Design strategies in facades for the reduction of housing energy consumption

This article analyzes the energy-saving potential of various facade design strategies from a life cycle perspective, including the energy needed in the use stage and the embodied energy of materials. The results provide reference data on the behaviour of these systems in Spain and make it possible to identify the best strategies for reducing energy consumption in a wide variety of potential situations that may arise in both new construction and in the rehabilitation of existing facades. The impact categories studied are fossil fuel depletion and climate change, and design strategies are linked to climate data, orientation, air change rate, facade materials and wall composition. Exchanges between the interior and exterior environments take place through the building envelope, some of whose key design parameters include lighting, ventilation and heat flux. Improving this envelope can greatly reduce environmental impact, ensuring indoor environmental quality. This analysis confirms the need to consider the interactions among the parameters studied, as it shows that there are several design solutions with similar impacts, which can be adapted to project requirements. In both new construction and rehabilitation, some of these parameters may be determined by other design decisions not necessarily aimed at reducing environmental impact, so it can be very useful to be aware of a variety of design alternatives that can be implemented in specific projects

Rehabilitación energética de fachadas: Propuesta metodológica para la evaluación de soluciones innovadoras, basándose en el diagnóstico de viviendas sociales construidas entre 1940 y 1980

Se propone una metodología para la evaluación de soluciones constructivas de fachada para la rehabilitación de viviendas sociales, construidas entre el final de la Guerra Civil y la entrada en vigor de la norma básica NBE-CT-79, sobre condiciones térmicas en edificios. La metodología parte por un lado del análisis del estado actual en las viviendas, y por otro de la caracterización de las soluciones constructivas de rehabilitación, para la evaluación conjunta de las posibles mejoras. Esta evaluación persigue valorar su repercusión en la calidad del ambiente interior, y en la reducción de la demanda energética para acondicionamiento térmico. Se aplica sobre dos viviendas tipo que se han monitorizado en Madrid, utilizando dos soluciones innovadoras para rehabilitación energética, que disponen de documentos de idoneidad DIT y DITE. Una incorpora sobre la fachada tipo un aislamiento por el exterior, y otra incorpora un sistema de fachada ventilada, también sobre esta fachada tipo. El análisis de las viviendas se ha realizado a partir de la toma de datos, ensayos y estudio de detalle, llevados a cabo a lo largo de los años 2014 y 2015. El análisis de los sistemas de fachada se ha realizado a partir de ensayos controlados, comparando los resultados para tres tipos de fachada: una fachada tipo, habitual en la construcción de las viviendas de este periodo, y las dos soluciones innovadoras mencionadas. Una vez realizado el diagnóstico de las viviendas y el análisis de los ensayos de los sistemas constructivos, los resultados obtenidos se utilizan para generar los modelos de simulación sobre los que evaluar las mejoras. El periodo de estudio comprende cuatro décadas que comienzan en 1940, en un momento con escasos medios técnicos para la construcción, y que coincide con el comienzo del crecimiento en las grandes ciudades, y finaliza con la incorporación en la normativa de las exigencias de aislamiento en fachadas, de 1979. En la ciudad de Madrid las viviendas construidas en este periodo, suponen un 45% del total de viviendas censadas en 2011. La rehabilitación energética se ha ido incorporando en los sucesivos planes nacionales de vivienda como actuación protegida, y son muchos y muy diversos los planes de acción desde la administración en materia de vivienda social, tanto a nivel nacional como europeo. La vivienda queda incluida en materia de desarrollo y cohesión urbana, territorial y social, haciendo necesario un enfoque integrado. Los barrios de vivienda social forman parte de un patrimonio construido en los que los criterios de sostenibilidad toman especial interés y relevancia, ya que a través del tiempo se han construido como actores y testigos de su historia social, económica, ambiental y cultural. El diseño de los modelos y actuaciones de futuro se sustenta en la asimilación de esa complejidad y diversidad adquirida. Por otro lado, el actual reto que impone el calentamiento global obliga a plantear escenarios de adaptación y mejora en estos edificios, con una especial atención a la dependencia energética, el consumo de recursos, y emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero. La fachada es el elemento más importante de la envolvente en los edificios multifamiliares, siendo el lugar donde se produce el intercambio entre el ambiente interior y exterior. Su rehabilitación puede mejorar las prestaciones de habitabilidad en las viviendas, y disminuir la demanda de energía para alcanzar unas condiciones de confort estándar. El trabajo de investigación que se ha realizado, forma parte de una linea de investigación abierta sobre sistemas constructivos y habitabilidad en edificación. ABSTRACT A methodology for the evaluation of facade’s constructive solutions for social housing refurbishment, built between the end of the Civil War, and the entry into force of the basic standard NBE-CT-79 on thermal conditions in buildings is proposed. This methodology starts both with the analysis of the current status in dwellings, and with the characterization of rehabilitation’s constructive solutions performance, for the integrated assessment of improvements. The evaluation seeks to assess their impact on the indoor environmental quality, and on reducing the energy demand for thermal conditioning. The methodology is applied to two standard dwellings, that have been monitored in Madrid, with two innovative solutions for energy refurbishment, which have DIT and DITE assessment documents. One incorporates an exterior insulation, and the other incorporates a ventilated facade system. The analysis of the dwellings was made from data collection, testing and detailed study, conducted throughout 2014 and 2015. Analysis of the facade systems was made from controlled trials comparing the results for three types of façade: a standard usual facade common in the construction of this period, and the two innovative solutions mentioned. Based on the diagnosis of housing and systems analysis, the results are used to generate simulation models on which assess the improvements. The study period comprises four decades starting in 1940, at a time with limited technical resources for construction, which coincides with the beginning of growth in big cities, and ends with the incorporation in the 1979 legislation of the façade’s insulation requirements. In the city of Madrid the houses built in this period account for 45% of all households surveyed in 2011. As a “protected action” energy rehabilitation has been incorporated in successive national housing plans, and there are many and very different action plans from the Administration in the field of social housing, both at national and European level. An integrated approach is needed, due to the inclusion of housing in development and urban, territorial and social cohesion. Social housing neighborhoods are part of the built heritage. Sustainability criteria therefore are particularely relevant, since over time they have been built as actors and witnesses of their social, economic, environmental and cultural history. The design and performance of future models is based on the assimilation of this complexity and diversity acquired. On the other hand, the current challenge posed by global warming forces to consider scenarios for adaptation and improvement in these buildings, with particular attention to energy dependence, resource consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions. The facade is the most important element of the envelope in the multi-family buildings, being the place where the exchange occurs between the indoor and outdoor environments. Its rehabilitation can improve wellbeing in housing performance, and reduce energy demand to achieve standard comfort conditions. This research that has been done, is part of an open research line on construction and living conditions in buildings

Criterios para la reducción de emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero en el proyecto de fachadas de edificios de viviendas

Las actuales exigencias en materia de energía y emisiones y la ineficiencia del parque edificado hacen necesario detectar soluciones apropiadas para el diseño de la envolvente de los edificios. Dentro de esta envolvente, la fachada juega un papel determinante, ya que además de gestionar los flujos energéticos que se producen entre el interior y el exterior, tiene la capacidad de mejorar la calidad ambiental interior. En este trabajo se analiza el potencial de ahorro de energía y la reducción de emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero de varias estrategias de diseño de fachadas desde una perspectiva de ciclo de vida, incluyendo la energía necesaria en la fase de uso y la que llevan incorporada los materiales. Las categorías de impacto estudiadas son: consumo de combustibles fósiles y cambio climático y las estrategias de diseño están vinculadas a las zonas climáticas, la orientación, renovación del aire interior, materiales y composición de fachada. Los resultados obtenidos proporcionan datos de referencia del comportamiento de varios sistemas, y permiten detectar las mejores estrategias para reducir el consumo energético en viviendas, en una amplia variedad de situaciones posibles, que se dan tanto en fachadas de nueva construcción como en la rehabilitación de fachadas existentes. Es a través de la envolvente de la vivienda donde se produce el intercambio entre el ambiente interior y el exterior, y donde la iluminación, ventilación o flujo de calor son parámetros fundamentales para el diseño. Mejorando esta envolvente se puede reducir considerablemente el impacto ambiental, tanto en la selección de materiales como durante el uso del edifici

Environmental analysis of residential building facades through energy consumption, GHG emissions and costs

This paper provides some results on the potential to minimize environmental impacts in residential buildings life cycle, through façade design strategies, analyzing also their impact on costs from a lifecycle perspective. On one hand, it assesses the environmental damage produced by the materials of the building envelope, and on the other, the benefits they offer in terms of habitability and liveability in the use phase. The analysis includes several design parameters used both for rehabilitation of existing facades, as for new facades, trying to cover various determinants and proposing project alternatives. With this study we intended to contribute to address the energy challenges for the coming years, trying also to propose pathways for innovative solutions for the building envelope

Estatuto de Redacción de la Agencia EFE, medio publico e internacional

Spain’s state-owned news agency, Agencia EFE, is the first of the major international wire services to establish an Editorial Council and a Charter to assure the independence of its journalists. Herein, the process of creating the Council and draughting (o drafting, en EEUU) the Charter, which the authors believe introduces important differences and innovations with respect to others.La Agencia EFE, de titularidad pública, es la primera de las internacionales que se dota de un Consejo y Estatuto de Redacción para garantizar la independencia de sus periodistas. Aquí se cuenta el proceso de creación de ese Consejo y de redacción del texto base, que los autores consideran con importantes diferencias e innovaciones respecto a otros Estatuto

Energy needs and vulnerability estimation at an urban scale for residential neighbourhoods heating in Madrid (Spain)

Urban areas renovation may lead to problematic situations associated with financing of the works in absence of a detailed analysis of the distribution of resources. An analysis of the needs and the obstacles in achieving buildings refurbishment to improve their energy efficiency must be observed. Buildings requiring energy refurbishment will be those with poor construction quality, not adapted to the new energy efficiency requirements. People with insufficient resources to deal with such actions will inhabit many of them. This paper proposes a model for energy needs assessment at an urban scale with the objective set on the refurbishment of residential buildings neighbourhoods, addressing comfort needs. In this sense, aspects of building energy vulnerability are explored as a prerequisite to the analysis of energy poverty in our cities and neighbourhoods. A methodology to characterize heating needs of urban areas is developed by using statistical data from the Spanish Census of Housing and Population. The superimposition of resulting demand values with demographic data allows introducing socioeconomic criteria in order to locate urban energy efficiency and fuel vulnerability. This information is useful in order to address specific public refurbishment strategies based on the reality of socioeconomic aspects of the neighbourhoods and the state of preservation of buildings

COVID-19 Severity and Survival over Time in Patients with Hematologic Malignancies: A Population-Based Registry Study

Mortality rates for COVID-19 have declined over time in the general population, but data in patients with hematologic malignancies are contradictory. We identified independent prognostic factors for COVID-19 severity and survival in unvaccinated patients with hematologic malignancies, compared mortality rates over time and versus non-cancer inpatients, and investigated post COVID-19 condition. Data were analyzed from 1166 consecutive, eligible patients with hematologic malignancies from the population-based HEMATO-MADRID registry, Spain, with COVID-19 prior to vaccination roll-out, stratified into early (February–June 2020; n = 769 (66%)) and later (July 2020–February 2021; n = 397 (34%)) cohorts. Propensity-score matched non-cancer patients were identified from the SEMI-COVID registry. A lower proportion of patients were hospitalized in the later waves (54.2%) compared to the earlier (88.6%), OR 0.15, 95%CI 0.11–0.20. The proportion of hospitalized patients admitted to the ICU was higher in the later cohort (103/215, 47.9%) compared with the early cohort (170/681, 25.0%, 2.77; 2.01–3.82). The reduced 30-day mortality between early and later cohorts of non-cancer inpatients (29.6% vs. 12.6%, OR 0.34; 0.22–0.53) was not paralleled in inpatients with hematologic malignancies (32.3% vs. 34.8%, OR 1.12; 0.81–1.5). Among evaluable patients, 27.3% had post COVID-19 condition. These findings will help inform evidence-based preventive and therapeutic strategies for patients with hematologic malignancies and COVID-19 diagnosis.Depto. de MedicinaFac. de MedicinaTRUEFundación Madrileña de Hematología y HemoterapiaFundación Leucemia y LinfomaAsociación Madrileña de Hematología y Hemoterapiapu

SARS-CoV-2-reactive antibody detection after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients: Prospective survey from the Spanish Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation and Cell Therapy Group

This is a multicenter prospective observational study that included a large cohort (n = 397) of allogeneic (allo-HSCT; (n = 311) and autologous (ASCT) hematopoietic stem cell transplant (n = 86) recipients who were monitored for antibody detection within 3–6 weeks after complete severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccination from February 1, 2021, to July 20, 2021. Most patients (n = 387, 97.4%) received mRNA-based vaccines. Most of the recipients (93%) were vaccinated more than 1 year after transplant. Detectable SARS-CoV-2-reactive antibodies were observed in 242 (78%) of allo-HSCT and in 73 (85%) of ASCT recipients. Multivariate analysis in allo-HSCT recipients identified lymphopenia < 1 × 109/ml (odds ratio [OR] 0.33, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.16–0.69, p = .003), active graft versus host disease (GvHD; OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.27–0.98, p = .04) and vaccination within the first year of transplant (OR 0.3, 95% CI 0.15–0.9, p = .04) associated with lower antibody detection whereas. In ASCT, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL; OR 0.09, 95% CI 0.02–0.44, p = .003) and active corticosteroid therapy (OR 0.2, 95% CI 0.02–0.87, p = .03) were associated with lower detection rate. We report an encouraging rate of SARS-CoV-2-reactive antibodies detection in these severe immunocompromised patients. Lymphopenia, GvHD, the timing of vaccine, and NHL and corticosteroids therapy should be considered in allo-HSCT and ASCT, respectively, to identify candidates for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies monitoring.Peer reviewe

Treatment with tocilizumab or corticosteroids for COVID-19 patients with hyperinflammatory state: a multicentre cohort study (SAM-COVID-19)

Objectives: The objective of this study was to estimate the association between tocilizumab or corticosteroids and the risk of intubation or death in patients with coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) with a hyperinflammatory state according to clinical and laboratory parameters. Methods: A cohort study was performed in 60 Spanish hospitals including 778 patients with COVID-19 and clinical and laboratory data indicative of a hyperinflammatory state. Treatment was mainly with tocilizumab, an intermediate-high dose of corticosteroids (IHDC), a pulse dose of corticosteroids (PDC), combination therapy, or no treatment. Primary outcome was intubation or death; follow-up was 21 days. Propensity score-adjusted estimations using Cox regression (logistic regression if needed) were calculated. Propensity scores were used as confounders, matching variables and for the inverse probability of treatment weights (IPTWs). Results: In all, 88, 117, 78 and 151 patients treated with tocilizumab, IHDC, PDC, and combination therapy, respectively, were compared with 344 untreated patients. The primary endpoint occurred in 10 (11.4%), 27 (23.1%), 12 (15.4%), 40 (25.6%) and 69 (21.1%), respectively. The IPTW-based hazard ratios (odds ratio for combination therapy) for the primary endpoint were 0.32 (95%CI 0.22-0.47; p < 0.001) for tocilizumab, 0.82 (0.71-1.30; p 0.82) for IHDC, 0.61 (0.43-0.86; p 0.006) for PDC, and 1.17 (0.86-1.58; p 0.30) for combination therapy. Other applications of the propensity score provided similar results, but were not significant for PDC. Tocilizumab was also associated with lower hazard of death alone in IPTW analysis (0.07; 0.02-0.17; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Tocilizumab might be useful in COVID-19 patients with a hyperinflammatory state and should be prioritized for randomized trials in this situatio

Investigación joven con perspectiva de género II

Actas del II Congreso de jóvenes investigadorxs con perspectiva de género (Getafe, 26 y 27 de junio de 2017) organizado por el Instituto Universitario de Estudios de Género de la Universidad Carlos III de Madrid