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The European Community has prioritized reducing energy consumption and improving energy efficiency in the building sector, along with ensuring increasingly high standards of thermal comfort, as key goals over recent decades. Given the impact of climate change, the rising frequency of extreme weather events, and the rapid shifts in peak demand during both winter and summer, buildings must efficiently respond to sudden and extreme temperature fluctuations while maintaining optimal indoor comfort. Phase-change materials (PCMs), which can adapt their thermophysical properties in response to external conditions, may offer a solution for enhancing building resilience to climate change. This paper evaluates the benefits of integrating various PCMs with plasterboard in the energy retrofit of a multi-family complex in a Mediterranean climate. The study examines the application of a PCM with a melting temperature of 25 °C at three different thicknesses (74.2 mm, 37.1 mm, and 20.8 mm) to external walls, ceilings, and both walls and ceilings simultaneously. Among the various applications, using the PCM on walls alone maximized heating savings as thickness increased (26.6%), while ceiling application maximized cooling energy savings (17.5%). Combined solutions offered the most balanced seasonal benefits, leading to the greatest overall energy reductions (24.1%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we presented a new thermoelectrochromic device based on the preparation of a hydrogel‐based electrolyte derived from cellulose, namely hydroxypropyl cellulose, with thermochromic properties and a good ion conduction at atmospheric conditions. With these premises, an electrochromic layer of PEDOT:PSS was developed to fabricate a multifunctional device capable of exploiting the TC properties of HCP when the critical temperature of 43°C is reached, where an increase in reflectance of 37% at 420 nm is reported and, at the same time, capable of undergoing a significant modulation of transmittance (52% at 650 nm) when a small external bias (2.5 V) is applied. To our knowledge, it is the first time that a smart window is designed embodying HPC and PEDOT:PSS in a single device, reporting a fully organic system suitable for several applications, from constructions to transportation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decarbonisation policies are often implemented in cities through the promotion of rooftop solar resources. However, urban solar assessments need to identify favourable locations and appropriate sizing to effectively support these strategies. This research aims to estimate the potential for photovoltaic (PV) systems in a dense urban context, as a basis for future policy support. The downtown district of Toronto, Ontario (Canada) is examined as a case study using the 2030 online platform. This work adopts a multi-scalar methodology to model the potential of roof-mounted PV systems for the main residential archetypes. An urban-scale GIS-LiDAR assessment, informed by environmental criteria, is followed by a block-level optimization using URBANopt, which considers energy and economic parameters. The rooftop GIS-based analysis estimates that up to 20% of electricity consumption for detached houses could be satisfied, primarily in the summer, and 5% for apartment buildings. Optimization with URBANopt shows that solar collective configurations can provide significant benefits to users, primarily in terms of economics. When optimization is performed by clusters for each block, the benefits over single-building analysis are evident, particularly in reducing lifecycle costs. In the selected case study, polycrystalline panels with net metering can achieve self-sufficiency levels ranging from 18% to 41% for residential blocks. This study confirms that solar PV systems can increase local production, reduce grid energy dependency, and support energy communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study focuses on addressing the growing concern of noise pollution resulting from increased transportation. Effective strategies are necessary to mitigate the impact of noise pollution. The study utilizes noise regression models to estimate road-traffic-induced noise pollution. However, the availability and reliability of such models can be limited. To enhance the accuracy of predictions, optimization techniques are employed. A dataset encompassing various landscape configurations is generated, and three regression models (regression tree, support vector machines, and Gaussian process regression) are constructed for noise-pollution prediction. Optimization is performed by fine-tuning hyperparameters for each model. Performance measures such as mean square error (MSE), root mean square error (RMSE), and coefficient of determination (R2) are utilized to determine the optimal hyperparameter values. The results demonstrate that the optimization process significantly improves the models' performance. The optimized Gaussian process regression model exhibits the highest prediction accuracy, with an MSE of 0.19, RMSE of 0.04, and R2 reaching 1. However, this model is comparatively slower in terms of computation speed. The study provides valuable insights for developing effective solutions and action plans to mitigate the adverse effects of noise pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deleterious effects of noise pollution on public health have been well documented, with traffic noise being identified as a significant contributor to stress and adverse impacts on the human body and mind. In this study, sound levels at 12 different points in Al-Oqailat Park in Buraydah, Saudi Arabia, were measured using a sound level meter (SLM), with the study's primary objective being to conduct this measurement. The experimental results were then compared with perception measurements collected from users who frequently visited Al-Oqailat park. Sound measurements were taken in four different zones (A, B, C, and D) during rush hours between 1:30 p.m. and 5:20 p.m. It was found that noise levels at point A1 peaked at 79 dBA at 4:40 p.m., while the lowest level recorded was 41.1 dBA at point D2 at 2:35 p.m. The range of noise levels varied between 79 and 41 dBA, with a rate of decline of 48.10%. Zones A and B seemed to have the highest noise levels during rush hours, since they were located closest to King Fahd Road and Al-Adl Street, while zone D exhibited the lowest noise levels due to its location as a parking lot for Buraydah Court. An intermediate noise level was found in zone C, in the middle of Al-Oqailat park. The people perception results, completed by 84 park visitors, showed that zone A was identified as having exceptionally high noise levels compared to the other zones, with zone D having the lowest levels. These results were consistent with the experimental findings and reflected that the points along King Fahd Road and Al-Adl Street had the highest noise levels. Overall, the research highlighted the dominance of car traffic and horns as the primary sources of noise pollution in and around Al-Oqailat Park, emphasizing the significance of meticulous site selection for parks in urban areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing building efficiency is a key topic in territorial policies at different scales, for which new pathways and actions are progressively introduced. However, the evaluation of building consumptions according to energy features and urban and socio-economic variables is crucial to better assess building efficiency measures. This study presents a place-based statistical model for the evaluation of energy demand at the building scale, starting from disaggregating consumption values at the block level. The case study is the central district of Toronto (Ontario, Canada), part of the 2030 Toronto Platform. The existing interactive tool shows energy data only at the block scale, limiting specific evaluations and benchmarking. Therefore, the analysis presents a set of statistical models for assessing residential building consumption by archetypes. The aim of this study is to extend the application and visualisation of the energy demand of the whole city by GIS software. The statistical models underline more reliable results for electricity use, distinguished by appliances and space cooling. Low-rise apartments are the most challenging category to be assessed for appliance use. The variability of natural gas consumption does not allow to build only one model and values for apartment buildings are more variable for different construction ages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigations in solid-state physics show that metamaterials, a kind of periodic material, can produce a band of frequency gap. When a sonic wave's frequency falls into this frequency gap, it cannot propagate. Enlightened by the concept of frequency gap, researchers recently investigated various metamaterials. The search for bandgap(s) is critical in such innovations. The present letter presents the analysis of the band of frequency gap(s) for two and three-component systems as 2D period materials using the Finite Element Method. The investigation highlights the influence of geometrical parameters on the bandgap. Modelled metamaterial uses a core of aluminium, a coating of natural rubber and a matrix of air. For the lattice constant's specified value, with the core's increasing size, the bandgap shows to increase. The general effect of the coating leads to the flattening of the dispersion curve. For the square lattice and circular core, the bandgap appears around a net core size (with and without coating) of around 30%–32% of the lattice constant. Multiple frequency bandgaps appear of substantial sizes at the core's threshold size, that is, when the core's net radius is equal to half of the lattice constant. The softer material coating is found as a potential alternative to tune and control acoustic metamaterials. With a three-component system, bandgaps appear comparatively at significantly lower frequencies. Lower edge frequencies for such bandgaps are found to be independent of the core and coating size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The speech intelligibility properties of classrooms greatly influence the learning process of students. Proper acoustics can promote the inclusion of foreign students and children with learning or hearing impairments. While awareness of the topic is increasing, there is still no parameter that can describe all aspects of speech transmission inside a room. This complicates the design of classrooms and requires designers to have extensive knowledge of theory and experience. In the scientific and technical literature, there is a lack of predictive tools, easy to use by designers, which can guide the choices in the early design stages in order to move towards technical solutions able to ensure adequate levels of speech intelligibility. For this reason, in this paper, the most relevant speech intelligibility parameters found in the literature were collected and discussed. Among these, the Clarity index and Speech Transmission Index were singled out as the most effective ones, whose prediction can be made with relatively simple methods. They were then analyzed through their prediction formulas, and a tool was proposed to allow an easy estimation of the minimum total equivalent sound absorption area needed in a classroom. This tool greatly simplifies the early acoustics design stage, allowing the intelligibility of speech within a classroom to be increased without requiring much theoretical effort on the part of the designers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable energy strategies have been a critical subject for sustainable development, especially in cities. Citizens, as an integral part of the urban environment, play a significant role in urban spaces, as does their health. An accurate understanding of citizens' mental, social, and physical health in urban settings is required to design and plan better cities. This study aims to assess the level of alignment with health factors in Mahabad, a major medium-sized city in Iran. Previous studies indicate that the built environment can influence health dimensions. Health factors depend to a great extent on how well the environment is formed and how it is put together. This research is a descriptive, analytical, cross-sectional study that analyzes the environment's psychological elements and physical and mental health factors of Mahabad's citizens. According to the Cochran model, 384 questionnaires were distributed among households. For data analysis, SPSS 12 and Arc GIS software were used. The main results of this research show that five factors, "Environmental quality", "Identity and social relationships", and "Readability", have the most impact on the physical and mental health of citizens (respondents). These issues are much more pronounced in the downtown neighborhoods. This study showed that urban experts can understand different levels of public health by knowing the historical, social, cultural, and economic factors and characteristics. The result will help decision makers, city authorities, designers, and urban planners to be more informed about citizens' health and the ways to improve it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Natural Fibers is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper presents the results of theoretical and experimental studies to determine the optimal thickness of thermal insulation from basalt fiber and aerogel products for pipelines at temperatures of 300 and 600 °C. We carried out a comparison of the key thermophysical characteristics of the claimed heat-insulating materials. We performed a thermal imaging survey of the furnace chimney, insulated with basalt fiber and aerogel, while controlling the temperature of the flue gases by establishing the required ratio of the flow rate of natural gas and oxidizer. The temperature gradient along the thickness of the thermal insulation was obtained using a numerical tool developed in ANSYS. The results show that aerogel surpasses basalt fiber in all key thermophysical characteristics. At the same time, the only barrier to widespread industrial production and use of aerogel in the high-temperature thermal insulation segment is its market cost, which is still several times higher than that of basalt fiber in terms of an equivalent performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Providing sufficient daylight and view access to the outdoors is crucial to creating a productive work environment and ensuring employees' wellbeing and mental health in offices. To these aims, determining an optimum shading form can be challenging for designers. This study applied an 'external shading form-finding' and a novel 'dynamic view access assessment' method to find the optimum shading devices from 723 shading systems. Each system contains a typical louvre blade with two equidistant shading devices. These were externally fixed in front of a south-facing window with a dynamic interior blind, and were tested across three window-to-wall ratios. Optimum forms were selected according to LEED v4 daylight needs and unobstructed views. The results indicate that these proposed methods have the potential to support decision-making related to shading design, helping designers and architects to study the view quantitatively and combine its results with daylight assessment leading to improved building performance, employee mental health and wellbeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates fibrous thermal insulation materials of various densities to assess the change in their thermophysical properties at high temperatures. The thermal conductivity of fibrous thermal insulation materials is discussed as a function of the temperature in the range from 50 °C to 500 °C. It is shown that the thermal insulating properties depend not only on the physical properties of the material (e.g., density or diameter of fibres), but also on the geometric parameters of the structure and on the orientation of the fibres. The influence of high temperatures on the mass change of fibrous materials associated with the burnout of synthetic binders is shown. These features should be taken into account during the design of thermal insulation operating at high temperatures to provide the optimal selection of the material and to guarantee the stability of their thermal properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of refrigerators and air conditioners has been increasing in domestic and commercial buildings constantly over the last century, resulting in a significant increase in energy demand. Thermal energy storage (TES) system may be able to reduce energy and temperature fluctuations and enhance the overall need or the performance of cooling systems. Application of phase change materials (PCMs) in TES systems can be beneficial for balancing supply and demand in energy, minimizing and shifting the peak cooling loads, reducing the temperature fluctuations. This article presents an overview of TES systems incorporating PCMs for air conditioning, refrigerators, and freezers. Literature shows different ways to incorporate PCMs in air conditioning systems. PCM use in compartments and evaporators and PCM as a heat storage medium in condensers prevail in the present review. Organic-based PCMs are the most widely used materials in air conditioning systems. Then, this study compares the applications of single and multi-PCMs in cooling systems. The results showed that, compared to a single PCM configuration, multi-PCM configurations improved heat transfer rates, reduced the gap between peak and off-peak loads of electricity demand, and shifted electricity consumption from peak to off-peak times. In conclusion, this study indicates that the potential for using PCM in refrigerators and air conditioners still requires further investigation on improving the PCMs properties and the PCM container materials and developing analytical methods for accurately predicting the PCM behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The catacombs, burial sites for early Christians, were constructed during the Roman Empire until the Christian religion was recognized in 313 AD. The catacombs were cementeries, which were organized according to precise rules and were dug into the ground on several levels, to occupy as little space as possible. The catacombs became places of worship as martyrs were buried in them. The catacombs were then abandoned with the barbarian invasions and the consequent construction of churches inside cities. The catacombs were rediscovered during the Renaissance period and became a place of renewed worship. In the present work, the acoustic characteristics of the catacombs of San Callisto in Rome, San Gennaro in Naples, and Vigna Cassia in Syracuse are discussed. The three selected catacombs differ by type of excavation and geometry. In particular, the catacombs of San Callisto are made of narrow corridors and small rooms; the catacombs of San Gennaro consist of large rooms with niches; the catacombs of Vigna Cassia are partly excavated in the tuff and partially occupy a disused aqueduct. The acoustic measurements were performed using an impulsive sound source. The description of the acoustic characteristics focuses on the reverberation time and the Speech Transmission Index. The results show that the reverberation time was always shorter than 1 second, confirming the reduced reverberation of these environments. Finally, the speech listening characteristics are particularly good, ensuring the suitable conditions for the prayer in these spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geometric parameters in solar chimney power plants are numerically optimised for the purpose of better power output figures. Several parameters have been investigated in the pilot plant such as chimney height and diameter, collector diameter and slope, and slenderness. However, ground slope has not been studied to date despite its perspicuous impact on turbulent flow. In this study, the impacts of the different slope angles of the ground, where the solar radiation is absorbed through the collector, on the main performance parameters of the system are numerically analysed through a reliable CFD software ANSYS FLUENT. By considering the actual geometric figures of the pilot plant, a 3D model is constructed through DO (discrete ordinates) solar ray tracing algorithm and RNG k-ε turbulence model. For the solar intensity of 1000 W/m2, the maximum velocity inside the system is found to be 14.2 m/s, which is in good accordance with the experimental data of 15.0 m/s. Starting from 5 m inside the collector, the chimney inlet heights are reconfigured 0.209, 0.419, 0.625, 0.838, and 1.04 m, respectively, and when the ground slope is 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5°, the changes in the performance output of the system are investigated. For the reference case which refers to the horizontal ground, the maximum air velocity is determined to be 14.2 m/s and the power output is 54.3 kW. However, when the ground slope is made 0.5°, it is observed that the maximum velocity increases by 37% to 19.51 m/s, and the power output is enhanced to 63.95 kW with a rise of 17.7%. Sloping ground is found a key solution to improve the turbulent effects inside the plant, thus to enhance the electrical power output. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Acoustics is the property of Canadian Acoustical Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Canadian Acoustics is the property of Canadian Acoustical Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Canadian Acoustics is the property of Canadian Acoustical Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This work investigates the hourly operation of the Uçkan configuration of the desiccant system that uses ground and solar energies in combination. In this system, the ground source heat exchanger (GSHE) is used as a cooling component after the desiccant wheel (DW) (post-cooler) together with using simultaneously before (pre-cooler) and after the DW. The validity of this configuration is evaluated in several hot-humid regions, and an economic assessment is performed to confirm the system cost-feasibility. This study examines the impact of the return air ratio on the level of thermal comfort established, system COP, energy consumed for regeneration, and solar fraction (SF). Here, a guideline for sizing various components in the system is demonstrated. For the best scenario in which the GSHE is placed before and after the DW, the system would successfully provide thermal comfort for 95% of its working time, using low energy consumption when compared to conventional configurations. The best scenario resulted in the highest COP of 0.43, the highest SF of 63.6%, and the payback period of 6.8 years. With the results, increasing the return air ratio promotes system COP and SF, while it decreases the consumed energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Space cooling energy consumption is a significant component of building energy consumption, and in recent years it has attracted much attention worldwide owing to its significantly increasing usage. The variable refrigerant flow (VRF) system is one common type of cooling equipment for buildings in China and is applied extensively to residential and office buildings. The performance of VRF systems significantly influences the cooling energy consumption of buildings. The system energy efficiency and electricity consumption are the main indicators employed to evaluate the performance of VRF systems. It is hard to obtain the actual energy efficiency and electricity consumption of VRF systems in buildings because of the high cost of the required complicated measurements. This study proposes a virtual sensor modeling method to determine the actual energy efficiency and electricity consumption of 344 VRF systems in residential buildings. Statistical and clustering analyses are conducted to determine the energy efficiency and electricity consumption to obtain distributions and typical operation load patterns of VRF systems in residential buildings in China. The main findings are as follows: the main range of the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) for the cooling season is from 2.9 to 4.4; the median SEER in the Hot Summer and Cold Winter zone is lower than in another climate zones; the longer cooling duration may lead to greater electricity consumption, and the electricity load for VRF systems electricity load is periodic for each day. The oversizing issue is common for VRF systems in the dataset, which also led to the lower energy efficiency of VRF systems. The high usage of VRF systems appeared from July 27th to August 26th. The findings provide recommendations for designing VRF systems in residential buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Acoustics is the property of Canadian Acoustical Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Probabilistic-based approaches for the performance evaluation of building envelopes to withstand mould growth have gained significant attention in recent years. In this article, a scoping review is performed to identify some current challenges and opportunities in probabilistic-based approaches. Therefore, the performance of a highly insulated wall is evaluated by applying a probabilistic-based methodology that accounts for several uncertainties and investigates their significance. A sensitivity analysis is performed according to the Morris method to understand the influence of each parameter and simplify the system representation of this case study. Deficiencies in terms of rain penetration and air leakage are accounted for. The mould growth risk is evaluated by integrating different mould models and assessment criteria. Overall, the performance of the investigated wall is found satisfactory in most of the cases, except when wind-driven rain penetration occurs. The study demonstrates that a probabilistic-based methodology enables a systematic approach to evaluate the performance of building constructions as it accounts for the involved uncertainties, provides a clear association of the microbial growth to its probability of occurrence and enables the identification of the dominant parameters, delivering more comprehensive conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates the possibility to enhance the use of latent heat thermal energy storage (LHTES) as an energy retrofit measure by night ventilation strategies. For this scope, phase change materials (PCMs) are integrated into wall and ceiling surfaces of high-rise residential buildings with highly glazed facades that experience high indoor diurnal temperatures. In particular, this article investigates the effect of night ventilation on the performance of the PCMs, namely, the daily discharge of the thermal energy stored by PCMs. Following previous experimental tests that have shown the efficacy of LHTES in temperate climates, a system comprising two PCM layers with melting temperatures selected for a year-around LHTES was considered. To quantify the effectiveness of different night ventilation strategies to enhance the potential of this composite PCM system, simulations in EnergyPlusTM were performed. The ventilation flow rate, set point temperature, and operation period were the main tested parameters. The performance of the PCMs in relation to the variables was evaluated based on indoor operative temperature and cooling energy use variations in Toronto and New York in the summer. The solidification of the PCMs was analyzed based on the amount of night ventilation needed in each climate condition. The results quantify the positive impact of combining PCMs with night ventilation on cooling energy reductions and operative temperature regulation of the following days. In particular, the results indicate higher benefits obtainable with PCMs coupled with night ventilation in the context of Toronto, since this city experiences higher daily temperature fluctuations. The impact of night ventilation design variables on the solidification rate of the PCMs varied based on each parameter leading to different compromises based on the PCM and climate characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Windows are often pointed to as the weakest elements in building facades, given their low thermal resistance. Consequently, they are a main focus during building retrofits, when their substitution is often considered an expensive but necessary choice. This article describes a new high-performance glazing coating, which can be used for the in situ retrofit of existing windows. The easy application of this new liquid-applied coating on the internal side of the glazing makes it possible to reduce the solar heat gain coefficient of an existing window substantially and quickly, without interrupting the building occupancy. Experimental characterizations of light transmittance and thermal characteristics are presented in this article. Although the new coating allowed a reduction in the visible transmittance (VT) of only 0.1 compared to nontreated insulating glass units (IGUs), it proved to reduce significantly the solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) of the investigated IGUs to values below 0.45. This article also reports the results of aging studies aiming at assessing the risks of long-term performance reductions of this new liquid-applied coating. Finally, the results of energy simulations investigating the energy-efficiency improvements when this coating is applied to different kinds of windows in Canada are reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Italy, wind turbines with a nominal power below 1 MW can be installed following simplified authorization procedures and are therefore becoming the preferred choice for promoters. The assessment of the noise of wind farms is not easy, due to economic reasons, with it being difficult to stop and assess the relative contribution of each wind turbine. Several acoustic measurements were taken inside homes located near a wind farm consisting of three wind turbines, each with a nominal power of 1 MW. The acoustic measurements were taken by placing sound level meters inside the houses at different wind speed values and wind directions. The acoustic measurements were taken using the acoustically analogous place technique. For economic reasons, the plant cannot be switched off. In this case, the sound field generated by the operation of the wind turbines was measured by placing two sound level meters in a house. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Acoustics is the property of Canadian Acoustical Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The cover image by Valeria De Matteis, Alessandro Cannavale, Marco Pugliese, and Umberto Berardi summarizes the different features of a new, multifunctional "thermoelectrochromic" device. This "smart window", incorporating hydroxypropyl cellulose electrolyte and PEDOT:PSS within a single unit, constitutes a completely organic system that finds applicability across various domains, from construction to transportation. Its architecture is based on a hydroxypropyl cellulose electrolyte, which allows for passive thermochromic transition from a transparent state to a milky, reflective state once the critical temperature of 43°C is attained; simultaneously, the device exhibits a substantial electrochromic modulation of transmittance (52%) when subjected to a minor external bias (2.5 V). [Extracted from the article]

Apartment buildings in major Canadian cities make the largest share of the residential stock. However, their poor performance is often characterized by indoor thermal discomfort conditions and high-energy consumptions. Therefore, decreasing the energy demand of high-rise residential buildings through energy retrofits is critical. In the recent years, the adoption of thermal energy storage has often been proposed to stabilize indoor temperatures and to reduce the energy demand for space conditioning in buildings. In this study, the benefits of passive latent thermal energy storage systems are investigated by integrating phase change materials (PCMs) into walls and ceilings of apartment units. A hybrid PCM system with a thickness of 2 cm composed of two PCM products with melting temperatures of 21.7 °C and 25 °C respectively, is investigated. The effectiveness of this composite PCM system is evaluated by quantifying the changes in indoor temperatures and energy demands for apartment buildings in the climate conditions of Toronto and Vancouver. A parametric analysis considering the building window to wall ratios, orientations and temperature set points is performed using simulations done with EnergyPlus™. The results show that the composite PCM system improves the indoor temperatures in both climates by reducing temperature fluctuations and balancing temperature peaks. Overall, the adoption of this system results in the reduction of cooling energy demand by 6% in Toronto and 31.5% in Vancouver. The results showed the benefit of applying two PCM melting points in one zone as an effective method for annual indoor temperature regulation, especially in Toronto. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last decade, there has been an undoubtedly rising interest in the field of intelligent and smart built environments from design and construction to management, operational and governance perspectives. These recent endeavors, observed at both academic and professional levels, can be classified into city, neighborhood and building scales. In this context, understanding what we really mean by the word intelligent and smart is crucially important. This technical note attempts to clarify and further explore how intelligence differs from smartness in this context. Having intelligence as the main umbrella embracing other interrelated smart subsets is one way of thinking as supported by previous debates, while there are also other lines of thinking with more preference on the smartness as the core concept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern envelope technologies and architectural trends often encourage the adoption of large glazing surfaces. Light shelves are then proposed to reduce glare complaints, while providing better indoor daylight distribution. In this paper, the benefits of light shelves over the illuminance levels in office buildings in Toronto are evaluated. The useful daylight illuminance was used as the metric of analysis in this study. Annual simulations for buildings with different window-to-wall ratios were compared. Moreover, the effects of different window shapes, façade orientation and external obstructing elements were investigated. Results show that in the context of analysis, light shelves increase the useful daylight illuminance values mainly in the first 6 m from the windows and provide a more homogeneous distribution of the daylight. Window-to-wall ratios above 35% consistently result in increasing glare risks. This study indicates that narrow full-height windows provide better daylighting compared to shorter but wider windows. The west orientation shows higher useful daylight illuminance compared to the south-facing ones, although light shelves are far less beneficial when applied to windows but not facing south. Finally, the illuminance levels in buildings with different obstruction angles of the façade are presented in order to provide a comprehensive analysis about the benefits of adopting light shelves in office buildings in the urban context of Toronto, Canada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Natural Fibers is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The present work aims to study the water-stop tray, a front-loading component of a washing machine. As most of the components of washing machines, the water-stop tray suffers significant vibrations especially when the spin speed increases. A vibrational analysis of the current typical design was realized. Then, four modified trays were investigated and a hammer impulse response was recorded using 13 accelerometers in order to measure the frequency response of each tray. The results allow to identify the key parameters that affect the vibrational response of a water-stop tray. Finally, the comparative analysis among the different designs allows to select the tray with the lowest vibration amplitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work investigates the acoustic characteristics of the double elliptical vault, which overlooks the Grand Staircase of the Royal Palace of Caserta (Italy). The Royal Palace was built by the architect Luigi Vanvitelli in the Seventeenth Century and it is the largest royal building in Italy. The double elliptical vault presents a great scenography effect. Inside the vault, on the planking level, musicians used to play for the king and his guests when the royal procession, going up the grand staircase, entered the royal apartments, creating astonishment among the guests who heard the music without understanding from where it was coming. Since the musicians were inside the vault, the long reverberation made the listeners perceive the vault to be enveloped by the music. To investigate this effect, the acoustic characteristics of the double vault were measured, putting the sound source on the planking level of the vault, while the microphones were put along the staircase and in the vestibule towards the royal apartments. Finally, the spatial distribution of several acoustic parameters is evaluated also using architectural acoustic simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]