Search Results (281)

This study aims to evaluate the level of awareness and practical adoption of green wall systems in the Nigerian construction industry. It seeks to examine the current state of green wall implementation and recommend strategies to enhance their integration into construction practices among Nigerian construction professionals. A thorough review of the existing literature was conducted to identify different types of green wall systems. Insights from this review informed the design of a structured questionnaire, which was distributed to construction professionals based in Lagos State. The data collected were analyzed using statistical tests. The study reveals that while there is generally high awareness of green wall systems among Nigerian construction professionals, the practical use remains low, with just 8 out of the 18 systems being actively implemented, eclipsing the mean value of 3.0. The findings underscore the need for targeted education, industry incentives, and increased advocacy to encourage the use of green wall systems in the Nigerian construction sector. The results have significant implications for the Nigerian construction industry. The limited awareness and adoption of green wall systems highlight the need for strategic actions from policymakers, industry leaders and educational institutions. Promoting the use of green walls could drive more sustainable building practices, improve environmental outcomes and support the broader goals of decarbonization and circularity in construction. This research adds to the body of knowledge on sustainable construction by offering a detailed evaluation of green wall awareness and adoption within the Nigerian context. While green wall systems have been studied globally, this research provides a regional perspective, which in this case focuses on Lagos State. The study’s recognition of the gap between awareness and implementation highlights an important area for future research and industry development. Full article

Enhancing the real-world performance of sustainably designed and certified green buildings remains a significant challenge, particularly in hot climates where efforts to improve thermal comfort often conflict with energy efficiency goals. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), even newly constructed facilities with green building certifications present opportunities for retrofitting and performance optimization. This study investigates the energy and thermal comfort performance of a LEED Gold-certified, mixed-use university campus in Dubai through a calibrated digital twin developed using IES thermal modelling software. The analysis evaluated existing sustainable design strategies alongside three retrofit energy conservation measures (ECMs): (1) improved building envelope U-values, (2) installation of additional daylight sensors, and (3) optimization of fan coil unit efficiency. Simulation results demonstrated that the three ECMs collectively achieved a total reduction of 15% in annual energy consumption. Thermal comfort was assessed using operative temperature distributions, Predicted Mean Vote (PMV), and Predicted Percentage of Dissatisfaction (PPD) metrics. While fan coil optimization yielded the highest energy savings, it led to less favorable comfort outcomes. In contrast, enhancing envelope U-values maintained indoor conditions consistently within ASHRAE-recommended comfort zones. To further support energy reduction and progress toward Net Zero targets, the study also evaluated the integration of a 228.87 kW rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) system, which offset 8.09% of the campus’s annual energy demand. By applying data-driven thermal modelling to assess retrofit impacts on both energy performance and occupant comfort in a certified green building, this study addresses a critical gap in the literature and offers a replicable framework for advancing building performance in hot climate regions. Full article

This study investigated the nuanced influence of urban morphology on the thermal performance of nine mass housing blocks (21–26, 28–30) in New Belgrade’s Central Zone. These blocks, showcasing diverse structures, provided a robust basis for evaluating the design parameters. ENVI-met simulations were used to assess two scenarios: an “asphalt-only” environment, isolating the urban structure’s impact, and a “real-world” scenario, including green infrastructure (GI). Overall, the findings emphasize that while GI offers mitigation, the inherent urban built structure fundamentally determines thermal outcomes. An urban block’s thermal performance, it turns out, is a complex interplay between morphological factors and local climate. Crucially, simple metrics like Green Area Percentage (GAP) and Building Coverage Ratio (BCR) proved unreliable predictors of thermal performance. This highlights the critical need for urban planning regulations to evolve beyond basic surface indicators and embrace sophisticated, context-sensitive design principles for effective heat mitigation. Optimal performance arises from morphologies that actively manage heat accumulation and facilitate its dissipation, a characteristic exemplified by Block 22’s integrated design. However, even the best-performing Block 22 remains warmer compared to denser central areas, suggesting that urban densification can be a strategy for heat mitigation. Given New Belgrade’s blocks are protected heritage, targeted GI reinforcements remain the only viable approach for improving the outdoor thermal comfort. Full article

Sustainable building design is significantly impacted by the local climate response knowledge ingrained in traditional architecture. However, its integration and dissemination with contemporary green technologies are limited by the absence of a comprehensive quantitative analysis of the regulation of its humid and temperature environment. The Ganzhou Wei family compound from China’s wind–heat environmental regulation systems are examined in this study. We statistically evaluate the synergy between spatial morphology, material qualities, and microclimate using field data with Thsware and Ecotect software in a multiscale simulation framework. The findings indicate that the compound’s special design greatly controls the thermal and wind conditions. Cold alleyways and courtyards work together to maximize thermal environment regulation and encourage natural ventilation. According to quantitative studies, courtyards with particular depths (1–4 m) and height-to-width ratios (e.g., 1:1) reduce wind speed loss. A cool alley (5:1 height–width ratio) creates a dynamic wind–speed–temperature–humidity balance by lowering summer daytime temperatures by 2.5 °C. It also serves as a “cold source area” that moderates temperatures in the surrounding area by up to 2.1 °C. This study suggests a quantitative correlation model based on “spatial morphology–material performance–microclimate response,” which offers a technical route for historic building conservation renovation and green renewal, as well as a scientific foundation for traditional buildings to maintain thermal comfort under low energy consumption. Although based on a specific geographical case, the innovative analytical methods and strategies of this study are of great theoretical and practical significance for promoting the modernization and transformation of traditional architecture, low-carbon city construction, and sustainable building design. Full article

Improving the energy efficiency of residential buildings is essential for achieving global climate goals and reducing environmental impact. This study analyzes the Total Performance approach using the example of a modern semi-detached house built by a Polish developer, as an example. The building is designed with integrated systems that minimize energy consumption while maintaining resident comfort. The building is equipped with an air-to-water heat pump, underfloor heating, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, and automatic temperature control systems. Energy efficiency was assessed using ArCADia–TERMOCAD 8.0 software in accordance with Polish Technical Specifications (TS) and verified by monitoring real-time electricity consumption during the heating season. The results show a PED from non-renewable sources of 54.05 kWh/(m²·year), representing a 23% reduction compared to the Polish regulatory limit of 70 kWh/(m²·year). Real-time monitoring conducted from December 2024 to April 2025 confirmed these results, indicating an actual energy demand of approximately 1771 kWh/year. Domestic hot water (DHW) preparation accounted for the largest share of energy consumption. Despite its dependence on grid electricity, the building has the infrastructure to enable future photovoltaic (PV) installation, offering further potential for emissions reduction. The results confirm that Total Performance strategies are not only compliant with applicable standards, but also economically and environmentally viable. They represent a scalable model for sustainable residential construction, in line with the European Union’s (EU’s) decarbonization policy and the goals of the European Green Deal. Full article

Street view imagery has become a vital tool for assessing urban street greenery, with the Green View Index (GVI) serving as the predominant metric. However, while GVI effectively quantifies overall greenery, it fails to capture the nuanced, human-scale experience of urban greenery. This study introduces the Front-Facing Green View Index (FFGVI), a metric designed to reflect the perspective of pedestrians traversing urban streets. The FFGVI computation involves three key steps: (1) calculating azimuths for road points, (2) retrieving front-facing street view images, and (3) applying semantic segmentation to identify green pixels in street view imagery. Building on this, this study proposes the Street Canyon Green View Index (SCGVI), a novel approach for identifying boulevards that evoke perceptions of comfort, spaciousness, and aesthetic quality akin to room-like streetscapes. Applying these indices to a case study in Nanjing, China, this study shows that (1) FFGVI exhibited a strong correlation with GVI (R = 0.88), whereas the association between SCGVI and GVI was marginally weaker (R = 0.78). GVI tends to overestimate perceived greenery due to the influence of lateral views dominated by side-facing vegetation; (2) FFGVI provides a more human-centered perspective, mitigating biases introduced by sampling point locations and obstructions such as large vehicles; and (3) SCGVI effectively identifies prominent boulevards that contribute to a positive urban experience. These findings suggest that FFGVI and SCGVI are valuable metrics for informing urban planning, enhancing urban tourism, and supporting greening strategies at the street level. Full article

Form-based design codes have emerged as a planning tool aimed at shaping the physical form of neighborhoods to reinforce local character and enhance sense of place (SoP). However, their effectiveness in delivering these outcomes remains underexplored. This study investigates the extent to which Buffalo’s Green Code—a form-based zoning ordinance—enhances SoP in residential environments, using Elmwood Village as a case study. A multi-scalar analytical framework assesses SoP at the building, street, and neighborhood levels. Empirical data were gathered through an online survey, while the neighborhood was systematically mapped into street segment blocks categorized by Green Code zoning. The study consolidates six Green Code classifications into three overarching categories: mixed-use, residential, and single-family. SoP satisfaction is analyzed through a two-step process: first, comparative assessments are conducted across the three zoning groups; second, k-means clustering is applied to spatially map satisfaction levels and evaluate SoP at different scales. Findings indicate that mixed-use areas are most closely associated with place identity, while residential and single-family zones (as defined by the Buffalo Green Code) yield higher satisfaction overall—though satisfaction varies significantly across spatial scales. These results suggest that while form-based codes can strengthen SoP, their impact is uneven, and more scale-sensitive zoning strategies may be needed to optimize their effectiveness in diverse urban contexts. This research overall offers an empirically grounded, multi-scalar assessment of zoning impacts on lived experience—addressing a notable gap in the planning literature regarding how form-based codes perform in established, rather than newly developed, neighborhoods. 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

The construction sector presently consumes about 40% of global energy and generates 36% of CO₂ emissions, making facade retrofits a priority for decarbonising buildings. This review clarifies how ventilated facades (VFs), wall assemblies that interpose a ventilated air cavity between outer cladding and the insulated structure, address that challenge. First, the paper categorises VFs by structural configuration, ventilation strategy and functional control into four principal families: double-skin, rainscreen, hybrid/adaptive and active–passive systems, with further extensions such as BIPV, PCM and green-wall integrations that couple energy generation or storage with envelope performance. Heat-transfer analysis shows that the cavity interrupts conductive paths, promotes buoyancy- or wind-driven convection, and curtails radiative exchange. Key design parameters, including cavity depth, vent-area ratio, airflow velocity and surface emissivity, govern this balance, while hybrid ventilation offers the most excellent peak-load mitigation with modest energy input. A synthesis of simulation and field studies indicates that properly detailed VFs reduce envelope cooling loads by 20–55% across diverse climates and cut winter heating demand by 10–20% when vents are seasonally managed or coupled with heat-recovery devices. These thermal benefits translate into steadier interior surface temperatures, lower radiant asymmetry and fewer drafts, thereby expanding the hours occupants remain within comfort bands without mechanical conditioning. Climate-responsive guidance emerges in tropical and arid regions, favouring highly ventilated, low-absorptance cladding; temperate and continental zones gain from adaptive vents, movable insulation or PCM layers; multi-skin adaptive facades promise balanced year-round savings by re-configuring in real time. Overall, the review demonstrates that VFs constitute a versatile, passive-plus platform for low-carbon buildings, simultaneously enhancing energy efficiency, durability and indoor comfort. Future advances in smart controls, bio-based materials and integrated energy-recovery systems are poised to unlock further performance gains and accelerate the sector’s transition to net-zero. Emerging multifunctional materials such as phase-change composites, nanostructured coatings, and perovskite-integrated systems also show promise in enhancing facade adaptability and energy responsiveness. Full article

In China, the recycling system for waste tires is characterized by high output but low standardized recovery rates. This study examines the environmental and health risks caused by non-compliant treatment by individual recyclers and explores the barriers to the large-scale adoption of Pyrolysis Technology. A Tripartite Evolutionary Game Model involving pyrolysis plants, waste tire recyclers, and government regulators is developed. The model incorporates pollutants from pretreatment and pyrolysis processes into a unified metric—Carbon Dioxide Equivalent (CO₂-eq)—based on Global Warming Potential (GWP), and designs a Differential Carbon Taxation mechanism accordingly. The strategy dynamics and stability conditions for Evolutionary Stable Strategies (ESS) are analyzed. Multi-scenario numerical simulations explore how key parameter changes influence evolutionary trajectories and equilibrium outcomes. Six typical equilibrium states are identified, along with the critical conditions for achieving environmentally friendly results. Based on theoretical analysis and simulation results, targeted policy recommendations are proposed to promote standardized waste tire pyrolysis: (1) Establish a phased dynamic carbon tax with supporting subsidies; (2) Build a green market cultivation and price stabilization system; (3) Implement performance-based differential incentives; (4) Strengthen coordination between central environmental inspections and local carbon tax enforcement. Full article

Contemporary urban planning faces the ongoing challenge of developing Green Infrastructure capable of providing vital ecosystem services. Within this framework, the Barcelona metropolitan area has advanced a network of parks that, while serving local neighborhoods, also aim for metropolitan relevance. This study offers a forward-looking analysis of selected parks in the southern Llobregat River basin—an area shaped by historic villages and working-class settlements—to evaluate their contribution to both Green Infrastructure and the region’s polycentric structure. Building on previous landmark studies and multidisciplinary perspectives, the research examines eight parks through four spatial and scalar lenses, assessing their territorial role and accessibility, ecological connectivity, urban integration and permeability, and landscape design with both qualitative and quantitative data. Using a comparative framework alongside research-by-design methods tested in urban design studios, the research links analytical insights to design-based strategies. The outcome is a set of actionable guidelines aimed at enhancing local park performance, with broader implications for over 50 ‘Metropolitan Parks’ spread in more than 30 municipalities. These insights contribute to shaping a more integrated, livable, and resilient metropolitan region. Full article

Urban blue–green space (UBGS) plays a critical role in mitigating the urban heat island (UHI) effect and reducing land surface temperatures (LSTs). However, existing research has not sufficiently explored the optimization of UBGS spatial configurations or their interactions with urban morphology. This study takes New York City as a case and systematically investigates small-scale urban cooling strategies by integrating multiple factors, including adjustments to the blue–green ratio, spatial layouts, vegetation composition, building density, building height, and layout typologies. We utilize multi-source geographic data, including LiDAR derived land cover, OpenStreetMap data, and building footprint data, together with LST data retrieved from Landsat imagery, to develop a prediction model based on generative adversarial networks (GANs). This model can rapidly generate visual LST predictions under various configuration scenarios. This study employs a combination of qualitative and quantitative metrics to evaluate the performance of different model stages, selecting the most accurate model as the final experimental framework. Furthermore, the experimental design strictly controls the study area and pixel allocation, combining manual and automated methods to ensure the comparability of different ratio configurations. The main findings indicate that a blue–green ratio of 3:7 maximizes cooling efficiency; a shrub-to-tree coverage ratio of 2:8 performs best, with tree-dominated configurations outperforming shrub-dominated ones; concentrated linear layouts achieve up to a 10.01% cooling effect; and taller buildings exhibit significantly stronger UBGS cooling performance, with super-tall areas achieving cooling effects approximately 31 percentage points higher than low-rise areas. Courtyard layouts enhance airflow and synergistic cooling effects, whereas compact designs limit the cooling potential of UBGS. This study proposes an innovative application of GANs to address a key research gap in the quantitative optimization of UBGS configurations and provides a methodological reference for sustainable microclimate planning at the neighborhood scale. Full article

In the context of global climate governance and the low-carbon energy transition, virtual power plant (VPP), a key technology for integrating distributed energy resources, is urgently needed to solve the problem of decentralization and lack of synergy in electricity, carbon, and green certificate trading. Existing studies mostly focus on single energy or carbon trading scenarios and lack a multi-market coupling mechanism supported by blockchain technology, resulting in low transaction transparency and a high risk of information tampering. For this reason, this paper proposes a synergistic optimization strategy for electricity/carbon/green certificate virtual power plants based on blockchain cross-chain transactions. First, Latin Hypercubic Sampling (LHS) is used to generate new energy output and load scenarios, and the K-means clustering method with improved particle swarm optimization are combined to cut down the scenarios and improve the prediction accuracy; second, a relay chain cross-chain trading framework integrating quota system is constructed to realize organic synergy and credible data interaction among electricity, carbon, and green certificate markets; lastly, the multi-energy optimization model of the virtual power plant is designed to integrate carbon capture, Finally, a virtual power plant multi-energy optimization model is designed, integrating carbon capture, power-to-gas (P2G) and other technologies to balance the economy and low-carbon goals. The simulation results show that compared with the traditional model, the proposed strategy reduces the carbon emission intensity by 13.3% (1.43 tons/million CNY), increases the rate of new energy consumption to 98.75%, and partially offsets the cost through the carbon trading revenue, which verifies the Pareto improvement of environmental and economic benefits. This study provides theoretical support for the synergistic optimization of multi-energy markets and helps to build a low-carbon power system with a high proportion of renewable energy. Full article

Against the background of the global concern for environmental protection and the prevalence of the green building concept, the requirements for building design are increasing, as are the technological content and functional requirements. Meanwhile, the urgency to address challenges related to the ecological environment and performance requirements has become increasingly pronounced. Taking a dormitory building in China as an example. Autodesk Revit 2018 software is employed in this study to establish a building information modeling (BIM). Green building software (GBSWARE) simulates and analyzes outdoor wind environment, indoor thermal comfort, calculates building energy conservation, does daylighting analysis, and calculates building daylighting. Although the building’s energy-saving design aligns with the requirements, the lighting and indoor thermal comfort of the rooms do not meet the standards. Additionally, the outdoor wind environment has problems with the wind zone and a wind speed amplification coefficient that surpasses the limit. The thermal environment within the residential building fails to satisfy the requirements. This study leverages a BIM-based model for multifaceted applications, integrating tailored retrofit strategies that align with the building’s inherent characteristics and detailed analyses of its components. By harnessing the building’s energy-saving potential, it enhances energy use efficiency, offering a valuable reference for the conceptual design of green buildings and energy-efficient retrofits. Full article

Livestock farming has been identified as a significant contributor to atmospheric pollution, underscoring the necessity for the design and management of housing systems to adopt mitigation strategies. In the context of civil engineering, green wall systems are proving to be effective solutions for air filtration and purification. Nevertheless, research related to their application in livestock buildings is limited. This study focuses on the design, implementation, and performance evaluation of a modular, mobile green wall system that has been specifically developed to test PM2.5 concentrations’ reduction in naturally ventilated, free-stall dairy barns in the Mediterranean region. To this end, PM2.5 concentrations and climatic parameters have been measured before and after the application of the green wall system. Based on one-way analysis of variance, PM2.5 concentrations after the application were significantly lower (p < 0.001) than those before the mitigation strategy. The results of this study showed that the overall efficacy of the green wall reached 44%. The implementation of green wall systems offers a promising strategy to improve air quality in livestock facilities and to design aesthetically pleasing barns with a positive impact on the surrounding landscape. Full article