Applied Mechanics and Materials Vol. 824

Abstract: The economic activities of man. The increase in the volume of emissions in atmosphere. The rise of global temperature. The biocapacity of the Earth. Ecological footprint. Ecological debt. Renewable sources of energy as a tool for increasing the capital of nature. A united energy market from fossil sources and renewable sources. Transformation of an economy to low energy and low emission technologies for manufacturing and to ecologically clean manufacturing products. The reaction of world science in the field of technology in architecture. Climate defined by physical and chemical parameters. Green architecture. Strategic fields for saving or rational utilization of green buildings – material, energy and water resources. Trends in the application of green building in the field of materials (to ecologically clean materials and the ecological manufacturing of materials), in the field of energy (to ecologically clean resources and ecological energy conversion) and in the field of water (to ecologically clean natural resources and their ecological protection). Sustainable development of society. Green building, process of creating the design and structure of the project ́s strategy. Basic structure of the strategy defining the principles and concepts of green building. Internal structure of the strategy emphasizing the principles and concepts of green building.

Abstract: This paper brings readers a study of Life-Cycle Assessment of thermal insulation panels made of the stems of fibre flax. This study uses cradle-to-gate system boundaries, which means that only growing and harvesting of flax and subsequent processing and manufacturing of the insulation material are included in the assessment. Transport between the facilities is also included, because it has significant impact on the results - the production facility is located in Czech Republic, but thanks to the costs main components (fibre flax stems and chemical additives) are grown or produced in various countries around the globe. The paper shows that production of such insulation material has environmental impacts comparable with other insulation materials. Conclusion of the paper includes discussion about share of individual parts of the production process (growing, harvesting, transport, processing and manufacturing) on the overall results and recommendations of changes that would lead to decrease the overall environmental impacts.

Abstract: This paper brings an overview and comments of research and development studies of façades with photovoltaic elements that have been published mainly after 2010. Literature review is focused on the state-of-the-art aspects of building-integrated photovoltaic in façades, mainly their innovations and performance evaluation. This article also presents some current problems needed further research in this area. Also information about architectural sense of integration of photovoltaic modules in building envelopes and outlook of future of building-integrated photovoltaic is presented.

Abstract: Well known problem of urban heat island is partly due to the albedo of traditional roofs. Mostexperts of urban climate are convinced that the intensity of urban heat island will be less if theroofs reflect as big part of the solar radiation as possible. Researchers have found or developedappropriate materials of low absorptance in the wavelength spectrum of solar radiation together with high emissivity in the long infrared interval. As a result, roof covering may have such extraparameters as metal roof painted with colored cool coating has 0.8 reflectance and 0.8 emittanceindex or single ply-membrane white (PVC) has 0.7 reflectance and 0.8 emittance index.No doubt taking into account the settlement as a whole cool roofs may decrease the intensity ofurban heat island however some local negative effect should not be forgotten. Approaching the citycenter it is typical that low rise and tall buildings are nearby. In some cases the same buildinghas high and low rise wings, from the point of view of geometry similar is the situation between thefacade and a canopy or a balcony. In this case the radiation reflect by the horizontal surfaceconsiderably increases the load on the facade, in this paper the relevant cases are analysed and thecalculated extra load and its consequences are evaluated.

Abstract: This paper focuses on safety rainwater runoff from inverted green roof construction. Water flowing between XPS insulation panels has negative impact on thermal characteristics of whole roof. This water deteriorates thermal efficiency of insulation and also microlayers which hinder diffusion are created. The negative effect is especially manifested in passive houses with inverted roof assemblies. The aim of the paper is to describe the negative effect of under-flowing water, to mention various types of green roof usage and the final assessment.

Abstract: The essence of the green roof is vegetation and its positive health and aesthetic effects on humans. They can, however, only be achieved, if the vegetation is really functional. In climatic conditions of Central Europe with four seasons of the same length, approximately, with cold winters and relatively warm, and often dry, summers are plants in artificial conditions, for which the vegetation of the roof can be considered, subject to extreme temperature variations. Even plants typical for central European area that thrive in this environment can be difficult to survive. In contrast to the plants rooted in the usual field, the temperature of which oscillates during the year at a depth of one meter under the surface between 0° and approx. 16° Celsius, i.e. in the range of approx. 16 Kelvin, the roots of vegetation planted on roofs are exposed to a much wider temperature range. The study to be presented describes an example of a typical roof with extensive greenery and shows the temperature course in substrate of the roof vegetation during a typical winter and summer day and compares it to the temperature course at the same depth below the field surface. It also provides methods that can solve this problem, from the selection of suitable plant species through year-round care, e.g. using summer irrigation and winter protection, up to artificial creation of a constant temperature of natural substrate with heated / cooled ceilings under the roof.

Abstract: The evaluation of energy flow measurements in two very special buildings under the name of Open Gardens, located in Brno, resulted in confirming that the resources of renewable energy in the Czech Republic can be sufficiently utilized. This energy is derived from photovoltaic elements and earth heat pumps and, additionally, it gets also accumulated in building structures. The energy from renewable resources is utilized for heating, cooling, warm water preparation, for raising air temperature, and it also partially covers the demand for electricity in the building. During the summer period, if the solar gains are considerable, the buildings need being cooled. This is ensured by an earth heat pump enabling the storage of waste heat in deep earth bore holes, offering the advantage of recuperating the heat for heating the rooms during the winter months. At the same time all electricity produced in the building gets utilized, covering roughly 1/3 of the consumption. A plan of comprehensive measurements aiming at the optimization of the most demanding electric appliances has been conceived for this compound of buildings, in order to ensure the best possible utilization of the produced electricity.

Abstract: Air flow pattern in urban environment are radically influenced by the sophisticated topography of buildings. Although in general the wind velocity is less than that in rural areas there are many critical points where the air movement accelerates. Such phenomenon can be observed in narrow streets, around the corners and below arcades.Vegetation can not only decrease the wind velocity but accelerate it. Trees can redirect air flow downward, whilst shrubs do upward. Around the corners of buildings high wind velocity and turbulence can develop which itself may lead to discomfort, in case of gust even the chance of accidents cannot be excluded. Together with low air temperature the wind-chill index may result in thermal discomfort.From the point of view of pedestrians the air flow up to the 2 meter height is to be investigated. The question is how the whirling air flow around the building corners can be tempered by vegetation in this band. The height of shrubs may be estimated as 1 meter while the canopy of trees hinders the air flow from about 3 meter height. Different combinations of shrubs and trees may contribute to wind discomfort as well as prevent it. In this paper the suitable arrangement of vegetation is analysed in function of street layout and wind direction.

Abstract: The research presented in this paper pursues a two-fold objective:One objective is document and present an innovative approach to support the design and configuration of buildings' technical (environmental control) systems. The currently prevailing practices in this area may be argued to display a number of shortcomings. Specifically, the logic behind a number of decisions along the system design and configuration process are not sufficiently explicated. Such decisions pertain, for example, to the types, number, and locations of device terminals, associated control zones, and zone state sensors. To add clarity and transparency to this process, we developed a building systems control schema that can be automatically generated based on a limited set of design input data (mainly the associative links between projected device terminals and their intended spatial impact zones).The second objective is to demonstrate the usability of the control schema generation method both for architects and engineers and, ideally, as a communication and collaboration platform for both groups. To test and evaluate this usability, we considered a number of possibilities. In one effort, we worked with a number of architecture and engineering students who were introduced to the method and actively deployed it to assess and evaluate the design and configurations of environmental control systems (for heating, cooling, ventilation, and lighting) in existing architectural spaces. Another effort involved extensive interviews with experienced professionals in both architecture and engineering fields to obtain not only general insights about the interface areas of architectural and mechanical design, but also receive specific feedback concerning the scope and potential of the aforementioned method for the automated generation of building control schemas.Given this background, the paper includes the details of the schema generation method as well as the results of usability tests and professional evaluations and feedback.

Abstract: In the last decades, the general awareness with regard to the topic of universal design (or design for all) has been steadily increasing. As a consequence, more attention is being paid to the requirements of all segments of population (specifically including those with certain perceptual and/or motoric limitations). Nonetheless, additional efforts toward improving pertinent regulations, design practices, and relevant technologies are needed. Specifically, the field of visual accessibility in the built environment has not received the same level of consideration as some other areas of universal design. Given this background, the present contribution reports on the most recent progress made in the course of the ongoing ViDeA research project. This research effort aims primarily at the development of effective means toward supporting the design and implementation of visually accessible solutions in the built environment. Thereby, a central objective is to enhance the mobility of people with sight restriction. Visually impaired people primarily orient themselves based on their residual eyesight. The optimization of lighting solutions represents a highly critical measure toward creating environmental circumstances in which the remaining eyesight can be optimally utilised. The main components of the ViDeA project are as follows: An original set of optometric experiments, the evaluation of a number of use cases and the development of a computational tool for architects and engineers in order to facilitate the evaluation of visual accessibility criteria of projects. The deliverables of the ViDeA project are expected to enhance the quality of visual performance guidelines and augment the capabilities of simulation-based design optimization tools.