The concept of future sustainability is driving efforts toward the efficient improvement of energy systems. District heating systems play a key role in balancing the energy system by improving performance and flexibility. As system efficiency increases, fuel consumption decreases, resulting in reduced greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating potential climate impacts, especially when using fossil fuels. In Sweden, district heating has shown significant growth, with a 75 % increase in total heat production over the last 30 years. Furthermore, carbon dioxide emissions have been reduced by approximately 50 % for each delivered kWh in the past 20 years, while renewable energy sources have doubled in the district heating sector. This thesis focuses on optimizing the cooling process to achieve lower return temperatures and higher system efficiency. It also emphasizes the importance of implementing an efficient heat consumption strategy to reduce peak loads and improve overall system efficiency. This approach involves managing demand to minimize peak heat requirements and distribute the load evenly throughout the day, leading to a more resource-effective and efficient system. The case study examines district heating supplied by VB Energy to Ludvikahem AB buildings, using data from Dec 2022 to Jan 2023. Quantitative data from district heating substations and the district heating plant are collected and analyzed to generate qualitative insights. The study proposes theoretical optimization measures based on the findings. The evaluation of substation performance reveals 20 poorly performing substations with various issues. Eight of these substations have technical problems related to substation components, while another eight experience management issues not aligned with specific activity profiles. The load shifting simulation demonstrates a 3% reduction in heat rate peak levels, resulting in approximately 7 kW of subscribed heat rate savings. Energy usage savings reach approximately 0.9%, leading to an increase in energy usage effectiveness. The cost savings amounted to about 3000 SEK over two months for a single building. This research emphasizes the importance of routine control, inspection, and documentation of substation performance to ensure optimal efficiency. Furthermore, indicates that the poorly performing substations that contribute to inefficiencies in the district heating network. Additionally, real-time regulation and load-shifting strategies are vital for optimizing customer consumption and maintaining an efficient district heating system, benefiting both suppliers and consumers.

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From every carving and dislodged mass, there is memory left in void. As refugees, the Rohingya resettling in the United States have been displaced out of time and place. This project proposal aims to reconnect persons to place and community. Surrounded on all sides by remnant chestnut oak forest, the "rock oak" of the Appalachian, this establishment of subsidized multi-family resettlement housing, a mosque, and a Rohingya cultural center serves as the rock foundation from which to stabilize the chaos of the unknown. While memory embraces cultural identity, growth embraces new connections - defining a platform of past and future. Roof farms and open circulation plans visualize the seasons. The cropped grass field opens between the three buildings on the complex. They face each other across a green field - conversing in rows of tall oaks and stone brick colonnades in a gradient of public to private space. Children race the setting sunlight down steps and a communal dinner is served. For these wanderers, this is the threshold of refuge. / Master of Architecture / Exported by violence, thousands of Rohingya refugees are adrift in temporality. In camps or on the run, there is detachment from place and corrosion of community and opportunity. Resettling in a new country, refugees face many challenges hand in hand with their new freedoms. In Alexandria, there is a site embedded into the slope of a remnant forest. It extends from the hill of the Northern Virginia Community College, a beacon of affordable education and equal opportunity. On this site, the newly resettled will find their footing and work towards new goals through rest in residence, spiritual healing in a prayer hall, and active learning in a Rohingyan cultural center. By carving a community, this designed establishment, a stronghold of Rohingya culture and identity can embed new stories and re-establish roots.

The gradually changing behavior of the population, towards urbanization, ledto an increased shortage of available housing. This development has resultedin a serious issue in Sweden, where too few firms are providing solutions formulti-family houses in wood. Potential firms that could fill this increasingdemand are those in the single-family house industry. Yet, these firms mightface considerable problems with productivity, predominately derived fromincreasing production costs and inadequate production development.Developing these firms are associated with long-term investments, whichis investigated by evaluating the industry structure for sellers, highlightingthe financial and market situation within their industry. These factors aregrowing in importance due to the current market concentration, where morefirms are required to focus on product development driven by the demand toprefabricate wooden elements, volumes or modules in an industrialized way.This thesis studies Swedish firms producing wooden single-familyhouses, with the aim to investigate their possibilities to enter the woodenmulti-family house industry in Sweden.Investigations will be conducted by applying Altman’s Z’ value, riskposition model, the Herfindahl-Hirschman index, the Herfindahl-Hirschmannumber equivalent, productivity ratio model for profitability and finally amodel measuring market Concentration Ratio.Results show that the industry tends towards perfect competition with toomany firms involved, i.e. firms mainly have to compete by prices. Further,firms are grouped into three zones; risk, grey or safe zone. The levels withinthese zone show a reduction of firms in the red zone over time. Related to thecurrent risks, many firms have promising positions to invest in productdevelopment towards wooden multi-family houses, in addition to theircurrent products, even though firm productivity has declined during thestudied time frame. The results that the investigated firms have goodpossibilities gaining a competitive advantage by diversifying into thegrowing wooden multi-family house industry.

xi, 63 p. : ill. (some col.) A print copy of this thesis is available through the UO Libraries. Search the library catalog for the location and call number. / Walking, bicycling, and other modes of active transportation can be utilitarian modes of personal transport, but barriers exist that limit the ability of groups of people to use these modes. This research looks at the walking and bicycling behaviors and attitudes of residents of suburban multifamily housing, a housing type identified in previous literature as needing research. Particularly, the roles of pedestrian route distance and directness as well as physical route characteristics are explored in their effects on walking and bicycling behavior. Results show that both the pedestrian network distance and major arterials are significantly correlated with a person's mode choice. Recommendations include increasing density around suburban commercial centers and encouraging pedestrian and bicycle connections between developments to limit arterial interaction. / Committee in Charge: Nico Larco, Chair; Dr. Marc Schlossberg; Dr. Kathryn A. Lynch

Employee Engagement Model for the Multi-family Rental Housing Industry Deborah R. Phillips 238 Pages Directed by Dr. Roozbeh Kangari The multi-family rental housing industry has faced numerous challenges in the past decade. Increased competition, declining occupancy rates and higher operating expenses have forced management companies to re-examine their organizational strategies, particularly as it applies to its human capital. Employee engagement has become an emerging topic and shows that engaged employees perform better, put in extra effort to help get the job done, show a strong level of commitment to the organization, and are more motivated and optimistic about their work goals. Companies now recognize the value in fostering a climate in which engaged employees drive sales by creating loyal customers. However, despite documented support identifying the link between engaged employees and more impressive business outcomes, little research has concentrated on the special needs and challenges of the multi-family rental housing industry. Further, there are limited tools available to assist owners and managers with the task of identifying the drivers affecting employee engagement. An Employee Engagement Model (EEM) was developed to allow multi-family apartment rental property owners and managers to determine the percentage of satisfied residents for a given average level of engagement score. This research utilized statistical analysis, neural network techniques, and probabilistic modeling to develop the Employee Engagement Model. The Employee Engagement Model (EEM) offers new knowledge in the relationship between employee engagement and resident satisfaction in the multi-family rental housing industry. New knowledge may also be derived in correlations of certain aspects of employee engagement and the likelihood of residents extending their leases or referring others to his/her community, thus improving business performance. It is expected that the Employee Engagement Model (EEM) will provide useful feedback to multi-family professionals in their process of talent management. It is also expected that further discussions toward improvements in measuring employee engagement and its impact on satisfaction will be prompted by this research.

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Undersökningen har bearbetat förväntningar och förbättringar på planlösningar i flerbostadshus. Enkätundersökning bland allmänheten och de boende i Vikaholm, Växjö, samt intervjuer med arkitekter användes för att få synpunkter på förbättringar. Även intervjuer med de boende utfördes för att få mer utvecklande och motiverande svar än enbart från enkätundersökningen. Framtagning och utformning av planlösning har utformats efter de önskemål och synpunkter som framkommit i undersökningen. Planlösningarna är yteffektiva och är utformade med hänsyn till bland annat omätbara värden som finns i en bostad, det vill säga rumsliga kvalitéer som är mindre uppenbara och svåra att kvantifiera. Olika punkter som bekvämlighet, bättre möblerbarhet och mer förvaringsmöjlighet har gjort att bostaden har fått en annan utformning än de ursprungliga planlösningarna. Flexibla och generella rum som följer krav vid utformning och som inte har onödiga ytor har varit målet med arbetet. Arbetets resultat kan användas till andra framtida planlösningar än till det flerbostadshus som legat som grund för detta examensarbete. / The survey has processed expectations and improvements on floor plans in a multi-family house. A survey by the public and residents in Vikaholm, Växjö, and interviews with experts were made to get views of improvements. Also interviews with residents were also made to get more developing and motivational answers than just from the opinion poll. The design and layout of the planning has been designed according to the desires and views expressed in the survey. The plan solutions are highly space-efficient and are designed with regard to, inter alia, intangible values that exist in a dwelling, which is spatial qualities that are less obvious and difficult to quantify. Different items such as comfort, better furnishing and more storage have made the accommodation a different design than the original floor plans. Flexible and general spaces that meet design requirements and have no unnecessary surfaces have been the aim of the work. The results of the work can be used for other future floor plans than for the multi-family house that has been the basis for this degree project.

The approval of law NBR15575 in 2013 represented an important milestone in the search for quality buildings in Brazil. The objective of this dissertation is to evaluate performance ratings of NBR15575/2013 regarding its contributions to meeting the thermal and luminosity requirements for a multifamily residential building in the city of Maceió-AL. Our research was based on the case study of a 12-story building, located in the Jatiúca neighborhood, Maceió. Simulations were done with the programs Troplux 7.0 and EnergyPlus 8.1.0 for the double rooms in housing units (UHs) on the 1st and 12th floors. The north, south, east and west oriented UHs were evaluated for light performance and east and west for thermal performance. The standard floor plan of the building and surroundings were simulated on the water table to analyze natural ventilation flows generated by the most frequent winds in the city. Results were divided into two groups: Group1, criteria and parameters based on NBR15575/2013 and Group2, based on international standards (ASHRAE 55 and BS EN15251) and scientific studies already carried out in the area. Evaluation of the luminosity performance of Group 1, was restricted to 4 moments of the year. It was observed that the standard distances its evaluation of the reality of use of the building. Considering every day of the year, in Group2, it was possible to identify periods in which the user can avoid artificial lighting as a complement. Coherence was observed between the results of the criteria of percentage of environmental area (PA) and percentage of hours of the environment within the range of UDI (PH), it being possible to evaluate the distribution of light in the environment. With the final classification of Group1 (Superior) and Group2 (Intermediate), it was observed that the minimum limit of illuminance given by the standard may not be enough to guarantee the visual comfort of the users, there being a possible excess of light, strong contrasting in the environment and the consequent probability of discomfort, which recommends establishment of maximum limits of illuminance. Regarding thermal performance, the standard was contradictory when it places fulfillment of user requirements as a condition of performance classification, but does not consider the presence of internal thermal loads in the evaluated environment. The final classification of the case without internal thermal loads was Minimal, while addition of the loads resulted in an Insufficient classification. In results obtained in Group2, cases with exclusive use of natural ventilation obtained an Insufficient rating and with air conditioning (AC), classification increased to Minimum (AC 8h/day) and Intermediate (AC 16h/day). Detailed data for the analyses allowed identifying the time in which the environment remained in comfort and the intensity of discomfort in each month, useful information for improvement of the project. Performance classifications adopted by NBR15575 may not adequately express the level of comfort of the building’s users, it being important to undertake new studies relating to adoption of levels of performance classification associated with user comfort, thus contributing to the qualitative improvement of Brazilian buildings. / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / A entrada em vigor da NBR15575 em 2013 representou um importante marco na busca por edificações de qualidade no Brasil. Esta dissertação tem como objetivo principal avaliar as classificações de desempenho da NBR15575/2013 em relação às suas contribuições para o atendimento às exigências de conforto térmico e luminoso de uma edificação residencial multifamiliar, na cidade de Maceió-AL. A investigação baseou-se em um estudo de caso de uma edificação de 12 pavimentos, localizada no bairro de Jatiúca, Maceió. Foram feitas simulações com os programas Troplux 7.0 e EnergyPlus 8.1.0 para o quarto de casal em unidades habitacionais (UHs) no 1º e 12º pavimentos. As UHs orientadas a norte, sul, leste e oeste foram avaliadas quanto ao desempenho luminoso e a leste e oeste quanto ao desempenho térmico. Na mesa d’água foi simulado o pavimento tipo e a edificação locada no seu entorno, para análise do fluxo da ventilação natural correspondente aos ventos mais frequentes na cidade. Para a avaliação de desempenho, os resultados foram divididos em dois grupos: Grupo1, critérios e parâmetros baseados na NBR15575/2013 e Grupo2, fundamentado em normas internacionais (ASHRAE 55 e BS EN15251) e em estudos científicos já realizados na área. Para a avaliação do desempenho luminoso do Grupo1, restrita a 4 momentos isolados do ano, observou-se que a norma distancia sua avaliação da realidade de uso da edificação. Considerando todos os dias do ano, no Grupo2, foi possível identificar períodos nos quais o usuário pode evitar a iluminação artificial como complemento. Observou-se coerência entre os resultados dos critérios de porcentagem de área do ambiente (PA) e de porcentagem de horas do ambiente dentro do intervalo de UDI (PH), sendo possível avaliar a distribuição da luz no ambiente, Com a classificação final do Grupo1 (Superior) e do Grupo2 (Intermediária), percebeu-se que o limite mínimo de iluminância dado pela norma pode não ser suficiente para garantir o conforto visual dos usuários, podendo haver excesso de luz, grandes contrastes no ambiente e a consequente probabilidade de desconforto, recomendando-se estabelecer um limite máximo de iluminâncias. Com relação ao desempenho térmico, a norma apresentou contradição quando coloca o atendimento às exigências do usuário como condição de classificação de desempenho, mas desconsidera a presença das cargas térmicas internas no ambiente avaliado. A classificação final do caso sem cargas térmicas internas foi Mínima, enquanto a adição das cargas resultou em classificação insuficiente. Nos resultados obtidos no Grupo2, os casos com uso exclusivo de ventilação natural obtiveram classificação Insuficiente e com uso de ar condicionado (AC) a classificação subiu para Mínima (AC 8h/dia) e Intermediária (AC 16h/dia). Os dados detalhados para as análises possibilitaram identificar o tempo em que o ambiente permaneceu em conforto e a intensidade do desconforto em cada mês, informações úteis para a melhoria do projeto. A classificação de desempenho adotada pela NBR15575 pode não expressar adequadamente o nível de conforto dos usuários da edificação, sendo importantes novos estudos sobre a adoção de níveis de classificação de desempenho associados ao conforto dos usuários contribuindo para a melhoria da qualidade das edificações brasileiras.