Search Results (69)

This study examines the utilisation of sophisticated predictive methodologies to enhance the energy efficiency and comfort of residential structures. The ASHRAE Global Thermal Comfort Database II was employed to construct and evaluate machine learning models that were designed to predict thermal comfort levels while optimising energy consumption. Air temperature, garment insulation, metabolic rate, air velocity, and humidity were identified as critical comfort determinants. Numerous predictive models were assessed, and XGBoost demonstrated improved performance as a result of hyperparameter optimisation (R² = 0.9394, MSE = 0.0224). The study underscores the ability of sophisticated algorithms to clarify the complex relationships between environmental factors and occupant comfort. This sophisticated modelling methodology provides a practical approach to enhancing the efficiency of residential energy consumption while simultaneously ensuring the comfort of the occupants, thereby promoting more sustainable and comfortable living environments. Full article

The building sector remains one of the largest contributors to global energy consumption and CO₂ emissions, yet selecting optimal retrofit strategies is often hindered by inconsistent evaluation practices and limited integration of environmental and social impacts. This review addresses that gap by systematically analyzing how various assessment methods are applied to building retrofits, particularly from a financial and environmental perspective. A structured literature review was conducted across four major scientific databases using predefined keywords, filters, and inclusion/exclusion criteria, resulting in a final sample of 50 studies (green colored citations of this paper). The review focuses on the application of Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA), Cost–Benefit Analysis (CBA), and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), as well as additional indicators that quantify energy and sustainability performance. Results show that LCCA is the most frequently used method, applied in over 60% of the studies, often in combination with LCA (particularly for long time horizons). CBA appears in fewer than 25% of cases. More than 50% of studies are based in Europe, and over 60% of case studies involve residential buildings. EnergyPlus and DesignBuilder were the most common simulation tools, used in 28% and 16% of the cases, respectively. Risk and uncertainty were typically addressed through Monte Carlo simulations (22%) and sensitivity analysis. Comfort and social impact indicators were underrepresented, with thermal comfort included in only 12% of studies and no formal use of tools like Social-LCA or SROI. The findings highlight the growing sophistication of retrofit assessments post-2020, but also reveal gaps such as geographic imbalance (absence of African case studies), inconsistent treatment of discount rates, and limited integration of social indicators. The study concludes that future research should develop standardized, multidimensional evaluation frameworks that incorporate social equity, stakeholder values, and long-term resilience alongside cost and carbon metrics. Full article

As cities globally prioritize sustainable transportation, understanding gender-differentiated responses to the urban built environment is critical for equitable mobility planning. This study combined the Social Ecological Model (SEM) with the theoretical perspective of Gendered Spatial Experience to explore the differentiated impacts of the Perceived Street Built Environment (PSBE) on the cycling behavior of men and women. Questionnaire data from 285 e-bike and traditional bicycle riders (236 e-bike riders and 49 traditional cyclists, 138 males and 147 females) from Gulou District, Nanjing, between May and October 2023, were used to investigate gender differences in cycling behavior and PSBE using the Mann–Whitney U-test and crossover analysis. Linear regression and logistic regression analyses examined the PSBE impact on gender differences in cycling probability and route choice. The cycling frequency of women was significantly higher than that of men, and their cycling behavior was obviously driven by family responsibilities. Greater gender differences were observed in the PSBE among e-bike riders. Women rated facility accessibility, road accessibility, sense of safety, and spatial comfort significantly lower than men. Clear traffic signals and zebra crossings positively influenced women’s cycling probability. Women were more sensitive to the width of bicycle lanes and street noise, while men’s detours were mainly driven by the convenience of bus connections. We recommend constructing a gender-inclusive cycling environment through intersection optimization, family-friendly routes, lane widening, and noise reduction. This study advances urban science by identifying gendered barriers in cycling infrastructure, providing actionable strategies for equitable transport planning and urban design. Full article

Against the background of global climate change receiving widespread attention, local microclimate environments have become a key focus of climate change research, which is of great significance for improving the quality of urban living environments. This study explored the quantitative coupling relationship between the built environment and the thermal comfort of complex streets. Outward blocks in Beijing were used as an example. By applying deep learning to street view images of an arterial road, we built three levels of road environmental elements for a quantitative analysis, simulated the block thermal comfort, numerically extracted the built environment factor, and derived a regression equation of the thermal comfort. The research results show that the UTCI value range of the Chaowai Block is between 28.15 °C and 47.11 °C, corresponding to human thermal sensations from slightly warm to very hot. The green rate, expressways, road width, spacious surroundings, sky, traffic, and ancillary facilities significantly affected the thermal comfort. Through the regression equation results, it can be found that the thermal comfort of different levels of roads is affected by multiple street built environment factors, and these influencing factors show differences in various levels of roads. Based on the results of the regression equation, corresponding optimization strategies were proposed to improve the thermal environment of urban streets and enhance the thermal comfort of pedestrians. Full article

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) affects millions of women globally, significantly impacting quality of life. Pessaries serve as a first-line, non-surgical option for symptom relief, particularly among women who wish to avoid or delay surgery. Despite widespread use, challenges persist in fitting, patient education, and long-term adherence, necessitating further advancements in design and care protocols. This narrative review was conducted to explore the role of vaginal pessaries in the management of POP, focusing on efficacy, patient adherence, complications, and emerging innovations. Pessaries demonstrate high initial success rates, but long-term adherence varies. Improper fit, discomfort, and lack of self-management contribute to discontinuation. Complications, including vaginal discharge, erosion, and bleeding, are common but generally manageable. Recent innovations, such as self-removable pessaries, 3D-printed custom designs, and hormone-releasing pessaries, show promise in improving patient experience and adherence. Studies support self-management as a cost-effective strategy that enhances patient autonomy and reduces clinic visits. Pessaries remain a valuable conservative treatment for POP, yet challenges in long-term adherence highlight the need for standardized fitting protocols, better patient education, and continued innovation in design. Future advancements should focus on patient-centered, user-friendly solutions to enhance effectiveness, comfort, and self-care, ultimately empowering women with more accessible and sustainable pelvic health options. Full article

The expansion of urban underground spaces has broadened the range of urban activities by accommodating functions such as transportation, retail, and entertainment. Underground shopping malls (USMs) have been widely developed as a sustainable strategy to expand urban space capacity, alleviate surface congestion, and optimize land-use efficiency. However, the development and utilization of USMs often neglect user-centered evaluations, risking mismatches between design outcomes and long-term sustainability goals such as energy efficiency, user retention, and spatial adaptability. Therefore, this study analyzes 12 typical USMs in Nanjing, China, based on environmental psychology principles, employing mixed-methods research that combines objective measurements of spatial elements with subjective user perception surveys to establish a regression model investigating correlations between USM spatial–physical environments and user comfort perception. The results show that users generally have a positive impression of the current underground environment, but there are significant differences in their subjective perceptions of the different attributes of the USMs. The USMs present a trend of humanization, human culture, and landscape in terms of spatial characteristics. These improvements are critical for fostering long-term sustainable use by minimizing vacancy rates and retrofitting needs. The findings reveal that the human-centric comfort level of the USMs is largely determined by multi-dimensional architecture-space features, as well as personal and social activity level features. Building on these insights, we propose actionable strategies to advance sustainable USM design, prioritizing adaptive reuse, energy-efficient layouts, and culturally resonant esthetics. This work clarifies the direction of USM design optimization and improvement from the perspective of users’ subjective perception and provides a theoretical foundation for aligning underground development with global sustainability frameworks like the UN SDGs. Full article

Heat-related fatalities are rising globally, driven by poorly designed housing and the limited use of climate adaptation strategies, particularly in low-income countries. Current housing design guidelines often rely on outdated climate classifications, reducing their effectiveness in future climate conditions. This study evaluates four carefully selected housing design tools in terms of their ability to improve thermal comfort in low-cost housing under future climate scenarios. The evaluation is based on a weighted multi-criteria assessment incorporating five key factors: future climate adaptability, guideline accuracy, user-friendliness, accessibility, and adaptability to user needs. Normalised relevance scores were obtained via quantitative ratings of the criteria by 32 international shelter, settlement, and construction professionals. The assessment results confirm the limited future climate sensitivity of the tools and variation in the other criteria. Tools to support indoor thermal comfort are suggested to integrate identified strengths with interactive reliable climate projections. Further tool development should support neighbourhood-wide resilience, incorporating passive design and energy efficiency principles, as well as local sustainable building practices, and improve accessibility for diverse stakeholders. Tool improvements are essential to facilitate climate-adaptive housing design in low-resource areas. Full article

The energy consumption of library facilities in college buildings is significant, with the HVAC system accounting for 40–60% of the total energy use. Many university libraries, particularly those constructed in earlier years, rely on manual control methods, making the real-time control of HVAC systems crucial. This study explored the optimization of a building’s HVAC system control using the Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm combined with the universal global optimization algorithm to reduce energy consumption. A university library building was used as a case study to model the overall energy consumption of the HVAC equipment. The proposed strategy was then applied to optimize the energy-saving control of the building’s HVAC system. The results, based on real operational data, demonstrate that this method achieves an energy-saving rate of over 30% while also significantly improving the comfort of library users. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the energy-saving control of HVAC systems in libraries, which can help advance building energy efficiency and sustainability in the future. Full article

Atrial fibrillation (AF), a prevalent cardiac arrhythmia and a major contributor to stroke risk, is anticipated to increase in incidence with the aging global population. For effective AF management, particularly for paroxysmal AF (PAF), long-term and accurate monitoring is essential. However, traditional monitoring methods, including Holter ECGs and implantable cardiac monitors (ICMs), present limitations in comfort, compliance and extended monitoring capabilities. Recent advancements in wearable technology have introduced smart textile-based ECG devices, which incorporate electrochemical sensors into fabrics, enabling non-invasive, continuous monitoring while enhancing user comfort. This review evaluates textile-based ECG devices by comparing their performance—assessed through AF detection rates, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and total analysis time—against conventional Holter monitoring and the 12-lead ECG. Furthermore, this review examines user acceptability factors, including patient-reported comfort, usability during resting and physical activities and skin-related adverse effects. The findings aim to provide insights for future device development and facilitate their integration into clinical practice. Full article

The dual challenges of global aging and intensifying urban heat demand innovative, evidence-based strategies to foster thermally and psychologically comfortable environments for vulnerable populations, particularly the elderly. Despite the documented benefits of urban greenery, the species-specific impacts of urban trees on thermal comfort and well-being remain underexplored. This study investigates how distinct tree species—Camphora officinarum (camphor), Platanus acerifolia (London plane), and Ginkgo biloba (ginkgo)—regulate urban microclimates and support elderly well-being during hot summer days. Conducted at five sites in Shanghai, including a control site and four vegetated plots, this study engaged 210 elderly participants. Microclimatic variables were measured using the physiological equivalent temperature (PET) alongside air temperature, humidity, and wind speed. Physiological responses, assessed through heart rate variability (HRV), and psychological outcomes, evaluated via validated self-report scales, were analyzed. The results revealed that dense-canopy trees significantly reduced PET, enhanced thermal comfort, and improved ROS and SVS scores, while lower LF/HF ratios indicated reduced physiological stress. Correlation analyses underscored the pivotal role of canopy density (SVF) in fostering psychological and physiological well-being. Camphor and London plane trees consistently provided the greatest benefits, emphasizing the importance of species selection in urban greening strategies. These findings underscore the critical role of species selection in urban forestry to mitigate heat stress and foster age-friendly resilience. Practical implications emphasize integrating dense-canopy species into urban landscapes to enhance microclimate regulation and public health. Full article

The construction industry, a significant contributor to global energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, is under considerable pressure to adopt transformative approaches. Public buildings, which account for a substantial portion of total energy usage, must balance high standards of thermal comfort with ventilation efficiency. In China, many public buildings are part of urban landscapes, where façade designs often limit natural ventilation. Consequently, technologies like earth-to-air heat exchangers and wind towers are increasingly essential for enhancing natural ventilation. However, research on the efficacy of these systems remains sparse. This study examines the transitional seasonal environment by evaluating the thermal-humidity index of a banquet hall equipped with an earth-to-air heat exchanger system. Using DeST software [DeST 2.0], the study simulates indoor natural ventilation, calculates ventilation rates, and assesses residual heat removal efficiency. The system’s performance is also modeled under various thermal design zones. Results demonstrate that under natural ventilation, the system can achieve a residual heat removal efficiency of up to 490%. Simulations across different climate zones indicate that the system performs best in regions with extreme temperature fluctuations, particularly those with hot summers and warm winters. In these areas, the system reduces the annual temperature difference by up to 56.7%, significantly improving thermal comfort and reducing dependency on air conditioning. In contrast, performance in milder regions like Kunming achieves only a 37.5% reduction in temperature difference. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into energy-efficient design strategies and thermal optimization for banquet halls, with significant potential for energy savings and enhanced occupant comfort. Full article

Global climate change presents a serious threat to the sustainable development of human society, highlighting the urgent need to develop effective adaptation strategies to mitigate the impact of climate-related disasters. Campus waterfront green spaces, integral to the blue-green infrastructure, have been demonstrated to facilitate stress recovery. However, in hot and humid regions, severe outdoor thermal conditions may impair students’ mental and physical health and cognitive function, leading to symptoms such as increased stress, anxiety, and depression. This study examined the influence of outdoor thermal environments on health recovery by selecting three different waterfront green spaces in this climate: Space A (medium water body, sky view factor (SVF) = 0.228), Space B (large water body, SVF = 0.808), and Space C (small water body, SVF = 0.292). The volunteers’ thermal comfort and the restorative benefits of these spaces were evaluated via the perceived restorativeness scale (PRS), heart rate (HR), and electrodermal activity (EDA). We found variations in the neutral physiological equivalent temperature (PET) across the spaces, with values of 28.1 °C (A), 28.9 °C (B), and 29.1 °C (C). The lowest skin conductance recovery rate (R_SC) at 0.8811 was observed in Space B, suggesting suboptimal physiological recovery, despite higher scores in psychological recovery (fascination) at 15.23. The level of thermal comfort in this hot and humid region showed a negative correlation with the overall PRS score, the “being away” dimension, and heart rate recovery (R_HR). At a lightly warm stress level, where PET increased from 31.0 to 35.7 °C, R_SC peaked between 1.45 and 1.53 across all spaces. These insights provide guidance for urban designers and planners in creating waterfront green space designs that can improve the urban microclimate and promote thermal health, achieving sustainable health. Full article

In many regions globally, including low-resource settings, there is a growing trend towards using mHealth technology, such as wearable sensors, to enhance health behaviors and outcomes. However, adoption of such devices in research conducted in low-resource settings lags behind use in high-resource areas. Moreover, there is a scarcity of research that specifically examines the user experience, readiness for and challenges of integrating wearable sensors into health research and community interventions in low-resource settings specifically. This study summarizes the reactions and experiences of young women (N = 57), ages 18 to 24 years, living in poverty in Kampala, Uganda, who wore Garmin vívoactive 3 smartwatches for five days for a research project. Data collected from the Garmins included participant location, sleep, and heart rate. Through six focus group discussions, we gathered insights about the participants’ experiences and perceptions of the wearable devices. Overall, the wearable devices were met with great interest and enthusiasm by participants. The findings were organized across 10 domains to highlight reactions and experiences pertaining to device settings, challenges encountered with the device, reports of discomfort/comfort, satisfaction, changes in daily activities, changes to sleep, speculative device usage, community reactions, community dynamics and curiosity, and general device comfort. The study sheds light on the introduction of new technology in a low-resource setting and also on the complex interplay between technology and culture in Kampala’s slums. We also learned some insights into how wearable devices and perceptions may influence behaviors and social dynamics. These practical insights are shared to benefit future research and applications by health practitioners and clinicians to advance and enhance the implementation and effectiveness of wearable devices in similar contexts and populations. These insights and user experiences, if incorporated, may enhance device acceptance and data quality for those conducting research in similar settings or seeking to address population-specific needs and health issues. Full article

Currently, the construction and operation of buildings are responsible for 36% of global final energy usage and nearly 40% of energy-related carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. From the perspective of sustainable development, and taking into account economy and thermal comfort, it is crucial to consider the influence of multi-objective realization on design parameters. In this paper, high-rise residential buildings in the cities of Xi’an and Yulin, which have differences in solar radiation, in the western solar enrichment area of China are taken as the research objects. The four objectives of building energy consumption, thermal comfort, life-cycle cost, and life-cycle carbon emissions are weighed using the SPEA-2 algorithm by adjusting eleven design variables, thereby obtaining the Pareto non-dominated solutions. The TOPSIS method is applied to obtain the suitable parameter combinations under different scenarios. The results show that the differences in climate and solar radiation influence the solution distribution, the range of objective function values, and the values of the design variables in Pareto non-dominated solutions. The obtained optimal scheme for the Xi’an area has an energy-saving rate of 61.7%, a TDHP improvement rate of 20.3%, an LCC of 254.8 CNY/m², and an LCCO₂ of 72.3 kgCO₂/m². The corresponding values in the Yulin area are 69.7%, 19.4%, 230.2 CNY/m², and 0 kgCO₂/m². This reflects the potential of solar energy utilization to reduce buildings’ energy consumption and carbon emissions. The methodology and findings can provide references for high-rise residential building design in Northwestern China. Full article

The need for energy in different global industries encourages the development and application of clean energy. Tourism, being a global development sector, requires energy to maintain the comfort of tourists. The development of technology requires basic science and application studies that allow us to know the scientific evolution and trends in research, which is of great relevance in the fields of tourism and renewable energy. Within this context, the aim of the article is to analyze the evolution of research publications focused on renewable energy and tourism indexed in Scopus from 2008 to 2023 using a bibliometric approach. The search strategy identified 90 documents. Tools such as VOSviewer (version: 1.6.18) and Power BI (version: 13.0.23776.64) were used to assist in conducting the bibliometric analysis and network. The results of this work indicate that there is a growth in the authors’ interest in renewable energy and tourism, with a specific growth rate of 0.1927 years⁻¹. “Environmental Science and Pollution Research” is the journal with the most publications, and China ranks first in publications. Authors prefer to publish in Q1 and Q2 journals to increase the reach of their publications. Full article