Search Results (193)

Despite the widespread adoption of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system, there is limited empirical research examining how different sustainability categories are implemented in practice or how methodological patterns influence certification outcomes. This study contributes to this understanding by analysing LEED v4 Building Design + Construction certification patterns across 1252 newly constructed buildings in the United States to understand the methodological foundations and identify improvement opportunities for the LEED framework. Using credit achievement degree (CAD) analysis, regional variation assessment, and correlation analysis, we examined category adoption patterns across nine US climate regions, investigated relationships between LEED categories, and analysed certification level influences. The analysis reveals significant disparities in category adoption, with innovation (80.7%) and regional priority (66.6%) achieving high implementation rates while the category of material and resources (41.1%) consistently underperforms. Statistically significant regional variations exist across eight of nine categories (p < 0.05), with location and transportation showing the highest variability (CV = 20.1%). The category of energy and atmosphere demonstrates the strongest relationship with overall project performance (R² = 0.38), explaining 43% of total score variation and serving as the primary driver of higher certification levels. Most critically, inter-category correlations are weak (typically R² < 0.05), indicating that projects treat sustainability domains as separate challenges rather than integrated systems. Positive skewness across all certification levels (z-scores > 1.96) provides statistical evidence of strategic “point-chasing” behaviour, where teams target minimum thresholds rather than maximising comprehensive sustainability performance. These findings reveal fundamental methodological patterns that may limit LEED’s effectiveness in promoting holistic sustainability approaches. The compartmentalised implementation patterns and threshold-focused strategies suggest opportunities for structural refinements, including enhanced integration incentives, region-sensitive benchmarking, and certification frameworks that reward comprehensive rather than minimal compliance. This research contributes empirical evidence for evidence-based improvements to green building certification methodology and provides insights for more effective sustainability assessment tools. Full article

In the context of achieving low-carbon goals, building low-carbon energy systems is a crucial development direction and implementation pathway. Renewable energy is favored because of its clean characteristics, but the access may have an impact on the power grid. Microgrid technology provides an effective solution to this problem. Uncertainty exists in single microgrids, so multiple microgrids are introduced to improve system stability and robustness. Electric carbon trading and profit redistribution among multiple microgrids have been challenges. To promote energy commensurability among microgrids, expand the types of energy interactions, and improve the utilization rate of renewable energy, this paper proposes a cooperative operation optimization model of multi-microgrids based on the green certificate and carbon trading mechanism to promote local energy consumption and a low carbon economy. First, this paper introduces a carbon capture system (CCS) and power-to-gas (P2G) device in the microgrid and constructs a cogeneration operation model coupled with a power-to-gas carbon capture system. On this basis, a low-carbon operation model for multi-energy microgrids is proposed by combining the local carbon trading market, the stepped carbon trading mechanism, and the green certificate trading mechanism. Secondly, this paper establishes a cooperative game model for multiple microgrid electricity carbon trading based on the Nash negotiation theory after constructing the single microgrid model. Finally, the ADMM method and the asymmetric energy mapping contribution function are used for the solution. The case study uses a typical 24 h period as an example for the calculation. Case study analysis shows that, compared with the independent operation mode of microgrids, the total benefits of the entire system increased by 38,296.1 yuan and carbon emissions were reduced by 30,535 kg through the coordinated operation of electricity–carbon coupling. The arithmetic example verifies that the method proposed in this paper can effectively improve the economic benefits of each microgrid and reduce carbon emissions. Full article

To meet the European Green Deal targets, the construction sector must improve building thermal performance via advanced insulation systems. Eco-friendly sandwich panels offer a promising solution. Therefore, this work aims to develop and validate a new eco-friendly composite sandwich panel (basalt fibres and recycled extruded polystyrene) with enhanced multifunctionality for lightweight and energy-efficient building façades. Two panels were produced via vacuum infusion—a reference panel and a multifunctional panel incorporating phase change materials (PCMs) and silica aerogels (AGs). Their performance was evaluated through lab-based thermal and acoustic tests, numerical simulations, and on-site monitoring in a living laboratory. The test results from all methods were consistent. The PCM-AG panel showed 16% lower periodic thermal transmittance (0.16 W/(m²K) vs. 0.19 W/(m²K)) and a 92% longer time shift (4.26 h vs. 2.22 h), indicating improved thermal inertia. It also achieved a single-number sound insulation rating of 38 dB. These findings confirm the panel’s potential to reduce operational energy demand and support long-term climate goals. Full article

This study presents a comprehensive case of green remodeling applied to a local fire station in Seoul, South Korea. The project aimed to improve energy performance through an integrated upgrade of passive systems (exterior insulation, high-performance windows, and airtightness) and active systems (electric heat pumps, energy recovery ventilation, and rooftop photovoltaic systems), while maintaining uninterrupted emergency operations. A detailed analysis of annual energy use before and after the remodeling shows a 44% reduction in total energy consumption, significantly exceeding the initial reduction target of 20%. While electricity use increased modestly during winter due to the electrification of heating systems, gas consumption dropped sharply by 63%, indicating a shift in energy source and improved efficiency. The building’s airtightness also improved significantly, with a reduction in the air change rate. The project further addressed unique challenges associated with continuously operated public facilities, such as insulating the fire apparatus garage and executing phased construction to avoid operational disruption. This study contributes valuable insights into green remodeling strategies for mission-critical public buildings, emphasizing the importance of integrating technical upgrades with operational constraints to achieve verified energy performance improvements. Full article

Ensuring sustainable food systems is an urgent global priority as populations grow and environmental pressures mount. Technological innovations such as genetic engineering (GE) and nanotechnology (nano) have been promoted as promising pathways for achieving greater sustainability in agriculture and food production. Yet, the sustainability of these technologies is not defined by technical performance alone; it hinges on how they are perceived by key stakeholders and how well they align with broader societal values. This study addresses the critical question of how expert stakeholders evaluate the sustainability of GE and nano-based food and agriculture (agrifood) products. Using a multi-method online platform, we engaged 42 experts across academia, government, industry, and NGOs in the United States to assess six real-world case studies—three using GE and three using nano—across ten different dimensions of sustainability. We show that nano-based products were consistently rated more favorably than their GE counterparts in terms of environmental, economic, and social sustainability, as well as across ethical and societal dimensions. Like prior studies, our results reveal that stakeholders see meaningful distinctions between nanotechnology and biotechnology, likely due to underlying value-based concerns about animal welfare, perceived naturalness, or corporate control of agrifood systems. The fruit coating and flu vaccine—both nano-enabled—received the most positive ratings, while GE mustard greens and salmon were the most polarizing. These results underscore the importance of incorporating stakeholder perspectives in technology assessment and innovation governance. These results also suggest that responsible innovation efforts in agrifood systems should prioritize communication, addressing meaningful societal needs, and the contextual understanding of societal values to build trust and legitimacy. 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

Considering the climate crisis, global environmental awareness, and the pursuit of sustainable architecture, various methodologies and global standards have been developed to assess and reduce the environmental impact of construction projects. Green Building Codes (GBCs) and rating systems have been implemented worldwide to support green building practices based on the use of simulation models to evaluate energy consumption, such as the ENERGYui and others to rate buildings based on their simulated energy performance. Israel has also established green building standards, such as SI 5281, which provide practical tools for architects to promote the use of green building methods. However, several studies have cast doubt on the actual measured performance of certified buildings. This study evaluates the effectiveness of the Israeli green building certification process (SI 5281/SI 5282) through a comparison between simulation-based ratings with measured post-occupancy electricity consumption. Through four case studies, the research identifies discrepancies, explores their causes, and proposes refinements to certification assumptions and evaluation methods. The research is intended to enhance the effectiveness of assessment tools in architectural design and contribute to more precise and sustainable green building practices. This study identifies significant gaps between simulated and actual energy consumption in Israeli green buildings, highlighting that, within this framework, educational buildings tend to exceed predicted usage, while residential buildings often consume less, thereby exposing limitations in current simulation assumptions and standard evaluation criteria. 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

Electricity consumption is increasing as a result of increasing people’s needs, such as lighting, heating, and comfort. Different needs come into play day by day in the houses where people live and in places used as common areas, and this increases the need for electricity. Studies have observed that almost half of the world’s electricity consumption is made by buildings. Public buildings, shopping malls, hospitals, and hotels are typical examples of such structures. However, hospitals have an important place among all building types as they contain a wide range of devices and are of critical importance to many systems. Consumption in hospitals is a necessity rather than a desire for comfort in places such as hotels and shopping malls. Therefore, analysis of the energy consumed by hospitals is one of the important things to perform to reduce the damage caused by electricity consumption to the environment. In this study, the energy analysis of a green hospital with an installed area of 55,000 square meters in Istanbul was conducted, and machine learning techniques can be used in the analysis. Among many methods used for building energy analysis, long short-term memory (LSTM) has been chosen. The available data set was analyzed with the various LSTM methods and classification and prediction operations were carried out. Error rates for each method were compared. With the results obtained, it has been observed that the vanilla LSTM method provides acceptable results in building energy analysis. Full article

To overcome the shortcomings of traditional polyurethane, such as poor weather resistance and susceptibility to hydrolysis, this study systematically explores the preparation techniques of organic silicon-modified polyurethane and its application in intelligent sports fields. By introducing siloxane into the polyurethane matrix through copolymerization, physical blending, and grafting techniques, the microphase separation structure and interfacial properties of the material are effectively optimized. In terms of synthesis processes, the one-step method achieves efficient preparation by controlling the isocyanate/hydroxyl molar ratio (1.05–1.15), while the prepolymer chain extension method optimizes the crosslinked network through dual reactions. The modified material exhibits significant performance improvements: tensile strength reaches 60 MPa, tear resistance reaches 80 kN/m, and the elastic recovery rate ranges from 85% to 92%, demonstrating outstanding weather resistance. In sports field applications, the 48% impact absorption rate meets the requirements for athletic tracks, wear resistance of <15 mg suits gym floors, and the impact resistance for skate parks reaches 55%–65%. Its environmental benefits are notable, with volatile organic compounds (VOC) <50 g/L and a recycling rate >85%, complying with green building material standards. However, its development is still constrained by multiple factors: insufficient material interface compatibility, a comprehensive cost of 435 RMB/m², and the lack of a quality evaluation system. Future research priorities include constructing dynamic covalent crosslinked networks (e.g., self-healing systems), adopting bio-based raw materials to reduce carbon footprint by 30%–50%, and integrating flexible sensing technologies for intelligent responsiveness. Through multidimensional innovation, this material is expected to evolve toward multifunctionality and environmental friendliness, providing core material support for the intelligent upgrading of sports fields. Full article

Countries worldwide have implemented regulations on the green coverage ratio of new buildings to address the urban heat island effect. For example, Taipei City mandates that the green coverage rate of new buildings must be between 40% and 70%, while Singapore requires a green coverage rate of 100% or higher. Consequently, building greening is now a regulatory requirement rather than a preference. This study focuses on developing an indoor light-emitting-diode (LED) hydroponic inverted planting system to utilize ceiling space for expanding green areas in buildings. The light source of this system is suitable for both plant growth and daily lighting, thereby reducing electricity costs. The watertight planting unit does not require replenishment of the nutrient solution during a planting cycle for small plants, which can reduce water consumption and prevent indoor humidity. The modular structure allows various combinations, enabling interior designers to create interior ceiling scapes. Additionally, it is possible to grow aromatic plants and edible vegetables, facilitating the creation of indoor farms. Consequently, this system is suitable for high-rise residential buildings, office buildings, underground shopping malls, and indoor areas with limited or no natural light. It is also applicable to hospitals, clinics, wards, and care centers, where indoor plants alleviate psychological stress and enhance mental and physical health. Full article

In order to solve the problem of frequency and voltage stability degradation caused by high proportion of renewable energy grid connection, this paper proposes a multi-energy dynamic coordinated control framework, which integrates the inertia damping characteristics of virtual synchronous generator (VSG) and the flexible load regulation capability of virtual synchronous motor (VSM) to build a two-way interactive mechanism. For the first time, a virtual inertia dynamic compensation algorithm based on VSG is proposed. By introducing the frequency change rate adaptive inertia coefficient adjustment mechanism, the system’s active support capability for wind and solar power fluctuations is improved by 32% compared with the traditional fixed inertia strategy; a breakthrough design of the VSM-driven hydrogen production system dynamic matching control strategy is made, and an electrolyzer efficiency-power dual variable coupling model is established to achieve optimal control of hydrogen production efficiency fluctuation rate ≤ ±2.1% within a wide power range of 10–95%; an innovative mixed integer quadratic programming real-time optimization model considering battery SOC safety constraints is constructed, and the wind and solar consumption efficiency is improved by 28.6% compared with the single energy storage mode through energy storage-hydrogen production complementary scheduling. A simulation platform was built based on Simulink to verify the system performance under three conditions: load mutation, source-grid fluctuation, and simultaneous source-load change. The simulation results show that under different working conditions, the fluctuation range of the system frequency can be stabilized within ±0.15Hz, and the voltage deviation is less than 2%; through the coordinated scheduling of the battery and the hydrogen production system, the battery charge state is always maintained in a safe range of 15–85%, and the hydrogen production power regulation rate reaches 1.5 kW/s. The study shows that the proposed control strategy can significantly enhance the inertia response capability of the system, achieve dynamic power balance and power quality optimization under multiple working conditions, and provide a feasible technical path for the high proportion of renewable energy grid connection and efficient preparation of green hydrogen. Full article

Earth materials are commonly utilized due to their excellent wet properties and environmental friendliness. However, previous research has primarily focused on the impact of additives on the water vapor permeability of earth materials, neglecting the influence of particle size distribution. This has also hindered the quantitative assessment of the water vapor permeability of earth materials. To advance the use of earth materials in building energy conservation, this study develops a mathematical model for the water vapor permeability coefficient of earth materials. This model is derived from experiments that measure the water vapor permeability coefficient of earth materials with varying densities and earth-to-sand ratios, employing both experimental measurements and theoretical analyses. After being adjusted by a quadratic function of error rate and density, the average error rate of the mathematical model decreased from 5.73% to 1.3%, indicating its accuracy. Furthermore, by utilizing this model, the impacts of density, clay, sand, and gravel on the water vapor permeability coefficient of earth materials were quantitatively examined. The results indicate a negative correlation between the water vapor permeability coefficient of earth materials and density. When the clay–sand–gravel ratio was 3.8:5.0:1.2, the vapor permeability of the earth materials was the worst, whereas when the gradation ratio was 4.6:3.4:2.0, the vapor permeability was relatively optimal. The findings of this research can provide a reference for the scientific quantification of the thermo-physical property indices of earth materials in green building design systems. Full article

Based on the resource conservation requirements of GB/T 50378-2019 “Green Building Evaluation Standard”, this study constructed a BIM–Ecotect collaborative analysis model and proposed a “four-dimensional integration” green performance optimization method. Taking a high-rise office building in Wuhan as an example, a LOD 300-level Revit building information model was established, and a multidisciplinary collaborative analysis was achieved through gbXML data interaction. The lighting simulation results show that the average natural lighting coefficient of the office area facing south is 2.4 (the standard 85%), while in the meeting room area, due to the optimized design of the curtain wall, the average natural lighting coefficient has increased to 2.6 (the standard 92%). In terms of energy-saving renovation, a three-dimensional collaborative design strategy was adopted. Through the optimization of the envelope structure, the cooling load of the air conditioning system was reduced by 25.3%, and the heat load was reduced by 23.6% (the u value of the exterior wall was reduced by 56.3%, the SHGC of the exterior windows was reduced by 42.9%, and the thermal resistance of the roof was increased by 150%). The ventilation optimization adopts the CFD flow field reverse design, adjusting the window opening rate of the exterior windows from 15% to 20% to form a turbulent diffusion effect. Therefore, the air change rate in the office area reached 2.5 times per hour, and the CO₂ concentration decreased by up to 27.1% at most. The innovative adoption of the “composite sound insulation curtain wall” technology in acoustic environment control has increased the indoor noise compliance rate by 27 percentage points (from 65% to 92%). The above research data indicate that digital collaborative design can achieve an overall energy-saving rate of over 20% for buildings, providing a replicable technical path for enhancing the performance of green buildings. Full article

Urban sprawl and excessive reliance on motorization have led to many urban problems. The balance of supply and demand in the real estate market, as well as price fluctuations, also face many challenges. Urban rail transit not only alleviates traffic congestion and air pollution, but also significantly reduces residents’ commuting time, broadens urban accessibility, and reshapes the decision-making basis for residents when choosing residential locations. This study takes the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 8th, 11th, and 13th metro lines that have been opened in Qingdao City as examples. It selects 12,924 residential samples within a 2 km radius along the rail transit lines. By using GIS spatial analysis tools and the multi-scale geographically weighted regression (MGWR) model, it analyzes the spatial differentiation characteristics of housing prices along the rail transit lines and the reasons and mechanisms behind them. The empirical results show that housing prices decrease to varying degrees with the increase in the distance from the rail transit. For every additional 1 km from the rail transit station, the housing price increases by 0.246%. Through model comparison, it was found that MGWR has a better fitting degree than the traditional ordinary least squares method (OLS) and the previous geographically weighted regression model (GWR), and reveals the spatial heterogeneity of the influence of urban rail transit on housing prices. Different indicator elements have different effects on housing prices along these lines. The urban rail transit factor in the location characteristics has a positive impact on housing prices, and has a significant negative correlation in some areas. The significant influence range of the distance to the nearest metro station on housing prices is concentrated within a radius of 373 m, and the effect decays beyond this range. The total floors, building area, green coverage rate, property management fee, and the distance to hospitals and parks in the neighborhood and structural characteristics have spatial heterogeneity. Analyzing the areas affected by the urban rail transit factor, it was found that the double location superposition effect, the networked transportation system, and the agglomeration of urban functional axes are important reasons for the significant phenomena in some local areas. This research provides a scientific basis for optimizing the sustainable development of rail transit in Qingdao and formulating differentiated housing policies. Meanwhile, it expands the application of the MGWR model in sustainable urban spatial governance and has practical significance for other cities to achieve sustainable urban development. Full article