Silvia Vilčeková

Analysis of material solutions for design of construction details of foundation, wall and floor for energy and environmental impacts

The amount of materials and energy resources is limited over the world. These issues lead to increasing interest in environmental impacts of buildings using various building materials and structural systems. Buildings play a significant role in energy consumption and emission production through all phases of their life cycle. Over the last decade, development toward sustainability has become an important issue in building design decisions. The relative contribution of embodied impacts of building materials and constructions has been recognised as being significant, especially for energy-efficient buildings. Life-cycle assessment as a widely used methodology helps make decisions in sustainable building design. The construction details of the foundation, wall and floor are by far the most significant contribution of embodied impacts associated with the construction phase. The goal of this paper is to assess alternative material solutions for the construction details of foundation, wall and floor to support decisions at the design phase of a project. The selection and combination of the materials influences the amount of energy consumption and associated production of emissions during the operation of the building. Therefore, the thermo-physical properties of designed variants of construction details are very significant. This study uses life-cycle analysis with system boundary from cradle to gate and focuses on the embodied energy and equivalent emissions of CO2 and SO2. Methods of multi-criteria decision analysis are used for interpretation of the results.

Modeling the Occurrence of Nitrogen Oxides Indoors

The contamination of indoor air is largely from the use of gas for heating and cooking appliances. A comprehensive analysis of indoor air pollution by nitrogen oxides shows that the extent of indoor air pollution and consequent exposure varies as a result of many factors mainly the differing distribution of appliances and their level of use. This study aims to formulate a mathematical model for the production of nitrogen oxides indoors. The physical processes that determine the concentrations of indoor nitrogen oxides as a function of outdoor concentrations, indoor emission rates, and building characteristics have been mathematically described. The mathematical model developed has been parameterized for typical Slovak residences. The modeling of the occurrence of indoor nitrogen oxides and verification of the model are presented in this paper.

The real and subjective indoor environmental quality in schools

Abstract Investigation of IEQ and subjective evaluation of IEQ by pupils is the main objective of this research work. For the monitoring two classrooms in primary school and two classrooms in art school were chosen. Very high CO2 levels were determined in both investigated schools. In three of four classrooms the statistically significant differences (p < 0.01) were reported between TVOC levels in autumn and spring. The recommended value for TVOC levels was exceeded in the range from 52 % to 53 % in autumn and from 52 % to 70 % in spring. Significant (p < 0.05) seasonal changes were found also for PM concentrations in each classroom. Significance difference in perception of IEQ factors between genders were observed for IAQ. This study showed a good consistency between data obtained from the measurement and data from the questionnaire study and thus, pointed to the good ability of pupils to evaluate the IEQ in their classrooms.

Investigation of Indoor Air Quality in Houses of Macedonia

People who live in buildings are exposed to harmful effects of indoor air pollution for many years. Therefore, our research is aimed to investigate the indoor air quality in family houses. The measurements of indoor air temperature, relative humidity, total volatile organic compounds (TVOC), particulate matters (PM) and sound pressure level were carried out in 25 houses in several cities of the Republic of Macedonia. Mean values of indoor air temperature and relative humidity ranged from 18.9 °C to 25.6 °C and from 34.1% to 68.0%, respectively. With regard to TVOC, it can be stated that excessive occurrence was recorded. Mean values ranged from 50 μg/m3 to 2610 μg/m3. Recommended value (200 μg/m3) for human exposure to TVOC was exceeded in 32% of houses. Mean concentrations of PM2.5 (particular matter with diameter less than 2.5 µm) and PM10 (diameter less than 10 µm) are determined to be from 16.80 µg/m3 to 30.70 µg/m3 and from 38.30 µg/m3 to 74.60 µg/m3 individually. Mean values of sound pressure level ranged from 29.8 dB(A) to 50.6 dB(A). Dependence between characteristics of buildings (Year of construction, Year of renovation, Smoke and Heating system) and data from measurements (Temperature, Relative humidity, TVOC, PM2.5 and PM10) were analyzed using R software. Van der Waerden test shows dependence of Smoke on TVOC and PM2.5. Permutational multivariate analysis of variance shows the effect of interaction of Renovation and Smoke.

The Proposal of Key Performance Indicators in Facility Management and Determination the Weights of Significance

Abstract The practice of facilities management is rapidly evolving with the increasing interest in the discourse of sustainable development. The industry and its market are forecasted to develop to include non-core functions, activities traditionally not associated with this profession, but which are increasingly being addressed by facilities managers. The scale of growth in the built environment and the consequential growth of the facility management sector is anticipated to be enormous. Key Performance Indicators (KPI) are measure that provides essential information about performance of facility services delivery. In selecting KPI, it is critical to limit them to those factors that are essential to the organization reaching its goals. It is also important to keep the number of KPI small just to keep everyones attention focused on achieving the same KPIs. This paper deals with the determination of weights of KPI of FM in terms of the design and use of sustainable buildings.

Factors Effecting the Total Volatile Organic Compound (TVOC) Concentrations in Slovak Households

Thirty five Slovak households were selected for an investigation of indoor environmental quality. Measuring of indoor air physical and chemical factors and a questionnaire survey was performed during May 2017. The range of permissible operative temperature was not met in 11% of objects. Relative humidity met the legislative requirements in all monitored homes. Concentrations of total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) were significantly higher in the apartments than in the family houses. The average TVOC levels in the apartments and family houses were 519.7 µg/m3 and 330.2 µg/m3, respectively. Statistical analysis confirmed the effect of indoor air temperature, relative humidity and particulate matter (PM0.5 and PM1) on the levels of TVOCs. Higher TVOC levels were observed also in homes where it is not a common practice to open windows during cleaning activities. Other factors that had a statistically significant effect on concentrations of volatile organic compounds were heating type, attached garage, location of the apartment within residential building (the floor), as well as number of occupants. Higher TVOC concentrations were observed in indoor than outdoor environment, while further analysis showed the significant impact of indoor emission sources on the level of these compounds in buildings. The questionnaire study showed a discrepancy between objective measurement and subjective assessment in the household environment, and pointed to insufficient public awareness about volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Determination of VOCs in the Indoor Air of a New and a Renovated Apartment

Abstract This study deals with the occurrence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the indoor environment of a new and a renovated apartment. Qualitative determination of VOCs was carried out with a gas chromatograph with surface acoustic wave detector (GC/SAW). Concentrations of total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) were determined by a photoionization detector with UV lamp. Simultaneously, temperature and relative humidity were monitored with a data logger. The aim of this study was to determine of TVOC concentrations, to use of GC/SAW for determination of individual VOCs in indoor air as well as to predict possible sources of VOCs in these apartments. Measurements were performed after each construction work for better resolution of the contributions of individual materials to the levels of VOC. Mean concentrations of TVOC were 624 μg/m3 in the renovated apartment and 1,686 μg/m3 in the new apartment after completion of all works. The results from the renovated apartment showed that the use of new materials can lead to lower levels of organic compounds in indoor air compared to old materials that were less environmentally friendly. Many types of VOCs were found in both apartments. After reviewing the possible sources, it seems that the main sources of these substances were applied coatings and flooring materials.

Measuring of Outdoor and Indoor Particulate Matter Concentrations in Village of Jasov

Increase in particulate matter air contamination and its negative impact on human health have resulted in efforts to monitor and identify the sources. Particles are produced by photochemical atmospheric reactions and the coagulation of combustion products from automobiles and stationary sources, with lifetimes of several days or more. The occurrence of particulate matters indoors depends on outdoor pollution and its transport indoors as well as on the presence of indoor sources. This paper aims to carry out a measuring of particular matters concentrations in indoor air of selected buildings and in outdoor air in village of Jasov. The mass concentrations of particulate matters for fractions of 0.5, 1.0, 2.5, 5.0, and 10.0 micrometers were measured and evaluated in order to determine the extent of exposure of people.

Multicriteria Decision Analysis of Material Selection of High Energy Performance Residential Building

Abstract In world with limited amount of energy sources and with serious environmental pollution, interest in comparing the environmental embodied impacts of buildings using different structure systems and alternative building materials will be increased. This paper shows the significance of life cycle energy and carbon perspective and the material selection in reducing energy consumption and emissions production in the built environment. The study evaluates embodied environmental impacts of nearly zero energy residential structures. The environmental assessment uses framework of LCA within boundary: cradle to gate. Designed alternative scenarios of material compositions are also assessed in terms of energy effectiveness through selected thermal-physical parameters. This study uses multi-criteria decision analysis for making clearer selection between alternative scenarios. The results of MCDA show that alternative E from materials on nature plant base (wood, straw bales, massive wood panel) present possible way to sustainable perspective of nearly zero energy houses in Slovak republic

Multi-Criteria Analysis of Material Compositions of External Walls

Intensity of building development increases by growing population and their requirements on living. Buildings belong to the largest energy consumers and greenhouse gases emitters. Current energy strategy of European Union is focused especially on reduction of operational energy of buildings. Although operational energy participates the highest proportion in total energy consumption over whole life cycle of building, it is important to take into account embodied energy. Values of embodied energy and associated emissions grow by improving energy quality of building envelope by using extra components and insulation materials. This paper demonstrates significance of correct selection of materials in order to environmental and energy optimalization of building structures. The designed material compositions of external wall alternatives are evaluated by methodology LCA and also in the view of impact on future energy consumption though thermal-physical parameters. Results of assessments are compared by multi-criteria decision analysis. The optimized alternative achieves very low embodied energy (218 MJ/m2) and high reduction of embodied CO2 (-114 kg CO2eq/m2).