Work

Regenerative architecture in Practice: A multifaceted exploration of cladding systems to meet LEED standards

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: The construction sector is a significant contributor to environmental degradation, heavily relying on non-renewable resources, which results in considerable greenhouse gas emissions and pollution. This research evaluates cladding systems as passive design strategies to reduce environmental impacts and achieve LEED certification during the operational phase of buildings. Focusing on a large office building in Boston, the study assesses three types of cladding—aluminum, polycarbonate, and a hybrid system. It examines their roles in energy consumption, Annual Sunlight Exposure (ASE < 10%), and Spatial Daylight Autonomy (sDA > 50%). Utilizing Rhino Grasshopper for modeling, Honeybee and Ladybug for climatic analysis, OpenLCA for environmental impact assessments, Wallacei for optimization, and Design Explorer for model selection, the research employs advanced parametric tools. The initial analysis indicates that aluminum cladding, while thermally favorable, does not meet the required sDA for LEED standards. Conversely, polycarbonate cladding achieves adequate sDA levels but fails to meet the ASE criteria. To address these deficiencies, a hybrid system was developed and optimized using the NSGA-2 algorithm and Wallacei selection methods. This system successfully meets both sDA and ASE criteria, demonstrating enhanced sustainability. The final optimized model comprises approximately 93.18% aluminum and 6.82% polycarbonate, with a strategic skylight distribution that maximizes daylight and minimizes thermal gains and losses: 13.58% of skylights face east, 7.72% south, and 10.96% west. These findings emphasize the critical role of continual optimization and innovation in cladding system design to realize sustainable and high-performance building environments.

Source: Energy and Buildings

DOI: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2024.114810

Authors: Zinat Javanmard, Consuelo Nava

Institution: University of Reggio Calabria

Language: English

Topic: Building Energy and Comfort Optimization

Subfield: Building and Construction

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Climate action, Responsible consumption and production, Sustainable cities and communities, Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,180