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Cities face increasing challenges in reducing their impact on climate change while also preserving their cultural heritage, both older and more modern. This paper investigates the articulations of energy efficiency and cultural values in local public policies of the City of Stockholm. The municipality is particularly interesting in its self-imposed role as being world-leading in the climate transition. However, we argue that the city fails in undertaking a holistic approach to sustainability by not providing sufficient guidance on how energy efficiency and cultural values can be reconciled. Cross-sectorial and sectorial policy documents as well as the implementation of local directives and objectives in a large municipally owned housing company are studied. Two cases of renovation serve to demonstrate how policy is turned into practice and how energy efficiency aims and cultural values are assessed. One significant finding is the clear asymmetry between the steering ability of policy relative to energy efficiency and cultural values respectively. A major drawback is the lack of directives and guidelines concerning the built heritage, particularly at a building level, supporting decision-making when implementing necessary energy efficiency measures in buildings with cultural values. A recommendation made is to introduce cross-sectorial guidance in implementing energy efficiency measures in buildings with cultural values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heating accounts for significant primary resource consumption and generation up to 30 % of total GHG emissions in the EU27. The ambitious emissions reduction goals outlined in the European Green Deal and Fit for 55 package necessitate not only the massive renovation of building stocks, but also reconstruction of heat generation and supply systems. With 76 % of the EU building stock located in urban areas, the renewal of urban heating systems is crucial. An easy-to-use methodology has been developed for managing long-term renovation programmes and regularly assessing renovation projects, thereby forming a comprehensive dynamic vision on the progress. This methodology enables flexible, rapid and, at the same time, sufficiently accurate and objective analysis of the potential and benefits of various heating system renovation projects and their variants at the pre-design stage, as well as their comparison according to efficiency. It employs a limited number of open indicators and does not require specialised knowledge in thermal physics, economics and/or construction. The developed methodology provides insights into (1) achievable heat consumption and primary energy savings, (2) reduction of dominant CO2 emissions, (3) changes in heating tariffs and costs, and (4) required investments. The methodology is intended for use by: (1) municipalities to streamline sustainable planning and management of urban heating systems and to facilitate interaction with owners of buildings and local heating systems, and (2) national authorities monitoring the implementation of national programmes under Fit for 55. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to prolonged heavy traffic, the Wuhan Changfeng Bridge has experienced extensive cracking in its main girder structure. Of the bridge's 60 crossbeams, 51 (85%) have developed cracks, while the deck pavement over the steel beams has accumulated a total of 648.8 m of transverse cracks. Additionally, two T-beams exhibit structural vertical cracks of 0.3 mm at the mid-span, exceeding the maximum allowable width of 0.2 mm. This recurrent pavement damage not only compromises driving safety and comfort but also increases maintenance costs. To address these issues, this paper proposes a systematic upgrade plan for the bridge deck system. The plan involves welding additional high transverse beams onto the existing steel transverse beams, removing the original deck slab and replacing it entirely with an orthotropic steel deck. Additionally, two new steel longitudinal beams will be installed. The original simply supported concrete longitudinal beams in the deck will be transformed into an integrally connected continuous steel structure deck system. Using Midas/Civil finite element software, 3D models of Changfeng Bridge, pre and post renovation, were created to analyze the overall dynamic characteristics under five loading scenarios. The ambient vibration test and vehicle field test were conducted to measure the bridge's natural frequency and impact factor, verifying the dynamic performance and driving comfort of the bridge after the upgrade. The results indicate that the retrofitted bridge experienced a 19.9% increase in overall stiffness. The dynamic performance of the bridge structure was significantly enhanced, and the most notable improvement was observed in dynamic stress, which decreased by 19.4% to 76.9%. Additionally, the steel deck reduced the bridge's dead load, and the driving comfort on the bridge deck improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, aiming at the practical application of additional layer excavation technology in the renewal and reconstruction of old urban communities, the influence of different excavation methods on the settlement behavior of existing structures is deeply analyzed through numerical simulation experiments. It is found that the frame columns show basin-type settlement in the block layered excavation, basin excavation and central island excavation. The cumulative settlement of the middle column is the largest, and the corner column is the smallest. The settlement phenomenon is mainly concentrated around the frame columns Z6, Z7, Z10 and Z11, and the change law of the cumulative settlement value conforms to the linear function distribution. By defining the cumulative settlement rate (a) as an index to measure the influence degree of the existing structure, it is found that the a value of the middle column is the largest, the side column is the second and the corner column is the smallest, and the a value of block layered excavation is the largest, and the central island excavation is the smallest. Considering the construction period, block layered excavation may be a more appropriate choice. The comparative analysis of the research results and the model experiment results confirms the feasibility of the improved model experiment, provides an important theoretical basis and practical guidance for the renewal and transformation of old urban communities and is of great significance for improving the utilization efficiency and safety of existing buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Materiały Budowlane is the property of Wydawnictwo SIGMA-NOT and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Materiały Budowlane is the property of Wydawnictwo SIGMA-NOT and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The regulation of financial markets according to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) criteria has become a priority for the European Union (EU). Recent legislation, such as the EU Green Taxonomy, aims to identify sustainable investments enhancing transparency and accountability while steering private finance toward environmental objectives. The introduction of ESG criteria poses specific questions for Social Housing Organisations (SHOs), particularly as the decarbonisation of the housing stock is also incorporated into national legislation. This article contributes to the social housing finance literature by breaking ground on ESG, an area of intensive legislative activity currently re-shaping financial markets. The study draws from interviews with SHOs' finance directors, banking officers, rating agencies and public officials to answer the question: How does the introduction of ESG legislation affect the financing of social housing decarbonisation? First, the results show that ESG legislation is broadening reporting responsibilities while producing only limited additional finance ultimately geared towards large and commercially oriented SHOs. Second, the expansion of energy-efficiency requirements is resulting in higher costs creating tensions with SHOs' social mission of building homes at affordable rents. Third, the adoption of ESG financing is producing inequalities in access to capital across national financing systems and individual providers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renovations of the housing rental stock have become a political concern since they have been claimed to drive gentrification and affect tenants' everyday lives as well as long-term housing conditions. Furthermore, new actors have entered the market, partly as a result of high supply on the international capital markets creating a flow of capital into market segments. This has led to a critique of private equity in the housing sector, and raised the question of the extent to which ownership of the rental stock matters for housing affordability. Yet there seems to be little systematic research on this topic. This study uses a unique dataset covering the entire rental housing stock in Sweden to address whether there are differences in renovation investments between different ownership groups. The purpose of this article is to increase understanding of how ownership affects renovation processes, and specifically to analyse to what extent, and how, private and public actors differ in renovation and rent setting decisions. Our results demonstrate that public housing companies raised rents less and renovated more, particularly in the lower-income segments of the multi-family building stock between 2014 and 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The revision procedure for failure of internal fixation after thoracolumbar fracture is controversial. Combined anterior and posterior surgery is associated with higher risk more intraoperative bleeding and tissue damage. The success rate of simple anterior surgery needs further confirmation, and posterior surgery lacks stability of internal fixation. This study evaluates the feasibility and surgical effect of multi‐rod constructs in the revision of thoracolumbar fractures. Methods Eleven patients with thoracolumbar fractures who underwent previous construct failure and were treated with revision and internal fixation with the multi‐rod technique from March 2017 to September 2018 were analyzed. The original internal fixation was removed and replaced in the medial insertion of satellite rods and bone graft. The average follow‐up time was 15.97 months. The intraoperation blood loss, the time of the operation, activation and discharge and the rate of rod fracture were calculated. The sagittal Cobb angle before revision, after revision and at the last follow‐up were compared. The clinical effect was evaluated by visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index questionnaire (ODI). Results The average operation time was 107 min, the intraoperative blood loss was 131.81 mL, the active time was 1.59 days, and the discharge time was 10.89 days. No rod fractured again during the follow‐up period. The paired t‐test was used to compare the Cobb angle, VAS score, and ODI before and after surgery. There was significant difference in the sagittal Cobb angle between the pre‐revision and the posterior sagittal position (p = 0.000), and no significant difference was found between post‐revision and last follow‐up (p = 0.551). VAS and ODI were greatly improved at the last follow‐up. Conclusion The literature on revision of thoracolumbar fractures is insufficient and comprises varying opinions. This paper proposes a new treatment option. The application of the multi‐rod constructs in the revision of thoracolumbar fractures is safe, simple, and effective and might provide guidance for future clinical work.

Abstract SWAT model is one of the primary tools for assessing irrigation district water management and water‐saving measures. However, its incapacity to consider the diverse growth and water requirements of paddy during various growth stages, as well as the insufficient availability of external water sources. This study introduces the Penman‐Monteith equation and Jensen model into the SWAT framework, setting crop coefficients, crop base coefficients, and growth stage sensitivity indices based on the different growth stage. Additionally, modifications are made to the external water source available for irrigation and paddy field leakage modules, establishing a distributed agricultural hydrological model suitable for accurately simulating water balance elements and paddy yield in multi‐source irrigation districts. The Yangshudang watershed in the Zhanghe irrigation district is chosen for the evaluation of the modified model's simulation performance, with a quantitative assessment of water‐saving and yield‐increasing effects. The results demonstrate that the modified model effectively meets the requirements for simulating paddy evapotranspiration of various growth stages, yield, agricultural irrigation water consumptions, and runoff, exhibiting a notable enhancement in performance. As two common water‐saving measures in irrigation areas, intermittent irrigation and irrigation district renovation were used as two water‐saving scenarios in the simulation of the modified SWAT model. Under intermittent irrigation, the watershed experiences a 6.58% reduction in net irrigation water use. In the scenario with irrigation district renovation, the water resources in the watershed are utilized more efficiently. The modified model from this study can be applied for assessing the synergistic effects of irrigation district water‐saving and yield‐increasing measures, providing crucial insights for the formulation of irrigation district water‐saving strategies and water resource optimization plans.

Due to the higher susceptibility of children to ionizing radiation, it is imperative to evaluate the radon activity concentration (RAC) in educational buildings, conduct additional investigations to identify radon entry routes, and implement remedial measures to minimize exposure to this radioactive gas. In Romania, educational buildings are a category of public buildings where it is mandatory to perform RAC measurements. The present study examines data obtained from 41 Romanian educational buildings, where initial and additional radon investigations were performed. The first objective was to identify the factors influencing the variability of the RAC inside the buildings. The second objective was to emphasize the importance of short-term (a few days), continuous measurements in identifying buildings with RAC exceeding the reference level. High RAC values were associated with the classrooms located on the ground floor of the building compared to the administrative ones. The multiple linear regression led to a coefficient of determination of 0.11, the relative humidity and the amount of precipitation being the main variables with a significant impact, kept in the model, the lack of a significant association between the indoor RAC and the radon potential in the soil being obtained. Comparison of the radon long-term integrated measurements with continuous, short-term, led to the suggestion of three different scenarios for the measurement work protocol. By following the suggested modifications, it is possible to accelerate the procedure in situations where the time needed to plan renovations and radon remedial measures is shorter than the time needed to conduct integrated measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optimization of impact sound insulation of wooden beam ceilings in Wilhelminian style houses, Part 2: Ceiling construction and flanking transmission The research deals with the influence of various parameters in the ceiling structure, such as cavity damping, screed thickness, impact sound insulation, fill and suspended ceilings, on the standard impact sound level of typical Wilhelminian style wooden beam ceilings. The measurements show that a thicker screed, softer impact sound insulation and a heavier fill significantly improve the impact sound level. Binding the fill with polyurethane instead of cement shows a significant improvement in the frequency range from 100 to 500 Hz. While cavity damping with mineral wool only contributes to a limited reduction in the standard impact sound level, decoupling the fill on an elastic intermediate layer delivers significant improvements. The measurements also show that the thickness of the paneling and the type of hangers in suspended ceilings have a significant impact on impact sound insulation. The investigations into flank impact sound transmission make it clear that flank transmission must be taken into account when planning higher requirement levels. Especially in the frequency range between 250 Hz and 800 Hz, the sound transmission of flanking components can play a significant role in the overall transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The revision procedure for failure of internal fixation after thoracolumbar fracture is controversial. Combined anterior and posterior surgery is associated with higher risk more intraoperative bleeding and tissue damage. The success rate of simple anterior surgery needs further confirmation, and posterior surgery lacks stability of internal fixation. This study evaluates the feasibility and surgical effect of multi‐rod constructs in the revision of thoracolumbar fractures. Methods: Eleven patients with thoracolumbar fractures who underwent previous construct failure and were treated with revision and internal fixation with the multi‐rod technique from March 2017 to September 2018 were analyzed. The original internal fixation was removed and replaced in the medial insertion of satellite rods and bone graft. The average follow‐up time was 15.97 months. The intraoperation blood loss, the time of the operation, activation and discharge and the rate of rod fracture were calculated. The sagittal Cobb angle before revision, after revision and at the last follow‐up were compared. The clinical effect was evaluated by visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index questionnaire (ODI). Results: The average operation time was 107 min, the intraoperative blood loss was 131.81 mL, the active time was 1.59 days, and the discharge time was 10.89 days. No rod fractured again during the follow‐up period. The paired t‐test was used to compare the Cobb angle, VAS score, and ODI before and after surgery. There was significant difference in the sagittal Cobb angle between the pre‐revision and the posterior sagittal position (p = 0.000), and no significant difference was found between post‐revision and last follow‐up (p = 0.551). VAS and ODI were greatly improved at the last follow‐up. Conclusion: The literature on revision of thoracolumbar fractures is insufficient and comprises varying opinions. This paper proposes a new treatment option. The application of the multi‐rod constructs in the revision of thoracolumbar fractures is safe, simple, and effective and might provide guidance for future clinical work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of research from the renovation of functional parts of crane wheel surfaces. The aim of the research was to verify the possibilities of changing the chemical composition of the additive materials for submerged arc cladding, in order to increase the resistance of the wheel surfaces to wear. The base material of the crane wheel was heat-treated carbon steel for castings, mat. no. 1.0553. The renovation process was carried out on three equal wheels. Conventionally used additive material, the same one used for the interlayer and two covering layers, was used on one wheel. On two other wheels, newly increased tubular wires with a higher proportion of carbide-forming additives (Cr, Mo) were used for the carbide coating of two covering layers, in addition to their conventional additive material. Low-alloy additive material was applied to the newly elevated wires. The quality of the clads was assessed using non-destructive tests. Subsequently, microstructural analysis was carried out on the test samples taken from the renovated wheels, by means of light microscopy. On the cross cuttings, the course of hardness was evaluated using Vickers analysis. The resistance of functional surfaces to adhesion wear was evaluated based on weight losses measured using the AMSler experimental equipment. The results of the experiments showed an increase in the tribological resistance of the surfaces, specifically by 45% due to the newly developed wire C1 and by 18% due to wire B1, and it is therefore possible to recommend renovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Water Conservancy Science & Techonlogy & Economy is the property of Water Conservancy Science & Technology & Economy Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Scientific and reasonable satisfaction evaluation is an excellent way to understand the effects of building (structure) renovation and public satisfaction. This study presents a satisfaction evaluation of civil air defense engineering renovated into cooling place from the perspective of public experience. First, a satisfaction evaluation indicator system was constructed for civil air defense engineering renovated into cooling place from the perspective of public experience, focusing on 5 first-level indicators—location condition, spatial status, physical environment, service management, and emotional experience—and 27 second-level indicators. Second, the matter-element extension and combined weighting method were introduced to establish a satisfaction evaluation model for civil air defense engineering renovated into cooling place from the perspective of public experience. Finally, the rationality of the index system and feasibility of the evaluation model were verified by considering civil air defense cooling centers as examples. This research can provide a basis for the further optimization of such projects and the development and management of cities, as well as new ideas or methods for the satisfaction evaluation of similar old buildings (structures) after renovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Finland shows strong support for reducing its climate footprint originating from the built environment as part of the national carbon neutrality goal by 2035. Two prime examples are increasing wood use in construction and favoring building renovation to alleviate emissions from the use of virgin construction materials. However, the open question remains whether citizens also support these decarbonization pathways. By using national-level data from a randomly sampled citizen survey in Finland (n = 1448), we model citizen preferences to these two decarbonization pathways. The results suggest that a preference to renovate rather than to build anew is shown by respondents of the female gender; over 55 years of age; with a lower household equivalent income; and possessing housing property investment. Wood material is positively favored by respondents with higher age; a lower household equivalent income; living in smaller population centers in the countryside; and owning forestland. Interestingly, the effect of climate agency was negative in both models. This can be interpreted in the wood material case as reflecting conflicting views of negative environmental effects from forest harvesting to produce renewable building materials. In the renovation model case, we argue that the climatic impact of renovations remain weakly understood by citizens in Finland, given that the media and national regulations emphasize operational emissions. These results benefit both policy makers and municipal-level decision making in understanding of acceptability of wood material use and building retrofits among the general public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Screens used in modernizations of buildings to diversify the facade also provide shade on the walls. The article presents a comparison of the effectiveness of shades with different degrees of shading in terms of energy savings. On summer days, especially when there is a lot of sunlight and air temperatures are above 30°C, the covers reduce the temperature on the outer surface of the wall and, as a result, improve the microclimate of the rooms. Lower temperatures result in less heat accumulated during the day. The results were compared for various masonry materials. Less heat energy accumulated in the wall reduces the energy demand to cool the internal air. Energy savings were estimated over 50 years of building use. A method was proposed to quickly compare the effectiveness of the different shading shields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a growing demand for the renovation of old industrial parks in major cities across China. In response to the comp lex status quo of enterprise operations and spatial construction in these industrial parks, this paper, based on the practice of the renovation and upgrading of Juyuanzhou Industrial Park of Jinshan Industrial Zone, a representative of the old industrial parks in the central urban area of Fuzhou, proposes a model of “Coordination - Decision-making - Iteration”. This model aims to address the challenges faced in the process of the renovation and upgrading of old industrial parks, such as limited expansion space, difficulties in coordinating interests, and poor matching of policy resources. Through collaborative transformation guidance between the park and the city, customized precise upgrading models, policy matching and spatial planning, as well as real-time park operation management, it promotes the renovation and upgrading of old industrial parks, ensuring the healthy and sustainable development of the industrial parks and promoting urban innovation industrial upgrading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes the reallocation of space and construction of a new adult shock trauma intensive care unit implementing methods to mitigate the environmental impact. The environmental burden was reduced through innovative reallocation of space and diversity of lighting sources. Circular economy principles were implemented which enabled much of the infrastructure materials to be reused. Collaboration among interdisciplinary health care teams, such as described in this article, helped to ensure expertise was shared so that the environmental impact was lessened. This article provides insight into innovative methods to mitigate the carbon footprint of a critical care renovation project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Railway Construction Technology is the property of Railway Construction Technology Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Despite Croatia experiencing two strong earthquakes in 2020, Rijeka was not directly affected, underscoring the importance of proactive seismic assessment and strengthening in all seismic regions. This paper presents a comprehensive case study on the seismic strengthening of a 20th-century concrete building located in Rijeka, Croatia, originally designed according to Austro-Hungarian construction norms and practices. As a heritage-protected structure, the building's architectural features and construction practices were examined and contextualized within its historical background. The assessment and renovation phases of this project are discussed in detail, demonstrating the practical application of modern seismic strengthening techniques while preserving the building's historical integrity. This case study aims to highlight the need for such measures to protect heritage structures and to show the implementation of rapid and new (ad hoc) norms for earthquake-damaged buildings in Croatia. This study serves as a reference for engineers, architects, and conservationists involved in the preservation of heritage buildings, demonstrating that it is possible to enhance their structural safety without compromising their architectural authenticity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of History of Iran / Tārīkh-i Īrān is the property of Shahid Beheshti University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: To achieve substantial energy efficiency improvements in the privately owned building stock, it is important to communicate with potential renovators at the right point in time and provide them with targeted information to strengthen their renovation ambitions. The European Union recommends using one-stop-shops (OSSs), which provide information and support throughout the whole process, from planning to acquisition of funding, implementation, and evaluation as a measure to remove unnecessary barriers. Methods: For this paper, we invited visitors of two Norwegian websites with OSS characteristics to answer an online survey about their renovation plans and energy efficiency ambitions. The participants visited the websites out of their own interest; no recruitment for the websites was conducted as part of the study (N = 437). They also rated a range of psychological drivers, facilitators, and barriers to including energy upgrades in a renovation project. Their answers were then compared to existing data from representative samples of Norwegian households regarding home renovation in 2014, 2018, and 2023, as well as data from a sample of people who were engaged in renovation projects in 2014, which was collected by the research team with a similar online survey. Furthermore, 78 visitors completed a brief follow-up online survey one year later to report the implemented measures. Results: We found that visitors of the websites are involved in more comprehensive renovation projects and have substantially higher ambitions for the upgrade of energy efficiency compared to the representative samples. They also perceive stronger personal and social norms, as well as have a different profile of facilitators and barriers. Discussion: The findings suggest to policymakers that OSSs should be marketed especially to people motivated to upgrade energy efficiency but lack information and are unable to implement their plans alone. Also, the construction industry might refer interested people to such low-threshold online solutions to assist informed and more ambitious decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional village as a part of cultural heritage shows unique historical, cultural and architectural characteristics. With the accelerating urbanization, ecological environment of traditional villages has been threatened, local cultures have degraded, even all traditional villages have shown similar images, thus effective protection and update is urgently needed. Based on the background and characteristics of postmodernist design, this study explored problems in the renovation of traditional villages, analyzed the renovation cases of some traditional villages and then concluded the scientific renovation strategies, so as to provide references for the future renovation design of traditional villages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Importance: Nearly 75% of newly diagnosed cancer patients in the United States will receive care from a hospital that is accredited by the Commission on Cancer (CoC). To support hospitals in their quality assurance efforts, the CoC maintains a portfolio of quality measures to give hospitals compliance data with select best practices for cancer care. As the CoC quality measures have evolved over recent years, many clinicians may lack awareness of the intent and content of the measure portfolio, as well as the mechanism by which new measures originate. Observations: The CoC quality measures are based on data that hospitals submit to the National Cancer Database, allowing the CoC to track compliance with a subset of consensus best practices. Each year, new measures are designed by diverse teams of specialists in the different treatment modalities for the tumor types covered by the portfolio. These proposed measures are then subjected to a range of vetting, refinement, and prioritization steps before being voted into the portfolio by the Quality Assurance and Data Committee of the CoC. Over the past 4 years, the CoC has worked to renovate not only the portfolio but also the process used to create and launch new measures, revise existing measures, and retire obsolete measures. Conclusion and Relevance: In the following overview, we outline the current measure process, highlight important changes to the portfolio, and share opportunities to further increase the impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of ABI Technik is the property of De Gruyter and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Society & Leisure / Loisir & Société is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

We rely on novel textual analysis of real estate listings and identify renovated dwellings in a dataset of Norwegian transactions to estimate the renovation premium in an urban housing market. The renovation premium is estimated in a hedonic framework by classical regression approaches and a random forest algorithm. The strength of the latter is that it allows for a more complex interplay between the renovation premium and explanatory variables. We estimate a significant positive renovation premium of 5–7 percent for renovated dwellings and a negative premium of 9–10 percent for unmaintained/neglected dwellings. These averages mask significant variations in these premiums over time, particularly, a counter-cyclical effect. Omitting renovation information also has implications for estimated short-term house price growth. Unmaintained dwellings tend to transact more in the fourth quarter, indicating that parts of the seasonal price variation reported in the literature are due to compositional variation with respect to renovation. This composition effect bias price movement estimates downward, if uncontrolled for, as unmaintained dwellings transact at significantly lower prices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analysed a quantitative assessment of the adhesion of lime plasters to the substrate in a historic neo-Gothic building. The diagnostics of the plasters were conducted to preserve their large surface area due to their historical value. The use of modern non-destructive and destructive methods allowed for a significant reduction in the work required to remove the historic plaster. It was noted that only the correlation of non-destructive and destructive methods can enable an accurate determination of the necessary repair work on historic plasters. Challenges in diagnosing plasters in historic buildings are also discussed.

This study focuses on the evolving dynamics of home renovation in Dubai, particularly in The Springs community. It explores the transition from new constructions to renovations in the construction sector, motivated by economic, environmental, and market factors. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was utilized to assess user preferences in renovations. A survey conducted among residents of The Springs gauged renovation priorities, examining cost, performance, design, and planning aspects. Results indicated cost as a significant factor in renovation decisions. Still, combined elements of building performance (13.49% for Building Envelope Performance and 15.21% for MEP Performance), planning (11.27% for Space Optimization), and design (5.16% for Interior Design) also proved crucial. The study found a strong preference for optimizing space (48.8% importance in architectural planning) and interior design (66.2% importance in design aspects). Economic factors like construction cost and building value enhancement were also highlighted, with construction cost accounting for 32.9% and an increase in building value for 31.7% in cost considerations. The findings emphasize the need for a user-centric approach in renovations, integrating economic viability with performance, planning, and design enhancements. The study suggests architects and developers should consider these diverse user preferences and sustainable practices in renovation planning. The research advocates for comprehensive renovation strategies that balance economic, functional, and aesthetic aspects. The insights from this study are pertinent for guiding future renovation strategies in Dubai, ensuring renovations meet user needs and market trends.

This paper examines official negotiation methods behind the renovation and simultaneous use of the Staré Hrady castle between 1949 and 1993, as an example of the rescue of a cultural monument in communist Czechoslovakia. It is concerned with the mechanisms of actor-institutional communication at regional level at work within the broader circumstances prevailing in then Czechoslovakia, arguing that this negotiation was in fact the driving force behind the successful reconstruction of this castle after many years of expert-led volunteer work.

In Europe, buildings account for 40% of the energy consumption and produce 36% of CO2 emissions. Renovation could be a great tool to decarbonize the building stock since it allows for a decrease in the operational energy required for buildings and is less material-consuming than new construction. Further benefits are brought by the usage of bio-based insulation materials that can drastically reduce embodied emissions and transform structures into factual carbon sinks. This study focuses on a particular kind of biogenic material, mycelium-wood composites, consisting of organic matter bound by the root structure of fungal organisms. This innovative insulation material was compared with traditional ones for the renovation of the building stock, with a focus on vertical components like walls in the Helsinki metropolitan area. To characterize mycelium-wood composites, density and carbon content information were gathered from the samples realized in the Politecnico di Milano MaBa.SAPERLab, while the production processes were included in a SimaPro model to obtain the GWP value. Different scenarios were then defined by two variables: the renovation rate of the building stock and the market penetration of myceliumwood composites. For each scenario, the overall GWP and CO2 stored values were calculated. Results show the great potential of the innovative material that grants carbon storage in the building stock that could even surpass the amount stored in the 32,500 ha of forest in the area. However, this possibility is heavily influenced by factors independent of the type of insulation used that should be further investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Madurai Nayaks (1559-1736 CE) significantly contributed to Vaishnava temple architecture in South India. Inscriptions on these temples provide valuable insights into their history, architecture, and cultural significance. This study examines the inscriptions on Vaishnava temples built or renovated during the Madurai Nayaks period, focusing on Alagar Kovil, Koodal Alagar Kovil, Thirumohur Kalamega Perumal Kovil, and Thiruparankunram Murugan Kovil. The inscriptions, written in Tamil and Sanskrit using Grantha and Tamil scripts, reveal details on temple construction, renovations, and patronage by Nayak rulers, including Viswanatha Nayak, Krishnappa Nayak, and Tirumala Nayak. The study analyzes the epigraphic evidence to understand the architectural styles, layout, and design of Vaishnava temples during this period. The inscriptions demonstrate the blending of Dravidian and Vijayanagara architectural styles, characterized by intricate carvings, gopurams, and mandapams. The research also explores the cultural and religious practices of the time, highlighting the importance of Vaishnava worship and the role of temples as cultural and social hubs. This research contributes to the understanding of Vaishnava temple architecture, epigraphy, and cultural practices during the Madurai Nayaks period, providing valuable insights for historians, architects, and art historians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Older buildings are often vilified for alleged poor energy performance. This discussion has, however, been limited to operational energy, rather than whole-life carbon. This paper compares both embodied and operational carbon emissions of building preservation to new construction. Methodologically, it relies on consequential replacement LCA. Using a representative 1950s school building as a case study, a locally heritage-listed example of Modernist architecture, four retention scenarios are devised. The scenarios represent different approaches towards repair needs, cost implications, time horizons of refurbishment, and conserving the building's architectural-historical value. For the contemporary new build, two scenarios are developed based on a case study school building completed in 2018. They differ by the material of the structural frame (concrete or cross-laminated timber). The concrete-framed alternative corresponds to the present business as usual, whereas the wooden alternative represents a competing lower-carbon technology. The study was conducted in Finland, i.e. a cold continental climate. In such conditions, operational energy consumption is significant for a building's carbon footprint. Nevertheless, the findings show that building preservation results in lower emissions than new construction in most of the scenarios. The climate change mitigation potential of building preservation is significant at the scale of singular buildings and the building stock scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the impact of thermal insulation on thermal comfort and energy consumption in an existing house that did not comply with building regulations. Thermal insulation included adding layers of polystyrene in the ceiling and floor, the areas with the highest heat gain and loss. After renovation, findings demonstrated a 55% reduction in heating energy required for winter. Reduction in air conditioning power was 18% during the summer. Simulations using the DesignBuilder software for the house revealed a 42% and a 17% reduction in the energy needed for heating and cooling. TRNSYS software simulation indicated a 500 kWh average annual energy consumption reduction. Experimental results measurements in two days of summer proved that the indoor temperatures of the house did not exceed 25.1°C and remained stable regardless of changes in external temperatures. Thermal insulation is a promising solution for reducing energy consumption and achieving thermal comfort in buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban land use multi-objective optimization aims to achieve greater economic, social, and environmental benefits by the rational allocation and planning of urban land resources in space. However, not only land use reconstruction, but renovation, which has been neglected in most studies, is the main optimization direction of urban land use. Meanwhile, urban land use optimization is subject to cost constraints, so as to obtain a more practical optimization scheme. Thus, this paper evaluated the renovation and reconstruction costs of urban land use and proposed a cost-heuristic genetic algorithm (CHGA). The algorithm determined the selection probability of candidate optimization cells by considering the renovation and reconstruction costs of urban land and integrated the renovation and reconstruction costs to determine the direction of optimization so that the optimization model can more practically simulate the actual situation of urban planning. The reliability of this model was validated through its application in Shenzhen, China, demonstrating that it can reduce the cost consumption of the optimization process by 35.86% at the expense of sacrificing a small amount of economic benefits (1.18%). The balance of benefits and costs enhances the applicability of the proposed land use optimization method in mature, developed areas where it is difficult to demolish buildings that are constrained by costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]