Search Results (1,484)

Under the dual challenges of global energy crisis and climate change, the building sector, as a major carbon emitter consuming 33% of global primary energy, has seen its energy efficiency optimization become a critical pathway towards achieving carbon neutrality goals. The Window-to-Wall Ratio (WWR), serving as a core parameter in building envelope design, directly influences building energy consumption, with its optimized design playing a decisive role in balancing natural daylighting, ventilation efficiency, and thermal comfort. This study focuses on the traditional One-Seal dwellings (Yikeyin) in Kunming, China, establishing a dynamic wind field-thermal environment coupled analysis framework to investigate the impact mechanism of window dimensions (WWR and aspect ratio) on indoor thermal comfort under natural wind conditions in transitional climate zones. Utilizing the Grasshopper platform integrated with Ladybug, Honeybee, and Butterfly plugins, we developed parametric models incorporating Kunming’s Energy Plus Weather meteorological data. EnergyPlus and OpenFOAM were employed, respectively, for building heat-moisture balance calculations and Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) simulations, with particular emphasis on analyzing the effects of varying WWR (0.05–0.20) on temperature-humidity, air velocity, and ventilation efficiency during typical winter and summer weeks. Key findings include, (1) in summer, the baseline scenario with WWR = 0.1 achieves a dynamic thermal-humidity balance (20.89–24.27 °C, 65.35–74.22%) through a “air-permeable but non-ventilative” strategy, though wing rooms show humidity-heat accumulation risks; increasing WWR to 0.15–0.2 enhances ventilation efficiency (2–3 times higher air changes) but causes a 4.5% humidity surge; (2) winter conditions with WWR ≥ 0.15 reduce wing room temperatures to 17.32 °C, approaching cold thresholds, while WWR = 0.05 mitigates heat loss but exacerbates humidity accumulation; (3) a symmetrical layout structurally constrains central ventilation, maintaining main halls air changes below one Air Change per Hour (ACH). The study proposes an optimized WWR range of 0.1–0.15 combined with asymmetric window opening strategies, providing quantitative guidance for validating the scientific value of vernacular architectural wisdom in low-energy design. Full article

Global climate change is causing increasing fluctuations in winter temperatures, including episodes of warm conditions above 9 °C. Such events disrupt cold acclimation in plants and can induce deacclimation, reducing frost tolerance and altering, among other things, hormonal regulation. This study investigated hormonal and molecular changes associated with cold acclimation and deacclimation in oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) cultivars Kuga and Thure. Plants were grown under different conditions: non-acclimated (17 °C for three weeks), cold-acclimated (4 °C for three weeks), and deacclimated (16/9 °C day/night for one week). Detailed hormone analysis included auxins, gibberellins, cytokinins, stress-related hormones, and the expression of hormone-related genes (BnABF2, BnAOS, BnARF1, BnARR6, BnICS1, BnRGA, and BnWRKY57). Hormone concentrations in leaves changed dynamically in response to deacclimation with increased amounts of growth-promoting hormones and decreased amounts of stress hormones. Additionally, alterations in gene expression during deacclimation, such as in BnABF2 and BnICS1, may function as protective mechanisms to help maintain or regain frost tolerance during reacclimation when temperatures decline again after the warm period. These findings improve the understanding of hormonal and molecular responses involved in the deacclimation of oilseed rape. Full article

We summarize our present knowledge of the regulation of photostasis and photosynthetic performance versus photoprotection in response to vernalization and conclude that the enhanced photosynthetic performance of winter crops is due to an inherent increase in photosynthetic energy conversion efficiency induced by vernalization which translates into high seed yield in the field as well as under controlled environment conditions. This is consistent with the published data for enhanced photosynthetic performance of the only two extant terrestrial angiosperms, Colobanthus quitensis and Deschampsia antarctica, native to the frigid conditions of terrestrial Antarctica. The Cold Binding factor family of transcription factors (CBFs/DREBs) governs the enhanced photosynthetic performance of winter cereals as well as the Antarctic angiosperms. In contrast to winter crops, spring varieties survive cold environments by stimulating photoprotection at the expense of photosynthetic performance like that observed for green algae and cyanobacteria. Consequently, this minimizes the photosynthetic energy conversion efficiency of spring varieties and limits their seed yield upon cold acclimation. This review provides critical insights into the regulation of photostasis and the balance between photosynthetic performance and photoprotection in plants and how vernalization has enhanced photosynthetic energy conversion, which is essential for understanding plant adaptation to cold environments and optimizing agricultural productivity for improving crop resilience and yield in challenging climates. Full article

Temperature fluctuations caused by climate change and global warming pose a threat to fish. The burbot (lota lota) population is particularly sensitive to increased water temperature, but the systematic impacts of high-temperature exposure on their liver and intestinal health remain unclear. In January of 2025, we collected wild adult burbot individuals from the Ussuri River (water temperature: about 2 °C), China. The burbot were exposed to 2 °C, 7 °C, 12 °C, 17 °C, and 22 °C environments for 96 h; then, the liver and intestinal contents were subsequently collected for histopathology observation, immunohistochemistry, biochemical index assessment, and transcriptome/16S rDNA sequencing analysis. There was obvious liver damage including hepatocyte necrosis, fat vacuoles, and cellular peripheral nuclei. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities were elevated and subsequently decreased. Additionally, the malondialdehyde (MDA) level significantly increased with increasing temperature. These results indicate that 7 °C (heat stress temperature), 12 °C (tipping point for normal physiological metabolism status), 17 °C (tipping point for individual deaths), and 22 °C (thermal limit) are critical temperatures in terms of the physiological response of burbot during their breeding period. In the hepatic transcriptome profiling, 6538 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, while KEGG enrichment analysis showed that high-temperature stress could affect normal liver function by regulating energy metabolism, immune, and apoptosis-related pathways. Microbiomics also revealed that acute heat stress could change the intestinal microbe community structure. Additionally, correlation analysis suggested potential regulatory relationships between intestinal microbe taxa and immune/apoptosis-related DEGs in the liver. This study revealed the potential impact of environmental water temperature changes in cold habitats in winter on the physiological adaptability of burbot during the breeding period and provides new insights for the ecological protection of burbot in the context of global climate change and habitat warming. Full article

Resettlement communities in Qinghai are located in cold, high-altitude regions with dry climates and strong solar radiation. Although not extremely cold, the moderate heating demand aligns well with high solar availability, making passive design highly effective for reducing energy use. This study investigates solar-optimized spatial configurations that enhance passive energy performance while addressing functional settlement needs. Through parametric modeling and climate-responsive simulations, four key spatial parameters are examined: building spacing, courtyard depth, density, and volumetric ratio. The findings highlight the dominant role of front–rear spacing in solar access, with optimal values at 3–4 m for single-story and 5–10 m for two-story buildings, balancing radiation gain and land use efficiency. Courtyard depths under 2.7 m significantly limit south façade exposure due to shading from the opposite courtyard wall under low-angle winter sun. This reduction results in the south façade attaining only 55.7–79.6% of the solar radiation acquisition by an unobstructed south façade (the baseline). Meanwhile, clustered orientations reduce inter-building shading losses by 38–42% compared to dispersed layouts. A three-tiered design framework is proposed: (1) macro-scale solar orientation zoning, (2) meso-scale spacing tailored to building height, and (3) micro-scale courtyard modulation for low-angle winter radiation. Together, these strategies provide practical, scalable guidelines for energy-efficient, climate-responsive settlement design in the alpine regions of Qinghai. Full article

Thermal resilience is critical for building safety in cold climates during heating outages. This study presents full-scale experimental data from two residential buildings in Poland, tested during the winter of 2024–2025 under both typical and extreme outdoor conditions. The buildings—a lightweight timber-frame structure and a mediumweight masonry structure with ground coupling—were exposed to multi-day heating blackouts, and their thermal responses were monitored at a high temporal resolution. Several resilience indicators were used, including the resistance time (RT), degree of disruption (DoD), and hours of safety threshold (HST). Additionally, two time-based metrics—the time to threshold (T_x) and temperature at X-hours (T(t_x))—were introduced to improve classification in long-duration scenarios. The weighted unmet thermal performance (WUMTP) index was also implemented and validated using experimental data. The results show that thermal mass and ground coupling significantly improved passive resilience, enabling the mediumweight building to maintain temperatures above 15 °C for over 60 h without heating. This study provides new empirical evidence of passive survivability in blackout conditions and supports the development of time-sensitive assessment tools for cold climates. The findings may inform future updates to building codes and retrofit guidelines. Full article

This study aims to characterize the emissions of ammonia (NH₃) and methane (CH₄) from naturally ventilated dairy barns located in cold regions during the winter season, thereby providing a scientific basis for optimizing dairy barn environmental management. The target barn was selected at a commercial dairy farm in Ulanchab, Inner Mongolia, China. Environmental factors, including temperature, humidity, wind speed, and concentrations of NH₃, CH₄, and CO₂, were monitored both inside and outside the barn. The ventilation rate and emission rate were calculated using the CO₂ mass balance method. Additionally, NH₃ and CH₄ emission prediction models were developed using the adaptive neural fuzzy inference system (ANFIS). Correlation analyses were conducted to clarify the intrinsic links between environmental factors and NH₃ and CH₄ emissions, as well as the degree of influence of each factor on gas emissions. The ANFIS model with a Gaussian membership function (gaussmf) achieved the highest performance in predicting NH₃ emissions (R² = 0.9270), while the model with a trapezoidal membership function (trapmf) was most accurate for CH₄ emissions (R² = 0.8977). The improved ANFIS model outperformed common models, such as multilayer perceptron (MLP) and radial basis function (RBF). This study revealed the significant effects of environmental factors on NH₃ and CH₄ emissions from dairy barns in cold regions and provided reliable data support and intelligent prediction methods for realizing the precise control of gas emissions. Full article

The use of chloride-based deicing salts, particularly sodium chloride (NaCl) and calcium chloride (CaCl₂), is a common practice in cold regions for maintaining road safety during winter. However, the accumulation of salt residues in adjacent soils poses serious environmental threats, including reduced pH, increased electrical conductivity (EC), disrupted soil structure, and plant growth inhibition. This study aimed to evaluate the combined effect of activated carbon (AC) and Pennisetum alopecuroides, a salt-tolerant perennial grass, in alleviating salinity stress under deicer-treated soils. A factorial greenhouse experiment was conducted using three fixed factors: (i) presence or absence of Pennisetum alopecuroides, (ii) deicer type (NaCl or CaCl₂), and (iii) activated carbon mixing ratio (0, 1, 2, 5, and 10%). Soil pH, EC, and ion concentrations (Na⁺, Cl⁻, Ca²⁺) were measured, along with six plant growth indicators. The results showed that increasing AC concentrations significantly increased pH and reduced EC and ion accumulation, with the 5% AC treatment being optimal in both deicer systems. Plant physiological responses were improved in AC-amended soils, especially under CaCl₂ treatment, indicating less ion toxicity and better root zone conditions. The interaction effects between AC, deicer type, and plant presence were statistically significant (p < 0.05), supporting a synergistic remediation mechanism involving both adsorption and biological uptake. Despite the limitations of short-term controlled conditions, this study offers a promising phytomanagement strategy using natural adsorbents and salt-tolerant plants for sustainable remediation of salt-affected soils in road-adjacent and urban environments. Full article

With the growing popularity of ice sports, indoor ice sports venues are drawing an increasing number of spectators. Maintaining comfort in spectator zones presents a significant challenge for the operational scheduling of climate control systems, which integrate ventilation, heating, and dehumidification functions. To explore economic cost potential while ensuring user comfort, this study proposes a demand response-integrated optimization model for climate control systems. To enhance the model’s practicality and decision-making efficiency, a two-stage optimization method combining multi-objective optimization algorithms with the technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution (TOPSIS) is proposed. In terms of algorithm comparison, the performance of three typical multi-objective optimization algorithms—NSGA-II, standard MOEA/D, and Multi-Objective Brown Bear Optimization (MOBBO)—is systematically evaluated. The results show that NSGA-II demonstrates the best overall performance based on evaluation metrics including runtime, HV, and IGD. Simulations conducted in China’s cold regions show that, under comparable comfort levels, schedules incorporating dynamic tariffs are significantly more economically efficient than those that do not. They reduce operating costs by 25.3%, 24.4%, and 18.7% on typical summer, transitional, and winter days, respectively. Compared to single-objective optimization approaches that focus solely on either comfort enhancement or cost reduction, the proposed multi-objective model achieves a better balance between user comfort and economic performance. This study not only provides an efficient and sustainable solution for climate control scheduling in energy-intensive buildings such as ice sports venues but also offers a valuable methodological reference for energy management and optimization in similar settings. Full article

Universities in severely cold regions face the dual challenge of adapting to seasonal climate variations while enhancing outdoor thermal comfort in outdoor leisure plazas. This study takes a university in Hohhot as a case study. Through field investigations conducted in summer and winter, thermal benchmarks were established. Based on this, an orthogonal experimental design was developed considering greenery layout, plant types, and surface albedo. ENVI-met was used to simulate and analyze the seasonal regulatory effects of landscape elements on the microclimate. The results show that: (1) the lower limit of the neutral PET range in Hohhot in winter is −11.3 °C, and the upper limit in summer is 31.3 °C; (2) the seasonal contribution of landscape elements to PET ranks as follows: plant types > greenery layout > surface albedo; and (3) the proposed optimization plan achieved a weighted increase of 6.0% in the proportion of activity area within the neutral PET range in both summer and winter. This study is the first to construct outdoor thermal sensation categories for both summer and winter in Hohhot and to establish a thermal comfort optimization evaluation mechanism that considers both diurnal and seasonal weightings. It systematically reveals the comprehensive regulatory effects of landscape elements on the thermal environment in severely cold regions and provides a nature-based solution for the climate-responsive design of campus plazas in such areas. Full article

The yellowtail kingfish (Seriola aureovittata), a commercially important marine species, encounters significant survival challenges under low-temperature conditions during winter aquaculture. To elucidate its molecular adaptation mechanisms, this study employed RNA-Seq to analyze transcriptional responses in juvenile muscle tissues under acute cold stress (10 °C) at 0, 6, 12, and 24 h. Differential gene expression analysis revealed time-dependent patterns, with 269, 863, and 984 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) identified at 6, 12, and 24 h, respectively. Key pathways were identified, including lipid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, and stress response. Sestrin3 upregulation implicated AMPK-mediated energy homeostasis in cold adaptation. These findings provide novel insights into the molecular strategies underlying cold adaptation in yellowtail kingfish, offering potential targets for breeding cold-resistant strains and improving aquaculture resilience. Full article

Tetragonia tetragonioides, or New Zealand spinach, is a widespread halophyte native to eastern Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, and naturalized in some Mediterranean regions. This underutilized vegetable is consumed for its leaves, raw or cooked. For the first time, we investigated the feasibility of using whole baby plants (including stems and leaves) as raw material for ready-to-eat (RTE) vegetable production. Our study assessed Tetragonia’s suitability for hydroponic cultivation over two cycles (autumn–winter and spring). We investigated the impact of increasing nutrient rates (only water, half-strength, and full-strength nutrient solutions) and plant densities (365, 497, and 615 plants m⁻² in the first trial and 615 and 947 plants m⁻² in the second) on baby plant production. We also analyzed the plants’ morphological and biochemical characteristics, and their viability for cold storage (21 days at 4 °C) as a minimally processed product. Tetragonia adapted well to hydroponic cultivation across both growing periods. Nevertheless, climatic conditions, plant density, and nutrient supply significantly influenced plant growth, yield, nutritional quality, and post-harvest storage. The highest plant density combined with the full-strength nutrient solution resulted in the highest yield, especially during spring (1.8 kg m⁻²), and favorable nutritional characteristics (β-carotene, Vitamin C, Fe, Cu, Mn, and Zn). Furthermore, Tetragonia baby plants proved suitable for minimal processing, maintaining good quality retention for a minimum of 14 days, thus resulting in a viable option for the RTE vegetable market. Full article

As a densely populated area, college student dormitories consume a large amount of electricity every year to heat the domestic hot water used by students. Applying solar energy to hot water systems can effectively alleviate this situation. This paper first conducts a simulation of the hot water load and the calculation of the available area of the solar roof in a dormitory building of a certain university. Then, different solar-coupled air source heat pump systems were designed, and simulation models of the two systems were established. The thermal performance parameters and solar energy utilization of the two systems were discussed, and the energy efficiency, economy, and environmental protection of the two systems were analyzed. The results show that after coupling with the solar collector, the system operation time is shortened by 26.2%, the annual performance coefficient is 3.4, which is 0.8 higher than that of the original system, and the annual heating energy consumption is reduced by 24.4%. In contrast, the annual energy self-sufficiency rate of the photovoltaic coupled with air source heat pump system is 94.6%, achieving nearly zero energy consumption for heating. Full article

Driven by the global energy transition and China’s dual-carbon targets, Passive ultra-low-energy buildings are a key route for carbon reduction in the construction sector. This study addresses the high energy demand of office buildings and the limited suitability of current efficiency codes in the hot-summer/cold-winter, high-humidity zone of central and southern Anhui. Using multi-year climate records and energy-use surveys from five cities and one scenic area (2013–2024), we systematically investigate climate-adaptive passive-design strategies. Climate-Consultant simulations identify composite envelopes, external shading, and natural ventilation as the three most effective measures. Empirical evidence confirms that optimized envelope thermal properties significantly curb heating and cooling loads; a Huangshan office-building case validates the performance of the proposed passive measures, while analysis of a near-zero-energy demonstration project in Chuzhou yields a coordinated insulation-and-heat-rejection scheme. The results demonstrate that region-specific passive design can provide a comprehensive technical framework for ultra-low-energy buildings in transitional climates and thereby supporting China’s carbon-neutrality targets. Full article

Urban outdoor thermal comfort (OTC) has become an increasingly critical issue under the pressures of urbanization and climate change. Comparative analyses of urban blocks with distinct spatial morphologies are essential for identifying OTC issues and proposing targeted optimization strategies. However, existing studies predominantly rely on microclimate numerical simulations, while comparative assessments of OTC from the human thermal perception perspective remain limited. This study employs the thermal walk method, integrating microclimatic measurements with thermal perception questionnaires, to conduct on-site OTC investigations across three urban blocks with contrasting spatial morphologies—a business district (BD), a residential area (RA), and a historical neighborhood (HN)—in Beijing, a hot summer and cold winter climate city. The results reveal substantial OTC differences among the blocks. However, these differences demonstrated great seasonal and temporal variations. In summer, BD exhibited the best OTC (mTSV = 1.21), while HN performed the worst (mTSV = 1.72). In contrast, BD showed the poorest OTC in winter (mTSV = −1.57), significantly lower than HN (−1.11) and RA (−1.05). This discrepancy was caused by the unique morphology of different blocks. The sky view factor emerged as a more influential factor affecting OTC over building coverage ratio and building height, particularly in RA (r = 0.689, p < 0.01), but its impact varied by block, season, and sunlight conditions. North–South streets generally perform better OTC than East–West streets, being 0.26 units cooler in summer and 0.20 units warmer in winter on the TSV scale. The study highlights the importance of incorporating more applicable physical parameters to optimize OTC in complex urban contexts and offering theoretical support for designing climate adaptive urban spaces. Full article