Description of nine new centipede species from Amazonia and related matters on Neotropical geophilomorphs (Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha)

Nine new species of geophilomorph centipedes, all from Amazonian sites, are described: one species belongs to Ballophilidae (ltyphilus demoraisi n.sp.), three to Geophilidae (Ribautia (Schizoribautia) difficilis n.sp., R. (R.)ducalis n.sp., R. (R.) proxima n.sp.), and five to Schendylidae (Pectiniunguis ducalis n.sp.). The ♂ allotype of Ityphilus crabilli PEREIRA, MINELLI & BARBIERI, 1994 is designated and described. Descriptive data and/or taxonomic comments are given for several Neotropical species of the genus Ribautia: R. (Schizoribautia) montana KRAUS, 1954 is regarded as a good species and redescribed from type material. R.(S.) seydi RIBAUT, 1923, R.(S.) peruana VERHOEFF, 1941 and R.(S.) titicacae TURK, 1955 are regarded here as distinct species. Ribautia silvana KRAUS, 1954 is placed in the subgenus Ribautia (Schizoribautia) and the ♂ holotype is described

Existing benchmark systems for assessing global warming potential of buildings – Analysis of IEA EBC Annex 72 cases

Life cycle assessment (LCA) is increasingly being used as a tool by the building industry and actors to assess the global warming potential (GWP) of building activities. In several countries, life cycle based requirements on GWP are currently being incorporated into building regulations. After the establishment of general calculation rules for building LCA, a crucial next step is to evaluate the performance of the specific building design. For this, reference values or benchmarks are needed, but there are several approaches to defining these. This study presents an overview of existing benchmark systems documented in seventeen cases from the IEA EBC Annex 72 project on LCA of buildings. The study characterizes their different types of methodological background and displays the reported values. Full life cycle target values for residential and non-residential buildings are found around 10-20 kg CO2e/m2/y, whereas reference values are found between 20-80 kg CO2e/m2/y. Possible embodied target- and reference values are found between 1-12 kg CO2e/m2/y for both residential and non-residential buildings. Benchmark stakeholders can use the insights from this study to understand the justifications of the background methodological choices and to gain an overview of the level of GWP performance across benchmark systems.publishedVersio

Selection of Favourable Concept of Energy Retrofitting Solution for Social Housing in the Czech Republic Based on Economic Parameters, Greenhouse Gases, and Primary Energy Consumption

Energy retrofitting of existing building stock has significant potential for the reduction of energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Roughly half of the CO2 emissions from Czech building stock are estimated to be allocated to residential buildings. Approximately one-third of the Czech residential building stock have already been retrofitted, but retrofitting mostly takes place in large cities due to greater income. A favourable concept for the mass retrofitting of residential building stock, affordable even in low-income regions, was of interest. For a reference building, multi-criteria assessment of numerous retrofitting measures was performed. The calculation involved different building elements, materials, solutions, and energy-efficiency levels in combination with various heating systems. The assessment comprised environmental impact, represented by operational and embodied primary energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, and investment and operational costs using the annuity method. Analysis resulted in the identification of favourable retrofitting measures and showed that complex building retrofitting is advantageous from both a cost and an environmental point of view. The environmental burden could be decreased by approximately 10–30% even without photovoltaic installation, and costs per year could be decreased by around 40%

Introduction of a Methodology for Deep Energy Retrofitting of Post-War Residential Buildings in Central Europe to Zero Energy Level

Buildings are responsible for 35% of greenhouse gas emissions released in Europe. The highest potential for reduction of the environmental impacts is in the existing buildings' energy efficiency improvement. The paper introduces a development of new methodology for a rapid deep energy retrofitting of existing buildings applicable to residential housing stock in Central Europe. It briefly describes the steps from production of building information model of existing building to complete renovation. It presents experience from pre-production phases on a case study from the Czech Republic. Technical and non-technical barriers to be solved in the near future are summarised in the discussion

A guide into renovation package concepts for mass retrofit of different types of buildings with prefabricated elements for (n)ZEB performance

Zero or nearly zero energy houses ((n)ZEB) are in fact houses that meet their energy demand by on site production of (renewable) energy, that is, by limiting consumption of fossil fuels and replacing them with local, building-connected generation. There is an ongoing discussion whether energy neutral buildings could sometimes be a better option, namely, the houses that use only renewable energy, which can be produced elsewhere, either in the direct vicinity, or by the classic grid. National power supply systems are also in transition in most countries, and they will eventually shift towards renewable energy production. For the housing sector, however, it has been decided to start as locally as possible, and not to wait until the whole system has been transformed. In some countries, local district heating will still be the major option to explore. This is the starting point in analysing retrofitting concepts for housing. With this in mind, to create zero energy houses, or nearly zero energy houses 4 main areas can be targeted: 1. (Local) production of renewable energy; 2. Reduction of energy loss in buildings; 3. Adaptation of building use; 4. Changing inhabitant behaviour. This book approach focuses mainly on Steps 1 and 2, assuming the usual mode of operations for Steps 3 and 4. Although it might turn out that to reach real zero energy targets and possibly beyond energy plus houses, which, for instance, include energy generation for electric driving, Steps 3 ad 4 might have to be addressed as well. Within Step 3, for instance, there is an option that the heated (or cooled) area should be reduced square wise. Within Step 4, there is an option that average temperature levels are reduced or differentiated among different rooms. In some retrofit concepts, Steps 3 and 4 are already addressed. We will also consider them within ?Concepts? section. The approach focuses mainly on heating and ventilation (cooling), since this energy demand is related to the building itself. Household-related energy use will not be influenced by retrofitting directly. Optimization in energy and materials input will mainly be ensured by optimization of heating/ventilation. If Steps 3 and 4 are left out, household energy is a set demand that can be supplied by the related given amount of extra energy generation. This will be shortly addressed in Chapters 2 and 3C.EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation H2020 under grant agreement No 63347

Existing benchmark systems for assessing global warming potential of buildings – Analysis of IEA EBC Annex 72 cases

Life cycle assessment (LCA) is increasingly being used as a tool by the building industry and actors to assess the global warming potential (GWP) of building activities. In several countries, life cycle based requirements on GWP are currently being incorporated into building regulations. After the establishment of general calculation rules for building LCA, a crucial next step is to evaluate the performance of the specific building design. For this, reference values or benchmarks are needed, but there are several approaches to defining these. This study presents an overview of existing benchmark systems documented in seventeen cases from the IEA EBC Annex 72 project on LCA of buildings. The study characterizes their different types of methodological background and displays the reported values. Full life cycle target values for residential and non-residential buildings are found around 10-20 kg CO2e/m2/y, whereas reference values are found between 20-80 kg CO2e/m2/y. Possible embodied target- and reference values are found between 1-12 kg CO2e/m2/y for both residential and non-residential buildings. Benchmark stakeholders can use the insights from this study to understand the justifications of the background methodological choices and to gain an overview of the level of GWP performance across benchmark systems