ABSTRACT
The evaluation of natural ventilation potential for effective sustainable options and innovative green building design strategies is of great interest to architects, researchers and governments. From a retrospective review, we found that the potential evaluation of natural ventilation (NV) cooling effectiveness in the same category based on similar meteorological uncertainty, research objectives and objects showed significant differences. Uncertainties added and uncertainty propagation (both model form uncertainties and parameter uncertainties) could result in large discrepancies between simulation outcomes and real scenarios, especially in the design performance modeling (DPM) phase. In this conceptual design stage, a few parameters are available and therefore decisive. It is necessary to review and identify the key performance indicators and explore the extent to which deviations are caused by inconsistencies or biases in model information. As a basis for more concrete research, we propose statistical tests based on quantitative evaluations to explore the rule of natural ventilation potential volatility and identify whether there is a significant potential improvement resulting from the critical parameter enhancement with the optimal relationship. The showcase is applied in China, where there has been a significant amount of criticism regarding the current building climate zoning due to the perceived coarseness of the system and where there has been an active exploration into the possibility of redefining building climate zoning with a view toward improving its accuracy and effectiveness.
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many conferences and educational events to shift from in-person to online, significantly reducing the carbon footprint associated with these activities. Workshops are a common pattern of thematic learning at the university level, usually involving a series of activities, such as gathering, learning, and dining, for participants from different regions. However, unlike a three-day conference, workshops usually last for seven days or more, resulting in a non-negligible carbon footprint. To resolve this challenge, we have developed a model that provides recommendations for minimizing the carbon footprint of workshops. Using data from the DigitalFUTURES International Workshop on architecture education at Tongji University in China, we calculated the carbon footprint of scenarios with varying workshop durations, participation modes, and transportation methods. Our results show that online workshops can reduce the carbon footprint by up to 88% compared to in-person workshops. Hybrid workshops, which combine online and in-person participation, can also lead to significant carbon reductions, with a 46% online participation rate resulting in an 82% reduction in carbon footprint. However, we recommend that in-person participation be maintained to ensure efficient learning and effective communication. Our work provides a sustainable solution for organizing future workshops with a reduced carbon footprint.
