bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Overview of the Law Number 5 Of 2017 About Cultural Advancement for Managing Cultural Heritage Kawal Darat Shells Hill (BKKD) Area in Bintan Island
Authors: Simatupang D E
Published: June 2023

This paper examines management policies in the cultural heritage area of the Bukit Kerang Kawal Darat (BKKD) Site based on Law No. 5 of 2017 concerning cultural promotion. The BKKD site is indicated not to have progressed in the region, even though it has been more than ten years of research and management studies. This law is considered to be in synergy with Law No. 11 of 2010 concerning Cultural Heritage for the realization of site management which leads to an increase in the economic and socio-cultural value of the surrounding community. This paper uses inductive reasoning that starts from the discussion of each observation, interview, and literature study. The data are analyzed and interpreted until a hypothesis is formulated that the two laws are not contradictory and mutually supportive, with some notes to be considered.
A systematic literature review on positive energy buildings
Authors: Arslan V , Ulubeyli S
Published: June 2023

Energy consumption of buildings is one of the most significant issues of the global warming. Buildings should be sustainable, healthy, comfortable, grid-friendly, and economical to construct and maintain. Positive Energy Building (PEB) concept has been discussed over the last years. A PEB refers to a building with a zero or negative net energy consumption over a typical year. This concept combines both energy saving and energy recovery from local renewable resources. However, neither in the related literature nor in international standards, harmonized definitions and calculation methods do exist. In the last decade, PEBs have been becoming a high priority for researchers and have been recently discussed by energy policy experts. In this regard, understanding and realizing the PEB concept can be considered as a significant issue. Therefore, the objective of this study is to explore the scientific literature to provide an overview of the PEB concept. Toward this aim, past studies were categorized according to subject, location, and energy approach. According to results, energy production or building insulation methods of PEBs show similarities in different climate conditions or level of income. This research may have a potential to draw attention of researchers and practitioners on PEBs.
Solar cadastre for assessment of near-zero energy districts
Authors: Chatzigeorgiou E , Martinopoulos G
Published: June 2023

The building sector is responsible for approximately 40% of the total energy consumption in Europe, with most of it allocated to space heating. Additionally, a continuous increase has been observed in conventional energy prices, as well as a dependency of energy supply on geopolitical stability. Building energy independence and net zero energy buildings and districts are presented as a way to overcome these issues, with the addition of on-site renewable energy, and specifically solar energy, exploitation. The intention to utilise solar energy on-site creates the need for solar mapping in urban areas. A dynamic solar potential estimation is essential for the proper dimensioning of solar systems, and it is conducted in this study via the Energy3D software. A typical urban neighbourhood in Thessaloniki Greece is selected and a simplified version of a Solar Cadastre for the area is produced. The annual solar potential of the selected buildings is calculated and analysed, and the parameters affecting it are presented. Additionally, an estimation regarding the electricity production of typical photovoltaic panels installed on the building surfaces is conducted. The calculations highlight the importance of vertical facades as building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems carriers.
S.O.L.E.H. (Sustainable Operation Low-cost Energy for Hotels). Innovative tools and guidelines for the sustainable hotels’ refurbishment
Authors: Bertolazzi A , Micocci F
Published: June 2023

The target of the “Road Map of Efficient Europe” is to refurbish the buildings stock of the second half of the 20th century that is responsible of the 41% of energy consumption - the 2/3 of this consumption are spent for heating and cooling - with the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and consumption of raw materials. One of the sectors of the building stock that needs an upgrading for what concern building performances and consumption is the tourism, and in particular hotel buildings that often are in a state of obsolescent because they have failed to update to contemporary comfort requirements. The research that will be presented in this paper with the name “S.O.L.E.H. (Sustainable Operation Low-cost Energy for Hotels)” aims to identify innovative tools and providing guidelines for hotels refurbishment within a framework of environmental and economic sustainability thanks to the exchange of know-how among Italy and Greece. The project’s goals are: to identify innovative solutions by stimulating the targeted use of technological tools, to take care of communication for the stakeholder; to make the hotel building stock more efficient and the tourism industry more competitive; to refurbish existing buildings with a view to sustainability and circular economy. The project is a collaboration between Universities of Padua, Venice and Thessaly and it was funded with European Structural Funds. It introduces Innovative and Smart Technologies for the survey, processing and visualization of buildings data, based on the analysis of case-studies from Italy and Greece, and then it proposes a tool for the refurbishment of existing hotel with the support of a communication framework in order to sensibilize stakeholders. Finally, the research concludes with a workshop organized at the University of Thessaly with the scope to investigate alternative solutions of tourism models in order to sensibilize users towards more sustainable and ecologic habits.
Optimization of window area in buildings from the viewpoint of energy efficiency - Kabul, Afghanistan
Authors: Karimi M , Chikamoto T , Lee M
Published: June 2023

The proportion of window area on a building façade is one of the key energy-saving design parameters affecting indoor thermal comfort, and the energy performance of a building. To avoid excessive energy loss or gain, determining the optimal window size is essential. Accordingly, this paper aims to investigate the impact of the Window-to-Wall ratio (WWR) of all sixteen cardinal, intercardinal, and secondary intercardinal directions on the energy consumption of buildings in Kabul, Afghanistan. Simulation models were built and analyzed using BEopt™ energy simulation software. The results indicate that in the climatic condition of Kabul, windows only on southeast, south-southeast, south, and south-southwest façades have energy-saving potential while providing windows on other facades results in higher energy demands compared to windowless façades. The total energy demand graph of the room with various WWR on southeast, south-southeast, south, and south-southwest façades form a U-shaped curve with a minimum value when the WWR is 0.15, 0.3, 0.35, and 0.25 respectively. The maximum amount of energy saving achieved by WWR optimization is 6.5%. However, adding windows of up to WWR-0.7 to other facades increases energy consumption by up to 29%. The study concludes that optimization of WWR in different orientations during the design process will contribute to the reduction of heating and cooling energy consumption.
Archetype selection process for the development of a building stock model
Authors: Pristerà G , Allacker K , Rock M , Sala S
Published: June 2023

The building sector accounts for 40% of the EU’s energy consumption and 36% of greenhouse gas emissions, and is therefore a hotspot for mitigation efforts. Stock modelling is a powerful tool to support the assessment of the impact of the building sector and to test policy interventions to reduce it. A common approach to developing a stock model is through the identification of representative building archetypes. The goal of this paper is to propose a new selection process for archetypes in order to improve the modelling of the residential building stock, and to assess its robustness. The methodology is based on data obtained from the AmBIENCe project. Archetypes are selected for three EU regions, to represent existing buildings in two building categories (detached and multifamily houses). Member State-level archetypes are used as a basis for the identification of regional archetypes, which are selected in order to reduce the number of buildings on which the stock model is developed, while still ensuring its representativeness. A regional average building is defined using a statistical approach to identify its characteristics, considering two sets of parameters related to the building envelope: U-values and materialisation factors (factors indicating the main construction material of a building element). The total useful floor area is used to weigh these parameters among the various Member States. The building types with the smallest overall variation with respect to the regional average are selected as archetypes for the stock model. In a sensitivity analysis, the same process is re-applied, accounting for the relative importance of each envelope element in the selection of the best-representing archetype at regional level by using first their area and then their volume as additional weighting factors. As these methodological changes lead to a different archetype selection, the new and old archetypes are assessed against each other. The analysis provides an understanding of the importance of selection process of archetypes for stock modelling, and therefore contributes to correctly framing the interpretation of any results obtained through the use of a specific model.
Nature-based solutions for urban stormwater management: an overview
Authors: Palermo S A , Turco M , Pirouz B , Presta L , Falco S , De Stefano A , Frega F , Piro P
Published: June 2023

The coupled effect of urbanization and climate change led to several environmental and socioeconomic impacts, such as the impoverishment of ecosystems, flooding risk, water quality deterioration, air pollution, urban heat island effect, and other socio-environmental. From a hydraulic perspective, the constant loss of natural areas was reflected in a drastic alteration of the hydrological cycle that, combined with the growth of extreme rainfall frequency, increased the city’s vulnerability to flooding risk, highlighting the inadequacy of traditional urban drainage systems. In this context, a transition towards sustainable and resilient urban drainage systems becomes essential. Thus, this paper aims to present an overview of Nature-based solutions, which, due to their capacity to reduce surface runoff and increase evapotranspiration and infiltration rates, represent valuable options for stormwater management and hydrological cycle restoration in urban areas. In this regard, the paper is conceived and structured by considering first a general introduction to nature-based solutions. The general design features of some nature-based solutions (green roofs, green walls, rain gardens, and permeable pavements) are shown, and finally, the hydrological effectiveness of these systems is discussed by considering the results found in the literature.
On the main methods to estimate the soil hydraulic properties of the Nature-based solutions
Authors: Turco M , Palermo S A , Pirouz B , Presta L , Brusco A C , Ferrante A P , Becciu G , Sanfilippo U , Raimondi A , Piro P
Published: June 2023

Nature-based solutions (NBS) are very popular techniques to solve several problems in urban areas. These techniques proved several benefits such as stormwater management, heat island reduction, air and water quality improvement, and biodiversity enhancements. Among these techniques, are green roofs, green walls, grid permeable pavement, bio-retention basins, constructed wetlands, and infiltration trenches. Although the benefits of these techniques are significant, their use is still limited and not widespread because the hydraulic characteristics of the materials involved in their construction are often unknown. Most of these NBS has the soil, or any porous media, as the main layer. In this way, the definition of the hydraulic properties of the porous media involved in the construction will help designers, researchers, and practitioners to choose the best materials for the purpose. In this way, this study will explore the main methods to define the hydraulic properties of a porous media, both in situ and in the laboratory, comparing the accuracy of the results achieved, time-consumg, data measurement, and boundary conditions.
Mitigation strategies in densely urbanized contexts: the case study of a historical district in Naples
Authors: Mastellone M , Ascione F , Bianco N , Iovane T , Manniti G , Mauro G M
Published: June 2023

The design of our cities, their planning, and management must be increasingly oriented towards sustainability, identifying solutions that can systemically address problems on a city scale, namely urban heat islands, rainwater runoff, storms, and acoustic issues. This study begins by evaluating the impact of a green area on pedestrian comfort in the historical center of Naples, employing an experimental and numerical approach. Temperature, relative humidity, and CO2 concentration were measured at three significant points in a historical quarter in “Chiaia” district (Naples): a) in the center of the square “Piazza del Martiri” in the sun, b) in the center of the same square in the shade, and c) in the shade of the vegetation, under the effect of transpiration of deep trees. Then, these measures are used for the calibration of a numerical model developed in an environmental analysis software. The numerical approach has been used to predict the impact of possible mitigation scenarios, by increasing the vegetation and varying the density of the canopy, using non-white cool materials for the urban surfaces and for the facades and roofs of the surrounding historical buildings, and adding fountains. These strategies have a positive effect on urban temperatures and outdoor comfort, in densely urbanized contexts. The findings are finally used to identify the best design solutions, to improve pedestrian comfort and reduce the urban heat, without affecting the historical value of the urban district.
Analysis of the legislative and regulatory framework of CO2 capture, transport and storage systems in targeted European countries
Authors: Polyzou O , Oikonomou Th I , Karytsas S , Karytsas C , Martelli E , Wakaa A , Garbal V , Amro K , Casaban J , Güner M S , Türk S , De Weireld G
Published: June 2023

The installation and operation of infrastructures for carbon capture, transport and storage of CO2 to reduce CO2 emissions from power plants and carbon-intensive industries, is of major importance to fulfil the targets for the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions. The industrial sector is considered a major contributor to CO2 emissions. Carbon dioxide Capture and geological Storage (CCS) is currently the only technology considered to be able to directly decarbonise industrial facilities such as cement, petrochemical, and steel industries, without requiring a complete rethinking of the industrial sectors. Although CCS technologies contribute to climate change mitigation, the number of CCS installations constructed in Europe is weaker than expected, among others, due to several aspects of the CCS legal framework implementation and legal gaps. For this purpose, the MOF4AIR European project performed an overall assessment of the legislative and regulatory framework in the EU on the capture, transport and storage systems of CO2. This paper presents the results of the assessment; an analysis of the legislative and regulatory conditions in MOF4AIR participating countries; a comparison between the examined countries on the legislative framework and a set of recommendations for the improvement of the legal framework.
Towards the digitalization and automation of circular and sustainable construction and demolition waste management – project RECONMATIC
Authors: Koroxenidis E , Karanafti A , Tsikaloudaki K , Theodosiou T
Published: June 2023

The construction sector is responsible for a large part of CO2 emissions, consumption of resources and generation of waste globally. Although the importance of construction and demolition waste management in a circular and sustainable way has been acknowledged on an academic and policy level, there are still steps needed to be taken both in terms of expanding the use of such principles in waste management frameworks but also in terms of increasing their efficiency through the digitalization and automation of their processes. This article provides a presentation of the RECONMATIC project, a Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Action project, that aims to develop novel tools, technologies and methodologies that can contribute in such a manner in multiple construction phases and project types or material and product life cycle stages.
Sustainable practices and green policies in airports: the case of airport of Thessaloniki Makedonia
Authors: Andreopoulou Z , Gkantalidou S
Published: June 2023

The research examines the green practices and sustainable policy actions in airports. The case study, the airport of Thessaloniki, is located by the seashore of Thermaikos Gulf and has been upgraded with a new terminal recently. We study how sustainable practices, eco friendly actions and green policies are accomplished in this airport. Other green airports and their practices are discussed. Further, we register polluting factors and activities aiming to reduce footprint in the airport Makedonia. At the end, we provide a model description of the “green route” of a passenger with the green points in the airport.
Hygrothermal Performance of Adobe Structures
Authors: Heracleous C , Panagiotou R , Ioannou I , Michael A , Philokyprou M
Published: June 2023

Vernacular architecture incorporates many cooling and heating passive design strategies related to the structural envelope, the different architectural arrangements and the way of living of the inhabitants. Adobe walls are considered to be high thermal mass masonries, as they have the ability to store thermal energy. The high thermal inertia of these materials regulates indoor temperature variations through considerable time lags, thus contributing to the improvement of thermal comfort conditions. This study deals with the environmental behaviour of an adobe historic building in the rural area of Nicosia, Cyprus. The aim of this study is the investigation of the hygrothermal performance of the external adobe masonry walls of the structure under study. For this purpose, in-situ long-term monitoring is currently being carried out, focusing on the indoor and outdoor environmental conditions of a south wall of a room which has two exposed surfaces, the north towards the street and the south towards a courtyard. The south wall is being monitored with temperature/moisture sensors, installed at various locations along its thickness and height. In situ monitoring is complemented with laboratory measurements of the thermophysical (thermal conductivity, porosity, and sorptivity) properties of the main masonry material (adobes). Rising damp height, time of wetness, thermal inertia and decrement factor have all been calculated based on the laboratory and in-situ measurements. The results are analysed in terms of existing standards and analytical equations. The findings of this research may be used to evaluate the overall thermal performance of historic adobe buildings and the effectiveness of adobe walls in the improvement of indoor comfort conditions.
An environmental quality assessment of office buildings: The impact of glass façade on internal and external users
Authors: Muraj Iva , Ostojić Stanka , Veršić Zoran
Published: June 2023

People are spending an increasing amount of time inside buildings. Working spaces have a very strong influence on peoples’ activities and well-being. Therefore, the quality of indoor environment is important for all occupants, as it can contribute to illness and lack of productivity. An increasing number of office buildings with glass facades impact not only internal occupants, but also external users who spend time around those buildings. This paper aims to assess the interaction of internal and external users and the glass façades of office buildings in Zagreb, Croatia. The focus of this research is not only physical parameters of glass facade: materials, proportions, colours, thermal and acoustic characteristics, airtightness, and its impact on occupants. Also, the relationship between inside and outside is essential for spatial awareness. Having access to views of the outside and providing natural light are important for occupants’ well-being. Solar shading system, anti-glare protection, the tint of the glass, transparency and translucency of glass façade also significantly affect external users and their perception of the building. The graduate course ‘Architecture and Technology 1’ at the Faculty of Architecture, University of Zagreb, aims to educate master students on assessing the environmental performance of existing buildings. Analysing examples of built office buildings with glass facades and the results of student survey of internal and external users of those buildings, this paper discusses working conditions, indoor and outdoor atmosphere, technical solutions, as well as architectural approaches in accordance with implementation of principles of sustainable development. The results of this research should provide useful information on users’ satisfaction, well-being, and requirements for future application in glass facade design for office buildings.
Challenges to upscale earth block masonry in Western Europe from a life cycle perspective
Authors: Pelicaen E , Novais Passarelli R , Knapen E
Published: June 2023

Earth block masonry (EBM) has the potential to be reintegrated as an environmentally sound alternative to conventional masonry systems. However, applications with EBM are rare in highly industrialised contexts. Therefore, overcoming the obstacles impeding its entrance into mainstream construction is critical to enable upscaling. This study aims to identify the priority challenges of EBM in Western Europe. Literature on the barriers to upscale earth construction and EBM was reviewed and verified by interviewing earth block manufacturers in Belgium, France, Germany, and Switzerland. The challenges were grouped into six categories: technical, environmental, economic, sociological, political, and organisational. The data were analysed from a life cycle perspective in light of the transition to a circular built environment. The results show a discrepancy between research and practice to meet the current needs and ambitions of the manufacturers. Despite being largely unexplored, knowledge of end-of-life (EOL) scenarios may catalyse the upscaling of EBM. This outcome implies the importance of integrating the EOL phase in future studies on the barriers of EBM and matching research topics with the demands from practice following a multidisciplinary approach.
Assessing the sustainability of traditional building materials incorporating industrial by-products using LCA
Authors: Liapis A , Stefanidou M , Konstantinidis G
Published: June 2023

The sustainable character of traditional building materials (lime, pozzolan) is usually considered self-evident due to their local character and proved durability. However, since there is a growing interest for validation of sustainability claims (through market tools such as EPDs), the comprehensive quantification of the sustainable character of a product is a priority for the construction sector, especially for products that combine traditional materials with alternative additions (such as industrial by-products). In this study, lime-based binding systems that incorporate industrial by-products of perlite production, are being assessed in terms of their sustainability potential. More specifically, the environmental aspect is considered and calculated by following the methodology of Life Cycle Assessment. To depict as accurately as possible the local conditions of production and application, an effort was made for data to be obtained mainly from Greek construction industry and from either experimental or on-site applications from the Laboratory of Building Materials of AUTH. Results are really promising regarding the environmental profile of combined systems, rendering them a viable and efficient solution for sustainable construction design.
Follow the shade: detection of optimally shaded pedestrian paths within the historic city center of Thessaloniki
Authors: Vartholomaios Aristotelis
Published: June 2023

Both the EU Green Deal and the UN SDGs consider the transition to sustainable urban mobility a key priority. Designing cities and public spaces to accommodate pedestrians and not cars has been a core strategy of sustainable urban mobility since the 1990s. Yet, the quality of pedestrian traffic is highly dependent on outdoor meteorological conditions which may encourage or discourage walking. The ongoing global climate change and the local Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect have a combined adverse effect on pedestrian heat stress and associated health risks. Increased heat stress is a significant disincentive to walking and can threaten urban life, especially during summer in hot climates, such as the Mediterranean. Humans have the capacity to adapt to hot weather through physiological responses and changes in clothing, activity and behavior. Pedestrians walking during a hot day will likely pick a comfortable route, i.e. one that it is shaded and easily traversable. This is identified visually at the street level, which makes planning longer comfortable routes in the urban environment a challenging task. The paper presents an easily reproducible methodology for generating optimal pedestrian paths with respect to shading and terrain slope. The methodology is applied on the historic city center of Thessaloniki, Greece. The study utilizes QGIS and the UMEP plugin to generate time series of urban shadow raster data and then calculate the least cost path from any starting point to any destination within the city center. The results are then compared to routes generated by conventional shortest path algorithms.
A holistic analysis of sustainability metrics at an urban district scale
Authors: Ehlers N , Schulze K , Zong C , Vollmer M , Schroeter B , Lang W
Published: June 2023

The presented work provides an overview of sustainability dimensions relevant to urban planning at an urban district level along multiple ressource axis. An analysis of innovative urban development projects and a literature review on city district sustainability were coupled with city grading schemes. Interviews with municipal stakeholders allowed to determine the extent to which these dimensions are already integrated into planning practices, and if not, what the barriers to the implementation of sustainable solutions are, and what the requirements for the development of new tools and methods to enable a holistically approach to sustainable planning are. Based to this, current planning practices prioritize a reduction of building energy demand and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions during the use phase, with limited or no consideration of dimensions such as GHG from building construction, rainwater retention or urban green for optimizing urban microclimates. However, awareness for such dimensions is rising: this can be seen in pilot projects where the scope of assessment was expanded to include for instance aspects of mobility and rainwater management. It furthermore shows that an approach to optimise planning procedures along multiple dimensions is still absent from many urban planning processes, even though mindsets seem to be shifting gradually.
Key Performance Indicators for Sustainable Mediterranean Buildings and Cities
Authors: Droutsa Kalliopi G. , Balaras Constantinos A. , Dascalaki Elena G. , Kontoyiannidis Simon , Moro Andrea , Bazzan Elena
Published: June 2023

Cities have emerged to become a major challenge and at the same time can evolve to an instrument for supporting the global sustainability efforts. Cities consume 78% of the world’s energy and produce more than 60% of greenhouse gas emissions and 70% of global waste. In the Mediterranean region, two thirds of the population live in urban areas and urban population it is expected to increase to about 170 million in the countries on the northern shore and to over 300 million to the south and east by 2050. Thus, urban sustainability has become increasingly mainstream in policymaking towards a competitive, secure and decarbonized built environment. In order to promote sustainability efforts, local governments must have the capacity to measure it. Various sustainability methodologies and rating systems have been developed including different performance indicators, like the energy use intensity, carbon emissions, smart readiness, potable water consumption and recycled materials. However, most of them are following a building scale approach, which does not fully exploit the potential for synergies that groups of buildings might offer. The Sustainable MED Cities project, is an on-going effort aiming to provide an easy to use, harmonized methodology and an open-source software to support the assessment, planning and overall and monitoring effective measures to improve sustainability of the built environment at city scale. The work is a collaborative work in the Mediterranean basin among Greece, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Spain, and Tunisia and capitalizes CESBAMED, an existing transnational methodology and assessment tool for buildings and neighbourhoods in European Mediterranean countries. This work reviews the common method and tools for the assessment and the final sustainability rating score. Emphasis is given on the proposed key performance indicators that cover all fields of sustainability, at building, neighbourhood and city scale.
A Spatial Analysis Methodology for the examination of Solar, Wind and Sky View Conditions in Traditional Squares of the Eastern Mediterranean Region
Authors: Savvides A , Malaktou E , Philokyprou M , Michael A
Published: June 2023

The study of microclimatic conditions, their ability to form determinant parameters of urban morphologies and their impact on the choices for the social interaction of dwellers, has been of increased interest to researchers over the last decades. In this context, spatial analysis methods for assessing the microclimate in public spaces, which can be exploited as means for improving the quality of life in the built environment, are increasingly used. In the framework of this study a spatial analysis methodology of solar, wind and sky view considerations was followed involving public open spaces, i.e., squares, in traditional settlements of Cyprus. Based on this investigation, the study presented herein focused on the spatial examination of the solar, wind and sky view conditions in three typical traditional case-study squares in different climatic regions of Cyprus, pertaining to the Mediterranean climate. The purpose of the study is to discern the potentials and limitations of various traditional built form structured outlines with respect to climate-conscious design, but more importantly to present qualitative comfort assessment tools which allow a spatial – visual perception of the parameters affecting thermal comfort. The assessment methodology which has been applied is based on seasonal image processing techniques of solar, wind and sky view factor parameters. The resulting thermal comfort maps open the road for a major advance in assessing outdoor open spaces through bioclimatic principles and can be used as tool by architects and planners to identify outdoor public spaces that require design interventions or as an initial design step in implementing new climate-based outdoor public spaces.
SolVis: A pilot study to facilitate understanding of real-time solar energy production through energy visualizations in learning environments
Authors: Zachrisson L , Stahre Wästberg B , Engström A , Beneduce L , Larsson C , Thuvander L
Published: June 2023

The transition to a carbon neutral society requires actions on all levels of society. Hereby, renewable energy - especially considering the current European energy crisis – such as solar energy will play an increasing role. To promote a more extensive use of solar energy and thus contributing to a faster energy transition, it is valuable to engage all citizens, not least children. How can real-time visualization of solar energy production in learning environments contribute to increased understanding of energy production and consumption? Educational environments can be a powerful platform to cultivate an interest in more environmentally and sustainable behaviour at an early age. However, energy is intangible, abstract, and difficult to grasp for non-experts. Digital tools incorporating energy visualization may be able to facilitate an increased understanding of energy units and measurements. The City of Gothenburg, Sweden, has the ambition to place photovoltaics on all roofs of schools and kindergartens, a process that is already in progress. The solar energy production is measured in real-time and only used for building operation management. This paper presents a study that develops a concept for a digital and educational visualization tool for school children aged 9 to 12, with the goal to engage, facilitate a lasting learning outcome, and awaken curiosity in solar energy. A prototype of a real-time visualization tool was developed, which in a playful way visualises the solar electricity production of the school property and compares it to the energy consumption of everyday activities, displayed on a centrally placed screen in the school. It was installed in four pilot schools and evaluated with 233 pupils. Results indicate several potentials of the visualization: to communicate local solar energy production to pupils, triggering thoughts, ideas, and a will to continue to learn more about solar energy production.
Integration of Indoor Air Quality to the Life Cycle Assessment of Buildings
Authors: Bhoonah Rachna , Maury-Micolier Alice , Jolliet Olivier
Published: June 2023

Pollutants – gases or particles – are emitted in indoor air by different sources such as building materials, furniture, occupants and their activities. Spending over 80 % of our time indoors, we are directly exposed to substances that are potentially harmful to our health. Through measurements and simulation tools, the concentrations of these substances in air can be evaluated. However, today, Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is not taken into account in the Life Cycle Assessment of buildings (LCA). The aim of this study is to calculate and compare the damage of IAQ on occupants’ health with the damage over the whole building life cycle, expressed in the same unit as in LCA: Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALY), in order to propose a decision-making tool. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted by building materials or furniture and then are assimilated by occupants. A model describing their emissions including unknown or uncertain parameters is calibrated using existing emission data. Secondly, emission data on occupants and their activities are used to simulate indoor concentrations of VOCs. The assimilation and consequent health damages are then calculated. According to a case study of an office, health damages related to the emissions of gypsum-covered walls were of 1.32 x 10−6DALY.year−1, about 2 orders of magnitude lower than those of the other life stages of the building (from fabrication and transport of products, construction, use, until end-of-life processes) which correspond to 1.2 to 4.5 x 10−3DALY.year−1. Those related to regular office activities were of 3.7 x 10−26DALY.year−1. This methodology can help in eco-design of buildings by identifying main sources of impacts. It can help to choose between materials or to dimension the ventilation for the evacuation of pollutants.
SWOT analysis for non-formal education through environmental volunteering involvement in Non-Profit Organizations
Authors: Stylianou M , Gavriel A , Papamichael I , Voukkali I , Loizia P , Vardopoulos I , Zorpas A A
Published: June 2023

In the last ten years of economic and fiscal crisis, Non-Profit organizations across Europe provide a very important service through volunteering in relation to environmental education. Their role is mainly attributed to the use of non-formal education practices, which take place in schools and in local communities. Non-formal environmental education deals with a large audience and is focusing on increasing awareness, knowledge, skills, and actions of individuals and groups targeting environmental sustainability. It requires incorporating specific methodologies that cover environmental education objectives, various teaching methods, and evaluation techniques. The involvement of volunteers from different educational backgrounds creates the need for specific management and strategies. To determine the challenges and benefits of volunteering in Cyprus, a SWOT analysis was performed. Data was collected from various non-governmental organizations (NGOs) through questionnaires. Data collected revealed interesting and valuable results. Volunteers coming as placement from another European country for 3-12 months are highly committed, dedicated, and enthusiastic in relation to the weak youth voluntary participation of locals. Nevertheless, economic, social, and environmental opportunities indicators were collected which can be used for designing and improving future strategies. Furthermore, data showed that many Non-profits remain underfunded, understaffed, and unequipped. According to the survey, the non-formal education sector provided important support for the formal education system, leading to improved vertical integration from international policy to regional implementation. The findings show the potential of the informal sector to develop synergies in which the governmental sector may lack the ability to provide adequate educational resources to schools and communities.
Supporting policymakers by Integrated Social Sustainability Assessments (ISSA) - case study of Furuset area in Oslo
Authors: Akbarinejad T , Temeljotov Salaj A. , Johansen A
Published: June 2023

Aspirations to improve health equity and well-being, as well as the sustainability of the environment, are interconnected. Therefore, it is imperative that the public health system, environmental science, and other sectors work together to achieve these goals. For a city to be sustainable and to take into account the well-being of its citizens, an assessment tool is essential for evaluating and achieving sustainable objectives. One way to measure sustainability and well-being is to assess the performance of social, environmental, and economic principles. The authors proposed and developed a framework titled Integrated Social Sustainability Assessment (ISSA). The paper presents one of the results of an application of this tool in one of the Oslo neighbourhoods. This study describes how this result can support policymakers and urban authorities about pressing problems of each area/neighbourhood through the lens of citizens and allow them to make necessary environmental changes in order to improve citizens’ health and well-being. By achieving the outcomes, we will be able to develop sustainable strategies toward sustainable transformation at the neighbourhood level.
Sustainable decision-making game for the next generation of smart citizens
Authors: Senior C , Temeljotov Salaj A , Cepuran A , Gabriela Diaconu M , Johansen A
Published: June 2023

Cities are increasingly facing the consequences of climate change, it is therefore urgent to take actions to reach the targets set by the UN Sustainable Development Goals. By 2050, 70% of the world population will live in cities, engaging citizens in the sustainable transformation of the built environment is crucial. Moreover, children and youth require specific attention to secure their active participation in the process. ByMaker is a serious game developed to facilitate the participation of children and youth in sustainable urban transformation. The objective of ByMaker is to improve the knowledge about sustainability and raise awareness on the importance of making balanced decisions. While the environmental dimension is already well covered and assimilated by children and youth, the social and economic ones remain more challenging to understand. The method uses a 3D map of the concrete city, interactive elements of popular landmarks and friendly characters of local historical figures. The players are invited to experiment multiple combination of choices corresponding to different scenarios of urban development such as road and transportation, urban nature, residential buildings and public space. The impact of their decisions on the overall sustainability of their city is presented as visual feedback. Scenarios in the game focus on the realization of SDGs’ ambitions and objectives. The vision is both mid-term oriented, addressing the climate urgency and long-term focused to anticipate future needs. Furthermore, ByMaker presents innovative technological solutions to play with. The game was tested in three classes in primary schools in Trondheim, Norway. The feedback guided the further development and improvements such as better visualization, interaction features and simplified scenario descriptions. By playing with ByMaker, children succeeded to learn, experiment, and create their sustainable city.
A transnational study on the determinants of social acceptance of carbon capture, transport, and storage (CCS)
Authors: Karytsas Spyridon , Polyzou Olympia , Oikonomou Theoni I. , Karytsas Constantine
Published: June 2023

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) infrastructure is important for the fulfilment of GHG emissions mitigation targets. Despite its contribution to combating climate change, CCS remains a controversial technology often facing public resistance, making social acceptance a prerequisite for its further development. Hence, the MOF4AIR European project explores social issues related to CCS. A literature review was performed identifying the factors influencing CCS infrastructure social acceptance, while the research gaps concerning the themes under investigation were detected. In this context, the innovative elements this study aims to provide are: carrying out a transnational analysis in seven countries (Belgium, France, Greece, Italy, Norway, Turkey, and the UK), and examining factors (procedural and distributional justice, public engagement actions) that have not been adequately studied concerning CCS local acceptance. A questionnaire survey was carried out through an online platform in the seven countries, in January-February 2022; a representative sample of 1775 citizens (approx. 225 / country) was collected. The results of the survey indicated that the factors with a statistically significant effect on local acceptance of CCS infrastructure are country of origin, gender, age, self-perceived knowledge of CCS, attitudes towards negative consequences and potential benefits, trust of stakeholders and institutions, and procedural and distributional justice.
Value capture from low embodied emissions of buildings - a business model innovation perspective
Authors: Tellnes L G F , Koch C , Torgersen M , Kjøniksen A-L
Published: June 2023

The transition to a society with low emissions has led to several intensives for decreasing operational energy and the environmental impact of buildings. The embodied impacts from manufacturing materials have been shown to increase in relative importance as the operational energy efficiency has increased. Several case studies have shown various technical solutions which can reduce embodied carbon emissions. But is this reduction good for business? There are several building projects that have achieved low embodied emissions, but these are often in segments of premium private clients or green public procurement where additional motivation such as reputation and long-term viability is in place. However, with the transition to a low emission society, there is a need to include all types of building markets. This study aims to find business model innovation opportunities with reduced embodied emissions in building projects where the clients have low motivation beyond reducing costs. The approach is through action research with a Norwegian contractor seeking new opportunities while keeping the main competitive advantage. The research starts with a case that could reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions, and includes the potential savings from green loans to find potentials to capture value from reducing emissions. The results show that criteria exist for green loans based on reducing operational and embodied emissions. Future studies are however need to make an integrated assessment on the potential value captured from these green loans.
Adaptive thermal comfort model and active occupant behaviour in a mixed-mode apartment. A synergy to sustainability.
Authors: Drakou A , Sofos F , Karakasidis T E , Tsangrassoulis A
Published: June 2023

The adaptive comfort model was mainly developed for naturally ventilated buildings, but few recent studies explore its applicability in mixed-mode buildings. The present study uses the adaptive thermal comfort model (EN15251) in a dynamic thermal simulation (EnergyPlus) parametric analysis of a mixed-mode apartment, in an attempt to determine the energy savings. Two simulation models were created. The first one makes full use of mechanical heating and cooling systems when the required temperature is not reached. The second one adopts a hybrid approach, resembling the existing operation of residential buildings in Greece. The primary regulator of the indoor conditions is the occupant through his/her interaction with the building shell and only when this is not effective the mechanical systems are activated. The internal thermal gains in both models were determined based on the detailed recording of the real conditions in a typical apartment. Many design parameters (window size, thermal insulation position and thickness, orientation, airtightness, glazing properties and shading) along with different occupant behavioural patterns (derived from a questionnaire campaign) have been examined in sensitivity analysis. Machine learning algorithms, such as the Random Forest, were also incorporated to identify most important parameters. Results indicate that airtightness, occupant behaviour and shading are the most important parameters for primary energy consumption for cooling, while airtightness, window size and shading for the total of heating and cooling primary energy consumption.