Integrating Decision-Making Support in Geocollaboration Tools

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Effectiveness of Sustainable Assessment Methods in Achieving High Indoor Air Quality in the UK

The use of sustainable assessment methods in the UK is on the rise, emulating the future regulatory trajectory towards zero carbon by 2016. The indisputable influence of sustainable rating tools on UK building regulations conveys the importance of evaluating their effectiveness in achieving true sustainable design, without adversely effecting human health and well-being. This paper reviews the potential trade-offs between human and ecological health in sustainable building design, particularly between building energy conservation and indoor air quality. The barriers to effective adoption of indoor air quality strategies in sustainable assessment tools are investigated, including recommendations, suggestions and future research needs. The consideration of occupants’ health and well-being should be paramount in any sustainability assessment method, particularly indoor air quality, thus should not be overshadowed or obscured by the drive towards energy efficiency. A balance is essential

Re-valuing construction materials and components through design for disassembly

The expected operational lifespan of modern buildings has become disturbingly short as buildings are replaced for reasons of changing cultural expectations, style, serviceability, locational obsolescence and economic viability. The same buildings, however, are not always physically or structurally obsolete; the materials and components within them are very often still serviceable. While there is some recycling of selected construction materials, such as steel and concrete, this is almost always in the form of down cycling or reprocessing. One significant impediment to reuse is that buildings are not designed in a way that facilitates easy recovery of materials and components. This chapter explores the potential for the recovery of materials and components if buildings were designed for such future recovery, utilizing the strategy of design for disassembly. As well as assessing material waste, this chapter presents research into the analysis of the embodied energy in buildings, highlighting its significance in comparison with operational energy. Analysis at material, component and whole of- building levels shows the potential benefits of strategically designing buildings for future disassembly to recover this embodied energy. Careful consideration at the early design stage can result in the deconstruction of significant portions of buildings and the recovery of their potential through higher order reuse and upcycling