scholarly journals Rediscovering the “Atrium Effect” in Terms of the European Green Deal’s Objectives:A Case Study

Buildings ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 46
Author(s):  
Alina Drapella-Hermansdorfer ◽  
Aleksandra Gierko

In terms of the European Green Deal’s objectives, an environmentally responsible and climate responsive architecture seems to be fully desirable in the next decades. From the perspective of health-oriented design, atria and inner courtyards are gaining in significance due to their potential for regulating indoor air temperature and quality, especially if they are properly technically equipped and supported by appropriate landscaping. In this particular approach, the “atrium effect” is discussed in the presented study, in contrast to the specific method of forming the upwardly opened lobby. In the search for a method to optimize the use of the biophilic elements in semi-open built environments, the authors use ENVI-met v. 4.4.4. software to assess their impact on physical parameters of the environment.

Buildings ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire Tam ◽  
Yuqing Zhao ◽  
Zaiyi Liao ◽  
Lian Zhao

Indoor air quality and thermal conditions are important considerations when designing indoor spaces to ensure occupant health, satisfaction, and productivity. Carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration and indoor air temperature are two measurable parameters to assess air quality and thermal conditions within a space. Occupants are progressively affected by the indoor environment as the time spent indoors prolongs. Specifically, there is an interest in carrying out investigations on the indoor environment through surveying existing Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning (HVAC) system operations in classrooms. Indoor air temperature and CO2 concentration in multiple lecture halls in Toronto, Canada were monitored; observations consistently show high indoor air temperature (overheating) and high CO2 concentration. One classroom is chosen as a representative case study for this paper. The results verify a strong correlation between the number of occupants and the increase in air temperature and CO2 concentration. Building Energy Simulation (BES) is used to investigate the causes of discomfort in the classroom, and to identify methods for regulating the temperature and CO2 concentration. This paper proposes retro-commissioning strategies that could be implemented in institutional buildings; specifically, the increase of outdoor airflow rate and the addition of occupancy-based pre-active HVAC system control. The proposed retrofit cases reduce the measured overheating in the classrooms by 2-3 °C (indoor temperature should be below 23 °C) and maintain CO2 concentration under 900 ppm (the CO2 threshold is 1000 ppm), showing promising improvements to a classroom’s thermal condition and indoor air quality.


Author(s):  
Vesna Lovec ◽  
Miroslav Premrov ◽  
Vesna Žegarac Leskovar

The experimental monitoring of carbon dioxide concentration was carried out in kindergartens in Slovenia, together with indoor air temperature and relative humidity, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of the research was to estimate the practical impact of the pandemic on indoor air quality and thermal comfort. The case study sample included buildings with different architectural typology, which are predominantly present in the building stock of Slovenia. The monitoring process lasted for 125 days before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results have shown a better indoor air quality in kindergartens during the pandemic, mostly due to ventilation protocols and almost imperceptibly changed indoor air temperature. The COVID-19 pandemic affected air quality in kindergarten classrooms in Slovenia by reducing the average carbon dioxide concentration when children were present in classrooms by 30%.


2020 ◽  
Vol 71 (02) ◽  
pp. 112-117
Author(s):  
Ioan Oana ◽  
Liliana Indrie ◽  
Aurelia Onet ◽  
Dorina Oana ◽  
Dorina Camelia ILIEȘ ◽  
...  

It is important to investigate the indoor air quality, the microbial concentration of indoor air and surfaces for preserving the cultural heritage. In what regards the microclimate inside the historic monument, the wooden church, the temperature and relative humidity were monitored using the thermo-hygrometer with data function logger “Klimalogg Pro” (eight sensors), October-December 2018, the thermos-camera “Thermal Imaging Camera FLIR I7” and “Digi-Sense Data Logging Luxmeter”. Image analysis were also performed using digital image processing techniques (ARCGIS), mapping the areas damaged by temperature, humidity and also by rainwater infiltrated on canvas paintings, biodegradation, anthropically degraded areas etc. Isolation of microorganisms from the two canvas paintings and indoor air were taken though specific method, analyses showing the presence of microorganisms on the paintings, possible human pathogens especially for people with low immunity. A high fidelity database with the state of patrimony objects preserved in the Romanian wooden church and perspectives for their proper conservation could be created at a certain moment.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1420326X2110303
Author(s):  
Jie Gao ◽  
Yi Wang ◽  
Xiaozhou Wu ◽  
Yashan Cui

Indoor wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT) was extensively used to evaluate the indoor hot environment in a naturally ventilated building, but it does not consider the effect of air movement caused by the hot surface. A potential evaluation index, which is a difference between the mean radiant temperature and the air temperature (Δtr–a), was introduced to be integrated with the indoor WBGT to evaluate the indoor hot environment with hot surface. Subjective evaluation of the occupant's thermal perceptions and objective measurement of indoor physical parameters were carried out in a typical naturally ventilated room with hot surface ranged from 50°C to 250°C. The results show that the indoor air temperature, mean radiant temperature and WBGT were increased by 8.6°C–12.9°C, 11.2°C–29.7°C and 4.7°C–7.5°C, respectively, with participant's light activity, and by 9.9°C–13.5°C, 14.9°C–29.4°C and 5.7°C–8.0°C, respectively, with participant's heavy activity. Indoor air temperature was increased linearly with the indoor WBGT, whereas the mean radiant temperature was increased non-linearly with the indoor WBGT. Besides, the non-linear relationship between the occupant's thermal perceptions and Δtr−a coincided very well with those between occupant's thermal perceptions and indoor WBGT. This suggests that the Δtr–a may be a potential index to be integrated with the indoor WBGT for evaluating the indoor hot environment in naturally ventilated building with hot surface.


2017 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-90
Author(s):  
Mario Ostović ◽  
Sven Menčik ◽  
Ivica Ravić ◽  
Slavko Žužul ◽  
Željko Pavičić ◽  
...  

Abstract Good air quality in poultry houses is crucial for animal health and productivity. In these houses, air is generally contaminated with noxious gases and microorganisms, the concentrations of which depend on numerous factors including microclimate. In this case study, the relation between microclimate and air concentrations of noxious gases and microorganisms was investigated in extensively reared turkey house. The study was carried out at a family household in Dalmatia hinterland, Croatia, with 50.3±3.1 turkeys kept in the house during the study period. Air temperature, relative humidity, airflow rate, concentrations of ammonia, carbon dioxide, bacteria and fungi in indoor air were measured three times per month from September to December, in the morning, prior to releasing turkeys out for grazing. Air temperature ranged from 9.73 to 26.98 °C, relative humidity from 63.29% to 75.08%, and airflow rate from 0.11 to 0.17 m/s. Lowest ammonia and carbon dioxide concentrations were measured in September (2.17 ppm and 550 ppm, respectively) and highest in December (4.50 ppm and 900 ppm, respectively). Bacterial and fungal counts were lowest in December (2.51×105 CFU/m3 and 3.27×103 CFU/m3 air, respectively) and highest in September (6.85×105 CFU/m3 and 1.06x105 CFU/m3 air, respectively). Air temperature and relative humidity showed negative correlation with concentrations of noxious gases and positive correlation with air microorganisms (P<0.05 all).


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 530
Author(s):  
Abdullah Abdulhameed Bagasi ◽  
John Kaiser Calautit ◽  
Abdullah Saeed Karban

This paper reviewed related research works and developments on the traditional architectural element “mashrabiya” focusing on its history, design and structure, typology, and functions in hot climates. Moreover, the paper assessed the effect of the traditional mashrabiya on the indoor thermal environment and thermal comfort in a selected case study building. For this purpose, two similar rooms were investigated in a selected historic building with abundant mashrabiyas located in the Makkah Region, specifically in Old Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The field tests were conducted during a typical hot summer month with two different configurations. The study demonstrated that opening the mashrabiya allowed more airflow into the room during the day and reduced the indoor temperature by up to 2.4 °C as compared to the closed mashrabiya. Besides, the building envelope played an important role in preventing the high fluctuation of the indoor air temperature, where the fluctuation of the rooms air temperature ranged between 2.1 °C and 4.2 °C compared to the outdoor temperature which recorded a fluctuation between 9.4 °C and 16 °C. The data presented here can be used for the future development of the mashrabiya concept and the potential incorporation with passive cooling methods to improve its design according to the requirements of modern buildings in hot climates. Moreover, further studies and tests on mashrabiyas under different climatic conditions are required. Also, the different strategies or materials can be incorporated with mashrabiyas in order to improve its thermal performance.


2012 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Csáky ◽  
F. Kalmár

Abstract Nowadays the facades of newly built buildings have significant glazed surfaces. The solar gains in these buildings can produce discomfort caused by direct solar radiation on the one hand and by the higher indoor air temperature on the other hand. The amplitude of the indoor air temperature variation depends on the glazed area, orientation of the facade and heat storage capacity of the building. This paper presents the results of a simulation, which were made in the Passol Laboratory of University of Debrecen in order to define the internal temperature variation. The simulation proved that the highest amplitudes of the internal temperature are obtained for East orientation of the facade. The upper acceptable limit of the internal air temperature is exceeded for each analyzed orientation: North, South, East, West. Comparing different building structures, according to the obtained results, in case of the heavy structure more cooling hours are obtained, but the energy consumption for cooling is lower.


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