Building Information Modeling (BIM) has entered the construction industry and has permeated the commercial sector. Research is continually performed to expand the capabilities and applications within the industry. However, research has historically been mostly limited to the commercial sector and has seen little expansion to other sectors of the industry including the residential sector. The potential cause for this may be the limited number of industry professionals who utilize the software to the benefit of their companies. The focus of this study was specifically the custom home building sector of residential construction in the United States because of the unique and potentially complex nature of each project. The study was performed using a Delphi Panel, which utilizes a panel of experts to reach a consensus on a given subject. In this study, the goal was to reach a consensus on the most common uses challenges and benefits of BIM within the residential sector. In the first questionnaires, the experts were asked to identify, with a series of demographic questions including the number of employees in their company, the number of homes they build each year, and the average sale price of each home. Each expert's responses to the demographic questions were cross-referenced with the responses concerning uses, benefits, and challenges to provide other industry members wishing to implement with relatable demographic references to compare with their own company demographics. The experts then identified how they used BIM, what benefits they had seen, and any challenges they faced. The uses, benefits, and challenges identified in this questionnaire were ranked in the following questionnaire to identify the most common uses, greatest benefits, and greatest challenges.The top uses identified by this expert panel were design and visualization, the creation of construction documents, and quantity take-offs. The most common benefits identified by this panel were client visualization, plan accuracy, improved client communication, and ease of plan revisions. The most common challenges identified by this panel were high software costs, the steep learning curve when training employees, and the time-consuming nature of creating and maintain models correctly.

O presente trabalho apresenta uma proposta para melhoria da eficiência energética e do conforto térmico em edificações com sistemas de automação predial-residencial. O desenvolvimento da proposta do trabalho foi dividido em três etapas: na primeira etapa foi realizada uma análise inicial do desempenho de uma sala de aula automatizada, com relação ao consumo de energia elétrica do sistema de climatização e o conforto térmico dos usuários, em 4 cenários típicos de uso da sala. Esta análise indicou claras possibilidades de melhorias no sistema de automação, de forma a aumentar o conforto térmico e reduzir-se o consumo de energia. Numa segunda etapa da proposta foi aplicada uma estratégia de alteração dos horários de funcionamento do sistema de climatização com o objetivo de melhorar o conforto térmico dos usuários. Para validação das estratégias propostas foi desenvolvido, utilizando-se o software EnergyPlus, um modelo computacional para simulação da variação de temperatura da sala. Com a análise comparativa de simulações observou-se que alterando o horário de funcionamento do sistema de climatização foi possível manter a sala 100% do tempo na faixa de conforto térmico durante as aulas, porém com um aumento no consumo de energia. Em função disto, numa terceira etapa da proposta foi aplicada uma estratégia para ajustar o valor de setpoint de resfriamento do sistema de climatização integrado ao sistema de automação da sala com o objetivo de melhorar a eficiência energética. O algoritmo foi inicialmente desenvolvido com o software Matlab e foi co-simulado com o modelo computacional utilizando a ferramenta MLE+. Com a análise comparativa de simulações e co-simulações observou-se que houve uma redução no consumo de energia de cerca de17% na sala numa comparação com os cenários validados na primeira etapa. Os conceitos desenvolvidos foram então aplicados no projeto de uma nova edificação, no qual uma redução no consumo de energia em torno de 6%. / The present paper presents a proposal of improvement of energy efficiency and thermal comfort in buildings with home and building automation. The development of the proposal of the paper was divided into three stages: At the first stage it was realized an initial analysis of the performance of an automated room in relation to the consumption of electrical energy by the air conditioning system and the thermal comfort of the users in four typical scenarios of the room use. This analysis indicated clear possibilities of improvement on the automation system in terms of improving thermal comfort and decreasing energy consumption. At the second stage of the proposal it was applied a strategy of alteration of the operation times of the air conditioning system with the objective of improving the thermal comfort of the users. To validate the strategies proposed it was developed, using the EnergyPlus software, a computational model to simulate the variations in temperature in the room. With the comparative analysis of the simulations it was observed that altering the operation times of the air conditioning system it was possible to maintain the room in the thermal comfort zone 100% of the time, however, with an increase in energy consumption. Therefore, at the third stage of the proposal it was applied a strategy to adjust the cooling set point of the air conditioning system integrated to the automation system with the objective of improving energy efficiency. The algorithm was developed initially with the Matlab software and it was co-simulated with the computational model utilizing the MLE+ tool. With the comparative analysis of simulations and co-simulations it was observed that there was a reduction of around 17% in the consumption of energy in the room compared with the scenarios validated at the first stage. The concepts developed were then applied on the project of a new building, in which the reduction of energy consumption was around 6%.

O presente trabalho apresenta uma proposta para melhoria da eficiência energética e do conforto térmico em edificações com sistemas de automação predial-residencial. O desenvolvimento da proposta do trabalho foi dividido em três etapas: na primeira etapa foi realizada uma análise inicial do desempenho de uma sala de aula automatizada, com relação ao consumo de energia elétrica do sistema de climatização e o conforto térmico dos usuários, em 4 cenários típicos de uso da sala. Esta análise indicou claras possibilidades de melhorias no sistema de automação, de forma a aumentar o conforto térmico e reduzir-se o consumo de energia. Numa segunda etapa da proposta foi aplicada uma estratégia de alteração dos horários de funcionamento do sistema de climatização com o objetivo de melhorar o conforto térmico dos usuários. Para validação das estratégias propostas foi desenvolvido, utilizando-se o software EnergyPlus, um modelo computacional para simulação da variação de temperatura da sala. Com a análise comparativa de simulações observou-se que alterando o horário de funcionamento do sistema de climatização foi possível manter a sala 100% do tempo na faixa de conforto térmico durante as aulas, porém com um aumento no consumo de energia. Em função disto, numa terceira etapa da proposta foi aplicada uma estratégia para ajustar o valor de setpoint de resfriamento do sistema de climatização integrado ao sistema de automação da sala com o objetivo de melhorar a eficiência energética. O algoritmo foi inicialmente desenvolvido com o software Matlab e foi co-simulado com o modelo computacional utilizando a ferramenta MLE+. Com a análise comparativa de simulações e co-simulações observou-se que houve uma redução no consumo de energia de cerca de17% na sala numa comparação com os cenários validados na primeira etapa. Os conceitos desenvolvidos foram então aplicados no projeto de uma nova edificação, no qual uma redução no consumo de energia em torno de 6%. / The present paper presents a proposal of improvement of energy efficiency and thermal comfort in buildings with home and building automation. The development of the proposal of the paper was divided into three stages: At the first stage it was realized an initial analysis of the performance of an automated room in relation to the consumption of electrical energy by the air conditioning system and the thermal comfort of the users in four typical scenarios of the room use. This analysis indicated clear possibilities of improvement on the automation system in terms of improving thermal comfort and decreasing energy consumption. At the second stage of the proposal it was applied a strategy of alteration of the operation times of the air conditioning system with the objective of improving the thermal comfort of the users. To validate the strategies proposed it was developed, using the EnergyPlus software, a computational model to simulate the variations in temperature in the room. With the comparative analysis of the simulations it was observed that altering the operation times of the air conditioning system it was possible to maintain the room in the thermal comfort zone 100% of the time, however, with an increase in energy consumption. Therefore, at the third stage of the proposal it was applied a strategy to adjust the cooling set point of the air conditioning system integrated to the automation system with the objective of improving energy efficiency. The algorithm was developed initially with the Matlab software and it was co-simulated with the computational model utilizing the MLE+ tool. With the comparative analysis of simulations and co-simulations it was observed that there was a reduction of around 17% in the consumption of energy in the room compared with the scenarios validated at the first stage. The concepts developed were then applied on the project of a new building, in which the reduction of energy consumption was around 6%.

abstract: Scholars have written much about home and meaning, yet they have said little about the professionally furnished model home viewed as a cultural artifact. Nor is there literature addressing how the home building industry uses these spaces to promote images of family life to increase sales. This research notes that not only do the structure, design, and layout of the model home formulate cultural identity but also the furnishings and materials within. Together, the model home and carefully selected artifacts placed therein help to express specific chosen lifestyles as that the home builder determines. This thesis considers the model home as constructed as well as builder's publications, descriptions, and advertisements. The research recognizes the many facets of merchandising, consumerism, and commercialism influencing the design and architecture of the suburban home. Historians of visual and cultural studies often investigate these issues as separate components. By contrast, this thesis offers an integrated framework of inquiry, drawing upon such disciplines as cultural history, anthropology, and material culture. The research methodology employs two forms of content analysis - image and text. The study analyzes 36 model homes built in Phoenix, Arizona, during the period 1955-1956. The thesis explores how the builder sends a message, i.e. images, ideals, and aspirations, to the potential home buyer through the design and decoration of the model home. It then speculates how the home buyer responds to those messages. The symbiotic relationship between the sender and receiver, together, tells a story about the Phoenix lifestyle and the domestic ideals of the 1950s. Builders sent messages surrounding convenience, spaciousness, added luxury, and indoor-outdoor living to a growing and discriminating home buying market. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S.D. Design 2013

O presente trabalho apresenta uma proposta para melhoria da eficiência energética e do conforto térmico em edificações com sistemas de automação predial-residencial. O desenvolvimento da proposta do trabalho foi dividido em três etapas: na primeira etapa foi realizada uma análise inicial do desempenho de uma sala de aula automatizada, com relação ao consumo de energia elétrica do sistema de climatização e o conforto térmico dos usuários, em 4 cenários típicos de uso da sala. Esta análise indicou claras possibilidades de melhorias no sistema de automação, de forma a aumentar o conforto térmico e reduzir-se o consumo de energia. Numa segunda etapa da proposta foi aplicada uma estratégia de alteração dos horários de funcionamento do sistema de climatização com o objetivo de melhorar o conforto térmico dos usuários. Para validação das estratégias propostas foi desenvolvido, utilizando-se o software EnergyPlus, um modelo computacional para simulação da variação de temperatura da sala. Com a análise comparativa de simulações observou-se que alterando o horário de funcionamento do sistema de climatização foi possível manter a sala 100% do tempo na faixa de conforto térmico durante as aulas, porém com um aumento no consumo de energia. Em função disto, numa terceira etapa da proposta foi aplicada uma estratégia para ajustar o valor de setpoint de resfriamento do sistema de climatização integrado ao sistema de automação da sala com o objetivo de melhorar a eficiência energética. O algoritmo foi inicialmente desenvolvido com o software Matlab e foi co-simulado com o modelo computacional utilizando a ferramenta MLE+. Com a análise comparativa de simulações e co-simulações observou-se que houve uma redução no consumo de energia de cerca de17% na sala numa comparação com os cenários validados na primeira etapa. Os conceitos desenvolvidos foram então aplicados no projeto de uma nova edificação, no qual uma redução no consumo de energia em torno de 6%. / The present paper presents a proposal of improvement of energy efficiency and thermal comfort in buildings with home and building automation. The development of the proposal of the paper was divided into three stages: At the first stage it was realized an initial analysis of the performance of an automated room in relation to the consumption of electrical energy by the air conditioning system and the thermal comfort of the users in four typical scenarios of the room use. This analysis indicated clear possibilities of improvement on the automation system in terms of improving thermal comfort and decreasing energy consumption. At the second stage of the proposal it was applied a strategy of alteration of the operation times of the air conditioning system with the objective of improving the thermal comfort of the users. To validate the strategies proposed it was developed, using the EnergyPlus software, a computational model to simulate the variations in temperature in the room. With the comparative analysis of the simulations it was observed that altering the operation times of the air conditioning system it was possible to maintain the room in the thermal comfort zone 100% of the time, however, with an increase in energy consumption. Therefore, at the third stage of the proposal it was applied a strategy to adjust the cooling set point of the air conditioning system integrated to the automation system with the objective of improving energy efficiency. The algorithm was developed initially with the Matlab software and it was co-simulated with the computational model utilizing the MLE+ tool. With the comparative analysis of simulations and co-simulations it was observed that there was a reduction of around 17% in the consumption of energy in the room compared with the scenarios validated at the first stage. The concepts developed were then applied on the project of a new building, in which the reduction of energy consumption was around 6%.

This study was conducted to find out how payback analysis would affect consumer decision making with regards to home energy efficient upgrade packages. Three different home plans were obtained from a local builder and seven different energy efficient packages were created. Using Hot2000 the heating and cooling loads were calculated for each building, with each energy efficient package, in each of the four major cardinal directions. The averages were taken and the payback information was calculated. The payback information included the increased cost of the package, the increase in the mortgage payment, the annual savings from heating and cooling bills, the monthly savings, the positive or negative monthly cash flow, the amount of time and interest saved if the monthly savings were added to the mortgage principle, the number of years required to pay back the original investment, the rate of return and the increased home value. A survey was taken to see how the subjects would react to viewing the payback information. The subjects were individuals looking to buy a home in the next 12 months somewhere along the Wasatch Front area in Utah. Depending on the size of the home the subjects were looking for, the subjects were shown the different packages with their accompanying cost increase and how that would affect the subjects monthly mortgage payment. The subjects then chose the package they would want for their home, based on their knowledge of construction materials, the additional cost, and how it would affect their mortgage. They were then shown the payback information for the home that was chosen and asked if they would change their mind concerning the previous decision. They were then asked what parts of the payback information they found to be most useful. This study shows that payback information is indeed useful and would help builders to attract new customers, increase profits, and provide customers with powerful information that will empower them to make better decisions about home energy efficiency.

Following the recession of 2007-2009, conditions in the housing and finance industries favored an increase in renter occupied homes relative to owner occupied homes. With rental properties comprising an increasing share of the housing supply, the home building industry should consider housing products that meet the needs of renters. This thesis proposes a build-to-rent product for single family home builders, to be offered as a complement to the traditional built-for-sale product. The purpose of the research is to demonstrate that a build-to-rent product is financially feasible under ordinary market conditions. In order to determine the viability of a build-to-rent product under likely market conditions, a financial model has been developed for a single family build-to rent product. The research involves reviewing the literature related to similar investment product types in order to develop a business model for the proposed build-to-rent product. The proposed model utilizes financial parameters currently in the industry, respectively, in the analysis of homebuilding projects and rental property investments. Using the analytical methods used for analogous investment classes, the author calculates a projected market range of input variables for the model. Sensitivity analysis of the model was then used to test the financial feasibility of a build-to-rent product. The analysis showed that the proposed product would be feasible under ordinary market conditions. Additional recommendations for future research has been explored based on the findings of this study.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-12-03T18:35:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Rodrigo_Marcelli.pdf: 1102111 bytes, checksum: 47b82f8805814148944b78cd504fb0f2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-08-30 / In the last few years, Brazil has undergone a profound change in the way companies are pro-vided with access to capital markets; this has required greater transparency in the preparation of financial statements and disclosure of accounts. Recent scandals in the history of the finan-cial markets that have involved the practice of accounting choices for the purpose of managing results, require users of this information to be increasingly well prepared. This study seeks to analyze the existence of evidence of management practices in the results of financial state-ments of Brazilian construction companies listed in the BM & FBovespa in the period 2000-2012. The approach adopted for the detection of results management was based on the specif-ic accruals used for panel data methods with the development and employment of a particular model that follows the pattern of the Generalized Linear Mixed Model (GLMM). The re-search revealed that the financial statements published by the Brazilian building constructors for the years 2003-2006 and 2009-2010, show signs of results management with the use of the liquid variable for the amount of real estate sold. The results also suggest that large-sized Bra-zilian building constructors tend to manage their results more than small-sized firms. On the basis of the findings of this research, it is clear that information is not being disclosed that allows an assessment of the quality and performance of companies. There is thus a need for a reform of financial disclosure policies with regard to factors linked to revenue recognition and measurement and in particular, the total budgeted costs of work performed (POC) and the scheduled completion percentage / Nos ??ltimos anos o Brasil passou por uma evolu????o no acesso de companhias ao mercado de capitais, exigindo maior transpar??ncia na elabora????o e divulga????o de informa????es cont??beis. Esc??ndalos recentes na hist??ria do mercado financeiro, envolvendo a pr??tica de escolhas cont??beis com objetivo de gerenciar resultados, exige que os usu??rios destas informa????es estejam cada vez mais preparados. Este estudo buscou analisar a exist??ncia de evid??ncias de pr??ticas de gerenciamento de resultados nas demonstra????es financeiras de construtoras brasileiras listadas na BM&FBovespa no per??odo de 2000 ?? 2012. A abordagem adotada para a identifica????o do gerenciamento de resultados foi de acumula????es espec??ficas (specifc accruals), utilizando a t??cnica de dados em painel com o desenvolvimento e aplica????o de modelo especifico seguindo a abordagem dos Modelos Lineares Generalizados Mistos. A pesquisa revelou que as demonstra????es financeiras publicadas pelas construtoras brasileiras nos anos de 2003 ?? 2006, 2009 e 2010 apresentam ind??cios de gerenciamento de resultado com a utiliza????o da vari??vel Receita l??quida de im??veis vendidos. Os resultados tamb??m apontam que as construtoras brasileiras de maior porte tendem a gerenciar seus resultados mais que as construtoras de menor porte. Com as descobertas desta pesquisa percebe-se que informa????es que permitam avaliar a qualidade e o desempenho das companhias n??o s??o divulgadas, necessitando de uma reforma nas pol??ticas de divulga????o das demonstra????es financeiras, principalmente sobre fatores atrelados a mensura????o e reconhecimento de receitas, em especifico, o custo or??ado total de obra e o percentual de obra conclu??da - POC