Acoustic Classification of Buildings: Impact of Acoustic Performances of a High Energy-Efficient Building on Quality and Sustainability Indicators
According to similar experiences of other countries, also Italian standards are defining procedures about acoustic classification of buildings, aiming at the determination of indoor acoustic comfort. Acoustic parameters influence building quality in different ways and amounts: the aim of the paper is to attest acoustic performances of buildings, taking into account different noise sources and people expectations. A voluntary certification model was proposed to assess indoor overall quality, which includes a specific Acoustic Performance index (AP) concerning human protection against noise into buildings. According to existing standards, noise measurements were carried out in order to assess acoustic performances of walls, facades, floors and systems in a high energy-efficient multifamily building as a case study. The paper shows a feasible approach to perform indoor acoustic comfort and to support sustainable buildings: a comparison was carried out between impact of acoustic performances on proposed assessment of building quality and on certification of building environmental sustainability introduced by law at regional level.
BGP index: an approach to the certification of building global performance
SUMMARY In order to improve life quality into buildings, the present paper proposes a certification model for indoor total comfort. The first part of the paper concerns energy certification of buildings, with attention to energy efficiency, renewable sources, heating and air-conditioning. In the second part of the paper certificate concept is extended to factors which contribute to ideal requirements into buildings: acoustics and lighting, use of water, safety and technology are studied according to standards. Finally, an overall building quality certificate is proposed, based on indexes concerning specific performances. Every index is assigned a weight to characterize different contributions to Building Global Performance (BGP) index, which expresses total indoor quality. Weights are estimated according to objective criteria. Measurements and provisional models allow to analyse and classify a private flat as a case study. A reliable approach is shown to improve indoor environments and to support comfortable and sustainable buildings.
A simplified method to estimate energy savings of artificial lighting use from daylighting
Abstract This paper provides a simplified analysis method to evaluate the potential of daylighting to save energy associated with electric lighting use. Specifically, impacts on daylighting performance are investigated for several combinations of building geometry, window opening size, and glazing type for four geographical locations in the United States. Four building geometries with various window-to-floor areas, along with different glazing types have been analyzed. It was determined that for most commercial buildings with glass transmittance values above 0.5, increasing window area to floor area ratio above 0.5, daylighting does not provide significant additional lighting energy savings. A direct correlation has been established between window transmittance and window area on annual lighting reductions. A model is proposed to estimate lighting energy savings given perimeter area, window area, and window type. Verification and validation of the model's predictions are demonstrated using results from building energy simulation as well as experimental data.