The results come from energy simulations conducted during an extremely warm summer in 2022, considering the microclimate effects. The residential typologies most vulnerable to overheating are those with only one orientation, built before the EPBD 2002, and located on top floors. These dwellings show a 23.7% mean of indoor overheating hours (IOH), representing approximately 870 h above the EN 16798-1:2019 adaptive threshold from May to September. Renovating building envelopes to meet current energy standards reduces the IOH by an average of 8.6% and up to 15.35% in the most vulnerable typologies. In the retrofitting scenario with green roof systems, indoor temperatures are up to 0.5 °C lower than when roofs are renovated with traditional systems. This study assists policy-makers in preventing the risk of overheating within cities and encourages them to promote nature-based solutions in order to adapt urban residential buildings and cities to warming conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The criteria on green public procurement of the European Union establish that the economic budgets of building projects must be complemented by their derived environmental and social costs. These criteria are currently being adapted to the requirements related to the circular economy, such as the use of methods to evaluate buildings environmentally. However, most methods available in the European and Spanish markets require prior training, which makes their use difficult. This paper presents an evaluation method, CEACE, for housing construction based on the determination of their footprints (ecological, carbon, and water footprints), also called the footprint family, to which the economic and social evaluation is added, as is the quantification of the construction and demolition waste generated. This method is validated with the assessment of fifteen residential buildings in Andalusia and creates an indicator that will allow technicians, companies, and administrations to evaluate projects in accordance with the criteria of green public procurement. The method is sensitive to changes in the type of building, foundation solution, and underground construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a systematic analysis of energy savings and cost benefits associated with several options for integrating energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies. The primary goal of this study is to assess the cost-effectiveness of achieving optimal net-zero energy (NZE) designs for residential buildings in Australia. Specifically, the analysis combines a series of sensitivity analyses and multi-objective optimizations to account for a wide range of design strategies for detached homes in four cities representing different Australian climates. The results indicate that not only are NZE designs technically feasible for all the considered Australian cities, but they are also highly cost-effective. This cost-effectiveness is attributed to the lower installation costs of rooftop PV systems as well as the beneficial interactive effects of proven energy efficiency strategies. Indeed, it is found that the deployment costs of rooftop PV systems can be recovered in less than 4 years. Moreover, the addition of thermal insulation in walls and ceilings can reduce both HVAC capacities and annual energy end-use by up to 59%. Based on an optimization-based design, NZE homes in Australia can have lower construction costs and, ultimately, lower life cycle costs than dwellings built to meet current energy efficiency standards based primarily on stringent building envelope thermal performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As urbanization continues to advance rapidly, the emergence of biophilic design offers a positive perspective to address the alienation between humans and nature, becoming a hot research topic in areas related to human living environments. Biophilic design, as a design concept inspired by nature, has positive significance in promoting the development of ecological diversity and improving human physical and mental health. This paper makes a comparative analysis of two of China's residential communities in the same high-density environment through the main influencing factors of plot ratio, greening rate, external facades environments, and internal living space. Starting from the five senses of the human body, namely, sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste, this paper aims to investigate the design of living spaces through the lens of biophilic design, and proposes a biophilic design model, along with strategies and recommendations tailored to high-density urban environments, in the hope of serving as a valuable reference and source of inspiration for future healthy dwelling design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This contribution is focused on the issue of the application of energy-saving measures in the construction of new residential properties and their optimal combinations with regard to the life-cycle costs of these buildings. The aim of the research is to create a methodological basis for considering the economic and financial impacts of various combinations of energy-saving measures, aiming at the optimization of these measures and the sustainability of developer projects. The research methodology is based on the principle of building life-cycle costs, which serve as a key criterion for the process of choosing the optimal combination of energy-saving measures and for comparing a conventional solution with an innovative solution including the application of energy-saving measures. The result of the research is the methodological approach for the design of technologically proven combinations of energy-saving measures, which will lead to optimization of the life-cycle costs with regard to the reference variant represented by a conventional solution. This approach is subsequently verified on three case studies of residential properties with a proposal for the optimal combination of energy-saving measures in the form of photovoltaic panels and a water-air heat pump. The added value of the paper consists of the possibility of optimizing the building construction project from the point of view of energy-saving measures already in the design phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to explore the rehabilitation strategies for multi-family dwellings on the level of function and techniques. The study employs its own methods of analysis using a sample of selected cases as a reference. Nearly 20% of EU buildings will have to be renovated by 2023, as almost 40% of the existing houses were built before 1980. The environmental impact of construction is among the highest among industrial activities due to the high consumption of resources and the generation of low-value waste at the construction and demolition stages. One way to reduce the environmental impact in this sector is to intervene in the building process, optimising the use of resources and waste generation. The principal objective of refurbishments is to reduce household energy consumption. However, the renovations in the housing sector should not be limited to energy considerations; the functional and technical aspects should also be considered. A new refurbishment model is necessary to focus on providing and improving the habitability of the housing stock and reducing the environmental impact by optimising the use of resources and waste generation. To achieve this, the renovations should be carefully monitored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rise in aging world populations poses enormous concerns, among which is the critical topic of how to promote active aging by improving the health and well-being of the elderly. Accordingly, installing elevators in old residential buildings has become a main issue in age-friendly community regeneration to make it easier for the elderly to go outside. There is limited evidence on stakeholder involvement in age-friendly community regeneration. Some studies have overlooked the fact that fostering age-friendly communities in developing countries requires innovative governance for inclusive physical and social features despite the low awareness of citizen engagement. With reference to community governance as a structure and process, a theoretical framework is proposed to understand the practice of elevator installation in age-friendly community regeneration in Guangzhou, China. This study adopted the questionnaire survey method and collected 455 valid samples (150 valid samples with installed elevators; 305 valid samples did not install elevators). The findings led to the following conclusions: (1) shared common interests lead to effective community governance and smooth elevator installation; (2) some communities failed to install elevators due to opposition from people whose interests were hindered; and (3) it is important to set up self-governing organizations and find key people in community governance for interest-based negotiation. This paper's contribution is that it makes up for the deficiency in the previous research that has neglected the elderly's participation in public affairs via age-friendly community regeneration. Finally, this study suggests further research on the dynamic processes of different types of age-friendly community regeneration affairs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building design optimization is a highly complex problem, requiring long computational running processes because of the many options that exist when a building is being designed. This paper introduces an integrated approach through which to perform this optimization within an acceptable time frame. The approach includes the methods of variable selection, model simplification, and a sequential optimization process. Using singular value decomposition, a large number of design variables is reduced to a smaller subset that can be solved more quickly through the optimization algorithm. To expedite the variable selection process, a modeling approach that quickly simulates annual energy consumption was developed to replace full annual energy simulations. The developed methodology was applied to two residential buildings in the US, and the results are discussed herein. To assess the accuracy of the integrated optimization methodology, the optimized life cycle costs are compaa variables demonstrating the strongest contributions in the optimization study were identified. The proposed methodology significantly shortened the time requirements for the optimization processes of the two case studies by 74% and 84%; the optimized life cycle costs were within 0.05% and 0.06%, respectively, of the optimum point. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Productive facades, consisting of photovoltaic shading and vertical farming systems, have been proposed as a means to improve the thermal and visual status of residential buildings while also maintaining energy performance and providing vegetables. However, how to quickly and accurately predict electricity and vegetable output during the numerous influencing architectural and environmental factors is one of the key issues in the early stages of design, and few studies have investigated the impact of such structures on both indoor environmental qualities and production performance. In this paper, we present a novel prediction method that uses experimental data to train and test an artificial neural network (ANN). The results indicated that using the Bipolar Sigmoid activation function to process the experimental data input to the artificial neuron network gives more accurate predicted results both in the yield of photovoltaic shading and vertical farming systems. In addition, this prediction method was applied to a typical high-rise residential building in Singapore to assess the self-sufficiency potential of high-rise residential buildings integrated with productive facades. The results indicated that the upper part of the building can meet 20.0–23.1% of the annual household electricity demand of a family of four in a four-room residential unit in Singapore and almost the entire year's vegetable demand, while the middle part can meet 18.4–21.2% and 89.1%, respectively. The results demonstrated the importance of a productive facade in reducing energy demand, enhancing food security, and improving indoor visual and thermal comfort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prediction of interior room layout from observations on the exterior boundaries of a unit is sometimes needed in cases of emergencies when unit entry is denied. Seeing that 3D laser scanners are becoming smaller, lighter, and easier to carry around, this paper attempts to offer a fast method that can automatically reconstruct a room model relying merely on the 3D point cloud of the unit boundaries. The method first partitions the building floor space to generate the so-called "room seeds" from the intersections of lines that are extended from the detected wall segments. Then, the grammar approach compares different possible room configurations through a trial-and-error process to find the most possible one. The proposed method is tested on a real residential building case for validation. The proposed method may be useful in emergent cases when exact floor plans are not available. The method can be extended to other Manhattan-type buildings as long as the grammar rules are settled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Buildings represent the largest potential for carbon reduction worldwide. This highlights the need for a simulation and optimization method for energy management. The early design stage of buildings represents an important phase in which choices can be made to optimize design parameters. These parameters can focus on multiple areas, including energy and thermal comfort. This paper introduces the optimization of early-stage sustainable building design considering end-user energy consumption. It proposes an optimization model that integrates multiple layers, which consist of a parametric energy simulation, artificial neural network, and genetic algorithm. The proposed optimization model considers a single objective function to obtain the optimal design. The targeted goal is to obtain minimal energy consumption for residential buildings during the early design stages. Key design parameters of the building were identified for optimization and feasible ranges for them were obtained using genetic algorithms. Finally, the results of this paper include the identification of the optimal building design for the thermal comfort analysis and optimal energy performance. The model was applied to a case study in Egypt and the results showed that using the developed optimization model can lead to a 25% reduction in energy consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selecting an appropriate ANN model is crucial for speeding up the process of building performance simulation during the design phase of residential building layouts, particularly when evaluating three or more green performance metrics simultaneously. In this study, daylight, visual, and outdoor thermal metrics were selected as main green performance. To find the suitable ANN model, sensitivity analysis was used to obtain a set of proper parameters applied to the ANN structure. To train the ANN model with a higher predicting accuracy, this paper tested four different scenarios of ANN parameter setups to find some general guidelines about how to set up an ANN model to predict DF, sunlight hours, QuVue and UTCI. The results showed that an ANN model with a combined output variable demonstrated better average prediction accuracy than ANN models with a separated output variable. Having two times the number of training samplings compared to the number of input variables can lead to a high accuracy of prediction. The ideal number of neurons in the hidden layer was approximately 1.5 times the number of input variables. These findings of how to improve the ANN model may provide guidance for modeling an ANN for building performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continuous inspections and observations are required to preserve the safety and condition of buildings. Although the number of deteriorated buildings has increased over the years, traditional inspection methods are still used. However, this approach is time-consuming, costly, and carries the risk of poor inspection owing to the subjective intervention of the inspector. To overcome these limitations, many recent studies have developed advanced inspection methods by integrating unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and artificial intelligence (AI) methods during the visual inspection stage. However, the inspection approach using UAV and AI can vary in operation and data acquisition methods depending on the building structures. Notably, in the case of residential buildings, it is necessary to consider how to operate UAVs and how to apply AI due to privacy issues of residents and various exterior contour shapes. Thus, an empirical case study was adopted in this study to explore the integration of UAVs and artificial intelligence (AI) technology to inspect the condition of structures, focusing on residential buildings. As a result, this study proposed the field-adopted UAV operation method and AI-based defect detection model for adopting the residential buildings. Moreover, the lessons learned from holistic and descriptive analyses, which include drone application limitations, points of improvement of data collection, and items to be considered when AI and UAV based inspection for residential buildings, are summarized in this paper. The discussed problems and results derived from this study can contribute to future AI- and UAV-based building inspections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precast concrete (PC) slabs are widely used in the assembly of concrete residential buildings. The PC slabs are manufactured at the factory and then arranged in stacks for transport to the construction site for assembly. Currently, optimization of the stacking plans for PC slabs focuses on yard-space utilization and transportation efficiency and rarely considers the assembly sequence; secondary sequencing of prefabricated elements is required during construction to meet the lifting scheme, which leads to increased construction preparation time and risk of worker injury. To enable stacking crews to generate stacking plans rapidly and systematically to improve the on-site lifting efficiency of the components, this paper proposes a storage-location allocation model with two objectives: reduce secondary-sorting workload and increase stacking stability for PC slabs. At the same time, it must match the characteristics of the problem. To prevent the solution from falling into the local optimum during the evolution of the particle swarm optimization algorithm, we introduce an elitist learning strategy, which can improve the solutions when the group converges. Finally, we verify our allocation model and optimization algorithm through example simulations. The simulation results show that, compared with the traditional method, the stacking plans generated by this method have a lower secondary-sorting workload and higher stacking stability when using the same number of storage racks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The residential sector is multi-faceted by nature. Although evidence shows that the UAE is among the countries in the world that take sustainability seriously, there is a lack of information about the perception of sustainability by occupants in the residential sector in the UAE. The aim of this paper is to assess the perception of sustainability of the residential sector in the UAE, which is achieved by following a methodological framework using the relevant literature review and experts' knowledge. An online survey was distributed to the targeted population, followed by a statistical analysis to fulfill the aim of the paper. Results confirm the correlation between social, economic, and environmental aspects of sustainability. Additionally, structural equation modeling reveals that the perception of sustainability is significantly influenced by economic and environmental aspects in the residential sector in the UAE. Comparative analysis shows a statistical difference in the perception of sustainability among gender, educational level, employment status, and monthly income. Finally, a predictive classification model is built to classify the perception of occupants based on their attributes using decision tree algorithms. The outcomes of this study would be beneficial to policy and decision makers, developers, contractors, designers, and facility management entities to enhance overall sustainability in the residential sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the biggest energy consumers, buildings are the focus of the energy conservation market, and the building envelope, which has the highest impact on heating and cooling loads, is one of the main targets in retrofit projects. Several materials, systems, methods, and simulation tools are used in these projects, and it is critical to understand the impact of these methods in different locations, their frequency of use, and the effectiveness of market-ready new solutions. In that context, it is necessary to review the energy conservation measures (ECMs) that are suitable for residential building envelope retrofitting, and that are commercially available or under research and development. This paper provides an overview of these ECMs. A literature review was conducted on different building envelope ECMs, including traditional and innovative energy retrofit methods, such as aerogel and phase change materials on opaque and transparent components of existing buildings. Results show that the most effective retrofit projects include bundles of ECMs, and the traditional ECMs can be as effective as more innovative solutions in terms of energy saving. Moreover, computer energy models were created for a typical residential building in the US for cold and warm climate zones to determine the impact of different retrofit approaches based on a sensitivity analysis. Results show that envelope ECMs have higher energy saving potentials in cold climate zones, of up to around 30%, and reducing the air infiltration has the highest impact in both cold and warm climate zones in a typical small residential building. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Southern and southeastern Kazakhstan is a region of intraplate seismicity characterized by several destructive earthquakes. Almaty, the largest metropolis in this region, has many structures with different construction materials and seismic-resistant systems. Among them, residential buildings constructed in the Soviet Union era (before the 1990s) may possess low seismic resisting capacities due to limited seismic design and detailing provisions. Therefore, it is essential to assess seismic risks for these buildings. This paper collected information from a government agency (i.e., KazNIISA), including construction materials, lateral force-resisting systems, and structural ductility capacities for residential buildings constructed in this era. These buildings were then categorized in terms of their seismic vulnerabilities following the European Macro-seismic Scale (EMS-98). Vulnerability curves and probability of damages were developed under different earthquake intensities and peak ground accelerations. The likelihood of varying levels of damage was established for the design basis and maximum considered earthquakes in the Almaty region. It was found that unreinforced masonry and wood buildings tend to be very heavily damaged and even collapse under the maximum considered earthquake. The reinforced and precast concrete buildings have a high probability of heavy to very heavy damage, which may require further analytical assessment since the structure at this damage level will undergo a significant nonlinear response and has a high uncertainty in the seismic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In residential buildings, air infiltration impacts energy, indoor air quality, and thermal comfort considerably. While air infiltration in residential buildings has been the focus of many studies, most published field-testing results pertain to developed countries, with little or no data on air infiltration in developing nations. This paper presents the results of one of the first field investigations into envelope infiltration in the residential buildings of the hot-arid climatic area of Egypt. To analyze the air permeability of the building envelope, the fan pressurization method, often known as the blower door test (BDT), is used, following ISO 9772. The study focuses on 20 residential dwellings built with heavy construction materials and subjects them to extensive characterization and testing. The average air leakage and the air permeability rate for the tested sample were 6.14 h−1 and 17.3 m3/(h∙m2), respectively. However, significant variations in airtightness were observed across the dwelling, leading the team to test several building-related parameters statistically to study their impact on airtightness. Fenestration quality appeared to be a critical factor in determining air infiltration, showing a strong correlation with the air change and leakage. A further investigation underscored that the specific aperture factor and the fenestration quality can predict the infiltration rates to a large degree. Thus, we recommend further investigation of these characteristics in heavy construction material building. Finally, we strongly recommend that building codes in developing countries such as Egypt include minimum performance requirements for fenestration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From March 2020, Italians experienced lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic. People had to share common living spaces with family members for an extended period converting their home into workplaces. This resulted in changes to everyday life noises with implications in terms of perception of indoor acoustic quality. An online survey was designed and distributed to Italian residents to assess how they perceived the indoor quality of domestic spaces when working from home. A total of 330 questionnaires were collected and analyzed. The paper reports the results of the analyses carried out, focusing on the acoustic quality in home spaces and the satisfaction of the respondents, including an analysis of the housing context. Most respondents attach great importance to the acoustic aspects in judging the quality of the living environment and believe that the acoustic quality can improve the performance of their work. The comparison between pre-lockdown and lockdown periods shows that noises inside the building prevail over those coming from the outside and annoyance is mainly due to noise from shared spaces. The results of this study highlighted how the COVID-19 lockdown was a unique opportunity to draw attention to the importance of the indoor acoustic quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a significant building stock of post-WWII low- and mid-rise unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings in Serbia and the region (former Yugoslavia). Numerous buildings of this typology collapsed due to the devastating 1963 Skopje, Yugoslavia earthquake, causing fatalities, injuries, and property losses, as well as experienced damage in a few recent earthquakes in the region, including the 2010 Kraljevo, Serbia earthquake (MW 5.5) and the 2020 Petrinja, Croatia earthquake (M 6.4). These buildings are three- to five-stories high, have clay brick masonry walls, and rigid floor slabs, usually with an RC ring beam at each floor level. This paper presents a case study of a URM building which was damaged due to the 2010 Kraljevo earthquake and subsequently retrofitted. A comparison of seismic analysis results, including the capacity/demand ratio and displacement/drift values, for the original and retrofitted building according to the seismic design and retrofit codes which were followed in Serbia as well as some of the neighboring countries for several decades and Eurocode 8 has been presented. The results of this study show that the selected retrofit solution that satisfied the Yugoslav seismic code requirements is not adequate according to the Eurocode 8, primarily due to significantly higher seismic demand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to global warming, the overheating risk in the severe cold region of China has attracted attention, but so far, no studies have examined summer overheating in this region. This paper aims to reveal the overheating risk in recent and future climates in the severe cold region of China. An 18-storey residential building in the severe cold region of China was monitored from May to September 2021 to validate the simulation data of the indoor temperature. Weather files of the typical meteorological year (TMY) from 2007 to 2020, observations in 2021, and forecasts for the climate in different carbon emission scenarios (2030, 2060) were used to simulate the indoor temperature and assess the overheating risk. The results revealed the severity of the overheating risk; the overheating hours in the south-facing bedroom were recorded as 884 h (24.07%) with the TMY weather data and 1043 h (28.40%) in 2030 and 1719 h (46.81%) in 2060 under the RCP8.5 carbon emission scenario. Thus, the low carbon emissions policy may significantly alleviate overheating. Moreover, to cope with climate change, it is suggested that the Chinese local design standards should consider the summer overheating risk and make the necessary adjustments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides a comprehensive understanding of small house practices, including the perspective of Finnish architectural experts, by conducting semi-structured in-depth interviews and proposing an individually designed house case study with a particular focus on cost and quality. Key findings based on main themes including the role and qualifications of the architect, architect's involvement, architect's fee, reasons to hire an architect, implementation, quality, and cost, highlighted that: (1) architect can assist small house projects in many ways, such as accurately identifying the client's needs, choosing the most suitable layout, and applications for building permits; (2) allocating sufficient time for planning an average of six months is critical for the thoughts of both the architect and the client to mature in peace; (3) the share of architectural design in the total cost of the project is around 3–5%; (4) it is estimated that the total amount of small houses designed by an architect is between 10–20%; (5) an architect's typical client is reported to be those who dream of a long-term home and are concerned with aesthetics as well as functional quality; (6) the client is always satisfied with the quality of the house designed by the architect; (7) while an individually designed home may seem more costly than a prefab home, an architect-designed home can be affordable as long as the budget is known from the start of the project. It is believed that this paper will encourage the participation of architects in small house projects that will be expanded and established in the Finnish residential construction industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Communities in nations all over the world must work to address the problem of energy consumption, which has emerged in modern times. Given that domestic consumers account for roughly 49% of the total electricity used annually by all sectors, buildings can be seen as a key player in this conundrum. The architecture field can therefore play a vital role in saving energy, not only through building design but also through the materials used. To minimize architectural programmes' negative impact on the environment, sustainable design that saves energy is being employed today in traditional Saudi Arabian buildings. This study examined whether current housing designs can effectively integrate four key passive energy-saving strategies: outdoor green area, thermal mass wall, window-to-wall ratio and shading device. This study analysed two types of traditional houses from two different cities in Saudi Arabia's Najd region, Riyadh and Hail, examining the four passive strategies. Using traditional house designs, this paper created four simulation models for each house, and compared the simulation results with the base case model to determine how well these strategies could affect the energy consumption for residential buildings in Saudi Arabia (KSA). The results indicate that the selected strategies can play an important role in saving energy in residential buildings in the KSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the characteristics of the Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE) green building certification system in terms of the scope of certification, and environmental and social strategies focused on 6024 units in the 17 EDGE-certified residential buildings in South Africa was investigated. This research analyzed the efficiency of energy, water, embodied energy in materials, and annual CO2 emissions and their contribution to solving housing issues in the given context. This research revealed that the design of EDGE-certified buildings focuses on the "efficiency first" approach and reduced energy and water demand more than on-site energy production. In energy-saving strategies, energy-saving solutions are three times (69.2%) higher than energy-generating solutions (23.1%). The results on resource savings showed that, on average, embodied energy in materials (54%) is the most reduced resource, followed by water (31%) and energy (29.7%). The statistical analysis indicated that there is no statistically significant correlation between energy, water, embodied energy in materials, and CO2 savings with floor areas of the buildings. In addition, this research highlighted how EDGE certification has positively contributed to solving South Africa's resource shortage and affordable housing scarcity problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction sector is responsible for the 40% of consumed resources, 40% of CO2 emissions, and approximately 40% of construction and demolition waste. For the assessment of the building, there exists a standardized method, life cycle assessment (LCA), however, the process requires time, cost, and most importantly expertise. In this paper, a method is proposed and analyzed for the life cycle assessment of the building for the embodied carbon in the three stages, construction, operation, and demolition. Moreover, the result of the analysis is considered as the base result, and de-carbonization strategies identified through literature study for the three stages of construction, operation, and demolition are assessed with the same method to know how much each strategy will be effective in minimizing the embodied carbon. For the base case, a high-rise residential building in an urban region of India is analyzed, based on existing conditions through the building information modeling (BIM) method. The carbon emission of the selected building comes out to be 414 kg CO2e/m2/year, and assessing different decarbonization strategies, considering the first analysis as the baseline, it can be minimized to 135 kg CO2e/m2/year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reasonable building height distribution in urban residential areas is conducive to smoother vertical airflow exchange and promotes sustainable development. This paper studies the influence of building layouts on vertical ventilation in high-rise residential areas in Harbin, China, and discusses typical building layout objectives. The ideal area of 220 × 220 m was determined using statistical analysis and specification requirements, and seven typical layouts were defined based on the distribution of building heights. The computation fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation was verified using wind tunnel testing to improve the accuracy of the Phoenics simulation software. Wind speed, wind pressure, and the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) in residential areas distributed at different heights were analyzed and evaluated. The results indicated that the Phoenics simulation parameter settings, verified via wind tunnel testing, could achieve reasonable simulation results and different height distribution modes had an impact on the changes in wind speed and wind pressure. The equal-height layout that conformed to the row spacing of the buildings and the layout of taller buildings on the east side could provide higher comfort, and did not require enclosed and downwind layouts. This research can inform the green and livable design of residential buildings and provide a new perspective for the construction of high-rise residential areas in cold cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decision support tools for incentivizing environmentally sound decisions in building design, such as LCA (life cycle assessment), have been highlighted as an essential feature for enhancing the realization of more sustainable buildings. Nevertheless, the use of LCA to support decisions in building design is still limited in practice. A better understanding of the social dynamics and detailed contexts of the decisions leading up to a final building design is therefore critical for better integration of LCA-based information in the decision-making processes. This paper reports a qualitative, semi-structured interview study of single-family home producers in Sweden and their decision-making in relation to climate mitigation, with a particular focus on embodied carbon mitigation. By studying a specific branch of the building and construction sector, a more in-depth record can be obtained of the particularities of implementation contexts and decision-making situations in which LCA may, or may not, have a role in driving climate mitigation. Four primary decision contexts in which LCA may have an influential role to drive embodied carbon reduction include: (1) the development of building systems, (2) development and offering of house models, (3) the selection of construction products for the building system as well as for the offer of add-on products to customers, and (4) the dialogues in the individual house-buyer projects. Decision-making that affects sustainable outcomes in this part of the sector is very much dependent on a supporting regulatory context. Over the years, using building LCA in early design stages, for optimization towards low-impact final buildings, has been a repeatedly promoted recommendation both in academia and practice. This study, however, reveals that such a conclusion is too simplistic. The different overarching decision contexts identified for this particular branch display the variety of needs for life cycle-based information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2002, the Energy Performance of Building Directive (EPBD) introduced energy certification schemes to classify and compare building performances to support reaching energy efficiency targets by informing the different actors of the building sectors. However, since its implementation, the Energy Performance Certifications (EPCs) remained unexploited with limited impact on the energy savings targets. In this context, the EPC RECAST project aims at studying a new generation of EPCs with a focus on the residential sector. More in detail, the paper presents and frames a monitoring approach based on low-cost and non-invasive technology for real data collection in existing residential apartments/houses. The method is based on different levels of monitoring selected according to the typology of the building (e.g., detached house, apartment), services (e.g., centralized or local energy generation), and energy vectors (e.g., natural gas or electricity). Three different levels have been identified (named as: basic, medium, and advanced) and for each one, different plug and play monitoring sensor kits have been selected. Six representative pilot buildings have been identified and selected to verify the approach in general and, in particular, the sensors' applicability and communication, the data reliability, and the monitoring platform. The presented work highlights, on the one hand, the general feasibility of the proposed monitoring approach; on the other, it highlights the difficulty of fully standardizing the sensors kits considering that each building/apartment has specific characteristics and constraints that have to be carefully analyzed. The use of the ultrasonic flow meters represents a good technical option for reducing the cost and the impact on the existing plant system; however, their installation must be verified considering that the logger needs to be powered and the sensors calibrated for collecting reliable data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global warming is resulting in higher summer indoor temperatures in the severe cold region and cold region of China, and this is affecting thermal comfort. Local building design codes consider these regions as cool in summer, and do not consider the phenomenon of overheating or propose countermeasures. This paper studied the possibility of overheating in residential buildings in these areas. It suggested alleviating this phenomenon using external horizontal shading, and discussed how to integrate thermal comfort into the building design and save energy consumption. The IESVE software was used to simulate 18-storey residential buildings with natural ventilation in Yichun, Harbin, Shenyang, Dalian, and Beijing, and to calculate the change in indoor operative temperature. Horizontal shading was designed for case study building to attempt to alleviate the overheating phenomenon in summer. The results showed that the case study building in the five cities experienced different degrees of overheating. External horizontal shading was successful in reducing indoor overheating, especially in the severe cold B and C zones and the cold A and B zones. The relevant building codes should be modified to take this into account. Reasonable design of horizontal shading can effectively reduce energy consumption, particularly when compared with air-conditioned buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantifying the energy consumption of buildings is a complex and multi-scale task, with the entire process dependent on input data and urban surroundings. However, most urban energy models do not account for the urban environment. This paper employs a physical-based, bottom-up method to predict urban building operating energy consumption, using imported topography to consider shading effects on buildings. This method has proven to be feasible and aligned well with the benchmark. Research also suggests that commercial and transport buildings have the highest energy use intensity, significantly more than residential and office buildings. Specifically, cooling demands far outweigh heating demands for these building types. Therefore, buildings in the commercial and transportation sectors would receive greater consideration for energy efficiency and improvements to the cooling system would be a priority. Additionally, the method developed for predicting building energy demand at an urban scale can also be replicated in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews briefly the recent history of dwelling design in China. It notes the rapid changes that have taken place since the 1980s and identifies the way contemporary procurement processes leave out the final fit-out and decoration/refurbishment. A range of stakeholders were interviewed, and access was gained to drawings and other technical data that indicated how the secondary processes were carried out. These are largely ungoverned by regulation in the same way necessary for initial design. The key group is the occupants who drive the fit-out and decoration according to personal and cultural requirements, but often with less than perfect understanding of sustainability. The interior design industry has developed rapidly over the same period and was initially lacking in professional knowledge and understanding (something which can still be found). Advice provided to dwelling occupants was based more on appearance than function and efficiency. Over the same period, beneficial modifications to construction processes have been introduced in relation to structural design, and it should be possible to do the same for sustainability-related design issues. The paper advocates: more regulation; better assessment techniques; more information and guidance for home-owners; and a greater focus on energy issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building façade color plays a key role in shaping urban image, enhancing urban vitality, and optimizing citizens' living experience. Moreover, colors can influence people's perception of space, but the multiple interrelationships between color elements and users' color evaluation and visual perception have not yet been thoroughly studied. In order to explore the relationships between color elements and visual perception and subjective comfort, this study discusses the matching relationship between color and the comfort of a residential building façade from three levels of color hue, lightness, and saturation by combining eye movement technology and a subjective evaluation. Taking Anshan San Village in Shanghai as the research object, the relationship model between color elements, visual perception, and subjective comfort is established through correlation analysis, linear regression, and multifactor regression analysis, and the correlation between single elements and multiple elements is explored from multi-dimensional perspectives. It aims to assess the operability of eye movement data as a measure of the visual comfort with the residential building façade color through multiple indicators and to explore and establish a new correlation assessment framework between the three attributes of façade color and users' visual comfort. The results show that (1) highly saturated façade colors significantly increase cognitive load and decrease color evaluation. (2) Brightness has a non-linear relationship with visual perception and subjective evaluation, either too high or too low a brightness value will cause visual fatigue and thus reduce the color evaluation, and when the brightness is maintained at 40–80%, there will be a better color experience. (3) Warm tones such as red, orange, and yellow can strengthen the color perception to enhance the color evaluation of the façade; among cold tones, cyan and purple can also strengthen the visual perception of the color of the façade to enhance the color evaluation. After validation, the proposed new color comfort assessment method is feasible and comprehensive, and we hope it can provide a reference for the planning of old residential buildings and communities in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the interiors of ancient Huizhou buildings in China, a profusion of wood carvings are employed for decoration, with traditional research interpreting their function from decorative and aesthetic perspectives. However, this research suggests that the role of Huizhou wood carvings in interior spaces surpasses mere decoration; they enhance the expression and experience of spatial concepts through narrative imagery. By analyzing the mechanism and intrinsic logic behind the spatial concepts formed in Huizhou residential buildings, this study investigates how wood-carving imagery contributes to shaping spatial concepts through narrative techniques, as well as their creativity and expressiveness in architectural design. Utilizing literature reviews, field surveys for case selection, and case analysis methods combined with observation, interviews, and measurements, this research ultimately employs image analysis to interpret the narrative structures and styles of wood-carving imagery in detail. This study reveals that (1) the spatial concepts of Huizhou residential buildings are influenced by traditional thought, social culture, and other factors, leading to an interweaving of material, cultural, and social spaces that results in a spatial concept characterized by harmony between heaven and humanity, clear hierarchy, and orderliness; (2) Huizhou wood-carvings, through their narrative images, actively engage in the production of spatial concepts, employing thematic juxtaposition narrative modes and utilizing singular-scene narration, composite-scene narration, and cyclical narration to articulate these concepts. These findings significantly deepen our comprehension of the relationship between the spatial concepts of Huizhou's traditional residential architecture and social culture. By integrating cultural elements with spatial production theory, this research addresses the limitations of existing studies and augments their theoretical interpretative power. Additionally, clarifying the connection between the cultural elements of wood-carving imagery and the formation of spatial concepts offers a novel perspective on the study of Huizhou wood carvings, moving beyond their longstanding categorization as purely decorative elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient carbon emission reduction technologies in buildings are necessary for achieving the "Dual carbon" goal in China. In this study, a comprehensive evaluation model is proposed to assess the effect of carbon emission reduction based on the analytic hierarchy process–entropy weight–coefficient of variation model which takes newly built residential buildings in Zhuzhou City as the research object. The results show that the preferred materials for the roof and exterior walls of the building's envelope structure were flame-retardant extruded polystyrene boards, and porous shale bricks were preferred as the main materials for the exterior walls. In addition, the rooftop solar photovoltaic system and energy-saving air conditioning technology were suitable in terms of being renewable and were better utilized. In the end, carbon emissions were significantly reduced when using the building decarbonization technologies. This study provides a new reference for choosing materials and technologies for the design of residential buildings in Hunan Province and even other regions with hot summers and cold winters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid pace of urbanization and the increasing concentration of populations in urban areas have generated a substantial demand for architectural structures, resulting in a significant increase in building stock and continuous material flows that interact with the environment. This study emphasizes the importance of high-spatial-resolution mapping of residential building stock for effective urban-construction resource management, planning, and waste management. Focusing on Xi'an as a case study, the research develops a comprehensive framework for mapping urban residential building stock by integrating diverse data dimensions, including temporal, spatial, network, and multi-attribute aspects. The findings indicate that between 1990 and 2020, approximately 4758 residential communities were established in central Xi'an. The analysis of seven key residential construction materials revealed that the building stock escalated from 1.53 million tons to 731.12 million tons, with a steady spatial expansion of material distribution. The study attributes this growth to factors such as population increase, economic advancement, and policy initiatives, which, in turn, have driven the demand for residential building materials and reinforced the interdependence between urban expansion and residential construction development. Remarkably, from 1990 to 2020, the population surged by 2.1-fold, the economy by 66-fold, and the stock of residential building materials by 477-fold, indicating that the growth rate of material stock consistently outpaced that of both population and economic growth. Over the past three decades, the rapid expansion of residential buildings has led to the encroachment of urban ecological spaces by concrete structures. The methodology proposed in this study for quantifying building material offers valuable insights for policymakers and urban and environmental planners to foster responsible resource consumption and supports component-level circularity in the built environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the out-of-plane collaborative performance of timber frames and walls, a metal connector is proposed and designed. A finite element model of the wall is established, and the composite block damage criteria and surface contact behavior are validated. Additionally, one group without metal connectors and three groups with different numbers of metal connectors placed at various positions in traditional residential wall models are established. Using static loading simulation, the influence of different numbers of metal connectors on the out-of-plane damage patterns, deformation characteristics, and shear force distribution is analyzed. The study reveals that top metal connectors significantly reduce the out-of-plane displacement of the top wall by up to 84.6%. Metal connectors have a significant impact on the deformation capacity of brick walls, with a maximum enhancement of 65.3%. The metal connectors in the middle and lower parts transfer the wall loads to the columns, increasing the horizontal shear at the column head by approximately 7%. The connectors in the middle and lower parts effectively improve the collaborative performance of brick walls and wooden frames. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multi-generation systems with simultaneous production of power by renewable energy, in addition to polymer electrolyte membrane electrolyzer and fuel cell (PEMFC-PEMEC) energy storage, have become more and more popular over the past few years. The fresh water provision for PEMECs in such systems is taken into account as one of the main challenges for them, where conventional desalination technologies such as reverse osmosis (RO) and mechanical vapor compression (MVC) impose high electricity consumption and costs. Taking this point into consideration, as a novelty, solar still (ST) desalination is applied as an alternative to RO and MVC for better techno-economic justifiability. The comparison, made for a residential building complex in Hawaii in the US as the case study demonstrated much higher technical and economic benefits when using ST compared with both MVC and RO. The photovoltaic (PV) installed capacity decreased by 11.6 and 7.3 kW compared with MVC and RO, while the size of the electrolyzer declined by 9.44 and 6.13%, and the hydrogen storage tank became 522.1 and 319.3 m3 smaller, respectively. Thanks to the considerable drop in the purchase price of components, the payback period (PBP) dropped by 3.109 years compared with MVC and 2.801 years compared with RO, which is significant. Moreover, the conducted parametric study implied the high technical and economic viability of the system with ST for a wide range of building loads, including high values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Brazil, there is a shortage of approximately 5.80 million residences, a challenge that intensified during the pandemic. Since 2013, there has been a mandate to implement specific performance criteria in residential constructions. However, many construction firms face difficulties in meeting these standards, especially concerning sound insulation in partition elements. This work aims to assess the airborne sound insulation performance and compliance with legal standards in new residential buildings through measurements and simulations. In particular, subsidized housing units for low-income populations are studied, which are eligible for reduced taxes on building loans. These buildings are typically made of hollow ceramic blocks with vertical perforations as separating walls, a commonly used national building material. Three buildings located in Guarapuava, a southern city in Brazil with a population of approximately 183,000 residents, were selected for this purpose. Measurements were conducted following ISO 16283-1 guidelines, whereas simulations were performed using ISO 12354-1, initially assuming a uniform plate but also exploring an alternative model that considers orthotropic behavior with analytical expressions. The calculations considered both static and dynamic moduli of elasticity. The results indicated that all the units failed to meet the specified standards. The measured D n T , w values were below the required thresholds, obtaining 42 < 45 dB for Building B1, 40 < 45 dB for Building B2, and 38 < 40 dB for Building B3. The predicted D n T , w values agreed well with the measured values when considering orthotropy with a dynamic elastic modulus. However, discrepancies were observed in the spectral analysis, especially at lower and higher frequencies. The findings suggest refraining from employing single-leaf partition walls made of vertical hollow ceramic blocks in such buildings. Improving sound insulation necessitates embracing a comprehensive strategy that takes into account the separating element, flanking paths, and the room geometries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Economic development limits the living quality of rural residents. In particular, the residential buildings in northern China generally have poor thermal comfort in winter, which affects the physical and mental health of residents. Because of the separation of rooms, residents who live in cave dwellings often have to enter and leave rooms in the course of their daily lives, which leads to worse thermal feelings in winter. Because of the low price and the wind insulation and heat storage, sunrooms are widely used in renovations of rural houses. The traditional purpose of the addition of a sunroom is to provide a buffer room between outdoor and indoor spaces. This manuscript focuses on improving the degree of thermal comfort by means of a sunroom connecting all rooms. This study selected two families with the same number of members and similar daily activities as the study cases. One of the families had a sunroom built to connect its bedroom, living room, and washroom. The household's air temperature and human comfort were measured both on holidays and on workdays. It is demonstrated that adding a sunroom can significantly stabilize the thermal environment and increase the air temperature in both the bedroom and the living room. Adding a sunroom can increase the air temperature of a cave dwelling's main room by 1.0 °C on workdays and 4.3 °C on holidays. A cave dwelling with a sunroom can also provide residents with a decent level of human comfort for 24.4% of their daily time on workdays and 39.1% of the time during holidays. This research demonstrates that a sunroom can not only increase the air temperature in cave dwellings but also enhance the stability of human comfort. The conclusion provides new renovation ideas for improving the living comfort of cave dwellings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyses the dwelling, household, socio-economic and appliance-related determinants of urban domestic electricity use in Burkina Faso. A survey of 387 households in Ouagadougou was conducted and combined with their electricity use, collected from energy bills. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first large-scale, city-wide household electricity study undertaken in Burkina Faso. Linear regression models were applied to the data to assess the influence of household, dwelling, socio-economic and appliance-related factors on electricity use. Significant and unambiguous predictors of urban domestic electricity use included household income, dwelling tenure type and ownership, and use of lighting fixtures, television sets, fridges, fans, freezers and air conditioners. Dwelling, household and socio-economic factors explained 70.2% and 70.5% of the variance in electricity use, respectively, when combined with appliance ownership and use factors. This study provides an understanding of the driving factors of domestic electricity use and discusses the implications and applications of this research for a range of stakeholders in the electricity sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents a study on the existing low-rise unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings constructed in the period from 1945 to 1980 in Serbia and neighbouring countries in the Balkans. Buildings of this typology experienced damage in a few earthquakes in the region, including the 2010 Kraljevo, Serbia earthquake and the 2020 Petrinja, Croatia earthquake. The focus of the study is a seismic design approach for Simple masonry buildings according to Eurocode 8, Part 1, which is based on the minimum requirements for the total wall area relative to the floor plan area, which is referred to as Wall Index (WI) in this paper. Although the intention of Eurocode 8 is to use WI for design of new buildings, the authors believe that it could be also used for seismic assessment of existing masonry buildings in pre- and post-earthquake situations. A study on 23 URM buildings damaged in the 2010 Kraljevo, Serbia earthquake has been presented to examine a relationship between the WI and the extent of earthquake damage. Seismic evaluation of a typical 3-storey URM building damaged in the 2010 earthquake was performed according to the requirements of seismic design codes from the former Yugoslavia and Eurocode 8. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat Pumps are becoming one of the most considered mechanical conditioning equipment in our buildings. While they are popular, there appears to be quite a vast range of system types and applications in building conditioning. This paper primarily reviews the literature on heat pumps, the various types, and the consideration of design end uses. The fact that there are different energy sources for heat pumps is considered, as well as the different sinks in which energy is stored or dissipated. It is evident that advanced heat pump systems cater well to the use of renewable energy resources. Therefore, in the move towards net-zero energy building operation, the correct selection of a heat pump can help to increase self-consumption of solar PV generation and even make use of direct solar energy heating. This paper reviews the technologies for heat pump selection, application, and design for residential buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since decoration is an essential part of buildings, the carbon emissions generated by decoration work should not be ignored. In recent years, prefabricated decoration has attracted much attention as efforts are made to pursue green, low-carbon, and waste-reducing buildings. However, research on carbon emissions assessment of prefabricated buildings has focused mainly on the structural aspect of prefabricated buildings, with few studies having considered prefabricated decoration. This study therefore focuses on assessing the carbon emissions of prefabricated decoration from the life cycle perspective of a case study residential building and explores the potential for reducing carbon emissions by decorating buildings with prefabricated components. The results show that using prefabricated decoration in the case study building reduced carbon emissions by 29.08% at the building material production stage compared to traditional decoration, and using an optimized design of prefabricated decoration, the building's energy consumption over its design life could reduce carbon emissions by 1046 kgCO2/m2. These findings demonstrate the benefits of prefabrication decoration for reducing carbon emissions. This study provides decoration companies with robust data and insights to guide future decisions and practices, helping to transform and achieve the carbon neutrality goal for the building decoration industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With its rapid economic development, China has had to confront the serious issues of high energy consumption and air pollution. Natural ventilation is regarded as an effective method to reduce building energy consumption, but it is largely influenced by indoor and outdoor air pollution. However, most of the previous studies estimating natural ventilation potential (NVP) in China do not consider air pollution. This research estimated the NVP for residential buildings in major cities from four climate regions in China (Guangzhou, Chengdu, Shanghai, Beijing, and Shenyang) while considering the combined effect of indoor and outdoor air pollution. We compared the yearly NVP in three different scenarios, namely without considering air pollution, only considering outdoor air pollution, and considering both outdoor and indoor air pollution. The results show that Guangzhou had the highest yearly NVP, followed by Shanghai, Beijing, Shenyang, and Chengdu. The impact of air pollution could reduce the annual NVP in China by 78–95%. In addition, the main factors causing a low NVP differed between the four cities. The key factors for Chengdu and Guangzhou were natural ventilation flow rate and indoor air pollution, respectively. Beijing and Shenyang were mostly influenced by outdoor air pollution. Shanghai had two main factors with similar influence degrees, namely outdoor air pollution and indoor air pollution. The findings of this study will guide architects and policymakers in better forming natural ventilation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the 21st century, global energy security is a critical concern. Buildings contribute to over 40% of the worldwide energy consumption, primarily due to heating and cooling, resulting in a third of greenhouse gas emissions. The residential sector accounts for 25% of global electricity consumption, and in the Arab Mashreq and Maghreb (AMM) countries, the residential sector consumes around 41% of the total electricity. Existing residential buildings constitute a significant portion of the building sector, playing a crucial role in the overall performance of the building sector. To address this issue, it is essential to invest in the energy retrofitting of existing unsustainable residential buildings. This study aims to provide a comprehensive critical review of the literature on residential buildings' energy retrofitting trends in the AMM countries. Using a keyword-based search, 41 relevant studies were identified and critically analysed to identify gaps in the literature, benchmarking against global retrofit studies' trends, including the absence of top-down and bottom-up physical approaches and the limited use of modern tools like BIM. Additionally, there is a significant lack of studies that present measured and verified case studies of implemented energy retrofitting projects. The study concludes with recommendations for future research to bridge the gaps in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]