Hugh Byrd

Post-occupancy evaluation of green buildings: the measured impact of over-glazing

This article presents the findings of research carried out on user response, from external evidence, in highly glazed office buildings and analyses the impact of this on predicting the environmental performance, productivity and energy consumption of office buildings. With high proportions of glazing, there is a significant difference between the theory and actual performance of a building envelope, in particular because of user preferences. Excessive glazing increases the probability of blinds being operated to reduce the impact of glare or direct sunlight. This significantly reduces the amount of daylight while only marginally reducing excessive heat gains. In the case of buildings in this research, it was found that blinds were extensively used and that artificial lighting was also used to supplement the loss of daylight, even on bright days. The additional energy used for both cooling and artificial lighting results in high proportions of glazing being responsible for significantly greater energy consumption than predicted and a potential loss in productivity.

Daylighting: appraisal at the early design stages

A method for analysing daylight in buildings is described for use in the early stages of the design process where the conflicting functions of the window can be related through a knowledge of the percentage glazing on a building facade.

Exergy and the City: The Technology and Sociology of Power (Failure)

Abstract Blackouts—the total loss of electrical power—serve as a reminder of how dependent the modern world and particularly urban areas have become on electricity and the appliances it powers. To understand them we consider the critical nature of electrical infrastructure. In order to provide general patterns from specific cases, a large number of blackouts have been analyzed. Irrespective of cause, they display similar effects. These include measurable economic losses and less easily quantified social costs. We discuss financial damage, food safety, crime, transport, and problems caused by diesel generators. This is more than just a record of past failures; blackouts are dress rehearsals for the future in which they will appear with greater frequency and severity. While energy cannot be destroyed, exergy—the available energy within a system—can be. Exergy is concerned with energy within an “environment;” in this case a city. The bottom line is simple: no matter how “smart” a city may be, it becomes “dumb” when the power goes out.

Renewable Energy in New Zealand: The Reluctance for Resilience

This chapter explores renewable energy governance in the context of New Zealand’s “energy culture”. New Zealand enjoys an international reputation as being a clean and green country. Yet surface appearances can be deceptive. Image frequently trumps reality. The green label is largely an exercise in branding (the country is the latest recipient of the “Fossil Award”), although energy is one of the areas where this might not hold. New Zealand’s energy supply mix is impressive, the majority of it being drawn from renewable sources. However, global warming will severely impact upon our ability to generate adequate amounts of electrical power in a sustainable manner, and our centralised corporate-dominated supply system is poorly placed to deal with the challenges that lie ahead. These issues are compounded by various political problems such as ownership of resources and access to the grid. Numerous questions arise: can water be commodified or is it held in common? Does it properly belong to the indigenous people of this country? Why is there no feed-in tariff and why are smart meters not being installed? To explore the topic of renewable energy governance we examine various components of the national energy culture, energy policies and resources. We then look at the likely impacts of climate change, the current state of the deregulated electricity supply industry and why the “business as usual” model is set to prevail. This is illustrated by reference to two case studies—of the potential for distributed generation to contribute towards future electricity demands in Auckland and the proposed district energy system in Christchurch—in both cases we identify a worrying reluctance for resilience.

Can self-evaluation measure the effect of IEQ on productivity? A review of literature

Purpose The purpose of this literature review is to investigate the reliability of self-evaluation as a method for measuring the effect(s) of indoor environment quality (IEQ) on the productivity of office workers. The aim of this review is to identify the various constraints to its adequacy in measuring productivity. Design/methodology/approach Thirty studies were selected from peer-reviewed sources and reviewed on their method of measuring productivity. These studies used self-evaluation (questionnaires or interview) as the sole method of measuring the effect of IEQ on productivity/performance. Findings This review provides insight on the insufficiencies and biases prevalent in self-evaluation. Various issues that compromised the reliability of self-evaluation results in an office environment were discussed. It was concluded that self-evaluation is not reliable and does not accurately measure occupant productivity. Research limitations/implications This study has been a review of past studies and their findings. Further studies that will provide empirical evidence are required to solely test the reliability of self-evaluation in measuring productivity and the effect of factors such as IEQ on it. Practical implications The paper calls for further debate on occupant productivity measurement and how the various factors that affect it can be quantified into measurable entities. Originality/value This paper fulfils an identified need to revisit the technique of self-evaluation as a method for measuring occupant productivity.

The case for policy changes in New Zealand housing standards due to cooling and climate change

Research concerned with energy and housing in NZ has been focusing on the cost-effectiveness of maintaining warmth. Studies have concentrated on heat loss from houses and the efficiency of heating systems. One of the consequences of this has been Government subsidies for insulation and heat pump installations to reduce energy consumption in winter months. This has led to a significant growth in the heat pump market. Research indicates that these devices are not significantly decreasing the demand for electricity in winter. Of greater concern is that there is an increase in demand for electricity for cooling purposes which introduces a new and significant electrical load in the summer. This paper will analyse the research currently being undertaken on the long-term impact of both climate change and energy depletion and the consequences for Building Code standards and ‘sustainability’ rating tools for housing. The paper concludes that policy should be directed at long-lasting improvements to the fabric of houses rather than subsidizing short-lived equipment that not only increases electricity consumption, but also does not allow the human body the ability to adapt over time to the predicted increased average temperatures in New Zealand.

Lights out: the dark future of electric power

ON 14 August 2003, the north-eastern US and Ontario, Canada, were crippled by an enormous electrical blackout that affected 50 million people. Commuters struggled to get to work, ATMs failed, 36 car manufacturing plants were closed and hundreds of flights were cancelled, resulting in tens of millions of dollars in economic losses. The cause was later found to be a software bug in a control room in Ohio. A few weeks later, the whole of Italy was cut off from Europes electricity grid for 18 hours after falling trees took out two power lines in neighbouring Switzerland. We tend to think of such events as occasional, inconvenient blips. But in fact they are becoming increasingly common, and will only get more frequent and severe. This is because our electricity systems are more fragile than is commonly supposed, and are getting frailer. Unless we act, blackouts will become a regular, extremely disruptive part of everyday life.

An exploration of foundational design thinking across educational domains

To teach design effectively foundational design thinking needs to be understood. Treating the design process as a mysterious mental talent provides little scope for teaching the subject. This study explores the origin of designs and how experience impacts the sophistication of design ideas across educational domains. Secondary and tertiary students were given a common architectural brief and students’ outcomes were compared and contrasted to seek commonalities or differences in their approaches to solving design problems. Additionally, interviews were conducted with participants and a panel of design experts to further explore the students’ design practices. The results provide insight into design cognition from multiple viewpoints. We suggest that designs come from various forms of copying; metaphors, analogies and icons are used as preconceptions by which a design problem is understood. Moreover, experience had a direct link to expertise which is evident across educational domains.