{"id":3326,"date":"2013-05-26T12:00:14","date_gmt":"2013-05-26T03:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ide.titech.ac.jp\/~nabe\/wp\/?p=3326"},"modified":"2023-10-06T14:03:51","modified_gmt":"2023-10-06T05:03:51","slug":"reading-report-architecture-for-a-sustainable-future-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.ide.titech.ac.jp\/~nabe\/wp\/reading-report-architecture-for-a-sustainable-future-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Reading Report – Architecture for a Sustainable Future #2"},"content":{"rendered":"
Book Name:<\/div>\n
Architecture for a Sustainable Future\u00a0<\/b>\u2013<\/b>\u00a0All about the Holistic Approach in Japan<\/b><\/em><\/div>\n

By:\u00a0Architectural Institute of Japan (AIJ)<\/i><\/p>\n

Reported by: Sheau-Chyng Wong (M2)<\/p>\n

\n

Chapter 2 \/\u00a0The Vision and How to Make and Use (part 1)<\/b><\/p>\n

Summary<\/b><\/p>\n

Chapter 2-1, comprising six sub-chapters, introduces the various concepts on integrating buildings into their natural and urban environments.<\/p>\n

Bioresource Sciences Professor Itonaga starts the chapter providing backgrounds and definitions of ecosystems and ecological design. The concept of Compact City is then introduced by Sato as an ideal \u201cto construct the urban elements in an efficient, organic way, but within compact limits\u201d. The motives for constructing Compact Cities could be threefold: to reduce energy consumption; to revitalize traditional city centers; to restore cities to a human scale, i.e. to promote better lifestyle at a local level. Two examples of Compact City are given; Utsunomiya and Tsuruoka, both of which are old castle towns in Japan.<\/p>\n

Chapter 2-2, which focuses on \u2018how to conserve energy\u2019, begins with an emphasis on the importance of designing buildings that are \u201cin tune with the local climates\u201d by Prof. Sakamoto. In particular, buildings that are well adapted to local climatic conditions reduce the need for external heating and cooling, thus saving energy. In this regard, greater attention should be given to traditional houses, which have typically evolved and adjusted to the native conditions; even though they may not meet the latest performance standards, the building styles or materials could provide valuable lessons for the employment of \u2018passive design\u2019.<\/p>\n

In the subsequent sub-chapter, the linkage between urban environments and heat island phenomena was discussed. According to Professor Hoyano (of Tokyo Institute of Technology!), the main causes of urban heat island phenomenon are: changes in ground cover, massive energy consumption and air pollution. Several examples, using thermographic images, are then presented to demonstrate that: i) the surface temperature of urban areas with little greenery are much higher than the atmosphere; ii) the fluctuation in surface temperature of green areas is very low from day to night; and therefore, iii) greeneries could help mitigate urban heat island effect.<\/p>\n

Professor Yoshino provides a brief overview of the status of housing energy consumption in Japan before presenting the energy conservation measures for homes. The three classifications of energy-saving measures are: i) improvements in building design, e.g., sufficient thermal insulation, optimal use of sunlight; ii) improvements in efficiency of mechanical equipment; and iii) lifestyle changes, e.g., turning off lights between use.<\/p>\n

Thereupon, Prof. Sakamoto introduces the Japan\u2019s energy conservation standards for housing and non-residential buildings. Both standards were put into effect in 1980 based on the Energy Conservation Law (or Law concerning the Rational Use of Energy) which was enacted a year prior. The standards were subsequently revised in 1992 and 1999. Due to major revisions to the standard for housing, the 1999 version was called the \u201cEnergy Conservation Standard of Next Generation for Housing\u201d. The table below outlines the main energy performance indicators of the \u2018Next Standards for Housing\u2019 and the Energy Standards for Non-residential Buildings.<\/p>\n

Table 1: Energy Performance Indicators of Energy Standards<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Next Standards for Housing<\/td>\nEnergy Standards for Non-residential Buildings<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Energy-saving:<\/p>\n
    \n
  1. \n
      \n
    1. Annual Heating and Cooling Load<\/li>\n
    2. Heat Loss Coefficient<\/li>\n
    3. Solar Gain Coefficient in Summer<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      2)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Air-tightness:<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. \n
          \n
        1. \n
            \n
          1. Venting Equivalent Area<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            3)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Provision of Dew-proofing Layer for Walls<\/p>\n

            4)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Provision of Ventilation system<\/td>\n

1)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Perimeter Annual Load (PAL)- To measure thermal load generated from perimeter zones of a building by improving the \u2018skin\u2019 design.2)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Coefficient of Energy Consumption (CEC)- \u00a0To measure energy performance of air-conditioning equipment, hot water supply system, ventilation system etc.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

The energy consumption of a building can also be examined based on its life-cycle stages, as explained by Ikaga. Using a typical office building as an example of how energy is consumed during each life cycle stage: 1)\u00a0Design Stage<\/i>\u00a0– energy is consumed in the design office and staff transport; 2)\u00a0Material Production Stage<\/i>\u00a0\u2013 energy is consumed in gathering materials, manufacturing and transportation, and depends on material type and site; 3)\u00a0Construction Stage<\/i>\u00a0\u2013 energy is consumed in the assembly of construction parts and business activities; 4)\u00a0Operational Stage<\/i>\u00a0\u2013 energy is consumed for direct energy use inside buildings (air-conditioning, lighting etc.) and building maintenance, and could occupy up to 60% of the total building life cycle energy; 5)\u00a0Refurbishment Stage<\/i>\u00a0– energy is consumed for replacement of equipment and exterior\/interior finishes; 6)\u00a0Disposal Stage<\/i>\u00a0– energy is consumed in reclaiming\/recycling of used materials and their transportation.<\/p>\n

Ikaga and Kodama close this sub-chapter by introducing the concept of \u2018active design\u2019 and \u2018passive design\u2019. \u2018Active design\u2019 generally indicates the utilization of artificial technologies such as air-conditioning equipment and lighting. Strategies to reduce energy use and improve indoor environment include variable-air-volume air-conditioning system, thermal storage, automatic lighting control system, and automatic escalator operation system. In contrast, \u2018passive design\u2019 refers to \u201cthe system that performs heating, cooling and lighting by utilizing the flows of natural heat and light in a building\u2026 objective is to design a building as a whole and its parts, conforming to the local characteristics of the climate\u201d. Strategies of \u2018passive design\u2019 include passive solar heating, passive cooling, daylighting and passive ventilation. As opposed to \u2018active design\u2019 which typically results in substantial energy consumption, \u2018passive design\u2019 utilizes the natural potentials of the local environment therefore lessening the needs for artificial mechanical systems.<\/p>\n

Reporter\u2019s Own Thoughts<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Energy Conservation Law of Japan apparently does not carry any specific penalties or legal obligations, but the author remarks that the energy conservation standards are making overall positive impacts. In my opinion, it would be quite difficult to assess or justify the said impacts, particularly from the perspective of the users, designers, builders or community in general. This rather lax attitude towards \u2018law enforcement\u2019 is quite different from that of most developed countries, in which a law is usually accompanied by strict penalties and regulatory systems.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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