Residential Revitalization through the Universal Heuristic Evaluation Model （UHEM）

The study aims to propose using a universal heuristic evaluation model （UHEM） to improve the functional and physical performance of residential buildings. Since, ＂everyone should be able to enter and use any part of the built environment as independently and naturally as possible＂, the old buildings should be revitalized with respect to an inclusive approach. However, research on current design practice showed that there is a lack of systematic evaluation and revitalization methods. Hence, the main objective of the proposed UHEM model is to evaluate existing residential environments and requalify them with respect to an inclusive approach. The study concludes by highlighting the importance of UHEM from two points of view： （i） the importance of a systematic evaluation approach to effectively deal with the challenge of requalifying the residential environments and （ii） the designers＇ key role during the revitalization process.

THE EFFECT OF SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL FACTORS ON OCCUPANTS’BLIND USE BEHAVIORS IN MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS

Existing studies show that occupants’behavior contribute to fluctuations in energy consumption of residential units within the same building configuration.Window blinds are one of the interior design elements that the occupants use to control indoor environmental conditions.The way that occupants adjust their blinds could affect the energy performance of buildings.Thus,the purpose of this research was to identify spatial and temporal explanatory variables that correlate with occupants’use of the blinds and determine whether those variables relate to building design and surround-ing sites.Data were collected by observing how occupants in apartment buildings located in a multifamily residential complex adjust their blinds.Descriptive statistics were used to define the effect of floor level,window orientation,day of observation,the hour of observation,and weather conditions on the blind status.In addition,a generalized linear mixed model was used to predict the effect of floor level and window orientation on the occupants’adjustment of blinds.The results revealed that occupants’use of the blinds correlated significantly with spatial factors,such as the apartment buildings’floor level and windows’orientation.Interesting blind use patterns were related to temporal factors,such as the day and hour of observation.

EFFICIENCY AND COMFORT THROUGH DEEP ENERGY RETROFITS: BALANCING ENERGY AND MOISTURE MANAGEMENT

Homes that survived to be called“historic”did so because they worked;that is,they delivered a level of performance that met the owner’s expectations and tolerance level without catastrophic damage to the home,pocketbook,or surrounding environment.Home performance expectations have changed and now include a desire to use less energy while at the same time realizing a level of comfort that includes air conditioning and constant temperatures in all rooms.In order to meet these performance expectations,old homes often require some“re-engineering.”Increasing insulation will advance energy efficiency goals,reduce costs,and make a home more sustainable but by itself is insufficient,and,often,it can also upset the moisture balance resulting in unexpected mold and sick building syndrome.Improvement in moisture management design is a critically important consideration whenever energy efficiency is increased;however,many projects fail to address moisture adequately.This article will walk through the process of insulating and air sealing a house(two very different activities,sometimes combined,sometimes not),and shed particular light on how different approaches encourage or discourage moisture problems.

Architectural and personal influences on neishborin8 behaviors;

Architectural and personal influences on neighboring behaviors were studied in a residential neighborhood using both qualitative informal conversations, and systematic recording of activity in the neighborhood＇s social space. This dual approach produced new insights into neighboring behaviors and social networks. It was discovered that the residents who participated in the social space were only a portion of the resident population. There was an additional neighborhood-based network whose neighboring was not conducted in the social space; instead it was maintained by direct house-to-house contact. It was also found that some individuals chose not to participate in any neighborhood social network. The social space was an effective neighboring venue for those residents who chose to use it, but did not attract commingling of groups. Contrary to an assumption in previous neighboring research, there are social groups which develop and maintain themselves without participation in a social space.