Optimization of Green Building Design Processes: Case Studies within the European Union

[EN] Green buildings have recently become a key aspect of the construction field and bring along a renovation of the whole industry chain. Such changes introduce new challenges for all subjects involved, and designers are also a ected by such issues, especially for the development of projects based on international green building standards. Within this scope, project management plays a key role in the optimization of the design phase. This research analyzes the design process of international projects fromthe project management perspective through a multiple case study approach, considering the sustainability-related tasks that negatively a ect the project design development under two types of contractual approaches: Design-Build and Design-Bid-Build. It aims to identify whether the Design-Build or Design-Bid-Build process is the best solution for developing green building projects. Two case studies in Italy and two case studies in Spain are analyzed, and the e ects of the project management issues are evaluated under three di erent points of view: Time, cost, and level of sustainability of the building. A poorly planned process for the achievement of the various green building features of the project can impact the project schedule and the budget, whereas, a poorly managed project could also negatively impact its green building features. Finally, this research also highlights the positive relationship between process integration and green building design development.Orsi, A.; Guillén Guillamón, IE.; Pellicer, E. (2020). Optimization of Green Building Design Processes: Case Studies within the European Union. Sustainability. 12(6):1-16. https://doi.org/10.3390/su1206227611612

Improving Green Building Project Management Processes through the Lean Approach

[EN] Question: Using a Lean approach to classify issues, or wastes, experienced during the different design processes, what sustainability-related activities affect the project design development stage. Purpose: The objective of this paper is to create a new lean-based approach to analyze the design process and quantify the negative effect of detected project-management issues on the project's main resources, categorized through three different variables: costs, time and sustainability. Research Method: The research makes full use of a Lean approach intended as a standardized method to identify project wastes, classify the issues experienced during the different design processes and ultimately propose possible solutions for process optimization. The Lean approach was used as the basis to study four case studies wherein real projects were developed in different European countries under the LEED and BREEAM reference standards. The projects were analyzed against a set of guidelines developed by the Researchers with the aim of avoiding the replication of such issues in future projects. The analysis took into consideration all sustainability-related activities that affected the project design development. Findings: By identifying and estimating the effects of each issue on the project variables, researchers could rank their negative impact on the project budget, schedule and level of sustainability. The ranking allowed isolating which issues, or categories of issues, had the worst impact on the overall project from both qualitative and quantitative points of view. These research goals were achieved through the implementation of the Lean method and philosophy. Limitations: Among the main challenges related to time-variance analysis. Estimating the delay of single activities impact was sometimes difficult and ambiguous because it relied on other activities for which dependency could not be calculated. Limitations related to cost-variance analysis involved indirect costs that were difficult to estimate because they were neither related to any written document nor any formal activity or event of the project. The present research takes into consideration only four case-study projects and therefore the related conclusions cannot be generalized for all building projects. Implications: Applying the ranking of the issues identifies to a real project development with limited resources, it would be possible to highlight which problems should be addressed first in order to avoid, or at least limit, their negative impact on the project establishing a set of guidelines for future projects. Value for authors: This study sets the basis for several other research studies in relationship with green-building developments and lean approach.Orsi, A.; Abdelhamid, TS.; Pellicer, E.; Guillén Guillamón, IE. (2021). Improving Green Building Project Management Processes through the Lean Approach. Lean Construction Journal. 2021:156-179. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/190602156179202

The influence of acoustic standards in construction: a case study of social housing in Argentina

[EN] Exposure to high noise levels greatly impacts human health. For this reason, it is necessary to take into account the acoustic conditioning of built interior spaces, since human beings spend a large part of their time in them. To this end, each country must regulate and promote good construction practices that guarantee the mental and physical comfort of its occupants. In the case of Argentina, there is an insufficiency in the development of laws and regulations on acoustic architecture and even more so on acoustics in homes. In this sense, this study aims to evaluate the current acoustic comfort presented by public housing in Argentina, highlighting the existing legal gaps, and enabling recommendations in this regard, taking Spain as the country of reference. This country is taken since Argentine legislation has traditionally replicated European and Spanish standards instead of American ones. To this end, a systemic review and comparison are made between the laws and architectural acoustic regulations of Argentina and Spain. The observation of the noise protection standards in closed areas of these countries will be deepened. For a better understanding of these and to meet the objective, a prototype of public housing was needed in different parts of the country through the PRO.CRE.AR plan is taken as a case study and verified according to each standard. IRAM and UNE. As a relevant result, it is shown that the houses built by the State only partially verify the admissible minimums proposed by the regulations. The lack of laws and complementary documents focused on acoustic conditioning is concluded through the case study.Saez, V.; Quintana Gallardo, A.; Garzón, B.; Guillén Guillamón, IE. (2023). The influence of acoustic standards in construction: a case study of social housing in Argentina. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 588-596. https://doi.org/10.4995/VIBRArch2022.2022.1520458859

Social housing in the Dominican Republic, a study on thermal comfort

[EN] The accelerated growth of cities entails challenges in all sectors, and specifically, it has a close relationship with the construction sector. The Dominican Republic is a country where urban growth is increasing considerably, representing a problem of great magnitude in terms of the construction of social housing to reduce the housing deficit. In the social housing projects in Santo Domingo, the energy conditions are non-existent. There are no previous studies on the thermal comfort of those buildings. For this reason, this study seeks to analyze thermal comfort and energy efficiency in these types of housing through an energy simulation.The energy simulation is carried out through OpenStudio, which uses the Energy Plus calculation engine. A type of model was analyzed for the determination of temperatures and ranges of thermal comfort to evaluate its behavior for 24 hours in different months. The calculations obtained from the energy consumption due mainly to the variation of the comfort temperature indicate that the temperature variation is very similar in the selected months, with a maximum temperature of 27.3ºC in the hottest month and a minimum temperature of 26 .8ºC in the coldest month. Finally, due to the warm climate that prevails in the area, a high comfort temperature is recorded in these types of dwellings. To improve the comfort conditions in this type of dwelling, it is necessary to add thermal insulation and control the solar gains effectively.Acosta Medina, DT.; Quintana Gallardo, A.; Guillén Guillamón, IE. (2023). Social housing in the Dominican Republic, a study on thermal comfort. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 668-677. https://doi.org/10.4995/VIBRArch2022.2022.1521266867

The First 3D-Printed Building in Spain: A Study on Its Acoustic, Thermal and Environmental Performance

[EN] The first 3D-printed building in Spain is the object of this study, and it is presented and physically described herein from different points of view. This study combines on-site measurements, simulations, and a life cycle assessment to assess some relevant parameters concerning the acoustic, thermal and environmental performance of the 3D-printed house. The main objectives are to analyze whether the house complies with the acoustic and thermal regulations and to assess whether it can act as a sustainable alternative to conventional masonry construction, especially when time plays an important role. The build surface (3D prototype) of the house is approximately 23 m2. The internal space includes a living room (12.35 m2), a bedroom (7.36 m2) and a bathroom (3.16 m2). The total surface of the house is 22.87 m2 and it has a volume of 64.03 m3. The acoustic insulation was measured according to the ISO 9869-1:2014 standard. In terms of the acoustic insulation, the sound reduction index was tested following the guidelines of the ISO 140-5:1999 standard. Additionally, the study includes a comparative life cycle assessment comparing the 3D-printed façade with two conventional wall typologies. The 3D-printed house displays an excellent thermal performance, with a measured thermal transmittance of 0.24 Wm¿2K¿1, suitable for all Spanish climate zones. Regarding the acoustic insulation, the measured global sound reduction indexes of the façades range from 36 to 45 dB, which is adequate for areas with noise levels of up to 75 dB. The environmental results indicate that 3D-printed façade manufacturing emits 30% more CO2e than a façade constructed using concrete blocks and 2% less than a masonry block wall. Overall, this study shows that, in addition to its multiple advantages in terms of the construction time, the studied 3Dprinted house has similar acoustic, thermal and environmental traits to the most common construction typologies. However, it cannot be considered a sustainable construction method due to its high amount of cement.Salandin, A.; Quintana-Gallardo, A.; Gómez Lozano, V.; Guillén Guillamón, IE. (2022). The First 3D-Printed Building in Spain: A Study on Its Acoustic, Thermal and Environmental Performance. Sustainability. 14(20):1-21. https://doi.org/10.3390/su142013204121142

So Similar, So Different: Diving in the Physical and Acoustic Features of Two theatres. A Case Study

[EN] The study of the acoustic conditions of Concert Halls, Theatres, and Opera House offers the possibility of understanding better the behavior of those spaces. Many researchers have dealt with the physical and acoustic characteristics of landmark venues that host live performances, but many of them still need to be characterized and studied. The present work aims to perform a comparative analysis of two theatres. We have chosen two theatres with similar characteristics except one, the volume of the main hall in this case: the Olympia Theatre and the Talia Theatre, both located in the city of Valencia (Spain). We want to get deeper into the factors that influence how a certain space sounds. More specifically, the ratios between stage area and audience area. We have collected geometrical data of both spaces, such as room volume, fly-tower volume, audience surface, stage surface, stage opening surface area, acoustical surface area, etc.; and material and architectural detail data to determine the absorption coefficient of the different surfaces of the space. Moreover, we will conduct acoustical measurements surveys in both theaters. To summarize, we will work in a three-axis strategy: geometric, acoustic absorption and onsite analytic data, to evaluate the influence of the different parameters in the acoustic behavior of the room and the relationships between them.Pérez-Aguilar, B.; Quintana-Gallardo, A.; Llopis Reyna, A.; Guillén Guillamón, IE. (2021). So Similar, So Different: Diving in the Physical and Acoustic Features of Two theatres. A Case Study. Archidoct. The e-journal for the dissemination of doctoral research in architecture. 17(1):1-11. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/19060311117

The Environmental Impacts of Disposable Nonwoven Fabrics during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Case Study on the Francesc de Borja Hospital

[EN] Hospitals generate huge amounts of nonwoven residues daily. This paper focused on studying the evolution of nonwoven waste generated in the Francesc de Borja Hospital, Spain, over the last few years and its relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. The main objective was to identify the most impacting pieces of nonwoven equipment in the hospital and to analyze possible solutions. The carbon footprint of the nonwoven equipment was studied through a life-cycle assessment. The results showed an apparent increase in the carbon footprint in the hospital from 2020. Additionally, due to the higher annual volume, the simple nonwoven gown used primarily for patients had a higher carbon footprint over a year than the more sophisticated surgical gowns. It can be concluded that developing a local circular economy strategy for medical equipment could be the solution to avoid the enormous waste generation and the carbon footprint of nonwoven production.: This research was funded by the Fisabio Fundation under the 2020 call for grants for preparatory actions and joint innovation projects between the research staff of the Universitat Politècnica de València and professionals of the Fundació per al Foment de la Investigació Sanitària i Biomèdica de la Comunitat Valenciana, grant number A45, project name Compensación de la generación de residuos textiles hospitalarios generados por la crisis de la COVID-19 con un modelo de economía circularQuintana-Gallardo, A.; Del Rey, R.; González-Conca, S.; Guillén Guillamón, IE. (2023). The Environmental Impacts of Disposable Nonwoven Fabrics during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Case Study on the Francesc de Borja Hospital. Polymers. 15(5). https://doi.org/10.3390/polym1505113015

CFD model using for natural ventilation study in the local building of hot-humid climate in Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR

©2016 International Energy & Environment Foundation.In Laos, the research of the relationship between local climate and the building is still less, therefore the attentiveness of passive design in building is also rare and depreciates. This study will be some basic guideline for studying about air movement that impact to the building in Laos which has the hot-humid weather all year. This study analyzes how the physical characteristics of air flow affect to the local accommodation building in Vientiane Capital of Laos by using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) techniques. Furthermore, the study aims to investigate the air movement appearance inside the room influenced by the environment around building, particularly the main factors of human comfort including the air movement, the age of air, temperature and pressure.Phonekeo, P.; López Jiménez, PA.; Guillén Guillamón, IE. (2016). CFD model using for natural ventilation study in the local building of hot-humid climate in Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR. International Journal of Energy and Environment. 7(1):37-48. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/62070S37487

Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of gypsum plasterboard and a new kind of bio-based epoxy composite containing different natural fibers

[DE] A comparative LCA from cradle to grave between traditional plasterboard, for drywall applications, and different composite boards, made by natural fiber and a bio-based epoxy resin (Supersap CLR), was carried out. The goal of the study was to determine whether the composites based on such a resin combined with natural fibers could be an eco-friendly alternative to plasterboard in the building sector. Moreover, the impacts related to each of the fibers used are also assessed separately from cradle to gate in order to get a better understanding of its influence. Both the results obtained through the IPC. GWP 100a method and the recipe endpoint show a remarkable difference between the plasterboard and all the different composites, the composites offering a 50% reduction in the CO2 emissions. The calculations performed regarding the impacts related to the different fibers showed only small differences between them.The authors gratefully thank the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness, for funding the project BIA2013-41537-R (BIAEFIREMAT 'Development of new sustainable eco-materials and building systems for the building industry, based on the use of residues and renewable raw materials'). The project is co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and it is included in the R+D National Programme for Research Aimed at the Challenges of Society.Quintana, A.; Alba Fernández, J.; Rey Tormos, RMD.; Guillén Guillamón, IE. (2018). Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of gypsum plasterboard and a new kind of bio-based epoxy composite containing different natural fibers. Journal of Cleaner Production. 185:408-420. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.03.042S40842018

The Acoustic and Cultural Heritage of the Banda Primitiva de Llíria Theater: Objective and Subjective Evaluation

[EN] La Banda Primitiva is one of Europe's most notable symphonic civic bands. Located in Ll & iacute;ria (Val & egrave;ncia, Spain), part of the UNESCO creative cities network, its theater was designed by Joaqu & iacute;n Rieta, one of the most relevant Valencian architects of the twentieth century. This study analyses the current state of the theater, its relevance to the town's cultural heritage, and how it has evolved over the years in terms of its acoustic performance. The objective is to understand how the theater's acoustics have evolved over the years and to unveil the reasons behind the preference of the regular audience for specific areas of the venue, considering if these tendencies are influenced by tradition rather than the current auditory experience. The theater's acoustics were studied with objective and subjective parameters. The objective parameters were assessed by conducting on-site measurements and ray-tracing simulations. One hundred and three musicians answered a survey of auralizations to evaluate subjective acoustic parameters. Three musical pieces were recorded in an anechoic chamber and convoluted by the impulse response of the venue at different positions to obtain the auralizations. The results show that the objective acoustic parameters do not differ significantly. Overall, the reverberation time was longer before the renovation. Regarding subjective testing, the sample only shows a subtle tendency (57%) towards preferring seats on the second balcony. For that reason, it can be concluded that there is no evidence to support the claim that the seats located on the second balcony have better acoustics than those in the stalls.A.Q.-G. gratefully acknowledges receiving funding from the Spanish Ministry of Universities and the Polytechnic University of Valencia under the 'Plan de Recuperacion Transformacion y Resiliencia' (investment funding from the European Union Next-Generation EU).Pérez-Aguilar, B.; Quintana-Gallardo, A.; Gasent-Blesa, JL.; Guillén Guillamón, IE. (2024). The Acoustic and Cultural Heritage of the Banda Primitiva de Llíria Theater: Objective and Subjective Evaluation. Buildings. 14(8). https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings1408232914