Advanced Materials Research Vol. 935

Abstract: This paper presents the theoretical review of the importance of landscape design in the execution of green and sustainable buildings as a trend of current development concept. Instead of beautifying the environment, strategic landscape design may help to prevent from extensive building heat gain, reduce the energy and water consumption as well as produce the natural and healthy ambience to the surrounding. Landscape design in green buildings should be viewed as not just mere decorative afterthought but it must be well conceived as a multi-function factor that provides various critical green services for a building including water efficiency and energy efficiency. The framework covers two main aspects which are green wall or vertical landscape design and roof top garden. The aim of the paper is to highlight the demand for the proper landscape design that should be provided in any development of sustainable buildings. It is hoped that the paper will contribute to further enrich the landscape design innovation as part of green and sustainable building design.

Abstract: The aim of the paper is to investigate the importance of landscape design in the planning and designing of a residential property in Klang Valley. It has been proven that proper landscape planning and design with the sustainable concept and approach help to create conducive and responsive environment of residential properties. The paper employed quantitative approaches which includes i) a questionnaire survey; and ii) an observation. This empirical study is based on the findings of case studies conducted on several residential areas in Klang Valley. The findings show that the residents have very clear ideas both on how much green space is really important in residential areas in order to create a sustainable residential environment. Despite the absence of public actions in terms of providing information, encouraging participations in the survey and promoting awareness by those interviewed have shown considerable interest in promoting landscape design to be applied in real estate development. The perceptions of the quality and quantity of landscape designs in residential areas and how landscape design can influence the values of real estate developments especially in Klang Valley can be further researched for future study.

Abstract: Exploration of low carbon city planning is the key to achieve sustainable development, which also has important meaning for the construction of energy-saving society. The value engineering theory was introduced into low carbon urban planning in this work, with the analysis method of three steps proposed. Firstly, sort out the planning index system and determine the key parameters. Secondly, quantify the value coefficient of each parameter by the expert scoring method. Lastly, get the highest priority value coefficient to achieve the purpose of carbon effect with lowest cost. Through illustrating the principle of the method by an example, the actual meaning of low carbon city planning using value engineering theory was proved effective.

Abstract: Globally or regionally Building Sustainability Assessment Systems (LEED, BREEAM, CASBEE, Green-star, G-SEED and etc.) have been developed and green building market has been growing rapidly. Through updating regularly, these assessment systems have been evaluated themselves. For increasing quantitative efficiency and satisfying social requirement, it was adopted that carbon emission assessment reflects regional specifics and system characteristics. Carbon emission assessment in buildings differs with other industry. Defining scope, boundary and method should be fitted into building level. In this study describe blueprint for integrated building sustainability assessment system focused on carbon emissions to achieving sustainability and considering stakeholders needs. The basic 5 principles are TBL concept, Eco-efficiency, Life Cycle, Top-down/Bottom-up approach and Integrated Design Process. Next generation of building sustainability assessment system should evaluate based on strength of these principle, furthermore those would be used for core concepts of Green Building Index.

Abstract: Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) is a phase of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in order to quantify various environmental impacts based on the inventory analysis. Weighting although is not the mandatory element of LCIA is the element in which local data becomes important. Potential environmental impacts and the importance of particular impacts can be quite significant among the countries or regions. Determination of the importance degree is possible by weighting of the selected environmental impact categories. Therefore, this study aimed to develop local weighting factors (WFs) by taking the environmental issues into consideration for the building materials produced in Turkey. And 11 environmental impact categories such as global warming, ozone depletion, acidification, photochemical ozone formation, eutrophication, fossil fuel depletion, mineral resource depletion, water depletion, land use, indoor air quality and waste were selected considering environmental impacts caused by the building materials and environmental issues in Turkey. And WFs of these categories for Turkey were determined by using a panel approach. Thus, it can be possible to assess environmental impacts of building materials by using local data.

Abstract: This study predicts the reduction behavioral intention of students residing in universities hostel buildings, by examining the effect of socio-demographic background, using theory of planned behavior. A total sample of 234 (49.8%) students from Bayero University Kano and 236 (50.2%) from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria have completed the questionnaires that consist of measures related to their self-reported waste reduction behavioral intentions (RBI), attitudes, subjective norms and their behavioral control towards the waste reduction practice. Structural Equation Modeling (SME) were used, which predicts that subjective norms have strongest influence towards reduce behavioral practice, while perceived behaviour control is the second, finally attitude have a negative influence on RBI. In accordance this variables may likely improve the predictive validity of the existing conceptual models of waste reduction behavioral intentions for a green hostel buildings.

Abstract: Climate change is a phenomenon of great sensitivity which becomes a global issue that requires a concerted solution. This paper is interested in the resultant effects of average global temperature variation leading to greenhouse effects to the global environment particularly in Nigeria. Natural events and human activities are believed to be the major contributing factors that fuelled the increase in average global temperature, as a result, it leads to the greenhouse emission of gases such as carbon dioxide (CO₂) due to the burning of fossil fuels. This emerged as a challenge to the eco-environment and sustainable development. Technological approaches were drawn from the academic literature to enlighten the polluters to immediately begin to reduce greenhouse gas emission, if the rise in global temperature is to be held in check to avoid drastic consequences later.

Abstract: The influence of vegetation canopy on environment is a blend of factors by blocking off evaporation and radiation which represents various degrees of effectiveness as an imperative cooling source in canopy, shade area and ground surface to improve the urban thermal environment. The research was conducted on the view of enthalpy to evaluate the cooling effect of vegetation commonly applied to temperature reduction strategy and to describe the changes of energy in the air more precisely. Trees on campus were the sample of the experiment, utilized to measure the temperature, humidity and enthalpy value of the canopy. The energy status within canopy was analyzed by Gird TIN Default from Map info Professional software. The disproportion of enthalpy value found between vegetation canopy and the control group was 6.43kJ/kg under the condition of outdoor temperature below 31°C and wind velocity less than 3m/s, equivalent to a temperature reduction of 4.86°C in the dry air of balanced state. Canopy center with 17.87kg, equivalent to 13900L, of lower enthalpy content can improve urban thermal environment by energy balancing if the volume of air was taken into account. The massive volume of cooling air between ground surface and the top of canopy has great potentials shown in vegetation as in improvement in thermal environment with the direction of wind field. It will benefit urban cities from creating massive volume of cooling source if the volume of cooling air can be employed as an assessment guide in the prospective planning and designing.

Abstract: This research work aims at providing a methodology to analyze quantitatively energy sustainability of existing urban fabric and creating an urban energy system model as a decision support tool for the urban planning processes. Spatially resolved energy demand allows the identification of critical areas of energy consumption (CECA), in particular, a local-type spatial analysis has been adopted, GIS based, using a Kernel density estimation (KDE) and maps algebra. Within the CECA a simulation of energy consumption on an annual base for a representative building was carried out, in order to explore and estimate limits and vulnerabilities and to propose a hierarchy of energy-savings measures, addressing different scales of criticality in urban energy systems, from the city to district and block level.

Abstract: Within the Asia Pacific region, Malaysias WAWASAN 2020 creates the vision of being a green country. Accordingly, the Malaysian Government has established the mission of reducing the carbon emission. The programs include the projects targeting the energy efficiency and saving within the housing and residential buildings that must meet the Green Building criteria to achieve the sustainable architectural design. Renewable energy sources, like wind or solar energy, can be used to ventilate. The review of previous researchers shows that the use of the natural ventilation system decreases the electricity consumption of a simulated housing in the hot and humid climatic conditions such as Malaysia. The purpose of this research is a review of consumes renewable energies such as solar energy and wind for passive cooling. To test the benefit of natural ventilation system, this paper reviewed some analysis that had used simulation software such as CFD.