Abstract A methodology is developed that allows an optimization of the dimensions of a building’s... more Abstract A methodology is developed that allows an optimization of the dimensions of a building’s structural components at the initial design stage, aimed to minimize operational and embodied energy consumption. The methodology includes a parametric, iterative and interactive process of incremental alterations in structural design and thermal performance in search for an optimal solution. The results of the application of the methodology in a case study indicate that structural components with a higher thermal mass can reduce operational energy consumption by up to 3%. The addition of insulation results in a significant reduction in operational energy consumption, while reducing the relative impact of non-insulated thermal mass in the building envelope.
Abstract This study evaluates the potential for life-cycle energy savings in buildings through th... more Abstract This study evaluates the potential for life-cycle energy savings in buildings through the use of efficient structural roof form. A simulation-based optimization methodology was developed for comparing the energy requirements of reinforced concrete structures based on conventional flat slabs with those employing alternative vaulted spanning elements, in which the required quantities of high embodied-energy materials like steel and cement may be significantly reduced. The modeling framework combines structural and thermal analyses for the respective quantification of embodied and operational energy. It accounts for local conditions influencing material production and transport, code requirements for structural reliability and serviceability, and heating and cooling demands over a 50-year life span. Results clearly show the potential of non-flat structural roof forms to reduce life-cycle energy consumption – with maximum savings of over 40% in embodied energy and of nearly 25% in cumulative life-cycle energy. This model may be implemented from the early design phases for achieving environmentally responsible buildings.
The paper presents an integrative approach to the design and construction of bioclimatic houses i... more The paper presents an integrative approach to the design and construction of bioclimatic houses in general, and especially those for arid environments. This is done through a case study, built in a solar neighborhood on the Negev Highlands, Israel, incorporating: medium weight envelope walls built of cellular concrete blocks; appropriate details to avoid thermal bridges; internal thermal mass and open space plan; and a number of passive devices. Monitoring results of the 200 sq.m., two-storey house, show summer indoor daily maxima of 24-25 deg.C. as opposed to ambient maxima of 30-35 deg.C., and 17-19 deg.C. winter indoor daily minima, as opposed to ambient minima close to 0 deg.C. Extreme temperature differences of indoor air and surfaces remain within the range of 1 deg.C. The thermal behaviour of the house during “freak events” is also analysed. The monitored results comply with those of the single zone model simulated with QUICK, used for optimization during early and advanced d...
The climate and energy advantages of underground dwellings have long been praised. In many cases ... more The climate and energy advantages of underground dwellings have long been praised. In many cases such praises have been based on qualitative assessments, whereas in others the existence of numerous such examples in specific geoclimatic regions – such as deserts – has been assumed to indicate their positive characteristics. This paper presents three case studies from three distinctly different geoclimatic zones of the Israeli deserts, assessing the appropriateness of underground spaces for living in each one of them, and discussing briefly strategies for indoor microclimate improvement. Conference topic: design strategies, case studies
This paper presents a number of case studies from a hot arid environment, covering a range of bui... more This paper presents a number of case studies from a hot arid environment, covering a range of building types and sizes, among them government, university residential buildings, educational and tourist facilities. It hopefully demonstrates how preconceived ideas and lip service have hindered the creation of healthy, responsive, comfortable indoor environments, whereas a basic understanding of the local conditions and the adaptive thermal comfort model could have yielded much better results – easily achieved when appropriate design is coupled with informed users.
Both basins of the Dead Sea (DS) have been deeply damaged in the last 50 years by anthropogenic i... more Both basins of the Dead Sea (DS) have been deeply damaged in the last 50 years by anthropogenic intrusion in its water balance. The northern basin is receding, together with the fresh water aquifers along its shores. This has led to the formation of sinkholes, subsidence areas and landslides, affecting wide coastal segments, and bringing development to a halt along the western DS shore. In the southern basin, the water level is rising, threatening the tourist-hotel area lying on its shores. This overview of planning and decision making in the last four decades shows that environmental degradation, conflict between industry and tourism, conservation versus development, water scarcity, unsustainable water and wastewater management have remained persistent problems. Coordination among agents of management and planning, missing for decades, is essential to cope with the problems of the DS region, which are expected to grow increasingly severe on both DS shores, in the absence of sustain...
This paper presents a number of case studies (surveyed and/or monitored) from a hot arid environm... more This paper presents a number of case studies (surveyed and/or monitored) from a hot arid environment, covering a range of building types and sizes, among them government, university residential buildings, educational and tourist facilities. It hopefully demonstrates how preconceived ideas have prevented the designers of most of these to reach a healthy, responsive, comfortable indoor environment, whereas a basic understanding of the local conditions and the adaptive thermal model could have yielded much better results – easily achieved when appropriate design is coupled with informed users.
Theories and models are by definition of an abstract, general nature. Thus, they refer to no plac... more Theories and models are by definition of an abstract, general nature. Thus, they refer to no place in particular and, consequently, are disconnected from landscape, climate and culture. This is especially so with theories based on economics and statistics, or with different design fashions, such as those we have witnessed in the last century.
The BIPV Workshop held in Sede Boqer in February 2007, and the deliberations towards it, were acc... more The BIPV Workshop held in Sede Boqer in February 2007, and the deliberations towards it, were accompanied by philosophical and practical arguments among the organizers, focusing on the applicability and viability of such systems. It has been stated more than once that at present PV are uneconomical in terms of cost of production and installation versus benefits from the energy produced, and environmentally problematic due to the production and disposal processes and byproducts. Such arguments are not untypical of the broader scientific and policy discourse of recent years. This brief introductory note attempts to put such discourse in perspective, illustrated through the Israeli context. It will be argued that when taken within a broader environmental, social, political and economic analysis, BIPV is a plausible solution, despite the more narrowly couched economic claims against it. It will hence be argued that once the externalities of conventional electricity production are fully appreciated, so will be the relative advantages of BIPV and assorted technologies. This note is not discussing the architectonic implications of BIPV, despite the author’s professional background. It rather attempts to make the case for the implementation of BIPV among other alternative energy sources, as a last resort before we reach the point of no return regarding our interface with the environment and the ways in which such interactions affect our lives.
Le Corbusier considered buildings “machines for living in.” Modem buildings have indeed become in... more Le Corbusier considered buildings “machines for living in.” Modem buildings have indeed become increasingly complex, involving technologically advanced building materials, and mechanical systems for controlling interior air quality, thermal comfort, lighting and acoustics. These systems, which rely exclusively on the utilization of non-renewable energy, are often expensive to install and energy intensive in operation. This is particularly true of buildings constructed in locations with extreme climatic conditions, such as deserts, where the difference between ambient conditions and the desired interior conditions is large.
This study reviews the factors involved in the transition from the traditional Bedouin black tent... more This study reviews the factors involved in the transition from the traditional Bedouin black tent to the tin shack. Many economic, social, and macro-political factors are involved in this transition. It is shown that in functional terms the tin shack is very similar to the traditional tent. However, compared with the traditional tent, the climatic performance of the tin shack is much worse, amplifying ambient temperature extremes, and increasing respiratory related complications. In spite of this poor performance, tin shacks have become the mainstream dwelling form of Bedouin settlements in the Negev during the last three decades.
Abstract A methodology is developed that allows an optimization of the dimensions of a building’s... more Abstract A methodology is developed that allows an optimization of the dimensions of a building’s structural components at the initial design stage, aimed to minimize operational and embodied energy consumption. The methodology includes a parametric, iterative and interactive process of incremental alterations in structural design and thermal performance in search for an optimal solution. The results of the application of the methodology in a case study indicate that structural components with a higher thermal mass can reduce operational energy consumption by up to 3%. The addition of insulation results in a significant reduction in operational energy consumption, while reducing the relative impact of non-insulated thermal mass in the building envelope.
Abstract This study evaluates the potential for life-cycle energy savings in buildings through th... more Abstract This study evaluates the potential for life-cycle energy savings in buildings through the use of efficient structural roof form. A simulation-based optimization methodology was developed for comparing the energy requirements of reinforced concrete structures based on conventional flat slabs with those employing alternative vaulted spanning elements, in which the required quantities of high embodied-energy materials like steel and cement may be significantly reduced. The modeling framework combines structural and thermal analyses for the respective quantification of embodied and operational energy. It accounts for local conditions influencing material production and transport, code requirements for structural reliability and serviceability, and heating and cooling demands over a 50-year life span. Results clearly show the potential of non-flat structural roof forms to reduce life-cycle energy consumption – with maximum savings of over 40% in embodied energy and of nearly 25% in cumulative life-cycle energy. This model may be implemented from the early design phases for achieving environmentally responsible buildings.
The paper presents an integrative approach to the design and construction of bioclimatic houses i... more The paper presents an integrative approach to the design and construction of bioclimatic houses in general, and especially those for arid environments. This is done through a case study, built in a solar neighborhood on the Negev Highlands, Israel, incorporating: medium weight envelope walls built of cellular concrete blocks; appropriate details to avoid thermal bridges; internal thermal mass and open space plan; and a number of passive devices. Monitoring results of the 200 sq.m., two-storey house, show summer indoor daily maxima of 24-25 deg.C. as opposed to ambient maxima of 30-35 deg.C., and 17-19 deg.C. winter indoor daily minima, as opposed to ambient minima close to 0 deg.C. Extreme temperature differences of indoor air and surfaces remain within the range of 1 deg.C. The thermal behaviour of the house during “freak events” is also analysed. The monitored results comply with those of the single zone model simulated with QUICK, used for optimization during early and advanced d...
The climate and energy advantages of underground dwellings have long been praised. In many cases ... more The climate and energy advantages of underground dwellings have long been praised. In many cases such praises have been based on qualitative assessments, whereas in others the existence of numerous such examples in specific geoclimatic regions – such as deserts – has been assumed to indicate their positive characteristics. This paper presents three case studies from three distinctly different geoclimatic zones of the Israeli deserts, assessing the appropriateness of underground spaces for living in each one of them, and discussing briefly strategies for indoor microclimate improvement. Conference topic: design strategies, case studies
This paper presents a number of case studies from a hot arid environment, covering a range of bui... more This paper presents a number of case studies from a hot arid environment, covering a range of building types and sizes, among them government, university residential buildings, educational and tourist facilities. It hopefully demonstrates how preconceived ideas and lip service have hindered the creation of healthy, responsive, comfortable indoor environments, whereas a basic understanding of the local conditions and the adaptive thermal comfort model could have yielded much better results – easily achieved when appropriate design is coupled with informed users.
Both basins of the Dead Sea (DS) have been deeply damaged in the last 50 years by anthropogenic i... more Both basins of the Dead Sea (DS) have been deeply damaged in the last 50 years by anthropogenic intrusion in its water balance. The northern basin is receding, together with the fresh water aquifers along its shores. This has led to the formation of sinkholes, subsidence areas and landslides, affecting wide coastal segments, and bringing development to a halt along the western DS shore. In the southern basin, the water level is rising, threatening the tourist-hotel area lying on its shores. This overview of planning and decision making in the last four decades shows that environmental degradation, conflict between industry and tourism, conservation versus development, water scarcity, unsustainable water and wastewater management have remained persistent problems. Coordination among agents of management and planning, missing for decades, is essential to cope with the problems of the DS region, which are expected to grow increasingly severe on both DS shores, in the absence of sustain...
This paper presents a number of case studies (surveyed and/or monitored) from a hot arid environm... more This paper presents a number of case studies (surveyed and/or monitored) from a hot arid environment, covering a range of building types and sizes, among them government, university residential buildings, educational and tourist facilities. It hopefully demonstrates how preconceived ideas have prevented the designers of most of these to reach a healthy, responsive, comfortable indoor environment, whereas a basic understanding of the local conditions and the adaptive thermal model could have yielded much better results – easily achieved when appropriate design is coupled with informed users.
Theories and models are by definition of an abstract, general nature. Thus, they refer to no plac... more Theories and models are by definition of an abstract, general nature. Thus, they refer to no place in particular and, consequently, are disconnected from landscape, climate and culture. This is especially so with theories based on economics and statistics, or with different design fashions, such as those we have witnessed in the last century.
The BIPV Workshop held in Sede Boqer in February 2007, and the deliberations towards it, were acc... more The BIPV Workshop held in Sede Boqer in February 2007, and the deliberations towards it, were accompanied by philosophical and practical arguments among the organizers, focusing on the applicability and viability of such systems. It has been stated more than once that at present PV are uneconomical in terms of cost of production and installation versus benefits from the energy produced, and environmentally problematic due to the production and disposal processes and byproducts. Such arguments are not untypical of the broader scientific and policy discourse of recent years. This brief introductory note attempts to put such discourse in perspective, illustrated through the Israeli context. It will be argued that when taken within a broader environmental, social, political and economic analysis, BIPV is a plausible solution, despite the more narrowly couched economic claims against it. It will hence be argued that once the externalities of conventional electricity production are fully appreciated, so will be the relative advantages of BIPV and assorted technologies. This note is not discussing the architectonic implications of BIPV, despite the author’s professional background. It rather attempts to make the case for the implementation of BIPV among other alternative energy sources, as a last resort before we reach the point of no return regarding our interface with the environment and the ways in which such interactions affect our lives.
Le Corbusier considered buildings “machines for living in.” Modem buildings have indeed become in... more Le Corbusier considered buildings “machines for living in.” Modem buildings have indeed become increasingly complex, involving technologically advanced building materials, and mechanical systems for controlling interior air quality, thermal comfort, lighting and acoustics. These systems, which rely exclusively on the utilization of non-renewable energy, are often expensive to install and energy intensive in operation. This is particularly true of buildings constructed in locations with extreme climatic conditions, such as deserts, where the difference between ambient conditions and the desired interior conditions is large.
This study reviews the factors involved in the transition from the traditional Bedouin black tent... more This study reviews the factors involved in the transition from the traditional Bedouin black tent to the tin shack. Many economic, social, and macro-political factors are involved in this transition. It is shown that in functional terms the tin shack is very similar to the traditional tent. However, compared with the traditional tent, the climatic performance of the tin shack is much worse, amplifying ambient temperature extremes, and increasing respiratory related complications. In spite of this poor performance, tin shacks have become the mainstream dwelling form of Bedouin settlements in the Negev during the last three decades.
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