Following a seismic event that occurred years ago in Central Italy, the public opinion was growing and growing a concern on the adequacy of educational buildings all across Italy. This activated several political deci...Following a seismic event that occurred years ago in Central Italy, the public opinion was growing and growing a concern on the adequacy of educational buildings all across Italy. This activated several political decisions and a consequent technical effort is in progress. Technically speaking one has to manage the classical problem of retrofitting existing buildings. However, the legal environment goes across national codes, targeted guidelines and the professional need of achieving pragmatic solutions based on ethical and social acceptation schemes.This paper introduces the topic in its worldwide exception and focuses then on some operative aspects in the Italian situation. It outlines the consolidated steps along this technical process and emphasizes the weak aspects one meets when going across the designers＇ reports.展开更多
The paper presents the analysis of a human evacuation from a higher education building located in Iassy,Romania,by means of engineering techniques to approach fire safety.Because in Romania(as in other European countr...The paper presents the analysis of a human evacuation from a higher education building located in Iassy,Romania,by means of engineering techniques to approach fire safety.Because in Romania(as in other European countries)fire safety design of buildings is prescriptive and not performance-based,a fire safety engineering approach arouse great interest in many countries such as the U.S.A.,Australia,New Zealand,England,Sweden,Finland,etc.This paper is based on the assumption of starting a fire in the space of a hall for festivities,located on the ground floor of the building,near two human evacuation routes;We consider two building evacuation scenarios:two exits and,respectively,just one exit(assuming that the second would be accidentally blocked).展开更多
In the United States, university buildings use 17% of total non-residential building energy per year. According to the NREL （National Renewable Energy Laboratory）, the average lifecycle of a building in a university...In the United States, university buildings use 17% of total non-residential building energy per year. According to the NREL （National Renewable Energy Laboratory）, the average lifecycle of a building in a university is 42 years with an EUI （energy use intensity） of 23 kWh/m^2/y. Current building and energy codes limit the EUI to 16 kWh/m^2/y for new school buildings; this benchmark can vary depending on climate, occupancy, and other contextual factors. Although the LEED （leadership in energy and environmental design） system provides a set of guidelines to rate sustainable buildings, studies have shown that 28%-35% of the educational LEED-rated buildings use more energy than their conventional counterparts. This paper examines the issues specific to a LEED-rated design addition to an existing university building. The forum, a lecture hall expansion of to an existing building at the University of Kansas, has been proposed as environmentally friendly and energy-efficient building addition. Comfort and health aspects have been considered in the design in order to obtain LEED platinum certificate. The forum＇s energy performance strategies include a double-skin facade to reduce energy consumption and PV （photovoltaic） panels to generate onsite energy. This study considers various scenarios to meet NZEB （net-zero energy building） criteria and maximize energy savings. The feasibility of NZE criteria is evaluated for： （a） seasonal comparison; （b） facility occupancy; （c） PV panels＇ addition in relation to double skin facade. The results of NZEB approach are compared to LEED platinum requirements, based on Rol （return on investment） and PV panel＇s efficiency for this specific educational building.展开更多
As the demand for high-performance housing grows, so does the need for improvements in building science education. Trial and error has long been the method for learning how to avoid problems in the construction of ene...As the demand for high-performance housing grows, so does the need for improvements in building science education. Trial and error has long been the method for learning how to avoid problems in the construction of energy-efficient housing, including water intrusion and mold growth. Building codes have addressed these issues in prescriptive ways that were not evidence-based. Stricter building codes or builder licensing requirements are not necessarily the solutions to problems associated with misunderstandings about building science. Motivating professionals currently involved in the housing industry to learn through continuing education is a start, but the core problem must be addressed by including building science education in curricula related to architecture, engineering, construction management and other fields. The long-term solution is to include building science education in academic construction management programs. The purpose of this paper is to review the history of what has come to be known as building science and its importance to the residential construction industry. Problems that result from a lack of knowledge about the field are covered and a potential solution is proposed.展开更多
2022 Indoor Air Quality(IAQ),particularly in educational facilities,is gaining considerable interest and is a synonymous indicator towards evaluating human comfort.Factors such as CO_(2) concentration,temperature,and ...2022 Indoor Air Quality(IAQ),particularly in educational facilities,is gaining considerable interest and is a synonymous indicator towards evaluating human comfort.Factors such as CO_(2) concentration,temperature,and humidity play crucial parts in determining an acceptable level of IAQ.Many studies have also demonstrated that the indoor air quality of classrooms affects students’concentration and performance.Today with the threat of a global pandemic,the demand of clean&fresh indoor air quality in education buildings is extremely intensive.This study focuses on investigating IAQ situations and changes in different typical functional spaces of a higher education building in the UK.CO_(2),temperature,and humidity data in various learning environment were monitored via data loggers during the winter.Associated with data monitoring,a set of questionnaires surveys were carried out to evaluate the user’s experience.The results of this study show that temperature and CO_(2) concentration in the classrooms was constantly higher than the government guidance on a daily basis.The analysis also shows that temperature and humidity increased with CO_(2) levels,but at a much lower rate.This study has revealed poor and concerning IAQ in higher education buildings in the UK,particularly in larger rooms with high occupancy.Along with the findings,this paper also identifies possible impact or factors and proposes solutions to overcome these issues.展开更多
Building retrofit procedures play a crucial role in improving the energy performance and economic indicators of a building.In this context,an energy audit is typically recommended,but it is seldom used as a comprehens...Building retrofit procedures play a crucial role in improving the energy performance and economic indicators of a building.In this context,an energy audit is typically recommended,but it is seldom used as a comprehensive approach due to the complexity and associated costs.This article aims to conduct a holistic energy audit approach for a university building in Malaysia,with the objective of diagnosing energy efficiency deficiencies,identifying areas of energy waste and proposing practical retrofit measures accordingly.The approach involved multiple stages,including measurements,surveys and simulation work.Eight energy-saving measures were proposed,targeting improvements in envelope elements,cooling and lighting systems,and operation and control.The Design-Builder software was utilized for energy simulation,assessing the annual energy savings.Economic evaluation indices,such as net present value and simple payback period,were used to assess the economic feasibility of the measures.The results demonstrated significant potential for energy reduction,with each measure achieving annual energy reductions ranging from 2%to 18%,and a cumulative im-pact of 41%on annual energy consumption when combined.The investment payback period for the energy-saving measures varied from 0.8 to 8.9 years,with a payback period of 3.9 years for the combined energy-saving measures.Furthermore,the net present value was positive,indicating the economic feasibility of investing in the proposed energy-saving measures.These findings provide valu-able energy-saving opportunities that can be applied to improve similar buildings on the university campus.展开更多
At present, there are certain motivations and corresponding bases to further strengthen the provincial higher education in China. The proposal of the strategy to ＂Give priority to the development of education and con...At present, there are certain motivations and corresponding bases to further strengthen the provincial higher education in China. The proposal of the strategy to ＂Give priority to the development of education and construct the power with human resources＂ and the strategy of the ＂balanced development of education＂ is the political motivation. The people＇s demand for the high-quality higher educational resources is the cultural driving force, and the enhancement of the international competitiveness of China is internationalized motivation. The provincial economic strength is growing, and the ability of the government＇s financial input in the higher education is gradually increased, which laid a solid economic foundation for it. The higher education in various provinces is developing from the elite education to the mass stage and to the popularization stage, which is the scale basis. The two-level management of the central and the local governments, the division of labor with individual responsibilities, and the formation of the administrative systems of the higher education dominated by the overall planning of the provincial government under the guidance of the national policies are the institutional bases.展开更多
THIS year marks the 36th anniversary of the establishment of China-Botswana diplomatic ties.Invited by China’s Ministry of Education,a Botswana highlevel educational delegation headed by Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi,Botsw...THIS year marks the 36th anniversary of the establishment of China-Botswana diplomatic ties.Invited by China’s Ministry of Education,a Botswana highlevel educational delegation headed by Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi,Botswana’s Minister of Education and Skills Development,paid a one-week visit to展开更多
EDUCATION is the backbone of a country＇s development and described by Nelson Mandela as the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world. It was therefore no surprise that after Chinese President Xi Jinping v...EDUCATION is the backbone of a country＇s development and described by Nelson Mandela as the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world. It was therefore no surprise that after Chinese President Xi Jinping visited South Africa in early 2013. the two developing countries issued a joint communique confirming they would continue to expand cooperation in basic and tertiary education.展开更多
文摘Following a seismic event that occurred years ago in Central Italy, the public opinion was growing and growing a concern on the adequacy of educational buildings all across Italy. This activated several political decisions and a consequent technical effort is in progress. Technically speaking one has to manage the classical problem of retrofitting existing buildings. However, the legal environment goes across national codes, targeted guidelines and the professional need of achieving pragmatic solutions based on ethical and social acceptation schemes.This paper introduces the topic in its worldwide exception and focuses then on some operative aspects in the Italian situation. It outlines the consolidated steps along this technical process and emphasizes the weak aspects one meets when going across the designers＇ reports.
文摘The paper presents the analysis of a human evacuation from a higher education building located in Iassy,Romania,by means of engineering techniques to approach fire safety.Because in Romania(as in other European countries)fire safety design of buildings is prescriptive and not performance-based,a fire safety engineering approach arouse great interest in many countries such as the U.S.A.,Australia,New Zealand,England,Sweden,Finland,etc.This paper is based on the assumption of starting a fire in the space of a hall for festivities,located on the ground floor of the building,near two human evacuation routes;We consider two building evacuation scenarios:two exits and,respectively,just one exit(assuming that the second would be accidentally blocked).
文摘In the United States, university buildings use 17% of total non-residential building energy per year. According to the NREL （National Renewable Energy Laboratory）, the average lifecycle of a building in a university is 42 years with an EUI （energy use intensity） of 23 kWh/m^2/y. Current building and energy codes limit the EUI to 16 kWh/m^2/y for new school buildings; this benchmark can vary depending on climate, occupancy, and other contextual factors. Although the LEED （leadership in energy and environmental design） system provides a set of guidelines to rate sustainable buildings, studies have shown that 28%-35% of the educational LEED-rated buildings use more energy than their conventional counterparts. This paper examines the issues specific to a LEED-rated design addition to an existing university building. The forum, a lecture hall expansion of to an existing building at the University of Kansas, has been proposed as environmentally friendly and energy-efficient building addition. Comfort and health aspects have been considered in the design in order to obtain LEED platinum certificate. The forum＇s energy performance strategies include a double-skin facade to reduce energy consumption and PV （photovoltaic） panels to generate onsite energy. This study considers various scenarios to meet NZEB （net-zero energy building） criteria and maximize energy savings. The feasibility of NZE criteria is evaluated for： （a） seasonal comparison; （b） facility occupancy; （c） PV panels＇ addition in relation to double skin facade. The results of NZEB approach are compared to LEED platinum requirements, based on Rol （return on investment） and PV panel＇s efficiency for this specific educational building.
文摘As the demand for high-performance housing grows, so does the need for improvements in building science education. Trial and error has long been the method for learning how to avoid problems in the construction of energy-efficient housing, including water intrusion and mold growth. Building codes have addressed these issues in prescriptive ways that were not evidence-based. Stricter building codes or builder licensing requirements are not necessarily the solutions to problems associated with misunderstandings about building science. Motivating professionals currently involved in the housing industry to learn through continuing education is a start, but the core problem must be addressed by including building science education in curricula related to architecture, engineering, construction management and other fields. The long-term solution is to include building science education in academic construction management programs. The purpose of this paper is to review the history of what has come to be known as building science and its importance to the residential construction industry. Problems that result from a lack of knowledge about the field are covered and a potential solution is proposed.
文摘2022 Indoor Air Quality(IAQ),particularly in educational facilities,is gaining considerable interest and is a synonymous indicator towards evaluating human comfort.Factors such as CO_(2) concentration,temperature,and humidity play crucial parts in determining an acceptable level of IAQ.Many studies have also demonstrated that the indoor air quality of classrooms affects students’concentration and performance.Today with the threat of a global pandemic,the demand of clean&fresh indoor air quality in education buildings is extremely intensive.This study focuses on investigating IAQ situations and changes in different typical functional spaces of a higher education building in the UK.CO_(2),temperature,and humidity data in various learning environment were monitored via data loggers during the winter.Associated with data monitoring,a set of questionnaires surveys were carried out to evaluate the user’s experience.The results of this study show that temperature and CO_(2) concentration in the classrooms was constantly higher than the government guidance on a daily basis.The analysis also shows that temperature and humidity increased with CO_(2) levels,but at a much lower rate.This study has revealed poor and concerning IAQ in higher education buildings in the UK,particularly in larger rooms with high occupancy.Along with the findings,this paper also identifies possible impact or factors and proposes solutions to overcome these issues.
基金The authors would like to thank the maintenance department(Pejabat Harta Bina)and express their appreciation for the assistance received from the E07 block staff at the College of Mechanical Engineering at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia(UTM)during the survey and measurement processes.Lastly,the authors would like to acknowledge and appreciate the support provided by UTM.
文摘Building retrofit procedures play a crucial role in improving the energy performance and economic indicators of a building.In this context,an energy audit is typically recommended,but it is seldom used as a comprehensive approach due to the complexity and associated costs.This article aims to conduct a holistic energy audit approach for a university building in Malaysia,with the objective of diagnosing energy efficiency deficiencies,identifying areas of energy waste and proposing practical retrofit measures accordingly.The approach involved multiple stages,including measurements,surveys and simulation work.Eight energy-saving measures were proposed,targeting improvements in envelope elements,cooling and lighting systems,and operation and control.The Design-Builder software was utilized for energy simulation,assessing the annual energy savings.Economic evaluation indices,such as net present value and simple payback period,were used to assess the economic feasibility of the measures.The results demonstrated significant potential for energy reduction,with each measure achieving annual energy reductions ranging from 2%to 18%,and a cumulative im-pact of 41%on annual energy consumption when combined.The investment payback period for the energy-saving measures varied from 0.8 to 8.9 years,with a payback period of 3.9 years for the combined energy-saving measures.Furthermore,the net present value was positive,indicating the economic feasibility of investing in the proposed energy-saving measures.These findings provide valu-able energy-saving opportunities that can be applied to improve similar buildings on the university campus.
文摘At present, there are certain motivations and corresponding bases to further strengthen the provincial higher education in China. The proposal of the strategy to ＂Give priority to the development of education and construct the power with human resources＂ and the strategy of the ＂balanced development of education＂ is the political motivation. The people＇s demand for the high-quality higher educational resources is the cultural driving force, and the enhancement of the international competitiveness of China is internationalized motivation. The provincial economic strength is growing, and the ability of the government＇s financial input in the higher education is gradually increased, which laid a solid economic foundation for it. The higher education in various provinces is developing from the elite education to the mass stage and to the popularization stage, which is the scale basis. The two-level management of the central and the local governments, the division of labor with individual responsibilities, and the formation of the administrative systems of the higher education dominated by the overall planning of the provincial government under the guidance of the national policies are the institutional bases.
文摘THIS year marks the 36th anniversary of the establishment of China-Botswana diplomatic ties.Invited by China’s Ministry of Education,a Botswana highlevel educational delegation headed by Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi,Botswana’s Minister of Education and Skills Development,paid a one-week visit to
文摘EDUCATION is the backbone of a country＇s development and described by Nelson Mandela as the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world. It was therefore no surprise that after Chinese President Xi Jinping visited South Africa in early 2013. the two developing countries issued a joint communique confirming they would continue to expand cooperation in basic and tertiary education.
