ENERGY EMBODIED IN,AND TRANSMITTED THROUGH,WALLS OF DIFFERENT TYPES WHEN ACCOUNTING FOR THE DYNAMIC EFFECTS OF THERMAL MASS

Embodied energy is a measure of the energy used in producing,transporting and assembling the materials for a building.Operational energy is the energy used to moderate the indoor environment to make it functional or comfortable-primarily,to heat or cool the building.For many building geometries,the walls make the most significant contribution to the embodied energy of the building,and they are also the path of greatest heat loss or gain through the fabric,as they often have a greater surface area than the roof or floor.Adding insulation reduces the heat flow through the wall,reducing the energy used during operation,but this adds to the embodied energy.The operational energy is not only a function of the wall buildup,but also depends on the climate,occupancy pattern,and heating strategy,making an optimisation for minimum overall energy use non-trivial.This study presents a comparison of typical wall construction types and heating strategies in a temperate maritime climate.The transient energy ratio method is a means to abstract the heat flow through the walls(operational energy for heating),allowing assessment of the influence of walls in isolation(i.e.in a general sense,without being restricted to particular building geometries).Three retrofit scenarios for a solid wall are considered.At very low U-values,overall energy use can increase as the embodied energy can exceed the operational energy;current best practice walls coupled with low building lifetimes mean that this point may be reached in the near future.Substantial uncertainty is present in existing embodied energy data,and given its contribution to total energy use,this is a topic of urgent concern.

Toxicity Symptoms among Migrant Agropesticide Workers in Oman

The toxicity symptoms among 79migrant pesticide workers involved in open-field pesticide application in Oman were studied. Questionnaires addressing the workers＇ demographics, pesticide use and practices, use of protective devices, disposal of empty containers, storage of pesticides and self-reported poisoning symptoms were administered face-to-face to the workers before commencement of work, during break or at home. A total of 28 toxicity symptoms were reported, skin rash being the symptom reported by a majority of the workers （78%）, followed by increased salivation （68%）. The gravity of toxicity symptoms was attributed principally to the non-use of protective devices during pesticide spraying. Other factors contributing to poisoning were the workers＇ poor post-application sanitation habits, improper disposal of empty pesticide containers and storage of partially used pesticides in bedrooms. In order to reduce the incidents of poisoning among the agropesticide workers, there is a need to educate them about the benefits of using PPE （personal protective equipment） and ensuring that they adopt good hygiene and sanitation habits at all stages of pesticide handling.

Exploring the Inclusive Potential of Pet Parks From the Perspective of Spatial Justice:Hong Kong’s Experience and Implications

As social and economic dynamics continue to evolve and the demand for companionship increases,pet ownership has become an increasingly popular lifestyle choice.Pet parks,as a new form of urban public space,are gaining significant attention.This study,grounded in the theory of spatial justice,employs a combination of questionnaires and semi-structured interviews to evaluate four representative pet parks in Hong Kong,China.It explores how pet parks,as inclusive green infrastructure in high-density environments,contribute to urban community well-being and broader spatial justice.The study reveals the conflicts between pet owners and non-pet owners regarding the rights to use public spaces,examining how to guarantee the spatial rights of specific groups while avoiding harm to others.The findings indicate that green space availability,sociability and participation,walkability,safety,and flexibility in pet parks play a positive role in achieving urban spatial justice.However,pet parks also face challenges related to social exclusion and safety,requiring a balance between promoting community integration and ensuring public safety.This study offers valuable insights for the development of pet parks,the creation of vibrant and diverse public spaces,and the promotion of harmonious human-animal environments in cities across China and other Asian countries.

Wind comfort in a public urban space--Case study within Dublin Docklands

Open public spaces provide venues for cultural, recreational events and promote informal social contact between citizens. Successful outdoor spaces promote comfort and invite people to stay outdoors. Provision of thermal comfort outdoors present a challenge, as an extended range of environmental conditions must be dealt with. The present study examines whether climatic characteristics in Dublin facilitate exercising tong-term outdoor activities during summer, and investigates the extent to which urban planning and the resulting urban morphology of the built environment influences microclimates created, from the viewpoint of wind environment. Microclimates at Grand Canal Square have been simulated by ENVI-met. Wind velocity has been expressed in relation to that of the ＂background＂ climate in order to verify if the site has a wind protecting character or to the contrary, it enhances airflow. The results show for the dominant wind directions （W, SW, S） that 60% higher wind velocity than at Dublin Airport can occur around building corners and at restricted flow sections--preventing any kind of long-term outdoor activity during a ＂typical＂ day. S and SW winds cause 15%-20% acceleration at the W waterfront area. Windy urban environment can call forth a limited frequentation of urban space.