Energy Savings by Form Design in Schools

This study is a part of a comprehensive study that aims to investigate the impact of school building form on energy consumption. The methodology included two parts: in part one the study conducted a survey that covered all schools under Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) authority; in addition to performing a design model analysis that helped identify the possible form design variables that can impact the building performance with their value ranges. Part two the study performed an hour-by-hour computer simulation to test the impact of different building form variables on energy consumption. The simulation was carried out in two phases, Phase I covered the investigation of the existing design models obtained from ADEK without any manipulation of the form variables. While Phase II covered a broader range of cases under more controlled conditions. The investigation was based on Abu Dhabi climatic conditions with respect to ADEK school requirements and Estidama green building guidelines. The simulation results revealed the effect of each design variable of the school building form on energy consumption and CO2 emissions. The most important outcome of the study is the establishment of two concepts to evaluate the behavior of building form in influencing energy performance; i.e., form verticality and horizontality

EnerFace : a computer model for integrating energy design knowledge into the design process using hypermedia

Vita.The study acknowledges the necessity of regarding the user as the center of the energy-based CAAD (computer-aided architectural design) tool design. It concentrates on the design of the user interface and its main concern is to improve the design environment to be more desirable to architects. It begins by discussing the cur-rent limitations and evaluating the existing approaches in meeting the requirements for developing such tools. It presents an extensive theoretical background needed for their development from the human factors and the design points of view. The study provides an illustration and description of the entire architecture of the conceptual model, identifying its different components and explaining the relationships and interactions among these components. Dealing with issues of acquiring and accessing design knowledge in the conceptual stage of the design process is the focus of this research. Thus, the study identifies the necessary types of knowledge needed in this stage, such as general strategies, design guidelines, and rules of thumb, and develops an appropriate access structure for integrating the knowledge bases with the user interface. The study describes a prototype that conforms to the conceptual framework of the model and utilizes the object-oriented programming approach for its implementation. It incorporates a simple sketching tool that supports automatic creation of links between nodes of access and nodes of knowledge. This is achieved by utilizing the capabilities of hypermedia in accessing information (e.g., through the use of buttons embedded in different objects of a building as nodes to access information) and controlling program navigation in a nonlinear way. Finally, it evaluates the prototype based on a conceptual definition of usability that relates to the ease and effectiveness of use. The evaluation criteria includes subjective measures of six factors that operationally define usability. The evaluation procedure instructed ten participants to accomplish a structured sequence of design tasks, using the prototype, then fill in a questionnaire. The helpfulness of EnerFace received the highest score, 93 %; then the ease of use, 91 %. The overall user reaction concept received the lowest score, 82 %. The participants' combined impression about the usability of EnerFace is 88 %

EnerFace : a computer model for integrating energy design knowledge into the design process using hypermedia

Vita.The study acknowledges the necessity of regarding the user as the center of the energy-based CAAD (computer-aided architectural design) tool design. It concentrates on the design of the user interface and its main concern is to improve the design environment to be more desirable to architects. It begins by discussing the cur-rent limitations and evaluating the existing approaches in meeting the requirements for developing such tools. It presents an extensive theoretical background needed for their development from the human factors and the design points of view. The study provides an illustration and description of the entire architecture of the conceptual model, identifying its different components and explaining the relationships and interactions among these components. Dealing with issues of acquiring and accessing design knowledge in the conceptual stage of the design process is the focus of this research. Thus, the study identifies the necessary types of knowledge needed in this stage, such as general strategies, design guidelines, and rules of thumb, and develops an appropriate access structure for integrating the knowledge bases with the user interface. The study describes a prototype that conforms to the conceptual framework of the model and utilizes the object-oriented programming approach for its implementation. It incorporates a simple sketching tool that supports automatic creation of links between nodes of access and nodes of knowledge. This is achieved by utilizing the capabilities of hypermedia in accessing information (e.g., through the use of buttons embedded in different objects of a building as nodes to access information) and controlling program navigation in a nonlinear way. Finally, it evaluates the prototype based on a conceptual definition of usability that relates to the ease and effectiveness of use. The evaluation criteria includes subjective measures of six factors that operationally define usability. The evaluation procedure instructed ten participants to accomplish a structured sequence of design tasks, using the prototype, then fill in a questionnaire. The helpfulness of EnerFace received the highest score, 93 %; then the ease of use, 91 %. The overall user reaction concept received the lowest score, 82 %. The participants' combined impression about the usability of EnerFace is 88 %

Applying social-ecological systems thinking to the urban quarter of old Sana'a and its associated garden

For centuries, the urban quarter of the old city of Sana’a along with its accompanying garden followed an exclusively traditional way of life that was contained within the quarter’s bounds and which involved a high degree of mutually beneficial and co-evolving interactions between partnered human and natural systems. The waqf foundation was in charge of ensuring that water supply was continuously available and abundant for the gardeners, who were responsible for irrigating the garden and sustaining water sources. The garden’s produce supported the gardeners’ families and the city’s central market. In return, it received its source of nutrients from the solid waste of the quarter’s inhabitants and livestock through a sophisticated sewage system. With the arrival of modernization, the essential role that the urban garden held began to wane and dwindle until the garden was no longer able to provide for the quarter. As such, this thesis provides solutions that aim to restore the quarter to the vibrant and dynamic state that it once possessed in the past by critically examining its changing nature over time through the lens of social-ecological systems, one of regenerative design’s fundamental principles. The inspection uncovered a complex portrayal of interrelationships and cross-interactions between ecological elements and social groups within the quarter, and between it and new Sana’a. The resulting conclusions primarily deduced that the deterioration of the urban quarter’s social-ecological system originates from the mishandling of water and food sources by authoritative groups. Furthermore, while many of regenerative design’s core principles are universal, all have been primarily executed in North America and there have been no efforts to explore how they would unfold in a different cultural context. Also, there exists a small number of scholarly works that investigate the notion of social-ecological systems in relation to the built environment. By addressing these issues, this thesis discovered that the notion of religion and the design of water and waste systems majorly influence the quarter’s functionality thereby providing valuable insights that reveal how the concepts of culture and social-ecological systems within the built environment are significant for the progression of regenerative design theory.Applied Science, Faculty ofArchitecture and Landscape Architecture (SALA), School ofGraduat

Review of Core/Shell Quantum Dots Technology Integrated into Building’s Glazing

Skylights and windows are building openings that enhance human comfort and well-being in various ways. Recently, a massive drive is witnessed to replace traditional openings with building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems to generate power in a bid to reduce buildings’ energy. The problem with most of the BIPV glazing lies in the obstruction of occupants’ vision of the outdoor view. In order to resolve this problem, new technology has emerged that utilizes quantum dots semiconductors (QDs) in glazing systems. QDs can absorb and re-emit the incoming radiation in the desired direction with the tunable spectrum, which renders them favorable for building integration. By redirecting the radiation towards edges of the glazing, they can be categorized as luminescent solar concentrators (QD-LSCs) that can help to generate electricity while maintaining transparency in the glazing. The aim of this paper is to review the different properties of core/shell quantum dots and their potential applications in buildings. Literature from various disciplines was reviewed to establish correlations between the optical and electrical properties of different types, sizes, thicknesses, and concentration ratios of QDs when used in transparent glazing. The current article will help building designers and system integrators assess the merits of integrating QDs on windows/skylights with regards to energy production and potential impact on admitted daylighting and visual comfort

Effect of Phase Change Materials (PCMs) Integrated into a Concrete Block on Heat Gain Prevention in a Hot Climate

In the current study, a phase change material (PCM) contained in an insulated concrete block is tested in extremely hot weather in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to evaluate its cooling performance. An insulated chamber is constructed behind the block containing PCM to mimic a scaled down indoor space. The effect of placement of the PCM layer on heat gain indoors is studied at two locations: adjacent to the outer as well as the inner concrete layer. The inclusion of PCM reduced heat gain through concrete blocks compared to blocks without PCM, yielding a drop in cooling load indoors. The placement of PCM and insulation layers adjacent to indoors exhibited better cooling performance compared to that adjacent to the outdoors. In the best case, a temperature drop of 8.5% and a time lag of 2.6 h are achieved in peak indoor temperature, rendering a reduction of 44% in the heat gain. In the tested hot climate, the higher ambient temperature and the lower wind speed hampered heat dissipation and PCM re-solidification by natural ventilation. The findings recommend employing a mechanical ventilation in hot climates to enhance regeneration of the PCM to solid state for its optimal performance