scholarly journals Bridging the gap: The need for a systems thinking approach in understanding and addressing energy and environmental performance in buildings

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 100-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Shrubsole ◽  
I. G. Hamilton ◽  
N. Zimmermann ◽  
G. Papachristos ◽  
T. Broyd ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Systems Approach ◽  
Historical Context ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Building Performance ◽  
Indoor Environmental Quality ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Health And Well Being

Innovations in materials, construction techniques and technologies in building construction and refurbishment aim to reduce carbon emissions and produce low-energy buildings. However, in-use performance consistently misses design specifications, particularly those of operational energy use and indoor environmental quality. This performance gap risks reducing design, technology, sustainability, economic, health and well-being benefits. In this paper, we compare settings of the Chinese and the UK buildings sectors and relate their historical context, design, construction and operation issues impacting energy performance, indoor environmental quality, occupant health and well-being. We identify a series of key, common factors of ‘total’ building performance across these two settings: the application of building regulations, the balance between building cost and performance, skills, construction and operation. The dynamic and complex interactions of these factors are currently poorly understood and lead to building performance gaps. We contend that a systems approach in the development of suitable building assessment methods, technologies and tools could enable the formulation and implementation of more effective policies, regulations and practices. The paper illustrates the application of the approach to the UK and Chinese settings. A full application of a systems approach may help to provide a more dynamic understanding of how factor interactions impact the ‘total’ building performance gaps and help address its multiple causes.

scholarly journals Towards a framework to evaluate the ‘total’ performance of buildings

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 609-631 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathon Taylor ◽  
Yanchen Liu ◽  
Borong Lin ◽  
Esfand Burman ◽  
Sung-Min Hong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Building Energy ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Building Performance ◽  
Indoor Environmental Quality ◽  
Performance Gap ◽  
Total Performance ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Occupant Satisfaction

Internationally, buildings are a major contributor to carbon emissions. Despite significant advances in the technology and construction of energy-efficient buildings, in many cases a performance gap between designed and actual performance exists. While much research has investigated the drivers of the building energy performance gap – both static and transient– there has been considerably less research into the total performance gap, defined here as performance gaps in building energy use, occupant satisfaction and Indoor Environmental Quality parameters such as thermal comfort and air quality which may impact on occupant health and wellbeing. This paper presents a meta-analysis of building performance data from buildings in the UK and China – selected due to their contrasting development environments – which illustrate the presence of and complexities of evaluating total performance gaps in both countries. The data demonstrate the need for (1) high end-use, spatial granularity and temporal resolution data for both energy and Indoor Environmental Quality, and (2) developing methodologies that allow meaningful comparisons between buildings internationally to facilitate learning from successful building design, construction methodologies and policy environments internationally. Using performance data from a UK building, a potential forward path is illustrated with the objective of developing a framework to evaluate total building performance. Practical application: While much research has examined building energy performance gaps, Indoor Environmental Quality and occupant satisfaction gaps are rarely included despite their relationship to energy. We use a meta-analysis of energy, indoor environmental quality, and occupant satisfaction data from buildings in the UK and China to illustrating the presence of and complexities of evaluating total performance gaps for buildings in the two countries, and the need for high resolution dynamic buildings data and novel methodologies for comparison between buildings across different contexts. Illustrative case studies are used to demonstrate potential future directions for evaluating ‘total’ building performance.

scholarly journals mHealth: Indoor Environmental Quality Measuring System for Enhanced Health and Well-Being Based on Internet of Things

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gonçalo Marques ◽  
Rui Pitarma
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Computing ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Living Environment ◽  
Clinical Diagnostics ◽  
Quality Monitoring ◽  
Indoor Environmental Quality ◽  
Health And Well Being

Mobile health research field aims to provide access to healthcare anytime and anywhere through mobile computing technologies while using a cost-effective approach. Mobile health is closely related to ambient assisted living as both research fields address independence in elderly adults. Aging has become a relevant challenge, as it is anticipated that 20% of world population will be aged 60 years and older in 2050. Most people spend more than 90% of their time indoors, therefore the indoor environmental quality has a relevant impact on occupant’s health and well-being. We intended to provide real-time indoor quality monitoring for enhanced living environments and occupational health. This paper presents the AirPlus real-time indoor environmental quality monitoring system, which incorporates several advantages when compared to other systems, such as scalability, flexibility, modularity, easy installation, and configuration, as well as mobile computing software for data consulting and notifications. The results that were obtained are promising and present a significant contribution to the monitoring solutions available in the literature. AirPlus provides a rich dataset to plan interventions for enhanced indoor quality, but also to support clinical diagnostics and correlate occupant’s health problems with their living environment conditions.

scholarly journals A study on the relationship between energy performance and IEQ parameters in school buildings

2021 ◽  
Vol 246 ◽  
pp. 01006
Author(s):  
Blanka Cabovská ◽  
Despoina Teli ◽  
Jan-Olof Dalenbäck ◽  
Sarka Langer ◽  
Lars Ekberg
Keyword(s):  
Indoor Environment ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Environmental Parameters ◽  
Absolute Humidity ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Building Performance ◽  
School Buildings ◽  
Indoor Environmental Quality ◽  
Concentration Data ◽  
Ventilation Systems

Over the last decades, strong focus has been placed on the energy efficiency of buildings; not least school buildings. Energy performance (EP) of buildings is nowadays in principle described by one single indicator based on purchased energy in kWh/year.m2. Another important building performance aspect is the indoor environmental quality. This study’s overarching goal is to identify school buildings with a good balance between energy performance and indoor environment. Thus, this paper investigates possible correlations between information given in energy performance certificates (EPCs/e.g. energy use, year of construction, type of ventilation) and measured indoor environmental parameters. The work comprises investigation of approximately 20 school buildings with different ventilation systems in Gothenburg. In-situ investigations of the buildings’ properties and ventilation systems were conducted. Indoor environmental parameters were recorded during one week in each classroom. In this paper, indoor temperature, absolute humidity added indoors and CO2 concentration data are compared with the corresponding school’s energy performance data and ventilation type. Results suggest that mechanically ventilated buildings have clearer relationships between energy performance, building indicators and measured indoor environment. For buildings such as naturally ventilated, the relationships are usually weak, and the values spread over much wider ranges.

Collaborative activities and library indoor environmental quality affecting performance, health, and well-being of different library user groups in higher education

Facilities ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 32 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 88-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Young S. Lee
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Other ◽  
Indoor Environmental Quality ◽  
Content Type ◽  
User Groups ◽  
Collaborative Activities ◽  
Library User ◽  
Health And Well Being

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify different indoor environmental quality (IEQ) criteria affecting performance, health, and well-being of library user groups in higher education. The study investigated the differences in significant IEQ criteria affecting the performance, health, and well-being among the library user groups conducting certain types of collaborative activities. The aim was to was to find the significant IEQ criteria particular to each group conducting certain types of collaborative activities. Design/methodology/approach – Four types of collaborative activities were categorized based on the organizational knowledge creation theory in the knowledge management field. A total of ten IEQ criteria affecting performance, health, and well-being were identified based on a literature review of other studies and existing instruments. A survey was conducted via online with library users in a higher education library on the east coast of the USA. Responses from a total of 421 students were analyzed by descriptive statistics and analysis of variance statistics. Findings – The results indicated that the group conducting only individual focused work and socializing in a group showed statistically lower significance in acoustics, privacy, and ergonomics furniture than one or more of the other groups. The group conducting all four collaborative activities exhibited statistically higher significance in ergonomic furniture and aesthetics than one or more of the other groups. Originality/value – The study provides a comprehensive framework to be used in occupant survey to measure occupant performance, health, and well-being. It also offers practical implications for enhancing particular IEQ criteria for each library user group conducting certain types of collaborative activities in the academic library of higher education.

scholarly journals Evaluation results of combined labelling of dwellings located in different countries

2021 ◽  
Vol 246 ◽  
pp. 13002
Author(s):  
Zoltan Magyar ◽  
Gabor Nemeth ◽  
Peter op‘t Veld ◽  
Simona D’Oca ◽  
Ana Sanchis Huertas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
The Netherlands ◽  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Indoor Environmental Quality ◽  
Labelling Process ◽  
Labelling Scheme

In the TripleA-reno project, a new combined labelling scheme was developed for dwellings. The combined labelling includes the evaluation of the energy performance, indoor environmental quality and well-being of occupants in dwellings. In this paper, the method of the TripleA-reno combined labelling scheme, the necessary calculations and measurements and the labelling process are introduced. In the TripleA-reno project, the developed combined labelling was successfully applied to different demonstration cases. The main results and experiences of the combined labelling for four demonstration cases located in Hungary, the Netherlands, Spain and Italy are presented.

scholarly journals Building Performance Evaluation of a New Hospital Building in the UK: Balancing Indoor Environmental Quality and Energy Performance

Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 115
Author(s):  
Nishesh Jain ◽  
Esfand Burman ◽  
Samuel Stamp ◽  
Clive Shrubsole ◽  
Roderic Bunn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Performance Evaluation ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Building Design ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Building Performance ◽  
Indoor Environmental Quality

Hospitals are controlled yet complex ecosystems which provide a therapeutic environment that promotes healing, wellbeing and work efficiency for patients and staff. As these buildings accommodate the sick and vulnerable, occupant wellbeing and good indoor environmental quality (IEQ) that deals with indoor air quality (IAQ), thermal comfort, lighting and acoustics are important objectives. As the specialist nature of hospital function demands highly controlled indoor environments, this makes them energy intensive buildings due to the complex and varying specifications for their functions and operations. This paper reports on a holistic building performance evaluation covering aspects of indoor air quality, thermal comfort, lighting, acoustics, and energy use. It assesses the performance issues and inter-relationships between IEQ and energy in a new building on a hospital campus in the city of Bristol, United Kingdom. The empirical evidence collated from this case study and the feedback received from the hospital staff help identify the endemic issues and constraints related to hospital buildings, such as the need for robust ventilation strategies in hospitals in urban areas that mitigate the effect of indoor and outdoor air pollution and ensuring the use of planned new low-carbon technologies. Whilst the existing guidelines for building design provide useful instructions for the protection of hospital buildings against ingress of particulate matter from outdoors, more advanced filtration strategies may be required to enact chemical reactions required to control the concentration levels of pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide and benzene. Further lessons for improved performance in operation and maintenance of hospitals are highlighted. These include ensuring that the increasingly available metering and monitoring data in new buildings, through building management systems, is used for efficient and optimal building operations for better IEQ and energy management. Overall, the study highlights the need for an integrated and holistic approach to building performance to ensure that healthy environments are provided while energy efficiency targets are met.

A positive psychology study and intervention on the well-being of French PhD students in biology

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriel Marais ◽  
Rebecca Shankland ◽  
Pascale Haag ◽  
Robin Fiault ◽  
Bridget Juniper
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Positive Psychology ◽  
Large Fraction ◽  
Reference Sample ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Attrition Rates ◽  
Human Costs ◽  
The Uk ◽  
And Control ◽  
Health And Well Being

In France, little data are available on mental health and well-being in academia, and nothing has been published about PhD students. From studies abroad, we know that doing a PhD is a difficult experience resulting in high attrition rates with significant financial and human costs. Here we focused on PhD students in biology at university Lyon 1. A first study aimed at measuring the mental health and well-being of PhD students using several generalist and PhD-specific tools. Our results on 136 participants showed that a large fraction of the PhD students experience abnormal levels of stress, depression and anxiety, and their mean well-being score is significantly lower than that of a British reference sample. French PhD student well-being is specifically affected by career uncertainty, perceived lack of progress in the PhD and perceived lack of competence, which points towards possible cultural differences of experiencing a PhD in France and the UK. In a second study, we carried out a positive psychology intervention. Comparing the scores of the test and control groups showed a clear effect of the intervention on reducing anxiety. We discuss our results and the possible future steps to improve French PhD students’ well-being.

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