This research addresses the challenge of optimizing hybrid heating systems (HHS) that combine heat pumps with natural gas boilers in residential buildings. Existing buildings primarily rely on high-temperature natural gas boilers, limiting the adoption of more efficient, low-temperature alternatives like heat pumps. The research aims to explore the most effective hydraulic configurations for HHS with the goal of minimize energy usage, primary energy cost and CO₂ emissions while maintaining comfort levels. A MATLAB-based simulation model was developed to compare various HHS configurations under a unified control strategy over an annual cycle. The configurations studied included a base system with only a natural gas boiler and hybrid systems with series, parallel, and buffer tank arrangements. The results indicate that all hybrid configurations substantially outperform the boiler-only system in terms of energy efficiency and emissions reduction. The series hybrid system emerged as the most efficient, reducing energy usage to 59% of the boiler-only system, with the parallel system close behind at 58%. The buffer tank system, while less efficient than the other hybrids, still achieved a 49% reduction in energy usage compared to the boiler-only setup. Cost analysis revealed a primary energy cost reductions of 17% for both the series and parallel system and 4% for the system with buffer tank. CO₂ emissions were reduced by 46% to 56% across the hybrid configurations. The study highlights the critical role of control strategies over hydraulic configurations, as the series and parallel systems showed very similar performance. However, incorporating more components, especially storage like buffer tanks, negatively impacted overall efficiency. Real-world performance may differ slightly due to unaccounted changes in boiler efficiency from flue gas condensation, but the impact is expected to be modest. This research provides valuable insights for optimizing hybrid heating technologies in residential buildings, with implications for broader applications in other building types. The significant energy and cost savings, along with substantial CO₂ emission reductions, present a compelling case for adopting hybrid heating systems in energy retrofits and new constructions. The findings support global climate action and energy efficiency goals, contributing to environmental sustainability and energy security.

The Canterbury Earthquakes of 2010-2011, in particular the 4th September 2010 Darfield earthquake and the 22nd February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, produced severe and widespread liquefaction in Christchurch and surrounding areas. The scale of the liquefaction was unprecedented, and caused extensive damage to a variety of man-made structures, including residential houses. Around 20,000 residential houses suffered serious damage as a direct result of the effects of liquefaction, and this resulted in approximately 7000 houses in the worst-hit areas being abandoned. Despite the good performance of light timber-framed houses under the inertial loads of the earthquake, these structures could not withstand the large loads and deformations associated with liquefaction, resulting in significant damage. The key structural component of houses subjected to liquefaction effects was found to be their foundations, as these are in direct contact with the ground. The performance of house foundations directly influenced the performance of the structure as a whole. Because of this, and due to the lack of research in this area, it was decided to investigate the performance of houses and in particular their foundations when subjected to the effects of liquefaction. The data from the inspections of approximately 500 houses conducted by a University of Canterbury summer research team following the 4th September 2010 earthquake in the worst-hit areas of Christchurch were analysed to determine the general performance of residential houses when subjected to high liquefaction loads. This was followed by the detailed inspection of around 170 houses with four different foundation types common to Christchurch and New Zealand: Concrete perimeter with short piers constructed to NZS3604, concrete slab-on-grade also to NZS3604, RibRaft slabs designed by Firth Industries and driven pile foundations. With a focus on foundations, floor levels and slopes were measured, and the damage to all areas of the house and property were recorded. Seven invasive inspections were also conducted on houses being demolished, to examine in more detail the deformation modes and the causes of damage in severely affected houses. The simplified modelling of concrete perimeter sections subjected to a variety of liquefaction-related scenarios was also performed, to examine the comparative performance of foundations built in different periods, and the loads generated under various bearing loss and lateral spreading cases. It was found that the level of foundation damage is directly related to the level of liquefaction experienced, and that foundation damage and liquefaction severity in turn influence the performance of the superstructure. Concrete perimeter foundations were found to have performed most poorly, suffering high local floor slopes and being likely to require foundation repairs even when liquefaction was low enough that no surface ejecta was seen. This was due to their weak, flexible foundation structure, which cannot withstand liquefaction loads without deforming. The vulnerability of concrete perimeter foundations was confirmed through modelling. Slab-on-grade foundations performed better, and were unlikely to require repairs at low levels of liquefaction. Ribraft and piled foundations performed the best, with repairs unlikely up to moderate levels of liquefaction. However, all foundation types were susceptible to significant damage at higher levels of liquefaction, with maximum differential settlements of 474mm, 202mm, 182mm and 250mm found for concrete perimeter, slab-on-grade, ribraft and piled foundations respectively when subjected to significant lateral spreading, the most severe loading scenario caused by liquefaction. It was found through the analysis of the data that the type of exterior wall cladding, either heavy or light, and the number of storeys, did not affect the performance of foundations. This was also shown through modelling for concrete perimeter foundations, and is due to the increased foundation strengths provided for heavily cladded and two-storey houses. Heavy roof claddings were found to increase the demands on foundations, worsening their performance. Pre-1930 concrete perimeter foundations were also found to be very vulnerable to damage under liquefaction loads, due to their weak and brittle construction.

Der Klimawandel ist auf regionaler Ebene nachweisbar. Zudem gehen Forschungsergebnisse davon aus, dass sich Ereignisse wie Überflutung und Starkregen regional differenziert zukünftig noch intensivieren werden. Bereits heute belegen Schadensmeldungen in der Region Dresden einen sich aus den klimatischen Veränderungen ergebenden Handlungsbedarf in Form von Anpassungsmaßnahmen auf Gebäudeebene. Deshalb sind die Hauptziele der vorliegenden Arbeit das Aufzeigen der Verletzbarkeit von Wohngebäuden und die Erarbeitung von Vorschlägen für entsprechende Ertüchtigungen. Als Datenbasis dient zum einen die baukonstruktive Analyse typischer Beispielgebäude der Region Dresden, welche gleichzeitig die wichtigsten Baualtersstufen abbilden. Dadurch können die in der Region hauptsächlich anzutreffenden baukonstruktiven Durchformungen, Nutzungen und Charakteristiken von Wohngebäuden abgedeckt werden. Dies dient als Grundlage zur Beurteilung der Verletzbarkeit und Anpassungsfähigkeit der wichtigsten Baukonstruktionen gegenüber den Einwirkungen Überflutung und Starkregen. Zum anderen dient als Datenbasis die Dokumentation, Analyse und Interpretation abgelaufener Schadensereignisse in Bezug auf Schadensbilder und Schadensmechanismen an Gebäuden und Baukonstruktionen. Innerhalb der Verletzbarkeitsanalyse gegenüber Überflutung führt die Beschreibung von Schadenstypen, Schadensbildern und Schadensmechanismen in die Erläuterung einer Methodik zur Abschätzung von Hochwasserschäden an Gebäuden. Diese wird in der Arbeit dazu verwendet, die spezifische Verletzbarkeit der einzelnen Beispielgebäude gegenüber der Einwirkung Überflutung mit Hilfe von Wasserstand-Schaden-Beziehungen zu ermitteln. Darauf aufbauend können nun Bereiche, welche aufgrund ihrer hohen Verletzbarkeit angepasst werden sollten, eingegrenzt werden. In der Folge werden beispielhaft bautechnisch mögliche Anpassungsmaßnahmen vorgestellt, am baukonstruktiven Detail gezeigt und ihre positiven Auswirkungen auf die Wasserstand-Schaden-Beziehungen beziehungsweise auf die Verringerung der Verletzbarkeit der Beispielgebäude dargestellt.

An overarching aim of this research was to investigate the comprehensive value of green residential buildings as seen from two perspectives: that of the developer and that of the occupant (the customer). The dissertation consists of studies presented in seven papers.  The studies conducted to investigate the developer’s perspective focused on construction cost and potential profit (papers I and VII). The customer’s perspective was examined with three approaches: the impact that energy and environment have on the decision to purchase (or rent) an apartment (paper V), willingness to pay for a green apartment (paper VI) and finally, the occupants’ satisfaction with the dwelling and indoor environment (papers II, III and IV).  The first paper examines whether increased investment costs are profitable, taking into account the reduction in operating costs. The investment viability is approached by comparing investment in conventional and green residential building, particularly passive houses, using real construction and post-occupancy conditions. The increased investment costs in energy-efficient building were also the focus of paper VII. In this paper, the aim was to study how technologies used in energy-efficient residential building construction affect the available saleable floor area and how this impacts on the profitability of the investment. Potential losses and gains of saleable floor area in energy-efficient buildings were assessed using a modelled building and analysed with the help of the average construction cost. Papers II and IV present results from a study of occupants’ satisfaction and indoor environmental qualities. Both papers aim at comparing and analysing responses from occupants living in green and conventional buildings. Paper III focuses on a similar subject, but investigates occupants’ satisfaction among all adults living in multi-family buildings in Sweden, providing a national context for the results presented in papers II and IV. The results indicate that occupants are generally satisfied with their dwellings, but indoor environment proved to have a statistically significant effect on overall satisfaction. The results in paper V indicate that energy and environmental factors have a minor impact on customers’ decision to purchase or rent an apartment. However, availability of information on building energy and environmental performance may have an effect on the likelihood of the buyers’ being interested in environmental qualities and consequently an impact on their decision. The study presented in paper VI shows that customer interest in energy and environmental factors has a significant impact on stated willingness to pay for green dwellings. The paper discusses the stated willingness to pay for low-energy buildings and buildings with an environmental certificate and attempts to assess the rationale of the stated willingness to pay for low-energy dwellings given potential energy savings. / Fokus i detta forskningsprojekt har legat på att undersöka värdet av gröna bostäder ur ett brett perspektiv, dvs både genom att studera byggherrens och de boendes (kundens) synpunkter. I avhandlingen ingår sju uppsatser. Undersökningen av byggherrens synpunkter fokuserades på kostnader och potentiella inkomster (uppsats I och VII). Kundernas åsikter undersöktes på tre olika sätt: vilken effekt energi och miljö faktorer hade på beslut att köpa eller hyra en lägenhet (uppsats V), betalningsvilja för gröna bostäder (uppsats VI) och slutligen de boendes trivsel samt nöjdhet med inomhusmiljön (uppsats II,III och IV). Den första uppsatsen syftar till att undersöka om ökningen av investeringskostnader vid byggande av gröna byggnader kan täckas av framtida energibesparingar och minskning av driftkostnad. Investeringens lönsamhet undersöktes genom att jämföra skillnader i byggkostnader mellan konventionella och gröna bostäder med skillnader i driftskostnader givet olika antaganden om energipriser och räntekrav. Huvudfokus i uppsats VII var också byggkostnader, men denna gång undersöktes hur nya tekniska lösningar påverkar boarea och lönsamhet av energieffektiva bostäder.  Genom att konstruera en modell av ett typhus analyserades potentiella ökningar i boarea med nya lösningar och hur detta påverkade lönsamheten i olika geografiska lägen (prisnivåer). Uppsatserna II och IV presenterar resultat från boendeundersökningar. Båda uppsatserna syftar till att undersöka boendes trivsel och nöjdhet med inomhusmiljö samt att testa skillnaden i svar från boende i gröna och konventionella bostäder.  Uppsats III fokuserar också på inomhusmiljön, men analysen gjordes på svaren som samlades in under Boverkets projekt BETSI och resultaten är därmed representativa för alla vuxna som bor i flerfamiljshus i Sverige. Uppsats III ger därmed en national kontext för uppsatserna II och IV. Resultaten visar att boende trivs i sina bostäder, men inomhusmiljön har en statistiks signifikanta effekt på allmän nöjdhet faktor.. Resultaten i uppsats V tyder på att energi- och miljöaspekter spelar mindre roll i beslutet att köpa eller hyra en lägenhet. Den synliga informationens tillgänglighet angående byggnadens energi- och miljöprestanda, påverkar kundens intresse för dessa faktorer och därmed indirekt hushållets beslut. Resultaten i uppsats VI pekar på att kunderna, som är intresserade av byggnaders energi och miljö prestanda, är villiga att betala mer för gröna bostäder. I uppsats 6 diskuteras betalningsvilja för låg-energi byggnader och för byggnader med miljöcertifikat samt utvärderas om den angivna betalningsviljan är rationell beslut när man tar hänsyn till nuvärdet av framtida energibesparingar. / <p>QC 20131014</p>

Dissertation work called Decoration of Prague Residential Buildings from the sixties of the 19th Century until World War I is devoted to sculptures and paintings of buildings, primarily serving for residential purposes. Residential aspect in this work is chosen to express difference from public buildings. City of Prague was chosen as a place of studied buildings not just only in its contemporary range, but in the sense of later "Great Prague". The period of the time covered in this work shows Prague intensely connected through cultural, social and artistic sense.Sculptures and paintings were the key elements for public buildings in the era of Historicism, Art Nouveau and Modernism. There were two essential meanings - ornaments and its richness represented the quality of the builder, as well as its content and symbolism expressed ideas, meaning and message of the building or its institution. The sculptures and paintings to a significant extent were developed not only in public buildings but also in private, ie. entirely residential. Also, these buildings contained their messages in the ornaments. Dissertation focuses exclusively on the part of the building where the ornaments included semantic component. It was either intended to be "read" by the audience, or contained meaning so individual in...

Ce travail est une réflexion prospective sur la densification verticale de la ville par la tour d'habitation. Trois échelles sont considérées : le bâtiment seul (objet), la composition de sa façade et son insertion urbaine (bâtiment situé). Le parti pris est de n'examiner que le seul critère énergétique. Sont réalisées trois séries d'études « morpho-énergétiques » : 1 - une étude sur l'influence énergétique de la morphologie d'un bâtiment « objet » : l'objectif est de développer un outil d'évaluation simplifiée de la performance énergétique totale des bâtiments résidentiels. 2 - une extension du précédent modèle en insérant le bâtiment dans un morceau de ville : l'objectif est d'identifier l'influence des configurations urbaines sur leur performances énergétiques, à l'aide d'un outil d'optimisation par algorithmes génétiques. 3 - l'étude d'une nouvelle démarche de conception et de rénovation des bâtiments à travers le concept Core-Skin-Shell : l'objectif est d'évaluer l'intérêt énergétique d'une décomposition fonctionnelle du bâtiment. / This thesis analyses the energy performance of dense cities and residential towers. It focuses on the energy performance of the built environment at three different scales – the building, the façade and the city area. The details of the three “morpho-energetic” studies are as follows : 1 - the first one analyses the link between buildings' dimensions and their energy performance: it focuses on a simple calculation method to quickly approximate the whole energy balance of residential buildings. 2 - the second study analyses the morphology of energy and density reasoned city areas: the ultimate goal is to develop a tool helping to find the optimal form(s) of a low energy and dense city area. It is based on a genetic algorithm tool. 3 - the last one analyses the energy impact of a new design methodology for construction and refurbishment: the Core-Skin-Shell concept.

As expectativas e percepções dos compradores de imóveis habitacionais de alto padrão na cidade de Caxias do Sul-RS frente aos serviços recebidos é o tema pesquisado neste trabalho, que objetiva desenvolver uma compreensão teórica e prática de como os clientes percebem a qualidade do serviço na construção habitacional. Utilizando como referência a escala SERVQUAL (PARASURAMAN; ZEITHAML; BERRY, 1988), foi implementada uma pesquisa de caráter quantitativo e descritivo. Inicialmente foi realizada a sua adequação e a validação do instrumento de coleta de dados, um questionário estruturado, ao contexto proposto para estudo. A pesquisa foi operacionalizada em 9 empresas da região, onde 33 empreendimentos forma avaliados, resultando em 130 casos válidos, 20,70% do total da amostra. Tendo como base a SERVQUAL, por meio de análise fatorial se buscou avaliar os atributos e dimensões que compõe a qualidade do serviço neste setor. Como resultado, verificou-se que 22 atributos agrupados em 3 dimensões (Competência, Confiabilidade e Responsividade) resultam em 71,68% da variância explicada da amostra, configurando estas dimensões como uma escala SERVQUAL modificada. A partir desta escala, pôde-se identificar e avaliar as discrepâncias existentes na qualidade dos serviços no sentido de direcionar as empresas a maximizar a qualidade nos serviços e a satisfação dos seus clientes. Os resultados dos Gaps apontaram para valores negativos em todos os atributos e dimensões da qualidade dos serviços. Por fim, foram propostos direcionamentos para possibilitar a melhoria da qualidade percebida pelos clientes deste mercado. De forma prática, o objetivo é orientar e formar uma base de dados para o processo de tomada de decisão no processo de melhoria dos serviços prestados no setor da construção civil, contribuindo com diretrizes que possibilitem o incremento na qualidade dos serviços prestados no setor em análise. / Submitted by Marcelo Teixeira (mvteixeira@ucs.br) on 2014-06-04T16:35:20Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Marcelo Benetti Correa da Silva.pdf: 3888077 bytes, checksum: 4eb19ace5d6566688cb4e07b4ef70959 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-04T16:35:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Marcelo Benetti Correa da Silva.pdf: 3888077 bytes, checksum: 4eb19ace5d6566688cb4e07b4ef70959 (MD5) / The expectations and perceptions of high standard residential buyers in the city of Caxias do Sul-RS front of the services received is this research work subject, which aims to develop a theoretical and practical understanding of how customers perceive service quality in construction housing. Using as reference the SERVQUAL (PARASURAMAN; ZEITHAML; BERRY, 1988), it has been implemented as a quantitative and descriptive research. First, it reported the suitability and validation of the data collection, a structured questionnaire, the proposed study framework. The survey was implemented in 33 projects of nine companies, resulting in 130 valid cases, 20,70% of the sample. Based on the SERVQUAL, the factor analysis has been used to evaluate the attributes and dimensions that comprise service quality in this sector. As a result, it was found that 22 attributes grouped into three dimensions (competence, reliability and responsiveness) result in 71.68% of the explained variance of the sample, setting these dimensions as a modified SERVQUAL. From this scale, we could identify and evaluate the existing discrepancies in the quality of service in directing businesses to maximize service quality and customer satisfaction. The results of the Gaps pointed to negative values in all attributes and dimensions of service quality. Finally, we proposed possible directions for improving the perceived quality of this market. Practically, the goal is to guide and form a database for the decision making process in order to improve service in the construction industry, contributing to guidelines that allow for the increase in quality of service in the industry under review.

As expectativas e percepções dos compradores de imóveis habitacionais de alto padrão na cidade de Caxias do Sul-RS frente aos serviços recebidos é o tema pesquisado neste trabalho, que objetiva desenvolver uma compreensão teórica e prática de como os clientes percebem a qualidade do serviço na construção habitacional. Utilizando como referência a escala SERVQUAL (PARASURAMAN; ZEITHAML; BERRY, 1988), foi implementada uma pesquisa de caráter quantitativo e descritivo. Inicialmente foi realizada a sua adequação e a validação do instrumento de coleta de dados, um questionário estruturado, ao contexto proposto para estudo. A pesquisa foi operacionalizada em 9 empresas da região, onde 33 empreendimentos forma avaliados, resultando em 130 casos válidos, 20,70% do total da amostra. Tendo como base a SERVQUAL, por meio de análise fatorial se buscou avaliar os atributos e dimensões que compõe a qualidade do serviço neste setor. Como resultado, verificou-se que 22 atributos agrupados em 3 dimensões (Competência, Confiabilidade e Responsividade) resultam em 71,68% da variância explicada da amostra, configurando estas dimensões como uma escala SERVQUAL modificada. A partir desta escala, pôde-se identificar e avaliar as discrepâncias existentes na qualidade dos serviços no sentido de direcionar as empresas a maximizar a qualidade nos serviços e a satisfação dos seus clientes. Os resultados dos Gaps apontaram para valores negativos em todos os atributos e dimensões da qualidade dos serviços. Por fim, foram propostos direcionamentos para possibilitar a melhoria da qualidade percebida pelos clientes deste mercado. De forma prática, o objetivo é orientar e formar uma base de dados para o processo de tomada de decisão no processo de melhoria dos serviços prestados no setor da construção civil, contribuindo com diretrizes que possibilitem o incremento na qualidade dos serviços prestados no setor em análise. / The expectations and perceptions of high standard residential buyers in the city of Caxias do Sul-RS front of the services received is this research work subject, which aims to develop a theoretical and practical understanding of how customers perceive service quality in construction housing. Using as reference the SERVQUAL (PARASURAMAN; ZEITHAML; BERRY, 1988), it has been implemented as a quantitative and descriptive research. First, it reported the suitability and validation of the data collection, a structured questionnaire, the proposed study framework. The survey was implemented in 33 projects of nine companies, resulting in 130 valid cases, 20,70% of the sample. Based on the SERVQUAL, the factor analysis has been used to evaluate the attributes and dimensions that comprise service quality in this sector. As a result, it was found that 22 attributes grouped into three dimensions (competence, reliability and responsiveness) result in 71.68% of the explained variance of the sample, setting these dimensions as a modified SERVQUAL. From this scale, we could identify and evaluate the existing discrepancies in the quality of service in directing businesses to maximize service quality and customer satisfaction. The results of the Gaps pointed to negative values in all attributes and dimensions of service quality. Finally, we proposed possible directions for improving the perceived quality of this market. Practically, the goal is to guide and form a database for the decision making process in order to improve service in the construction industry, contributing to guidelines that allow for the increase in quality of service in the industry under review.

The world is now in a transition towards a more sustainable future. Actions to reduce the green-house gases (GHG) emissions have been promoted and implemented globally, including switching to electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable energy technologies, such as solar photovoltaics (PV). This has led to a massive increase of EVs and PV adoption worldwide in the recent decade. However, large integration of EVs and PV in buildings and electricity distribution systems pose new challenges such as increased peak loads, power mismatch, component overloading, and voltage violations, etc. Improved synergy between EVs, PV and other building electricity load can overcome these challenges. Coordinated charging of EVs, or so-called EV smart charging, is believed to a promising solution to improve the synergy. This licentiate thesis investigates the synergy between residential EV charging and PV generation with the application of EV smart charging schemes. The investigation in this thesis was carried out on the individual building, community and distribution grid levels. Smart charging models with an objective to reduce the net-load (load - generation) variability in residential buildings were developed and simulated. Reducing the net-load variability implies both reducing the peak loads and increasing the self-consumption of local generation, which will also lead to improved power grid performance. Combined PV-EV grid hosting capacity was also assessed.       Results show that smart charging schemes could improve the PV self-consumption and reduce the peak loads in buildings with EVs and PV systems. The PV self-consumption could be increased up to 8.7% and the peak load could be reduced down to 50%. The limited improvement on self-consumption was due to low EV availability at homes during midday when the solar power peaks. Results also show that EV smart charging could improve the grid performance such as reduce the grid losses and voltage violation occurrences. The smart charging schemes improve the grid hosting capacity for EVs significantly and for PV slightly. It can also be concluded that there was a slight positive correlation between PV and EV hosting capacity in the case of residential electricity distribution grids.

This is a complex of two apartment terraced buildings with the mirror disposition in Uherský Brod. Whole object is detached and it is set into the hillside. The object has three floors and one underground floor and it is covered with a shed roof. Two entrances lead into the each apartment building. The first entrance is in the second floor and the second entrance is in the third floor. The entry to the object is from the northeastern side, from the street named Babí louka. The object has a vertical brick construction system and it has concrete floors and interior stairs. The outer walls are insulated with a mineral insulation.