Carbon Neutral Design

A manual for the construction and design of affordable, passively-cooled medicine warehouses in hot climates is presented. The manual addresses design hypotheses aimed at being low-cost, low-tech, easily buildable, and self-buildable, as well as easy to maintain. These designs aim to maintain internal temperatures low enough to robustly preserve medicines. Construction hypotheses are detailed, and their ability to meet these requirements is verified. The thermal behaviour of the proposed solutions has been analysed using the ESP-r platform. The manual has been made available online under a Creative Commons license.

Buildings and their occupants generate large energy and water consumptions with consequential pollution including waste. There is a global awareness that CO2 levels need to be drastically reduced. In order to do this, the design and management processes need an integrated approach which emphasize value in terms of the environment, social needs and whole life performance. Changes in society as well as climate patterns offer many challenges. Advances in technology will affect systems, products and processes offering opportunities to succeed in responding to these challenges but always remembering that vernacular architecture demonstrates many effective yet simple methods of environmental control in various climates of the world. Times between innovations have become shorter. New thoughts, ideas, technology and progressive business models change society. Barriers to innovation are reducing; global outlooks are commonplace; rapid rates of change demand sharp perception; the need for depth and breath of knowledge stimulates cross-disciplinary collaboration. All these factors affect the way we design, manage and care for buildings. There is the challenge of making the world a more sustainable place whilst also meeting rising expectations of the processes, products and systems we use. Sustainability challenges our thinking and acceptance of materialism, quality of life, lifestyle and individual responsibility.

A bioclimatic house for Tamare, Venezuela, designed to provide psychological, physical and social well being through improved comfort and less energy consumption is explained. Digital and analog models were built to analyze sunlight and shadow behavior and computer simulations to predict thermal perfonnance. A ·suming a maximum comfort temperature of 30° C we achieve<! 95% of satisfaction when we ventilated at night and closed the building during daytime. Some bioclimatic principles integrated in the design are: l) minimization of solar radiation gains through windows, using solar protection and exterior building facades to generate shadows 2) minimization of conduction heat flow and thermal amplitude by adequate po ition­ ing of mass and insulation 3) control of airflow through windows, and 4) use of ve�etation to diminish sur­ rounding air temperature. Some passive cooling techniques are: 1) comfort ventilation and 2) nocturnal convective cooling. Mechanical cooling can also be...

The decarbonization of the built environment, both in new construction and renovation, is crucial to mitigate its relevant impact on climate change and achieve the Paris Agreement goals. This study presents a systematic LCA-based methodology to assess the whole-life carbon emissions of buildings, applied to a proposal for the regeneration of one of Milan, Italy’s, disused railway yards. As an entry for the 2020 Reinventing Cities competition, Scalo Lambrate is a project for a mainly residential neighborhood with a public park. Strategies to reduce carbon emissions deriving both from the operational energy and construction and maintenance were evaluated and their effects compared to a reference scenario over a time horizon of 100 years. The results show that, while the opportunities to reduce carbon emissions during the use phase are somehow limited due to the already stringent performance requirements for new builds, the use of fast-growing biogenic materials for construction materials, even if mixed with more traditional ones, can provide a significant reduction in the global warming potential over the whole life cycle, with a reduction of 70% compared to the baseline. The remaining emissions can be offset with afforestation initiatives, which, however, must be assessed against land use issues.

Il contributo illustra l'esperienza del CIS Roma Scuole Verdi, in cui il Gruppo di Ricerca DiAP dell'Università 'Sapienza' di Roma ha supportato il Dipartimento CSIMU di Roma Capitale nell'avvio di un percorso di riqualificazione energetico-ambientale e decarbonizzazione di 111 edifici scolastici distribuiti nei 15 Municipi del Comune di Roma. Attraverso un approccio sistemico e multi-scalare sono stati individuati e monitorati alcuni indicatori target di miglioramento prestazionale (KPIs), significativi per classe energetica, abbassamento delle emissioni climalteranti, riduzione dei fabbisogni energetici e approvvigionamento da fonti rinnovabili. L'apporto positivo delle soluzioni tecnologico-impiantistiche implementate presenta un potenziale di replicabilità, contribuendo all'intensificazione delle azioni per il clima, con impatti sulla rigenerazione urbana e sui bilanci pubblici della città. The contribution illustrates the experience of CIS Roma Scuole Verdi, where the DiAP Research Group of the 'Sapienza' University of Rome supported the CSIMU Department of Roma Capitale in launching a process of energy-environmental upgrading and decarbonisation of 111 school buildings distributed across the 15 Municipalities of the City of Rome. Through a systemic and multi-scalar approach, some Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) were identified and monitored, which were significant for energy class, reduction of climatealtering emissions, reduction of energy needs, and supply from renewable sources. The positive contribution of the implemented technological-plant solutions presents a replicability potential, contributing to the intensification of climate actions, with impacts on urban regeneration and the city's public budgets.

A new design of roof-integrated water solar collector is presented. It takes advantage of new synergies found between collector and roof. Its main concept is based on the use of water redistribution for changing the roof configuration. This system is completely suitable for inclined roofs, since it is based on waterproofed plastic chambers. This design provides a universal low-cost system for household heating and natural cooling that could be even cheaper than conventional roofs with similar (high) thermal qualities. This novel design has been claimed in an Argentinean invention patent application and also it has been internationally claimed.

Carbon neutrality has gained prominence in political discussion, and cities' climate activities are critical to achieving this aim. As a result, several cities have already issued aggressive carbon neutrality goal and are preparing for the changeover this includes India as well. This paper  contains detailed review  on the “carbon-neutral city” idea, which covers definition, assessment techniques, barriers for carbon neutrality, transition with respect to different cities. To investigate the gaps between research and reality, this research is a sum of all case studies of cities striving for carbon neutrality. Furthermore a clarification is required on the definition of the carbon-neutral city idea, particularly on the function of offsetting emissions. City and countries like India have carbon neutrality targets that are incomparable due to a lack of consistency in city’s carbon emission. Cities have high goals and require assistance in developing action plans, developing new and novel ideas. Hence this paper will present a systematic study on transition to carbon neutrality from varied cities and countries, capturing the lessons learnt will help us understand what India can do to achieve zero carbon earlier than set target.

Partiendo del Programa País de Carbono Neutralidad 2.0 (PPCN 2.0) y del decreto ejecutivo No. 36499-S-MINAET, la Unidad Regional Huetar Caribe (URHC) del Instituto Nacional de Aprendizaje (INA) ha desarrollado el proyecto institucional llamado: VIDA NATURAL, como parte del Programa de Gestión Ambiental Institucional (PGAI). Entre los resultados obtenidos más importantes del proyecto se encuentra la declaración de Carbono Neutralidad Plus de la URHC. Esto se alcanzó al determinar una huella de carbono de 188 ton CO2e/año en el 2016, 150 ton CO2e/año para el 2017 y 155 ton CO2e/año para el 2018, y una remoción de 190 ton CO2e/año por parte de un área forestal de 14 hectáreas, al aplicar la norma INTE B5:2016.

The energy framework of the Sardinia Region is today marked by critical issues that represent opportunities for investment planning and technological improvement of the Sardinian energy networks. The regional administration has set up its own energy plan, which is being updated, with which it gives directives aimed at favouring and encouraging the creation of new smart grids and infrastructures for electricity management, leveraging the digitisation process, which together make up the architecture of a Smart Grid. This consists of a state-of-the-art energy network, based on the sharing of usage data according to a dual flow of energy and information of two-way type, from the operator to the end user and vice versa, and shared between the various users of the network. A Smart Grid, that works in a city or industrial context, constitutes the functional basis for the systems of the Local Energy Communities, i.e. non-profit associations inspired by the values of energy sharing, in which everyone can join the energy market by buying or reselling energy, or to share it by compensating for the hardship of energy poverty or, in the event of a malfunction of the public network, aimed at the temporary isolation of the local network. Smart grids are included in Smart Energy Systems, which consider not only the distribution but also the generation and the storage, using storage batteries. Such systems require the achievement of certain socio-economic standards in order to ensure transparency, free access and sustainability for every citizen in the long term.

Disclaimer: "UBC SEEDS Sustainability Program provides students with the opportunity to share the findings of their studies, as well as their opinions, conclusions and recommendations with the UBC community. The reader should bear in mind that this is a student research project/report and is not an official document of UBC. Furthermore, readers should bear in mind that these reports may not reflect the current status of activities at UBC. We urge you to contact the research persons mentioned in a report or the SEEDS Sustainability Program representative about the current status of the subject matter of a project/report".

Disclaimer: "UBC SEEDS Sustainability Program provides students with the opportunity to share the findings of their studies, as well as their opinions, conclusions and recommendations with the UBC community. The reader should bear in mind that this is a student research project/report and is not an official document of UBC. Furthermore, readers should bear in mind that these reports may not reflect the current status of activities at UBC. We urge you to contact the research persons mentioned in a report or the SEEDS Sustainability Program representative about the current status of the subject matter of a project/report".

A new design of roof-integrated water solar collector is presented. It takes advantage of new synergies found between collector and roof. Its main concept is based on the use of water redistribution for changing the roof configuration. This system is completely suitable for inclined roofs, since it is based on waterproofed plastic chambers. This design provides a universal low-cost system for household heating and natural cooling that could be even cheaper than conventional roofs with similar (high) thermal qualities. This novel design has been claimed in an Argentinean invention patent application and also it has been internationally claimed.

Thermal performance of a model roof pond house was evaluated experimentally. The house model of 1 m x 1 m x 2.8 m was simply constructed and tested at Chiang Mai University located in Chiang Mai province (700 km North of Bangkok). The roof pond system, a type of passive cooling method, was designed for a combination of trickle roof and intermittent water spraying techniques. Three-layer shading devices made of plastic sheets were also installed above the roof to reduce radiation exposure and enhance heat convection. The roof pond house was tested for various water flow rates, separation of shading devices and solar radiation. The roof pond operated with high water flow rate, installed with larger space, could enhance temperature reduction. It was experimentally demonstrated that it is possible to maintain the indoor temperature 2-4 o C lower than the outdoor temperature using this roof pond system in a tropical climate.

Thermal performance of a model roof pond house was evaluated experimentally. The house model of 1 m x 1 m x 2.8 m was simply constructed and tested at Chiang Mai University located in Chiang Mai province (700 km North of Bangkok). The roof pond system, a type of passive cooling method, was designed for a combination of trickle roof and intermittent water spraying techniques. Three-layer shading devices made of plastic sheets were also installed above the roof to reduce radiation exposure and enhance heat convection. The roof pond house was tested for various water flow rates, separation of shading devices and solar radiation. The roof pond operated with high water flow rate, installed with larger space, could enhance temperature reduction. It was experimentally demonstrated that it is possible to maintain the indoor temperature 2-4 o C lower than the outdoor temperature using this roof pond system in a tropical climate.

The tragedy of the commons, a phenomenon that describes the depletion of shared resources by individuals acting in their self-interest, is a key driver of climate change economics. Adopting science-based carbon emission targets and scenarios in the built environment can promote ambitious decarbonisation and align with the goals of the Paris Agreement, ultimately leading to near-zero emissions. We applied four interesting scenario methods to estimate and validate decarbonisation with respect to energy, water, and materials efficiency in a residential building pilot real estate project in Nigeria. The scenarios were aimed at catalysing circular economy (CE) business principles in the real estate sector. By doing so, we adopted a sectoral decarbonisation strategy to achieve a fair reduction in carbon emissions by the year 2100, that is, corresponding to the two-degrees scenario (2DC). The estimated future carbon emissions/unit were accounted for, and the different cases reflect four income levels. Similar designs are also adopted to those recent residential real estate proposals in Nigeria, based on the trending conventions in architectural design concepts. These are geared towards making CO2 savings by matching global material, energy, and water use baselines. In this research, we find that for 2050, the forecasted material, energy, and water measures meet the 20% savings required by the Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiency (EDGE) standard. To combat evident local climate change depicted by Global Historical Climatology Network monthly (GHCNM) data from 15 metrological stations found in Nigeria, the authors recommend that Circular Building Label (CBL) should be adopted in the real estate sector to reward the full implementation of these novel scenario methods for residential buildings, to help achieve 2DC.

In order to compare the performance of three different cooling strategies (External Operable Shades, Internal Operable Shades, or a Whole-House Fan) in all 16 California climate zones, hourly performance data was recorded in a pair of full height test cells. The results were used to validate HEED (Home Energy Efficient Design), a whole-building energy simulation program. HEED automatically designed two 2000 sq.ft. houses, one to Meets the Energy Code, (California's Title24), and the other that was a More Energy Efficient scheme. The Code requires a slightly different buildings in each of California's 16 climate zones. On a state-wide basis these More Energy Efficient homes designed by HEED use about 35% less energy than the homes that Meet the Energy Code (Title 24). One of the three cooling strategies was added to each of the two basecase homes in each climate In the Title 24 home the Whole-House fan is only half as good as either of the two Operable Shades. However in th...

The Danes are expanding beyond their traditional territories and settling in areas like the Middle East, Asia, and even North America.  No, this isn’t a scene from a 12th century Viking expedition!  In fact, it’s just the latest trend of architectural design being exported through out the world.  In keeping with the spirit of historical romanticism, today’s Danish architects are like the mythical warriors and explorers who came before them, conquering uncharted areas with their ideas, culture and ways of life. But yesterdays pillaging and barbarity is replaced by today’s quality architecture and sustainable design.  Armed with the latest plans and innovative ideas the Danish architects are on their way to conquering the world one quality project at a time.

Today, more than 50 per cent of the world’s population lives in cities, which will increase to 70 per cent by 2050. Cities account for 75 per cent of the energy consumed worldwide and are responsible for 80 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions. The potential energy-saving is enormous, as buildings account for about 40 per cent of the global energy demand. This resource demand for buildings could be minimized through holistic carbon neutral design coding with integrated life-cycle scenarios, intelligent project delivery and synchronous digital manufacturing processes. For policy makers and the building industry, intelligent long-term solutions are required to reduce the impact of design, consumption of scare resources and the environmental impact. This essay evaluates case studies and how the future of computationally developed carbon-neutral architecture will affect the design and integrated practice through parametric-topological and/or algorithmic modelling. The findings within the essay suggest that these synchronous design tools offer new visions in the Human-Computer-Interaction (HCI) with integrated digital factory-to-file manufacturing processes. These emerging planning protocols for industrial-scaled modes of production for carbon-neutral buildings go beyond the novel design coding.

Natural ventilation is the most conventional and one of the significant alternative applications for energy efficiency. Cross-ventilation is commonly used in hospitals, shopping centres or greenhouses. In this study, cross-ventilation for a greenhouse was investigated. The greenhouse buildings may differ in design depending on the region and climate. Therefore, when natural ventilation methodology is carried out in these buildings, the effect of solar radiation should also be taken into consideration. There have been many studies on natural ventilation in the literature, but while these studies have been conducted, the impact of solar irradiation has never been combined. In the present study computational geometry was created according to 4 different roof inclinations: 0°, 15°, 30°, and 45° - provided that the inlet and outlet opening positions are fixed. Moreover, each inclination was simulated at the following hours of the day: 10:00, 13:00 and 16:00 in June. The hex-dominant grid...

In order to compare the performance of three different cooling strategies (External Operable Shades, Internal Operable Shades, or a Whole-House Fan) in all 16 California climate zones, hourly performance data was recorded in a pair of full height test cells. The results were used to validate HEED (Home Energy Efficient Design), a whole-building energy simulation program. HEED automatically designed two 2000 sq.ft. houses, one to Meets the Energy Code, (California's Title24), and the other that was a More Energy Efficient scheme. The Code requires a slightly different buildings in each of California's 16 climate zones. On a state-wide basis these More Energy Efficient homes designed by HEED use about 35% less energy than the homes that Meet the Energy Code (Title 24). One of the three cooling strategies was added to each of the two basecase homes in each climate In the Title 24 home the Whole-House fan is only half as good as either of the two Operable Shades. However in th...

In order to compare the performance of three different cooling strategies (External Operable Shades, Internal Operable Shades, or a Whole-House Fan) in all 16 California climate zones, hourly performance data was recorded in a pair of full height test cells. The results were used to validate HEED (Home Energy Efficient Design), a whole-building energy simulation program. HEED automatically designed two 2000 sq.ft. houses, one to Meets the Energy Code, (California's Title24), and the other that was a More Energy Efficient scheme. The Code requires a slightly different buildings in each of California's 16 climate zones. On a state-wide basis these More Energy Efficient homes designed by HEED use about 35% less energy than the homes that Meet the Energy Code (Title 24). One of the three cooling strategies was added to each of the two basecase homes in each climate In the Title 24 home the Whole-House fan is only half as good as either of the two Operable Shades. However in th...

This study investigated the cooling potential of a green roof paired with a radiant cooling system in a hot and dry environment in southern California. The green roof had pipes embedded in it which were connected to a radiator inside the test cell. The radiator absorbs heat from the interior of the cells which is dissipated through the green roof and the evaporative cooling that occurs during the irrigation process. Excess water that is not absorbed is recollected and reused. Experiments demonstrate the potential for a system such as this one that combines water based cooling and green roofs, demonstrating to improve thermal comfort and reduce energy consumption. The test cell with the green roof and radiant cooling system was monitored and compared with other cells in over 40 tests conducted over the summers of 2015 and 2016. The results demonstrated that this test cell maintained lower indoor temperatures than the other test cells, including other cells with green roofs. The best performance occurred when the radiant system pump was operating continuously, with the irrigation sprinkler working 20 min per hour from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. An equation to predict indoor maximum temperature as a function of the daily temperature swing was derived.

A prototype microcomputer-controlled thermostat was developed that can manage airflow according to cooling the needs in a building and the resources in the environment. This intelligent control system measures both indoor and outdoor temperature and uses decision rules to control a whole-house fan, in addition to the furnace and air conditioner. No such residential thermostat is currently commercially available. This paper presents the controller strategy that optimizes cooling with outdoor air. This paper also quantifies the effects of modifying the amount of thermal mass and the window area on indoor comfort when using this controller. These test confirm that smaller windows and more mass performed better than larger windows and less mass, and that higher volumes of controlled ventilation outperformed fixed ventilation rates.

The cooling potential of a variable insulation green roof system developed by the author is compared to green roofs with different levels of insulation and an insulated roof. The variable insulation green roof system consists of an insulated ceiling and a sensor operated fan that uses logic rules to selectively couple and decouple the green roof's mass with the interior environment to maintain thermal comfort. When the fan is ON the plenum is ventilated, coupling the mass with the space and when it is OFF the ceiling is not ventilated uncoupling the space with the mass. Tests have been conducted over several years at the Lyle Center for Regenerative Studies in California State Polytechnic University Pomona, located in a hot and dry climate with mild winters about 30 miles east of Los Angeles. Results are good, and the variable insulation green roof performs better than a regular insulated green roof in the summer.

Green roofs have been proposed for energy saving purposes in many countries with different climatic conditions. However, their cooling and heating potential strongly depends on the climate and building characteristics. In particular, the increase of the thermal capacity of green roofs compared to traditional roofs, if not controlled with insulation, may lead to higher cooling and heating loads. This paper discusses the energy saving potential of green roofs adopting a variable insulation strategy. A system consisting of a plenum located between a green roof and the room underneath and a sensor-operated fan that couples (or decouples) the green roof mass with the indoor environment was developed. The fan is activated and stopped using temperature based rules; the plenum is ventilated only when the fan works, creating a variable insulation system. Four cells with an insulated traditional roof, a non-insulated green roof, an insulated green roof, and a green roof with the variable insulation system have been tested in a hot and dry climate with mild winters over several years. This paper compares and discusses different plenum control algorithms. Results are particularly promising because the variable insulating system proved to adjust the thermal capacity of the roof effectively. In summer, the non-insulated green roof and the green roof with variable insulation system achieved the lowest indoor temperature; in winter, the insulated traditional roof and the variable insulation green roof system achieved the highest indoor temperatures. Measurements are hence compared with simulations. Finally, the energy saving potential of the new green roof system is evaluated.

Nowadays, radiant ceiling systems can be considered among the technologies capable of meeting sustainable heating and cooling requirements. In order to adequately address design and simulation issues concerning these systems, correct evaluation of the heat transfer process is needed. The aim of this research is to present further evidence on the cooling capacity and heat transfer coefficients for a cooled radiant ceiling, assuring adequate thermal comfort levels in those possible different operation conditions. An experimental setup into a climate test room was developed and used to derive convenient results. The obtained values revealed that heat transfer evaluations on the basis of operative temperature as the unique reference temperature and corresponding total coefficient are not appropriate in real situations, but considering radiant and convective phenomena separately is strongly recommended.

Partiendo del Programa País de Carbono Neutralidad 2.0 (PPCN 2.0) y del decreto ejecutivo No. 36499-S-MINAET, la Unidad Regional Huetar Caribe (URHC) del Instituto Nacional de Aprendizaje (INA) ha desarrollado el proyecto institucional llamado: VIDA NATURAL, como parte del Programa de Gestión Ambiental Institucional (PGAI). Entre los resultados obtenidos más importantes del proyecto se encuentra la declaración de Carbono Neutralidad Plus de la URHC. Esto se alcanzó al determinar una huella de carbono de 188 ton CO2e/año en el 2016, 150 ton CO2e/año para el 2017 y 155 ton CO2e/año para el 2018, y una remoción de 190 ton CO2e/año por parte de un área forestal de 14 hectáreas, al aplicar la norma INTE B5:2016.

The number of mosque buildings is continuously increasing with the Muslim population, which is in fast growth around the world. In particular, the demand of new mosque buildings is high in the urban areas, due to increasing urban population growth in many parts of Muslims countries, as a result of economic growth and political instabilities in some parts of the Muslims world. Mosques are becoming more overcrowded and as a result a number of researches have been conducted to address the issue of thermal comfort of mosque users. Additionally, mosque building is unique because of its intermittent operation and various users, which require a unique heating or cooling strategies. On the other hand due to environmental pressure to suppress global warming, more energy efficient and sustainable buildings design is one of the current issues in building industries. This research aims to explore the sustainable techniques for mosque buildings in different climate zones. This research assesses ...

Partiendo del Programa País de Carbono Neutralidad 2.0 (PPCN 2.0) y del decreto ejecutivo No. 36499-S-MINAET,
la Unidad Regional Huetar Caribe (URHC) del Instituto Nacional de Aprendizaje (INA) ha desarrollado el proyecto
institucional llamado: VIDA NATURAL, como parte del Programa de Gestión Ambiental Institucional (PGAI).
Entre los resultados obtenidos más importantes del proyecto se encuentra la declaración de Carbono Neutralidad
Plus de la URHC. Esto se alcanzó al determinar una huella de carbono de 188 ton CO2e/año en el 2016, 150 ton
CO2e/año para el 2017 y 155 ton CO2e/año para el 2018, y una remoción de 190 ton CO2e/año por parte de un
área forestal de 14 hectáreas, al aplicar la norma INTE B5:2016.

Roof pond systems for passive cooling of buildings are often limited in their efficiency because of solar heating loads or insufficient ventilation. Here we test the performance of a roof cooling configuration that resembles a naturally-ventilated psychrometerdesigned to maintain a temperature close to that of the ambient wet-bulb by employing an elevated shading structure which allows for a free flow of air and maximizes evaporation. Comparing the performance of this 'psychrometric' roof pond (PRP) with a control roof under hot-dry conditions, it was found that the internal surface temperature of the PRP was up to 15 o C lower and that cooling was equally effective whether the roof pond was fully or partially exposed to the night sky. Throughout the hours of a summer day, air temperature in the cell was maintained within accepted comfort limits while the reference cell was continuously overheated. An analysis of energy fluxes above the roof showed that both the modified radiation balance and the conversion of sensible to latent heat through evaporation were significant contributors to the dramatically reduced heat gain and cooling effectiveness. Due to its low water requirement and simplicity, the tested configuration could have a significant potential for resource-efficient cooling.

Maracaibo has a hot humid climate with maximum annual average temperatures of 32°C to 34°C and corresponding minimum relative humidity of 50% to 60%. The maximum average relative humidity is always over 90%. Its temperature and relative humidity vary slightly throughout the year; the average mean temperatures and relative humidity are 27ºC to 28.6ºC and 70% to 80% respectively, with temperature amplitudes of 7ºC to 9ºC. The annual precipitation is about 500 mm and its daily global radiation is over 5 KWh/m 2 /Day. Such a climate presents a serious challenge for passive cooling. Experiments were conducted to measure the performance in Maracaibo of two passive cooling systems in test cells with roof ponds. One system uses nocturnal radiation and evaporation and the other system uses only nocturnal radiation as a cooling source. Based on the experimental data, formulas were developed that predict the indoor maximum, average and minimum temperatures of the test cells cooled by the two systems. These experiments have demonstrated that even in the climate of Maracaibo there is a potential for passive cooling, at least of single storey buildings that have a roof structure that can accommodate a roof pond.

The passive cooling of building roofs by use of a water roof pond has been of interest for many years, but the thermal behavior of roof ponds lacks detailed analysis leading to high water depths and inaccurate thermal performance estimations. In this study, the effects of solar radiation, ambient temperature, and constant water evaporation on the thermal behavior in roof ponds with depths of 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4 m in 2 roof pond patterns; uncovered with and without water flow, were numerically investigated. The numerical results illustrated temperature gradients in the roof pond systems during exposure to a solar intensity of 638 W/m 2 , and ambient temperatures of 32.93-36.67 °C with an initial water temperature of 24.0-25.35 °C. In the uncovered roof pond, the water depth of 0.2 m was found to completely prevent heat transfer into the building. The roof pond with a water flow of 0.1-0.4 m removes heat away from the roof through water circulation; hence, the suggestion is to use i...

Preservation of potatoes in a controlled cool environment (i.e., in cold storage) consumes a substantial amount of energy. The specific energy consumption in Indian cold storage has been estimated to be between 9 and 26 kWh/ton/year. In this article, the potential for minimizing the energy consumption in the refrigeration process of cold storage through passive cooling concepts (i.e., roof evaporative cooling and the earth integration of the storage building) was explored. These passive concepts of cooling have shown significant potential for lowering the cooling loads and the energy consumption in different types of buildings. Therefore, a feasibility analysis for a potato storage building, considering the effect of the passive cooling concepts, was conducted for three different climatic conditions (i.e., hot–dry, warm–humid, and composite) in India. The energy saving potentials in the cold storage were assessed by quantifying the thermal energy exchange between the indoor and outd...

Maracaibo has a hot humid climate with maximum annual average temperatures of 32°C to 34°C and corresponding minimum relative humidity of 50% to 60%. The maximum average relative humidity is always over 90%. Its temperature and relative humidity vary slightly throughout the year; the average mean temperatures and relative humidity are 27ºC to 28.6ºC and 70% to 80% respectively, with temperature amplitudes of 7ºC to 9ºC. The annual precipitation is about 500 mm and its daily global radiation is over 5 KWh/m 2 /Day. Such a climate presents a serious challenge for passive cooling. Experiments were conducted to measure the performance in Maracaibo of two passive cooling systems in test cells with roof ponds. One system uses nocturnal radiation and evaporation and the other system uses only nocturnal radiation as a cooling source. Based on the experimental data, formulas were developed that predict the indoor maximum, average and minimum temperatures of the test cells cooled by the two systems. These experiments have demonstrated that even in the climate of Maracaibo there is a potential for passive cooling, at least of single storey buildings that have a roof structure that can accommodate a roof pond.

Universities have always had an important leadership role in society in demonstrating the types of changes that need to occur with respect to the prime issues of the time. All around the world, universities are lining up to declare themselves the next carbon neutral school as part of the global trend of becoming "sustainable." But what does it really mean to be carbon neutral? In 2007 Victoria University's School of Architecture and Design (SoAD) declared themselves the first carbon neutral campus in the world through the use of sponsored and purchased carbon credits. However 100% reliance on offset schemes is not the answer as it does not guarantee the capture of carbon forever. Also, the continuing purchase of carbon offsets could be costly and maintaining businessas- usual without any significant changes will result in continuing environmental degradation as a result of the SoAD's unsustainable activities. This research explores various solutions for reducing th...

The discussion on sustainability is often focused on indicators that measure the progress towards sustainability or on checklists that suggest what needs to be done to create sustainable buildings. This article argues that most of these systems are predicated on maintaining the status quo and that real sustainability cannot be achieved unless there is a collective vision of what can and should be achieved within the resources available. It also argues that sustainability indicators tend to be considered in isolation rather than together. This runs against the ecological approach that is based upon understanding linkages. Examples related to the built environment are discussed in detail.

Transition to a low-carbon economy for New Zealand | 2016 'Lowering greenhouse gas emissions will require changes in patterns of production and consumption, but need not reduce well-being.' This current study provides a detailed assessment of the numerous mitigation actions that exist to lower our GHG emissions over the next few decades but starting now.

Creation of zero CO 2 emission enterprises due to energy use in Crete, Greece has been examined with reference to an orange juice producing plant (Viochym). Energy intensity at Viochym has been estimated at 1.66 KWh per € of annual sales. Oil used for heat generation has been replaced with solid biomass produced locally in Crete and resulting in zero CO 2 emissions due to the use of heat. Offsetting CO 2 emissions due to grid electricity use has been proposed with two options. The first includes the installation of a solar photovoltaic system with nominal power of 417 KWp, according to net metering regulations, generating annually 625 MWh equal to annual grid electricity consumption in the plant. Its capital cost has been estimated at 0.5 mil € which corresponds to 1.07 € per kg of CO 2 saved annually.The second option includes the creation of a tree plantation in an area of 107 hectare resulting in carbon sequestration equal to carbon emissions in the plant due to electricity use. Both options for offsetting CO 2 emissions in Viochym have various advantages and drawbacks and they are considered realistic and feasible, resulting in the elimination of its carbon emissions due to energy use. Improvement of the energy intensity of various processes in Viochym could result in lower CO 2 emissions and smaller sizing of the required renewable energy systems for eliminating them.

Transition to a low-carbon economy for New Zealand | 2016 'Lowering greenhouse gas emissions will require changes in patterns of production and consumption, but need not reduce well-being.' This current study provides a detailed assessment of the numerous mitigation actions that exist to lower our GHG emissions over the next few decades but starting now.

Climate is one of the main parameters that can influence building designs in Iraq. Analysis and assessment of microclimatological data can aid urban architects and engineers to optimize human comfort through environmentally sustainable practices. The results indicated that the long-term measurements of total solar insolation and ambient temperatures have increased by 2.9% and 6.5% respectively. Albedo resulted in good correlation with heating coefficients and temperature of R 2 = 0.89 and 0.63 respectively. Annual cooling degree days and heating degree days have reduced, while annual mean ambient temperatures and annual solar radiation have increased.

Disclaimer: "UBC SEEDS Sustainability Program provides students with the opportunity to share the findings of their studies, as well as their opinions, conclusions and recommendations with the UBC community. The reader should bear in mind that this is a student research project/report and is not an official document of UBC. Furthermore, readers should bear in mind that these reports may not reflect the current status of activities at UBC. We urge you to contact the research persons mentioned in a report or the SEEDS Sustainability Program representative about the current status of the subject matter of a project/report".

Travel Demand Management (TDM) techniques mainly focus on reducing the number of single occupant car trips and encourage people to use more efficient and sustainable modes such as buses, cycles, and walking. Travel plan is being used as a Travel Demand Management tool around the world in recent times. Medium to large organisations have started to develop travel plans for their employees with a view to modifying their travel behaviour. If the commuting behaviour of a large number of employees could be changed through travel plans it could have a huge impact on reducing congestion and road transport related pollution. Universities can attract a large number of trips from the students and staff. On many issues universities act as a role model. If the universities can modify the travel habits of students and staff through travel plans, they can not only have positive effects on the city road network and environment but also encourage other organisations to follow suit. This study critically reviews the travel plans of a few universities around the world from sustainability perspectives. It critiques the basis of adopting policies and attempts to find the common as well as unique features of the measures with a view to identifying the best practices. Travel plans are still a new concept and there are hardly any guidelines on preparing them. This research would help universities to modify or develop effective travel plans and lead others to adopt sustainable practices.

Glazing transparency provides buildings with valuable solar energy during periods of colder weather, thus contributing to the mitigation of climate change. However, this same transparency also leads to heat loss which can offset heat gains. Although the use of insulated glazing addresses this challenge by multiplying the number of glass panes, at the same time it reduces the solar factor and thus the heating potential. This article aims to estimate the potential for passive solar heating in Europe according to the energy performance of glazing. This potential is undoubtedly a valuable resource for sustainable architecture. However, an analysis based on regional weather conditions shows a wide disparity in the energy savings that can be expected from a south-facing facade. These savings are most often well below a building's average energy consumption and so a balance has to be found between the thermal resistance and the solar factor of glazing. In addition, the carbon footprint and cost of the most efficient glazing can considerably extend the environmental and economic payback time of a retrofit. This research shows that the potential for passive solar heating is significant but only as long as each architectural situation is analysed according to its specific context and function. This potential would be even greater if windows were designed and used as adjustable facade elements to suit variations in weather and use.