Thesis (MScEng (Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The thesis was initiated by a Consulting Engineering Company (KV3) as a research project to investigate various options in which the efficiency and energy utilisation of conventional air conditioning systems may be enhanced by using alternative and renewable energy. Initially, eight options had been identified and through a process of determining the degree of commercialisation the alternative options were reduced to three. These options, referred to as the sustainable cooling alternatives, are active mass cooling, night flushing and roof cooling system. The roof cooling system comprised a roof-pond, roof-spray, pump and storage tank. The roof cooling system was mathematically and experimentally modelled. The roof cooling experiment was performed under a variety of weather conditions with the roof-pond and storage tank temperatures continuously recorded. The experimentally recorded temperatures were compared to the temperatures generated by the theoretical simulation calculations for the same input and weather conditions. Good agreement was found between the mathematical and experimental model. The largest discrepancy found between the simulated temperature and the experimental temperature was in the order of 1 ºC. A one-room building has been assumed to serve as a basis to which the sustainable cooling alternatives could be applied to for theoretical simulation. The one-room building had four façade walls and a flat roof slab. Night flushing, active mass cooling and the roof cooling system were applied to the one-room building such that the room air temperature and space cooling load could theoretically be simulated. The theoretical simulations were also repeated for the case where the roof-pond and roof-spray were applied as standalone systems to the one-room building. The theoretical simulation calculations were performed for typical summer weather conditions of Stellenbosch, South Africa. Under base case conditions and for a room thermostat setting of 22 ºC the peak cooling load of the one-room building was 74.73 W/m². With the application of night flushing between the hours of 24:00 and 07:00, the room cooling load was reduced by 5.2% by providing 3.9 W/m² of cooling and reducing the peak room temperature by 1.4 ºC. The active mass cooling system was modelled by supplying water at a constant supply temperature of 15 ºC to a pipe network embedded in the roof slab of the one-room building. The sea may typically be considered as a cold water source for buildings situated at the coast. The active mass cooling system reduced the peak cooling load of the one-room building by 50% by providing 37.2 W/m² of cooling and reducing the peak room temperature by 6.7 ºC. When the roof-spray and roof-pond systems were applied as standalone systems to the oneroom building, the peak cooling load of the one-room building could be reduced by 30% and 51% respectively. This is equivalent to 22.3 W/m² of peak cooling by the roof-spray and 38 W/m² of peak cooling by the roof-pond. The roof-spray reduced the peak room temperature by 3.71 ºC while the roof-pond reduced the peak room temperature by 5.9 ºC. Applying the roof cooling system to the one-room building produced 46 W/m² of peak cooling which resulted in a 61.1% reduction in peak cooling load. The roof cooling system reduced the peak temperature by 8 ºC. By comparing the sustainable cooling alternatives, the roof cooling system showed to be the most effective in reducing the one-room building peak cooling load. Over a 24 hour period the roof cooling system reduced the net heat entry to the one-room building by 57.3%. In a further attempt to reduce the peak cooling load, the sustainable cooling alternatives were applied in combinations to the one-room building. The combination of night flushing and roof-spray reduced the peak cooling load by 36% while a combination of night flushing and active mass cooling reduced the peak cooling load by 55%. Combining night flushing with the roof-pond also yielded a 55% peak cooling load reduction. The combination of roofpond, active mass cooling and night flushing provided 51 W/m² of cooling which corresponded to a 68% reduction in peak cooling load. Utilising the sustainable cooling alternatives in a combination in the one-room building gave improved results when compared to the case where the sustainable cooling alternatives were employed as standalone systems. It is illustrated by means of a sensitivity analysis that the ability of the roof cooling system to produce cool water is largely influenced by ambient conditions, droplet diameter and roofspray rate. Under clear sky conditions, an ambient temperature of 15 ºC, relative humidity of 80%, a roof-spray rate of 0.02 kg/sm² and a roof-pond water level of 100mm, water could be cooled at a rate of 113 W/m². The roof-spray energy contributed to 28 W/m² whilst the night sky radiation was responsible for 85 W/m² of the water cooling. It must however be noted that the water of the roof cooling system can never be reduced to a temperature that is lower than the ambient dew point temperature. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die tesis is geïnisieer deur ‘n Raadgewende Ingenieurs Maatskappy (KV3) as a navorsingsprojek om verskeie opsies te ondersoek waarmee die effektiwiteit en energie verbruik van konvensionele lugversorgingstelsels verbeter kan word deur middel van alternatiewe en hernubare energie. Agt opsies is oorspronglik geïdentifiseer en deur middel van ‘n proses waarby die graad van kommersialisering van hierdie alternatiewe maniere bepaal is, kon die opsies verminder word tot drie. Hierdie opsies, ook verwys na as die volhoubare verkoelingsalternatiewe, sluit in aktiewe massa verkoeling, dakverkoeling en nagventilasie. Die dakverkoelingstelsel bestaan uit dakwater, ‘n dakspuit, ‘n pomp en ‘n stoortenk. Die dakverkoelingstelsel is wiskundig en eksperimenteel gemodelleer. Die dakverkoelingseksperiment is uitgevoer onder ‘n verskeidenheid van weersomstandighede. Die dakwater asook die stoortenk se water temperatuur is voortdurend aangeteken. Dieselfde weer- en insetkondisies is gebruik vir die simulasie berekening en die temperature van die stoortenk se water en die dakwater is vergelyk met die temperatuurlesings van die eksperimentele werk. Die temperature van die eksperimentele lesings het goed vergelyk met die temperatuur simulasie berekeninge. Die grootste verskil tussen die simulasie en eksperimentele temperatuur was in die orde grootte van 1 ºC. ‘n Een-kamer gebou is aangeneem om as basis te dien waarop die volhoubare verkoelingsalternatiewe aangewend kon word vir teoretiese simulasie. Die een-kamer gebou het uit vier buite mure en ‘n horisontale beton dak bestaan. Nag ventilasie, aktiewe massa verkoeling en die dakverkoelingstelsel is toegepas op die een-kamer gebou en die kamer se verkoelingslas asook die kamer se lugtempertuur is teoreties gesimuleer. Die teoretiese simulasies is ook herhaal vir die geval waar die dakwater and dakspuitstelsel apart aangewend is op die een-kamer gebou. Die teoretiese simulasie berekeninge is uitgevoer vir tipiese somer weersomstandighede vir Stellenbosch, Suid Afrika. Onder basisgeval omstandighede, waar die een-kamer gebou gesimuleer is, sonder enige volhoubare verkoelingsalternatiewe en ‘n termostaat verstelling van 22 ºC, is die piek verkoelingslas bereken as 74.73 W/m². Met die toepassing van nagventilasie tussen die ure 24:00 en 07:00 was die piekverkoelingslas van die kamer verminder met 5.2% deur 3.9 W/m² se verkoeling te verskaf en die piekkamer temperatuur te verminder met 1.4 ºC. Aktiewe massa verkoeling is gesimuleer deur water teen ‘n konstante temperatuur van 15 ºC te verskaf aan ‘n pypnetwerk, geïnstalleer in the beton dak, van die een-kamer gebou. Geboue geleë aan die kus kan tipies seewater oorweeg as ‘n bron van koue water. Aktiewe massa verkoeling het die piekverkoelingslas van die een-kamer gebou verminder met 50% deur 37.2 W/m² se verkoeling te verskaf en die piekkamer temperatuur te verminder met 6.7 ºC. Wanneer die dakspuit- en dakwaterstelsel aangewend is op die een-kamer gebou as enkel staande stelsels, is die piekverkoelingslas verminder met 30% en 51% onderskeidelik. Dit is ekwivalent aan 22.3 W/m² se verkoeling vir die dakspuitstelsel en 38 W/m² se verkoeling vir die dakwaterstelsel. Die dakspuitstelsel het die piekkamer temperatuur verminder met 3.71 ºC terwyl die dakwaterstelsel ‘n 5.9 ºC verlaging in piekkamer temperatuur tot gevolg gehad het. Die dakverkoelingstelsel het 46 W/m² se piekverkoeling verskaf wat ‘n 61.1% vermindering in piekverkoelingslas tot gevolg gehad het. Die ooreenstemmende piek temperatuur vermindering is 8 ºC. Deur die verskeie volhoubare verkoelingsalternatiewe met mekaar te vergelyk, word getoon dat die dakverkoelingstelsel die mees effektiefste manier is om die een- kamer se piekverkoelingslas te verminder. Oor ‘n tydperk van 24 uur het die dakverkoelingstelsel die totale energievloei na die een-kamer gebou met 57.3% verminder. In ‘n verdere poging om die piekverkoelingslas te verminder, is die volhoubare verkoelingsalternatiewe toegepas in kombinasies op die een-kamer gebou. Die kombinasie van nagventilasie met die dakspuitstelsel het die piekverkoelingslas met 36% verminder, terwyl ‘n kombinasie van nagventilasie en aktiewe massa verkoeling ‘n 55% vermindering in piekverkoelingslas tot gevolg gehad het. Die kombinasie van dakwater en nagventilasie het ook ‘n piekverkoelingslas vermindering van 55% teweeggebring. Die kombinasie van dakwater, aktiewe massa verkoeling en nagventilasie het 51 W/m² se verkoeling veskaf, wat ooreenstem met ‘n 68% vermindering in piekverkoelingslas. Deur die volhoubare verkoelingsalternatiewe in kombinasies toe te pas op die een-kamer gebou, kon beter resultate verkry word toe dit vergelyk is met die geval waar die volhoubare verkoelingsalternatiewe as enkelstaande stelsels toegepas is. Dit is geïllustreer deur middel van ‘n sensitiwiteitsanalise dat die vermoë van die dakverkoelingstelsel om koue water te produseer, beïnvloed word deur buitelug kondisies, waterdruppel deursnee en dakspuit massa vloeitempo. Onder die oop hemelruimteomstandighede, ‘n buitelug temperatuur van 15 ºC, ‘n relatiewe humiditeit van 80%, ‘n dakspuit massa vloeitempo van 0.02 kg/sm² en dakwatervlak van 100 mm, kon water verkoel word teen ‘n tempo van 113 W/m². Die dakspuit gedeelte het 28 W/m² bygedra terwyl die nagruim radiasie sowat 85 W/m² se verkoeling verskaf het. Daar moet egter kennis geneem word dat die water temperatuur van die dakverkoelingstelsel nooit verminder kan word tot onder die buitelug doupunttemperatuur nie.

Buildings have a significant impact on energy usage and the environment. Much of the research in architectural sustainability has centered on economically advanced countries because they consume the most energy and have the most resources. However, sustainable architecture is important in developing countries, where the energy consumption of the building sector is increasing significantly. Currently, developing countries struggle with vaccine storage because vaccines are typically warehoused in old buildings that are poorly designed and wasteful of energy. This thesis created and studied a decision support tool that can be used to aid in the design of economically feasible Net Zero Energy vaccine warehouses for the developing world. The decision support tool used a simulation-optimization approach to combine an optimization technique with two simulation softwares in order to determine the cost-optimal design solution. To test its effectiveness, a new national vaccine storage facility located in Tunis, Tunisia was used. Nine building parameters were investigated to see which have the most significant effect on the annual energy usage and initial construction cost of the building. First, tests were conducted for two construction techniques, five different climates in the developing world, and three photovoltaic system prices to gain insight on the design space of the optimal solution. The results showed the difference between an economically efficient and economically inefficient Net Zero Energy building and the results were used to provide generalized climatic recommendations for all the building parameters studied. The final test showed the benefits of combining two optimization techniques, a design of experiments and a genetic algorithm, to form a two-step process to aid in the building design in the early stages and final stages of the design process. The proposed decision support tool can efficiently and effectively aid in the design of an economically feasible Net Zero Energy vaccine warehouse for the developing world.

A partir da análise dos conceitos de sustentabilidade, de arquitetura hospitalar, de conforto e qualidade, é constatada a importância da preocupação que projetos hospitalares devam ter, desde o início, com os recursos naturais e a sua adequação ao meio ambiente. Através de uma Avaliação Pós-Ocupação do Hospital Universitário de Londrina é verificado que os principais problemas detectados pelos usuários - problemas esses responsáveis pela sua insatisfação na avaliação dos ambientes - são aqueles que estão diretamente relacionados ao projeto e a sua inadequação ao local. É proposto um instrumento de avaliação, um guia que pode ser utilizado por arquitetos durante a elaboração de projetos hospitalares, na avaliação de projetos prontos e de edifícios construídos e em uso, capaz de verificar o comprometimento do projeto sob os aspectos ambientais, de conforto e qualidade, funcionais, construtivos e estéticos. / Starting from the analysis of the sustainability concepts, of hospitals’ architecture, of comfort and quality, it is verified the importance of the concern that hospitals’ projects should have, since the beginning, with the natural resources and its adaptation to the environment. Through a Post Occupancy Evaluation of the Hospital Universitário de Londrina it is verified that the main problems detected by the users - problems responsible for the unsatisfactory evaluation of the spaces - are those that are directly related to the project and its inadequacy to the place. It is proposed an evaluation instrument, a guide that can be used by architects during the elaboration of hospitals’ projects, in the evaluation of ready projects and of built buildings and in use, that can verifies the compromising of the project under the environmental aspects, of comfort and quality, functional, constructive and aesthetic.

Thesis (MTech. degree in Architectural Technology)--Tshwane University of Technology, 2013. / The aim of this study was to conduct a Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE) of a Green Star SA certified office building in order to determine to what extent this building performs in terms of the Internal Environmental Quality (IEQ) from the perspective of the occupants as well as the effect of POE on the occupants' health and productivity. The objectives were to measure employees' satisfaction with the IEQ in a green building; to determine whether the health of the occupants is satisfactory in a green building; and to determine whether the health of the employees and their perceived productivity are influenced by IEQ in a green building.

published_or_final_version / Architecture / Master / Master of Architecture

The complexity of sustainable building maintenance environment requires managers to define and implement appropriate quality benchmark system suitable for this function. Lean Six Sigma (LSS) is one of the most effective process improvement and optimization philosophy that maintenance organisations can implement in their environment. However, literature review has shown that 90% of failures in LSS implementations are due to lack of readiness to change, the unawareness of the required benchmark organisation capabilities, and improper control of priorities. The contribution of the current research approach is in developing a hybrid Knowledge-Based (KB)/GAP/AHP System, consisting of three stages (Planning, Designing and Implementation) and containing over 2500 KB rules. The KB System can assist the decision-makers in identifying the obstacles behind the organisation readiness to change into a benchmark LSS maintenance environment. Thus the KB System will be used to achieve benchmark standards by determining the gap existing between the current environment and the benchmark goal, and then suggest a detailed plan to overcome these hurdles in a prioritised and structured manner, thus achieving cost benefits. To ensure its consistency and reliability, the KB System was validated in three Oman-based maintenance organisations, and one published case study for a UK-based organisation. The results from the validation were positive with the System output suggesting list of top priorities and action plans for achieving benchmark LSS standards for these organisations. The research concludes that the developed KB System is a consistent and reliable methodology for assisting decision-makers in designing, planning, and implementing LSS for benchmark sustainable building maintenance.

xii, 145 p. : ill. (some col.), maps. A print copy of this thesis is available through the UO Libraries. Search the library catalog for the location and call number. / In an effort to confront global warming and the increasing scarcity of resources, the preservation community began several years ago to adopt sustainable and green building practices and metrics for historic rehabilitation projects. As a result, there is an ever growing number of rehabilitated historic buildings in the United States not only incorporating sustainable building designs but also achieving Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. Most of these are large, architect-designed buildings in urban settings rehabilitated for cultural and commercial uses. This thesis explores the application of the LEED 2009 New Construction and Major Renovation Rating System for the development of a sustainable rehabilitation plan for the modest vernacular 1897 Jeff. Smith's Parlor Museum in Skagway, Alaska. The goal of this research is to demonstrate how the LEED rating system might be applied to the rehabilitation of this building and other historic vernacular buildings. / Committee in Charge: Donald L. Peting, Chair; Grant Crosby, NPS Historical Architect

O envelhecimento populacional é um processo natural que está ocorrendo em todo o mundo. O Brasil terá apenas 25 anos, enquanto os países europeus levaram um século para o envelhecimento da população. Com o aumento da população idosa, a sociedade terá importantes consequências culturais, sociais e econômicas, advindas de muitos problemas, que estão relacionados às famílias com condições econômicas precárias e número cada vez menor de filhos, habitações sem planejamento para a terceira idade, asilos sem infraestrutura para atendimento, cuidadores de idosos sem formação, descaso, abandono e pobreza. Com todos os problemas relacionados à terceira idade, este trabalho busca determinar as diretrizes sustentáveis e saudáveis para a melhoria da arquitetura para os idosos. Mediante entrevistas estruturadas e visitas nas Instituições de Longa Permanência dos Idosos (ILPIs) existentes na cidade de Curitiba, possibilitou-se a identificação das reais condições em relação à qualidade de vida dos idosos. Durante a pesquisa observou-se: carência em infraestrutura da edificação; inexistência de equipamentos para o aproveitamento das águas das chuvas e/ou aquecimento da mesma para usar principalmente no chuveiro; falta de local ao ar livre com direito ao sol fora do recuo frontal e sem exposição à rua; serviços e atividades ofertadas, como médicos geriátricos, odontólogos e falta de atividades voltadas às doenças que mais se apresentam nas instituições, como o Alzheimer, a Hipertensão e Diabetes. Isso indica a necessidade de um espaço projetado para a terceira idade utilizando diretrizes sustentáveis e saudáveis, como por exemplo a escolha de materiais não tóxicos e próximos ao local da construção devem ser escolhidos durante a fase de projeto, que possam melhorar a qualidade de vida dos idosos residentes nas casas de repouso. / Population aging is a natural process that is taking place worldwide. The Brazil will take only 25 years, while European countries had a century to the population aging. With population aging, the society had important cultural, social and economic consequences, resulting from many problems, which are related to families with poor economic conditions and increasingly fewer children, houses without planning for the elderly, nursing homes without infrastructure to service, untrained elderly caregivers, neglect, abandonment and poverty. With all the problems related to old age, this study seeks to determine the sustainable and healthy guidelines for improving the architecture for the elderly. By structured interviews and visits in the institutions of the Long Term Elderly (ILPIs) in the city of Curitiba, enabled the identification of the actual conditions regarding the quality of life for seniors. During the research it was observed: lack of infrastructure building; lack of equipment for the use of rainwater and / or heating the same for use mainly in the shower; lack of outdoor venue with the sun right out the front setback and without exposure to the street; offered services and activities such as geriatric doctors, dentists and lack of activities related to diseases that present themselves in institutions, such as Alzheimer's, hypertension and diabetes. This indicates the need for a space designed for seniors using sustainable and healthy, such as the choice of non-toxic materials and nearby the construction site must be chosen during the design phase, guidelines that can improve the quality of life of elderly people living in nursing homes.

O envelhecimento populacional é um processo natural que está ocorrendo em todo o mundo. O Brasil terá apenas 25 anos, enquanto os países europeus levaram um século para o envelhecimento da população. Com o aumento da população idosa, a sociedade terá importantes consequências culturais, sociais e econômicas, advindas de muitos problemas, que estão relacionados às famílias com condições econômicas precárias e número cada vez menor de filhos, habitações sem planejamento para a terceira idade, asilos sem infraestrutura para atendimento, cuidadores de idosos sem formação, descaso, abandono e pobreza. Com todos os problemas relacionados à terceira idade, este trabalho busca determinar as diretrizes sustentáveis e saudáveis para a melhoria da arquitetura para os idosos. Mediante entrevistas estruturadas e visitas nas Instituições de Longa Permanência dos Idosos (ILPIs) existentes na cidade de Curitiba, possibilitou-se a identificação das reais condições em relação à qualidade de vida dos idosos. Durante a pesquisa observou-se: carência em infraestrutura da edificação; inexistência de equipamentos para o aproveitamento das águas das chuvas e/ou aquecimento da mesma para usar principalmente no chuveiro; falta de local ao ar livre com direito ao sol fora do recuo frontal e sem exposição à rua; serviços e atividades ofertadas, como médicos geriátricos, odontólogos e falta de atividades voltadas às doenças que mais se apresentam nas instituições, como o Alzheimer, a Hipertensão e Diabetes. Isso indica a necessidade de um espaço projetado para a terceira idade utilizando diretrizes sustentáveis e saudáveis, como por exemplo a escolha de materiais não tóxicos e próximos ao local da construção devem ser escolhidos durante a fase de projeto, que possam melhorar a qualidade de vida dos idosos residentes nas casas de repouso. / Population aging is a natural process that is taking place worldwide. The Brazil will take only 25 years, while European countries had a century to the population aging. With population aging, the society had important cultural, social and economic consequences, resulting from many problems, which are related to families with poor economic conditions and increasingly fewer children, houses without planning for the elderly, nursing homes without infrastructure to service, untrained elderly caregivers, neglect, abandonment and poverty. With all the problems related to old age, this study seeks to determine the sustainable and healthy guidelines for improving the architecture for the elderly. By structured interviews and visits in the institutions of the Long Term Elderly (ILPIs) in the city of Curitiba, enabled the identification of the actual conditions regarding the quality of life for seniors. During the research it was observed: lack of infrastructure building; lack of equipment for the use of rainwater and / or heating the same for use mainly in the shower; lack of outdoor venue with the sun right out the front setback and without exposure to the street; offered services and activities such as geriatric doctors, dentists and lack of activities related to diseases that present themselves in institutions, such as Alzheimer's, hypertension and diabetes. This indicates the need for a space designed for seniors using sustainable and healthy, such as the choice of non-toxic materials and nearby the construction site must be chosen during the design phase, guidelines that can improve the quality of life of elderly people living in nursing homes.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / Formulada a hipÃtese de que o municÃpio de Juazeiro do Norte tem deixado a desejar no que diz respeito à sustentabilidade das construÃÃes, este trabalho pretende fazer um diagnÃstico deste municÃpio mediante o estudo de suas residÃncias jà consolidadas. Mesmo com comprovada relevÃncia econÃmica nas atividades da construÃÃo civil no municÃpio, a preocupaÃÃo com o planejamento, implantaÃÃo e execuÃÃo das construÃÃes parecem nÃo fazer parte da âculturaâ da maior parte da populaÃÃo local. As construÃÃes e suas tÃcnicas construtivas tem se desenvolvido com a finalidade Ãnica de prover abrigo, sem a preocupaÃÃo com uma melhor utilizaÃÃo dos recursos naturais e com a saÃde de seus ocupantes. à notÃrio o alto Ãndice de construÃÃes que fazem uso de ausÃncia de recuos, divisÃo de ambientes internos sem janelas para Ãrea externa, exaustÃo de diversos gazes e compostos orgÃnicos volÃteis que poluem a atmosfera e reduzem a saÃde dos seres vivos, descarte de Ãguas servidas nas ruas, alto consumo energÃtico, calÃadas inacessÃveis, inexistÃncia de coleta seletiva de resÃduos domiciliares, ausÃncia de Ãreas permeÃveis das Ãguas das chuvas, entre outros. Consequentemente estas residÃncias se encaixam no perfil do que se conhece por "sÃndrome do edifÃcio doente". Com base nisto, esta pesquisa à justificada pela busca da inserÃÃo de um desenvolvimento urbano e arquitetÃnico sustentÃvel, equilibrado, justo, acessÃvel e que provenha melhor qualidade de vida, atà mesmo de saÃde, para os habitantes desta cidade. A pesquisa objetiva caracterizar e analisar a evoluÃÃo das construÃÃes no municÃpio de Juazeiro do Norte sob o viÃs da sustentabilidade mediante do estudo das metodologias vigentes de avaliaÃÃo de construÃÃes sustentÃveis, da legislaÃÃo local pertinente, de amostras de plantas de residÃncias unifamiliares e da elaboraÃÃo de mapas urbanos que caracterizem as construÃÃes. Concluindo assim que o municÃpio, ao longo dos anos, em sua maioria, entra em desconformidade com as diretrizes bÃsicas de construÃÃes sustentÃveis e com seu sistema local de regularizaÃÃo, o plano diretor de desenvolvimento urbano. / Hypothesized that the municipality of Juazeiro do Norte has left much to be desired with regard to the sustainability of buildings, this work aims to make a diagnostic of this municipality through the study of their homes already consolidated. Even with proven relevance in economic activities of construction in the municipality, the concern with the planning, implementation and execution of the buildings seem not to be part of the "culture" of most of the local population. The buildings and their construction techniques have been developed for the sole purpose of providing shelter, without worrying about making better use of natural resources and the health of its occupants. It is noticeable that high level constructions make no use of setbacks, divisions inside are without windows to the outside area. Various exhaust gases and volatile organic compounds pollute the atmosphere and reduce the health of living beings. The disposal of wastewater in streets, high energy consumption, inaccessible sidewalks, the lack of selective collection of household waste and the lack of permeable areas for rainwater are among some other negative conditions. Consequently, these homes fit the profile of what is known as "sick building syndrome". Based on these facts, research is justified for the pursuit of insertion of urban development and architectural sustainable, balanced, fair, and affordable homes that offer a better quality of life and even health for the inhabitants of this city. The research aims to characterize and analyze the evolution of the buildings in the city of Juazeiro under the bias of sustainability through the study of current evaluation methodologies for sustainable buildings, local legislation for relevant plant samples of single-family homes and mapping that characterize urban constructions. In conclusion, the city over the years mostly comes into disagreement with the basic guidelines for sustainable buildings and for the local system of regularization. Therefore the master plan for urban development is required to improve the quality of the municipality.