72748 - Sustainability In Construction

Academic Year 2018/2019

Learning outcomes

Course overview, introduction to sustainability. Definitions, trends, measurements. Aspects on sustainability (environmental, economic, social). Environmental footprint of engineered systems, with emphasis on civil engineering (energy consumptions, CO2 emissions, etc). Performance-based design and life-cycle planning. The various aspects to be considered for sustainability in construction: material's production and transformation, management of construction process, occupancy (use costs energy and cost consumptions), occupancy (maintenance and durability issues), end-of-life costs, reuse/recycling. Life-cycle analysis (LCA): Cradle-to-grave analysis, LCA as a min-max problem. Mathematical tools required (Optimization techniques, multi-criteria decision making methods, simulation methods, statistics). Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) and Ecologically based LCA (Eco-LCA). Safety as a prerequisite. Energy efficiency in buildings. Renewable energy with emphasis to building applications (solar thermal and photovoltaic energy, geothermal energy). Protocols for rating systems for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings (LEED system, Ithaca).

Course contents

Sustainability in construction: material's production and transformation, management of construction process, occupancy (use costs energy and cost consumptions), occupancy (maintenance and durability issues), end-of-life costs, reuse/recycling.

Life-cycle analysis (LCA):

Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) and Ecologically based LCA (Eco-LCA). Safety as a prerequisite.

Examples of LCA applyed to several case studies.

Principles of Circular Economy. Dry waste for recycling and organic waste for composting. The circularity as tool for saving raw material and natural resources and to reduce waste production. The "0 waste" goal.

Climate change and transition engineering. The urban resilience and site specific Technologies application.

Sustainable development and sustainable use of resources. Natural and recycled resources. Renewable and non-renewable resources. Energy and sustainability.

Definition and recovery of recycled materials.

Recovery and recycling of inert stone materials from construction and demolition (CDW).

Selective demolition plan and waste management.

Characterization of inert waste and the types of recycling facilities and the different stages of treatment. Uses of recycled aggregates.

The recycling of post consumer plastic and aluminum.

Green Technologies for urban resilience towards climate change issues: green roofs and green walls.

Energy performances of buildings and of building components. Thermal behaviour of materials: thermal transmittance and inertia. Methods for the evaluation of building energy demand: energy balance of building-plant system, heat loss, solar gains. Energy efficiency ratings.

Overview of main HVAC plants in civil constructions. Heating and cooling plant systems. Energy production from renewable sources: solar thermal, photovoltaic, geothermal.

Basics on indoor comfort, performance rating and technical solutions. Thermal confort controls, indoor air quality, mold preventions, sound insulation of building structures.

Protocols for rating systems for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings (LEED system, Ithaca).

Readings/Bibliography

Teachers' presentations available on line.

Several suggestions about videos, learning materiale, scientific papers that students can find in web

Teaching methods

Oral speaking by teacher in class on all the programme topics.

Exercises in class related on the main demonstration and calculation LCA laboratory

Design examples

Visits to the School laboratories or to some buildings at real scale

Assessment methods

The exam consists of a preliminary discussion of a real project in energy buildings issues and of an oral interview to evaluate the critical and methodological skills acquired by the student, who will be invited to demonstrate the knowledge of all topics considered during the course lessons. Particularly evaluated will be the student's ability to move within the cultural themes of the discipline. The achievement by the student of an organic vision of the subjects for their critical use, the demonstration of possessing an expressive and specific language will be valued with excellence marks.

Teaching tools

PPT presentations

Videos and films

Office hours

See the website of Alessandra Bonoli

See the website of Giovanni Semprini

See the website of Marco Savoia

SDGs

Clean water and sanitation Sustainable cities Responsible consumption and production

This teaching activity contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.