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Buildings
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Built Environment, Energy and Health
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Built Environment, Energy and Health

A special issue of Buildings (ISSN 2075-5309). This special issue belongs to the section "Building Energy, Physics, Environment, and Systems".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2023) | Viewed by 11062

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Jifu Lu

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Guest Editor
School of Mechanical and Power Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
Interests: building energy; green building; building carbon neutrality; renewable energy; building environment and health; heat transfer and fluid mechanics; heat pump
Dr. Yu Chen

E-Mail
Guest Editor
1. School of Civil Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
2. College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
Interests: building environment and health; healthy cities
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Yin Liu

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Guest Editor
School of Energy & Environment, Zhongyuan University of Technology, Zhengzhou, China
Interests: comprehensive utilization of energy; renewable energy
Dr. Jie Liu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Qingdao University of Technology, Qingdao, China
Interests: energy management; renewable energy; heat pump
Dr. Manfeng Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhengzhou, China
Interests: building energy efficiency improvement; liquefied natural gas technology and equipment; energy storage technology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue will focus on the relationship between the built environment, energy and human health. It will further discuss the interaction between building energy efficiency, clean energy utilization and environmental quality in the built environment.

Topics will include, but are not limited to:

  • Energy demands, consumption and balances in the built environment;
  • Application of renewable energy sources in the built environment;
  • Healthy indoor environmental evaluation (including acoustic, visual, thermal and air quality) and control;
  • Energy efficiency improvement measures of HVAC&R and other technical systems;
  • Modeling and prediction technologies for the built environment;
  • Links between building environmental quality, energy conservation and health.

Dr. Jifu Lu
Dr. Yu Chen
Prof. Dr. Yin Liu
Dr. Jie Liu
Dr. Manfeng Li
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Buildings is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • built environment
  • renewable energy
  • building environmental quality
  • energy conservation
  • health
  • indoor environmental quality
  • energy efficiency

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

28 pages, 7286 KiB  
Article
An Environmental Quality Assessment of Office Buildings: The Impact of a Glass Façade on Users in Different Climate Contexts in Croatia
by Iva Muraj and Stanka Ostojić
Buildings 2023, 13(12), 3092; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/buildings13123092 - 13 Dec 2023
Viewed by 878
Abstract
Glass façades are being increasingly applied in the typology of office buildings. The environmental quality parameters of indoor spaces have an exceptional influence on the wellbeing and productivity of users. In the past, climate defined the architecture of a particular area. Façades of [...] Read more.
Glass façades are being increasingly applied in the typology of office buildings. The environmental quality parameters of indoor spaces have an exceptional influence on the wellbeing and productivity of users. In the past, climate defined the architecture of a particular area. Façades of contemporary office buildings have similar characteristics regardless of their location. This study comprises four office buildings with different types of glass façades located in areas of continental and coastal climate in Croatia. Also, the research relates to a graduate study course, during which the students designed a survey to gain insight into the satisfaction of users of the analyzed buildings. The aim of this research is to explore the impact of the design of glass façades in a certain climate context on users. This paper will address the following research questions: (1) Is a fully glazed office building pleasant to work in? (2) Is a fully glazed façade an appropriate solution for office buildings in hot and sunny climates? The research results show that to achieve a comfortable indoor environment for buildings’ users, it is necessary to design the façade according to the orientation, especially in terms of glazing characteristics, a sun protection system, and window control. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Built Environment, Energy and Health)
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19 pages, 4915 KiB  
Article
Fomite Transmission in Airports Based on Real Human Touch Behaviors
by Linan Zhuang, Yuqing Ding, Linlin Zhou, Ronghan Liu, Jiajie Ding, Rui Wang, Weiwei Huang, Shujia Shang, Hua Qian and Nan Zhang
Buildings 2023, 13(10), 2582; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/buildings13102582 - 13 Oct 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1262
Abstract
The public areas of airports are often bustling, raising the risk of infectious diseases spreading through fomites. We recorded 21.3 h of video at three airports, focusing on nine common areas (e.g., boarding and check-in areas) where people touch surfaces. We analyzed 25,925 [...] Read more.
The public areas of airports are often bustling, raising the risk of infectious diseases spreading through fomites. We recorded 21.3 h of video at three airports, focusing on nine common areas (e.g., boarding and check-in areas) where people touch surfaces. We analyzed 25,925 touches to create a model for how microbes spread from surfaces to humans through touch. The airport mask-wearing rate is high (96.1% in non-restaurant areas), but it is lower (22%) in restaurants. Passengers touch their mucous membranes more often (10.3 times/hour) in restaurants compared to other areas (1.6 times/hour on average). Wearing a mask can significantly reduce the risk of obtaining a virus through direct contact with hands and mucous membranes. If everyone in non-restaurant areas wore masks, the viral intake fraction could be reduced by up to 97.4% compared to not wearing masks. People touch public surfaces the most in self-service check-in areas, at a rate of 473.5 times per hour. Disinfecting public surfaces or hands twice per hour could reduce the viral intake fraction in each area by 27.7% or 15.4%, respectively. The findings of this study provide valuable data support and a scientific foundation for implementing interventions aimed at mitigating fomite transmission within airport settings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Built Environment, Energy and Health)
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20 pages, 15178 KiB  
Article
Impact of Daylighting on Visual Comfort and on the Biological Clock for Teleworkers in Residential Buildings
by Ignacio Acosta, Miguel Ángel Campano, Laura Bellia, Francesca Fragliasso, Francesca Diglio and Pedro Bustamante
Buildings 2023, 13(10), 2562; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/buildings13102562 - 10 Oct 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1073
Abstract
The current socio-economic scenario has promoted telecommuting at home for a significant number of workers, mainly due to the sanitary situation experienced and the improvement in communication technologies. However, the work context at home is often not suitable for teleworking since the environmental [...] Read more.
The current socio-economic scenario has promoted telecommuting at home for a significant number of workers, mainly due to the sanitary situation experienced and the improvement in communication technologies. However, the work context at home is often not suitable for teleworking since the environmental conditions are not usually adequate for good performance and the wellness of workers. The received light, both in quantity and in spectrum, affects the visual comfort and performance of the worker through the regulation of the circadian stimulus. Accordingly, the objective of the present study is to ascertain the influence of natural daylight on the performance and health of teleworkers, considering a room at home analyzed in three different locations, two orientations, two-time schedules, and two window shapes. The impact of natural light on health was assessed using the Circadian Stimulus Autonomy (CSA) produced by daylight during the morning, while the illuminance requirement was defined in accordance with the Daylight Autonomy (DA). The results obtained were contrasted with a real test cell under real daylight conditions. The conclusions of this study serve to determine the suitable windowed areas of the analyzed room where teleworkers obtain the appropriate lighting performance and well-being. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Built Environment, Energy and Health)
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17 pages, 6998 KiB  
Article
Strategies on Uniformity Lighting in Office Space under Energy-Saving Environment
by Yusen Lin and Cheng-Chen Chen
Buildings 2023, 13(7), 1797; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/buildings13071797 - 14 Jul 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1333
Abstract
In this study, our focus was on exploring the changing illuminance of work surfaces in different ambient uniformity spaces in the office, with a specific emphasis on sustainability and energy-saving considerations. To investigate this, we conducted a comprehensive study in a laboratory setting [...] Read more.
In this study, our focus was on exploring the changing illuminance of work surfaces in different ambient uniformity spaces in the office, with a specific emphasis on sustainability and energy-saving considerations. To investigate this, we conducted a comprehensive study in a laboratory setting that replicated an office environment. The study involved the participation of 20 adults as subjects. The findings of our study revealed a strong correlation between the uniformity of ambient lighting illuminance within the indoor space and the illuminance levels observed specifically at the task plane. Notably, when the surrounding illuminance exhibited uniformity, we observed a significant reduction in the EH as adjusted by participants during VDT operation. Interestingly, the task illuminance adjusted by the subjects was lower than the usual standard. However, we did not find any significant correlation between the uniformity of indoor ambient lighting illuminance and the appropriate VDT screen luminance. In situations where energy-saving measures are required, it is crucial to maintain an even luminance in the surrounding space to ensure that the minimum lighting level in the office is upheld. Future discussions should delve into task-ambient lighting models, exploring beyond task illuminance standards alone. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Built Environment, Energy and Health)
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31 pages, 12545 KiB  
Article
A Study on the Optimization of Atrium Daylight and Energy Performance through Skylight and Shading Design in Commercial Buildings in Cold Zones
by Yibing Xue and Wenhan Liu
Buildings 2023, 13(1), 228; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/buildings13010228 - 13 Jan 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 4313
Abstract
Atriums play an irreplaceable role within the plan of modern commercial buildings. However, the presence of skylights makes the atrium suffer from unfavorable conditions such as overheating, high energy consumption, and glare, which can be partially reduced by the sun-shading design of skylights. [...] Read more.
Atriums play an irreplaceable role within the plan of modern commercial buildings. However, the presence of skylights makes the atrium suffer from unfavorable conditions such as overheating, high energy consumption, and glare, which can be partially reduced by the sun-shading design of skylights. In this paper, we conducted a field test and questionnaire survey on the daylight quality of commercial buildings in cold zones in China to find out the current problems of daylight quality in atriums and to establish a model of commercial atrium. After the dynamic daylight and energy consumption simulation, the sensitivity analysis of daylight and energy performance is performed for the skylight and shading (SAS) design parameters under three shading types. Finally, the Pareto front solution set of optimized commercial atrium daylight, visual comfort, and energy performance for the three shading types has been obtained using a multi-objective search tool. The results show that SRR has the greatest effect on sDA, DGP, and EUI in all shading cases; while SGT has a greater effect on EUI than on daylight quality; FC has a greater effect on EUI than FV on EUI; and LS and LI have a more significant influence on daylight and visual comfort. The optimal SAS values of no shading, fabric shading and louvered shading were screened as SRR is 0.4–0.5, SGT is Double silver Low-E insulating glass; SRR is 0.5–0.6, SGT is Double silver Low-E insulating glass, FV is 0.5–0.7, FC is 0.5–0.6; SRR is 0.6–0.7, SGT is Double silver Low-E insulating glass, LS is 100 mm/125 mm, and LI is 60–70°. It is expected that this study will provide some information and reference for the design of commercial atriums in cold zones in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Built Environment, Energy and Health)
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16 pages, 4517 KiB  
Article
Influence of Convection Term on Temperature Field during Soil Freezing
by Yingmei Wang, Hanyu Song, Haosen Qin and Xi Wang
Buildings 2022, 12(12), 2183; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/buildings12122183 - 9 Dec 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1059
Abstract
In recent years, the numerical model of frozen soil has mainly focused on the water-heat equation of unsaturated soil, which is of great significance to predicting engineering stability in frozen soil areas. In these numerical models, the change of freezing temperature is usually [...] Read more.
In recent years, the numerical model of frozen soil has mainly focused on the water-heat equation of unsaturated soil, which is of great significance to predicting engineering stability in frozen soil areas. In these numerical models, the change of freezing temperature is usually ignored, and 0 °C is often used as the freezing condition. In addition, most equations only consider the effect of latent heat released during water freezing on the frozen soil and ignore the effect of high-temperature water on the heat transfer of frozen soil when unfrozen water migrates to the frozen zone. Therefore, there will be deviations under long-time simulation. At the same time, due to excessive attention to the moisture field and neglect of the selection of the temperature field, there is no clear conclusion on when to choose the heat transfer equation with the convection term. The equation in this paper considered the change of freezing temperature under different initial saturation conditions and the convection effect during moisture migration. Through COMSOL 5.5 software simulation, they were combined with the experiment to verify. Three different hydrothermal equations were selected to analyze the effects of latent heat and the effects of convection on the temperature field under different initial saturation conditions. The results show that the convection term plays an essential role in the heat transfer equation for unsaturated soil with high initial saturation. Additionally, the frost heave occurs mainly above the ice front interface. This study provides a reference for when to choose the heat transfer equation with convective terms and can provide help for the construction and prediction of frozen soil in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Built Environment, Energy and Health)
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