
Shin-ichi TanabeWaseda University | Sōdai · Department of Architecture
Shin-ichi Tanabe
Prof. PhD
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375
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Introduction
Skills and Expertise
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April 1999 - present
Publications
Publications (375)
This study explores the pre‐ and post‐renovation differences in communication behaviors of office workers at a construction company's research facility that had carried out renovations to promote open innovation through internal and external interactions. We conducted an analysis by combining both objective survey of conversation time, conversation...
In Japan, working from home have become common, but one of the most frustrating factors when working from home is cold feet. In addition, cold feet cause a decline in intellectual productivity. Thus, it is necessary to provide a comfortable and appropriate thermal environment for working from home for “Hiesho,” or people who easily feel cold. This...
In this experiment, the correlations between foot sole thermal comfort, foot sole thermal sensation and foot sole physiological parameter were investigated. Foot sole thermal comfort was related to foot sole temperature.
This study suggested that the neutral temperature of the male sole in winter was about 30°C. The change in contact comfort was le...
In this study, a field survey was conducted to investigate thermal comfort differences between office A aiming for a uniform environment and office B with environmental selectivity. As a result, a negative correlation was confirmed between unacceptability and thermal environment satisfaction (r = 0.42) in office A, but a positive correlation was co...
Despite the growing interest in indoor greenery and its positive effects on occupants’ well-being, there is limited knowledge on the optimal light levels for indoor plants that ensure energy efficiency and sustainable growth. This study explored the survival of ornamental plants under low-light conditions typical of indoor workplaces without daylig...
This research conducted investigations of buildings equipped with radiant systems and expert interviews in 2021–2022 with manufacturers and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) engineers in Japan who had experience designing radiant heating and cooling systems for non‐residential buildings. In total, interviews were conducted with 56 responde...
In this study, laboratory experiments were carried out for the development of on-site measurement methods using microchambers. In addition, the SVOC emission rate from floor materials in a general house was measured using the developed on-site measurement method. The developed on-site measurement device has less contamination from fresh air supply,...
To address increasing power outages caused by natural disasters in Japan, enhancing resilient net Zero Energy Houses (ZEH) is crucial. In addition, pregnant women, infants, home care patients, and the elderly require special consideration for disaster prevention. This study aims to evaluate the resilience of ZEH for power outages by household compo...
If some countries lead by example, standards may increasingly become normalized
Decarbonization in agriculture is needed to achieve a carbon-neutral society. This study proposed a definition of net Zero Energy Greenhouse (ZEG) and net Zero Energy Farm (ZEF). For ZEG, a labelling method based on the balance of annual energy demand and supply during operation is developed. An evaluation method of ZEF was proposed based on the ba...
Windows and doors of the classrooms were kept open throughout a year against COVID-19 at elementary school without ventilation equipment. The estimated ventilation during heating period was less obtained than that during the other period. It is thought that the opening width of the window in winter was regulated to reduce the influence of the chill...
In recent years, significant progress has been made in the development of materials that selectively reflect or absorb radiation in specific wavelength ranges. Previous studies have shown that the same intensity of radiation can produce different degrees of thermal perception depending on its wavelength. This difference is thought to be the optical...
In recent years, the number of offices introducing personal comfort systems (PCS) has increased. However, in some offices, the complexity of the PCS operation, caused by sophistication, discourages workers from using the PCS. Considering this background, this study aims to investigate the influence of the PCS operability on their usage rate, therma...
The present study examined the impact of an artificial window in an enclosed personalized work environment (PWE) on users’ psychology and productivity through two subject experiments. The results showed that projecting a natural landscape on an artificial window improved the space impression of PWE and ease of work-related activities. However, ther...
The introduction of semi‐outdoor spaces to urban spaces and offices has increased in recent years. In previous studies, environmental grade has been defined as the level of control for the thermal environment set for an architectural space based on the use, where “semi‐outdoor environment” is an environmental grade division that exists as a gradati...
There is an urgent need to reduce carbon emissions from the building sector. This study focused on the whole life carbon of a building’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system. A methodology to compare the whole life carbon of different HVAC systems was proposed and used in a case study with boundary conditions in Denmark. All-air system...
“Natural paints”, that are mainly made from vegetable oils are considered to be less hazardous to health than organic paints. They do not have a clear definition or classification by constituents. This study aims to determine the effects of “natural paints” application with different compositions to wood on the indoor air quality. Natural paints co...
Radiant systems have been proven to be an energy-efficient and resource-effective heating and cooling solution for buildings. A key feature of a thermally active building system (TABS), one type of a radiant cooling system, is its ability to activate and control the thermal mass of the building structure. The advantage of this feature is the peak l...
Understanding of dynamic and transient wind environment is crucial to evaluating the outdoor thermal comfort of pedestrians. The thermophysiological responses of the human body depend on both the interaction with the climate and internal thermoregulation. The coupled simulation of CFD and thermoregulation model provides a pathway to predict human r...
Greenhouse gas emissions worldwide must be reduced to prevent the further acceleration of global warming. Therefore, there is an urgent need to reduce carbon emissions in the building sector. Radiant cooling systems have been proven to be an energy-efficient and resource-effective heating and cooling solution for buildings. These features of radian...
From a perspective of maximizing thermal comfort for occupants while minimizing energy consumption, personalized air conditioning systems (PCS) have gained attention as a more cost-effective alternative to conventional air conditioning systems that maintain a constant temperature in a room. To implement or introduce such novel technologies, it is n...
This study aims to clarify effects of various environmental grades on thermal comfort. Field surveys were conducted in five semi-outdoor spaces in Tokyo, consisting of thermal environment measurement, questionnaires about thermal comfort and impression of surveyed spaces and real-time sensation voting. By impression evaluation and comparison of the...
In Japan, intermittent air conditioning in living rooms is a common occurrence, and the thermal environment in other rooms is generally cold. Thus, it is necessary to provide a comfortable thermal environment for “Hiesho”. This study aimed to clarify the effects of the heating system on the physiological and psychological responses of “Hiesho” when...
This study examined the occupants’ psychological response to rooms with windows and potted plants and their relation to occupants’ eye movement. Twenty-four students performed tasks under six experimental conditions that combined two window conditions and three plant conditions. The coexistence of windows and plants on desks most improved room impr...
This study aims to examine the effect of airflow on local clothing insulation and evaporative resistance. Local clothing insulation and evaporative resistance of two types of summer clothing were measured under four different airflow conditions (0.15, 0.4, 1.0, 2.0 m/s). As a result, evaporative resistance has larger decrease than thermal insulatio...
Air temperature and CO2 concentration were measured in classrooms with ventilation system from April 2018 through March 2022. It is assumed that, under the COVID-19 circumstances, windows of the classrooms, where ventilation system was working, were basically kept open throughout a year. The average air temperature at foot level was 11°C during win...
Activity‐based working (ABW) is attracting attention as a new style of working to improve workplace productivity in Japan. The purpose of this study is to clarify the changes in the working style of office workers by implementation of ABW. In this paper, a questionnaire survey was conducted in a research facility; once before the ABW renovation and...
This is an account that should be heard of an important struggle: the struggle of a large group of experts who came together at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic to warn the world about the risk of airborne transmission and the consequences of ignoring it. We alerted the World Health Organization (WHO) about the potential significance of the a...
Recently in Japan, the number of disasters causing power outages is increasing. Net zero energy house (ZEH) is getting attention as another strategy against power outages. This study’s purpose is to verify the feasibility of staying at ZEH during a power outage in winter. In this paper, the result of electricity supply and demand and the thermal en...
The importance of effective ventilation as one of the measures against COVID-19 is widely recognized worldwide. In Japan, at the early stage of the pandemic, in March 2020, an official announcement was made about basic ventilation measures against COVID-19. WHO also used the term “long-range aerosol or long-range airborne transmission” for the firs...
When alcohol is applied to wooden surfaces, the amount and composition of released substances and secondary products influence the perceived air environment. This study aimed to determine the effects of applying alcohol to indoor wood surfaces on volatile organic compounds emissions and perceived air quality. The perceived air quality in the room d...
Partial insulation retrofitting is an effective method for improving thermal insulation in existing houses as its construction cost is lower than that of total insulation retrofitting. This study aimed to clarify the actual conditions of the thermal environment in partially insulated retrofitted houses in summer and winter. Furthermore, the size of...
Today, the demand for telework is increasing, and the use of non-face-to-face office work is more common. However, dissatisfaction with the loss of productivity in non-face-to-face work is an issue. As a cause of dissatisfaction in non-face-to-face communication, it is indicated that there is a lack of “noticing the existence, actions, and feelings...
As the trend toward a decarbonized society accelerates, Net Zero Energy Houses are expected to become more popular. In recent years, the residential sector has been facing the problem of inadequate adjustment of power supply and demand due to the expansion of renewable energy installations.
The objective of this study is to understand the actual si...
This study aims to identify factors that need to be improved to enhance work efficiency of workers in both office and home environments by focusing on activities classified into communication and intellectual ones. In this study, questionnaire surveys were conducted in four buildings. From results of questionnaires, ease of communication and intell...
This study aimed to verify the effectiveness of a 48‐h independent power outage system, evaluate the indoor thermal environment under power outage conditions, and improve residential awareness of disasters through a power outage experience. A power outage experiment was conducted in a collective residence with a 48‐h independent power system. The a...
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of building wellness performance on the productivity of office workers. In six offices with different CASBEE Wellness Office (CASBEE‐WO) scores, a questionnaire survey on indoor environment satisfaction, work efficiency, CASBEE Office Health Checklist (CASBEE‐OHC) simplified version, and work engagem...
In recent years, an increasing number of offices have actively harvested daylight for the well-being of occupants. However, if large windows are provided for daylight harvesting, the amount of solar heat gain increases, leading to poor energy efficiency and deteriorated indoor environment. Therefore, the objective of this study was to verify the ra...
Plants improve indoor environmental quality as a visual factor and enhance occupants' overall well‐being. However, research on the mechanisms by which plants improve human cognitive function is limited. This study examined the characteristics of eye movement while viewing indoor plants and their relationship with the cognitive benefits of plants. T...
Energy efficiency in the housing sector is important for achieving carbon neutrality; to achieve this, more net-zero energy houses (ZEHs) are required. ZEHs are considered resilient to power outages. However, the type of living that can be achieved during a power outage is unclear. The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility of staying...
This work addresses a real-world building facility control problem by using evolutionary algorithms. The variables are facility control parameters, such as the start/stop time of air-conditioning, lighting, and ventilation operation, etc. The problem has six objectives: annual energy consumption, electricity cost, overall satisfaction, thermal sati...
Published in REHVA Journal
Radiant cooling is a promising option for providing thermal comfort with low energy use. The cooling capacity of radiant ceiling panels measured according to standards do not directly represent the cooling provided to the room. An improved measurement method was proposed to improve the prediction of their cooling performa...
Measurements of air temperature, relative humidity and CO2 concentration were undertaken in an elementary school in Tokyo from April 2019 through March 2021. This duration includes both the “pre” and “with” COVID-19 periods. The purpose of this study is to compare the thermal and air environment in classrooms in these two conditions. The average es...
Hydronic radiant ceiling panels use a chilled surface to cool a room, and their cooling capacity is normally measured in a certified test chamber. However, current measurement standards calculate the cooling capacity of a panel based on the heat carried by the circulating water, which is the sum of the heat extraction from the room and plenum. Thus...
Herein, a method is proposed to predict the infection probability distribution rather than the room-averaged value. The infection probability is predicted by considering both airborne and droplet transmissions based on CO 2 concentration and the position of the occupants in a room. The proposed method was used in an actual office setting, and the r...
In this study, we conducted subject experiments to determine an effective biophilic design for urban offices to improve the health and comfort of workers. This experiment showed that indoor environment satisfaction, the impression of a workspace, ease of work, and self-estimated productivity were improved when subjects could see greenery through th...
Activity-based Working (ABW) is attracting attention as a new style of working to improve workplace productivity in Japan. The purpose of this study is to clarify the changes in the working style of office workers by implementation of ABW. In this paper, a questionnaire survey was conducted in a research facility once before the ABW renovation and...
The cooling capacity of a radiant panel is usually measured in a certified test chamber and the value obtained is provided by manufacturers for engineers to use for in calculations. However, current measurement standards calculate the cooling capacity of a panel based on the heat carried by the circulating water, which includes the heat extraction...
Abstract
Indoor air quality (IAQ) affects the quality of life by increasing the risks for health problems and reduced work performance. Consequently, different societal costs are incurred. By reducing pollutants elevating exposures indoors, and improving IAQ, these costs can be reduced or avoided. This chapter attempts to summarize the evidence and...
To improve indoor air quality, it’s necessary to accurately control the body odor emitted by humans living under various environmental conditions and lifestyles. The purpose of this study was to obtain a better understanding of the effects of changes in physical quantities due to insufficient sleep on the emission of human bioeffluents causing body...
This study conducted laboratory tests and field surveys to understand the plasticizer contamination characteristics on the surface of PVC flooring materials used indoors, and discussed the risk of exposure of plasticizers to infants indoors. A lab experiment was conducted to measure the bleed-out of DEHP on PVC sheet surfaces. As a result of the bl...
Several studies regarding indoor environmental quality assessments based on computational human models have been reported. Recently, various computer-simulated persons for computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations that reproduce a detailed human body geometry has been developed. However, clothing is usually treated with simplification as a res...
Activity-based working (ABW) is a new working style that aims to improve the workplace productivity of office workers. In ABW offices, the work engagement of office workers is expected to improve as workers shift to a working style that allows them to think and act for themselves. The spread of COVID-19 has led to an increase in new ways of working...
With the increasing interest in the effects of solar radiation on indoor environmental quality and occupants’ well-being, a balance should be established between daylight harvesting and reducing solar load. Solar heat removal in space can be realized with the help of radiant cooling systems. Previous studies have reported on the enhancement of the...
In recent years, interest in biophilic design and indoor greenery has increased. However, the growth of indoor plants may become stunted under unfavorable light conditions. Therefore, we must evaluate the light environments required for indoor plants to thrive. We propose a new method to assess indoor light environments for indoor plants by using s...
In pursuit of a sustainable society, office buildings need to be designed to not only improve environmental performance, like in energy efficient buildings, but also the health and intellectual productivity of employees. Further, to make up for the shrinking labor force caused by the decline in birth rate and the aging society, and the limited work...
Since the Great East Japan Earthquake, although it has been required to introduce renewable energy and save energy in houses, the supply and demand of electric power remains an important issue. This study’s purpose is to verify the effectiveness of combined power generation using photovoltaic power generation (PV) and solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs)...
As a measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19, telecommuting has been recommended by many companies since March 2020 in Japan. Even after the COVID-19 pandemic is over, the telecommuting implementation rate, including working from home, may continue to increase.
The purpose of this study is to clarify the impact of working from home on the individ...
Looking further than COVID-19, some of the key messages:
1. We from now on should include the risk of indoor respiratory infections in our design of buildings and its ventilation.
2. Treat the air quality in a similar way as we are used to for water and food quality.
3. ‘Visualize’ the air quality by displaying monitoring values (e.g. CO2 concentra...
Indoor climate regulations are based on an empirical thermal comfort model developed in the 1960s. The standard values for one of its fundamental parameters, which is the metabolic rate, is based on the data pertaining to European and North American men measured at that time and may overestimate the metabolic rate of modern Japanese, especially wom...
In this study, a comparison of nine wireless and two conventional wired temperature sensors (all available on the market) was conducted in a climate chamber with a two-person office setup. Measurements were conducted under both radiant and all-air cooling systems, each with two levels of cooling load (33 and 61 W/m2). Sensors were placed in a total...
Thermostats control the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system of a building based on the temperature they measure. Integration with communication network technologies allows wireless sensors to be used as the temperature sensing component of an HVAC system, increasing the flexibility in the selection and positioning of sensors. Th...
The goal of this study is to propose combinations of equipment, including photovoltaic (PV) power generation and storage battery (BT) charging, in a net zero energy house (ZEH) that considers sheltering at home during power outages. To validate the resilience performance of houses in various conditions compared to a ZEH house, the self-sufficient r...
Ornamental plants are frequently used in office workplaces to improve the well-being and productivity of employees. Additionally, the WELL Building Standard includes definitions for precondition and optimization features related to biophilia. Hence, there is a growing interest in biophilic design and indoor greenery. However, the growth of indoor p...
Many researchers have reported on the relationship between indoor environmental quality and workplace productivity. However, previous studies have focused on analyses using the average of workplace productivity of multiple workers. On the other hand, Pareto, an economist, pointed to the “Pareto’s law”, or “80-20 law”, which states that most of the...
A thermoregulation model, joint system thermoregulation model (JOS-3), was developed based on JOS-2. JOS-3 consists of 83 nodes, and human physiological responses and body temperatures are calculated using the backward difference method. In JOS-3, brown adipose tissue activity, aging effects, and heat gain by shortwave solar radiation at the skin,...
The purpose of this study is to investigate the energy consumption, power supply and demand of all-electrified net Zero Energy Houses (ZEHs). Energy measurement data of 67 all-electrified ZEHs was analyzed based on a nationwide survey conducted from 2018 to 2019. The primary energy consumption of all-electrified ZEHs was described in comparison wit...