Mark Luther

• D.Arch University of Michigan
• Professor (Associate) at Deakin University

The university property management department has been facing a challenge with the strategic management of campus spaces due to the need for informal learning spaces (ILSs) to facilitate students’ independent studies. However, there’s limited research on how these ILSs perform, particularly concerning human-made sounds. This study delves into the i...

The past decades have seen an advancement from heavyweight radiant floors to lightweight conditioning ceiling systems. However, the performance of these lightweight systems are seldom comprehensively discussed in an informative manner for designers. This paper reviews lightweight radiant ceiling panel designs and conducts instrumental experiments t...

As energy storage systems are typically not installed with residential solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, any “excess” solar energy exceeding the house load remains unharvested or is exported to the grid. This paper introduces an approach towards a system design for improved PV self-consumption and self-sufficiency. As a result, a polyvalent heat pum...

The impact of buildings on the environment is nothing short of devastating. In recent years, much attention has been given to creating an environmentally friendly built environment. Nonetheless, it has been levied on new buildings. Residential buildings make up at least 80% of the built environment, most of which were built before any energy effici...

The architectural and construction professions are in a state of major transition [...]

In order to achieve Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets, a majority of the existing residential building stock in Australia will require retrofitting in favour of energy-efficient solutions. This paper considers retrofitting for conditioning to be one of the most straightforward and offers the greatest potential to deliver signif...

ASA (ANZAScA) has organized international conferences and events across the globe since 1965. This page provides access to details of recent conferences and contains a comprehensive list of all conferences held to date. All Abstracts and Papers will be submitted online. 2021 One-Day Symposium to be held Online

ASA (ANZAScA) has organized international conferences and events across the globe since 1965. This page provides access to details of recent conferences and contains a comprehensive list of all conferences held to date. All Abstracts and Papers will be submitted online. 2021 One-Day Symposium to be held Online

Owing to the advantages of high construction efficiency, prefabricated residential buildings have been of increasing interest in recent years. Against the background of global heating, designing low-carbon facades for prefabricated residential buildings has become a focus. The main challenge for this research is in designing windows for prefabricat...

The issue of sustainable energy consumption in the socio-economic system has been widely investigated in recent studies. Embodied energy transfer is also part of the normal economic pattern. To evaluate the sustainability of a system, it is important to consider not only the growth of the system as an indicator, but also the development of the syst...

The world is looking to reduce carbon emissions, prevent global warming, and become more energy sustainable. Despite the various strategies for mitigating climate change, the fact remains that 80% of greenhouse gas emissions are attributable to activities associated with the built environment, and this is where a concentrated focus is needed. Moreo...

Innovative mechanical services coupled with renewable energy systems are crucial for achieving a net zero energy goal for houses. Conventional systems tend to be vastly oversized because they lack the means to buffer energy flows and are based on peak loads. This paper presents an approach to achieve a net zero energy goal for houses by using a sol...

Heat Pumps are becoming one of the most considered mechanical conditioning equipment in our buildings. While they are popular, there appears to be quite a vast range of system types and applications in building conditioning. This paper primarily reviews the literature on heat pumps, the various types, and the consideration of design end uses. The f...

The purpose of this paper is to examine several real house cases as renewable energy resources are installed. It is an empirical study, based on first principles applied to measured data. In the first case presented, a PV solar system has been installed and a hybrid vehicle purchased. Battery storage is being considered. Smart Meter data (provided...

This paper considers the application of comfort parameters as a mechanism for building performance analysis and control. It challenges traditional methods of evaluating zonal comfort through thermostatic dry-bulb temperature alone. In contrast, it creatively applies a ‘calibrated’ Comfort Tool software to measure comfort improvements in buildings....

Energy sustainability has great importance in the development of the economy and society since energy is a necessary driving force for economic growth. The construction sector accounts for a greater percentage of global energy consumption than most other sectors. The structure of exports in the current trade pattern has affected the transmission of...

Energy is a vital necessity in driving the development of the global economy, national industries, and even services for people. The construction sector consumes a high proportion of energy and this requires improvement for its sustainable development. Due to the growth of multilateral trade, the energy flows embodied in the global trade network ha...

As the cost of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems decreases and incentives such as feed-in tariffs (FiTs) are offered, solar-PV homes are becoming popular. Furthermore, solar-PV homes integrated with hybrid or electric vehicles (EVs) are emerging as a paradigm for future homes. Given the fact that there exists a considerable price difference between g...

Energy requirements have expanded significantly in the process of global development while the energy crisis as an issue is becoming a limitation for economic development and environmental sustainability. The construction sector has contributed to the total energy consumption at a national and global level. The quality of human life is still impact...

A NetZero Energy Home (NZEH) is designed, modelled, and constructed to produce as much energy as it consumes on an annual basis, with the required energy generated from renewable energy resources. This paper reviews holistic research on NZEHs from the perspectives of energy simulation, energy monitoring, actual energy performance, and operation/des...

Due to the conflict between economic development and environmental preservation, energy consumption in the construction industry has become an urgent concern. This research aims to measure the interaction between imports and exports in relation to the embodied energy that accompanies international trade from the perspective of vertical specialisati...

The construction sector is globally a significant energy consumer and has a particular responsibility to improve its environmental impact as a worldwide sector. Research on energy mitigation in construction has tended to focus on the economic, technological, administrative and community drivers in many countries, but the energy demand trend in the...

International trade supplies a great number of new opportunities for the development of the construction industry in relation to globalisation. Many construction industry studies relevant to international trade have focused on the evaluation of national trade performance in energy from the viewpoint of the whole economy or of a specific product. In...

A storage container is formed of a pair of tubes with one fitting telescopically into the other. A row of axially aligned keys protruding from the inner tube fit into a keyway slot in a plurality of annular ribs from the outer tube. The keys can slide through the keyway slot in an axial motion and are also movable circumferentially between an adjac...

Purpose Heritage buildings are a crucial part of the UK built sector. They perpetuate a sense of identity, prestige and community. Many heritage buildings however tend to be energy-inefficient, and the scope for retrofitting such buildings is paramount. Heritage buildings require ratification from planning bodies in order to undertake any alterati...

This study emanated from a project measuring the levels of CO2 in a range of school classrooms in Victoria, Australia. The primary purpose of this paper is to understand how classroom usage affects the rise and fall of CO2, so as provide an acceptable environment while saving energy. Our intention is to develop an understanding of the temporal and...

An investigation of building performance through a comfort and operational quality standpoint is not too often discussed for Net-Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB). It would seem important that predications and claims for reducing energy-use in buildings and the move towards NZEB does not compromise comfort in buildings. A high school in Essendon, Victor...

Australia actually has a long history with prefabricated building since its early settlement days. However, methods of prefabrication have, until the past decade, been relatively few and almost non-existent with the exception of relocatable school building or portables. The revival of interest in prefabricated building has been quite recent, involv...

Australia actually has a long history with prefabricated building since its early settlement days. However, methods of prefabrication have, until the past decade, been relatively few and almost nonexistent with the exception of relocatable school building or portables. The revival of interest in prefabricated building has been quite recent, involvi...

The application of different software, whether simple or complex, can each play a significant role in the design and decision-making on daylighting for a building. This paper, discusses the task to be accomplished, in real case studies, and how various lighting software programs are used to achieve the desired information. The message iterated thro...

The most important prevention in minimizing energy transfer in commercial buildings is the treatment of glazing in the building facade. In a commercial building, while the impacts of roof, walls and floors on the overall heating and cooling loads of the building have low effects, glazing is likely to be the most important factor. This paper investi...

DeKay’s concept of Integral Sustainable Design (ISD) is based on Integral Theory, a framework proposed by the American philosopher, Ken Wilber. It offers four simultaneous perspectives (represented by quadrants) which each take a different view of the problem. The ‘experiences’ quadrant focuses on individual human experiences. The ‘behaviours’ quad...

It is a reported fact that a high CO 2 concentration is a problem in school classrooms. However, the mere reporting of such results stops short of investigating causes; understanding is often missing. Steady-state results are often used in situations where changes occur frequently, such as varying student numbers, opening and closing classroom door...

Prefabricated and modular solutions have formed a small part of the overall housing industry. This is particularly evident in Australia, where the market is dominated by hand-built housing using traditional construction techniques built by large-scale builders. This paper evaluates the ideal and the reality of prefabricated modular housing procurem...

This paper identifies the dilemma faced by the stakeholders of existing buildings in regards to a decision making process for energy retrofitting. This paper also identifies the missing stage viewed as the "integrity audit " which can lead to substantial savings in the area of building operation. The methodology is centered on identifying energy wa...

High CO2 levels in school classrooms continue to be a concern. As a result we reviewed the mass-balance model of ventilation. We identified several factors by fitting the model to the data. The review allowed CO2 build up, ventilation rates and exhalation rates to be examined in real (on-site) measured conditions. We discuss the theoretical model o...

Building Systems Integration (BSI) within architectural design studios are often seen secondary, as side task, or unnecessary. This is due to the overall perception that does not relate to the design activity and hence is a desired learning outcome. Akin to this a continuous and relevant integration of Learning Management Systems and blended learni...

Building component systems have always been associated with construction, particu-larly when concerned with getting a project built quickly, efficiently and economically as well as the possibility to make changes or disassemble them. The roots to compo-nent systems have evolved from nomadic tents and conclude with the beginnings of industrializatio...

There has been an increasing demand for sports facilities in urban areas recently. As a result of this, more attention is drawn towards not only the energy performance of these building typologies, but also creating a healthy indoor environment for its users. This study investigates the thermal and ventilation performance of a naturally and hybrid...

In many highly glazed buildings, the thermal comfort of the occupants will tend to be related to the incoming solar energy and the heat transfer behaviour of the glazing. In this study, several glazing systems were designed using the software tools VISION 3 (University of Waterloo 1992) and WINDOW-6 (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory 2011), wit...

The development of mass-produced environmentally-benign housing is one of the critical factors in the transition to global sustainability. Such housing will need to be constructed from renewable and/or recycled materials, be conditioned using minimal or no conventional energy, and affordable. The need for such housing is urgent. In developing count...

The operation of two 60 m2 solar air heaters serving a large studio teaching space has been monitored for a twelve month period. The solar contribution of the heaters was found to be less than 5%, and in some instances the heaters actually contributed to the space heating load. A validated mathematical model of the studio and it's heating, ventilat...

An Australian research facility, MABEL (the Mobile Architecture and Built Environment Laboratory) measured several school classrooms for their indoor environmental performance (IEQ) performance. This paper is a reporting of a case study, highlighting the processed measurement of a classroom and its findings. A review of the literature, also reveals...

An Australian research facility, conducted a study on several different school classrooms in regards to their thermal comfort, CO2 levels, air temperature stratification and ventilation rates in a selection of Victorian (Melbourne, Australia) schools during a winter season. A brief literature review reveals similar IAQ problems elsewhere (outside A...

Daylight-guiding systems in office buildings have been researched for years in North America, Europe and in Australia. This study discusses the effectiveness of applying a controlled Venetian semi-silvered reflective blind system within the clerestory portion of a direct solar facing façade in a deep cellular office space. The objective is to maxim...

The introduction of assembly line techniques to vehicle manufacturing by Henry Ford in the early 1900s dramatically reduced production costs, improved quality and made cars affordable to all. As a consequence people's lives, cities and society were transformed. Many attempts have been made to apply vehicle mass production techniques to domestic hou...

A 2100 m2 (GFA) two-storey rammed earth building was built on the Thurgoona campus of Charles Sturt University in 1999. The building is novel both in the use of materials and equipment for heating and cooling. The climate at Wodonga can be characterised as hot and dry, so the challenge of providing comfortable working conditions with minimal energy...

Over the past decades there has been a great deal of research related to simulation programs that calculate glazing thermal performance. In this study, several glazing systems were designed using VISION 3 (University of Waterloo, 1992) and WINDOW-6 (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 2010). The systems were fabricated and experimentally tested...

In many highly glazed buildings, the thermal comfort of the occupants will tend to be related to the incoming solar energy and the solar heat gain coefficient of the glazing. Many real buildings tend to be deep relative their height and therefore, areas close to the facade receive a much greater amount of the incoming energy than those farther from...

A commercial roller-skating centre in southern Australia had condensation problems on both the roof and floor. The building is a typical warehouse-type structure with a high level of natural ventilation due to poor construction and permanently open vents. A computer model of the building, using the thermal simulation software TRNSYS, was calibrated...

This paper explores design considerations for energy efficiency in lunar habitats. It considers several previous lunar energy studies in regards to energy types and stages of energy requirements. If we are to obtain true sustainability in energy processes, we will need to design according to the principles "exergy", considering both the first and t...

Prefabricated building systems are once again gaining popularity. The new prefabricated paradigm offers the integration of several approaches previously ignored: automated manufacturing, integrated building services and environmental sustainable principles. Consistency, predictable environmental control, modular flexibility, quick assembly and affo...

The building profession is increasingly becoming more demanding with respect to building environmental performance. Intentions are to provide best practices into our buildings. In part, this is a response due to the Australian government and other independent organisations that have developed policy on rating tools and performance ranking measures,...

This paper applies established and new testing methods to discover the ventilation performance of various residential building envelope constructions in Australia. Under the definition of `ventilation performance' we imply the building envelope leakage (or infiltration) of the living space air change rates, the volumetric flow rates and the pathway...

A two-storey rammed earth building was built on the Thurgoona Campus of Charles Sturt University in Albury-Wodonga, Australia, in 1999. The building is novel both in the use of materials and equipment for heating and cooling. The climate at Wodonga can be characterised as hot and dry, so the challenge of providing comfortable working conditions wit...

This paper presents a summary of the results from a post-occupancy evaluation study on indoor environment quality (lEO) and occupant health, wellbeing and productivity in the Council House 2 (CH2) building, which is owned and occupied by the City of Melbourne. This case study has highlighted that the productivity of office building occupants can po...

The international focus on embracing daylighting for energy efficient lighting purposes and the corporate sector’s indulgence in the perception of workplace and work practice “transparency” has spurned an increase in highly glazed commercial buildings. This in turn has renewed issues of visual comfort and daylight-derived glare for occupants. In or...

The era of legislation and creditable methods towards the production of sustainable building are upon us. Everywhere we look, the desires and intentions for 'greener' building design and operation are evident. In part, this response is due to the Australian government and other independent organisations that have developed policy on rating tools an...

In a context of global warming and our needs to reduce CO2 emissions, building envelopes will play an important role. A new imperative has been put forth to architects and engineers to develop innovative materials, components and systems, in order to make building envelopes adaptive and responsive to variable and extreme climate conditions. Envelop...

Air tightness of Australian buildings is a great unknown. Despite testing methods being developed and implemented in many advanced European and North American countries, this has not happened in Australia. This paper notes energy efficiency gains that can be achieved through tighter construction, and follows on from the investigation into testing m...

This paper describes the Mobile Architecture and Built Environment Laboratory (MABEL) and its application for systematic building performance evaluation for compliance testing, commissioning, strategic and operational facility management and continuous improvement in the built environment. The first part of the paper introduces the application are...

The energy required to create a comfortable living environment in high-density cities in hot and humid climates usually demands a substantial electricity usage with an associated environmental burden. This paper describes an integrated passive design approach to reduce the cooling requirement for high-rise apartments through an improved building en...

In 1999, a 2100 m 2 (GFA) two-storey rammed earth building was built on the Thurgoona campus of Charles Sturt University. The climate at Thurgoona is considered Mediterranean-hot dry summers and cool winters. The internal and external walls of the building are constructed from 300-mm thick rammed earth (pise) and are load bearing. The thermal perfo...

The internal environment within an unconditioned wine barrel store, constructed from insulated concrete panels and located in south-eastern Australia, has been investigated during a summer and winter month. Average temperatures inside the store were found to be 13.7°C and 22.8°C in the winter and summer month respectively. A validated mathematical...

The following research has been undertaken as a response to the recent controversy regarding the suitability of rammed earth wall construction as an effective building envelope in regard to its thermal performance. The R-value for rammed earth walls is low hence they might be expected to conduct heat into a building during summer. However the large...

Building T at Deakin University, Burwood in Victoria was designed by DesignInc. The development, located in Melbourne's eastern suburbs, utilises thermal mass and hybrid ventilation systems. This case study provides a detailed evaluation of the building in terms of its energy efficient design features. <br /

This note is directed to one major aspect of the comfort of building occupants – namely, thermal comfort. Even though it may be difficult to isolate thermal sensations from the whole of comfort itself, humans have a strong physiological connection with their thermal environment. Our thermal perceptions and sensations often vary greatly, especially...

A 9-month study of four relocatable school buildings, each retro-fitted with small reverse cycle air conditioners (ACs), was conducted to investigate their effectiveness in heating and cooling the classrooms. A comparison with data from previous studies found the energy used by the ACs for heating these temporary classrooms was only 19–20% of the e...

Innovation in ventilation systems is becoming an increasingly popular and targeted topic of architectural discourse. Architects, consultants and contractors are introducing new products and proposing new systems, subject to client requests for an environmentally responsive architecture. The authors, in compiling the research for this guide, experie...

A key criterion for the environmental assessment of any building is its thermal performance. The simulation of an office module in a three-storey university building in South Eastern Australia is described. The module, located at the north-west corner of the top floor of the building, was chosen because it was likely to have the highest cooling loa...

A key criterion by which any building will be judged when its environmental impact is assessed is its thermal performance. This paper describes the simulation of an office module in a three-storey university building in south eastern Australia. The module, located at the north-west corner of the top floor of the building, was chosen because it is l...

While playing an important role in local weather observation, small-scale weather stations face a difficult challenge: Primarily serving a small local community, such stations nevertheless have to provide data to a variety of different audiences with different needs and concerns. From the perspective of these individual requirements, a straightforw...

Advancements in engineering and space technology are increasingly finding application in buildings. Building envelopes are utilising components of high-technological solutions resulting in better visibility, greater light transmission, increased energy generation and storage capacity, improved shading and ventilation and integration with the extern...

For various applications it is necessary to know not only global solar radiation values, but also the diffuse and beam components. Because often only global values are available, there have been several models developed to establish correlations between the diffuse fraction and various predictors. These typically include the clearness index, but al...

Advancements in engineering and space technology are increasingly finding application in our buildings. Building envelopes are utilising components of high-technological solutions resulting in better vision, light transmission, energy generation, storage capacity, shading, ventilation and integration with the external environment. This report summa...

In regards to fenestration (window) systems, calorimetry is defined as the solar radiation incident upon a glazing aperture to a well insulated testing chamber and the transfer of energy through this aperture. Solar calorimetric instrumentation has traditionally involved the measurement of heat exchange using water driven collectors. Standards have...

R.A.R.E. stands for Renewable Adaptive Recyclable Environmental Architecture; the acronym expresses a demand that is becoming increasingly important today in the eyes of designers and clients. The paper draws on the contents and the pedagogical methods applied in a Building Technology Unit (SRT 450) - at forth year level - at the School of Architec...

Continuous measurement of internal and external environmental parameters is critical to OUf understanding of how buildings perform. Yet, the quantity and variety of time-series data can be quite overwhelming as well as onerous to decipher and present In addition to this, is the fact that several of the collected data are useless in their raw format...