Download or read book Creating Healthy and Sustainable Buildings written by Mateja Dovjak and published by Springer. This book was released on 2020-08-14 with total page 160 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The open access book discusses human health and wellbeing within the context of built environments. It provides a comprehensive overview of relevant sources of literature and user complaints that clearly demonstrate the consequences of lack of attention to health in current building design and planning. Current designing of energy-efficient buildings is mainly focused on looking at energy problems and not on addressing health. Therefore, even green buildings that place environmental aspects above health issues can be uncomfortable and unhealthy, and can lead to public health problems. The authors identify many health risk factors and their parameters, and the interactions among risk factors and building design elements. They point to the need for public health specialists, engineers and planners to come together and review built environments for human wellbeing and environmental sustainability. The authors therefore present a tool for holistic decision-making processes, leading to short- and long-term benefits for people and their environment.

Download or read book Healthy Buildings written by JOSEPH G. ALLEN and published by Harvard University Press. This book was released on 2022-10-18 with total page 337 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Buildings can make us sick or keep us well. Diseases and toxins course through indoor spaces, making us ill. Meanwhile, better air quality and light levels improve productivity. At a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has us focused more than ever on indoor air quality, Healthy Buildings shows how much we have to gain from human-centered design.

Download or read book The Power of Existing Buildings written by Robert Sroufe and published by Island Press. This book was released on 2019-11-12 with total page 234 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Your building has the potential to change the world. Existing buildings consume approximately 40 percent of the energy and emit nearly half of the carbon dioxide in the US each year. In recognition of the significant contribution of buildings to climate change, the idea of building green has become increasingly popular. But is it enough? If an energy-efficient building is new construction, it may take 10 to 80 years to overcome the climate change impacts of the building process. New buildings are sexy, but few realize the value in existing buildings and how easy it is to get to “zero energy” or low-energy consumption through deep energy retrofits. Existing buildings can and should be retrofit to reduce environmental impacts that contribute to climate change, while improving human health and productivity for building occupants. In The Power of Existing Buildings, academic sustainability expert Robert Sroufe, and construction and building experts Craig Stevenson and Beth Eckenrode, explain how to realize the potential of existing buildings and make them perform like new. This step-by-step guide will help readers to: understand where to start a project; develop financial models and realize costs savings; assemble an expert team; and align goals with numerous sustainability programs. The Power of Existing Buildings will challenge you to rethink spaces where people work and play, while determining how existing buildings can save the world. The insights and practical experience of Sroufe, Stevenson, and Eckenrode, along with the project case study examples, provide new insights on investing in existing buildings for building owners, engineers, occupants, architects, and real estate and construction professionals. The Power of Existing Buildings helps decision-makers move beyond incremental changes to holistic, results-oriented solutions.

Download or read book Building Services Design for Energy Efficient Buildings written by Paul Tymkow and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2013-07-18 with total page 376 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The role and influence of building services engineers is undergoing rapid change and is pivotal to achieving low-carbon buildings. However, textbooks in the field have largely focused on the detailed technicalities of HVAC systems, often with little wider context. This book addresses that need by embracing a contemporary understanding of energy efficiency imperatives, together with a strategic approach to the key design issues impacting upon carbon performance, in a concise manner. The key conceptual design issues for planning the principal systems that influence energy efficiency are examined in detail. In addition, the following issues are addressed in turn: Background issues for sustainability and the design process Developing a strategic approach to energy-efficient design How to undertake load assessments System comparison and selection Space planning for services Post-occupancy evaluation of completed building services In order to deliver sustainable buildings, a new perspective is needed amongst building and services engineering designers, from the outset of the conceptual design stage and throughout the whole design process. In this book, students and practitioners alike will find the ideal introduction to this new approach.

Download or read book Creating Healthy and Sustainable Buildings written by Andreja Kukec and published by . This book was released on 2020-10-09 with total page 172 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The open access book discusses human health and wellbeing within the context of built environments. It provides a comprehensive overview of relevant sources of literature and user complaints that clearly demonstrate the consequences of lack of attention to health in current building design and planning. Current designing of energy-efficient buildings is mainly focused on looking at energy problems and not on addressing health. Therefore, even green buildings that place environmental aspects above health issues can be uncomfortable and unhealthy, and can lead to public health problems. The authors identify many health risk factors and their parameters, and the interactions among risk factors and building design elements. They point to the need for public health specialists, engineers and planners to come together and review built environments for human wellbeing and environmental sustainability. The authors therefore present a tool for holistic decision-making processes, leading to short- and long-term benefits for people and their environment. This work was published by Saint Philip Street Press pursuant to a Creative Commons license permitting commercial use. All rights not granted by the work's license are retained by the author or authors.

Download or read book A Handbook of Sustainable Building Design and Engineering written by Dejan Mumovic and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2013-06-17 with total page 476 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The combined challenges of health, comfort, climate change and energy security cross the boundaries of traditional building disciplines. This authoritative collection, focusing mostly on energy and ventilation, provides the current and next generation of building engineering professionals with what they need to work closely with many disciplines to meet these challenges. A Handbook of Sustainable Building Engineering covers: how to design, engineer and monitor a building in a manner that minimises the emissions of greenhouse gases; how to adapt the environment, fabric and services of existing and new buildings to climate change; how to improve the environment in and around buildings to provide better health, comfort, security and productivity; and provides crucial expertise on monitoring the performance of buildings once they are occupied. The authors explain the principles behind built environment engineering, and offer practical guidance through international case studies.

Download or read book Energy Efficient Building Systems written by Lal Jayamaha and published by McGraw Hill Professional. This book was released on 2006-12-11 with total page 309 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Proven Strategies and Solutions for Reducing Energy Consumption Property and facility managers can turn to Energy-Efficient Building Systems as a one-stop guide to operating and maintaining commercial building systems at peak efficiency. Designed to help reduce energy costs and meet environmental standards, this state-of-the-art productivity tool contains fully illustrated, real-world examples of successful green building projects that have achieved significant, energy-saving results. From energy management and auditing, HVAC systems, cooling towers, and pumping systems...to lighting, electrical systems, automation, and building envelope, this expert resource takes readers step by step through procedures for getting optimal performance from every building system. For each system, the book presents the latest methods for improving efficiency...identifying promising new solutions...evaluating their feasibility...and estimating actual savings. Comprehensive and authoritative, Energy-Efficient Building Systems enables building professionals to: Get an in-depth understanding of the principles of each building system Select the most efficient systems for any nonresidential building Maximize energy efficiency with practical strategies and solutions Utilize hands-on methods for evaluating feasibility and estimating savings Review real-world examples of successful green building projects Inside This Cost-Saving Energy Guide • Energy Management and Energy Auditing • Air-Conditioning and Central Chiller Systems • Boilers and Heating Systems • Pumping Systems • Cooling Towers • Air Handling and Distribution Systems • Lighting Systems • Building Electrical Systems • Building Automation Systems • Building Envelope

Download or read book Healthy and energy efficient buildings written by Sunil K. Sansaniwal and published by Frontiers Media SA. This book was released on 2023-12-21 with total page 322 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This Research Topic on 'Healthy and Energy Efficient Buildings' focuses on the emerging need for sustainable and healthy indoor environments. The built environment contributes significantly to energy consumption and environmental degradation, leading to adverse effects on human health and well-being. Therefore, this Research Topic aims to bring together cutting-edge research that addresses the complex interplay between building energy efficiency and occupant health. The scope of the Research Topic covers topics such as energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, sustainable energy, health and well-being, building codes and standards, energy management and green building practices. The ultimate goal of the Research Topic is to promote sustainable building practices and enhance the well-being of building occupants while reducing the environmental impact of buildings. While energy efficiency has become a top priority in building design, there has been less emphasis on creating indoor environments that are conducive to good health. To achieve the goal of this Research Topic, recent advances in building design, construction, and operation must be incorporated. These include the use of advanced materials and technologies, such as smart sensors and automation systems that can monitor and control indoor air quality, temperature, and lighting levels to create optimal indoor conditions for occupants. Additionally, the integration of renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, can help reduce the carbon footprint of buildings. In order to promote healthy buildings, there is a need for more research on the impact of building design and materials on indoor air quality and occupant health. This includes exploring the use of natural ventilation and passive cooling strategies, as well as the use of low-emitting materials and finishes that do not off-gas harmful chemicals. This Research Topic seeks to address the need for sustainable buildings that prioritize both energy efficiency and occupant health.

Download or read book Building a Sustainable Home written by Melissa Rappaport Schifman and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2018-08-07 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The green building movement has produced hundreds of “how-to” books and websites that are filled with tips about green building and what homeowners should do to go green. While helpful and informative, when it comes to making actual purchasing and installation decisions, these books do not make it any easier for a homeowner to prioritize against a budget. Here, Schifman shares her knowledge and experience for others to use in their journey toward a greener way of living. Whether the reader is building a new home or doing a minor remodel, a homeowner needs a framework by which to guide their decisions. These decisions are based on values, and the author posits that there are really only three reasons to go green: For Our Health: By building more sustainably, we reduce our exposure to harmful chemicals and toxins. For Our Wealth: By building a more durable home and being more efficient with resources like water and electricity, we reduce our monthly utility bills and ongoing maintenance expenses. For Our Soul: Collectively doing the right thing for our planet does make a difference—and that is soul-nourishing. Learn the logistics of choosing windows, insulation, appliances, and lighting. Find out about FSC certified wood and about using reclaimed materials. Here is everything you need to make your home sustainable.

Download or read book Handbook of Energy Efficiency in Buildings written by Umberto Desideri and published by Butterworth-Heinemann. This book was released on 2018-11-12 with total page 860 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Handbook of Energy Efficiency in Buildings: A Life Cycle Approach offers a comprehensive and in-depth coverage of the subject with a further focus on the Life Cycle. The editors, renowned academics, invited a diverse group of researchers to develop original chapters for the book and managed to well integrate all contributions in a consistent volume. Sections cover the role of the building sector on energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, international technical standards, laws and regulations, building energy efficiency and zero energy consumption buildings, the life cycle assessment of buildings, from construction to decommissioning, and other timely topics. The multidisciplinary approach to the subject makes it valuable for researchers and industry based Civil, Construction, and Architectural Engineers. Researchers in related fields as built environment, energy and sustainability at an urban scale will also benefit from the books integrated perspective. - Presents a complete and thorough coverage of energy efficiency in buildings - Provides an integrated approach to all the different elements that impact energy efficiency - Contains coverage of worldwide regulation

Download or read book Green Building written by Michael Bauer and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2009-12-03 with total page 209 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An important consideration for energy-efficient buildings is their primary energy requirements over the entire life cycle. How to determine this? What integrative factors influence the performance of a healthy and sustainable building? This, while it may be important for clients and architects to know, is frequently not very transparent. This book has been written to assist with clarifying target criteria and expanding horizons when it comes to ecological buildings. It is meant as a handbook and source of reference for clients, architects, planners and building operators, to provide them with pertinent information about their design, construction and operation: how to do this in the most energy-efficient and economical manner? Also, there is feedback and documentation about prominent buildings like the Hamburg Dockland or the Landesbank Baden-Wuerttemberg in Stuttgart. They provide excellent architectural examples for detailed construction and design solutions. Further, there are insightful interviews with architects and clients about many important buildings, which help turn this book into an integrated source of reference for sustainable architecture. - A Guideline for Planning, Construction and Operation of sustainable Buildings - A source of reference for clients, architects, planners and building operators - Innovative architectural examples with sustainable concepts and design

Download or read book Healthy Homes written by Nick Baker and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2019-10-18 with total page 355 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: It is widely acknowledged that there is an urgent need to transform our housing stock to a better energy performance level. However, improving energy performance should not result in a negative impact on the health, wellbeing and the comfort of building occupants. There are many energy-neutral features that can be incorporated at small or zero cost which have a positive effect on wellbeing. This book aims to outline and discuss these aspects of building design. The issue of health and wellbeing has already entered into design advice for the workplace, where productivity and absenteeism are often used as indicators. This book concentrates on residential buildings, notably mass housing and affordable strategies, for which new, more socially and health-oriented indicators are being developed. Provides practical design guidance based on scientific evidence Explores both physical and psychological wellbeing Focuses on the home and immediate domestic environment Structured in an accessible way for architects and designers.

Download or read book Green Home Building written by Miki Cook and published by New Society Publishers. This book was released on 2014-09-01 with total page 435 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A comprehensive guide to building green on any budget. According to conventional wisdom, building a green home is an expensive endeavor. The standard approach treats green as an add-on, tacking "premium" products, finishes, and equipment onto a traditional home design. As a result, many green home projects end up over budget or fail to achieve their environmental and performance goals. Green Home Building explodes the myth that green homes have to cost more. Using proven methods based on applied building science, the authors show how to: Lower base construction costs to provide funding for high performance upgrades Achieve a net-zero energy home, including "zero-ing" water, waste, carbon, and associated costs within fifteen years Live affordably into the future, despite anticipated rising costs for fuel, water, materials, taxes, and health care This comprehensive guide to building green on any budget defines the strategies that maximize the return on green investments. Written for anyone who has ever been swayed by the argument that the price tag limits how green a home can be, Green Home Building is a must-read for builders, contractors, architects, designers, and homeowners. Miki Cook is a green building and sustainability consultant who has dedicated her career to educating contractors and the public on the strategies, methods, and benefits of green homes. Doug Garrett has trained thousands of homebuilders, architects, and sub-contractors to build energy-efficient homes using applied building science to improve comfort, durability, and healthfulness while meeting or exceeding the energy code.

Download or read book Energy efficient Buildings in India written by Mili Majumdar and published by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). This book was released on 2001-01-01 with total page 306 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Accelerated urbanization imposes immense pressure on the dwindling energy sources and fragile ecosystems. Yet, the resource crunch confronting energy supplies can be alleviated if we design and develop future buildings by incorporating sound concepts of energy efficiency and sustainability.Covering 41 projects from India's various climatic zones, this book provides thorough insights into the context, techniques, and benefits of energy-efficient buildings. The projects highlight design responses to varied climatic conditions, appropriate materials and construction methods, implementation of energy-efficient systems, and effective utilization of renewable energy to reduce pressure on grid power.This book will inspire architects, designers, urban planners, engineers, and students to build for a better tomorrow.

Download or read book Materials for Energy Efficiency and Thermal Comfort in Buildings written by Matthew R Hall and published by Elsevier. This book was released on 2010-04-21 with total page 761 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Almost half of the total energy produced in the developed world is inefficiently used to heat, cool, ventilate and control humidity in buildings, to meet the increasingly high thermal comfort levels demanded by occupants. The utilisation of advanced materials and passive technologies in buildings would substantially reduce the energy demand and improve the environmental impact and carbon footprint of building stock worldwide.Materials for energy efficiency and thermal comfort in buildings critically reviews the advanced building materials applicable for improving the built environment. Part one reviews both fundamental building physics and occupant comfort in buildings, from heat and mass transport, hygrothermal behaviour, and ventilation, on to thermal comfort and health and safety requirements.Part two details the development of advanced materials and sustainable technologies for application in buildings, beginning with a review of lifecycle assessment and environmental profiling of materials. The section moves on to review thermal insulation materials, materials for heat and moisture control, and heat energy storage and passive cooling technologies. Part two concludes with coverage of modern methods of construction, roofing design and technology, and benchmarking of façades for optimised building thermal performance.Finally, Part three reviews the application of advanced materials, design and technologies in a range of existing and new building types, including domestic, commercial and high-performance buildings, and buildings in hot and tropical climates.This book is of particular use to, mechanical, electrical and HVAC engineers, architects and low-energy building practitioners worldwide, as well as to academics and researchers in the fields of building physics, civil and building engineering, and materials science. - Explores improving energy efficiency and thermal comfort through material selection and sustainable technologies - Documents the development of advanced materials and sustainable technologies for applications in building design and construction - Examines fundamental building physics and occupant comfort in buildings featuring heat and mass transport, hygrothermal behaviour and ventilation

Download or read book The New Net Zero written by Bill Maclay and published by Chelsea Green Publishing. This book was released on 2014 with total page 578 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The new threshold for green building is not just low energy, it's net-zero energy. In The New Net Zero, sustainable architect Bill Maclay charts the path for designers and builders interested in exploring green design's new-frontier net-zero-energy structures that produce as much energy as they consume and are carbon neutral. In a nation where traditional buildings use roughly 40 percent of the total fossil energy, the interest in net-zero building is growing enormously--among both designers interested in addressing climate change and consumers interested in energy efficiency and long-term savings. Maclay, an award-winning net-zero designer whose buildings have achieved high-performance goals at affordable costs, makes the case for a net-zero future; explains net-zero building metrics, integrated design practices, and renewable energy options; and shares his lessons learned on net-zero teambuilding. Designers and builders will find a wealth of state-of-the-art information on such considerations as air, water, and vapor barriers; embodied energy; residential and commercial net-zero standards; monitoring and commissioning; insulation options; costs; and more. The comprehensive overview is accompanied by several case studies, which include institutional buildings, commercial projects, and residences. Both new-building and renovation projects are covered in detail. The New Net Zero is geared toward professionals exploring net-zero design, but also suitable for nonprofessionals seeking ideas and strategies on net-zero options that are beautiful and renewably powered.

Download or read book Design of Energy efficient Buildings written by Sassan Mohasseb and published by . This book was released on 2020 with total page 182 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Nowadays, the energy crisis is one of the controversial issues around the world. Regarding the fact that the largest energy end use in the world belongs to the construction and residential sector, it seems necessary to analyze the energy flow in the buildings. The most sustainable energy design technique is to conserve energy as much as possible. There are various methods to reduce the use of conventional energy from fossil fuels to meet the energy requirement for the building. Various strategies including photovoltaic-thermal systems and insulation systems with the aim of minimizing building energy in different climate conditions (Cold-weather/Hot weather) were presented and assessed in the first chapter. A comprehensive work was carried out to investigate the effect of adding nanoparticles as concrete additives on both pore structure and thermophysical properties of the concrete at different ages. Besides, the behavioral models using Genetic Algorithm (GA) programming were developed to describe the time-dependent behavioral characteristics of nanoparticle blended concrete samples in various compressive and tensile stress states. Chapter 3 deals with the traditional energy saving techniques to highlight the potential of learning from traditional architecture and adopting their experiences to fulfill modern expectations. In this regard, Iranian classical architecture, particularly at hot arid climate, is taken into account. On the other hand, geothermal energy as one of the most significant alternative sources of thermal and electrical energy have been discussed. To address the growing demand of power generation and its related challenges of the existing electrical power grid, Smart Grid (SG) systems comes as a solution that lays in taking the world forward to reach energy independence and environmentally sustainable economic growth. The final chapter provides various information about the smart grid systems and the efficiency of such systems is analyzed through a detailed case study"--