bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A data-driven framework for building energy benchmarking and renovation decision-making support in Sweden
Authors: Penaka Santhan Reddy , Feng Kailun , Rebbling Anders , Azizi Shoaib , Lu Weizhuo , Olofsson Thomas
Published: June 2023

In Europe, the buildings sector is responsible for 40% of energy use and more than 30% of buildings are older than 50 years. Due to ageing, a large number of houses require energy-efficient renovation to meet building energy performance standards and the national energy efficiency target. Although Swedish house owners are willing to improve energy efficiency, there is a need for a dedicated platform providing decision-making knowledge for house owners to benchmark their buildings. This paper proposes a data-driven framework for building energy renovation benchmarking as part of an energy advisory service development for the Västerbotten region, Sweden. This benchmark model facilitates regional homeowners to benchmark their building energy performance relative to the national target and similar neighbourhood buildings. Specifically, based on user input data such as energy use, location, construction year, floor area, etc., this model benchmarks the user’s building performance using two benchmark references i.e., 1) Sweden’s target to reduce buildings by 50% energy use intensity (EUI) by 50% by 2050 compared to the average EUI in 1995, 2) comparing user building with the most relevant peer group of buildings, using energy performance certificates (EPC) big data. Several building groups will be classified based on influential factors that affect building energy use. Hence, this benchmark provides decision-making supportive knowledge to homeowners e.g., whether they need to perform an energy-efficient renovation. In the future, this methodology will be extended and implemented in the digital platform to provide helpful insights to decide on suitable EEMs. This work is an integral part of project AURORAL aims to deliver an interoperable, open, and integrated digital platform, demonstrated by cross-domain applications through large-scale pilots in 8 regions in Europe, including Västerbotten.
Smart Energy Performance Assessment Platform and next generation Energy Performance Certificate of buildings
Authors: Polychroni E , Bololia M , Androutsopoulos A
Published: June 2023

After 10 years of track record, the current Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) schemes across the EU face several challenges which have led to not fully accomplish their initial objectives: lack of accuracy, a gap between theoretical and real consumption patterns, absence of proper protocols for inclusion of smart and novel technologies, little convergence across EU schemes, lack of trust in the market and very little user awareness related to energy efficiency. The objective of this paper is to show a holistic methodology for energy performance assessment and certification of buildings that can overcome the above mentioned challenges. The paper presents a Smart Energy Performance Assessment Platform which makes use of the most advanced techniques in dynamic and automated simulation modelling, big data analysis and machine learning, inverse modelling for the estimation of potential energy savings and economic viability check. The reliability, accuracy, user-friendliness and cost-effectiveness of the methodology is checked and validated through 15 case studies in 5 European countries. Additionally, a new useful, enriched and quite user-friendly Energy Performance Certificate format is presented which has been accepted by various target groups, i.e., building users and building related professionals, policy makers. This way, a universal web calculation platform is developed which, together with a new EPC template strongly support the EU goals for more reliable, uniform, and informative EPCs.
Global residential scenarios towards low energy and material demands
Authors: Mastrucci A , Ruijven B van
Published: June 2023

Transition to low energy and material demand (LEMD) for buildings is key to reach climate change mitigation and sustainability targets but will require unprecedent technological and social transformations. Scenarios addressing LEMD transformations for the global building sector are still largely unexplored. In this study, we assess global residential energy and material demands until 2050 for three alternative sustainable development pathways (SDPs): Economy-driven innovation (EI), driven by technology and energy efficiency; Resilient communities (RC), a post-growth scenario centred around local communities and behavioural change; and Managing the global commons (MC), with strong global institutions and high electrification. We use the bottom-up framework MESSAGEix-Buildings, soft-linked to the integrated assessment model MESSAGEix-GLOBIOM, to model the three SDPs for the global residential sector. We show that the RC scenario entails the highest potential towards reducing energy and material demand driven by behavioural change. The EI and MC scenarios are characterized by relatively higher energy and material demand levels and might require additional efforts on the supply-side to reduce total building-related operational and construction greenhouse gases emissions. This study can support decision making on strategies towards sustainability and zero-energy and emission targets in the buildings sector.
Multi-Criteria Optimization for the Decision Making in Building Envelope Thermal Design
Authors: Kilis V , Ploskas N , Panaras G
Published: June 2023

The increase of energy utilization reinforced the need of reducing the primary energy consumption based on fossil fuels and the limitation of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to the atmosphere. Such goals aim at the provision of affordable and generally clean energy for the citizens. However, the final decision making is hard to be achieved, due not only to the multitude variety of such proposed technologies, but also to the consideration of different criteria and scenarios, that in many cases are conflicting with each other. This paper deals with the optimization of the building envelope design considering thermal insulation, economic, and environmental aspects. The Life Cycle Assessment perspective is implemented for the data of the environmental criterion, focusing on the CO2 emissions and the cumulative energy demand. The decision making refers not only to the selection of the appropriate thermal insulation material and its width, but also to the choice of the window frame material. In that way, Mathematical Programming (MP) models for the optimization of such criteria were developed. The General Algebraic Modeling System (GAMS) was used to model these problems and the BARON solver was used to solve them. The respective MP models include mixed integer nonlinear programming problems, multiple objective functions, as well as multi-criteria techniques such as goal programming. According to the results, the increase of the envelope thermal protection implies that the economic and environmental costs are higher, displaying the importance of criteria compensation. For smoothing the conflicting criteria, a weighting sensitivity analysis was conducted, showing that reference optimal values are formed for certain ranges of weights, elaborating the framework of decision-making without having to precisely prescribe them beforehand. All in all, the use of the optimization models can improve and facilitate the building design process by analyzing the advantages and drawbacks of the various materials/technologies and allowing the comparative evaluation of the considered alternatives.
High-resolution and localized parametric embodied impact calculator of PV systems
Authors: Galimshina Alina , Hollberg Alexander , McCarty Justin , Waibel Christoph , Schlueter Arno
Published: June 2023

Buildings are responsible for a large amount of greenhouse gas emissions in the world. In order to decarbonize the electricity grid and reduce the environmental impact of the building stock, photovoltaic panels can be installed. However, in order to assess the environmental impact of PVs, the whole life cycle has to be considered including embodied emissions. Several options for photovoltaics exist on the market or are under development including silicon-based panels, thin films, and third generation panels. Currently, many configurations of the panels exist making it difficult to estimate the embodied impact. The goal of this paper is to close this gap by providing a parametric PV carbon calculator for designers and decision-makers. In this study, the embodied impact of different PV types and configurations is assessed. First, the life cycle inventories data and bill of quantities for different generations’ panel types are gathered. Second, life cycle impact assessment is performed. The results of the analysis are presented in a form of a software application allowing users to select the panel’s composition, e.g., frame and glass type, cell type, encapsulant, etc. The developed application will assist in understanding the impact of choices made in regards to PV systems and will support engineers and architects in the selection of the photovoltaic panels from embodied impact perspective.
Using data-driven indoor temperature setpoints in energy simulations of existing buildings: a Swedish case study
Authors: Teli D , Dalenbäck JO , Psomas T , Langer S
Published: June 2023

Building energy analyses of large samples or building stocks commonly use National building stock temperature averages in their calculations. However, such averages may not be representative of the conditions in a specific building type and may mask meaningful information found at building or dwelling level. Analysis of indoor temperature data from the Swedish housing stock showed that 25% out of approximately 1000 dwellings were heated at a temperature ≥23°C in wintertime. If indoor temperature management is considered as a potential energy saving measure for the building stock it may be more effective to explore implementation in these specific dwellings, than considering average temperature reduction across the entire building stock. This however would require more detailed input data on indoor temperatures. Would such an approach be worthwhile? To answer this question, two types of Swedish multifamily buildings were simulated with i) business-as-usual scenarios and ii) setpoints based on indoor temperature data from the last Swedish National Survey. The study shows that using data-driven, dwelling-specific indoor temperatures could lead to more effective decision making on indoor temperature management, targeting buildings and dwellings where temperature reduction would most likely cause the least compromise on comfort. Such a strategy however should be complementary to a wider plan of improved energy efficiency measures across the building stock.
Wintertime patterns of residential electricity use and indoor temperature in the composite climate of India
Authors: Gupta Rajat , Gregg Matt , Antony Anu
Published: June 2023

Wintertime electricity use in India has received little attention due to the growth of residential air conditioning (AC) in the summer and monsoon seasons. This paper combines monitoring (time-series) and survey (contextual) data to examine the wintertime pattern of daily electricity current, indoor temperature, and relative humidity profiles across a sample of 64 dwellings in the city of Hyderabad representing the composite climate of India. Monitoring data were recorded for 31 days (December 2021 with a mean daily outdoor temperature of 25°C) using a CT clamp meter and Bluetooth enabled sensors. Contextual data covered dwelling and household characteristics, and use of appliances. The winter peak period of electricity use was found to occur from 6:30-10:30 in the morning, likely to be for hot water (geysers) and cooking. This is different to the late evening/night-time peak observed in the summer due to use of air conditioning (AC). Only one dwelling showed potential signs of using space heating. Higher electricity use aligned with lower peak temperatures in some homes particularly in the high-income group, indicating the potential use of AC during winter. The wintertime morning electricity peak in India could be managed using thermal stores in geysers through pre-heating which could also offer demand response opportunities.
The energy refurbishment of typical school buildings in Cyprus following an integrated methodology
Authors: Kyritsi E , Kyriakidis A , Philippou M , Stephanou R , Savva M
Published: June 2023

School buildings account for a significant percentage of public buildings in Cyprus. Most of them have been constructed before the establishment of any energy efficiency regulations, constituting thus, aged and high-consuming premises. Therefore, energy refurbishment of school buildings can have a significant impact on the overall energy consumption of the public building sector contributing thus, to the European Union targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving energy efficiency, and increasing the use of Renewable Energy Sources (RES). Energy refurbishment of school buildings should focus not only on minimizing energy consumption and increasing renewable energy production but also on improving thermal comfort and indoor conditions, to create a healthier and more productive environment for the pupils. In addition to that, actions regarding the enhancement of sustainable mobility are also considered to fulfil the requirements of the 2018/844/EU directive. This article presents the retrofit solutions proposed for the energy refurbishment of a high school building in Nicosia, Cyprus in the framework of a European-funded project aiming to create Nearly Zero Energy school buildings and to promote sustainable mobility. Normative requirements, operational conditions, and indoor environmental issues based on in-situ observations were considered for the selection of the most appropriate interventions. The proposed measures are expected to reduce the primary energy consumption of the building by 33.908 kWh/a, equal to 55%, whilst significantly improving the Indoor Environment Quality (IEQ).
Hydromorphic analysis of urban areas transformations: the case study of the Matera city
Authors: Ermini R , Albano R
Published: June 2023

The paper analyzes the urban context of Matera city, adopting an approach based on the concept of watershed, interpreted in its dynamic meaning. This approach exceeds the classical urban planning analysis by focusing on the interaction between the morphological characteristics of the territory, the land uses and their human-made changes and the consequent hydrological response and surface runoff. The morphological description combined with the classic urban representation that looks at the types of intervention implemented (permeable, impervious, green, land uses) drive into the understanding of the urban and territorial transformation processes responses. Furthermore the urban evolution analysis for different time period can provide a time-based interpretation of the transformations impacts providing useful information for future planning of the entire area of Matera.
Sustainable and aesthetic improvement of highways through multisensory landscape design: the case of the urban part of P.A.TH.E. in the Prefecture of Attica
Authors: Sinou M , Skalkou K , Nourentini I , Roubaki M , Lampropoulos S
Published: June 2023

The sustainable improvement of motor highways that drive through or surround the big cities are considered as a step towards the reinforcement of the green network of a city. This improvement can have an impact in several aspects of the issue such as the aesthetic improvement of the roads, environmental benefits that include noise and air pollution reduction and improvement of the microclimate. Finally, generally design principles are addressed such as visual perception of highways. The study methodology focuses on two main aspects, literature review of the subsect matter of sustainable improvement of highways and the design proposal of a case study. The latter consists of a landscape, mainly vegetation design study undertaken in the urban section of the P.A.TH.E. Motorway from the section after the Metamorfosi A/C junction and up to the Aphidnon Toll Station in the Prefecture of Attica.
Experiments on Microclimatically adapt a courtyard to climate change
Authors: Naboni Emanuele , Siani Rossella , Turrini Marcello , Touloupaki Elefteria , Gherri Barbara , Luca Francesco De
Published: June 2023

Climate change impacts biodiversity, the use of public spaces, as well as building energy demand, and health in Mediterranean cities. The courtyard is a common typology of private/public open space in the area, which, according to previous research, is substantially affected by climate change. The main reasons are to be found in limited ventilation and the significant amount of radiation received by upper surfaces. A preliminary microclimate, simulation-based evaluation of mitigation strategies to adapt and capitalize on climate changes is here performed through the assessment of a series of analyses using reference year 2020 and 2080. The study addresses a representative courtyard, San Sepolcro cloister (Parma, Italy). One mitigation strategy is explored, limiting direct solar radiation. The shading system, which reduces solar radiation, arises from a process of morphogenesis based on solar parameters and exploits a strategy with vertical structures typical of some cacti, following the biomimicry approach of imitating natural strategies. In this case, the imitation regards both form and function, as well as the generative process. The research was conducted through parametric and generative design in Rhino-Grasshopper and environmental analysis in ENVI-Met. The Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) was the reference index for the assessment of thermal comfort. The shading system allows for improving thermal comfort, through protection from the sun’s rays and the non-obstruction of the vertical ventilation of the courtyard.
Energy Retrofit of Public Educational Buildings and Sustainable Mobility: Case study in Crete
Authors: Heracleous C , Kyriakidis A , Stavrakakis G M. , Tziritas D , Bakirtzis D , Zografakis N , Pantelakis G , Drosou Z , Petrakis E , Savvaki P , Vitorou Z
Published: June 2023

The European Union, through the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive and the Energy Efficiency Directive, has been establishing requirements and expectations regarding energy savings and efficiency in buildings. Educational buildings comprise a significant part of public buildings that should lead the way in the energy retrofitting of existing building stock. The present study aims to create intelligent school complexes that will be energy upgraded to meet the need for reduced energy consumption in the public sector in order to comply with EU guidelines, optimize the sense of comfort, introduce the renewable energy and enhance sustainable mobility by creating electric charging stations for vehicles. Retrofitting approaches consider thermal insulation of the building envelope, replacement of heating and lighting system with more efficient ones and installation of building management system for the creation of an electronic application that will monitor the energy status of the building in real time and will train users in the proper use of new energy management technologies from RES. The overall objective of the project is to create Intelligent Buildings Standards of Nearly Zero Consumption which promote an overall ecological character of public buildings demonstrating their social role.
Connecting building density and vegetation to investigate synergies and trade-offs between thermal comfort and energy demand – a parametric study in the temperate climate of Germany
Authors: Reitberger R , Theilig K , Vollmer M , Takser I , Lang W
Published: June 2023

Climate change and increasing urbanization call for combined mitigation and adaptation measures. Therefore, this work shows a method to investigate affected aspects of urban space for their synergies and trade-offs. The focus lies on the interaction between building density and urban trees, as these are essential parameters for possible solutions. The combined, parametric simulation of indoor and outdoor spaces provides a more complete picture of the behavior of individual assessment aspects (e.g. indoor and outdoor thermal comfort, building energy demand). Overlaying the results allows us to identify interactions and to conclude on the effect of interventions such as building refurbishment. In this study, we apply the workflow to a generic neighborhood in Germany. Our results demonstrate a simultaneous behavior of indoor and outdoor thermal comfort, whereas there is a trade-off for heating energy demand. Increasing energy efficiency mitigated this trade-off in some density-green-space configurations. Our case study suggests the combination of green and gray interventions for achieving synergies that contribute to the sustainable transformation of the urban building stock. We conclude that during early planning phases, synergy potentials and trade-offs are already identifiable but context-specific, giving perspectives for further research in this area.
Adapting for shared use – evaluating the lifecycle carbon impact
Authors: Lundgren Rebecka , Kyrö Riikka , Olander Stefan
Published: June 2023

Vast amounts of resources extracted through the times are in today’s built environment, with only an estimated 20-30% of building material recycled or reused and the sector accounting for over 35% of the EU’s total waste generation. Buildings are also responsible for 25-40% of all global carbon dioxide emissions. Circular Economy (CE) refers to the better management of resources and waste by closing material and energy loops, as well as minimizing the material that enters the system to begin with. In the built environment context, adaptive reuse reduces the need for new construction through adapting existing buildings to new uses. Another way is to use existing space more efficiently, e.g., through co-location, sharing and flexible workspaces which all lead to higher utilisation rates. This study will assess the lifecycle carbon impact of an adaptive reuse project which aims for space efficiency through reconfiguring the spaces and upgrading and increasing the dimensions and accessibility of services. Three different lifecycle analyses (LCAs) are made using typical and conservative data manually, as well as one LCA tool, to compare how the choice of method impacts the LCA results. The main sources of impact within the system boundaries will also be explored, in order to understand the relationship between different lifecycle phases in an adaptive reuse project. The results can form a baseline for similar renovation projects which include space efficiency measures, as this project did in terms of sharing spaces. Future research will include comparing the results of this project with a minor renovation scenario for the same building, where space efficiency was not included. Less building work would lead to a lower impact per m2, however not necessarily per person as less people would be able to utilise the space.
The use and re-use of timber structure elements, within a waste hierarchy concept, as a tool towards circular economy for buildings
Authors: Psilovikos T A
Published: June 2023

Wood is the only natural renewable building material, produced by photosynthesis. It has the ability to preserve the stored carbon in its molecular structure as long as it remains within a structure. Timber dwellings are re-gaining recognition worldwide, especially in remote areas due to their aesthetic superiority, durability and harmony with the natural landscape. Research findings, as well as industrial operations indicate that timber buildings present beneficial environmental impacts, compared to other common building materials. Specifically, timber has substantial strength characteristics, low embodied energy, less CO2 emissions and also an easy and fast construction, combined with minimum disruption to the environment. Moreover, timber buildings have a high potential to reduce waste at site and ability for re-use, when designed for future ease of deconstruction, providing the repeated utilization of the used material, known as, the cascading concept. It is already recognized that successful waste management is a measure towards the containment of climate change. Using timber structures enhances the chances to accomplish the contemporary waste hierarchy concept, which can be implemented according to the application of Design for Deconstruction and Reuse (DfDR) concept, at an early stage. These waste management techniques are strongly related to circular economy, but can only be achieved through the aim of a long-lasting design. Finally, in most countries, the existing building codes should be revised in order to overcome the imposed limitations on the re-use of building materials.
The CO2NSTRUCT European project: Modelling the role of Circular Economy in construction value chains for a carbon-neutral Europe
Authors: Oikonomou Th I , Karytsas Sp , Karytsas C , Simoes S G , Seco Calvo O , Sánchez Egido M N , Soutullo Castro S , Zerbino P , Aloini D , Genovese A , Bimpizas-Pinis M , Slabik S , Lima A T
Published: June 2023

Linear climate mitigation models look into aggregated economic sectors and model greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions disregarding downstream value chains, making particular sectors accountable for downstream (or upstream) GHG emissions. Hence, the present climate mitigation models inconsistently account for indirect GHG emissions; underrepresent upstream and downstream value chains; do not address Circular Economy (CE) practices; do not cover resource consumption, thus not considering materials’ circularity. To provide curated policy support for decision-making for carbon neutrality and other Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), models need to shift from linear to circular. To achieve this, a link between energy-climate mitigation modelling and cradle-to-cradle assessment CE analytical tools must be established. This is the core issue covered in the CO2NSTRUCT Horizon project (2022-2026). CO2NSTRUCT proposes a framework to supplement the well-established JRC-EU-TIMES model, using a highly comprehensive technological representation with CE measures. The framework will apply CE measures to the value chain of six carbon-intensive construction materials (i.e., cement, steel, brick, glass, wood, and insulation materials) and will provide new components to the JRC-EU-TIMES model, including citizen behaviour; societal impacts; rebound effects; supply and value chains. The results will be used for policy approaches integrating CE into climate change mitigation actions.
Toward zero-emission buildings: a case study on a non-residential building in Germany using life cycle assessment and carbon sequestration of green infrastructure
Authors: Theilig K , Takser I , Reitberger R , Vollmer M , Lang W
Published: June 2023

Regarding greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and further environmental impacts, such as acidification potential (AP), eutrophication potential (EP), and pollutants, the building sector plays an essential role in the global transformation toward a climate and environmentally friendly industry. In this paper, a non-residential building in Germany is analyzed regarding various emissions (GHG, AP, EP, pollutants, acoustic, light, and radiation) and the primary energy demand (PERT, PENRT) during its life cycle of 70 years. Life cycle assessment (LCA) according to DIN EN ISO 14040/14044 and DIN EN 15978 is used to determine and allocate the environmental impacts of the building. Building emissions are compared to the compensation potential of the green infrastructure onsite. Based on scenario analysis, recommendations to reduce the building emissions are given. The results show that there are emissions in every life cycle stage of the building. Using green instead of conventional electricity for operational energy reduces GHG emissions, AP, and EP by more than 90%. Emissions that already occurred can only be reduced or compensated slightly: the carbon sequestration of the building’s green infrastructure and its outdoor facilities can compensate nearly 6% of the total GHG emissions. Therefore, the authors claim that strategies to avoid, reduce and compensate emissions should take place in early planning phases to realize zero-emission buildings.
Environmental performance of districts: results of a French national assessment campaign
Authors: Robert Axelle , Frapin Marie , Dubois Felix , Schiopu Nicoleta , Paron Emilien , Colombert Morgane
Published: June 2023

In 2020, France’s carbon footprint is estimated at 552 Mt CO2 eq, which means 8.2 t CO2eq per person. Half of these emissions are due to local activities, especially at district scale. Thus, the built area are key systems to reach the goal set at 2t CO2eq per person in 2050. To meet this goal, improvement of the knowledge on the environmental performances of build area is necessary. The aim of this paper is to share the results of a national environmental assessment performance campaign, carried out in France from 2020 on thirty districts. The performance is measured based on the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach. Supported by ADEME, a joint LCA method for district environmental assessment has been published in 2021. It’s implementation in an assessment software (i.e. UrbanPrint) allowed to quicky deploy it. The input data necessary for the assessment are the master plan and the main characteristics of the project. Different scenarios can be compared with a reference or a “business as usual” one. The analysis allows to obtain quantified results, to identify the main hotspots and each activated lever effect. A Shapley analysis proposes new levers to reach the best environmental performances specific for each district.
Approaches for assessing embodied environmental effects during the building design process
Authors: Prideaux F , Crawford R H , Allacker K , Stephan A
Published: June 2023

Buildings and construction are among the leading contributors towards global greenhouse gas emissions, resource demands, waste, and pollution, placing a massive strain on our natural environment. Until recently, mitigation strategies have primarily concentrated on reductions in operational energy, failing to account for embodied effects; those associated with the manufacture of construction goods, construction activities, and end of life considerations. In recent years, there has been an increased recognition of the growing significance of embodied effects, and the opportunity to reduce these during the building design process. However, life cycle assessment (LCA) tools used to quantify environmental flows are often perceived as being too time-consuming or complicated to incorporate into prevalent building design workflows. The aim of this study was to review approaches for assessing embodied environmental effects during the building design process, including the LCA tools and environmental data used to achieve this. A systematic review was conducted of academic and grey literature. The study identified three main approaches for incorporating LCA into the building design process: simplified LCA, detailed LCA and incremental LCA. Further analysis of these approaches was conducted, based on case studies. General attributes and design considerations were identified, and mapped against the early design, and detailed design stages. A wide variety of LCA approaches were reviewed, responding to various challenges for incorporating LCA into the building design process, with no singular approach able to completely satisfy all requirements. Findings highlight the lack of incremental LCA approaches, and the need for further research to understand how LCA approaches can be better used to improve the embodied environmental performance of buildings during the design process.
Beyond the building scale: addressing energy related issues in urban areas’ environmental performance assessment methods
Authors: Litsa A , Giarma C
Published: June 2023

Built environment’s sustainability enhancement imposes the consideration of all its scales and dimensions, ranging from the materials-to the city scale. Several methods and tools have been developed for the environmental performance assessment of larger than the building entities of the built environment. In this paper, the analysis evolves around the way environmental performance assessment tools for urban development address energy-related factors. In the first part of this work, widely known urban sustainability assessment tools at the neighbourhood scale (BREEAM Communities, LEED for Neighborhood Development, CASBEE for Urban Development, DGNB for Urban Districts) are systematically reviewed; some of their basic features are presented. This review includes elements regarding these tools’ development and application field, as well as parameters related to their structure and methodological basis. The second part of the analysis focuses on the examination of the reviewed systems regarding the inclusion of energy-related issues (e.g., energy consumption and production) into their structure and assessment process. Specifically, the way the related parameters are integrated within each method’s framework and the basis for their assessment (e.g., approaches, criteria, indicators) are detected. Similarities/differences among the presented methods and the examined methodological aspects can be identified both regarding the general features and approaches, and, where possible, at a more detailed level.
Preliminary environmental benchmarks for a new Photonic Meta-Concrete based on state of the art radiative cooling materials
Authors: Adams N , Allacker K
Published: June 2023

The usage of conventional air-conditioners increased due to global warming and the urban heat-island-effect in cities. These systems are responsible for 7% of global greenhouse gas emissions and 10% of the total energy consumption. Radiative Cooling is a passive cooling strategy which tries to mitigate global warming and the urban heat-island-effect by emitting heat through the atmosphere, into outer space. These materials are already studied for several decades, but for the first time a radiative cooling material is under development based on conventional concrete. In order to evaluate the environmental performance of this newly developed material compared to existing cooling materials, environmental benchmarks need to be defined. To determine such benchmark, existing, state of the art, daytime radiative cooling materials are assessed in this paper. Information on these materials is collected through a literature review. The radiative cooling materials are modelled using the generic Ecoinvent v3.6 database and the environmental impact is assessed using the Belgian LCA method for buildings, i.e. the MMG method. This method is in line with the EN15804:A2 and covers 16 environmental impact categories, such as global warming potential, acidification, eutrophication, water scarcity and toxicity. The results show that the production process of the materials, i.e. thin film deposition techniques, are poorly represented in the Ecoinvent database. Assumptions and adaptations are made based on literature and experts’ feedback. A sensitivity analysis is carried out to gain insight in the uncertainty of the assumptions made. Based on the results, preliminary environmental benchmarks are generated and the environmental impact of the first composition of the photonic meta-concrete is assessed against these benchmarks.
Evaluation of a strengthening approach for existing RC buildings in terms of resilience and cost efficiency
Authors: Tzavidis A D , Nikolaidis Th N , Baniotopoulos C C
Published: June 2023

The aim of the present study is to assess the performance of a reinforced concrete (RC) building been retrofitted with a new precast insulated steel and concrete composite sandwich wall. The applied retrofitting method, as well as the selection of the performance level for design have been studied with reference to their impact on the retrofit cost and the estimated cost due to possible earthquake losses. As a case study an existing 8-story RC building has been selected that is strengthened with inverted-V steel bracings as well as with the application of the proposed insulated composite walls, respectively. By applying inelastic dynamic analyses with artificial accelerograms scaled to represent earthquake scenarios with specific probabilities of recurrence, the seismic response of the strengthened structure is defined for each scenario. The results of the aforementioned analyses are being correlated with the earthquake losses based on an established methodology. Eventually, the performance of each retrofit method is determined and then compared with the respective performance of the existing building. The most efficient method is defined by considering both the construction cost and the earthquake losses cost of each earthquake scenario.
Designing a new recycling network for post-demolition autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) in Europe
Authors: Steins Justus J , Volk Rebekka , Stallkamp Christoph , Schultmann Frank
Published: June 2023

Autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) is a widely used building material for masonry blocks. Its porous structure and mineral composition lead to low thermal conductivity and fire resistance. European AAC production and usage strongly increased in the 1960s and 1970s. Therefore, assuming limited buildings’ lifetimes, significant post-demolition AAC volumes can be expected in the following decades. However, post-demolition AAC recycling in high-value environmentally friendly applications is still to be established as most post-demolition AAC is currently landfilled. Different recycling options for post-demolition AAC are presently being researched. However, a recycling network to implement these options is neither designed nor established. This contribution focuses on creating a European recycling network, including mathematical modelling, data acquisition, and solving the model. i.e. minimising the total costs. The mathematical modelling uses a capacitated warehouse location problem with multi-sourcing and direct delivery. Results show that recycling plants of smaller capacity (100,000 t input/a) are placed in the recycling networks in 2020 and 2025. With higher waste quantities being expected from 2030 onwards, plants with a larger capacity (200,000 t input/a) are added, especially in Poland, where the highest pd-AAC amount in Europe is expected. The recycling network shows a decentralised structure with numerous recycling plants to keep transport costs low. Most network costs result from variable processing costs, showing the highest cost increases from 2020 to 2050. Fixed costs increase with the higher number of recycling plants and account for the second-largest share of total network costs. Transport costs are comparatively low thanks to the decentralised structure of the network. Overall, waste generation is expected to increase by 226% from 2020 to 2050, while the total costs of the recycling network are expected to rise by 151% only. The results support decision-makers in fostering recycling and implementing a circular economy for post-demolition AAC.
Application of power algorithm optimization for optimal placement of BRB in 3D shear wall frame building structure
Authors: Nikzad H , Yoshitomi S
Published: June 2023

This paper examines the optimal placement, optimal numbers, and the optimal shape of Buckling Restrained Braces (BRB) for a 3D shear-wall frame building structure based on linear static analysis utilizing ETABS software. The total amount of BRBs referred to as the number of BRBs are considered as design variables and the objective function to be minimized is the maximum story displacement and inter-story drift. The diagonal shape (D), X-shape (X), V-shape (V), and Inverted V-shape (Inv-V) of BRBs are installed between shear walls simultaneously with initial stiffnesses of 1K0, 2K0, 4K0, and 8K0, respectively. Then, the performance efficiency analysis is carried out to identify the effectiveness of initial stiffness, BRB shapes, and optimal stories. Based on the results of the optimization procedure and efficiency analysis, it is found that the performance of the structure can be improved by optimizing BRB placement within the optimal stories rather than using the maximum amount of BRBs in all stories. The most optimal location to install BRBs is the middle stories and the BRB placement at the upper and lower stories is shown to have minor or no effects on reducing story responses of the structure. Furthermore, the model with Inv-V, V, and X shapes of BRB have almost the same maximum efficiency performance, while the model with diagonal shapes has the lowest performance efficiency. Additionally, the maximum performance of the structure can be achieved by using larger initial stiffness. The proposed method is further validated by comparing the results of ETABS with MATLAB programming. It concludes that the method proposed in this study saves 40% of the total amount of BRBs used in the structure by optimal placement of BRBs within the height of the structure. This method of optimization allows the structural designer to decide the optimal placement, optimal shape, and optimal stiffness of BRBs either by the predetermined performance level of the structure or based on experiences in RC shear wall-frame building structures.
Influence of 3D microstructure for improving the thermal performance of building façades
Authors: Lopes L , Almeida M , Reis D
Published: June 2023

The thermal performance of a building is highly dependent on the heat transmission through the envelope. On the other hand, additive manufacturing has been increasingly used in several industrial applications due to its possibility to produce complex structures. However, most studies of the 3d printing process focused on mechanical performance. This study aims to evaluate how the internal 3D-printed microstructure affects thermal performance. Twelve infill patterns were analysed, including Gyroid, Grid, Hilbert curve, Line, Rectilinear, Stars Triangles, 3D Honeycomb, Honeycomb, Concentric, Cubic, and Octagram spiral. Using fused deposition modelling (FDM), the samples were printed with polyethene terephthalate-glycol (PET-G) thermoplastic filaments. Thermal tests were conducted using a calibrated hotbox, following the recommendations of ASTM C1363-11:2014. The results obtained show a variation of 70% by changing the internal microstructure using fix infill density of 25%. Concentric, Gyroid and Hilbert curve achieved the best thermal insulation properties.
Spectral transmittance changes in a PCM glass block affected by an artificial radiation source
Authors: Cabanová T , Čekon M , Bevilacqua P , Čurpek J
Published: June 2023

Adaptive principles based on latent thermal energy storage together with its optimal modulation of optical properties in transparent façade systems represent one of the challenging solutions for reducing the energy consumption of buildings. Properly incorporated phase change material (PCM) may be a potential technique for passive solar system applications. This study focuses on the analysis of PCM’s optical changes on innovative building envelope components. A stable radiation source that most closely approximates the conditions of sunlight is essential for the characterization of new solar thermal systems. Hence the intensity and spectral distribution of the light source are the most important factors corresponding to natural sunlight. This contribution stems from previous experimental research focused on the investigation of the changes in the transparency of the PCM material, which is the result of the phase transformation from solid to liquid and vice versa under radiation exposure. The main challenge is to characterize the spectral optical properties in the PCM glass system. Accordingly, optical changes were analyzed experimentally using the spectrometry method. The measurements are based on a comparison of clear and PCM-filled glass blocks, affected by artificial radiation in a laboratory. The results revealed that PCM glass block may act as near-infrared absorbing and at the same time a highly transparent system in the visible region compared to the conventional air-based systems.
Residential Brick Buildings in Flanders: materials and techniques in the 19th century
Authors: Oelbrandt B , Allacker K
Published: June 2023

This paper aims at gaining insight in the various elements and compositions of walls with facing bricks built in the 19th century in Belgium to understand the renovation potential and challenges, with the goal of safeguarding brick architecture. The first step outlines the evolution of building facing brick walls by tracing the technical, territorial, and cultural changes. Timeframes are identified and presented alongside pictures of facades and facade details of reference buildings, using the housing stock in the city centre of Antwerp as an example. In a second step, technical changes and material properties of bricks and mortars will be investigated using literature sources. These insights will offer practical knowledge to recognize and preserve historic characteristics and a starting pointing to predict potential risks of internal insulation.
Developing approaches and strategies to promote increased active mobility in urban city neighbourhood
Authors: Afshari M , Temeljotov Salaj A , Johansen A , Lohne J
Published: June 2023

With the world’s population expanding quickly, cities must deal with problems such as traffic jams, air pollution, car accidents, and urban sprawl. Walking and cycling are non-motorized modes of transport that require little infrastructure and don’t utilize any fossil fuel energy. In comparison to motorized modes, they are easily adaptable and inexpensive to maintain for both users and governments. Therefore, the goal of this paper is to identify strategies for greater active mobility through non-motorized modes of transport. Through a document study, methods that can be utilized as incentives to improve walkability and bikeability in the Elgeseter neighbourhood of the City of Trondheim, Norway have been identified. The analysis addresses following research question: “What may persuade Elgeseter district commuters or travellers to modify their behaviour toward more walking and biking?” This study reveals five topics of interest: Identifying existing difficulties in the district, Evaluation of current pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicle links, as well as meeting places and open spaces, and identification of opportunities to improve them, How to outline planning concepts, Methods and design recommendations for enhancing walking and micro transportation, as well as The importance of accessibility, safety, and comfort in attracting people to active mobility. The main argument is that a multi-dimensional approach is required to persuade more people to choose environmentally friendly, sustainable modes of transportation as a lifestyle choice, and function better than compulsion. The research presented in this paper contributes to our understanding of the factors that influence commuters’ decision to engage in active mobility in their urban city neighbourhood.