Showing papers by "Ricardo Mateus published in 2014"

The potential of vernacular materials to the sustainable building design

Abstract: Publicado em "Vernacular heritage and earthen architecture : contributions for sustainable development", ISBN 978-1-138-00083-4

New approach addressing sustainability in urban areas using sustainable city models

Abstract: A brief analysis of the environmental, social and economic paradigm of today's cities, allows a simple conclusion to be reached: current cities are not sustainable. Considering this, it is very important to study the causes of city problems and to develop city models implementing sustainability practices. There are a limited number of studies developing sustainable city models, but in the scientific community there is an even greater lack of studies about the rehabilitation of current cities to implement these models. This work emerges with the objective of analysing how it is possible to implement sustainability practices in cities through the development of a sustainable city model and an urban rehabilitation plan. The development of sustainable city models is a very complex topic and the analysis of the literature shows that it is necessary to consider the relation between environmental and social aspects in the development of sustainable cities, while taking special care when considering the economic ...

The influence of the Mediterranean climate on vernacular architecture: a comparative analysis between the vernacular responsive architecture of southern Portugal and north of Egypt

Abstract: Mediterranean vernacular architecture was developed not only with respect to environmental and climatic factors but also with respect to culture, traditional construction materials and morphology. Despite the far distance between Portugal and Egypt, it was possible to find similar vernacular strategies under the influence of the Mediterranean climate and both Roman and Arab cultures. The paper adopted an explanatory qualitative analysis and comparative synthesis methods for vernacular passive and climatic responsive strategies for two regions. Covering from site planning, building design till building materials used through considering topography, resources, historic and cultural aspects. The outcomes of this research allow for understanding how different passive solar strategies and the use of natural energy sources can contribute to achieve appropriate indoor comfort conditions for contemporary practice. The paper draws a set of recommendations for more in-depth quantitative survey and energy efficiency measurements in Mediterranean climate.

Proposal for a Healthcare Building Sustainability Assessment (HBSA) method

Abstract: The healthcare building project contains different aspects from the most common projects. Mostly due to various design requirements, these buildings are rarely designed and operated in a sustainable way. Therefore, the best practices of a sustainable healthcare building design that should be taken into account: in the design phase (to support the decision to adopt solutions that contribute to building sustainability); and in the operation phase (to support users and managers in the operation and in equipment maintenance at an high level of efficiency). In this context, the aim of this study is to present a proposal for a Healthcare Building Sustainability Assessment (HBSA) method adapted for the Portuguese context and considering the work developed so far in the standardization bodies (CEN and ISO). The most relevant building sustainability assessment tools in the context of healthcare buildings will be also analysed and compared. Assessment methods, HBSA method, Healthcare buildings, Sustainability 1. Healthcare buildings sustainability assessment methods In order to promote the introduction of sustainable practices in the design of healthcare buildings, several countries and building sustainability assessment bodies have published guidelines to support improved design approaches. Among them, it is possible to highlight the recommendations for healthcare projects that the Green Building Committee of the American Society of Healthcare Engineering (ASHE) published in 2002 (ASHE, 2002). This partnership between the American Hospital Associations and the United States Environmental Protection Agency, pointed out the principles of sustainable architecture that are intended to reduce waste and other impacts associated with hospitals (Roberts & Guenther, 2006). The ASHE proposes an architectural development of these recommendations in order to develop buildings capable of improving the health concerns at three scales (ASHE, 2002): • Protecting the immediate health of building occupants; • Protecting the health of the surrounding community; • Protecting the health of the larger global community. 1.1. Existing methods and their characteristics Analysing the state of art in the field of HBSA methods it is possible to identify the following: BREEAM New Construction; LEED for Healthcare; Green Star – Healthcare; and CASBEE for New Construction. In general, the abovementioned building sustainability assessment tools have the same structure. They all have sustainability assessment categories and indicators, and allow the

Definindo melhores práticas em projetos de Regeneração Urbana Sustentável

Abstract: Este artigo analisa tres projetos internacionais de regeneracao urbana sustentavel. Esta analise baseou-se na aplicacao de dez indicadores de sustentabilidade urbana atraves de dois instrumentos de avaliacao de sustentabilidade (Sistema Portugues de Avaliacao da Sustentabilidade de Operacoes de Planejamento Urbano - SBToolPT-PU, e Sistema Internacional de Avaliacao da Sustentabilidade de Operacoes de Planejamento Urbano - SBTool Urban) que estao sendo desenvolvidos em Portugal e em nivel internacional, respectivamente. Atraves desta analise, pretendeu-se identificar as melhores praticas para o desenvolvimento urbano sustentavel, as quais permitirao a definicao dos valores de referencia para ambas as ferramentas, apoiando os projetistas na tomada de decisao, considerando a sustentabilidade de areas urbanas novas ou regeneradas.

Análise do contributo dos sistemas construtivos em alvenaria estrutural para a sustentabilidade dos edifícios

Abstract: A industria da construcao tem um forte contributo para os efeitos negativos provocados sobre o meio ambiente, assim como a nivel social e economico. Hoje em dia, a construcao continua refem dos metodos construtivos mais tradicionais havendo uma forte resistencia a introducao de novas tecnologias, mesmo que estas proporcionem um melhor desempenho ambiental das cidades e da qualidade de vida dos seus cidadaos. Deste modo, o estudo e aplicacao de novos materiais e solucoes construtivas tornamse essenciais para diminuir a utilizacao de recursos naturais e energia assim como os danos resultantes da sua aplicacao. Assim, com este projeto pretende-se descrever e analisar a contribuicao dos sistemas construtivos em alvenaria estrutural para os objetivos da Sustentabilidade dos Edificios tendo como referencia estudos ja realizados. Em conclusao, e esperado que a solucao em alvenaria estrutural para alem de incluir as caracteristicas tecnicas exigidas, tenha menor impacte ambiental, seja economicamente vantajosa e proporcione bem-estar aos utilizadores do edificio onde possa vir a ser aplicada.

An analysis of the potentialities of portuguese vernacular architecture to improve energy efficiency

Abstract: Vernacular architecture is characterised by a type of formal expression that has been developed in response to a number of factors – climatic, lithologic, cultural and economic – characterising the local area or region. In its various forms, a range of techniques has been employed in different regions to mitigate the effects of climate. Despite the fact that Portugal is a small country, it has a territory full of contrasts, which gave origin to many different architectural manifestations. The approaches adopted in the design and construction of vernacular buildings have the potential for further development and could be adapted in response to contemporary needs. In the future, a blend of tradition and modernity should be aimed at in order to develop a new form of aesthetics and functional construction. Portuguese vernacular architecture is associated with a fund of valuable knowledge that should be studied and aligned with the principles of sustainability. In this paper, is presented the climatic contrast between the northern and southern parts of Portugal and the relation with the purpose of different passive solar techniques used in vernacular architecture to provide comfort. The focus is on the effectiveness of passive cooling techniques (e.g. high thermal inertia, the use of light colours and patios), and the findings of a case study in which the thermal performance during the summer of a vernacular residential building located in the south of Portugal are presented. In the context of the current global drive for clean energy and sustainable buildings, much can be learned from a review of past experience in order to provide an understanding of such forms of construction, which are an intrinsic feature of specific places and have evolved over time in the face of a lack of resources.

Avaliação da sustentabilidade de soluções de reabilitação energética para coberturas de um edifício de habitação

Abstract: A construcao de novos edificios, infraestruturas e a reabilitacao deve reger-se pelos principios de desenvolvimento sustentavel. A reabilitacao de edificios pode contribuir para uma melhoria do desempenho ambiental das cidade e da qualidade de vida dos seus cidadaos. O presente trabalho tem como finalidade otimizar, sob o ponto de vista de eficiencia energetica e sustentabilidade, a solucao de reabilitacao a aplicar na cobertura de um caso de estudo. Para a avaliacao do nivel de sustentabilidade de diferentes solucoes de reabilitacao da envolvente vertical exterior dos edificios, isto e do seu nivel de desempenho global baseado em indicadores ambientais, sociais e economicos, sera utilizada a Metodologia de Avaliacao Relativa da Sustentabilidade de Solucoes Construtivas (MARS-SC). Os resultados obtidos neste estudo resultam da aplicacao da referida metodologia a um caso de estudo. A aplicacao a um caso de estudo, correspondente a um edificio unifamiliar convencional em Portugal, permitiu avaliar a influencia da solucao de reabilitacao nos impactes ambientais incorporados, no consumo de energia e nos custos de operacao.

Optimization of the sustainability during the refurbishment design phase of a residential building using SBToolpt-H

Abstract: As it has been observed along the years, the unsustainability of the built environment is due to the high resources consumption and low indoor air quality of the existing building stock. In order to support the sustainable refurbishment design of buildings, and to meet European goal to achieve nearly zero-energy consumption standards in buildings in 2020, it is urgent to define guidelines that can be implemented since the earlier stages of the design. This paper defines guidelines to optimize the sustainability of a residential building and presents the process of sustainable building refurbishment, applied to a case study. To achieve this goal, the definition and evaluation of a group of procedures to be implemented, and a cost-benefit analysis applied to a case study was performed.

Life cycle assessment of solar thermal systems

Abstract: The better understanding of cost-benefit, economic and environmental performances of solar thermal systems (STSs) is crucial for designers to be able to take a conscious and weighted decision about the installation of these systems. Therefore the goal of this research was to create a methodology for designers to support decisionmaking in the selection of the most adequate STS for a project and as result to contribute to a more sustainable built environment. This methodology allows the calculation of the potential environmental impacts, such as the global warming potential, acidification, eutrophication, ozone depletion, embodied energy, amongst others, together with the lifecycle costs resulting from the implementation of STSs in buildings. The system boundary includes the production of the various parts of the solar thermal system, such as the solar collector and the hot water tank, the assembly process, the maintenance stage, the auxiliary energy consumption and the end of life of this system. In the economic analysis, both initial and maintenance costs are considered together with the cost of the auxiliary energy. At the end, it is possible to quantify carbon, energy and cost payback periods. One practical application of the methodology will be carried out in the end of this work, aiming the comparison between four different STSs to be applied in a case study. The case study showed that both the energy and environmental payback times of a STS are less than 3 years and the life cycle cost payback period vary from 7 to 13 years. Veronica Fernandes, Ricardo Mateus, Luis Braganca, Sandra Silva and Manuela Almeida 2