Analysis of the Potential Value and Improvement of Gray Space in University Buildings: A Case Study of the New Campus of Hebei University of Engineering

As one of the more important spatial forms,"gray space" has the function of communicating indoor and outdoor spaces and enriching the spatial hierarchy.Taking the new campus of Hebei University of Engineering as an example,the paper demonstrates the potential value of gray space in university buildings combined with actual investigations and data research.Moreover,appropriate improvement methods are put forward,in order to make full use of gray space to facilitate the communication between teachers and students,to create a more humanistic caring and learning atmosphere of university campus,and to bring more diversified and rich learning and communication places to university students.

Feasibility of condensate water recycle of split air handling unit in Chinese University buildings

Recycling the condensate water of the air conditioner could be explored as an alternative water source to con-tribute to building the green campus.This paper explored the condensate water production through actual mea-surement based on a split air handling unit(SAHU)in a university building.Then,the statistical analysis was used to analyze the recycling feasibility and the impact factors of the condensate water production in 31 Chinese provincial capital cities to obtain the recycling potential map of the condensate water generated from a SAHU.Results showed that:(1)In the measurement,the amount of condensate water produced by a single split air conditioner was 1.6 kg from 12:40 to 13:40.Therefore,the daily output of condensate water of the air condi-tioner with the university operation schedule could reach 52.99 kg during the main air-conditioning season.(2)Among the 31 provincial capital cities in China,the largest condensate water outputs could be found in the Hot Summer and Warm Winter zone and the Hot Summer and Cold Winter zone,with an average monthly output of 1600 kg and 1100 kg,respectively.(3)Regression analysis showed that the dry-bulb temperature and dew point temperature of outdoor air had the highest positive and significant influence on condensate water production.The objective of this study is to provide theoretical guidance for the design and energy conservation evaluation of the feasibility of SAHU condensate water recycling in universities.

Exploring the Path of Party Building Leading League Construction in Colleges and Universities under the Pattern of Great Ideological and Political Education

In accordance with the pattern of"great ideology and politics",the Party and youth League organizations assume the role of vanguard in the organization of colleges and universities.Simultaneously,they serve as a pivotal force in ideological and political education.In order to construct a comprehensive ideological and political framework encompassing the entire educational process,it is of paramount importance to identify an efficacious methodology for Party building leading League construction.This paper employs a comprehensive analysis to elucidate the pivotal role of Party building leading League construction in facilitating ideological and political education.It also illuminates the practical challenges encountered in the implementation of Party building leading League construction initiatives within colleges and universities.The article proposes a specific path for Party building leading League construction in colleges and universities based on three key aspects:cohesion of the consensus of Party building leading League building,establishment of the institutional system of Party building leading League construction,and creation of the model brand of Party building leading League construction.The aim is to promote in-depth development of Party building in colleges and universities and enhance the quality and effect of ideological and political education.

Assessment and Guidelines to Improve Eco-efficiency and Indoor Comfort at University of Passo Fundo, Brazil

The paper deals with the energy and indoor comfort on buildings of UPF （University ofPasso Fundo）, located in southern Brazil, in order to improve the eco-efficiency concepts in the university＇s building stock, reinforcing its responsibility towards sustainable development. The factors that affect thermal performance and the energy consumption of two case studies were identified, including the general characteristics of the envelope and the indoor conditions. The simulations with DesignBuilder software compare the energy and thermal performance of both cases： those results allow the identification of their positive and negative aspects, as well as making a co-relation with the students＇ sensations of comfort--obtained through PMV （predicted mean vote）. The research indicates that it will be possible to improve eco-efficiency of existing and new buildings and campuses by retrofitting and upgrading it with regard to better indoor conditions that really correspond to climate conditions （hot and humid summers, and cold and damp winters）, using passive strategies for heating and cooling and at the same time to improve rational use of natural resources and to reduce the environmental impact. Probably, giving comfortable conditions to the users will increase energy consumption, but there is a potential reduction of lighting and equipment that could minimize this impact.

Researches on the Transmission of Brand Construction in Hubei University

Modem society colleges and universities brand bulidings are more and more important, the brand reflects the school＇s quality and characteristics, also the realm and the target that school pursued. University competition is largely the brand competition, therefore, the importance of university brand building is self-evident. In the context that the whole society concerned about the brand building, this paper takes Hubei University as an example to clarify the current situation and characteristics of its brand building＇s communication, analyzing its shortcomings and putting forward the corresponding improvement suggestions, hoping to be helpful to build the brand of Hubei University.

Timetabling optimization of classrooms and self-study rooms in university teaching buildings based on the building controls virtual test bed platform considering energy efficiency

The energy consumption of a teaching building can be effectively reduced by timetable optimization.However,in most studies that explore methods to reduce building energy consumption by course timetable optimization,self-study activities are not considered.In this study,an MATLAB-EnergyPlus joint simulation model was constructed based on the Building Controls Virtual Test Bed platform to reduce building energy consumption by optimizing the course schedule and opening strategy of self-study rooms in a holistic way.The following results were obtained by taking a university in Xi’an as an example:(1)The energy saving percentages obtained by timetabling optimization during the heating season examination week,heating season non-examination week,cooling season examination week,and cooling season non-examination week are 35%,29.4%,13.4%,and 13.4%,respectively.(2)Regarding the temporal arrangement,most courses are scheduled in the morning during the cooling season and afternoon during the heating season.Regarding the spatial arrangement,most courses are arranged in the central section of the middle floors of the building.(3)During the heating season,the additional building energy consumption incurred by the opening of self-study rooms decreases when duty heating temperature increases.

Performance assessment of buildings via post-occupancy evaluation： A case study of the building of the architecture and software engineering departments in Salahaddin University-Erbil, Iraq

Buildings are established to meet the needs and desires of users. The purpose of a building is defeated if its users are not satisfied by the overall buildingl performance. This study determines whether the users of the building of the architectural and software engineering departments at Salahaddin University-Erbil are satisfied with overall performance attributes. Assessment using users as a benchmark shows that the potentiat for improving the performance of a building is tremendous. This paper develops a post-occupancy evaluation （POE） framework that integrates building performance attributes for university buildings and facilities in the Iraqi Kurdistan region based on users＇ satisfaction. The objectives were to identify the concept of POE in relation to building performance, to determine the performance level of an existing building, and to determine correlation between building performance and users＇ satisfaction level. Results showed that 88% of building performance attributes is highly correlated with users＇ satisfaction. The compelling correlational results confirmed the relevance of POE as a building performance tool. The thrust of the findings indicates that the indicators and variables used in assessing the level of building performance are significant in determining levels of users＇ satisfaction in university buildings and facilities.

Berkeley Lab and Tsinghua University to Tackle Building Energy Efficiency

Berkeley Lab and Tsinghua University forged ties on Aug. 12, 2009 to promote the development and implementation of building energy efficiency, a move intended to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S and China.