Achieving Building Comfort by Natural Means

Description

​Achieving Building Comfort by Natural Means explores examples of green building designs and methods that are currently being used around the world to achieve human comfort in buildings. The operation of buildings accounts for more than 40% of total energy use and is a major source of carbon emissions. It is imperative that this consumption be substantially decreased and that energy needed for building comfort is obtained from renewable and environmentally friendly sources. This book brings together a global group of contributors who look at factors such as location, climate, building materials, energy management, ventilation, thermal environmental conditions, shading, lighting, acoustics, and more that are critical for achieving buildings that are more sustainable. Thermal comfort and climatic potential of ventilative cooling in Italian climates is available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com. Introduction Contents About the Editor Sustainable Schools: Their Passive Systems to Provide Comfort with Natural Means as an Educational Example for Pupils and Their Parents 1 Introduction 2 Historical Perspective 3 Use of Passive Strategies 4 Iconic Examples from the Past 5 Methodology 6 Dutch Iconic Examples from the Present and Near Future 6.1 Energy Academy Europe- Groningen 6.2 Ecological Primary School De Verwondering Almere 6.3 Erasmus University Rotterdam: MFO II 7 Conclusion References Living Bricks Can Generate Energy in the Home and Wean Humanity Off Fossil Fuels 1 Introduction 2 The Reign of Hygiene 3 The Environmental Role of Microbes 4 Microbial Diplomacy 5 Technology and Microbes 6 The Human Microbiome 7 Microbiome of the Built Environment 8 Microbial Technology 9 Microbial Technology as Infrastructure for Building Comfort 10 Living Architecture 11 Active Living Infrastructure: Controlled Environment (ALICE) 12 Impact of Microbial Technologies on Comfort 13 Beyond Building Comfort: Microbial Technologies as a “Living” Infrastructure 14 Scaling Up 15 Conclusions References High Comfort – Low Impact: Integration of Thermal Mass in Pursuit of Designing Sustainable Buildings 1 Introduction 2 Looking Back 3 Definition of Thermal Mass 4 An Essential Glossary of Thermal Mass Terms 5 Phase Change Materials (PCM) 6 Thermal Lag 7 Where to Locate Thermal Mass 8 Climate Appropriateness 8.1 Mild, Marine Climate 8.2 Hot, Dry Climate 8.3 Hot, Humid Climate 8.4 Cold Climate 9 Thermal Mass Impact on Comfort 10 Rules of Thumb 11 Looking Forward 11.1 Case Studies 11.1.1 Modular 11.1.2 Wall System 11.1.3 Dynamic Thermal Property Calculator 11.1.4 Analysis 12 Energy Consumption 13 Lycee Schorge Secondary School/Kéré Architecture 14 Turtle Sanctuary at Kalba Mangrove Reserve, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE) 15 Las Vegas Spring Preserve: Rammed Earth as Thermal Mass 16 The British Pavilion at Seville: World EXPO 1992 References Enhancing the Microclimate Toward Outdoor Thermal Comfort in Urban Isles of the Mediterranean Region 1 Introduction 2 Methodology 3 Case Study Overview 4 Results 5 Conclusions References Energy Management and Savings in the Domestic Situation: A Case Study 1 Electricity Meters 2 Power Diverter and Hub 3 Water Usage 4 Further Improvements After 3 Years 5 Examples of Spring and Summer Energy Usage 6 Typical Winter Consumption 6.1 10th Jan 2021–9th Feb 2021 (31 Days) 7 Typical Spring Consumption 7.1 14th Apr 2021–14th May 2021 (31 Days) 8 Conclusions Adaptive and Sustainability for Visual and Perceptive Comfort: Neuroscience and Architecture 1 Introduction 2 Methods and Materials 2.1 Knowledge Base 3 Light Measurement and Simulation Approaches 3.1 Experimental Measurements 3.2 Lighting Simulation 3.3 Lighting Design 3.4 Light for a Florentine Historical Monastery Used as University Library: Diffusing Sail Systems for Solar Radiation and Daylighting Control 3.5 Combining Natural Light Control with Optic Fiber Textiles 3.6 Science of Anatomy and Light: The Example of the Anatomical Waxes of the Specola Museum in Florence 3.7 Light, Information, and Visual Perception: An Experience Inside the Florentine Medicean Historical Building “Villa La Quiete” 3.8 Light and Visual Mapping for People Visual Behavior and Movement: Space Syntax Modeling for Cultural Heritage 3.9 Natural Lighting Design for the Enhancement of Historical Spaces, Sustainability, and Health in the Proximity: The Scervino Space in Florence 3.10 Structural Lighting: VLC Application for Well-Lighting Mixing Natural and Artificial Lighting with Information and Communication 4 Conclusions References Keeping Cool Under the Hot Arewa Sun: Natural Cooling Systems in Traditional Hausa Architecture of Nigeria 1 Introduction 1.1 Enviro-cultural Factors 1.1.1 Environment and Climate 1.1.2 Socioculture 1.2 Traditional Hausa Construction 1.2.1 Roofing 1.2.2 Walling 1.2.3 Openings Doors Windows 2 Conclusion References The Role of Shading, Natural Ventilation, Daylighting, and Comfort in Enhancing Indoor Environmental Quality and Liveability in the Age of COVID-19 1 Introduction 2 Objectives 3 Methodology 4 Benefits of Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) 4.1 Shading Strategies and Building’s Facades 4.2 Natural Ventilation, Cross Ventilation, and Displacement Ventilation 4.3 Daylighting and Sunlight 4.4 Thermal Comfort 5 Benchmark for IEQ in the Time of COVID-19 6 Global Examples of Best Practices 6.1 Shading Strategies and Building Facades 6.1.1 Aqua Tower Chicago Condos, USA 6.1.2 Syddansk University, Kolding Campus in Copenhagen, Denmark 6.1.3 ICTA-ICP UAB Research Centre, Barcelona 6.1.4 Kuggen Building at Chalmers Lindholmen, Sweden 6.1.5 Surry Hills Library and Community Centre, Sydney, Australia 6.1.6 The Ministry of Culture in Paris, France 6.1.7 Al Bahr Towers, UAE 6.1.8 Hotel Building in Prague, Czech Republic 6.2 Thermal Comfort 6.2.1 The Beehive in Sydney, Australia 6.2.2 The Beehive Parliament Building in Wellington, New Zealand 6.2.3 Kendeda Building in Atlanta – Georgia, USA 6.2.4 Habu Temple in Luxor, Egypt 6.2.5 The Luxor Temple in Luxor, Egypt 6.3 Natural and Cross Ventilation 6.3.1 Russia Tower, Russia 6.3.2 Apple Park and Jobs’ Theatre, California, USA 6.3.3 NASA Sustainable Development Base, CA, USA 6.3.4 Morocco’s Buildings, City of Casablanca, Morocco 6.4 Daylight and Sunlight 6.4.1 The Theme Pavilion in Expo 2012 Yeosu, South Korea 6.4.2 The City Hall Building in Seoul, South Korea 6.4.3 Sanbaopeng LKKER Jingdezhen Ceramic Design Centre, China 6.4.4 Darmstadt University of Technology, Germany 6.4.5 New Library of Alexandria, Egypt 6.4.6 King Fahd’s Library and Culture Centre in Riyadh, KSA 7 Comparative Analysis of Assessed Buildings: Case Studies in Egypt 7.1 Results of the Comparative Analysis 8 Conclusion References Diachronic Analysis of Daylight Design and Management Techniques in Mediterranean Constructions 1 Introduction 2 Approach and Influences 2.1 Available Materials and Achieved Technology 2.2 Social Factors 2.3 Sun and Light in Science, Philosophy, and Religion 3 Identification of Daylighting Strategies Found in Residential Buildings 3.1 Prehistoric Era 3.2 Classical Era 3.3 Byzantine Era 3.4 Post-Byzantine and Ottoman Period: Vernacular Architecture 4 Identification of Daylight Strategies Found in Public Buildings 4.1 The Minoan Period 4.2 Classical Era 4.3 Byzantine Era 4.4 Post-Byzantine/Ottoman Era 5 Conclusions References Passive Solar Design: The Influence of Building Geometry and Orientation on Solar Performance of Mosque in the Tropics 1 Introduction 2 Mosque Design Evolution in Malaysia 2.1 Mosque Design and Its Architecture Styles 3 Bioclamatic Architecture in Malaysia 3.1 Passive Solar Design Strategy for the Tropics 3.2 Factors Affecting Solar Radiation 4 Simulation of Different Mosque Roof Geometries 4.1 Solar Radiation on Roof Surface 4.2 Sun Path 4.3 Equinox and Solstices in the Tropics 4.4 Solar Radiation Independent Variable for Simulation 5 Solar Radiation Performance on Mosque Roof Geometries 5.1 The Effect of Solar Latitude on the Solar Behavior of Flat Roof 5.2 The Effect of Solar Azimuth Angle on the Solar Behavior of Single-Tier Roof 5.3 The Effect of Solar Azimuth Angle on the Solar Behavior of Two-Tier Roof 5.4 The Effect of Solar Azimuth Angle on the Solar Behavior of Half Dome 5.5 The Effect of Solar Azimuth Angle on the Solar Behavior to Pointed Dome 5.6 The Effect of Solar Azimuth Angle on the Solar Behavior to Bulbous Dome 5.7 Solar Behavior of Five Selected Mosque Roof Geometries 6 Conclusion References Thermal and Visual Adaptive Comfort: Field Studies in Portugal 1 Introduction 2 Thermal Comfort 2.1 The Adaptive Approach 2.2 Field Surveys 2.3 Indoor and Outside Temperatures 2.4 Thermal Sensation and Thermal Preference 2.5 A Proposed Adaptive Comfort Model for Portugal 2.6 Adaptive Thermal Comfort in Buildings: An Explanatory Model 3 Daylight Dynamics and the Luminous Environment 3.1 Modelling Daylight Dynamics 3.2 Local Climatic Conditions (Exterior Module) 3.3 Glazing and the Effect of Shading (Transmission Module) 3.4 Daylight Availability and Distribution (Interior Module) 3.5 Understanding and Modelling the Occupants (Behavioural Module) 3.5.1 Perception of the Luminous Environment Illuminance Levels Subjective Visual Comfort Expectations and Preferences About the Luminous Environment Satisfaction with the Luminous Environment and the Working Place 3.6 Linked Mechanisms Approach 4 Conclusions References Rethinking Building Habitat for Comfort and Human Well-Being: Digital Technologies for Nature-Based Design 1 Well-Being in Buildings: How the Pandemic Experience Has Changed the Domestic Habitat 2 From the Existenzminimum to the Human-Centred and Sustainable Building Design 3 The Building Habitat and the Lack of Nature 4 The Green and Ecological Approach for Well-Being 4.1 The Adaptive Design of Green Envelope 4.2 Greening the Public Areas 5 People Acknowledging Buildings for an “Ecological Well-Being” 6 The Digital Twin as Predictive Tool for Ecological Design 7 Conclusions and Next Challenges References Renovating Heritage Buildings into Daylit Enjoyable and Visually Comfortable Museums/Galleries 1 Introduction 2 Daylighting as Formgiver of Architecture 3 Architecture of Heritage Buildings 4 Theoretical Background 5 Methods 6 Results and Discussion 6.1 Daylighting Autonomy (DA) 7 UDI 8 Annual DGP Distribution Analysis 9 DGP Cumulative Numbers of Hours 10 Luminance-Based Visualizations 11 Conclusion References Assessment of Indoor Heat Gain Using Overall Thermal Value (OTTV) in the Rural Houses of Andhra Pradesh, India 1 Introduction 1.1 What Is OTTV? 2 Methodology 2.1 Study Area 2.2 Case Studies 2.2.1 Floor Plan and Section of All the Houses 3 Findings: OTTV Calculation of All the Houses 4 Discussion and Conclusion References Climate-Sensitive Architecture, Is Natural Comfort Possible? 1 What Do We Mean by Comfort? 2 Climate-Sensitive Architecture in Temperate Climates 3 Occupant’s Expectations Meet Architectural Possibilities 4 Achieving Comfort by Natural Means: The User’s Key Role from Theory to Practice 5 Building Natural Comfort for the Future References Design Elements of Building Comfort in Arid Zone of Arabian Countries – The Significance Role of Orientation and Courtyard 1 Introduction 2 Building Comfort on Houses in Hot Arid Climates of Arabian Countries 2.1 Features Influencing the Built Form 2.2 Courtyards, Wind Tower, and Shading Devices Created a Sustainable Microenvironment 3 Re-inventing Traditional Elements for Building Comfort 3.1 International Trends and Identity Charters 3.2 New Era of Architecture Toward Sustainable Environment 3.3 Retrogressive Western Influence on the Concept of Building Comfort 4 Building Comfort in Contemporary Architecture in the Arabian Countries 4.1 Imitating Traditional Forms of Building Comfort 4.2 Applicability of Green Building to Achieve the Building Comfort 4.3 Building Comfort Requirements in the Arab Town Neighborhoods 5 Conclusion References Providing Thermal Comfort for Buildings’ Inhabitants Through Natural Cooling and Ventilation Systems: Wind Towers 1 Introduction 2 Traditional/Conventional Wind Towers 3 Innovative, Modern Wind Towers 4 Conclusions References Thermal Comfort and Climatic Potential of Ventilative Cooling in Italian Climates 1 Introduction 1.1 Objectives and Organisation 2 Methodology 2.1 Climate-Comfort KPIs 2.2 Building-Comfort KPIs 2.3 Building Sample Definition 2.4 Climate Data and Locations 3 Results 3.1 Climate-Based KPIs 3.2 Building-Based Comfort KPIs 3.3 Comparisons Between Climate and Building KPIs 4 Conclusions References Energy Retrofit of Traditional Buildings in a Warm-Humid Urban Climate 1 Introduction 2 Materials and Methods 3 Results 3.1 Theoretical Framework 3.1.1 Energy Retrofit 3.1.2 Methods for the Evaluation of Energy Impacts 3.1.3 Strategies and Actions for Energy Retrofit in a Warm and Humid Climate 3.2 Theoretical Model for Dynamic Simulations 3.2.1 Context: El Vedado 3.2.2 Architectural Typology, Volume, Space, Envelope 4 Discussion 4.1 Monitoring and Simulation. Calibration and Validation 4.1.1 Monitoring 4.1.2 Simulation 4.1.3 Calibration and Validation 4.1.4 Design Recommendations 5 Conclusions References Conclusions Index