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Sustainable Built Environment Performance Assessment Framework.
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Globally, there are significant challenges to meeting built environment performance targets. The gaps found between the predicted performance of new or retrofit buildings and their actual performance impede an understanding of how to achieve these targets. This paper points to the importance of reliable and informative building performance assessme...
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Citations
... In previous work, part of our current research team discussed building performance gaps and proposed a regenerative sustainability framework for assessing the performance of the built environment [12]. ...
... We argued that building users can interact with and adapt their built environment as active inhabitants rather than passive occupants. We suggested that it is desirable to reframe built environment performance in terms of 'net-positive outcomes' in both human and environmental contexts to advance sustainability goals more effectively [12]. These efforts continued with discussions on how to integrate community well-being (CW) into the built environment assessment [13] and explorations of the value of social practices on well-being assessment in buildings [10,11]. ...
... As a starting point for discussions of desired futures, we propose the idea of regenerative sustainability (Cole, Robinson, and Westerhoff 2016;Coleman et al. 2018;Holden, Robinson, and Sheppard 2016;Robinson and Cole 2015). Regenerative sustainability departs from a common limits and constraints approach to sustainability, which focuses on harm reduction and that finds its most popular current expression in "net zero" policy goals. ...
Addressing complex sustainability challenges has encouraged a growing interest in community-university partnerships and collaboration. Transdisciplinary knowledge co-production (TKC), a form of practice-oriented research, is committed to embedding pluralistic forms of knowledge into various aspects and stages of research. This paper explores how a TKC orientation, and a combination of academic and practitioner ideas, knowledge and experience, shaped the governance and research design of transdisciplinary knowledge co-production research project, Visionary Communities, embedded in a marginalised neighbourhood in Toronto, Canada. The first stage of the project involved 8 months of aligning academic and community perspectives to address governance and role issues, determining rules of engagement, a theory of change and a combined set of objectives and engagement principles. Academic researchers’ ideas of sustainability as an emergent property of discussions of desired futures (procedural sustainability), generative of net positive outcomes (regenerative sustainability) and embedded in social and institutional practices (normalising sustainability) contributed conceptual underpinnings of the project. Equally, the project’s community partners’ experience working in and with community contributed a framework for understanding communities as a relational ecosystem of collective assets, formalised as the Connected Community Approach. Weaving academic and practitioner approaches together led to four major reframing and reimagining moments of the Visionary Communities project: finding and sharing resources, project development, combining theoretical frameworks and making climate change/sustainability co-benefits. This article is full open access.
... It is not just about managing financial performance but also ensuring that ecological, social, and economic goals are met in an integrated, sustainable way. A comprehensive approach to managing the performance of regenerative enterprises includes the following steps (Mason, 2017;Coleman et al., 2018;Yankovskaya et. al, 2022;Pavez et al., 2022;Krstić, 2022;Oyefusi et al., 2024): 1) Establish clear regenerative goals and objectives, 2) Measuring performance of regenerative enterprises in the aim of their managing and directing, 3) Foster continuous monitoring and feedback loops, 4) Establish integrated management systems, 5) Engage and empower employees, and 6) Align partnerships and supply chains. ...
... • Ecological (environmental) regenerative performance -1. Carbon footprint that measures reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption, and carbon sequestration; 2. Biodiversity indices assess the health of ecosystems through indicators like species diversity, the presence of endangered species, or habitat restoration (e.g., restored wetlands, reforestation efforts); 3. Soil health and water quality that monitor soil regeneration (e.g., soil carbon, soil organic matter, or water retention) and the quality of water resources (e.g., reduction of runoff, cleaner water); 4. Waste and circular economy metrics that track waste reduction, material circularity, and closed-loop systems, including the use of renewable materials, repurposing, and zero waste initiatives; 5. Natural capital accounting determines the value of natural resources and ecosystems restored or preserved, including methodologies like the Natural Capital Protocol, which helps to measure, value, and account for natural capital impacts and dependencies (Coleman et al., 2018;Hein et al., 2020). • Social regenerative performance -1. ...
Business performance management within regenerative enterprises enables tracking and evaluating the impact of their activities on ecological systems, communities, and economic structures. Unlike traditional business performance management, which primarily emphasizes financial performance, regenerative business performance management includes metrics that assess environmental restoration, resource efficiency, and social well-being. Understanding how to manage business performance in a regenerative context is crucial for enterprises striving to contribute meaningfully to sustainable development and the circular economy. This paper seeks to explore the business performance management processes that facilitate the transition to regenerative business models, focusing on how businesses can plan, measure, analyze, and improve their regenerative business performance. By synthesizing insights from recent literature and empirical studies, this paper proposes a comprehensive framework for regenerative business performance, offering actionable strategies and practices for businesses seeking to align their operations with regenerative principles.
... The current state of triple glazing in buildings is marked by a dynamic landscape where technological advancements intersect with challenges in achieving optimal window performance [3,12]. While holding significant promise for improving thermal insulation, triple glazing faces hurdles requiring careful consideration [13,14]. ...
This study investigates the development and performance of triple-glazing technologies in buildings, highlighting the increasing need for human thermal comfort. Despite the popularity of bibliometric analysis in business research, there remains a lack of quantitative analysis and in-depth evaluation specific to glazing technologies. This research employs Systematic Literature Review (SLR) and Bibliometric-Quantitative Analysis (BQA) methods, utilizing the PRISMA framework to select and screen 214 articles. Descriptive analysis and scientometric statistics are conducted using bibliometric software. Key findings reveal trends in thermal comfort, environmental impacts, energy performance, and cost-effectiveness of triple-glazing technologies. The analysis identifies primary challenges, such as managing condensation, balancing insulation with solar gain, and addressing the complexities of installation and initial costs. The research aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of current advancements and the factors influencing the adoption and implementation of triple-glazing technologies, thereby contributing valuable insights to sustainable building practices.
... In summary, higher education institutions may aspire to create classroom environments characterized by excellent IEQ and interior design, which are comfortable, health-promoting, and inclusive, effectively incorporating attributes such as sensory environments, biophilia, aesthetics, engagement and safety, with the expectation that these measures will foster opportunities for student wellbeing while supporting their academic performance. Indeed, the idea of moving beyond risk reduction to promoting wellbeing can be interpreted as a shift from net zero to net positive approaches, aligning with regenerative sustainability as a pathway toward achieving net positive design and sustainability in both human and environmental terms [220], [221]. ...
... The tripartite model of social practice introduced by [230] in particular, offers a useful framing for exploring student wellbeing in campus environments [40], [220]. This model proposes that social practices emerge from the dynamic interaction of three elements over time: material (environmental elements), skills (individual capacities or characteristics), and meanings (shared or collective norms and values). ...
Given the emerging concern for student wellbeing in public health discourse, a question arises: What role do campus buildings play in shaping the overall wellbeing of students? Following the PRISMA guideline, this study reviews the current building science literature that explores the relationship between higher education learning environments, specifically classroom spaces, and the wellbeing of students. Our investigation reveals that the existing literature primarily frames student wellbeing in terms of individual comfort and health. While acknowledging the importance of these aspects, we emphasize the desirability of embracing wider social and collective dimensions from an interdisciplinary perspective. We also advocate for a departure from the traditional approach that focuses primarily on mitigating adverse environmental effects to one focused on net positive environmental and human benefits. Encompassing these two perspectives, this paper presents a holistic approach to better understand the wellbeing of both individuals and the communities within educational settings. This comprehensive perspective aims to highlight the diverse and collective dimensions influencing campus wellbeing, contributing to a regenerative pathway toward achieving net-positive design and sustainability in both human and environmental terms.
... define simulation models for different purposes, such as building design, heating and cooling system design and management, analysis of refurbishment proposals, optimisation of building performance, and analysis of building energy efficiency and equipment. However, previous research has shown that there is a performance gap between simulated and real building models [8,9]. This performance gap can be attributed to standard building models, generic climate data, and discrepancies between the design and the actual building. ...
... However, previous research has shown that there is a performance gap between simulated and real building models [8,9]. This performance gap can be attributed to standard building models, generic climate data, and discrepancies between the design and the actual building. ...
The performance gap caused by occupant behaviour (OB) is one of the main challenges to the accuracy of building performance simulations (BPS) models. Calibration of BPS models has shown great improvements in tertiary and single residential buildings. Nevertheless, the calibration in collective residential buildings is still uncertain. This study aims to identify the opportunities and barriers to the calibration of collective residential building BPS models for the analysis of heating energy consumption. For this, the research calibrates a real case study of a social rental housing building located in northern Spain. The method involves the adjustment of input data based on OB clusters, developed by monitorization and survey data and the statistical comparison of the results of normative models, calibrated models and real data. The results show an average improvement of 67% in hourly indoor temperature and 16% in hourly heating energy consumption in calibrated models, but still with a considerable performance gap. The main barriers to a higher accuracy are the wide diversity and lack of uniformity of OB patterns, uncertainty of parameters, and use of auxiliary heating systems. However, deeper monitorization and survey campaigns with the use of OB clusters can be a promising opportunity.
... Despite the advances made in the last years in the evaluation of the renovation of buildings by the BPS and the application of the LCT, there is still a gap between the theoretical results and the real data [26,27], the so-called performance gap. Many studies have developed accurate calibration techniques [28][29][30][31][32], but the evaluation of residential buildings with a considerable diversity of behavioural usage still has difficulties, according to a previous study [33]. ...
The EU regulations require long-term renovation strategies (LTRS) for the energy transition of the existing building stock, emphasising the importance of the whole-life carbon evaluation and the cost-effectiveness of the processes. The building performance simulation (BPS) tools combined with the integration of the life cycle thinking (LCT) are considered a promising approach for evaluating the renovation of buildings. Besides, the performance gap due to occupant behaviour (OB) and the uncertainty of the economic scenario is an essential barrier to the accurate assessment of renovation strategies in residential buildings. The objective of this study is to develop a simulation tool to evaluate the environmental and economic sustainability of energy renovations in residential buildings based on LCT, considering the OB diversity and economic uncertainty. For this, the study develops the PARARENOVATE-LCT tool. This script-based tool combines the dynamic BPS and the integration of the environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) and the economic life cycle cost (LCC), evaluating different renovation strategies in multiple scenarios based on the combination of multiple variables of archetype, climatic zone, OB patterns, economic scenario and orientation. The methodological tool is applied in a case study of the most common archetypes of single-family and multi-family residential buildings of the Basque Country, in northern Spain. The results show how the tool can prioritise strategies, analyse the significance of baseline scenario parameters, and measure the influence of the LCT application. This way, the study provides a meth-odological tool as a new approach towards developing policies and plans to answer the EU requirements.
... Regenerative practices in this field focus on restoring the productivity and function of the ecosystem in contrast with conventional agriculture, which exploits soils, depletes nutrients and reduces soil quality (Du Plessis and Cole, 2011). Coleman et al. (2018) and Mang and Reed (2012) discussed the regenerative approach in the context of the built environment and underlined the interplay between the human and environmental systems, which can result in positive outcomes for both those systems. ...
... In other words, it develops a system approach in which human beings should replace themselves as being part of nature and aim at continuously feeding and being fed by the living systems within which they take place (Mang and Reed, 2012). Thus, it takes into consideration the interplay between human and environment systems to have positive outcomes on those systems (Coleman et al., 2018). ...
Purpose
The concept of “regenerative business” is thriving in current business literature. The present study seeks to contribute to the current academic debate by investigating the nature and scope of regenerative hospitality, here seen as a steppingstone of regenerative tourism.
Design/methodology/approach
Exploratory in nature and with the goal of understating the nature and scope of regenerative hospitality, nineteen semi-structured interviews with academics, consultants and self-proclaimed regenerative hoteliers were conducted.
Findings
Results provide a regenerative hospitality framework to move from the current sustainability paradigm towards local and systemic regenerative approaches in hospitality by applying place and people intelligence.
Originality/value
This research contributes to the current academic debate about the future of travel, particularly focussing on the future of hospitality in relation to the multidisciplinary field of regenerative economy. Particularly, the paper has been designed to contribute to the current discussion in the Journal of Tourism Futures about the transformation and regenerative future of tourism.
... Perception is a subjective factor associated with the particularities of each individual, regardless of whether they share common socio-economic or socio-demographic characteristics. The phrasing of survey questions, along with the respondent's motivation and interest, can influence both the answers and their subsequent interpretation [20]. Therefore, comfort models that measure perception can yield disparate results. ...
The influence of people on building performance is becoming increasingly significant. Including users’ perspective in decision-making and design processes could help to improve occupants’ well-being and the feasibility of interventions by providing more accurate information about heating preferences for energy models. Furthermore, understanding residents’ level of thermal satisfaction could enable more appropriate measures to be taken to improve the energy efficiency of buildings. This study aims to define an indicator that measures the level of thermal satisfaction of social housing occupants so that it can be contrasted with other methods of analysis of perceived comfort and can be replicated in different building contexts. A way to analyse occupants’ thermal satisfaction is proposed in a quantitative way, measured as the difference of the desired temperature and the perceived indoor temperature. The index was applied to a sample of 283 social housing dwellings in the Basque Country, Spain, with data obtained via surveys that include questions on thermal comfort in winter and households’ characteristics. Furthermore, the indicator was compared to other variables, such as household income and energy expenses, to observe behavioural trends and possible cases of energy vulnerability. The obtained variable provides occupants’ opinion and perception to ensure the suitability of the solutions for improving the energy efficiency of the building and the thermal comfort. It is also possible to apply it to different building typologies and compare the results with other models of perceived thermal comfort.
... The simulation assumptions can significantly affect the accuracy of the predicted retrofit performance, leading to many uncertainties [32]. ASHRAE energy simulation guidelines for existing buildings or local standards can be followed to minimize the errors created by assumptions [33,34]. ...
Building energy retrofits can reduce emissions and increase cost savings. Some retrofits that can deliver higher emissions savings are not popular due to a lack of economic justifications. Financial incentives can be used to change buyer perception around such retrofits. This study proposes a framework to identify the best-performing retrofit strategies for a given building cluster and the optimal incentive amounts to promote the chosen strategies, accounting for uncertainties, stakeholder priorities, and budget constraints. The proposed framework was demonstrated using a case study complemented with policy insights. Life cycle cost savings and capital cost significantly impact retrofit purchase decisions. Case study results showed that retrofitting houses heated with electricity can produce significant cost savings. However, adopting energy-conscious behaviours in houses heated with natural gas and injecting renewable natural gas into the gas supply can produce two times more emissions savings achieved by any retrofit strategy applied to an electrically heated house. This indicates the need for adopting performance-based incentives over the prescriptive approach to reward occupant efforts in addition to asset performance. Despite potential life cycle cost savings, incentives must be complemented with low-interest loans to promote retrofit strategies carrying higher capital costs.
