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Abdallah, Moatassem, Boateng Akyeampong, and Khaled El-Rayes. "Maximizing sustainability of existing buildings within limited upgrade budgets." Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering 45, no. 9 (2018): 705–16. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjce-2017-0346.
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Existing buildings, especially aging ones, are currently in urgent need of upgrading to improve their performance and potentially achieve green certification. Building owners often need to identify and implement building upgrades that maximize the sustainability of their buildings as well as achieve green certification programs such as the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). This paper presents the development of an optimization model that maximizes the number of earned LEED points for existing buildings within a specified upgrade budget. A case study of an existing building is used to demonstrate the use of the optimization model and illustrate its capabilities. This research presents new methodology for optimizing the selection of building upgrades to maximize the sustainability of existing buildings and achieve green certification within limited budgets. The present model is expected to support decision-makers, building owners and operators, building managers, and contractors to optimize the use of their upgrade budgets and maximize sustainability of their buildings.
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Kamal, M. R., M. M. Riyadh, R. Zahid, et al. "Selection of Energy Upgrades for Canadian Single-Detached Residential Households Based on Occupancy Profile." IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science 943, no. 1 (2021): 012026. http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/943/1/012026.
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Abstract The use of energy efficient building systems can play a key role in reducing energy consumption and the adverse impacts of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission. The occupancy profile of residential dwellings has a notable influence on the effectiveness of selecting appropriate energy upgrade retrofits. Building simulation models can be integrated to determine the impact of independent occupancy profile in realizing a building’s carbon mitigation target. In this paper, the most desirable energy upgrade retrofits are suggested for three different occupancy profiles by considering important economic parameters, such as the initial investment, payback period and environmental parameter such as GHG emissions. The three occupancy profiles considered were a single adult, couple without children and couple with children. For this purpose, a calibrated energy model was developed for a single-detached family household in British Columbia, Canada, which was equipped with power sensors for monitoring the real time energy data. From the calibrated energy model, three different energy upgrade retrofits (solar, window, and wall/roof insulation) were modelled for the occupancy profiles chosen and the most suitable energy upgrades were suggested. The results show that solar panels contributed the most in energy cost reduction and upgraded windows had the least GHG emission. With suitable financial initiative, the combination of all the three energy upgrades can be the best option in terms of environment and economy.
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Less, Brennan D., Núria Casquero-Modrego, and Iain S. Walker. "Home Energy Upgrades as a Pathway to Home Decarbonization in the US: A Literature Review." Energies 15, no. 15 (2022): 5590. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/en15155590.
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This work aims to characterize how home energy upgrade projects and programs in the US have evolved over the past decade. It also identifies what changes are needed to drive expansion of the US energy retrofit market in such a way that addresses carbon emissions from buildings, improves resilience and upgrades the housing stock. This review focuses on whole-home energy upgrades, targeting deep energy retrofit savings of >30%. The topics we cover include trends in home electrification, US and European home energy upgrade programs, energy upgrade measure costs, business economics, and health effects. Key changes in project design noted in this review include: (1) the electrification of dwellings with rapidly improving heat pump systems and low-cost solar photovoltaic technology; and (2) a shift away from high-cost building envelope strategies and towards more traditional home performance/weatherization envelope upgrades. Promising program design strategies covered include: (1) end-use electrification programs; (2) novel financing approaches; (3) the use of carbon-based program and project metrics; and (4) “one-stop shop” programs. Based on the existing market barriers, we suggest that the industry should adopt new project performance metrics. Additionally, market drivers are needed to spur widespread energy upgrades in the US housing stock. Costs must be reduced, and projects designed to appeal to homeowners and contractors.
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Felimban, Ahmed, Ulrich Knaack, and Thaleia Konstantinou. "Evaluating Savings Potentials Using Energy Retrofitting Measures for a Residential Building in Jeddah, KSA." Buildings 13, no. 7 (2023): 1645. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/buildings13071645.
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Residential buildings in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) contribute to nearly half of the overall electricity consumption in the building stock, highlighting their significant role in energy consumption. While an upgraded energy code has been established and enforced for new buildings, existing buildings continue to operate at the same level of energy consumption. Therefore, there is a need for further energy upgrades in existing buildings. This study evaluates the energy savings potential of various energy retrofitting measures for a case study in Jeddah, KSA. Data from previous studies and current practices were collected and analyzed. Different energy upgrade measures, such as windows replacement, wall insulation upgrade, roof insulation upgrade, and air conditioning unit replacement, were selected and evaluated using a digital simulation tool called Design-Builder. The simulation results were compared to understand the potential percentage of energy savings. The average annual energy consumption (AAEC) was used as the primary performance indicator to compare the energy savings among the scenarios. The results demonstrate significant reductions in energy consumption for the proposed scenarios. Furthermore, the study examined the significant impact of uncertainties, specifically, the infiltration rate and AC setback temperature, on AAEC. In conclusion, the proposed scenarios have the potential to achieve substantial energy savings, ranging from 25% to 66%, depending on the number of energy retrofitting interventions employed. The findings of this study can serve as a useful reference for similar energy retrofitting projects.
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Fodje, Michel, Kiran Mundboth, Shaunivan Labiuk, et al. "Macromolecular crystallography beamlines at the Canadian Light Source: building on success." Acta Crystallographica Section D Structural Biology 76, no. 7 (2020): 630–35. http://dx.doi.org/10.1107/s2059798320007603.
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The Canadian Macromolecular Crystallography Facility (CMCF) consists of two beamlines dedicated to macromolecular crystallography: CMCF-ID and CMCF-BM. After the first experiments were conducted in 2006, the facility has seen a sharp increase in usage and has produced a significant amount of data for the Canadian crystallographic community. Upgrades aimed at increasing throughput and flux to support the next generation of more demanding experiments are currently under way or have recently been completed. At CMCF-BM, this includes an enhanced monochromator, automounter software upgrades and a much faster detector. CMCF-ID will receive a major upgrade including a new undulator, a new monochromator and new optics to stably focus the beam onto a smaller sample size, as well as a brand-new detector.
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Brotman, Billie Ann. "The feasibility of medical office building green upgrades from an owner/lessor perspective." Journal of Property Investment & Finance 34, no. 4 (2016): 375–86. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/jpif-03-2016-0017.
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Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to exam the financial impact on the owner/lessor who is considering a partial energy upgrade to an existing medical office building. The owner who leases the building using a triple net lease does the upgrade prior to leasing the building, with the expectation of earning higher rents. How much should the owner who leases the property spend for a given rent per square foot increase? Design/methodology/approach – The empirical study highlights the impact of key financial variables on the dependent variable medical office construction spending put in place in the USA. The independent variables prime interest rate, cost of natural gas per therm and electricity cost per KWH, resale building prices are significant variables when predicting medical office construction spending. A case study using a cost-benefit model is developed. It inputs corporate income tax rates, incorporates a debt service coverage ratio, prime interest rate, analyzes investment tax credit (ITC) and rebate scenarios and varies the level of rental income and energy savings. The case study results provide insight into which factors are enabling higher net construction spending when considering a green energy retrofit project. Both the regression model and the case study model focussed on the owner of a building who rents medical office space to tenants using a triple net lease. The owner/lessor paradigm analyzes revenue enhancements, the tax implications of having these savings and benefits associated with borrowing when financing the green retrofit. The availability of low cost borrowing, increases in the ITC percent and rebates and increases in rent per square foot have an impact on potential energy upgrade spending. Findings – The empirical model finds the independent variables to be significant. Utility cost, resale value of office buildings, the prime interest rate, business bankruptcy court filings and unemployment rate fluctuations adequately explain movements in medical office building spending for the years 2000 through 2015 yielding a R2 of 73.8 percent. The feasibility case study indicates that the energy saving levels and ITCs not income tax rates are the primary drivers for a partial energy retrofit. Research limitations/implications – Market incentives are a function of the cost of energy. If the cost of energy drops, then the profit incentive to conserve energy becomes less important. The role of tax credits, rebates, property tax reductions and government directives, then become primary incentives for installing energy upgrades. The owner of an empty building assumes all of the operating costs normally paid by a tenant under a triple net lease. This possibility was not included in the replacement cost-benefit model used in this paper. Practical implications – The feasibility of doing an energy upgrade to an existing building requires that a cost-benefit analysis be undertaken. The independent variables that are significant when doing a regression model or proxies for these variables are incorporated into a present value model. The results in Table V can be used as an initial template for determining how much to spend per square foot when doing an energy upgrade. The square foot amounts can be applied to different size office buildings. The corporate income tax rate or a personal income tax rate has minimal impact on energy construction upgrade spending. Social implications – More energy efficient office buildings reduce the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere. Energy efficient buildings also conserve on scarce fuel reserves. ITCs and rebates limit the role of government in directing decisions to do energy upgrades. The market mechanism to some degree can help encourage energy conservation through asset upgrades. Originality/value – The paper incorporates an empirical model which is a form of technical analysis to examine independent variables that explain medical office building spending with a case study structured on expected revenues and costs which takes a fundamental approach to understanding the relationship between the dependent variable and its independent variables. The regression model combines factors that impact the demand for energy efficient medical buildings from an owner/lessor perspective which includes resale values of existing buildings, business bankruptcy filings and unemployment rates. Supply independent variables include the prime interest rate and electricity per KWH and natural gas per therm. The regression model found these variables to be significant. The case study uses the same independent variables or close proxy variables to determine the maximum financially feasible per square foot spending that can be invested in energy upgrades.
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Morkunaite, Lina, Darius Pupeikis, Andrius Jurelionis, Paris A. Fokaides, and Agis Papadopoulos. "An Analytical Model for the Impact of Building Control and Automation Upgrade on Space Heating Energy Efficiency." Buildings 12, no. 8 (2022): 1074. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/buildings12081074.
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Intelligent building management systems are proven to lead to energy savings and are an integral component of smart buildings. The procedures developed in the EN standards describe the methodology for calculating the energy savings achieved by improving the automation and control levels of separate services in building systems. However, although this method is used in practice, it is rarely applied or investigated by the research community. Typically, energy savings resulting from a single automation improvement intervention in a building heating system are observed, while the holistic view of combined automation upgrades is not considered. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the energy savings resulting from several upgrades to control levels in the heating system components of the building. In addition, this research provides a rationale for the impact of multiple automation and control options for heating systems as well as examines the difference in energy savings. Finally, an analytical model is developed and demonstrated to assess the feasibility of building automation and control upgrades, by determining the allowed investment according to a set of predefined indicators.
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Santamaria, Carlos. "Next Generation Energy Efficient Technologies: A Case Study Demonstrating Top Operational Performance." Journal of Green Building 4, no. 2 (2009): 44–53. http://dx.doi.org/10.3992/jgb.4.2.44.
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As owners contemplate major capital upgrades and investments into their existing chiller plants, several considerations become apparent and require a thorough appraisal. These primary considerations include: Age of existing equipment, existing load profile, utility rates, building occupancy and tenant use, property repositioning plan, lease type and the property's asset strategy, and others. In Aventine's case, the building was considered by most real estate professionals and owners as a relatively young building at 17 years old. The building and chiller plant still had a good five to seven years of serviceable life. The challenge in this particular case was to propose an upgrade justifying replacement of this still functioning chiller plant while asking for approximately $500k in capital expense funds. In addition to describing the technical features of this next-generation chiller plant system, this case study will attempt to integrate financial decision making attributes that assisted in the decision making process. The focus of this paper is to differentiate this technology and approach with major chiller plant upgrades.
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Stukalo, Sharon. "A Comparison of Seattle’s Building Tune-up Process." Journal of Sustainable Development 12, no. 2 (2019): 123. http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/jsd.v12n2p123.
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The Building Tune-up process has been in incorporated into the mindset of building owners in Seattle. Every five years this process needs to be implemented for all buildings that are over 50,000 square feet. Boulder, Colorado, and New York City, New York, have had similar programs in place longer than Seattle has had its program. There are many similarities between all three programs in regards to lowering carbon emissions through building maintenance and upgrades. Each city has specific bench marking goals as per what size of the building and when their specific tune-up should occur. There are also similar concerns from both building owners in regards to the costs of building upgrades versus the benefits that align with improved building performance. Within all three cities, tenants also share similar concerns mostly about increased rent due to having these buildings be improved. Both Boulder, Colorado, and New York City, New York, despite population size or location, have seen dramatic carbon decreases due to their tune-up policies being in effect. This gives great promise that Seattle’s similar tune-up process will also yield positive results.
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Hornbeck, Richard, and Daniel Keniston. "Creative Destruction: Barriers to Urban Growth and the Great Boston Fire of 1872." American Economic Review 107, no. 6 (2017): 1365–98. http://dx.doi.org/10.1257/aer.20141707.
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Urban growth requires the replacement of outdated buildings, yet growth may be restricted when landowners do not internalize positive spillover effects from their own reconstruction. The Boston Fire of 1872 created an opportunity for widespread simultaneous reconstruction, initiating a virtuous circle in which building upgrades encouraged further upgrades of nearby buildings. Land values increased substantially among burned plots and nearby unburned plots, capitalizing economic gains comparable to the prior value of burned buildings. Boston had grown rapidly prior to the Fire, but negative spillovers from outdated durable buildings had substantially constrained its growth by dampening reconstruction incentives. (JEL H76, N91, R11, R52, R58)
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Braun, Andreas, Gebhard Warth, Felix Bachofer, Tram Thi Quynh Bui, Hao Tran, and Volker Hochschild. "Changes in the Building Stock of Da Nang between 2015 and 2017." Data 5, no. 2 (2020): 42. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/data5020042.
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This descriptor introduces a novel dataset, which contains the number and types of buildings in the city of Da Nang in Central Vietnam. The buildings were classified into nine distinct types and initially extracted from a satellite image of the year 2015. Secondly, changes were identified based on a visual interpretation of an image of the year 2017, so that new buildings, demolished buildings and building upgrades can be quantitatively analyzed. The data was aggregated by administrative wards and a hexagonal grid with a diameter of 250 m to protect personal rights and to avoid the misuse of a single building’s information. The dataset shows an increase of 19,391 buildings between October 2015 and August 2017, with a variety of interesting spatial patterns. The center of the city is mostly dominated by building changes and upgrades, while most of the new buildings were constructed within a distance of five to six kilometers from the city center.
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Petrushevska, Katerina. "Energy Efficient Improvements of Existing Buildings through Building Envelope Upgrade Case Study of High Rise Block of Flats on 76, Boulevard Partizanski Odredi in Karpos IV, Skopje." South East European Journal of Architecture and Design 2016 (May 5, 2016): 1–180. http://dx.doi.org/10.3889/seejad.2016.10020.
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AIM: This research examines the important issue of energy efficient improvements to the existing building stock through building envelope upgrade. To facilitate this, the energy performance characteristics of the existing building stock were identified with a view to establishing an existing building stock type, where building envelope upgrades can contribute to a higher level of energy efficiency improvements. The literature review along with the selected building precedents was used to establish the best current practice for building envelope upgrades.MATERIAL AND METHODS: Established building precedents and identified best practice for building envelope upgrade, a high rise block of flats was identified and used as a case study, with the current and predicted, following building envelope upgrade, energy performance of the building calculated. This has allowed us to identify the possible energy efficiency improvements for this type of building following the building envelope upgrade. RESULTS: In the projected case, the building with energy class - "D" become class "B". In addition, increased quality of the living room in the attic was enabled. It was possible to obtain a decrease of the heating energy from 130.76 kWh/m²a to 37.73 kWh/m²a or to jump in the class "B" of energetic passport.CONCLUSION: This research contributes to the local implementation of the global agenda for sustainable development, design and construction, and it demonstrates the possible way and level of energy efficiency improvements to the least efficient building stock through existing building envelope upgrade.
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Kipourou, Antonia, and Sofia Giannarou. "Barriers to energy upgrades of existing residential buildings: Results from social housing areas in Athens." E3S Web of Conferences 585 (2024): 01001. http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202458501001.
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In the latest years a large scale of energy upgrades has been implemented on many residencies in the capital of Greece Athens. Obstacles to the implementation of this process occur from the start as individuals seek important barriers, such as limited capital, lack of trust to professionals and limited information from the competent authorities. On the other hand, property holder’s request to join government’s energy upgrade programs, since they are not able to implement solutions on their own with their low incomes. In this case, they are willing to trust project consultants and engineers, so as to easily participate and implement advanced energy saving solutions. Finally, precise consultation and investigation of the current energy situation by professionals, can raise awareness of the current energy situation, while practical solutions through combined technologies are able to upgrade the existing building stock. The current paper includes highlighted parts of an extensive questionnaire research to citizens of social housing areas in Athens, concerning their opinion about energy upgrades in the residential sector.
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Bodziacki, Stanisław, Mateusz Malinowski, Stanisław Famielec, et al. "Environmental Assessment of Energy System Upgrades in Public Buildings." Energies 17, no. 13 (2024): 3278. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/en17133278.
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The use of fossil fuel-based energy systems that provide heat and electricity to a building has adverse environmental impacts. These impacts can be mitigated, to a certain extent, through the incorporation of renewable energy sources (RES). The primary objective of this study was to conduct an environmental assessment of the performance of energy systems in existing public facilities located in Poland. Based on the findings, we proposed and implemented changes to these systems and validated the environmental impact of the RES systems used. SimaPro 8.1 software and the Ecoinvent 3.0 database were employed for the analysis, which entailed an environmental assessment of six public facilities located in Poland. The installation of RES resulted in an average 27% reduction in electricity consumption from the national electricity grid. This reduction was observed to be the least in the hospital and the most in the religious building. This was reflected in the environmental assessment of heating systems. The implementation of RES reduced the environmental impact of the religious building by an average of 20%. Concurrently, the CO2 emissions decreased by 35%, SO2 by 44%, and PM10 by 42%. Significant investments and the installation of advanced RES will not prevent the occurrence of unintentional environmental consequences unless the demand for electricity and thermal energy is reduced. The use of RES in the analyzed buildings and the associated avoided emissions do not entirely offset the negative emissions resulting from the utilization of other (conventional) energy sources in the analyzed energy systems of public buildings. Consequently, the analyzed facilities collectively exert a detrimental impact on the environment.
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Kleint, Lucia, Thomas Berkefeld, Miguel Esteves, et al. "GREGOR: Optics redesign and updates from 2018–2020." Astronomy & Astrophysics 641 (September 2020): A27. http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202038208.
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The GREGOR telescope was inaugurated in 2012. In 2018, we began a complete upgrade, involving optics, alignment, instrumentation, mechanical upgrades for vibration reduction, updated control systems, and building enhancements, and in addition, adapted management and policies. This paper describes all major updates performed during this time. Since 2012, all powered mirrors except for M1 were exchanged. Since March 2020, GREGOR observes with diffraction-limited performance and a new optics and instrument layout.
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Paxton, Brandon, Kenneth J. Elwood, and Jason M. Ingham. "Empirical Damage Relationships and Benefit-Cost Analysis for the Seismic Retrofit of URM Buildings." Earthquake Spectra 33, no. 3 (2017): 1053–74. http://dx.doi.org/10.1193/091816eqs153m.
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Benefit-cost analyses for the seismic retrofit of unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings in downtown Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, were undertaken, considering the seismic hazard, building value, occupant/pedestrian exposure, a variety of strengthening measures, and local construction costs. The analyses are underpinned by building motion-damage relationships developed based on observed damage in past earthquakes in California and New Zealand. The considered upgrading measures ranged from parapet bracing to comprehensive seismic upgrades consistent with local practices. Parapet bracing and other partial retrofits were shown to have favorable benefit-cost ratios and thus be strong candidate measures for risk mitigation programs. Full upgrades were shown to have less favorable benefit-cost ratios. While applied to Victoria, the generality of the methodology and the use of observed damage data from California and New Zealand make the findings of this study particularly relevant for similar locations throughout the Pacific Northwest and abroad.
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Chen, Chadwick, Shunwu Xu, Guoliang Qi, and Wenquan Huo. "Technical innovation and research of autoclaved aerated concrete block/panel equipment." ce/papers 6, no. 2 (2023): 339–47. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cepa.1949.
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AbstractRecent years with the development of green buildings, the market demand for new building materials is rising, which also comes the high requirements for production technology, equipment durability and product quality. Taking the successful experience from hundred projects, KEDA SUREMAKER upgrades practical functions of AAC core equipment such as the cutting section and packing section to improve working efficiency, productivity, and durability, and make equipment easier to operate and maintain. For the production of high‐quality AAC panel, a new solution of vertical cake cutting—green cake separation—flat cake autoclaving is launched. As for the demands of mass AAC block production, a new three‐layer efficiency white cake separation technology is given. In addition, the production management system of the whole factory has been upgraded to make AAC plant management more efficient.
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Simpkins, Anna, John Killingsworth, Jon Elliott, and Adam Ritchey. "Coordinating Mechanical Upgrades in a Landmark State Capitol Building." Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities 34, no. 4 (2020): 04020060. http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/(asce)cf.1943-5509.0001424.
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Li, Yuan, Bijun Wang, and Yue Fei. "Green renovation of building envelopes in higher education institutions: study of energy-saving and carbon reduction at Nanjing audit university Mochou campus." International Journal of Low-Carbon Technologies 20 (2025): 1057–79. https://doi.org/10.1093/ijlct/ctaf058.
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Abstract This study examines carbon-reduction retrofit strategies for aging university buildings, using Nanjing Audit University’s Mochou campus as a case study. The retrofit incorporated high-performance insulation, optimized window-to-wall ratios, low-emissivity glass, and green concrete, achieving a 40% reduction in energy consumption. Energy simulations, monitoring, and occupant comfort assessments confirmed improved thermal performance and sustainability. Findings provide insights into material selection and lifecycle cost reduction for energy-efficient retrofits. This research highlights the economic and environmental benefits of building envelope upgrades, supporting green building initiatives, and sustainable campus development.
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Casquero-Modrego, N., W. R. Chan, B. D. Less, and I. S. Walker. "Getting to Scale for Decarbonizing Homes in the US: An Industry Survey." IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science 1085, no. 1 (2022): 012036. http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1085/1/012036.
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Abstract Most of the residential building stock in the US and EU was built according to the building and construction code prevailing at time of construction and have poor energy performance that contributes to higher carbon emissions. Energy and carbon reduction upgrade projects of existing residential buildings are still a niche market compared to conventional building retrofitting or renovation. We need energy saving and decarbonization projects aiming to reduce carbon emissions if we are to meet our climate goals. In order to get to scale with these projects we need to better understand what motivates and deters occupants and owners to conduct home performance upgrades. We conducted a survey to gather information from home performance contractors and stakeholders, to learn about promising approaches and technologies from the industry perspective. This survey identified limiting factors such as project complexity, high costs, perceived risks, extensive disruption, and work being unfamiliar to many contractors. The survey also identified paths to motivate homeowners, including building code simplification and emphasizing non-energy benefits such as improved health and in indoor air quality. Finally, the survey respondents highlighted potential innovations in technologies, such as heat pumps, monitoring and diagnostics. Electrification is highlighted as the fast and effective path to take on large scale decarbonization of the building stock. Finally, there is the need to develop more incentives to increase demand and business models to create the businesses and the workforce that is required to get to scale.
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Ananya, A. B., and Joseph Jikhil. "Controlled Building Implosion." Journal of Structural Engineering, its Applications and Analysis 7, no. 2 (2024): 37–47. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10930726.
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<em>Urban development is a key concern which requires advancements that are malleable enough to accommodate post-construction changes. Infrastructure upgrades, redevelopment, or removal of structurally unsound or obsolete structures have made demolitions commonplace. The popularity of RCC buildings has furthered the cause. Amongst the other methods, the implosion of buildings has attained wider acceptance as a viable option. This report covers the plausibility and institutional aspects of demolition and further explores the use of implosion as a method of demolition in the present times. This also involves the safety measures to be adopted while bringing such demolition machinery into place. The urban fabric necessitates action with caution and the report concludes with eco-sensitive and safe measures for the same.</em>
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Frilingou, Natasha, and Demetri Bouris. "Effects of Building Energy Efficiency Measures on Air Quality at the Neighborhood Level in Athens, Greece." Energies 13, no. 21 (2020): 5689. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/en13215689.
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The high concentration of pollutant sources, complex topography, and regional meteorology are all factors that may contribute to air episodes in dense urban areas. Energy use in buildings is a significant source of pollution in the Greater Athens Area (GAA), Greece, where over 90% of the existing building stock has been classified below energy class B. The present study focuses on the potential effects that a realistic level of building energy efficiency upgrades will have on the air quality over the GAA. Results are expected to be relevant to similar urban areas. Furthermore, the study of primary pollutants’ dispersion is applied at a 1.2 × 1.2 km spatial resolution, providing significant local (neighborhood) level information. Numerical simulations were performed using EPA’s CALPUFF modeling system with wind field input from an independent numerical weather prediction using NCAR’s Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. In order to calculate emission rates from major roads, highways, shipping ports, residential heating installations, and major industrial facilities, data were taken from National and European statistics, demographics, and local topography. After validation, the modeling system was used to examine three building energy efficiency upgrade scenarios, implemented on 20% of the buildings. Ground level concentrations of SO2, NOx, CO, and PM10 were calculated and reductions of up to 9% were found for GAA maximum values but up to 18% for local values that were also close to or above the European safety thresholds.
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Swedberg, Nicholas. "Robust Optimisation of Building Retrofits for Present versus Future Climate Scenarios in Humid Continental Climates (Dfb subtype) to Reduce Heating Demand and Mitigate Future Overheating Risk." E3S Web of Conferences 362 (2022): 11002. http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202236211002.
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The outdoor environment is a major driver of building performance; a changing climate poses a significant challenge to the effective deployment of building retrofits. The Dfb Köppen climate zone, a humid continental climate with warm summer subtype, is poised to confront significant annual and seasonal temperature changes within the next thirty years. This study examined the relationship between retrofits’ ability to reduce heating demand and simultaneously mitigate future overheating risk. A low-rise apartment was used as the basis of a multi-objective design optimisation (MODO) that modelled building heating demand and overheating risk across a series of input variables, considered either optimisable (i.e.: building envelope upgrades) or non-optimisable (i.e.: occupancy profiles) in the context of this study. The metric overheating-degree-hours (OHDH) was utilised to assess overheating risk. The results of this study reinforced previous findings indicating envelope upgrades can significantly reduce heating demand, but also underscored the importance of implementing solar heat gain mitigation strategies for overheating risk reduction. Additionally, the study highlighted the appropriateness of amalgamated weather data for performance analysis.
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Chen, Qian, and Qian Ma. "A STUDY OF THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY RENOVATION ON PUBLIC HOUSING PROJECTS." Journal of Green Building 7, no. 1 (2012): 192–212. http://dx.doi.org/10.3992/jgb.7.1.192.
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While the energy efficiency of commercial buildings, schools, and private homes has received increasing attention, the energy performance of public housing has long been neglected. The high energy usage and resulting utility costs associated with such subsidized houses have added great financial burdens to the government and tenants. Therefore, improving public housing's energy performance becomes an important task. This paper presents a comparative study that mainly investigates the effectiveness of energy efficiency measures (EEMs) recently implemented in the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority's green renovation projects. Whole building energy simulation results show that due to budget constraints, the limited EEMs put into place would only result in a marginal (7.6%) improvement to the renovated building's energy performance prior to renovation. Another 38.5% reduction would be needed, using the performance requirement of the current building energy code as a reference. Based on these findings, this research offers some insights into more cost-effective energy efficiency upgrades that can help reduce public housing's energy consumption and green renovation costs.
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Adenaike, Folahan Anthony, Joseph Akinlabi Fadamiro, and Akunnaya Pearl Opoko. "Forms and Elements of Recent Ethno-Acculturation Preferences of Yoruba Architecture in Southwest Ngeria; A Case Study of Abeokuta Historic City Core." Journal of Sustainable Architecture and Civil Engineering 35, no. 2 (2024): 133–52. http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.sace.35.2.31935.
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The evolution of indigenous architecture for any social culture is usually sectionalised into thresholds of different but succinct architectural styles. The continued survival of any indigenous style is the ability to accommodate changes in components while preserving the culture of the people. The postmodern and contemporary architectural styles are the most recent defined patterns that have been assimilated into the Yoruba areas of Southwest Nigeria. Existing literature on Yoruba architecture have not addressed the delineation of the current threshold of the indigenous style. In a bid to address this problem, this research set out to define the current outlook of the Yoruba indigenous architecture through the forms and elements that have been acculturised from the foreign styles. This was achieved by locating the study in a historic city centre where the social culture is preserved in the community and the buildings. Urban upgrades carried out in the area stimulated the renovation and fresh construction of buildings where they occurred in the otherwise sedentary community. The older buildings in the sedentary parts of the study area and the newer structures in the upgraded areas provided two different thresholds in the architectural evolution for comparison of the constituents of the building patterns. After defining the study area, building counts were carried out to determine numbers in the upgraded and sedentary areas. This helped to calculate the sample sizes for direct observation guided by a schedule. Questionnaire was administered to evaluate residents’ opinions on the subject. Descriptive statistics were used to identify the trends in typologies and preferences while existing literature was used to explain the chronology of styles and the architectural evolution of the area. The research identified the current natures of the forms and elements being adopted in the area and the reasons for their adoption. It concluded that the forms have been modified to suit the social culture and the climate.
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Antoniou, F., F. Demertzidou, P. Mentzelou, and D. Konstantinidis. "Energy upgrading of buildings in Greece with eco-materials: An investigation of public awareness." IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science 1123, no. 1 (2022): 012033. http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1123/1/012033.
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Abstract The environmental impact of the construction sector is significant making it necessary to adopt sustainable solutions for energy upgrades of buildings. Furthermore, the use of advanced eco-materials to improve the energy efficiency of buildings has been shown to provide better energy conserving results than conventional upgrading materials, contributing directly to the improvement of the comfort level of building occupants. This study investigates the public view in Greece regarding energy upgrades of buildings using eco-materials. A mixed methods research approach was employed based on a questionnaire survey investigating the public’s knowledge of the need, the benefits of using eco-materials and the motivation required to renovate the buildings they live and work in to a higher energy efficient standard. Although technologies in advanced eco-materials have increased, the survey showed that, regardless of the existence of government subsidies, the general public in Greece is unaware of the importance of and benefits from upgrading their buildings with eco-materials. As a result, there is an urgent need to embark on more rigorous environmental awareness campaigns to support local authorities in implementing sustainability policies, like the use of eco-materials for the energy efficiency improvement of buildings, to create sustainable and healthy cities.
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Shahrabani, Mustafa Muthanna Najm, and Rasa Apanaviciene. "Evaluation of Smart Building Integration into a Smart City by Applying Machine Learning Techniques." Buildings 15, no. 12 (2025): 2031. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15122031.
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Smart buildings’ role is crucial for advancing smart cities’ performance in achieving environmental sustainability, resiliency, and efficiency. The integration barriers continue due to technology, infrastructure, and operations misalignments and are escalated due to inadequate assessment frameworks and classification systems. The existing literature on assessment methodologies reveals diverging evaluation frameworks for smart buildings and smart cities, non-uniform metrics and taxonomies that hinder scalability, and the low use of machine learning in predictive integration modelling. To fill these gaps, this paper introduces a novel machine learning model to predict smart building integration into smart city levels and assess their impact on smart city performance by leveraging data from 147 smart buildings in 13 regions. Six optimised machine learning algorithms (K-Nearest Neighbours (KNNs), Support Vector Regression (SVR), Random Forest, Adaptive Boosting (AdaBoost), Decision Tree (DT), and Extra Tree (ET)) were employed to train the model and perform feature engineering and permutation importance analysis. The SVR-trained model substantially outperformed other models, achieving an R-squared of 0.81, Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 0.33 and Mean Absolute Error (MAE) of 0.27, enabling precise integration prediction. Case studies revealed that low-integration buildings gain significant benefits from progressive target upgrades, whilst those buildings that have already implemented some integrated systems tend to experience diminishing marginal benefits with further, potentially disruptive upgrades. The conclusion of this study states that by utilising the developed machine learning model, owners and policymakers are capable of significantly improving the integration of smart buildings to build better, more sustainable, and resilient urban environments.
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Bakir, K., M. El-dek, and A. Khedr. "Green Building Information Modelling to Raise the Efficiency of a Residential Building in the New Administrative Capital." IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science 1113, no. 1 (2022): 012002. http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1113/1/012002.
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Abstract Recent economic and population growth patterns in Egypt almost guarantee that energy consumption and emissions will continue to rise rapidly if nothing changes. According to the United Nations Development Program, Egypt’s energy demand will have been triple by 2030. Additionally, Egypt’s total emissions from energy use have been increased eightfold since 1971. The construction industry has been pushed to adopt sustainable building strategies, and the consensus among researchers and practitioners is that the most important phase to make decisions about is during the early stages of design. Arguably, high-performance buildings require a different design mechanism than traditional methods to achieve a holistic, sustainable outcome. Indeed, Building Information Modelling (BIM) can greatly facilitate the informed sustainability in buildings. Although BIM and sustainable design emerge from different underlying factors, they share an important common thread: the success of both depends on large part of building design philosophy loaded from the start. In fact, BIM can greatly facilitate the informed sustainability in buildings. Within the framework of reviewing the literature, researchers concluded the importance of BIM in the early stages of building design. The authors conducted an applied case study to evaluate a residential building in the new Administrative Capital in Cairo, Egypt, and concluded a set of design upgrades to raise the energy efficiency of the building and reduce carbon emissions from operating energy.
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Lakhiar, Muhammad Tarique, Shalini Sanmargaraja, AbdulLateef Olanrewaju, Chong Hooi Lim, Vignes Ponniah, and Anselm Dass Mathalamuthu. "Assessing Energy Efficiency in Conventional Office Buildings through Retrofitting Strategies." Engineering, Technology & Applied Science Research 15, no. 3 (2025): 23197–203. https://doi.org/10.48084/etasr.9916.
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This study evaluates the energy efficiency of a conventional office building in Malaysia through the implementation of passive and active Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs). The retrofitting strategies included roof insulation, shading devices, HVAC optimization, and LED lighting upgrades, targeting key inefficiencies in the building's baseline energy performance. The energy modeling is performed with the eQUEST tool. Implementing ECMs demonstrated a 59.58% reduction in energy consumption contributing to reducing the annual usage from 292,330 kWh to 118,170 kWh, and additionally achieving CO₂ emission reductions of 132,013.28 kg. The payback period of 3.65 years highlights the economic feasibility of these measures. The annual cost savings reached MYR 88,647.44. The findings emphasize the importance of integrating passive and active strategies to optimize energy performance, reduce environmental impact, and enhance sustainability in office buildings.
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Real, Diego, and David Calvo. "KM3NeT Acquisition Electronics: Status, upgrades and current developments." EPJ Web of Conferences 319 (2025): 12001. https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/202531912001.
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The KM3NeT Collaboration is building a neutrino observatory in the Mediterranean Sea, by installing thousands of optical modules distributed over a seawater volume of more than one cubic kilometer. These modules host acquisition electronics responsible for reading out 31 photomultiplier tubes. This contribution offers an overview of the KM3NeT acquisition electronics, emphasizing recent upgrades, ongoing developments, and reliability enhancements. The presentation addresses reliability improvements through theoretical FIDES analyses and practical HALT evaluations. Using the White Rabbit protocol, the clocks in the optical modules in the large-scale infrastructure are synchronized with a precision of 1 nanosecond.
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Nehasilová, Marie, Antonín Lupíšek, Petra Lupíšková Coufalová, et al. "Rapid Environmental Assessment of Buildings: Linking Environmental and Cost Estimating Databases." Sustainability 14, no. 17 (2022): 10928. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su141710928.
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Life cycle assessment (LCA) has become an important part of building design optimization. Design studios need tools that make the LCA of buildings faster and simple, and provide results that allow comparison between variants. The objective of this study was to show the possibility of LCA data integration into the existing building design tool, the DEK Building Library, which is already widely used in the Czech Republic, by connecting it to 1200 items of the largest Czech cost-estimating database, and the application of this connection into building information modeling (BIM) tools. This process also included the large-scale adaptation of 160 relevant LCA data. The main result was obtained using EnviBIM, a freely accessible BIM plugin, as well as a web interface that allows users to receive cradle-to-gate environmental impacts of DEK Building Library elements. Additionally, a semi-automated algorithms system for different groups of building materials and elements named EnviDataGenerator was developed in MS Excel, which enables the consistent linking of LCA data to the cost-estimating database items. This allows EnviBIM extensions and upgrades. The EnviBIM module was validated using case studies of three buildings modeled in ArchiCAD and REVIT. The difference in results compared to the manual calculation was 3.1% to 10.9%, which was considered a success.
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Yu, Fei, Wei Feng, Jiawei Leng, Yibo Wang, and Yang Bai. "Review of the U.S. Policies, Codes, and Standards of Zero-Carbon Buildings." Buildings 12, no. 12 (2022): 2060. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/buildings12122060.
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The global issue of climate change has accelerated the international commitment to net-zero carbon emission development. Decarbonizing the building sector has been put on several governments’ sustainable development agendas. To provide a reference for decarbonizing the building sector, this paper summarizes the U.S. experience in zero-carbon buildings (ZCBs) from the aspects of policies, codes, and standards at the federal and local levels and those of professional societies. Based on the definition and boundaries of ZCBs, this paper introduces policies on building energy efficiency, electrification, on-site renewable energy deployment, and “buy clean”, illustrating highlights in building phases, energy systems, materials production, and fiscal incentives. The synergic efforts and coordination between federal and local levels and with professional societies are also introduced. Successful experiences in policy and standard implementation are summarized, including the systemic work of multilevel governance, clearly defined goals and stringent policies, constant upgrades of codes and standards, transparency in reporting and information sharing, and increased financial and investment opportunities. This paper provides concrete recommendations for developing zero-carbon building policies.
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Skaar, Christofer, Jørn-Emil Gaarder, Nora Schjøth Bunkholt, and Malin Sletnes. "Energy Upgrading of Basement Exterior Walls: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly." Buildings 13, no. 1 (2023): 133. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/buildings13010133.
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Most of today’s buildings will still be in use in 2050 and upgrades should therefore contribute to reducing energy consumption and carbon footprint. This paper addresses a challenge for upgrading of basement exterior walls of single-family dwellings, where ordinary retrofit insulation can lead to the basement wall protruding from the existing outer wall. For some, this will be an aesthetic barrier for an energy upgrade (an “ugly” solution). Superinsulation may solve this challenge without compromising the energy performance. This study analyses energy, cost and carbon footprint, to identify under which conditions upgrading with vacuum insulation panels (VIP) can be a preferred solution. Three alternatives are analysed in a parametric model: ordinary upgrade with XPS (the aesthetically “ugly”), upgrade with VIP above ground and XPS below ground (the aesthetically “good”), and iii) no upgrade (the “bad”, as it does not contribute to reducing energy consumption). Results show that using VIP and XPS to perform energy upgrade of a basement exterior wall may lead to an aesthetically more pleasing solution than with only XPS, but that it will lead to higher carbon footprint and higher costs. The least favourable option is to install a drainage system without doing an energy upgrade, which will have negative impact for energy use, carbon footprint and life cycle cost.
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Filardo, Mary, Jeffrey M. Vincent, and Kevin Sullivan. "How crumbling school facilities perpetuate inequality." Phi Delta Kappan 100, no. 8 (2019): 27–31. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0031721719846885.
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The average public school building was built around 1968 — more than 50 years ago — and the National Center for Education Statistics reports that half of all public schools in the United States need at least one major facility repair. Mary Filardo, Jeffrey Vincent, and Kevin Sullivan explain how poorly maintained school buildings have a negative effect on both student and teacher performance and health. Because local districts are responsible for funding their own building maintenance and upgrades, poor communities lack the resources to keep facilities in adequate shape, much less to modernize them, and needed repairs may be made using the same operating funds used to pay teachers and purchase instructional materials. The authors express hope that interest in infrastructure improvements at the federal level will enable schools to receive the funding they need.
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Gabriel, Santos, Pinto Tiago, Vale Zita, Carvalho Rui, Teixeira Brígida, and Ramos Carlos. "Upgrading BRICKS – the Context-aware semantic rule-based system for intelligent building energy and security management." Energies 14, no. 15 (2023): 4541. https://doi.org/10.3390/en14154541.
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Building management systems (BMSs) are being implemented broadly by industries in recent decades. However, BMSs focus on specific domains, and when installed on the same building, they lack interoperability to work on a centralized user interface. On the other hand, BMSs interoperability allows the implementation of complex rules based on multi-domain contexts. The Building’s Reasoning for Intelligent Control Knowledge-based System (BRICKS) is a context-aware semantic rule-based system for the intelligent management of buildings’ energy and security. It uses ontologies and semantic web technologies to interact with different domains, taking advantage of cross-domain knowledge to apply context-based rules. This work upgrades the previously presented version of BRICKS by including services for energy consumption and generation forecast, demand response, a configuration user interface (UI), and a dynamic building monitoring and management UI. The case study demonstrates BRICKS deployed at different aggregation levels in the authors’ laboratory building, managing a demand response event and interacting autonomously with other BRICKS instances. The results validate the correct functioning of the proposed tool, which contributes to the flexibility, efficiency, and security of building energy systems.
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Bambara, James, Andreas K. Athienitis, and Ursula Eicker. "Decarbonizing Local Mobility and Greenhouse Agriculture through Residential Building Energy Upgrades: A Case Study for Québec." Energies 14, no. 20 (2021): 6820. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/en14206820.
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Electrification is an efficient way to decarbonize by replacing fossil fuels with low-emission power. In addition, energy efficiency measures can reduce consumption, making it easier to shift to a zero-carbon society. In Québec, upgrades to aging buildings that employ electric resistance heating offer a unique opportunity to free up large amounts of hydroelectricity that can serve to decarbonize heating in other buildings. However, another source of energy would be needed to electrify mobility because efficiency measures free up small amounts of electricity in summer compared to winter. This study reveals how building efficiency measures combined with solar electricity generation provide an energy profile that matches the requirements for decarbonizing both mobility and heating. The TRNSYS software was used to simulate the annual energy performance of an existing house and retrofitted/rebuilt low-energy houses equipped with a photovoltaic (PV) roof in Montreal, Québec, Canada (45.5° N). The electricity that is made available by upgrading the houses is mainly considered for powering battery and fuel cell electric vehicles (BEVs and FCEVs) and electrifying heating in greenhouses. The results indicate that retrofitting 16% or rebuilding 12% of single-detached homes in Québec can provide enough electricity to decarbonize heating energy use in existing greenhouses and to operate the new greenhouses required for growing all fresh vegetables locally. If all the single-detached houses that employ electric resistance heating are upgraded, 33.4 and 21.8 TWh year−1 of electricity would be available for decarbonization, equivalent to a 19% and 12% increase of the province’s electricity supply for the retrofitted or rebuilt houses, respectively. This is enough energy to convert 83–100% of personal vehicles to BEVs or 35–56% to FCEVs. Decarbonization using the electricity that is made available by upgrading to low-energy solar houses could reduce the province’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by approximately 32% (26.5 MtCO2eq). The time required for the initial embodied GHG emissions to surpass the emissions avoided by electrification ranges from 3.4 to 11.2 years. Building energy efficiency retrofits/rebuilds combined with photovoltaics is a promising approach for Québec to maximize the decarbonization potential of its existing energy resources while providing local energy and food security.
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Iturralde, Kepa, Peru Elguezabal, and Asier Mediavila. "Automation process in data collection for representing façades in building models as part of the renovation process." Journal of Facade Design and Engineering 11, no. 2 (2023): 123–44. http://dx.doi.org/10.47982/jfde.2023.2.a2.
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A key barrier in building-facade renovation processes is that, contrary to new designs, an initial building model where the design process is based rarely exists, and the technologies usually employed to create it (e.g., based on point cloud scanning) are costly or require modeling skills. This situation is a clear limitation, especially in early decision stages, where the level of detail required is not very high, and the analysis and studies to consider the renovation plan (e.g., simplified energy simulations and renovation potential, or estimation of the number, types, and dimensions of the prefabricated modules incorporating solar panels) highly depend on such digital models. This paper introduces a process that, based on freely available data such as open GIS sources (local Cadasters, OpenStreetMap…) and façade images, can semi-automatically generate the 3D building model of the existing conditions, and in a second step also suggests the prefabricated facades module layout for building upgrades. Additionally, no onsite visit is needed. When the upgrade is focused on the façade, a big opportunity is identified for generating the building model and a realistic representation of its envelope, only using online data sources as input. The process developed consists of a set of easy-to-use software tools that can be used independently or combined in a workflow, depending on the available data and starting conditions. Time saving is very clear and costs can be reduced.
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Iturralde, Kepa, Asier Mediavilla, and Peru Elguezabal. "Automation process in data collection for representing façades in building models as part of the renovation process." Journal of Facade Design and Engineering 11, no. 2(2023) (2023): 123–44. https://doi.org/10.47982/jfde.2023.2.A2.
Full textAbstract:
A key barrier in building-facade renovation processes is that, contrary to new designs, an initial building model where the design process is based rarely exists, and the technologies usually employed to create it (e.g., based on point cloud scanning) are costly or require modeling skills. This situation is a clear limitation, especially in early decision stages, where the level of detail required is not very high, and the analysis and studies to consider the renovation plan (e.g., simplified energy simulations and renovation potential, or estimation of the number, types, and dimensions of the prefabricated modules incorporating solar panels) highly depend on such digital models. This paper introduces a process that, based on freely available data such as open GIS sources (local Cadasters, OpenStreetMap…) and façade images, can semi-automatically generate the 3D building model of the existing conditions, and in a second step also suggests the prefabricated facades module layout for building upgrades. Additionally, no onsite visit is needed. When the upgrade is focused on the façade, a big opportunity is identified for generating the building model and a realistic representation of its envelope, only using online data sources as input. The process developed consists of a set of easy-to-use software tools that can be used independently or combined in a workflow, depending on the available data and starting conditions. Time saving is very clear and costs can be reduced.
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Santos, Gabriel, Tiago Pinto, Zita Vale, Rui Carvalho, Brígida Teixeira, and Carlos Ramos. "Upgrading BRICKS—The Context-Aware Semantic Rule-Based System for Intelligent Building Energy and Security Management." Energies 14, no. 15 (2021): 4541. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/en14154541.
Full textAbstract:
Building management systems (BMSs) are being implemented broadly by industries in recent decades. However, BMSs focus on specific domains, and when installed on the same building, they lack interoperability to work on a centralized user interface. On the other hand, BMSs interoperability allows the implementation of complex rules based on multi-domain contexts. The Building’s Reasoning for Intelligent Control Knowledge-based System (BRICKS) is a context-aware semantic rule-based system for the intelligent management of buildings’ energy and security. It uses ontologies and semantic web technologies to interact with different domains, taking advantage of cross-domain knowledge to apply context-based rules. This work upgrades the previously presented version of BRICKS by including services for energy consumption and generation forecast, demand response, a configuration user interface (UI), and a dynamic building monitoring and management UI. The case study demonstrates BRICKS deployed at different aggregation levels in the authors’ laboratory building, managing a demand response event and interacting autonomously with other BRICKS instances. The results validate the correct functioning of the proposed tool, which contributes to the flexibility, efficiency, and security of building energy systems.
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Alghamdi, Hisham, and Aníbal Alviz-Meza. "A Novel Strategy for Converting Conventional Structures into Net-Zero-Energy Buildings without Destruction." Sustainability 15, no. 14 (2023): 11229. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su151411229.
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The majority of energy consumption is attributed to buildings. Buildings designed with environmentally sustainable features have the potential to reduce energy consumption. The demolition of ecologically detrimental structures incurs expenses and damages the natural environment. The act of constructing models for the purpose of destruction was deemed superfluous. The replication of the structural model was accompanied by a modification of the design, and a variety of tactics were employed. The proposed upgrades for the building include the installation of new windows, incorporation of greenery on the walls and roof, implementation of insulation, and integration of solar panels in a four-story residential building in Najran, Saudi Arabia. Simultaneously installing insulation prior to changing windows will ensure that the energy consumption of the building, green wall, or green roof will remain unaffected. The installation of solar panels on the walls and top roof of a structure has the potential to generate a monthly electricity output up to two times greater than the structure’s consumption. The spas can be heated on a daily basis by substituting the heating system with solar collectors. The implementation of sustainable building practices has resulted in a significant reduction in energy consumption. Specifically, electricity, gas, heating, and cooling consumption decreased by 11%, 85%, 28%, and 83%, respectively.
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Nurokhman, Nurokhman, Edy Masduqi, and Evy Kusumaningrum. "Assessment of the Structure of an Old Ex-Hotel Building for Change Function into a Shopping Center as Building Permit Approval." Multidiscience : Journal of Multidisciplinary Science 2, no. 1 (2025): 242–51. https://doi.org/10.59631/multidiscience.v2i1.328.
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This study evaluates the structural condition of the former Hotel Mutiara I building in Yogyakarta, which is undergoing a change of function into a shopping center. In compliance with Indonesian regulations, such as Law No. 28 of 2002 and SNI standards, the structural assessment focuses on safety and feasibility under increased live loads. Using a combination of destructive and non-destructive testing methods, including Core Drill Tests, Pulse Velocity Tests, and Ultrasonic Concrete Tomography, the study analyzes the quality of concrete and reinforcement materials. The findings reveal that the building's concrete compressive strength exceeds the minimum requirement of 21 MPa, indicating acceptable material performance for its age. However, deficiencies, such as plain reinforcement bars and inadequate concrete cover, necessitate compliance upgrades. The increased live load of 6.00 kN/m² due to the change in function requires structural reinforcement, particularly for columns and beams. Recommended measures include applying Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) to enhance axial, shear, and bending capacities and addressing non-compliant structural elements. This research underscores the importance of comprehensive structural evaluations for aging buildings undergoing functional changes, offering practical recommendations to ensure long-term safety, compliance, and functionality while preserving historical architectural integrity.
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Nam, Arisae, and Young Il Kim. "Prioritizing Energy Performance Improvement Factors for Senior Centers Based on Building Energy Simulation and Economic Feasibility." Energies 17, no. 22 (2024): 5576. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/en17225576.
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This study examined energy performance improvement factors by analyzing both energy performance and the economic impacts to reduce energy costs for senior centers. A fact-finding survey was conducted on 20 senior centers in a metropolitan area, identifying key energy improvement factors. Energy simulations of the buildings were performed using ECO2, an officially certified energy assessment program in Korea, comparing the energy requirements before and after the improvements. The energy demand, energy consumption, and floor area were analyzed, with the J, K, and S standard models selected based on the median values of these factors. To assess the impact of the improvements, blower door tests were conducted on two senior centers before and after window upgrades. Based on the ECO2 simulations and the blower door test results, improvement priorities were identified in the following order: windows, exterior walls, boilers, roofs, and doors. Finally, an economic feasibility analysis applied the construction and heating costs to the standard models. Over a 40-year period, only boiler improvements generated a net profit. Without government support, this study recommends prioritizing boiler upgrades when selecting energy performance improvements.
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Guerrini, Gabriele, Christian Salvatori, Ilaria Senaldi, and Andrea Penna. "Experimental and Numerical Assessment of Seismic Retrofit Solutions for Stone Masonry Buildings." Geosciences 11, no. 6 (2021): 230. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/geosciences11060230.
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This paper presents an experimental and numerical study on different retrofit solutions for stone masonry buildings with timber diaphragms in earthquake-prone regions, aiming at enhancing wall-to-diaphragm connections, diaphragms’ stiffness, and masonry properties. The experimental results of incremental dynamic shake-table tests on three full-scale two-story buildings, complemented by material and component characterization tests, are initially summarized. The first building specimen was unstrengthened. The second one was retrofitted at the floor and roof levels with improved wall-to-diaphragm connections and a moderate increase in diaphragm stiffness. Connections were also improved in the third specimen together with a significant enhancement of diaphragm stiffness. The calibration of two numerical models, versus the experimental response of the retrofitted building specimens, is then presented. The models were further modified and reanalyzed to assess the effects of masonry mechanical upgrades, which could be achieved in practice through deep joint repointing or various types of jacketing. These solutions were simulated by applying correction coefficients to the masonry mechanical properties, as suggested by the Italian building code. The effectiveness of the experimentally implemented and numerically simulated interventions are discussed in terms of strength enhancement and failure modes.
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Ortikov, Khairulla Toshnazarovich. "MODERN TRENDS OF ENSURING SAFETY OF MEDICAL SUPPLY IN THE REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN." Multidisciplinary Journal of Science and Technology 4, no. 12 (2024): 391–95. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14507623.
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This document outlines a comprehensive plan for improving food safety in the Republic of Uzbekistan, focusing on regulatory reforms, infrastructure upgrades, capacity building, and international collaboration. It proposes a phased approach to address food safety challenges, beginning with short-term actions such as reviewing current laws, establishing a National Food Safety Authority, and initiating food safety education programs.
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Brotman, Billie Ann. "The impact of corporate tax policy on sustainable retrofits." Journal of Corporate Real Estate 19, no. 1 (2017): 53–63. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/jcre-02-2016-0011.
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Purpose The purpose of this paper is to ascertain whether energy retrofits need to be directed by public policy intervention or can be encouraged through tax relief that harnesses profit incentives. Existing office space potentially has an economic life of 25 to 40 years. It may be operating inefficiently compared to newer buildings for many years. Designing a market-based incentive system that encourages periodic remodeling which lowers energy usage and carbon emissions would have social benefits. Design/methodology/approach An owner/user case study is developed to test financial feasibility. The empirical study uses publicly available information to examine whether the variables modeled react as anticipated. The regression model incorporates variables of importance to an owner/user. Tax credits and energy deductions, interest rates associated with borrowing and likely electricity and natural gas rate changes are independent variables used to predict the dependent variable new non-residential private construction spending. Findings Investment tax credits (ITCs) coupled with lending has a positive impact on new non-residential commercial construction spending. The value of these benefits is not sufficient to encourage total building energy retrofits, but would encourage low-cost system upgrades. The interest rates associated with borrowing and the debt-service coverage ratio need to be kept low for existing building energy retrofits to be stimulated. Practical implications The case study provides a template that a business can use to determine the financial feasibility of a proposed energy upgrade. It enables the comparison of the marginal cost associated with an update to the present value of the financial benefits likely to be generated. Local real estate tax reductions linked to specific energy upgrades offered by many municipalities can be added to the expected energy savings generated by doing the retrofit. Social implications Tax systems designed to solve environmental pollution problems do not require regulators, inspections or court case decisions and are inherently less intrusive to businesses. Coupling private financial incentives with public policy goals cause energy-saving technologies to be adopted more quickly and with less public outcry. Originality/value The paper specifically considers the factors that influence an owner/user of the property. Rental rates and vacancy losses do not influence a property owner/user. Prior studies looked at revenue enhancements and lower-vacancy rates possibly associated with a green compared to a non-green office building. These studies did not focus on the owner/user paradigm. They reported financial benefits accruing to property owners who lease the office building. Many retrofit studies tended to use CoStar Group’s data, which are collected by a for-profit company and sold to users. The data used in this study come from survey data collected by the Federal Government of the United States of America (USA). It is publicly available to all researchers.
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Bruce, Toby, Jian Zuo, Raufdeen Rameezdeen, and Stephen Pullen. "Factors influencing the retrofitting of existing office buildings using Adelaide, South Australia as a case study." Structural Survey 33, no. 2 (2015): 150–66. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/ss-05-2014-0019.
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Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the barriers preventing investment in the re-use of low-grade multi-storey building stock in order to identify attributes that determine whether an existing building is suitable for retrofitting. Design/methodology/approach – Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with key industry practitioners to investigate existing practices and barriers facing low-grade building retrofits and what “ideal” multi-storey building features represent a successful investment opportunity. Findings – The findings showed that tenant commitment is necessary before any project goes ahead and that there exist many barriers influencing the investment decision. These include: high levels of asbestos found in existing buildings; changes in the National Construction Code necessitating enhanced fire safety and disability access; heritage listing; lack of awareness; overestimation of costs involved on simple and effective energy efficiency upgrades and change in tenant demands towards modern and efficient open plan offices. Many low-grade structures are privately owned inherited assets where the owners lack the expertise and capital to undertake retrofitting effectively. Research limitations/implications – The study is focused on the Adelaide CBD in South Australia but the findings are relevant to other Australian cities. Practical implications – There is room in the market for more positive and influential schemes such as the Green Building Fund that encourage more energy efficiency upgrading of these buildings. Social implications – The greater occurrence of retrofitting and re-use of older buildings, rather than demolition and rebuilding, has advantages with regard to reducing the impact of buildings on the environment and promoting sustainability. Originality/value – The research has indicated certain features of older buildings which render them as suitable candidates for retrofitting and refurbishment.
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Zhu, Lin, Fan Dong, and Liangwen Hu. "Mechanisms of How Private Equity Drives Industrial Upgrade: An Empirical Study Based on China’s Panel Data." Sustainability 15, no. 3 (2023): 2570. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su15032570.
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In recent years, the investment of private equity funds in China has increased and has become an important tool to promote industrial structure upgrades. Therefore, it is of theoretical and practical significance to study how and why industrial upgrades are driven by private equity funds. First, we use the understanding of heterogeneity to study the differences between the use of private equity funds and other financial instruments to stimulate industrial upgrades, and we represent industrial growth from two perspectives: economic aggregate growth and economic efficiency improvement. Next, we use shift-share analysis to disaggregate industrial upgrades into static and dynamic transfer effects, showing that other financial instruments only promote production factor mobility but not production efficiency, while private equity funds significantly contribute to both mobility and efficiency. Finally, the mediating effect model is used to study how private equity funds drive industrial upgrades: mainly from efficiency improvement based on technological progress and innovation output, and to a lesser extent from the promotion of factor mobility. The findings have practical value and implications for the optimization of financial reforms and the sustainability of regional economies.
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Stegnar, Gašper. "Strategic Prioritization of Residential Buildings for Equitable and Sustainable Renovation." Sustainability 17, no. 5 (2025): 2203. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17052203.
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The prioritization of energy renovations is critical to achieving sustainability goals and addressing socio-economic disparities in building stock. This study proposes a novel hybrid MultiCriteria Decision-Making framework for identifying and prioritizing residential buildings for energy efficiency upgrades. By integrating granular building-level data, such as energy performance and construction year, with socio-economic indicators like energy poverty and municipal income, the framework provides a comprehensive and equitable approach. Using Python for data integration and analysis, the methodology applies weighted factors to calculate the Building Priority Factor and the Municipal Energy Poverty Factor. A prioritization analysis for Slovenia demonstrates significant regional disparities in energy savings potential and renovation priorities, with some regions emerging as high-priority targets due to their aging infrastructure and elevated energy poverty levels. Conversely, densely populated urban regions with larger cities show lower prioritization needs. The proposed framework addresses limitations in existing methods by incorporating socio-economic and spatial data, enabling a dynamic and scalable approach to financial incentives. This approach aligns with the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, providing actionable insights for national renovation plans. The findings highlight the importance of targeted, regionally tailored interventions to maximize energy savings, reduce inequities, and support sustainable development goals.
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Snell, John. "Energy Upgrades for Healthy Public Housing." Energy Engineering 99, no. 3 (2002): 7–20. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01998590209509349.
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Snell, John. "Energy Upgrades for Healthy Public Housing." Energy Engineering 99, no. 3 (2002): 7–20. http://dx.doi.org/10.1092/1n58-4lm2-1xqe-cfxw.
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