Conference Presentations by Gabriel Felmer
The lifecycle assessment (LCA) of low energy residential mass-timber (MT) building is evaluated. ... more The lifecycle assessment (LCA) of low energy residential mass-timber (MT) building is evaluated. The MT building design features improved thermal envelope design (e.g. increased thermal insulation, glazing and airtight sealing). Lifecycle environmental impacts are assessed using SimaPRO 9.0 and building thermal performance is evaluated using TAS 9.5. Global warming potential for MT building and reinforced concrete (RC) building designs were estimated as 97.4 and 162.8 kg of CO2 eq per square meter, respectively. Recognizing wood materials as a carbon sink, the usage of mass-timber products achieved a negative net of 310,000 kg of CO2 eq/building. Operational emissions from domestic space-conditioning were reduced significantly by 288.6 kg of CO2e (83%) per square meter, over 50-year useful life using MT constructions rather than conventional RC. Consequently, mass-timber construction shows a higher potential than conventional RC to reduce carbon emissions of multi-story buildings located in Santiago, Chile.
Designing Naturally Conditioned Dwellings for Chile , 2018
The techniques applied in this paper were planned to minimise the additional energy and capital c... more The techniques applied in this paper were planned to minimise the additional energy and capital costs required for achieving occupant thermal comfort in Chilean residential buildings. Extensive analytical work is reviewed here to assess the influence of building design and operable envelope controls on auxiliary space-conditioning energy. Results of dynamic thermal simulations indicate that indoor comfort temperatures can be achieved all year long at low extra capital and without recourse to traditional space-heating and cooling. The methods applied for this analysis outline guiding principles for designing naturally conditioned dwellings across the country’s main inhabited regions.
This paper presents results from thermal simulations conducted for a terrace house in Santiago (3... more This paper presents results from thermal simulations conducted for a terrace house in Santiago (33˚S). Previous findings from field studies concluded that despite the use of polluting space heaters social housing households were unable to heat their homes to an adequate level of warmth, being exposed to noxious pollutant gases and also forced to live in fuel poverty. The studies presented here investigate whether adequate thermal comfort conditions can be provided in free-running buildings, i.e. neither heated nor cooled mechanically, within the economic limitations posed by social housing standards. Results from thermal simulations have evidenced that, through passive heating and cooling design techniques, thermal comfort can be achieved at low costs without any additional energy inputs all year-round. These results will be further used to develop a modular housing prototype for the varied climates of Chile.
Thesis Chapters by Gabriel Felmer
The central problem addressed by this research is the fuel poverty caused by the thermal ineffici... more The central problem addressed by this research is the fuel poverty caused by the thermal inefficiency of new dwelling stocks in Chile. By performing simulations to investigate different design options, dwelling types, building materials and passive envelope techniques, this research demonstrates that acceptable indoor thermal comfort conditions can be achieved in dwellings at low extra-capital and without recourse to conventional space-heating and cooling. The planned outcome of the study is a modular low-carbon prefabricated prototyping system that use locally sourced timber materials for delivering naturally conditioned dwellings at different multi-unit configurations and scales and to a number of site locations nationwide.
Talks by Gabriel Felmer
Existe poco conocimiento sobre la intensidad y magnitud de la pobreza energética que afecta actua... more Existe poco conocimiento sobre la intensidad y magnitud de la pobreza energética que afecta actualmente a los hogares en Chile. Esta presentación revisa distintos instrumentos de caracterización física y socioeconómica del stock actual de viviendas para proponer una metodología de medición basada en la necesidad de garantizar condiciones mínimas de temperatura y confort térmico interior. Se advierte la necesidad de cuantificar la pobreza energética oculta derivada de la exposición a temperaturas extremas de frío y calor así como la incidencia del cambio climático sobre la dependencia al uso de combustibles para calefacción y refrigeración. A modo de conclusión se proponen lineamientos estratégicos generales de mitigación y adaptación para avanzar hacia la autonomía energética de los hogares.
Papers by Gabriel Felmer
Sustainability
While high-rise mass-timber construction is booming worldwide as a more sustainable alternative t... more While high-rise mass-timber construction is booming worldwide as a more sustainable alternative to mainstream cement and steel, in South America, there are still many gaps to overcome regarding sourcing, design, and environmental performance. The aim of this study was to assess the carbon emission footprint of using mass-timber products to build a mid-rise low-energy residential building in central Chile (CCL). The design presented at a solar decathlon contest in Santiago was assessed through lifecycle analysis (LCA) and compared to an equivalent mainstream concrete building. Greenhouse gas emissions, expressed as global warming potential (GWP), from cradle-to-usage over a 50-year life span, were lower for the timber design, with 131 kg CO2 eq/m2 of floor area (compared to 353 kg CO2 eq/m2) and a biogenic carbon storage of 447 tons of CO2 eq/m2 based on sustainable forestry practices. From cradle-to-construction, the embodied emissions of the mass-timber building were 42% lower (101...
The central problem addressed by this research is the fuel poverty caused by the thermal ineffici... more The central problem addressed by this research is the fuel poverty caused by the thermal inefficiency of new dwelling stocks in Chile. By performing simulations to investigate different design options, dwelling types, building materials and passive envelope techniques, this research demonstrates that acceptable indoor occupant thermal comfort conditions can be achieved in dwellings at low extra-capital and without recourse to conventional space-heating and cooling. The planned outcome of the study is a modular low-carbon prefabricated prototyping system that uses locally sourced timber materials for delivering naturally conditioned dwellings at different multi-unit configurations and scales and to a number of site locations nationwide.
Architectural Science Review, 2020
The central problem addressed by this paper is the fuel poverty experienced in Chile as a result ... more The central problem addressed by this paper is the fuel poverty experienced in Chile as a result of poor thermal performance of dwellings, a problem commonly encountered throughout the country, even in new housing. The domestic consumption of fuels used for thermal regulation of dwellings accounts for a large proportion of national energy use, gas emissions, and household expenditures. This study aims to alleviate these issues by presenting building designs that can provide comfortable indoor thermal conditions without a need for conventional energy fuels. Following the findings of field studies, the design of standard dwellings has been optimized using computational studies that were conducted with consideration for the country’s main climatic regions. The results of this study have shown that the application of passive design measures can be sufficient for achieving thermal comfort conditions, thereby reducing the use of domestic fuels to near-zero levels in most of the country.
Sustainability, 2022
While high-rise mass-timber construction is booming worldwide as a more sustainable alternative t... more While high-rise mass-timber construction is booming worldwide as a more sustainable alternative to mainstream cement and steel, in South America, there are still many gaps to overcome regarding sourcing, design, and environmental performance. The aim of this study was to assess the carbon emission footprint of using mass-timber products to build a mid-rise low-energy residential building in central Chile (CCL). The design presented at a solar decathlon contest in Santiago was assessed through lifecycle analysis (LCA) and compared to an equivalent mainstream concrete building. Greenhouse gas emissions, expressed as global warming potential (GWP), from cradle-to-usage over a 50-year life span, were lower for the timber design, with 131 kg CO2 eq/m2 of floor area (compared to 353 kg CO2 eq/m2) and a biogenic carbon storage of 447 tons of CO2 eq/m2 based on sustainable forestry practices. From cradle-to-construction, the embodied emissions of the mass-timber building were 42% lower (101...
Sustainability
As the need to address climate change grows more urgent, policymakers, businesses, and others are... more As the need to address climate change grows more urgent, policymakers, businesses, and others are seeking innovative approaches to remove carbon dioxide emissions from the atmosphere and decarbonize hard-to-abate sectors. Forests can play a role in reducing atmospheric carbon. However, there is disagreement over whether forests are most effective in reducing carbon emissions when left alone versus managed for sustainable harvesting and wood product production. Cross-laminated timber is at the forefront of the mass timber movement, which is enabling designers, engineers, and other stakeholders to build taller wood buildings. Several recent studies have shown that substituting mass timber for steel and concrete in mid-rise buildings can reduce the emissions associated with manufacturing, transporting, and installing building materials by 13%-26.5%. However, the prospect of increased utilization of wood products as a climate solution also raises questions about the impact of increased ...
This paper presents results from thermal simulations conducted for a terrace house in Santiago (3... more This paper presents results from thermal simulations conducted for a terrace house in Santiago (33˚S). Previous findings from field studies concluded that despite the use of polluting space heaters social housing households were unable to heat their homes to an adequate level of warmth, being exposed to noxious pollutant gases and also forced to live in fuel poverty. The studies presented here investigate whether adequate thermal comfort conditions can be provided in free-running buildings, i.e. neither heated nor cooled mechanically, within the economic limitations posed by social housing standards. Results from thermal simulations have evidenced that, through passive heating and cooling design techniques, thermal comfort can be achieved at low costs without any additional energy inputs all yearround. These results will be further used to develop a modular housing prototype for the varied climates
The central problem addressed by this research is the fuel poverty caused by the thermal ineffici... more The central problem addressed by this research is the fuel poverty caused by the thermal inefficiency of new dwelling stocks in Chile. By performing simulations to investigate different design options, dwelling types, building materials and passive envelope techniques, this research demonstrates that acceptable indoor occupant thermal comfort conditions can be achieved in dwellings at low extra-capital and without recourse to conventional space-heating and cooling. The planned outcome of the study is a modular low-carbon prefabricated prototyping system that uses locally sourced timber materials for delivering naturally conditioned dwellings at different multi-unit configurations and scales and to a number of site locations nationwide.
Sustainability
A large part of the global brick manufacturing industry has evolved based on knowledge transmitte... more A large part of the global brick manufacturing industry has evolved based on knowledge transmitted from generation to generation without developing a consistent scientific approach. The purpose of this article is to contribute to this approach by discussing the state-of-the-art and future trends of the design and construction of artisan brick kilns (ABK). The methodology proposed for this study is based on a systematic literature review whereby main question is: What research exists on brick kilns? Based on the results of this review, it is recommended that appropriate emerging technologies that should be incorporated to ABKs for either medium or small enterprises should be: mechanical fans, envelope thermal insulation, organic waste of uniform size as fuel, automatic control of process variables and computer simulations of phenomenological processes. This should be accompanied by technical training for the brick-makers and greater access to financing funds. The technologies reviewe...
Architectural Science Review , 2020
The central problem addressed by this paper is the fuel poverty experienced in Chile as a result ... more The central problem addressed by this paper is the fuel poverty experienced in Chile as a result of poor thermal performance of dwellings, a problem commonly encountered throughout the country, even in new housing. The domestic consumption of fuels used for thermal regulation of dwellings accounts for a large proportion of national energy use, gas emissions, and household expenditures. This study aims to alleviate these issues by presenting building designs that can provide comfortable indoor thermal conditions without a need for conventional energy fuels. Following the findings of field studies, the design of standard dwellings has been optimized using computational studies that were conducted with consideration for the country’s main climatic regions. The results of this study have shown that the application of passive design measures can be sufficient for achieving thermal comfort conditions, thereby reducing the use of domestic fuels to near-zero levels in most of the country.
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Conference Presentations by Gabriel Felmer
Thesis Chapters by Gabriel Felmer
Talks by Gabriel Felmer
Papers by Gabriel Felmer