Towards a Green Built Environment
Creators: name: Idris, Yasin Mohamed Ibrahim
Publisher: name: figshare
Year: 2020
Subjects: subject: 129999 Built Environment and Design not elsewhere classified
subject: FOS: Civil engineering
subject: FOS: Civil engineering

description: The built environment in Sudan is deteriorated, in many facets, if not all. The infrastructures are unmaintained, new constructions are improvised, and resources are being drained. Reports are warning of an inhabitable capital if no serious and urgent actions are being made. The tangible threat has raised some public activities, from industry and academia; which concerned with the sustainability measures in the built environments. The venues where these topics are discussed have shown a need for a national framework to organize the efforts and to set directives for all the bodies of concern. It is also observed that many of these movements are influenced by, and are calling for adapting voluntary “green” standards, like LEED, to rectify the situation. This presentation aimed to create a framework for a better understanding of these issues, and how to approach them from the researchers standing point. It first sought to identify the local core needs and the root problems causatives. It was argued that topics related to enhancing well-being shall have priority over the economical and the environment saving motives. In brief, it advocated that improving health and comfort in such a developing country is to be the starting point and shall not be favored over the energy-saving, reducing CO2 emission, and similar themes.Furthermore, it was deduced that adapting the voluntary systems, namely LEED, may not be practical, nor corresponding to the local needs, due to three main reasons. First, it was shown that the LEED core objectives are economical, in the sense of saving energy to the detriment of comfort and cost factors. Second, the literature field surveys have also shown that such prescriptive systems, as opposed to performance systems, may lead to a great gap between the expected (targeted) and the measured performances. Third, the history of the energy codes in the United States have shown to yield meaningful results only after being promulgated, that is, the effective start requires a compulsory code but not a voluntary system. This contribution finally outlines the essential research areas that are thought fundamental for establishing the green built environment framework. As for the building's sector, the key research areas are as follows. Developing the Sudanese climate classification map, climate change projections and producing reliable weather files. The reference (typical) models for the basic building types are to be concluded. Establishing a database for the typical construction materials, with information on their thermal properties, embodied CO2, materials toxicity, and extraction hazards. Surveys on the demography and buildings use patterns; where the occupancy schedules of common space and building types are needed. Similar surveys are to conclude the indoor environment metrics such as the ventilation requirements, the typical internal loads, and the lighting loads and operation hours. Appliances, HVAC systems and equipment's efficiencies are also necessary when planning for a green built environment.