A comprehensive life cycle water analysis framework for residential buildings

Most studies on the environmental performance of buildings focus on energy demand and associated greenhouse gas emissions. They often neglect to consider the range of other resource demands and environmental impacts associated with buildings, including water. Studies that assess water use in buildings typically consider only operational water, which excludes the embodied water in building materials or the water associated with the mobility of building occupants. A new framework is presented that quantifies water requirements at the building scale (i.e. the embodied and operational water of the building as well as its maintenance and refurbishment) and at the city scale (i.e. the embodied water of nearby infrastructures such as roads, gas distribution and others) and the transport-related indirect water use of building occupants. A case study house located in Melbourne, Australia, is analysed using the new framework. The results show that each of the embodied, operational and transport requirements is nearly equally important. By integrating these three water requirements, the developed framework provides architects, building designers, planners and decision-makers with a powerful means to understand and effectively reduce the overall water use and associated environmental impacts of residential buildings.     

Indonesian residential high rise buildings: A life cycle energy assessment

This study evaluates the effect of building envelopes on the life cycle energy consumption of high rise residential buildings in Jakarta, Indonesia. For high rise residential buildings, the enclosures contribute 10-50% of the total building cost, 14-17% of the total material mass and 20-30% of the total heat gain. The direct as well as indirect influence of the envelope materials plays an important role in the life cycle energy consumption of buildings. The initial embodied energy of typical double wall and single wall envelopes for high residential buildings is 79.5 GJ and 76.3 GJ, respectively. Over an assumed life span of 40 years, double walls have better energy performance than single walls, 283 GJ versus 480 GJ, respectively. Material selection, which depends not only on embodied energy but also thermal properties, should, therefore, play a crucial role during the design of buildings.     

The impact of town planning on the microclimatic conditions and energy consumption of residential buildings

An inexpensive conversion of a mirrored artificial sky from an overcast sky source to a clear sky source allows more extensive model investigation. For a solar altitude angle of 40°, the model sees the relative CIE standard clear sky luminance distribution away from the sun caused by a low perimeter source illuminating a cloth drape covering the mirrored walls. Problems in calibrating the “sky” are explained and compared to a model in a similar real sky and a computer calculation. The errors due to a shifts in angular relationship to the luminance distribution of a close artificial sky source are calculated for different room locations, window types and model sizes.     

A new life cycle impact assessment approach for buildings

This study examines factors resulting in an environment burden (local EB) in the region where a building is located, and suggests a method for assessing it. The environmental burden (attached EB) caused by the expansion of infrastructures, such as, roads and parking lots for supporting buildings is also considered. An integrated life cycle impact assessment approach is proposed for buildings based on social cost account, called a region-type life cycle impact assessment (R-LCIA) here, which can give not only the total environment burden on a global scale but also the environment burden in a region scale and the attached EB. Furthermore, as an example of the R-LCIA, the environmental impact of a store building is assessed, and the effects of its location, structural type, and energy system are discussed.     

Effects of energy conversation measures the life cycle cost of Kuwaiti residential buildings

With increasing energy supply costs, considerable interest is now being shown in introducing energy conservation measures in the construction of residential houses. Kuwait, like any other country, is becoming increasingly aware of the value of conserving its natural fuel resources. For seven months of the year the temperatures in Kuwait are above comfort level; consequently 60% of its consumed energy is used for space cooling.The effects of energy conservation measures are evaluated for a typical two-storey residential building for two design alternatives. The analysis shows that adding insulation material to the walls and roof will reduce owning and operating costs by 173 Kuwaiti Dinars (K.D.)¹ annually for the houseowner, while the saving to the Government will be 1982 K.D. annually for each such housing unit.If additional measures are introduced, such as double glazing of windows, shading devices, use of air-to-air heat exchangers and tight construction to reduce infiltration, the owning and operating costs will be reduced by 870 K.D. annually for the houseowner and an annual saving of 4287 K.D. will be realized for the Government. These figures are based on a 10% discount rate.     

Sustainable construction: life cycle energy analysis of construction on sloping sites for residential buildings

In 2010, the Australian residential construction sector contributed about 28% of the value of all construction and was responsible for 8% of the total energy consumption. Residential construction will continue to increase to cope with the demand due to population growth. Owing to land scarcity, construction on sloping sites has become a common construction method for residential development in Australia. This method has economic benefits but poses environmental issues as it damages topsoil, disturbs natural drainage and groundwater pathways and imposes additional stress on soil under fill. The life cycle energy consumption of the construction process is examined in relation to residential projects on sloping sites on a range of slopes and soil types in New South Wales, Australia. Forty-one detached dwellings were selected and a service life of 60 years assumed for the study. The research findings reveal that the slope for each type of soil has a positive correlation with life cycle energy consumption. As part of the onsite construction process, the results also show that the energy consumption of construction on sloping sites plays a significant factor in the life cycle energy analysis of a building.     

基于全生命周期理论的住宅建筑能耗计算与分析

运用全生命周期理论,结合住宅建筑的自身特点,通过建立计算模型,对住宅建筑的能耗进行了计算与分析。找出了住宅建筑各能耗之间的内在关系,为建设节能型住宅提供相应的理论依据,以促进住宅建筑的可持续发展。     

Life cycle primary energy analysis of residential buildings

The space heating demand of residential buildings can be decreased by improved insulation, reduced air leakage and by heat recovery from ventilation air. However, these measures result in an increased use of materials. As the energy for building operation decreases, the relative importance of the energy used in the production phase increases and influences optimization aimed at minimizing the life cycle energy use. The life cycle primary energy use of buildings also depends on the energy supply systems. In this work we analyse primary energy use and CO₂ emission for the production and operation of conventional and low-energy residential buildings. Different types of energy supply systems are included in the analysis. We show that for a conventional and a low-energy building the primary energy use for production can be up to 45% and 60%, respectively, of the total, depending on the energy supply system, and with larger variations for conventional buildings. The primary energy used and the CO₂ emission resulting from production are lower for wood-framed constructions than for concrete-framed constructions. The primary energy use and the CO₂ emission depend strongly on the energy supply, for both conventional and low-energy buildings. For example, a single-family house from the 1970s heated with biomass-based district heating with cogeneration has 70% lower operational primary energy use than if heated with fuel-based electricity. The specific primary energy use with district heating was 40% lower than that of an electrically heated passive row house.     

住宅空调方案寿命周期能耗和资源消耗研究

以某高层住宅为例,按北京市和上海市两地的气候和建筑热工条件,对5种常见住宅空调设计方案的生产能耗和资源消耗进行对比分析,并依据运行能耗调查数据,对3种常见住宅空调方案的寿命周期能耗进行对比分析。结果表明,户式空调和集中空调方案的生产能耗、寿命周期能耗和资源消耗均显著高于分体空调方案。对于所研究的情况,水冷式集中空调方案的寿命周期能耗是分体空调方案的6.6倍,认为分散式空调仍然是目前最节能环保的住宅空调方式,盲目推广集中式空调会使我国住宅空调能耗大幅度增加。     

长江中下游地区梅雨季节的室内热湿环境

经过调研得到长江中下游地区(以南京为例)梅雨季节住宅建筑室内热湿状况,并分析3种不同建筑能耗计算模型(整体建筑热湿空气流动耦合模型HAM,传递函数模型CTF,有效湿渗透深度模型EMPD)的准确性。数值模型基于Matlab-Simulink编写,使用调研数据进行验证,进而使用梅雨季节典型气象参数模拟分析。调研结果显示在2013年梅雨季节,多数时间内建筑室内温度高于28℃,相对湿度高于70%。数值模拟结果显示3种能耗模型对室内温度模拟的差异较小,而对室内湿度的模拟存在较大差异,特别是CTF模型误差最大。结果显示在长江中下游地区梅雨季节,当房间换气次数小于2ACH时,围护结构对于室内环境湿缓冲的作用明显,选择合适的吸放湿材料可有效降低建筑能耗30%以上。     

建筑设计对住宅热状况的影响研究--北京市住宅夏季室温调查分析(2)

根据1999年夏季北京市居民住宅的室温实测数据，通过分析比较整个测试期内不同房间室温曲线变化的差异，定量研究分析了建筑设计所确定的房间楼层位置、建筑外围护结构及建筑平面布局等因素对住宅室内热状况的影响程度。研究结果表明：建筑外围护结构良好的保温隔热性能及合理的建筑平面布局是改善住宅室内热状况的关键。     

Thermostat strategies impact on energy consumption in residential buildings

This paper identifies the impact of thermostat strategies on heating and cooling energy consumptions in buildings, thus suggesting the importance of a database for understanding the effect of thermostat settings and for deciding energy-conscious strategies.Using computer simulation, diverse thermostat strategies – change of setback period, change of set-point temperature, and change of setback temperature – were tested parametrically in a typical USA single-family homes, located in two climate zones, namely cold (Detroit, Michigan) and hot-humid (Miami, Florida).Analysis revealed that heating and cooling systems were significant energy-consuming components in each climate zone. Accordingly, heating energy in cold climate zones and cooling energy in hot-humid climate zones have potential for matchingly significant saving. Diverse thermostat strategies (changes of setback period, of set-point, of setback temperature) demonstrated their obvious impacts on such saving. In the cold climate in particular, the heating system showed the most significant energy-saving effect via proper thermostat strategies. Proper setback period, set-point and setback temperature need to be established to achieve energy efficiency in residential buildings.     

Evaluating quality of life in residential care buildings

One result of a policy in the UK of providing support for older people to remain in their own homes has been an increase in frailty in the residents of care homes, many of whom suffer from dementia. The importance of enabling these residents to enjoy a good quality of life is recognized. Results from two research projects show that the physical environment can affect a person's quality of life, but it is one of a number of interrelated factors. Design in Caring Environments (DICE) and INDEPENDENT, both funded by the EPSRC EQUAL programme, use different methods to examine the impact of design on quality of life. The tools and methods developed are discussed, as are the implications of the findings for policy and practice. The Sheffield Care Environment Assessment Matrix (SCEAM) is a method for recording the characteristics and use of a care home building. The effects of the building on well-being can be unpicked by a multilevel analysis of building data against measures of quality of life. Used in a study of care homes in Sheffield, UK, it gave some significant results: in homes where the safety of residents had high priority, the scope for pleasurable activities tended to be low; activity appeared to have a beneficial impact on well-being; people in larger homes tended to have a poorer quality of life; staff satisfaction and retention increased with the amount of training and tended to be high in more personalized settings; and most homes under-used the facilities available. INDEPENDENT developed technologies to enhance well-being based on a ‘wish list’ of favourite activities derived from consultations with users. The policy and practice implications of these findings are discussed.

L'un des résultats de la politique conduite par le Royaume-Uni et visant à aider les personnes âgées à rester dans leur logement a été une augmentation de la fragilité des résidents des maisons de santé, dont nombreux souffrent de démence. On reconnaît qu'il est important de permettre à ces personnes de jouir d'une bonne qualité de vie. Selon les résultats de deux projets de recherche, l'environnement physique peut affecter la qualité de vie d'une personne, mais ce n'est que l'un parmi de nombreux facteurs interdépendants. Les programmes ‘Design in Caring Environments’ (DICE) et ‘INDEPENDENT’, tous deux financés par le programme EQUAL de l'EPSRC, utilisent différentes méthodes d'examen des incidences de la conception sur la qualité de vie. Cet article se penche sur les méthodes et outils développés et sur les implications des résultats sur la politique et la pratique. La Sheffield Care Environment Assessment Matrix (SCEAM) est une méthode d'enregistrement des caractéristiques et de l'utilisation des bâtiments des maisons de santé. L'effet des bâtiments sur le bien-être peut être expliqué par une analyse à niveaux multiples des données relatives aux bâtiments par rapport aux mesures de la qualité de vie. Cette méthode, utilisée par une étude portant sur des maisons de santé de Sheffield (Royaume-Uni), a donné quelques résultats intéressants: dans les maisons de santé où la sécurité des résidents constitue une priorité élevée, l'horizon des activités agréables a tendance à être limité; les activités semblent avoir un impact bénéficiaire sur le bien-être; les personnes résidant dans les maisons de santé les plus grandes ont tendance à avoir une qualité de vie plus médiocre; la satisfaction du personnel et sa stabilité dans l'emploi augmentent avec l'importance de la formation et ont tendance à être élevées dans des environnements plus personnalisés; enfin, la plupart de ces maisons sous-utilisent les moyens disponibles. Le Programme INDEPENDENT a mis au point des technologies visant à améliorer le bien-être en s'appuyant sur une liste de souhaits récapitulant les activités préférées et obtenue après consultation des utilisateurs. Cet article examine ensuite les implications politiques et pratiques de ces résultats.

architecture, évaluation des bâtiments, démence, conception, personnes âgées, bien-être     

Environmental impact of acoustic materials in residential buildings

This study examines the differences in environmental impact between various architectural acoustic materials in residential buildings, considering both embodied and operational Ecopoints using Envest. Five building types were compared, including bungalow, detached, semi-detached, terraced, and apartments. For each building type, two typical wall materials (brick and stone) which have a similar sound transmission loss, and three levels of glazing ratio were compared. For the apartment building, further analysis was made considering three wall types (brick, concrete and glass curtain), two roof types (pitched and flat) and different numbers of storeys (2–4). More detailed analysis was then carried out for two typical rooms, a living room and a bedroom, considering different combinations of interior finishing materials, but with the same reverberation time and sound transmission loss. The results of this study demonstrate the importance of considering the environmental sustainability of various acoustic materials. Although individual components may not affect the total Ecopoints greatly, when every acoustics-related component in a building is taken into account, significant differences in Ecopoints could be made with a better selection of architectural acoustic materials/components from the viewpoint of environmental sustainability, so that the environmental impact could be reduced to the minimum while the acoustic performance is kept the same.     

绿色建筑全寿命周期的风险探讨

绿色建筑在项目施工、管理、使用整个过程中(全寿命周期),尽可能地节约自然资源,减少对自然环境产生污染,实现与自然和谐共存。本文探讨了各个阶段可能出现的风险因素。     

严寒地区居住建筑室内热舒适模拟研究

将模拟计算得到的模型房间的温度场与经回归分析建立的平均热感觉MTS预测模型和热舒适评价指标PMV相结合,通过编制MATLAB程序,绘制了模型房间不同截面的MTS和PMV的三维分布图。比较了各个截面的MTS和PMV预测结果并分析了产生误差的原因。     

现代居住建筑的夏季热状况研究——北京市住宅夏季室温调查分析(1)

根据1999年夏季对北京市居民住宅的室温测试数据，从所有测试房间的室温整体分布、室温平均值、室温波动幅度及室温延迟时间等方面描述现有住宅夏季的室内热状况特性，并通过研究分析得出总体上反映现有住宅夏季热状况的统计指标。     

探寻住宅建筑寿命的最佳周期

目前住宅建筑领域的可持续发展、生态化、绿色化的研究,集中在单个产品的寿命周期内;这有其局限性,主要表现在:建筑结构体寿命大大的大于使用功能的寿命成为一个突出的问题。住宅寿命的研究应该放到更大一个范围,即适应跨周期的思考。     

高层住宅中不同前室布置方案对其安全性的影响

介绍使用剪刀楼梯的高层住宅普遍存在的“三合一”前室工程背景,分析“三合一”前室存在的主要问题,确定了6种前室布置方案。针对布置方案,使用区域模拟软件CFAST进行火灾烟气蔓延的计算机数值模拟,定量分析6种前室布置方案的烟气蔓延情况,得到安全疏散时间,完成对其安全性的影响研究。