scholarly journals How Lack of Knowledge and Tools Hinders the Eco-Design of Buildings—A Systematic Review

Urban Science ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 20
Author(s):  
Kikki Lambrecht Ipsen ◽  
Massimo Pizzol ◽  
Morten Birkved ◽  
Ben Amor
Keyword(s):  
Building Design ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Waste Generation ◽  
Design Strategies ◽  
Material Consumption ◽  
Building Sector ◽  
Environmental Consideration ◽  
Barriers To Implementation ◽  
Environmental Considerations ◽  
Lack Of Knowledge

The building sector is responsible for extensive resource consumption and waste generation, resulting in high pressure on the environment. A way to potentially mitigate this is by including environmental considerations during building design through the concept known as eco-design. Despite the multiple available approaches of eco-design, the latter is not easily achieved in the building sector. The objective of this paper is to identify and discuss what barriers are currently hindering the implementation of eco-design in the building sector and by which measures building designers can include environmental considerations in their design process. Through a systematic literature review, several barriers to implementation were identified, the main ones being lack of suitable legislation, lack of knowledge amongst building designers, and lack of suitable tools for designers to use. Furthermore, two specific tools were identified that allow the inclusion of environmental consideration in building design, along with nine design strategies providing qualitative guidance on how to potentially minimize energy and material consumption, as well as waste generation. This paper contributes a holistic overview of the major barriers to and existing tools and method for the eco-design of buildings, and provides guidance for both future research and practice.

In the Moment: Fostering Mindfulness and Reducing Stressors in the Healthcare Workplace

2021 ◽  
pp. 193758672098824
Author(s):  
Shabboo Valipoor ◽  
Sheila J. Bosch
Keyword(s):  
Design Research ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Job Dissatisfaction ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Design Strategies ◽  
Environmental Interventions ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Healthcare Settings ◽  
The Moment

While healthcare design research has primarily focused on patient outcomes, there is a growing recognition that environmental interventions could do more by promoting the overall quality of care, and this requires expanding the focus to the health and well-being of those who deliver care to patients. Healthcare professionals are under high levels of stress, leading to burnout, job dissatisfaction, and poor patient care. Among other tools, mindfulness is recommended as a way of decreasing stress and helping workers function at higher levels. This article aims to identify potential environmental strategies for reducing work-related stressors and facilitating mindfulness in healthcare settings. By examining existing evidence on workplace mindfulness and stress-reducing design strategies, we highlight the power of the physical environment in not only alleviating stressful conditions but intentionally encouraging a mindful perspective. Strategies like minimizing distractions or avoiding overstimulation in the healthcare environment can be more effective if implemented along with the provision of designated spaces for mindfulness-based programs. Future research may explore optimal methods and hospital workers’ preferences for environments that support mindfulness and stress management. The long-term goal of all these efforts is to enhance healthcare professionals’ well-being, reignite their professional enthusiasm, and help them be resilient in times of stress.

scholarly journals Sustainability in the Beverage Industry: A Research Agenda from the Demand Side

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 186
Author(s):  
Carla Rodriguez-Sanchez ◽  
Ricardo Sellers-Rubio
Keyword(s):  
Production Process ◽  
Research Agenda ◽  
Sustainable Consumption ◽  
Purchase Behavior ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Demand Side ◽  
Economic Aspects ◽  
Purchasing Decisions ◽  
Beverage Industry ◽  
Environmental Considerations

Sustainability has become one of the most important challenges for the beverage industry over the last few decades. In fact, many producers have implemented environmental, social, or economic aspects of sustainability at several stages of their production process. One of the reasons that might explain this interest in sustainability is that consumers are changing their behavior to integrate sustainable and environmental considerations into their purchase behavior. Accordingly, some consumers’ purchasing decisions are based not only on how well products satisfy their needs but also on how these products affect the environment or society at large. Within this context, designing appropriate interventions to fostering sustainable consumption requires deeper knowledge about its underlying determinants. In this paper, we focus on some of the most important challenges that might drive future research within this area.

Knowledge management for library building design

2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (1/2) ◽  
pp. 2-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhixian Yi
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Tacit Knowledge ◽  
Explicit Knowledge ◽  
Continuous Process ◽  
Building Design ◽  
Design Principles ◽  
Design Strategies ◽  
Innovative Design ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – In the digital age, constant changes in libraries inform contemporary building design. An innovative library building design is a complicated process and can be viewed as a continuous process of the use of tacit and explicit knowledge and innovative tools and approaches. Knowledge management (KM) can bring about the much needed innovation, and transform tacit knowledge to explicit knowledge. For the design of a library to be successful, it is necessary to apply KM to library building design. The purpose of this paper is to look at key change impacts, to explore how to manage knowledge in building design and to identify key design principles. Design/methodology/approach – This paper looks at key change impacts, explores how to manage knowledge in library building design and pinpoints design principles. Findings – This paper finds that KM can be vital to library building design, and it can be used in all stages: to examine the internal and external environments, transform tacit knowledge to explicit knowledge by using portals, and analyze existing and future issues and trends. When effectively used, KM will result in innovative design strategies and also will reduce the time and costs of the building design and plan processes. The main principles of library building design are flexibility, accessibility, safety and security, applicability, adaptability, efficiency, and sustainability. Practical implications – This paper provides a useful overview of how to manage knowledge in library building design and design principles. Originality/value – The views, discussions, and suggestions will be of value to improve the effectiveness of library building design.

scholarly journals An Overview of the Existing Schemes and Research Trends in Financing the Energy Upgrade of Buildings in Europe

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 53-62
Author(s):  
Christiana Panteli ◽  
Eglė Klumbytė ◽  
Rasa Apanavičienė ◽  
Paris A. Fokaides
Keyword(s):  
Built Environment ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Energy Savings ◽  
Future Research ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Building Sector ◽  
Investment Bank ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
Funding Programs ◽  
European Investment

Financial supporting schemes for the energy upgrading of the building sector in Europe constitute one of the major policies of the European Union (EU). Since the beginning of the 2000s, dozens of funding programs and initiatives have been announced by the European Commission (EC). It is a fact that the majority of these policies have borne fruit, as the metrics on both energy savings in the building sector and the promotion of renewable energy in the built environment have turned the EU into a global pioneer. This paper attempts to give a brief overview of the main policy and financial tools for the energy upgrading of the built environment in Europe. Emphasis is placed on three major mechanisms, which concern different-scale projects: crowdfunding projects, public-private co-financing projects, and large-scale projects funded by financial institutions such as European Investment Bank (EIB). Reference is also made to recently implemented EU funded research programs in this field. This work aspires to constitute a reference study for future research activities in the field of financial supporting schemes for energy upgrading of buildings in Europe.

scholarly journals Research fronts of Chemical Biology

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shanshan Lv
Keyword(s):  
High Throughput Screening ◽  
Drug Targets ◽  
Chemical Biology ◽  
Rational Design ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Design Strategies ◽  
Binding Assays ◽  
Cellular Mechanisms ◽  
Diagnostic Technologies

Abstract Over the past decades, researchers have witnessed substantially increasing and ever-growing interests and efforts in Chemical Biology studies, thanks to the development of genome and epi-genome sequencing (revealing potential drug targets), synthetic chemistry (producing new medicines), bioorthogonal chemistry (chemistry in living systems) and high-throughput screening technologies (in vitro cell systems, protein binding assays and phenotypic assays). This report presents literature search results for current research in Chemical Biology, to explore basic principles, summarize recent advances, identify key challenges, and provide suggestions for future research (with a focus on Chemical Biology in the context of human health and diseases). Chemical Biology research can positively contribute to delivering a better understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms that accompany pathology underlying diseases, as well as developing improved methods for diagnosis, drug discovery, and therapeutic delivery. While much progress has been made, as shown in this report, there are still further needs and opportunities. For instance, pressing challenges still exist in selecting appropriate targets in biological systems and adopting more rational design strategies for the development of innovative and sustainable diagnostic technologies and medical treatments. Therefore, more than ever, researchers from different disciplines need to collaborate to address the challenges in Chemical Biology.

Criteria and barriers for the application of green building features in Hong Kong

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 251-276 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jayantha Wadu Mesthrige ◽  
Ho Yuk Kwong
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Financial Incentives ◽  
Group Discussion ◽  
Green Building ◽  
Building Sector ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Barriers To Implementation ◽  
Multi Method Approach ◽  
Method Approach

Purpose An understanding about the criteria determining the successful application of green features, and the barriers to implementation is essential in order to promote and enhance green building development. The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, the criteria determining the success of GBFs; and second, the barriers to implementing GBFs in Hong Kong. Design/methodology/approach A multi-method approach comprising a comprehensive questionnaire survey and a semi-structured group discussion with construction professionals, along with three case studies was adopted to address these two issues. Findings Findings suggest that although environmental performance is the most significant criterion, the living quality of occupants and the costs of green features play a crucial role in determining the success of their application. However, the environmental aspects of buildings are not sufficient for rating or determining the greenness level of a building. As for barriers, the green cost implications; the structural unsuitability of the current stock of old buildings; and the lack of financial incentives were found to be crucial barriers preventing the application of green features in the Hong Kong building sector. Originality/value GBFs have received extensive attentions by the academia and industry. This paper used a mix method approach by exploring success criteria and barriers to implementing green features in the building sector in Hong Kong. As green building development is still a contemporary subject of discussion, this study would be beneficial to decision makers as it identifies the criteria determining the success of green building adoption and barriers to implementation of such features. Hence, relevant stakeholders will have better understanding of the factors affecting the adoption of GBFs.

HOW DO GREEN BUILDINGS COMMUNICATE GREEN DESIGN TO BUILDING USERS? A SURVEY STUDY OF A LEED-CERTIFIED BUILDING

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 85-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susie Ruqun Wu ◽  
Suk-Kyung Kim ◽  
Hogeun Park ◽  
Peilei Fan ◽  
Arika Ligmann-Zielinska ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Green Building ◽  
Building Design ◽  
Green Buildings ◽  
Green Design ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Affordance Theory ◽  
Design Elements ◽  
Future Design

Studies investigating the benefits of green buildings can be approached by the affordance theory—the perceived properties of a thing that determine how it could possibly be used. This study focuses on the sustainable communication and education that a green building should provide. By applying the affordance theory, we examined whether a LEED-certified university campus building effectively communicates green design and sustainability to its users and if so, then how? We employed a questionnaire survey targeting campus users of a LEED-certified building by examining their awareness of the building's LEED status and perception of green design elements at multiple spatial scales, as well as their general knowledge on green building topics. We collected 177 questionnaires, of which 153 were qualified for statistical analysis. The results suggested that the building itself can afford to promote awareness among users, but cannot afford to educate users on general green building knowledge. We found that building users perceived green design at different spatial scales, preferring either product or space-related design. Our results indicate that future design should continue promoting the use of educational signage, which was found to be the most effective communicator of sustainability. The communication of green design to users with different spatial preferences remains a future research focus. Further studies on the innovative use of green building design as effective communicators are needed to promote sustainability education among the building users.

scholarly journals Can Green Building Promote Pro-Environmental Behaviours? The Psychological Model and Design Strategy

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (18) ◽  
pp. 7714 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaohuan Xie ◽  
Shiyu Qin ◽  
Zhonghua Gou ◽  
Ming Yi
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Green Building ◽  
Building Design ◽  
Green Buildings ◽  
Walking Distance ◽  
Design Strategies ◽  
Resource Saving ◽  
Green Building Design ◽  
Personal Norms ◽  
Environmental Behaviours

A green building has a long lasting benefit through cultivating the occupants’ energy and resource-saving behaviours. To understand how green buildings can cultivate occupants’ pro-environment behaviours, the research applied the value–belief–norm model to investigate 17 pro-environmental behaviours which are related to a variety of green building design strategies. Two green and two non-green certified office buildings in the city of Shenzhen in China were surveyed, based on which structural equation modelling was established to confirm the relationship between personal values, environmental beliefs and norms that lead to pro-environment behaviours. Green and non-green building occupants showed significant differences in altruistic values, environmental awareness, personal norms, and pro-environmental behaviours. Green building users had more frequent pro-environmental behaviours than those in non-green buildings. The strategies that require fewer additional efforts were more likely to be adopted as pro-environmental behaviours, such as meeting daily needs within walking distance and adjusting sunshades, while the strategies that need extra physical efforts (taking stairs) or knowledge (garbage sorting) were less likely to be adopted as pro-environmental behaviours. This study pointed out important intervention opportunities and discussed the possible design implications for green building guidelines and programmes to cultivate green occupants and their corresponding pro-environmental behaviours.

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