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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Engineering and Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2022) | Viewed by 42410

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Serdar Durdyev

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Guest Editor

Department of Architectural and Engineering Studies, Ara Institute of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
Interests: building information modelling; construction management; sustainable construction; construction engineering
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Amir Mahdiyar

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Guest Editor

School of Housing, Building and Planning, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang 11800, Malaysia
Interests: sustainable construction; digital technology; construction safety; MCDM; probabilistic simulation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Syuhaida Ismail

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Guest Editor

Razak Faculty of Technology and Informatics, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Kuala Lumpur, Jalan Sultan Yahya Petra, 54100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Interests: project management; construction management; civil engineering; construction technology; sustainable construction; infrastructure; sustainable cities
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Sustainable built environments are intended to include construction works and projects that do not harm the three pillars of sustainable development, which are environment, economy, and social life. However, the built environment continues to deplete resources, consume large amounts of energy, and generate greenhouse gas emissions, and construction of the built environment is known as one of the hazardous industries. These are only some of the examples of the impacts of the sector on the pillars of sustainable development. In addition, due to its long-lasting products (about 80 years in developed countries), construction of the built environment is regarded as an unusual case among other industries and thus requires special attention. Resource- and energy-efficient practices (e.g., the use of eco-materials and green roof installation), adoption of advanced construction technologies (e.g., building information modelling and augmented reality), and innovative construction delivery methods (e.g., integrated project delivery) are only some of the noteworthy attempts that have been made to date in combating the sustainability issues caused by the industry. Although the sustainable construction context has received significant attention, the proposed Special Issue offers an opportunity for researchers to disseminate their findings, which will provide concise and practical solutions to move forward in effective and efficient utilization of non-renewable resources in particular in order to balance the pillars of sustainable development. The Special Issue also provides a good opportunity to understand how the sustainable development of the built environment has been affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic economically and socially. The Special Issue particularly seeks studies that focus on the use of advanced construction technologies, materials, and methods that can benefit the industry worldwide.

Dr. Serdar Durdyev
Dr. Amir Mahdiyar
Dr. Syuhaida Ismail
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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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. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2400 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

Sustainable construction management
Sustainable infrastructure
Energy efficiency
Sustainable design
Sustainable decision making
Multi criteria decision making
Green roof
Green wall
Lifecycle assessment
Building simulation
Urban heat island mitigation
Waste management
Energy performance prediction
Facility management
Risk management
Integrated automated building systems
Structural 3D printing
Internet of things sensors for building maintenance
Construction safety

Published Papers (13 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 1390 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Building Information Modelling Strategies in Sustainable Housing Construction Projects in Malaysia

by Nur Syafika Artika Rahim, Syuhaida Ismail, Chitdrakantan Subramaniam, Siti Nora Haryati Abdullah Habib and Serdar Durdyev

Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 2313; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su15032313 - 27 Jan 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2811

Abstract

Building Information Modelling (BIM) plays a very significant role in the construction industry, especially in project management decision-making and data integration efforts during the preliminary planning and design stage. This is aligned with the National Construction Policy (NCP 2030) by the Ministry of Work Malaysia, highlighting that it is timely for the construction industry players to move towards sustainability. BIM must be implemented to ensure the smooth delivery of sustainable housing construction projects in Malaysia due to its critical role in assisting in construction cost optimisation, green building implementation, minimising environmental impact, and waste reduction. However, the BIM implementation rate in Malaysia is still minimal due to the challenges in its execution. Therefore, this paper is aimed to propose BIM’s critical strategies in the development of Malaysian sustainable housing construction projects as envisaged in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs). A thorough systematic literature review and questionnaire survey of fifty (50) BIM players in housing construction projects in Malaysia shows that from sixteen (16) BIM strategies, three (3) items are identified as critically important strategies, whereas another five (5) items are identified as important strategies. The outcome of the study shall benefit the construction industry players who are involved in the sustainable housing construction project and mainly drives the Public Work Department (PWD) BIM Strategic Plan 2021–2025, thus supporting the earlier mentioned NCP 2030 agenda by the Ministry of Work Malaysia. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Sustainable Built Environment: Trending Methods and Practices)

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16 pages, 1853 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Facilitating Circular Economy Strategies Using Digital Construction Tools: Framework Development

by Kebir Mohammed Jemal, Marzhan Kabzhassarova, Ramazan Shaimkhanov, Dinara Dikhanbayeva, Ali Turkyilmaz, Serdar Durdyev and Ferhat Karaca

Sustainability 2023, 15(1), 877; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su15010877 - 03 Jan 2023

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3359

Abstract

The construction sector has undergone several transformations to address adverse environmental, economic, and social impacts. The concept of the circular economy (CE) has transcended into this domain to solve the needs of construction amid resource constraints. Furthermore, advanced digital tools are being implemented across industries owing to the boost given by the fourth industrial revolution. This paper aims to develop a framework that investigates the effect of digital tools on CE implementation in the construction sector. The study is based on a three-step approach, where first, an initial framework design based on a systematic literature review was conducted. This is followed by framework optimization using semistructured interviews with experts and validation through a case study. This study resulted in the development of a new framework, which aims to investigate how advanced digital tools can be used in the construction sector to enhance CE implementation. The contribution of the present study is two-fold: (1) the integration (addressing existing research gap) of CE and digitalization concepts in the construction sector; (2) an investigation into the critical barriers, offering insights for construction practitioners. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Sustainable Built Environment: Trending Methods and Practices)

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15 pages, 1198 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Decision-Making Framework for Sustainable Construction Products Selection in SMEs

by Dharmaraj Sivasubramanian and Jin Gang Lee

Sustainability 2022, 14(21), 14264; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su142114264 - 01 Nov 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1565

Abstract

In the construction industry, decision-making plays an important role in achieving sustainability. Decision-making processes have significantly expanded to consider detailed product information when selecting sustainable alternatives in order to make more accurate choices; however, it has also turned out to be a barrier due to the knowledge intensiveness of the process and unreliable product information, especially in SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises). This research focuses on developing a simple decision-making framework for selecting sustainable products as alternatives. The proposed framework is developed with analysis of two transparent factors: (1) life cycle cost and (2) technology growth rate. A decision-making model also provides a visual comparison of the alternatives in consideration with quadrant model. The resulting framework provides a distinct anticipated outcome description for each product considered; thus, enabling the decision-makers to identify and choose the most suitable alternative. The framework is expected to influence the spread of sustainable products in SMEs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Sustainable Built Environment: Trending Methods and Practices)

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17 pages, 7749 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Potential of Biomass Frond Fiber on Mechanical Properties of Green Foamed Concrete

by Md Azree Othuman Mydin, Mohd Nasrun Mohd Nawi, Ruba A. Odeh and Anas A. Salameh

Sustainability 2022, 14(12), 7185; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14127185 - 12 Jun 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1270

Abstract

Currently, the cost of construction rises along with the ongoing impact on the environment, and it has led the researchers to the acceptance of biomass natural fibers, such as biomass frond fiber (BFF), for the improvement of the mechanical properties of cement-based materials. BFF is abundantly accessible, making it relatively pertinent as a reinforcing material in foamed concrete (FC). In addition, natural fiber-reinforced concrete has been progressively employed in construction for several decades to reduce the crack growth under the static load. This paper intends to experimentally investigate the effectiveness of the addition of BFF to FC to improve its mechanical properties. The FC samples were strengthened with BFF at the weight fractions of 0.12%, 0.24%, 0.36%, 0.48%, and 0.60%. This study used three FC densities: 600 kg/m³, 800 kg/m³, and 1000 kg/m³, with fixed constitutions with 0.45 and 1:1.5 cement-to-water and cement-to-sand ratios, respectively. The evaluated strength characteristics included bending, splitting tensile, and compressive strengths. The experimental outcomes indicated that adding 0.36% BFF to FC facilitates optimal splitting tensile, compressive, and bending strength results. BFF enhances material strength by filling the spaces, microcracks, and gaps inside the FC structure. The BFF helped to reduce crack spreading when the plastic state of the FC cementitious matrix was loaded. Furthermore, the optimum level of BFF inclusion and the accumulation and the non-uniform distribution of BFF were detected, which caused the lowering of the strengths of the FC significantly. Beyond the optimum level of BFF, the agglomeration and the non-uniform dispersion of the BFF were seen, which resulted in a drop in mechanical properties. The output from this research will give a better insight into the potential utilization of plant fiber in FC. It is of profound significance to guide the sustainable development and application of FC material and infrastructures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Sustainable Built Environment: Trending Methods and Practices)

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10 pages, 1583 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Estimation of Traffic Delay Due to U-Turns at Uncontrolled Medians: Case Study in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

by Maksat Omarov, Syuhaida Ismail, Wan Nurul Mardiah Wan Mohd Rani and Serdar Durdyev

Sustainability 2022, 14(1), 118; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14010118 - 23 Dec 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2013

Abstract

Lack of infrastructure capacity to the demand in mobility results in delays in traffic. U-turns restrict the movement of the opposing through-traffic during the maneuver, hence triggering delays. Significant delays can be observed, especially in high volume traffic, where U-turning is not restricted. Hence, it is imperative to study the delays incurred by the U-turning vehicles to assess their impacts on traffic congestion. This study thus proposes a quantitative method to estimate the aggregate and average delay per vehicle caused by U-turns at uncontrolled medians of urban roads. Traffic data were collected at a corridor where vehicles were allowed to U-turn on a four-lane divided mixed traffic urban road in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The delay in the opposing lane of traffic was calculated by analyzing the data using a novel analytical method; a derivative of the Webster’s delay model. The results reveal that the suggested technique evaluates the caused delay with good accuracy. Excessive traffic delay and about three seconds delay per vehicle in the through-traffic of the opposite lane align well with the experienced delay at the site. The method can be used to assess the delay at straight corridor sections where U-turns are not restricted, understand the causes of the delay, and develop control measures for improved traffic performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Sustainable Built Environment: Trending Methods and Practices)

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14 pages, 728 KiB

Open AccessArticle

LEED 2009 Recertification of Existing Buildings: Bonus Effect

by Svetlana Pushkar

Sustainability 2021, 13(19), 10796; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su131910796 - 28 Sep 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1425

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the impact of a four-point bonus system on recertification in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Existing Buildings (LEED-EB) 2009 office space projects in four metropolitan cities: Washington, DC, Chicago, New York, and San Francisco. We analyzed 123 paired LEED-EB 2009 projects where each pair (i.e., certification–recertification) was used on the same building. The percentage of average score was used to evaluate differences in certification–recertification strategies: (1) gold-gold with and without the bonus, (2) silver-gold with and without the bonus, and (3) platinum-platinum with the bonus. The replication method was used to evaluate the overall tendency for four metropolitan cities. We found that while LEED-EB 2009 projects used a four-point recertification bonus, achievements in the materials and resources (MR) and indoor environmental quality (EQ) categories declined in each of the four metropolitan cities. We identified this overall tendency at three levels of certification–recertification: gold-gold, silver-gold, and platinum-platinum. We hypothesized that if the use of a four-point recertification bonus in LEED-EB 2009 projects resulted in lower achievements in the MR/EQ categories, then the use of the 10-point recertification bonus in LEED-EB 4.1 projects could lead to a deterioration in the sustainability of existing office buildings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Sustainable Built Environment: Trending Methods and Practices)

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20 pages, 4420 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Utilisation of Recycled Silt from Water Treatment and Palm Oil Fuel Ash as Geopolymer Artificial Lightweight Aggregate

by Shi Ying Kwek and Hanizam Awang

Sustainability 2021, 13(11), 6091; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13116091 - 28 May 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2212

Abstract

The global consumption of aggregate in the construction field is increasing annually, especially in concrete production. With the development of the economy and increase of the population, the demand for concrete and, therefore, a huge amount of aggregate has increased significantly. This issue is pressing and needs to be addressed. Lightweight aggregate (LWA) is one possible solution. This study investigated the potential use of artificial LWA manufactured from alkaline-activated palm oil fuel ash (POFA) with silt due to its properties and performances. Six mixes containing up to 60% silt by total weight combined with optimised activated POFA were analysed. The artificial LWA was synthesised through a pelletising and sintering process at 1150 °C. The increase in the activated POFA proportion in the mixture induced changes in the properties of artificial LWA, including the physical and mechanical properties, durability, and microstructure. The analytical results showed that all of the artificial aggregates were categorised as LWA, based on BS EN 13055. The artificial LWA with 40% activated POFA and 60% silt had the highest crushing strength and acceptable properties for construction applications. This study summarised the performances of the final products and highlighted the different uses of imported silt and POFA as building materials for minimising environmental impacts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Sustainable Built Environment: Trending Methods and Practices)

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16 pages, 6422 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Towards Sustainable Development: Building’s Retrofitting with PCMs to Enhance the Indoor Thermal Comfort in Tropical Climate, Malaysia

by Zeyad Amin Al-Absi, Mohd Isa Mohd Hafizal, Mazran Ismail and Azhar Ghazali

Sustainability 2021, 13(7), 3614; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13073614 - 24 Mar 2021

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 2134

Abstract

Building sector is associated with high energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to climate change. Sustainable development emphasizes any actions to reduce climate change and its effect. In Malaysia, half of the energy utilized in buildings goes towards building cooling. Thermal comfort studies and adaptive thermal comfort models reflect the high comfort temperatures for Malaysians in naturally conditioned buildings, which make it possible to tackle the difference between buildings’ indoor temperature and the required comfort temperature by using proper passive measures. This study investigates the effectiveness of building’s retrofitting with phase change materials (PCMs) as a passive cooling technology to improve the indoor thermal environment for more comfortable conditions. PCM sheets were numerically investigated below the internal finishing of the walls. The investigation involved an optimization study for the PCMs transition temperatures and quantities. The results showed significant improvement in the indoor thermal environment, especially when using lower transition temperatures and higher quantities of PCMs. Therefore, the monthly thermal discomfort time has decreased completely, while the thermal comfort time has increased to as high as 98%. The PCM was effective year-round and the optimum performance for the investigated conditions was achieved when using 18mm layer of PCM27-26. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Sustainable Built Environment: Trending Methods and Practices)

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19 pages, 1259 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainable Supplier Selection in Construction Industry through Hybrid Fuzzy-Based Approaches

by Seyed Amirali Hoseini, Alireza Fallahpour, Kuan Yew Wong, Amir Mahdiyar, Morteza Saberi and Serdar Durdyev

Sustainability 2021, 13(3), 1413; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13031413 - 29 Jan 2021

Cited by 39 | Viewed by 4592

Abstract

Due to increase in the public and stakeholders’ awareness regarding economic, environmental, and social issues, the construction industry tends to follow the sustainability policies and practices in supply chain management. Hence, one of the most crucial aspects for a construction company in this regard is sustainable supplier selection, and, to this end, an accurate and reliable model is required. In this paper a hybrid fuzzy best-worst method and fuzzy inference system model is developed for sustainable supplier selection. In the first phase of this study, after determining 19 criteria in three main aspects, the final weight of each aspect and criterion is obtained using fuzzy best-worst method approach. In the second phase, the most sustainable supplier is selected by running the weighted fuzzy inference system both in aspect and criterion level, providing more accurate results compared to the use of other available models. Finally, two different tests are employed to validate the results and evaluate the robustness of the proposed model. The novel developed model enables the decision-maker to simulate the decision-making process, reduce the calculations loads, consider a large number of criteria in decision making, and resolve the inherited uncertainties in experts’ responses. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Sustainable Built Environment: Trending Methods and Practices)

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16 pages, 1856 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Hindrances to Green Roof Adoption in a Semi-Arid Climate Condition

by Seyed Mohammad Hossein Zakeri and Amir Mahdiyar

Sustainability 2020, 12(22), 9542; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12229542 - 16 Nov 2020

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1989

Abstract

Green roofs (GRs) offer several environmental, social, and economic benefits while numerous barriers are limiting their adoption. This study covers two gaps in the literature: first, the lack of indicating separate hindrances to different types of GRs; second, the dearth of research related to the hindrances on GR adoption in any climate of Iran. This research aims to identify and analyze the importance of hindrances to GR adoption by considering the two major types of GRs using the Fuzzy Delphi Method (FDM) and Fuzzy Analytic Network Process (FANP), respectively. The results indicated that eight out of twenty-five identified hindrances to GR adoption were rejected using FDM. Moreover, it was found that although financial hindrances are significant for both types of GRs, public awareness is the most important hindrance to extensive GR adoption. As the first research of its kind in a semi-arid climate of Iran, the findings of this research provide an insight for the researchers and policymakers regarding the hindrances to GR adoption for further research and action. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Sustainable Built Environment: Trending Methods and Practices)

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Review

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17 pages, 1831 KiB

Open AccessReview

Reviewing the Role of Key Performance Indicators in Architectural and Urban Design Practices

by Francesca Mosca and Katia Perini

Sustainability 2022, 14(21), 14464; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su142114464 - 03 Nov 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2077

Abstract

Energy use and relative CO₂ emissions drive climate change that affects both the environment and human health. Extreme events caused by climate change, such as heat waves, flooding, and droughts are increasingly frequent and dangerous and the quality of life in cities is progressively decreasing. The building sector is among the most energy intensive sectors and mitigation and adaptation strategies are needed to reduce the emissions and impacts of climate change. This article presents a literature review created using the SCOPUS database on 515 articles setup to investigate the role of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in architectural and urban design processes and to understand how KPIs can be used to improve sustainability in the design of buildings and cities. Findings from the literature review highlights the potentiality of KPIs as a tool for managing complexity and for measure performances starting from the early design stages up to the lifetime of buildings and, in general, design. In parallel, the analysis of results showed that KPIs are commonly used to evaluate performance at a very different scale, but the building scale is the most considered. The use of KPIs in architecture, focusing on sustainability, should be implemented more in the future to allow for a better control of architectural performances. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Sustainable Built Environment: Trending Methods and Practices)

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20 pages, 31153 KiB

Open AccessReview

Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) in Southeast Asian Countries: Review of Effects and Challenges

by Haitham Esam Rababah, Azhar Ghazali and Mohd Hafizal Mohd Isa

Sustainability 2021, 13(23), 12952; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132312952 - 23 Nov 2021

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4050

Abstract

Fossil fuel consumption for electricity generation in the building sector is at an all-time high in line with the country’s economic growth. This scenario will increase the global CO₂ emissions and large carbon footprints, thus leading to global warming. In recent years, most of the research related to the building sector has focused on the development of new techniques to reduce buildings’ energy consumption through energy conservation, energy efficiency, and the implementation of renewable energy technologies. The introduction of photovoltaic (PV) technology has become the most prominent renewable energy (RE) that can be integrated into building components. Even though the Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) has been available for decades, but its implementation in Southeast Asian countries has not gained widespread acceptance compared to European countries and other parts of Asia. This paper aims to investigate the effects and challenges of BIPV implementation in Southeast Asian Countries (Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines), focusing on climate effects, the initial cost of PV technology, government policies, and initiatives. An in-depth literature review from past research, policies, and reports taken between 2016 to 2021 has been conducted and found that the environmental parameters directly influence the performance of BIPV systems and affect efficiency. This study pointed at Feed-in Tariff (FiT), policies and initiatives offered by the government in Southeast Asian countries are not beneficial and discourage building owners to adopt the BIPV technology or any other RE technology. Governments should revise the current policies to promote and attract more building owners to take part in the efforts to minimize CO₂ emissions from the building industry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Sustainable Built Environment: Trending Methods and Practices)

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20 pages, 324 KiB

Open AccessReview

How is COVID-19 Experience Transforming Sustainability Requirements of Residential Buildings? A Review

by Galym Tokazhanov, Aidana Tleuken, Mert Guney, Ali Turkyilmaz and Ferhat Karaca

Sustainability 2020, 12(20), 8732; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12208732 - 21 Oct 2020

Cited by 92 | Viewed by 10775

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic is bringing about changes, and alongside these, we can alter the way we design our living spaces. The need for a healthy and comfortable living space is essential to mental and physical well-being. The present study covers the most up-to-date documents, including peer-reviewed papers, blog posts, news, journal articles, and expert opinions, to critically review lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and evaluates the expected changes in sustainability requirements of residential buildings. Health and safety, environment, and comfort are the three main aspects of residential buildings that have been tested during quarantines and are also expected to experience major transformations toward sustainability. Residential houses should provide certain health and safety protective measures to their occupants, such as the application of new touchless technologies, having proper sanitation to diminish the probability of getting infected, and developing greener and more intimate spaces that can help recover and improve mental states. Our findings address the need to reconsider sustainability requirements for residential buildings, which will provide adequate health and safety and comfort with no significant harm to the environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Sustainable Built Environment: Trending Methods and Practices)

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