J. Owen Lewis

A green vitruvius : principles and practice of sustainable architectural design

The Green Building The Imperative to Green Design Architectural Quality, Quality of Service Part 1: Process Introduction Inception Design Tender Procedure Construction Operation Refurbishment Part 2: Issues Introduction Comfort Health Environment Part 3: Strategies Introduction Urban and Neighbourhood Site Selection and Analysis Site Planning Building Form Building Envelope Finishes Services, Equipment and Controls Renovation Part 4: Elements Components Materials Part 5: Evaluation Introduction Design Evaluation Tools Building Performance Simulation Tools Environmental Rating Systems Life Cycle Cost

Energy efficiency and solar energy in European office buildings: a mid-career education initiative

Abstract This EC ALTENER programme project sought to develop an integrated package of teaching materials on solar energy and energy efficiency in office buildings. The ultimate audience is a multi-disciplinary one, including architects, building services engineers, building economists and building energy managers. The project focused on mid-career education and the primary audience targeted by the project consists of the organisers and instructors of mid-career courses for these four professions in the 15 EU member states. The paper describes the process undertaken by the four collaborating organisations, and the resulting educational material. The package includes eight technical modules, with four exemplar case studies, one of which covers the refurbishment of an existing building, and a training software program. Finally, the package also includes four instructor’s modules, one for each of the four target audiences.

Carbon Dioxide Concentration and its Application on Estimating the Air Change Rate in Typical Irish Houses

Abstract In this study, the function of carbon dioxide as an index of indoor air quality and as a tracer gas to estimate the air exchange rate in naturally ventilated single family houses was investigated. Carbon dioxide concentrations were measured continuously in the occupied room of six selected Irish houses for periods of 2 to 7 days. The air change rates were then calculated according to the mass balance equation and the time variation of carbon dioxide levels. In each house, SF6 tracer gas decay tests and fan pressurization tests were also conducted to estimate the ventilation rates and the average infiltration rates according to recommended test procedure. A comparison of the different methods was made to find out the relations of the results. The correlations between calculated ventilation rate and maximum room carbon dioxide levels were also discussed. Results show that occupant generated carbon dioxide can be used in dwellings to estimate the ventilation rates, and the time variation of carbon dioxide concentrations indicate some houses are at risk of poor indoor air quality caused by inadequate ventilation.

Solar building—European Union Research and Development Programmes

Abstract The European Commissions (EC) energy RD activities such as the construction of passive solar test centres in ten EU Member States, each typically with four identical test cells equipped with interchangeable south walls, identical heating and cooling systems, sensors, and data acquisition systems. There is now in Europe considerable emphasis on the challenges of building in warmer climates, and on advancing daylighting design and performance and developing new materials.

Technology Transfer from the Solar R & D Community to the European Building Professions: SOLINFO

The CEC R & D sub-programme, Solar Energy Applications in Buildings, faces an unusually difficult task in the dissemination of its results because of the diversity and size of its target audience. SOLINFO aims to promote the transfer of information from the solar research community to the building design and construction professions. It concentrates on the areas of improving our understanding of information requirements, supporting undergraduate education and mid-career education, providing aids to professional practice, and speeding-up research dissemination. A series of national review tasks has been completed and an analysis of the findings prepared. An expert team of national subcontractors is being appointed both to form the basis of an information network and to act as an advisory group for the project as a whole. There is also a series of related tasks. Priority areas of work include: identification of information content and format required by users; establishing information networks between ‘centres of excellence’; compiling a catalogue of selected passive solar components; and implementing a series of CEC research digests. Close linkages exist between the SOLINFO and ARCHISOL projects.

Architecture and Solar Energy: ARCHISOL

ARCHISOL has the goal of advancing the introduction of energy-conscious building into the mainstream of architectural design. It seeks to introduce both practising architects and students of architecture to energy-efficient building and passive solar design in a stylistically neutral manner, to facilitate the construction of passive solar buildings and to establish energy efficiency as a criterion of architectural criticism. Methods include competitions, awards and exhibitions, and co-operation with European architectural periodicals. A series of national review tasks has been completed and an analysis of the findings prepared. An expert team of national sub-contractors is being appointed both to form the basis of an information network and to act as an advisory group for the project as a whole. There is also a series of related tasks. Priority areas of work include: extending contacts with journalists and critics; compiling an exhibition and catalogue of European regional vernacular energy-conscious buildings; developing competition calculation procedures and performance indices, and launching the Third CEC Passive Solar Design Competition; and initiating a series of regional competitions emphasising energy criteria. Close linkages exist between the ARCHISOL and SOLINFO projects.

THE APPLICATIONS OF RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES IN BUILDINGS

Abstract Considerable opportunities exist, most particularly (though by no means exclusively) in the design of new buildings, to integrate renewable energy technologies and thus reduce or even replace conventional energy sources. These technologies can include passive and active solar heating and cooling, and photovoltaic power. Such strategies to improve the energetic performance of buildings and to reduce their environmental impact will always be complemented by conservation and energy efficiency measures. Passive heating, natural cooling and daylighting represent a spectrum of strategies whose applicability is modified by region and building type, and whose contribution varies from the modest fraction by which most buildings already benefit, to that in well-designed new buildings where the solar energy contribution may represent more than half (and in suitable cases, when combined with other solar techniques, all) of the energy conventionally required to provide comfortable thermal and visual environme...

Energy-efficient building design: Handbooks for European architects

A preliminary edition of the European Passive Solar Handbook, printed in 1986, has been revised, in the form of two distinct but logically consistent publications, to give increased emphasis to passive solar design for Mediterranean climates and to incorporate other changes: “Energy Conscious Design—A Primer for Architects” provides an introduction to energy-efficient, passive solar building design principles and fundamentals for those with little previous experience of the topic; “Energy In Architecture—The European Passive Solar Handbook” has been prepared for practitioners who are involved in the design of energy-efficient buildings and require more detailed information. Drawing on material from the preliminary edition, on the output of R&D actions within the ECs Third Solar Programme and incorporating material specially commissioned from leading European experts, the revised Handbooks address topics not previously covered including daylighting and passive solar urban design, with passive cooling, atrium design and climate covered in expanded chapters. The content and forms of presentation of the material are designed very particularly to suit architects and students taking account of varying levels of passive solar knowledge and expertise, particular preferences in learning styles, and regional information requirements among the target audience. The Handbooks have been prepared initially in English, with translation into other EC languages to follow.

EC RESEARCH PROGRAMMES IN SUPPORT OF ENERGY-CONSCIOUS BUILDING DESIGN

This paper outlines the development of programmes which investigate architectural strategies for reducing energy use in buildings and which devise and implement means of introducing such strategies to European Community architects, and means of providing the technical information needed to design energy-efficient buildings. The experience is considered as a case study of a European effort to bring about technical change in architectural design and in the light of a widely-held perception that the integration of ‘scientific’ information in architectural design is problematic. The paper argues that programmes of design support are essential to advance the implementation of new approaches to energy in architectural design. In parallel with research in energy-efficient building it is necessary to advance our knowledge of certain real and perceived needs and desires of building designers, and it is appropriate that research directions should be influenced accordingly.

BUILDING STONE CONSERVATION IN PRACTICE

Summary Serious deterioration in the fabric of historic buildings throughout Europe has necessitated extensive conservation and remedial measures. The conclusions of this study, together with that on the six EC buildings recorded in the Third EC Environmental R+D 1981-85 Programme, suggest that the quality of granite from certain quarries in the Dublin/Wicklow area is variable and that 18th century stone was mainly boulder stone, and stone removed from the upper quarry layers. It has been recorded that this stone, although of inferior quality, was used because it was softer and therefore easier to carve. Cleaning, treating, consolidating and repairing granite of this quality has its difficulties. It does not respond well to consolidation techniques, and attempts at manufacturing repair mortars are not fully satisfactory. No really successful alternative to stone replacement has been discovered.