Priyadarsini Rajagopalan

Progress on building energy labelling techniques

The building sector consumes around 30–40 per cent of the primary energy in most developed countries. The importance of labelling buildings as a national strategy for energy efficiency is well recognized worldwide. The last 10–15 years have seen an emergence of programmes in different parts of the world. As seen in the United States, European Union, South America and Asia, there is a collection of rating systems or tools internationally, designed with the intention of evaluating the design, construction and operation of buildings. This study presents an overview and critical reflection on the progress on building energy labelling techniques in recent years. The scope of labelling, methodology and methods of implementation are discussed in detail.

Energy performance of aquatic facilities in Victoria, Australia

Purpose – This paper investigates the energy performance of aquatic centres in Victoria. Design/methodology/approach – Physical and occupancy characteristics and energy consumption from various centres were analysed to understand the interrelationship between numerous factors that contribute to the energy consumption of these facilities. Findings – The energy usage intensity of the facilities ranged from 632 to 2,247 kWh/m2 or 8 to 17 kWh/visit. Primary and secondary indicators were examined to find the key performance indicators. Research limitations/implications – This study sheds some light into the overall energy performance of aquatic centres in the temperate climate of Australia. More samples need to be collected to perform rigorous statistical analysis leading to a reliable benchmark model. System-wise investigation of energy consumption is required to determine where the energy is being used and the saving potentials of each system. Practical implications – This study has arisen from the need of m...

A Classification of Healthcare Facilities Toward the Development of Energy Performance Benchmarks for Day Surgery Centers in Australia

Objective In the literature, there is no consistent classification of healthcare facilities. In order to benchmark, assess, and compare the environmental performance of these buildings, it is important to clearly identify the typology within the scope of a particular research. This article identifies the different typologies within the healthcare sector, particularly in Australia, with the aim of the development of energy performance benchmarks for day surgery/procedure centers. Background Healthcare buildings encompass a wide range of facilities. They all share the same purpose of healing and offering a health service for patients. However, they vary significantly in terms of patient type and service provided. These buildings consume a considerable amount of energy, and as a result of the different designs and sizes, their pattern of energy consumption varies. Methods The research used a systematic review of the literature to determine how the term “healthcare facility” has been employed in different contexts. In order to better understand the differences in healthcare facilities, definitions and the origin of hospitals and healthcare facilities are introduced and a framework for the classification of healthcare facilities and hospitals is proposed. Results Healthcare facilities are classified into the following six categories: patient type, care provided, management and ownership, level of care, facility size, and location. Based on these classifications, a categorization for the studies of energy performance in healthcare is introduced. Conclusions This study provides a basis for assessment and comparison for a particular healthcare building typology that will assist researchers working in the field of design and energy assessment of healthcare facilities.

Daytime thermal performance of different urban surfaces: a case study in educational institution precinct of Melbourne

ABSTRACT This paper aims to understand thermal behaviour of common urban surface materials in Melbourne’s city centre. A set of field experiments were conducted in three open spaces of an educational precinct in Melbourne, Australia. These experiments were performed during three seasons from November 2014 to May 2015. This study monitored and compared daily and seasonal variation of Ta near surfaces (Tns) of eight common materials including asphalt (regular (AA) and painted (PA)), timber (T), Astroturf (AT), garden bed (GB), exposed concrete aggregate (EAC) and granite cobblestone paver (GCP). It also explored the impact of different factors on values of Tns including urban meteorological parameters, design features and the level of light conditions. The results proved the role of cool materials in the mitigation of urban heat island effects. The findings are also promising for enhancing the thermal comfort of urban residents visiting outdoor spaces, particularly during the hot spells.

Energy performance of medium-sized healthcare buildings in Victoria, Australia- a case study

This paper investigates the energy performance of three medium-sized healthcare buildings in Victoria, Australia, that operate only during the daytime. The aim is to provide preliminary understanding of energy consumption in this particular typology in Australia in relation to the available benchmarks. This paper also identifies the differences of energy consumption between different functional areas within medium health facilities. Building features and operational characteristics contributing to the variations in healthcare energy performance are discussed. The total annual energy consumption data ranging from 167-306 kWh/m(2) or 42-72 kWh/m(3) were compared against international data from various climatic zones. Some of the drivers of energy consumption were determined and potentials for energy and water conservation were identified. Comparison with international standards shows a possibility to achieve lower energy consumption in Victorian healthcare buildings.

Defining and developing an energy retrofitting approach

ABSTRACT This paper identifies the dilemma faced by the stakeholders of existing buildings in regards to a decision making process for energy retrofitting. This paper also identifies the missing stage viewed as the “integrity audit “which can lead to substantial savings in the area of building operation. The methodology is centered on identifying energy waste first, reducing the overall peak electrical demand and then retrofitting for energy-efficiency. A proposed “integrity audit” leads to the classification of three main energy culprits: the identification of waste, missed opportunities, and rescheduling the operation of equipment use. A case study indicating the financial advantages of applying this methodology for a commercial building are presented. The energy retrofitting strategy is divided into two main categories, namely building control improvements and building component implementation. The payback periods are often within months if not immediate.

On the acoustic performance of a precast panel system made from environmentally sustainable concrete: application in sports hall buildings

The use of green building materials and products promotes conservation of non-renewable resources and help reduce associated environmental impacts. This article reports the acoustical performance of a precast panel system made largely from concrete waste material. Two major applications for such panels that are being investigated currently include walls and claddings to industrial and commercial buildings and sound barriers for urban freeways. In this study, the application of the concrete panels for optimizing reverberation time (RT) in sports halls is tested using numerical simulations. As an innovative approach, additional layers are added to the precast panels to improve their appearance. The absorption coefficients of the concrete panel improved significantly with the architectural finish. The material can be tuned according to the required peak frequency. The architectural finish helped reduce the RT for frequencies above 500 Hz. Its application to different types of ceilings revealed that the RT of curved ceiling reduced up to 40% compared to flat and hybrid ceiling. A comparison of wall and ceiling modifications in small, medium and large sports halls showed that medium-sized halls have better acoustical performance compared with small and large halls with ceiling as well as wall treatment.

Cohesion: Our Environment—Building Better and Smarter

The world is rapidly changing. Climate change is recognised as one of the greatest challenges facing the world today, and Australia is not an exception (see Chapter “ Urban Climates in the Transformation of Australian Cities”). Environmental degradation is mainly due to anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. We are already seeing changes to weather patterns and more extreme and frequent weather events. This impacts on our built environment, our cities and our way of life. For example, hotter weather causes rising electricity demand due to increased requirements for cooling in buildings. A changing climate is also creating significant health and well-being challenges, especially during extreme weather events. The built environment is a significant contributor to rising greenhouse gas emissions. Increasing energy demand over recent decades, mostly from fossil fuel, needs to be addressed if the built environment is to transition to a low carbon and sustainable future. This chapter touches on the key themes emerging from the preceding chapters and discusses what they mean for achieving a sustainable built environment, not only in Australia but globally.

The Built Environment in Australia

The pressures from climate change, population growth and other social, health, well-being, liveability, usability and affordability factors on Australia’s built environment are significant and complex, as it is the case with many developed and developing countries around the world. Increasing evidence from around the world is demonstrating that improving the environmental sustainability of our built environment can help to address a number of these elements such as reducing environmental impacts, improving occupant health and reducing operating costs. This chapter outlines the state of play of energy performance of the built environment in Australia and places it within the global context. Despite many examples of improved buildings and outcomes for the environment, occupants and society, most new and existing buildings around the world fall significantly short of such low/zero carbon performance outcomes. This is a cause for concern as we transition towards a low-carbon future, with the globally scientific and political consensus that we must take urgent action to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions if we are to mitigate significant climate change outcomes.

The Way Forward—Moving Toward Net Zero Energy Standards

Net zero energy building standards have been gaining prominence lately as the next performance target for buildings. However, despite the demonstrated benefits of such building performance across triple bottom-line concepts, Australia is yet to formulate a policy toward adopting a net zero energy building standard. Evidence from various scholars suggests that Australia cannot delay the implementation of deep improvements in energy efficiency in the built environment any longer, as issues of energy security, affordability and increasing greenhouse gas emissions have become critical. This chapter reviews recent advances in the high-performance building standards with emphasis on global developments of net zero energy standards and discusses how Australia is positioned in relation to this standard and the ways Australia might move forward to this standard.