1. Roles of the reference service life (RSL) of buildings and the RSL of building components in the environmental impacts of buildingsTajda Potrč Obrecht, Roman Kunič, Sabina Jordan, Andraž Legat, 2019, published scientific conference contribution Abstract: The Life Cycle Assessment of a building is a complex analysis that also involves the use of the predicted Reference Service Life (RSL) of the building components and materials, as well as the predicted RSL of the whole building. The RSL values of individual materials and building components can be obtained from different sources and are not exactly comparable. In the present study, the influence of selected RLS values on an LCA assessment was evaluated. Three different RSL databases were used as the sources of the data to estimate the environmental impacts of selected building components (internal wooden door and external finishing coat). Two scenarios were presented. In the first scenario a building component can be reused in another building, while in the second scenario the reuse of the building component is not possible. The study showed that dependent on the selected RSL database, the results can differ by up to a factor of five. Therefore, it is very important to describe clearly the maintenance scenarios for a building in order to have a reliable comparison of the results of LCA assessments.
Keywords: reference service life, life cycle assessment, refurbishment
Published in DiRROS: 08.03.2024; Views: 125; Downloads: 105
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2. Difference between using tabulated and exact values of thermal properties of materials in numerical simulations of heat transfer through a high-performance windowMiha Jukić, Sabina Jordan, 2019, published scientific conference contribution Abstract: The thermal properties of materials, primarily the thermal conductivity, are an essential input for numerical modelling of heat transfer in buildings and building components. When determining them according to relevant European standards, it is not uncommon to encounter materials for which the exact values are not appropriately specified and the tabulated values in standards are overly conservative. In such situations, the thermal conductivity of the material can be determined by measurement. However, this approach may prove inconvenient and too expensive, especially if the material in question turns out to have little influence on the overall thermal performance of the product. It is, therefore, of great interest to know how the thermal performance is affected by choosing either the accurate (measured) or the conservative (tabulated) value of the thermal conductivity. In this work, the two approaches are compared in a practical example – a high-performance window, Jelovica Jelofuture – using numerical simulations. Our study shows that modifying the thermal properties of individual materials generally leaves the thermal transmittances of the frame (Uf) and the window (UW) almost unaffected. If all of the materials considered are modified simultaneously, Uf changes by 1–2% while the change in UW remains below 1%. However, due to their small values, the calculated changes of Uf and UW may be significantly affected (further increased or reduced) by the rounding of the results according to the relevant standards. In contrast, using the tabulated value of linear thermal transmittance (Ψg) of the junction with the glazing leads to an overestimation of UW by up to 15%.
Keywords: thermal transmittance, numerical simulation, conductivity, tabulated and exact values, practical example
Published in DiRROS: 08.03.2024; Views: 92; Downloads: 47
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3. Development of an advanced methodology for assessing the environmental impacts of refurbishmentsTajda Potrč Obrecht, Sabina Jordan, Andraž Legat, Marcella Ruschi Mendes Saade, Alexander Passer, 2022, published scientific conference contribution Abstract: The refurbishment of the building stock is one of the key tasks for reducing the future environmental emissions in building sector. The assessment of the environmental impacts (EI) of refurbishments with LCA methodology remains a challenge. In the current practice, the refurbishment is threated as the beginning of the new lifecycle and all the impacts associated with the previous life cycle are generally neglected. The exclusion of materials and components used prior to the refurbishment produces a data gap at the end-of-life since information about materials that remained in the building after the refurbishment are missing. Furthermore, no information about what impacts have already been considered in the past bears the risk that some of the impacts are double-counted. In order to overcome these problems, an advanced methodology for the assessment of the embodied impacts in the case of refurbishment was developed that combines two sub-methodologies that can also be used separately. The first submethodology is used for remodelling the input data in order to make them time corresponding. The second sub-methodology is used for the assessment of the EI in the residual value of building materials and components and is including the allocation of EI between the life cycle before and after the refurbishment. The combination of the two sub-methodologies enables a more realistic and accurate assessment of the environmental impacts. The methodology is illustrated on the case on the case of a façade refurbishment. Five different allocation approaches are investigated and the residual value is calculated after a selected time period before and after the refurbishment. For all the inputs time-corresponding data is modelled and used. The study showed that for the life cycle before the refurbishment the EI and the residual value are generally higher if time-corresponding data is used since the EI of the electricity mix are higher. It turned out that the use of different allocation approaches is favouring either the use of recycled or reused materials or the recycling of the materials at the end. The PEF and the cut-off approach with module D are both enhancing the circular economy. It can be assumed that they are likely to prevail in the future.
Keywords: LCA, refurbishment, allocation, module D, dynamic LCA
Published in DiRROS: 31.01.2024; Views: 141; Downloads: 74
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4. Construction materials for a sustainable future : proceedings of the 2nd International Conference CoMS 2020/212021, proceedings of peer-reviewed scientific conference contributions (international and foreign conferences) Abstract: Zbornik pokriva številne, predvsem tehnične teme, ki so pomembne za trajnostni razvoj gradbenega sektorja, kot ključnega dejavnika pri doseganju ciljev EU za obvladovanje podnebnih sprememb in za prehod v brezogljično družbo. Vsebinsko naslavlja inovacije v gradbenih materialih in tehnologijah, vključno s komponentami za zdravo in udobno bivanje, ter interakcije med materiali in okoljem. Poleg energetske učinkovitosti stavb je v njem zajeto področje širšega razumevanja trajnostnega načrtovanja, gradnje in vzdrževanja stavb ter monitoring, ocenjevanje in modeliranje stavb. Vključuje pa tudi vsebine, ki se nanašajo na krožno gospodarstvo, kot je recikliranje materialov in komponent ter koncepti sanacij stavb, ter na digitalizacijo in avtomatizacijo področja.
Keywords: trajnostno gradbeništvo, trajnostna gradnja, gradbeni materiali, tehnologije, energetska učinkovitost, zborniki, elektronske knjige
Published in DiRROS: 25.01.2024; Views: 199; Downloads: 81
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7. First experiences in the development of slovenian sustainable building indicatorsSabina Jordan, Friderik Knez, Miha Tomšič, Marjana Šijanec-Zavrl, 2020, published scientific conference contribution Abstract: The construction sector is recognised as having a key impact on the life on Earth. Consequently, the EU has set clear environmental goals for 2030 and 2050, and is developing policies and tools to achieve them. One of the tools for achieving these goals is to establish a system for the evaluation of the environmental performance of buildings, with the priorities of reducing GHG emissions, saving with natural resources and preserving the environment, while maintaining sustainable development and ensuring a healthy living environment. Slovenia has joined in achieving this goal with a study on the state-of-play, commissioned a few years ago by the Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning, as the starting point for the development of sustainable building indicators (SBIs). The research, which included an analysis of the Slovenian legislation, commercial certification systems for sustainable buildings and development in the field of green public procurement, exposed complementary but rather different goals and views. It further showed that the Level(s), which provides a common EU approach in assessing the environmental performance of buildings, seems to be the most appropriate framework and the basis for the development of the Slovenian system of SBIs. The development of the Slovenian SBIs is currently underway within the project LIFE IP CARE4CLIMATE with the preparation of guidelines, data sources and procedures for determining the value of individual indicators for the assessment of buildings. Initial research with key construction stakeholders has shown that the solution must be linked to the national building legislation, computational methods and software tools, and also to the established planning procedures. The analyses have also shown that, parallel to developing such a system, it is essential to provide a functional supporting environment and a specific, purposely designed information platform to connect the stakeholders with the developers of the sustainable building indicators system.
Keywords: sustainable building indicators, evaluation, assessment, Level(s), CARE4CLIMATE
Published in DiRROS: 19.01.2024; Views: 151; Downloads: 73
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8. Construction materials for a sustainable future : proceedings of the 2nd International Conference CoMS 2020/212020, proceedings of peer-reviewed scientific conference contributions (international and foreign conferences) Abstract: Zbornik pokriva številne, predvsem tehnične teme, ki so pomembne za trajnostni razvoj gradbenega sektorja, kot ključnega dejavnika pri doseganju ciljev EU za obvladovanje podnebnih sprememb in za prehod v brezogljično družbo. Vsebinsko naslavlja inovacije v gradbenih materialih in tehnologijah, vključno s komponentami za zdravo in udobno bivanje, ter interakcije med materiali in okoljem. Poleg energetske učinkovitosti stavb je v njem zajeto področje širšega razumevanja trajnostnega načrtovanja, gradnje in vzdrževanja stavb ter monitoring, ocenjevanje in modeliranje stavb. Vključuje pa tudi vsebine, ki se nanašajo na krožno gospodarstvo, kot je recikliranje materialov in komponent ter koncepti sanacij stavb, ter na digitalizacijo in avtomatizacijo področja.
Published in DiRROS: 19.01.2024; Views: 179; Downloads: 51
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9. Initial experiences of the first version of Slovene sustainable building Indicators that are based on Level(s)Sabina Jordan, Miha Tomšič, Friderik Knez, Marjana Šijanec-Zavrl, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: To determine the possibilities for the implementation of sustainable building indicators in Slovenia, testing of the first version of the indicators, developed in the CARE4CLIMATE project and based on the EU Level(s) framework, was carried out in 2022. Invited and interested stakeholders of the construction process were provided with video content and instructions on the Slovenian e-platform of sustainable building indicators. In addition, workshops and lectures with individual subjects were also performed. The final phase of the training and testing procedure included a questionnaire, which was used to obtain information about the participants' opinions regarding the indicators. The analysis of the results of the testing, which was focused on level 2, confirmed the key preliminary finding of the development group, namely that currently, due to the lack of certain knowledge, data, and tools, all indicators for this level are not yet feasible in practice. The research also highlighted the greater need for training and specialization of experts in this field. At the same time, it showed that the testing of the first version itself was a big challenge: only 30 experts fully participated and filled out the online questionnaire. This number seems alarmingly low at first glance, but compared to level(s) testing in the EU member states, it is much more than 50 times higher. However, for the further execution of the indicators in Slovenia, it will therefore be necessary to invest a lot of effort and engagement. It is likely that state support will also be needed, for example, in the form of financial mechanisms or incentives and/or legislative background.
Keywords: sustainability, building, indicators, implementation, testing, questionnaire
Published in DiRROS: 04.01.2024; Views: 197; Downloads: 85
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10. Novel thermal insulation with gas-filled cavities - assessment of thermal performance of different designs based on numerical simulations of heat transferMiha Jukić, Sabina Jordan, Danijel Lisičić, 2019, original scientific article Abstract: Not only is the energy efficiency of buildings nowadays becoming more and more important; the legislative requirements, the people’s awareness of the environmental questions and their thermal comfort expectations are also on a much higher level. All of these issues can be addressed by making the building envelope more thermally resistant. However, with the traditional thermal insulation materials the thickness of thermal insulation layers is already at the viable limits. Therefore, the development of new, more efficient thermal insulation products with a higher thermal resistance is highly promoted. Preliminary research results can be applied to models to develop and confirm the conceptual designs of such new materials. In this paper, an analysis of thermal performance is presented for a novel thermal insulation consisting of graphite polystyrene (GPS) matrix with cavities filled with an insulative gas, and a protective sheath to prevent it from leaking. Bearing in mind the suitability for later production, different configurations of the assembly were considered, regarding the matrix geometry, the type of the gas filling, and the surface emissivity of the cavities. A range of numerical simulations of heat transfer was conducted to determine the efficiency of different designs in reducing the conductive, the convective, and the radiative heat transfer. Advantages, limitations and some detailed parameters of the proposed design concepts were determined, which were then used for optimisation. The analysis of the results indicates that the equivalent thermal conductance of a GPS panel can be significantly reduced by the introduction of gas-filled cavities. The reduction is highly dependent on the type of the gas filling (thermal conductivity, viscosity, specific heat, etc.), the size of the cavities, and the cavity surface emissivity.
Keywords: gas-filled cavities, graphite polystyrene, numerical simulation, thermal insulation
Published in DiRROS: 15.09.2023; Views: 261; Downloads: 122
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