Energy efficiency retrofit and decarbonization of old and historic buildings in California

Buildings are responsible for almost 40% of total global greenhouse gas emissions and the retrofitting of existing buildings is an essential part of solving the problem. About 75% of buildings in Californian were constructed before the first energy-efficiency building code was adopted in 1978. Old buildings are inefficient, responsible for large carbon footprints and must be retrofitted to stay on track with the state\u27s climate targets. However, current policies do not require substantial changes and tend to favor historic preservation over energy efficiency, missing improvement opportunities. Recognizing the significance of carbon intensity, the 2019 California Energy Efficiency Action Plan shifted the attention of policies from energy efficiency to the decarbonization of existing buildings. However, there is still a gap between Californian goals and practices. This study investigated strategies for old buildings\u27 decarbonization, and the literature review focused on climates related to California. Secondly, the Californian building code, Action Plans and other initiatives were examined. It was found that to decarbonize existing buildings, first, the shift of the building system is required to electric heat pumps for air heating and cooling and water heating. Next, increasing the building envelope\u27s airtightness should be considered. In contrast, insulation choices require a careful trade-off between increasing indoor comfort and using less carbon-intensive materials. Also, strategic landscape design should be part of a retrofit program. However, to implement those practices in substantial quantities, policies need to find the opportunities – trigger events - to initiate the retrofit works by mandate and support

Ecological design of lighting and ventilation in traditional shophouses in urban Southeast Asia

Including a courtyard open to the sky is an interesting design feature in most old town shophouses. It has been found that the courtyard shophouses in this urban fabric were always good examples for the bioclimatic typologies where their residents could enjoy the outdoor daylight and fresh air with a minimum of energy use while not being separated from their climate and culture. However, such courtyards in Taiwan have gradually disappeared while more have been retained in urban Southeast Asia. This thesis intends to determine what kinds of factors influence the application, outcomes, and changes over time of early shophouses for its dwellers. The principal aim of this thesis is to evaluate the potential of the retention of traditional shophouse courtyards in urban Southeast Asia, especially in Taiwan, with a focus on the preservation of continuity rather than the preservation of the past. The work presented in this thesis consists of three main research activities, all focusing on the use of simulation tools and the logic of reasonable inferences to support the continuance of traditional shophouses: analysis of current traditional shophouses; development of an approach for well-founded selection of ecological design in lighting and ventilation; analysis of the suitability of existing practices and experiences to support the selection process; and development of a strategy as well as a proof-of-concept prototype that provides support for the selection of ecological issues and that demonstrates the viability of the proposed changes. It should be noted that the research is exploratory in nature and has only begun to address the many issues that are important in the preservation of urban heritages, but the questions addressed – what quality needs are important for shophouse occupant satisfaction and what quality dimensions are important for public attitudes – are arguably among the most important in quality maintenance

Pedestrianization in Hong Kong: its impacts on air quality and human response.

Kam Wai-ming.Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2001.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 153-162).Abstracts in English and Chinese ; questionnaire in Chinese.List of Tables --- p.xList of Figures --- p.xiiiList of Abbreviation --- p.xviChapter Chapter One --- Introduction --- p.1Chapter 1.1 --- Introduction --- p.1Chapter 1.2 --- The Research Problems --- p.2Chapter 1.3 --- Objectives of the Study --- p.4Chapter 1.4 --- Study Area --- p.4Chapter 1.5 --- Significance of the Study --- p.8Chapter 1.6 --- Organization of Thesis --- p.9Chapter Chapter Two --- Literature Review --- p.11Chapter 2.1 --- Pedestrianization: Basic Ideas and History --- p.11Chapter 2.1.1 --- Definition of Pedestrianization --- p.11Chapter 2.1.2 --- Motivation of pedestrianization --- p.13Chapter 2.1.3 --- Learning from the Development of Pedestrianization in Other Cities --- p.15Chapter 2.1.4 --- Impacts of Pedestrianization on Environment --- p.19Chapter 2.2 --- Pedestrianization in Hong Kong --- p.21Chapter 2.2.1 --- Development --- p.21Chapter 2.2.2 --- Ways for Successful Pedestrianization in Hong Kong --- p.22Chapter 2.3 --- Human Perception and Response on Air Pollution and Pedestrianization --- p.24Chapter 2.3.1 --- Introduction of Human Perception --- p.24Chapter 2.3.2 --- Human Perception of Air Pollution --- p.27Chapter 2.3.3 --- Changes of Human Perception in Response to the Changes of Environmental Quality After Pedestrianization --- p.31Chapter Chapter Three --- Methodology --- p.34Chapter 3.1 --- Research Design --- p.34Chapter 3.2 --- BACIPR Approach --- p.35Chapter 3.3 --- Objective Assessment of the influence of pedestrianization on air quality --- p.38Chapter 3.3.1 --- Model Prediction --- p.39Chapter 3.3.2 --- Physical Measurement of Particulates --- p.46Chapter 3.4 --- Subjective Assessment: Human Perception of Roadside Air Pollution --- p.56Chapter 3.4.1 --- Guidelines Used for Subjective Assessment --- p.57Chapter 3.4.2 --- Development of the Questionnaire --- p.58Chapter 3.4.3 --- Statistical Analysis --- p.59Chapter Chapter Four --- Model Simulation of the Effect of Pedestrianization on Air Quality --- p.61Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.61Chapter 4.2 --- Air Quality in Causeway Bay Before Pedestrianization --- p.64Chapter 4.2.1 --- Overall Spatial Variation of Air Quality --- p.64Chapter 4.2.2 --- Respiratory Suspended Particulate (RSP) --- p.67Chapter 4.2.3 --- Nitrogen Dioxide (N02) --- p.68Chapter 4.2.4 --- Carbon Monoxide (CO) --- p.69Chapter 4.3 --- Air Quality in Causeway Bay After Pedestrianization --- p.70Chapter 4.3.1 --- Overall Spatial Variation of Air Quality --- p.70Chapter 4.3.2 --- Respiratory Suspended Particulate (RSP) --- p.70Chapter 4.3.3 --- Nitrogen Dioxide (N02) --- p.73Chapter 4.3.4 --- Carbon Monoxide (CO) --- p.75Chapter 4.3.5 --- Effect of Government's Pedestrianization Scheme in Improving Air Quality --- p.77Chapter 4.4 --- Air Quality Impact of Pedestrianization in Single Street --- p.77Chapter 4.4.1 --- RSP Concentration in Russell Street Section Before Pedestrianization --- p.78Chapter 4.4.2 --- RSP Concentration in Russell Street Section After Pedestrianization --- p.81Chapter 4.5 --- Summary and Conclusion --- p.83Chapter Chapter Five --- Measurement of Particulate Pollution in Causeway Bay --- p.84Chapter 5.1 --- Change in Particulate Pollution After Pedestrianization in Russell Street --- p.86Chapter 5.1.1 --- Overall Changes in Particulate Pollution after Pedestrianization --- p.86Chapter 5.1.2 --- Changes in Particulate Pollution after Pedestrianization under Different Weather Conditions --- p.87Chapter 5.1.2.1 --- Effects of Pedestrianization on Fine Day --- p.88Chapter 5.1.2.2 --- Effects of Pedestrianization on Rainy Days --- p.89Chapter 5.1.3 --- Changes of Particulate Pollution after Pedestrianization under Different Traffic Flow Conditions --- p.90Chapter 5.1.3.1 --- Effects of Pedestrianization during Peak Hours --- p.91Chapter 5.1.3.2 --- Effects of Pedestrianization during Non-Peak Hours --- p.92Chapter 5.1.4 --- Changes in Particulate Pollution As a result of Pedestrianization on Different Days of the Week --- p.93Chapter 5.1.4.1 --- Effects of Pedestrianization on Weekdays --- p.94Chapter 5.1.4.2 --- Effects of Pedestrianization on Non-Weekdays --- p.94Chapter 5.1.5 --- Change in PM 10 I/C ratio After Pedestrianization --- p.95Chapter 5.2 --- Variations in Particulate Pollution Characteristics Due to Different Pedestrianization Street Designs --- p.96Chapter 5.2.1 --- General Contrasts between an Open and Semi-enclosed Street --- p.97Chapter 5.2.2 --- Seasonal Effect on Particulate Pollution in Jardine's Crescent and in Its Control Street --- p.97Chapter 5.2.3 --- Climatic Effects on Particulate Pollution --- p.101Chapter 5.2.4 --- Effects of Traffic Conditions on Particulate Pollution Pattern in Jardine's Crescent and in Its Control Street --- p.102Chapter 5.2.5 --- Effects of Day of the Week on Particulate Pollution --- p.104Chapter 5.3 --- The Variation of Particulate Pollution in Causeway Bay --- p.105Chapter 5.3.1 --- Spatial Variation --- p.105Chapter 5.3.2 --- Seasonal Variation --- p.108Chapter 5.3.3 --- Rain as a Cleaning Agent --- p.111Chapter 5.4 --- Summary and Conclusion --- p.112Chapter Chapter Six --- Pedestrianization and Perception of Air Quality --- p.113Chapter 6.1 --- Introduction --- p.113Chapter 6.2 --- Effect of Pedestrianization in Improving the Perceived Air Quality --- p.115Chapter 6.2.1 --- Overall Changes of PAQ after Pedestrianization --- p.115Chapter 6.2.2 --- Changes in Perceived Air Quality As a Result of Pedestrianization --- p.118Chapter 6.2.2.1 --- Correlation between PAQ and AQ --- p.118Chapter 6.2.2.2 --- Difference in Dose-Response Relationships before and after Pedestrianization --- p.120Chapter 6.2.3 --- Summary of Findings on Human Perception --- p.136Chapter 6.3 --- Aspects of Pedestrianization Which Improve Perceived Air Quality --- p.136Chapter 6.3.1 --- Behavior Constraint Model --- p.137Chapter 6.3.2 --- Environmental Stress Model --- p.139Chapter 6.3.3 --- Perception of Air Pollution Through Smell and Vision --- p.141Chapter 6.4 --- Summary and Conclusion --- p.144Chapter Chapter Seven --- Conclusion --- p.146Chapter 7.1 --- Summary of Findings --- p.146Chapter 7.1.1 --- Model Simulated Air Pollution Levels in Causeway Bay and Possible Effects of the Government Pedestrianization Scheme --- p.147Chapter 7.1.2 --- Changes in the Pattern and Characteristics of Particulate Pollution after Pedestrianization --- p.148Chapter 7.1.3 --- Effects of Pedestrianization on Human Perception of Air Quality --- p.149Chapter 7.2 --- Discussion of Findings --- p.151References --- p.153Appendix A --- p.16

Assessment of thermal and visual micro-climate of a traditional commercial street in a hot arid climate

PhD ThesisIn the hot arid contexts, the impact of urban climate is often associated with negative effects on outdoor thermal comfort and an increase in the urban heat island (UHI) effect. The primary aim of this research is to investigate the outdoor thermal performance of traditional commercial urban streets located in the hot arid context of Cairo in Egypt. A number of methods were used including field measurements and social surveys. Consequently, urban air flows, temperature and daylight simulations to assess existing and possible improvement scenarios to extend pedestrian thermal and visual comfort were tested. The field measurements were conducted in order to first assess the UHI intensity in the urban street, and to investigate the effectiveness of the traditional design solutions in ensuring comfortable outdoor conditions based on human-biometeorological assessment methods. Validation of results was carried out by comparing measured and simulated results of thermal conditions in the commercial spine ENVI-met is a three dimensional microclimatic model based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models and is designed to simulate surface-air interactions in urban environments. It was used to calculate the mean radiant temperature and obtaining the microclimatic maps with problematic areas concerning the pedestrian's thermal comfort for the existing urban configurations. Outdoor thermal comfort was assessed based on a thermal sensation survey and the physiological equivalent temperature (PET), with a comfort range of (24oC - 32oC). To improve outdoor thermal conditions at pedestrian level seven different shading scenarios addressing the form and the opening of shading devices were simulated using CFD Fluent, based on two dependant variables including air temperature distribution and wind velocity. The daylight analysis software (DIVA) was used to evaluate the solar access for the tested cases. The findings show that typology and the opening locations are one of the paramount factors in providing a temperature reduction in the urban scale. As the air temperature was reduced by (2.3oC) for the best case compared to the base leading to a lower PET for the best case recording 32.9oC against 35oC for the base case

Sustainable | Sustaining City Streets

Streets are an integral part of every city on Earth. They channel the people, vehicles, and materials that help make urban life what it is. They are conduits for the oft-taken-for-granted infrastructures that carry fresh water, energy, and information, and that remove excess stormwater and waste. The very air that we breathe—fresh or foul—flows through our street canyons. That streets are the arteries of the city is, indeed, an apt metaphor. But city streets also function as a front yard, linear ecosystem, market, performance stage, and civic forum, among other duties. In their various forms, streets are places of interaction and exchange, from the everyday to the extraordinary. As the editors affirm, the more we scrutinize, share, and activate sustainable approaches to streets, the greater the likelihood that our streets will help sustain life in cities and, by extension, the planet. While diverse in subject, the papers in this volume are unified in seeing the city street as the complex, impactful, and pliable urban phenomenon that it is. Topics range from greenstreets to transit networks to pedestrian safety and walkability. Anyone seeking interdisciplinary perspectives on what makes for good city streets and street networks should find this book of interest

A study of the inter-relationship of identity and urban heritage in Chiang Mai Old City, Thailand

The urban heritage identity of historical cities has received growing attention due to the weakening of their urban identity. For this reason, urban identity has been identified as a preliminary study of this research. Forty years ago, many researchers attempted to explain a broader understanding of urban heritage identity, which is relevant to human factors that affect urban, place, and built environment relationships. This involved the three interrelated concepts of identity: distinctiveness; urban heritage; and place attachment. These establish a balance between people and their identification with places. Urban heritage identity is associated a place's physicality and heritage attributes that reflect socio-cultural values. It can be concluded that urban heritage identity becomes significant through concepts of environmental psychology. Distinctiveness theory, as a part of identity theory, has been used in this study to describe the genuine perception of local participants and is a fundamental part of defining place identity. Furthermore, the definition of place attachment has been used to explain the relationship of distinct places on time of residence, frequency of use, emotional, physical, social, and activities. The study also explores Chiang Mai Old City’s built environment, which especially analyses the façade and streetscape characteristics that reflect the city's socio-cultural value. The research concludes with suggestions for preserving the city's urban heritage characteristics. Chiang Mai Old City has unprecedented diversity and cultural dynamics related to its intangible and tangible urban heritage. Moreover, the city is in the critical stage of being nominated as a new World Heritage Site by UNESCO, with the city's distinctiveness and place attachment being significant in supporting further heritage management strategies. The research mainly focuses on how local people interpret and understand the urban heritage identity of Chiang Mai Old City. This has been achieved through surveys of four hundred participants living in the Old City, two-way focus groups with five participants in each group, in-depth interviews with twenty-five participants, and ten architects drawing suggestions for further built environment management strategies. The results are described through seven aspects that explore the distinctiveness and place attachment theories of Chiang Mai Old City. The findings can be described in seven aspects: historical value; cultural activities; a particular character; landmark; identity; community; and everyday life. The results reveal that there are five distinct places in the city: Pra Singha Temple; Chedi Luang Temple; Three Kings monument square; Tha-Pare gate square; and Chiang Mai Old City's Moat. The results can also be used to develop an assessment indicator for defining the distinctiveness of other historic cities through the engagement of local people. The study repeatedly employs distinct places to describe in-place attachment theory. The results reveal positivity, emotion, and the spiritual anchor of place attached to local people in social engagement, explicitly divulging the rootedness of religion, culture, and community activities through the length of time. All five distinct places have an inseparable ability to display tangible heritage value and such a positive emotion to places is crucial in contributing to urban heritage characteristics. Moreover, the time or length of residency is a vital aspect to people’s perception of the city's distinctiveness; however, the value of the physical setting itself can increase the sense of belonging of newcomers.This research used a mixed methods approach in defining place identity process and socio-cultural values in distinctive streetscapes scenes in the city. This study strongly believes that the findings demonstrate that local people can help to develop the management of the city. The results presented suggest that the heritage value of streetscapes is related to historical attributes, natural objects, people, and cultural events in the scenes that explain the meanings ascribed to places associated with social and cultural values. The built environment characteristics and heritage value can be assumed from human experience. The study can be a new perspective for local authorities, urban designers, and heritage teams to determine whether projects will strengthen the existing urban heritage identity. Most importantly, this research has revealed new perspectives on urban heritage identity and practical study methods whilst also contributing to management strategies. In addition, continuing research into urban heritage identity will significantly improve knowledge development, practical support, and collaboration with local people and architects to establish and maintain cherished distinct places and living environments for urban residents

Videogames: the new GIS?

Videogames and GIS have more in common than might be expected. Indeed, it is suggested that videogame technology may not only be considered as a kind of GIS, but that in several important respects its world modelling capabilities out-perform those of most GIS. This chapter examines some of the key differences between videogames and GIS, explores a number of perhaps-surprising similarities between their technologies, and considers which ideas might profitably be borrowed from videogames to improve GIS functionality and usability

Towards sustainable streets design: Indicator system of sustainable evaluation for Shanghai streets

The streets are one of the most significant system in urban areas under the background of Climate Change and the transformation of China's high-density built environment. With the problem of a lack of practical evaluation tool to guide the street design in a comprehensive and effective way, this research aims to build an indicator evaluation system for sustainable streets in Shanghai to provide suggestions for street design. Firstly, the research established the theoretical basis of sustainable street design and an evaluation framework of sustainable streets by literature review. The investigations of 236 streets in Shanghai and the questionnaire survey of 50 experts were conducted to apply the evaluation framework, to assess the overall performance of Shanghai streets, and to construct a set of indicator evaluation system for sustainable streets in Shanghai. Three streets were evaluated by the established system. The evaluation results were compared with the questionnaires’ data of 50 street users to examine the accuracy and objectivity of the system. Finally, 4 experts who were famous in the fields of street design, research and management in Shanghai were interviewed. The interview outcomes were integrated with the whole research findings so as to optimise the evaluation system. The key findings included: 1) the theoretical basis of sustainable street design, including the definition, 3 principles, 15 design objectives and a set of toolkits with 75 design methods; 2) an indicator evaluation system for sustainable streets in Shanghai, including 15 evaluation criteria and 32 evaluation indicators, a set of standardisation methods and weighting system, and a package of calculation formulas; and 3) an overall assessment of Shanghai streets and some useful suggestions for future renovations of Shanghai streets. With the research outcomes, it promoted the theoretical development of sustainable street design and filled the academic gaps. Also, it provided a set of design toolkits to promote the practice of sustainable street design, which were not only a framework for comprehensive thinking but also a useful manual for street design. Finally, the research delivered a set of sustainable evaluation tool for Shanghai streets, and its framework and the construction method could be expanded to other cities and regions. This is a tool to measure the sustainability, not only helping the designer to identify issues and find solutions, but also helping decision-makers to compare different schemes and quantify their selections

The historic settlement: Reconciling conservation and environmental sustainability through design

Despite the comprehensive literature and guidance on the conservation of the historic settlement, little practice has put into the test of relevant guidelines for conservation in the context of sustainable regeneration of these settlements. In the literature revealed that differing emphases and directives between current conservation legislation and codes for sustainable buildings, it was found that each agenda also has a limited perspective, which could be bonded together in certain way in order to perform a well-balanced design practice without leaving any party behind. This study attempted to formulate and refine a design framework to guide designs within the historic settlement, embracing conservation, enhancement and environmental sustainability. The hypothetical design framework together with a point-based assessment tool is tested repeated through a series of hypothetical domestic design cases in a historical settlement to discover how different physical conditions influence building form and performance. A combination of methods including literature review, case studies and design studies has been applied. Having tested the context of creative designs within a typical historic settlement, the research demonstrates that a reconciliation could be restored among conservation, and sustainable design in order to face inevitable interventions in the future but that there are inevitably areas of design where some tensions emerge which require a holistic design approach